Why Summer I Turned Pretty’s Lola Tung Says Fans May Be “Heartbroken”

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The fate of Cousins Beach may not be what fans expect.

Before the upcoming third season and conclusion of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” series by Jenny Han, which airs on Prime Video starting July 16, lead actress Lola Tung has hinted at the potential development in the romantic entanglement involving her character Belly Conklin, brothers Conrad Fisher (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah Fisher (Gavin Casalegno).

In her exclusive interview with TopMob News, which was broadcasted on July 7th, Lola mentioned that everyone might feel a bit sad at some point during the series, spanning all three seasons. This is simply part of the narrative’s progression. There’s heartache associated with love stories, particularly those that are grand in scale and intricately complex.

Although Belly ultimately chooses to marry one of the Fisher boys in the last book titled “We’ll Always Have Summer”, the 22-year-old suggests that readers will be captivated by the romantic tension and dramatic events as they eagerly await her decision, regardless of whether they favor Conrad or Jeremiah.

Lola added, ‘I truly believe that everyone will be pleased with the story and the adventure, as I believe Jenny did an outstanding job on it.’ Filming it was a blast, and I can’t help but feel proud of our work. I have high hopes that it will turn out to be quite spectacular.’

To be honest, the actress openly acknowledged that certain modifications incorporated in the series, such as the renowned debutante ball from the first season, significantly enriched and added complexity to the characters’ development.

Jenny dreamed of embodying the growth and bloom of Belly, as Susannah put it, inspired by the Fisher family’s late matriarch, portrayed by Rachel Blanchard. She expressed, and I believe the end result was truly stunning. It was a delight to film these scenes and an extra pleasure to wear a beautiful gown for a few days.

Currently, it’s been four years since she first started her adventure as Belly Conklin. Now, Lola is bidding farewell to Cousins Beach, and she made sure to highlight that this departure was particularly difficult for her.

She openly acknowledged that she becomes quite sentimental as each season comes to a close. Every time, she finds herself tearing up on the last day. It’s an emotional experience – you never know if there will be another season or not. And indeed, this particular ending was especially emotional, given that it marked the conclusion of the series.

She found herself tearing up, given the circumstances, and added, “It feels strange to leave behind the house and other locations we’ve used since the first season. These places hold a special significance for us as they were part of our journey from the very start.

Before the debut of Season 3 of “The Summer I Turned Pretty“, let’s revisit the most significant differences between the book and the previous season.

—Reporting by Valerie Greenberg

“I want to. I want it to be with you.”

The course of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” shifted dramatically with those 10 words, as Belly (Lola Tung) choosing to lose her virginity to Conrad (Christopher Briney) represented one of the most significant departures from Jenny Han’s original book series on Amazon Prime Video.

During Christmas, Belly and Conrad stealthily visited Cousins without any sexual activity between them, as shown on a particular page. However, in the second episode, they are seen sharing an intimate moment for the first time, nestled by the fireplace. “It’s just you, Conrad,” she whispers to him as he sleeps, implying that there was no one else but him. This development, which did not formally label them boyfriend and girlfriend in the book, but does on-screen, significantly deepens their relationship and makes their future separation even more heartbreaking.

Christopher shared with Erin Lim from TopMob News, “That scene was quite a departure from what I’m used to in the books. It really took me by surprise.

In episode three, we meet Susannah’s half-sister, Aunt Julia (played by Kyra Sedgwick), and Conrad and Jeremiah’s cousin Skye (portrayed by Elsie Fisher). This is after Belly and the boys discover that Julia is putting the Cousins Beach house up for sale. The series introduces these new characters, Julia and Skye, who come across as aloof and frosty. Skye identifies as non-binary, adding complexity and increasing the drama in the show’s narrative.

Sedgwick shared with TopMob News that she initially felt apprehensive about the idea when she first learned of it. However, those nerves quickly disappeared once she arrived. She found everyone to be incredibly welcoming. Additionally, having Elsie there made the transition easier, and Kyra added that they could lean on each other as the newcomers in the cast.

For Han, Julia and Skye helped to fill a storytelling void left by Susannah’s death. 

Han clarified to Entertainment Weekly that a significant portion of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” revolves around mothers, children, and the dynamics within the Cousins family. By writing Aunt Julia and Skye into the narrative, they aimed to introduce another mother-child relationship in the wake of Susannah’s absence. This move also provided an insight into Susannah’s past and offered a retrospective glance at who she was and where she came from.

In the same vein as the second season, the characters of Belly’s brother Steven (Sean Kaufman) and her close friend Taylor (Rain Spencer) are given larger roles than their book versions. Although they only had minor cameos in the second book, they choose to take a road trip together to Cousins, offering assistance to Belly and the Fisher brothers. Additionally, Steven has a secret intention of spending more quality time with Taylor.

Mom’s got problems, too.

In a similar vein to her daughter Belly, Laurel (Jackie Chung) – Belly’s mom – is having difficulty coping with the passing of her lifelong friend Susannah. Although her sorrow is predominantly unseen in the book, the TV adaptation portrays Laurel writing a memoir about their friendship, named It’s Not Summer Without You, mirroring Han’s 2010 novel that inspired season two. Initially, Laurel wrestles with the idea of promoting this memoir.

Jackie shared with TopMob News: “The seasons deviate from the book because I feel like my character has grown exponentially in the series, which means I don’t have many opportunities to explore aspects such as career, personal life, and romantic relationships as depicted in the books.

In their relationship, the infinity necklace holds great meaning. Originally intended as a gift for her 16th birthday during the first season, he didn’t manage to give it to her then.

In the second season opener, viewers witnessed Conrad presenting the item to Belly, a moment they had been anticipating since they chose to remain friends to spare Jeremiah’s feelings. During a reenactment of the iconic prom scene, a heartbroken Belly returned the necklace when Conrad ended their relationship. Interestingly, while rummaging through Conrad’s dorm room, Belly found the trinket but decided against keeping it, instead leaving it on his desk – a departure from the original storyline in the book.

Earlier, Han had mentioned to TopMob News that what made Casalegno suitable for the role of Jeremiah was his “golden retriever-like demeanor.” However, this upcoming season gives the actor an opportunity to exhibit his more intense and dramatic acting abilities.

In the initial three episodes, Jeremiah is experiencing a tough time, having recently lost his mother and dealing with his brother dating his other sibling (Belly and Conrad). While Jeremiah seeks help from Belly off-screen to find Conrad as depicted in the books, it’s Belly who contacts him on-screen, with Jeremiah initially trying to avoid her.

In the second episode, there’s a heated exchange between Belly and Jeremiah, where Belly confesses that she feels guilty for leaving him and letting him down, which she expresses as hating herself for those feelings.

In tears, Jeremiah lamented the tragic loss of Susannah, saying, “It was incredibly terrible!” He confided in Belly, “In my time of need, I felt your absence, for you were not present. You went away when I needed you most.” Alas, he wept deeply.

The charming romance between Steven and Taylor, which is scarcely found in the books, is a delightful enhancement to the series, particularly their synchronized dance performance to Miley Cyrus’s “Party in the U.S.A.” in episode six.

Since Aunt Julia and Cousin Skye are fictional characters created by someone, it is actually Conrad and Jer’s biological father who takes on the role of an opposing force, as he wishes to sell the cherished beach house they all love.

In the end, both stories share a similar outcome, as Laurel seeks assistance from Cousins to persuade Adam to continue maintaining their coastal home. However, unlike in the book, there’s no need for him to part with their residence in Boston.

Conrad’s inner turmoil about leaving his brother to attend Stanford wasn’t something that was written down or anticipated.

In episode four, we witness Conrad suffering another panic attack, triggered by the revelation that he’s been accepted into a prestigious university, an aspiration his late mother had for him. Throughout this episode, Steven serves as a guide, offering insight into the deep-rooted friendship between these two lifelong companions, creating a poignant emotional backdrop for viewers.

Briney shared with Entertainment Weekly that this was a rare opportunity to delve into their friendship dynamic, which isn’t often shown. They mentioned that while their relationship is hinted at and discussed, seeing a moment of trust between friends, especially Steven standing by him, was heartwarming. In Briney’s opinion, it’s truly delightful.

By the conclusion of book two, the TV series faithfully adapted the resolution of the Love Triangle involving Belly, Jeremiah, and Conrad directly from the source material: Belly and Jeremiah ended up as a couple. (Cheers erupted for Team JellyFish!)

Although TSITP failed to depict it, the concluding chapter, set some years afterwards, presents an image of Belly clad in a white gown, hastily making her way towards a vehicle, accompanied by an unidentified boy.

“The future is unclear,” Belly says, “But it’s still mine.”

Anyone else ready for season three?

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2025-07-08 23:47