Whenever summer rolls around, I often find myself in the mood to watch something cheesy and romantic; and what better form of entertainment is there to match my needs than a good ol’ teen romance drama? The Summer I Turned Pretty is an Amazon exclusive series based on the novel of the same name written by Jenny Han. You may also recognize Han for her other works, including the hit Netflix movie, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018). But one day after work, I was mindlessly scrolling through Prime Video when I came across this show, and without much thought, I just put it on. I have to say, while it isn’t the most fantastically written, wonderfully acted, mindblowing show, The Summer I Turned Pretty definitely hit the spot in terms of what I was looking for.

For all you hopeless romantics out there, is there anything more exciting than shows filled with love triangles, first loves, and summer fun? The Summer I Turned Pretty has got all of that covered. Starring Lola Tung as Belly (Isabel) Conklin, Christopher Briney as Conrad Fischer, and Gavin Casalegno as Jeremiah Fischer, the series follows Belly as she gets tangled in a complicated romance between two brothers (who happen to be close family friends!) The show is nothing short of cheesy romance, “Why the hell did she do that?!” moments, and innocent good fun. It’s seriously perfect for the summer.

What I loved so much about this show was its ability to balance overexaggerated teenage love with a level of relatability. While you definitely get a good amount of ooey gooey, cringey romance, there’s something sweet and innocent about it all. I never felt like I had to stop watching because it was too much to bear, in fact, I binged the entire series in one sitting! Because at the end of the day, it’s a coming-of-age story, and there’s definitely certain aspects of Belly’s life that can feel relatable to the audience.

As a protagonist though, I can’t really say I loved Belly as a character – she was just way too picky and undecided. I hated seeing the way she kept jumping back and forth between Conrad and Jeremiah, but I suppose that’s what love triangles are all about. It was just frustrating watching her hurt so many people simply because she couldn’t make up her mind. Teenage girls, eh?

I can’t deny that the story was addictive though, with surprising plot twists and incredibly emotional scenes hidden just around the corner. Given that I watched this entire series all in one day, I kind of went on an unexpected roller coaster ride – but in the best way possible. The best relationship in the show might belong to the moms though (Susannah and Laurel). They shared the most beautiful friendship, one that I hope to have when I get older too.

Although I had a blast watching The Summer I Turned Pretty, I can also say it’s definitely not the kind of show for everyone. If you love a good teen romance drama, then this one will be right up your alley. Combined with beach scenes, Fourth of July festivities, and tons of partying, you’ll be basking in the all the summertime glory. But if you don’t enjoy this genre at all, there’s really no need for you to watch it. This review is dedicated strictly to all the romance lovers out there! With all that being said, I’m going to give The Summer I Turned Pretty a 7.5/10. It’s purely because I loved the show for what it is and I had a great time watching it. Team Jelly over here by the way. Conrad was way too angsty for me. Which team were you on?