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Written by Michelle Liloia
No one really expected a teen romance series about summers at Cousins Beach to become such a cultural touchstone, yet The Summer I Turned Pretty has captured many hearts over three seasons. This writer almost didn’t want to watch the final episode because I knew that would be it, and there’d be nothing to look forward to every Wednesday morning. The finale, “At Last,” was expected to bring promises of closure for Belly Conklin and the Fisher brothers, and, for the most part, it delivered.
The television series, based on Jenny Han’s books, follows Belly (Lola Tung, Forbidden Fruits) as she navigates love, loss, and the weight of growing up in the shadow of the Fisher family. In this final episode, Belly has to confront the choices that have defined her summers: the complexities of her feelings for both Conrad (Christopher Briney, Mean Girls) and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno, Walker), and her journey toward self discovery. Without giving too much away, the episode has its reflective moments but still keeps that warmth and charm that we all have grown to love about the show.
“At Last” works on multiple levels. Belly’s growth is key, her decisions reflect the maturity she’s gained from years of navigating both love and friendship. The love triangle that has driven the narrative is resolved with a mix of tension and tenderness, while the other characters, including Taylor (Rain Spencer, Good Girl Jane) and Jeremiah, are given moments that acknowledge their own growth as well. The Paris and beach scenes look amazing and show how much Belly has changed. The way it is filmed makes the whole thing feel extremely natural and flows very well.
As a finale, the episode succeeds in bringing the story full circle. It offers closure to the central relationships while also allowing Belly space to define her own path. That being said, some elements feel slightly compressed, certain scenes that may have added additional emotional depth are now being left to the viewer’s imagination, which leaves fans longing for more; just one more episode to wrap it all up. Despite this, the episode honors the series’ themes of growth, love, and the bittersweet nature of life’s transitions.
The Summer I Turned Pretty finale reminds me of the last few days of summer: nostalgic, warm, and a little melancholy. It ends the series on a sweet note, giving viewers a satisfying and emotional goodbye to Belly, the Fishers, and the summers that made them who they are. And for fans who aren’t quite ready to say goodbye (me), there’s good news: a movie version is on the way, promising a new way to revisit Belly’s world and the stories we’ve come to love, and thousands of fans (like me) are looking forward to the day it is released!
