Why The Summer I Turned Pretty Took Over Pop Culture

When The Summer I Turned Pretty (TSITP) first dropped on Prime Video in 2022, few expected it to snowball into one of the most talked-about teen romance dramas of the decade. Fast forward to 2025, and Jenny Han’s book-to-screen adaptation has wrapped up three seasons, spawned endless fan debates, and cemented itself as a global YA TV juggernaut. So what makes this sun-soaked love triangle more than just another beachy binge? Let’s unpack why TSITP has become such a pop culture phenomenon.

1. The Power of YA Adaptations

In the streaming era, young adult adaptations are having a golden moment. From Heartstopper to Euphoria, audiences are hungry for stories about love, identity, and growing up. TSITP tapped into this perfectly. Jenny Han, who also penned To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (another Netflix hit  Variety), had already proven that romance-centric YA content could drive huge audiences. With TSITP, she doubled down on nostalgia, summer freedom, and the ultimate question: Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah? 

2. Relatable Characters & Emotional Depth

At its core, TSITP isn’t just about pretty beaches and dreamy boys. It’s about Belly’s coming-of-age journey navigating love, grief, and identity. Season 2, in particular, tackled themes of loss and family dynamics, adding emotional weight to what could have been a fluffy teen drama (Rotten Tomatoes). That emotional honesty made fans see themselves in the characters, and that relatability kept them hooked.

3. Aesthetic & Soundtrack Goals

Let’s be real half of TSITP’s charm lies in its vibes. The coastal New England setting, golden-hour cinematography, and perfectly curated soundtrack yes, Taylor Swift’s songs are basically part of the cast now.

The show created a whole aesthetic movement online, inspiring Pinterest boards, TikTok edits, and #SummerITurnedPretty outfit recreations.

4. Weekly Release Strategy = Fandom Fuel

While most streaming shows drop all episodes at once, TSITP’s later seasons adopted a weekly release strategy. This fueled anticipation, debates, and fan theories on Twitter (X) and TikTok. According to WWCine Season 3’s premiere drew 25 million global viewers in its first week tripling Season 1’s numbers. That kind of sustained conversation doesn’t happen without a smart rollout plan.

5. The Ship Wars: Team Conrad vs. Team Jeremiah

No teen drama is complete without shipping wars, and TSITP delivered in spades. Belly’s torn heart between Conrad and Jeremiah fueled endless TikTok edits, Twitter hashtags, and fanfiction threads. Fans literally picked sides, creating their own fandom identities around who Belly should end up with. The love triangle didn’t just drive the story it drove the internet.

6. Cultural Timing & Escapism

The show hit at the right cultural moment. Post-pandemic audiences were craving comfort TV stories about summer freedom, first love, and emotional healing. TSITP offered the perfect balance of nostalgia and escapism, wrapped in a dreamy aesthetic. It became more than a show; it became an escape, a lifestyle moodboard, and a comfort rewatch for millions.

The Summer I Turned Pretty proves that sometimes the simplest stories family, love, growing up can resonate the loudest when told with heart, style, and sincerity. Between Jenny Han’s loyal fanbase, the show’s cinematic vibes, and the internet’s obsession with ships, TSITP became more than just a YA drama. It became a cultural event, setting the standard for how streaming platforms can turn books into viral, generational touchstones.

And as Season 3 closes the chapter, it leaves one lasting truth: summer might not last forever, but the TSITP effect will be felt for years in both fandom culture and filmmaking trends.

If you’ve ever wondered how a beloved book becomes a hit TV series like The Summer I Turned Pretty, learning the craft of filmmaking is key. At Spectrum Film School aspiring filmmakers get hands-on training in screenwriting, cinematography, editing, and production, everything you need to bring stories from page to screen. Whether it’s adapting YA novels, directing teen dramas, or creating original content for streaming platforms, Spectrum Film School equips students with the skills to turn their creative visions into professional productions.