The Summer I Turned Pretty
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Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to The Summer I Turned Pretty
The Summer I Turned Pretty is a popular romantic dramedy series based on Jenny Han's best-selling novels, primarily targeting a young adult audience. The show centers on Isabel "Belly" Conklin's coming-of-age experiences, particularly her involvement in a love triangle with brothers Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher during their annual summer vacations at Cousins Beach. Beyond the central romance, the series delves into themes of first love, heartbreak, evolving friendships, and complex family dynamics, including navigating grief and parental relationships. While offering an engaging storyline and a popular soundtrack, the show is notable for its mature themes, including significant romance, sexual content, frequent profanity, and substance use, which escalate across its seasons. It aims to capture the magic and messiness of late adolescence but often portrays adult content and language without explicit consequences.
Things to Consider
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
The series prominently features LGBTQ+ and gender identity themes, including multiple queer characters. Jeremiah Fisher, a main character, is explicitly bisexual, and the show introduces Skye, a nonbinary character, in Season 2. Other characters, such as Marisa Pelzner and a friend of Belly's, are identified as lesbian. The show also introduces a queer frat brother, Redbird, in Season 3. These representations are integral to the character development and modern adaptation of the series.
Jeremiah Fisher is depicted as bisexual, a departure from the books, and discusses having kissed both girls and boys. In Season 3, Jeremiah's ex-boyfriend, Blake, is explicitly mentioned. Skye, a nonbinary character and cousin to Conrad and Jeremiah, is introduced in Season 2 and is shown correcting others on their pronouns, increasing LGBTQ+ and gender diversity representation. Marisa Pelzner is explicitly a lesbian character who attends the debutante ball with her girlfriend.
Romance and Sexual Content
Romance is a central and pervasive theme, featuring numerous kissing and making out scenes, implied sexual activity, and suggestive dialogue. Content escalates across seasons, with implied sex scenes becoming more prominent. Belly loses her virginity to Conrad in a Season 2 flashback, and other characters engage in intimate acts, often with implied sexual encounters, though graphic nudity is largely avoided.
Profanity
The show features frequent and escalating use of strong profanity throughout its seasons. This includes a high number of 'f-bombs' and 's-words,' along with other expletives. The frequency of strong language significantly exceeds typical averages for TV-14 rated shows, with usage becoming more common as the series progresses.
Substance Use
Substance use is pervasive and frequently depicted, particularly underage drinking at parties among teen characters as young as 16. Marijuana use by both teenagers and adults (sometimes citing 'medical conditions') is also shown. Characters are seen attempting to use fake IDs to purchase alcohol and experiencing intoxication and hangovers, with Belly getting 'seriously drunk.'
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
16+ (Mature Teens) - This recommendation is due to the consistent presence and escalation of mature themes across seasons, including significant sexual content (implied sex scenes, discussion of losing virginity), pervasive strong profanity, extensive underage alcohol and marijuana use, and complex LGBTQ+ themes. While individual episodes may vary, the overall series content is best suited for mature teenagers and older audiences capable of discerning and processing these themes. Official ratings range from TV-14 to 16+, with a self-rated 16 by Prime Video for stronger episodes in later seasons, and Common Sense Media recommending 15+.
Good to Know
The content in 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' generally intensifies with each successive season, particularly regarding profanity, sexual content, and substance use. The show's portrayal of teenage life often depicts mature situations without overtly highlighting negative consequences, which parents may find concerning. While it explores themes of love, friendship, and family, these are often intertwined with morally ambiguous choices and a secular perspective.
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