Critic Reviews

Overall, The Summer I Turned Pretty is a fun summertime watch, the TV equivalent of "a beach read." Though not every moment is light and summery, it is a perfect ode to summer and young love.

It was more than just another teen drama because, in addition to its lived-in, believable characters, it had an undercurrent of fear and potential loss. That fear becomes reality and bursts to the surface in season two, which isn’t letting you escape anywhere. But it somehow holds space for both grief and joy, and that feels even better.

Whether you're Team Conrad, Team Jeremiah, or Team Belly, the premiere has something for everyone. No one is left out, which is part of what makes the series the success that it is. Every character is thoroughly developed, even if it's via telling instead of showing.

The whole show is summer escapism (if your escapism can handle some longing and heartbreak) in TV form. The beats of The Summer I Turned Pretty might be familiar—predictable, even—but it’s a good familiarity, like your favorite summer spot coming into view for the first time on vacation.

If you loved The Last Song, Han’s To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, or have the vaguest notion of what “coastal grandmother aesthetic” means, you’ll eat it all up with a spoon. ... There’s a slightly more grown-up but nonetheless delightful escapism in Laurel’s setup as a single mom who, apparently, gets to spend the whole summer smoking weed and lightly co-parenting with her rich best friend.

By allowing all of the cringe, all of the hope, all of the tears and beach runs with blaring soundtracks, The Summer I Turned Pretty drags people in with the promise of a desperate love triangle, but eventually delivers a bittersweet reflection on maturity and desire — one that feels like it could be watched again and again.

The frothiness of the first season is replaced by real grief and adult emotions, but it’s a welcome change in Belly’s journey to adulthood.

There’s plenty to enjoy about the series, which is warm and inviting and fun. Belly proves herself to be a great protagonist.

The YA series continues to make the love triangle between childhood friends compelling as the show enters college and adulthood.

Season 2 of The Summer I Turned Pretty is at its best when it sticks to the teen characters.