From TV to Movie: Holding Out for Belly and Conrad

By: Ava Gravina ‘28 

I have mixed feelings about “The Summer I Turned Pretty” being turned into a movie. I’ve spent three summers watching this show, the first two seasons with my high school friends and the third season with my college friends. Watching it has been a tradition, a way to connect with people I care about while sharing laughs, desires, and tears over Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah. And now the story is being made into a movie. It feels unfair. How can my time and dedication to this show not be rewarded with a proper conclusion to the series? Instead, we are stuck waiting again, and it could be a long time before the movie is even released. 

I like to think I am a patient person. I wait for my roommate to finally get out of bed after snoozing her alarms when I’m trying to sleep. I wait for my sister to visit me at college. I wait to eat until everyone has their meals, and the list goes on and on. Yet even I struggle with waiting when it comes to this show. The whole third season, I looked forward to seeing Belly finally marry Conrad, only to be left hanging. 

Of course, people will say things like, “Sometimes you don’t get what you want,” or “Good things come to those who wait.” Yet, waiting even longer feels unfair after all these years of following the show. But maybe that is part of what makes “The Summer I Turned Pretty” special. It teaches you about patience, longing, and the experience of growing up alongside the characters. 

Image Courtesy of Amazon Studios.

Now, about Conrad. For those who haven’t watched the show, the story follows Belly and two brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah, in a classic love triangle. I am a massive Conrad fan. How could I not be? Conrad is the ultimate yearner, putting most fictional and real people to shame. While some argue that he didn’t love or give Belly attention until she was older and more mature, that is simply not true. From the beginning, he cared for her. He helped her learn to ride a bike, won her a stuffed polar bear, danced with her at the debutante ball, and even gave up weed for her. 

Of course, Conrad has his flaws. He struggles with communication, withdraws emotionally, and can be moody. But anyone who follows the show closely knows he has been carrying the weight of his mother’s illness while also trying to protect his brother. He has been forced to suppress his emotions and grow up fast, all while navigating complicated feelings for Belly. Yet even with these challenges, his love for her has always been clear, not only in the way he looks at her but in how he cares for her even from afar. He can be the boyfriend Belly needs and even the husband she deserves. 

Jeremiah, on the other hand, seems to want Belly mainly because he cannot have her. He has never been as consistent or selfless as Conrad. While he is charming in his own way, he is motivated by rivalry rather than love. Ultimately, Belly has always belonged with Conrad, and anyone who has followed the story knows this deep down. 

Still, I cannot help but feel frustrated about the movie. Jenny Han has already created a successful, beloved story, and now her audience has to wait for another adaptation. I understand the business side, monetizing the story again to create new revenue, but as a longtime fan, it feels like an unnecessary delay in getting the resolution we deserve. After all, I have been watching this show since I was sixteen, a moody teenager longing for her own happily ever after, and I am still rooting for love. 

Despite my frustration, I know patience is a valuable skill. Waiting for the movie reminds me of why I love this story so much. The Summer I Turned Pretty is not just about romance. It is about growth, family, friendship, and the messy, emotional journey of adolescence. Belly’s story, Conrad’s struggle, and Jeremiah’s rivalry have taught me to care, hope, and even wait, even when it is hard. 

So yes, I am frustrated, and yes, I am impatient. But I will wait. I will eventually see Belly marry Conrad, the boy she has loved since before she “was pretty.” And when that moment finally comes, it will be worth all the waiting.