This year has been an amazing time for the film industry. With various shows and movies being put out back-to-back, there has been no shortage of fresh and entertaining cinematic pieces to keep us hooked. One of the most popular watches of this summer was the highly-anticipated second season of Jenny Han’s The Summer I Turned Pretty, produced by Amazon Prime Video.

What makes the series so captivating is its unparalleled relatability.

Beyond the show’s prime focus on the relationship between Belly (Lola Tung), Conrad (Christopher Briney), and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalengo), the ideas of self-discovery and the importance of family add a layer of depth to the series that allows viewers to not only enjoy their watch experience, but get some perspective on a few elements of life. The trials and tribulations of being a teenager in love, while facing the difficulties of life, is something Belly continuously struggles with as the series progresses, though it acts as a way to humanize her and make her more than just another character on your TV screen.

Another major contributor to the reputation of The Summer I turned Pretty is Han’s seamless transitions between themes as trivial as teen romance, to ones as heavy and complex as losing a loved one to cancer. Towards the end of season one, it is revealed that Susannah, the mother of the Fisher brothers, is dying from breast cancer that she’s beaten once before. Her illness had been hinted at throughout the season but the revelation was a shock to not only members of the cast, but those watching it all unfold from their TVs. Fast-forward to season two, we learn that Susannah passed away a few months earlier in the show’s timeline. Her death took a huge toll on not only her sons, but Belly and her own family, especially Belly’s mother who was Susannah’s best-friend. What made Susannah’s death so heartbreaking to simply watch was the quality of her character. She was painted as something of a mother figure to Belly, always there rooting for her and acting as a shoulder to cry on. We watched their relationship blossom as beautifully as the friendship between the two mothers, a friendship that had been filled with the kind of love and loyalty we can all connect to in some way.

Here at Fort Lauderdale High School, The Summer I turned Pretty is quite popular amongst the student population. Mia Hochhauser (11) expressed her love for both the show and Jenny Han saying, “I really loved the books, which is what made me watch the show. I also love Jenny Han and her work.” 

The Summer I turned Pretty, without a doubt, perfectly captures the epitome of what it means to be a teenager in the 21st century. The highs the characters feel are thrilling and the lows seem impossible to recover from, but when there are genuine and caring people in life, such as those in Belly’s, it becomes a little easier to live.