- With the release of the finale of The Summer I Turned Pretty, many fans are wondering how different the books are to the TV show.
- Original author and creator Jenny Han noted that the series would be different.
- News about an upcoming movie has fans wondering what is next for Belly's journey.
Author Jenny Han has played a big part in the making of Amazon Prime Video's television series adaptation of her The Summer I Turned Pretty book trilogy. She's credited as the show's creator, co-showrunner—and if you were watching closely, you would've spotted her making a few cameos throughout the series. But, no matter the involvement of the original writer, changes are inevitable when adapting from page to screen.
TSITP seasons 1 and 2 had their own differences from their corresponding books, and as expected so does season 3 from "We'll Always Have Summer." Just like the first two, the third season mostly stays true to the spirit of Han's books but also has some pretty major departures from the source text.
Those who've read the books might have already identified these modified details from the show, but here's a comprehensive guide to all the differences between The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 versus the book.
There was a significantly longer time jump.
In the book: The third book picks up two years from where the second book ends. This also means that there isn't as much time between Belly and Jeremiah getting together and their engagement. Belly is a freshman and Jeremiah is finishing his sophomore year when they decide they want to get married. Their plan was to graduate from Finch as a married couple.
In the show: The series has a four-year jump, establishing that Belly and Jeremiah have been together for longer than they had been in the books. Belly is already a junior, and Jeremiah is a senior. However, Jeremiah needs to finish another semester after mistakenly failing to take a required course for his major.
Steven's car accident didn't happen.
In the book: Steven doesn't show up prominently in the books, and definitely does not end up in a life-threatening car accident.
In the show: One of the biggest events to happen in season 3 is Steven's car accident. While chasing after Taylor in a car during one of their big fights, he gets hit by oncoming traffic. He gets hurt pretty badly, and ends up in the hospital. This becomes a significant moment in his and Taylor's on-and-off relationship.
Steven and Taylor weren't a crucial part of the story.
In the book: Steven and Taylor share a kiss in the first book, but that was it. Their love story doesn't really go any further than that and they definitely do not end up together in the final novel in the series.
In the show: One of the central plot lines is Steven and Taylor's turbulent relationship. Their will-they-won't-they dynamic leads to them cheating on their significant others, later navigating an awkward "friendship" that gets them into a sticky situation involving Taylor's mom Lucinda and her financial problems.
Anika was supposed to be a more major part of Belly's transformation.
In the book: Belly's coming-of-age and transformation into Isabel is represented by her friendship with Anika, her college BFF. They form a sister-like bond and she becomes Belly's main confidant in the days leading up to the wedding.
In the show: Though still Belly's roomie and college BFF, we don't really get to see a lot of Anika.
Conrad wasn't hopelessly single while waiting for Belly.
In the book: Conrad gets into a three-month relationship with Agnes. But she breaks it off after she realizes that Connie's still in love with Belly.
In the book: Agnes is Conrad's smart med school bestie, who's also great at reading him and giving him advice. Conrad didn't get with anyone during the time apart with Belly, and instead spent his spare time studying and also going to therapy.
Denise was a totally different character.
In the book: Denise Colletti is Adam Fisher's assistant in the books. She's not a major character, but she does help plan Belly and Jeremiah's wedding as a favor to her boss.
In the show: Denise Russo is a headstrong, career-driven senior associate at Breaker Capital, Adam Fisher's venture capital firm. She develops a close relationship with Steven when he goes on to work for the company. Though the two try to explore a romantic connection, they ultimately decide to become business partners and friends instead. She does, however, end up having sparks with Jeremiah by the end of the show.
Belly was never supposed to go to Paris.
In the book: Belly was supposed to go study abroad, but not in Paris. Our protagonist actually had her sights on Spain and gets into the program. She spends her junior year there after calling off her wedding with Jeremiah. However, she does go home for her graduation.
In the show: Belly immediately flies to Paris after she and Jeremiah call the wedding off. She says that she got on a call with an administrator at the French university who told her that there was still a spot for her. But, as it turns out, there was a mistake and she ends up working several jobs under the table in order to live out her Parisian dreams. Later, she decides to stay and doesn't go home — not for the holidays, nor her graduation from Finch. (It's likely that Paris became her destination as a nod to one of her favorite films, Sabrina.)
Conrad and Belly don't get back together right away.
In the book: We don't really learn how exactly Conrad and Belly get back together. We simply get an epilogue wherein Belly reads a letter from Susannah on her wedding day. We learn that Conrad had been writing her letters during her year in Spain, and they reunite at her graduation in Finch.
In the show: Conrad happens to have a conference in Brussels, and decides to go visit Belly in Paris for her birthday. Sure enough, after spending a whole day together, they end up sleeping together. And while there is initially some resistance on Belly's part about getting back together, they ultimately declare their love for one another and have a whole romantic sequence on a train.
