Sorry, but Jeremiah Is Better Than Conrad in ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’

The Big Picture

• In The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2, Belly chooses Jeremiah over Conrad, marking the beginning of their relationship.
• Conrad, while kind-hearted, uses Belly as an emotional punching bag and is careless with her feelings.
• Jeremiah is the supportive, caring, and positive choice for Belly, but whether their relationship lasts is uncertain in Season 3.

The Summer I Turned Pretty has been swooning the hearts of viewers for two seasons now, and it also resulted in a debate on who is the right one for Belly (Lola Tung) — kind of like the whole “Team Edward or Team Jacob?” conversation when Twilight was huge. This series adaptation of the 2009 hit novel of the same name by Jenny Han, who also wrote the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy, already has two seasons under its belt, with another on the way. The second season left the viewers with a couple of questions and some unexpected reactions, especially regarding who Belly picked in the end, who turned out to be Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno). And, well, Belly’s decision was understandable. The question is, who is better for her?

What Happened in ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Season 2?

At the end of Season 1, Belly ends up with Conrad (Christopher Briney) — her first love. This carries through the next season, but mostly only in flashbacks. It turns out that after Conrad and Jeremiah’s (Gavin Casalegno) mother dies from cancer, Belly’s relationship with Conrad starts to dwindle because he starts to distance himself again from the people he cares about. But when the whole crew learns that the Fisher’s house in Cousins Beach is going to be up for sale, they go back to the summer house to find a way to fix it. With the gang all together in one house, tensions start to rise.

Apart from Belly and Conrad’s relationship, Belly is also trying to make amends with Jeremiah. The two of them shared a kiss together in Season 1 and as Belly attempts to make amends with Jeremiah, he slowly falls for her again. So, in the end, when Belly has to choose (again) who she wants, she chooses Jeremiah. The two end up marking the beginning of the relationship with a kiss, much to Conrad’s obvious heartache. The two Fisher boys have opposite personalities, and they each have their own set of pros and cons. So, the question is, who exactly is the best choice for Belly? Let’s lay it all down.

Conrad Is the Mysterious and Broody Guy in ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’

Belly has had a major crush on Conrad since she was little. How could she not? Conrad had been nothing but kind to her. He is handsome, sweet, and protective, and Belly sees him as this ideal guy. He would always find a way to include her with the boys, even when the others would constantly tease her. In Season 1, the viewers see Conrad as a broody teenager who just keeps to himself. He doesn’t really communicate with Belly. It feels like he’s just a moody teenager, but throughout the season, it is revealed that Conrad has a reason for his attitude. He knows about his mother Susannah’s (Rachel Blanchard) cancer. He feels as if he can’t talk to anyone about what he’s learned, so he ends up bottling everything up.

While Conrad is a decent guy who has a kind heart, it’s sad that somehow, Belly winds up being his emotional punching bag for all the stress he is keeping inside, which is unfair because Belly doesn’t do anything wrong. Belly doesn’t deserve Conrad’s meanness. On top of all of that, he has a difficult relationship with his father and is uncertain about his future. Suffice to say, Conrad is going through a lot, and instead of leaning on Belly, he chooses to push her away, and, in some cases, intentionally hurt her. It is clear he is well aware of her feelings for him and even if he does reciprocate them, he is careless with her heart.

For instance, there’s a time when Conrad buys Belly an infinity necklace, a symbol that has meant a lot to them over the years. However, he chooses not to give it to her on her birthday, saying that he forgot to buy her a gift. Hurting her is easier than showing vulnerability, which is always a red flag. He also only confesses his true feelings after he realizes she has started dating his brother. The bad boy with the heart of gold is a tempting trope for Belly (and the audience), but in the long run, it’s a not-so-ideal choice.

Jeremiah Is the Charming and Outgoing One in ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’

Jeremiah spends a lot of time with Belly. The more time he spends with her, the more Belly confides in him. He has said many times that Belly is his best friend, but along the way, he admits that he wants something more. Of course, with Belly’s first love being Conrad, she doesn’t think of Jeremiah in that way and is hesitant to take their friendship to the next level. But when she realizes that Jeremiah is always there for her — through the good and bad — she starts to wonder if this is who she is supposed to be with after all. Jeremiah always puts her first, no matter what. If she needs him, he will be there, no questions asked. He isn’t naive, though, he knows he is fighting an uphill battle since he, and everyone else (yes, including Conrad), knows of Belly’s lifelong crush on Conrad. But Jeremiah actually manages to win her over. He believes that he is the one who can care for her and be what she needs.

In Season 1, Belly’s best friend, Taylor (Rain Spencer) shows up to visit and is firmly on Team Jeremiah and makes sure he knows it. She does everything in her power to push Belly into his arms. Taylor believes that Jeremiah is the one for Belly. In the first few episodes of Season 2, however, Jeremiah avoids Belly because she hurt him after kissing Conrad. It takes a while for Jeremiah to warm up to the idea of them being friends again, even more so as lovers once more. But, in the end, when Belly has to choose who she wants to be with, it’s no surprise that she picks Jeremiah.

Jeremiah may get written off as the safe choice or second best, but is he? Or is he the kind of guy that every girl dreams of and yet ignores when presented with the option? Jeremiah always feels like he’s second best at everything, even when it comes to finding out the news about his mom, he is the last to know. Still, this never compromises his positive attitude and upbeat nature. Jeremiah is the kind of guy that every girl deserves. He is sensitive, open to sharing his feelings, and will treat everyone with respect. And yet, they’re always the guys that get left behind. Season 2 ends with Belly and Jeremiah announcing that they’re officially a couple, but with Season 3 coming soon, who knows what will go down in the love triangle again? But we can just hope that the Jeremiahs of the world get their due.

Both seasons of The Summer I Turned Pretty are available to watch on Prime Video.

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