Our Predictions For The Summer I Turned Pretty The Movie

The first Wednesday without The Summer I Turned Pretty is proving to be extremely difficult. If you’re struggling with Connie Baby withdrawals like I am, thankfully, our time at Cousins Beach isn’t over just yet. The worldwide phenomenon based on Jenny Han’s beloved YA series has cemented its spot as a staple in pop culture. Prime Video wasn’t ready to let Belly’s (Lola Tung) story go yet. As fans anxiously awaited to see whether Belly would end up with Conrad (Christopher Briney) or Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno), the news broke on the internet that the television show’s finale wasn’t the end. A movie is officially in development at Prime Video, with Han writing the script!

When asked, Han teased fans that there’s one final milestone in Belly’s story left to explore, and ever since she said those words, I haven’t been able to sleep at night. Spoiler alert for the show’s finale: Belly and Conrad are endgame! With that, let’s theorize what major milestone Belly will fulfill in The Summer I Turned Pretty, the movie.

Do We Hear Wedding Bells?

I mean, this seems like the obvious answer, and there’s nothing wrong with that! Belly was initially engaged to Conrad’s brother, Jeremiah (talk about a messy situation). However, it was clear that Belly’s heart always belonged to Conrad, even if she didn’t want to admit it. This fact reigned more true than ever as Belly was planning her wedding with Jeremiah, and the overwhelming joy you’d expect as a happy bride just wasn’t there.

It’d be a true treat to watch Belly actually plan a wedding she’s excited for! The scene in Michaels when Conrad was stepping up for an absent Jeremiah was straight out of a romantic comedy, and if we can capture that same magic into an entire feature-length film, the Conrad girlies will be on the floor. Plus, just imagine how fun a Cousins Beach reunion would be where all our favorite characters return for Conrad and Belly’s fairytale ending!

More evidence suggests that a wedding is in store comes from Susannah (Rachel Blanchard). Conrad and Jeremiah’s late mother, who, in a way, lovingly haunts the narrative, left letters for her sons and for Belly to be opened on their wedding days. In a shocking twist, Jeremiah accidentally received Conrad’s letter, which ultimately was a catalyst for calling off the wedding. While Belly also received her letter, she never opened it. Fans are dying to know what Susannah’s letter to Belly says. Since Belly has yet to open it, it seems evident that we might finally get to watch that unfold on the big screen.

Guys, It’s Time To Let Go Of The Love Triangle.

Obviously, any good story needs some conflict, and boy has The Summer I Turned Pretty delivered on that season after season. However, I do hope the story moves away from the love triangle trope and uses the film to celebrate love not just for Belly and Conrad, but for all the characters. A controversial decision that left fans split was the choice to pair Jeremiah with Season 3 newcomer Denise (Isabella Briggs). To be honest, I was entirely on board with that couple! Denise is the headstrong yet loving woman Jeremiah needed, and the chemistry between Casalegno and Briggs is off the charts.

As die-hard as some fans were for Jeremiah and Belly, the ending clip of Jeremiah and Denise’s budding romance was a lovely closing for Jeremiah’s character. Coming from someone who was at her wits’ end with Jeremiah by Season 3, I was so pleased with the arc Han created for him. Jeremiah needed to find his own passion and purpose outside of Belly, and he finally did. What started as a hilarious meme about his passion for mirror-glaze cake evolved into Jeremiah’s love for cooking, which led him to discover his calling, forgive Conrad, and ultimately let Belly go. It’d be great to explore his and Denise’s relationship further in the film, and to keep Jeremiah’s past feelings for Belly far away.

Side Characters That Steal The Show

As much as Belly and Conrad were the main love story, we’re absolutely obsessed with Taylor (Rain Spencer) and Steven (Sean Kaufman). Since season one, Belly’s best friend Taylor has been hopelessly in love with Belly’s older brother Steven. Someone play “Best Friends Brother” by Victoria Justice ASAP! The two have had a tumultuous on-again, off-again relationship over the years. Still, Season 3 ended with these two crazy kids finally getting it together, and even deciding to move to California.

With Steven as Belly’s loving and protective older brother, there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll play a significant role in the film. I'm also praying for Steven and Conrad to mend their strained relationship in the movie. While we got a tiny glimmer of hope for the two, their friendship in Seasons 1 and 2 was such a heartwarming part of the series. It was heartbreaking to watch Steven turn his back on Conrad in the third season. We love a protective big brother, but come on, Steven, let bygones be bygones, I’m begging you!

Joined at the hip since childhood, Taylor will most definitely be Belly’s maid of honor once again. Taylor started out as a bit of an antagonistic character in season one. Still, she had arguably the best character development—besides Connie’s baby, of course. Her and Belly’s sisterly bond is a cornerstone of the story, and we can’t wait to see where the film takes these besties!

California, Here We Come?

The finale episode revealed that Denise and Steven’s business was taking them to California! Thankfully, Taylor is going with Steven, which makes me wonder, will Jeremiah join in to go be with Denise? Also, Conrad was completing his residency in California before reuniting with Belly. Perhaps our Cousins gang will all live together in Cali now?

While I do think California will be the gang’s new home base, I don’t think it’ll be the primary setting of the story. If anything, I think fans will get to see Belly, Conrad, Jeremiah, Denise, Steven, and Taylor all living their best lives, soaking up the California sun. Still, the story will mostly take place in Cousins. Belly’s happy place is Cousins Beach, and if I could give the final season just one itty-bitty, super tiny critique (otherwise I thought it was perfect), we needed more Cousins Beach in the final season.

The town of Cousins itself almost seemed like a character over the years, and I think the magic of Cousins wasn’t as prevalent in the third season as it had been in the other two seasons. Seriously, I don’t think hardly any time was spent on the beach! Cousins Beach is a staple of the story. While I loved Belly’s Paris era and seeing the characters thrive in Boston, California, and at Finch College, I just wish the characters could return to their roots —or, should I say, the beach? While California is probably the crew’s new home, the Conklin-Fisher wedding will most definitely take place in Cousins, and probably on the beach where Conrad and Belly shared their first kiss.

Uncharted Territory Ahead

Season 3 made the bold choice of changing the story of Belly and Conrad’s rekindled love. In the books, Belly ultimately calls off the wedding with Jeremiah and decides to study abroad. Still, fans don’t get much detail on her time abroad, and while you learn that she and Conrad get back together, there isn’t much detail. All over the world, fans were freaking out at the idea of the book ending changing, which ultimately, it didn’t. But with a new chapter on the way, and seemingly in the process of being written by Jenny Han, this next chapter of Belly’s story is truly uncharted.

Many fans are speculating whether another book will be released alongside the movie, and I genuinely think it’s a possibility. For example, Suzanne Collins has added spinoffs of her beloved series, The Hunger Games, several times since the original series came to a close. If Han is willing to write an entire movie for Belly, I wouldn’t put it past her to write a whole novel to complement it.

There’s no official release date for the film, and Han cheekily joked that the script is in very early development. Unfortunately, I fear we’ll have to wait a little while to return to Cousins Beach. Based on all the information we have so far—which is very sparse—my best guess is we’ll reunite with Belly and the Fisher boys in 2027. Until then, we’ll be rewatching all seasons of The Summer I Turned Pretty, which is available to stream on Prime Video.