With summer sunshine comes a fresh adaptation of The Summer I Turned Pretty, Jenny Han’s 2009 young adult novel published by Simon & Schuster. Known for her bestselling To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series, Han returns to the screen with a new story of young love, family bonds, and self-discovery. The TV series version of The Summer I Turned Pretty launches on Amazon Prime Video on June 17 and spans seven episodes, with a second season already approved.
Jenny Han is closely involved in the show—not just as the author of the source material, but also as the series’ creator, co-showrunner, and writer of the pilot episode. She worked alongside Gabrielle Stanton (Grey’s Anatomy) and a talented production team, including directors Erica Dunton, Jeff Chan, and Jesse Peretz. The cast features breakout star Lola Tung as the main character Isabel “Belly” Conklin, with Jackie Chung, Rachel Blanchard, Christopher Briney, and Gavin Casalegno rounding out the central roles.
The plot centers on Belly, who has spent every summer at Cousins Beach with her family and the Fishers. Over the years, she’s grown close to Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher—the sons of her mother’s best friend Susannah. This summer, however, everything starts to shift. Belly is no longer the little girl they once knew, and as her feelings grow deeper—particularly for Conrad—she finds herself caught in an emotional whirlwind. At the same time, Susannah seems to be hiding something, adding a layer of tension to their once carefree holidays.
Han described the experience of filming the series as magical. The entire cast and crew lived and worked near the beach for months, creating a summer camp-like atmosphere. The tight-knit group bonded both on and off set, despite strict Covid precautions. For many of the young actors, this was their first on-screen role, which brought a genuine sense of freshness to their performances—something Han believes benefited the storytelling.
Each director brought a unique visual tone to different episodes, enhancing the emotional depth of the story. Flashbacks are used throughout the series to enrich the narrative, giving room to explore past events that may not have appeared in the first book but could unfold in future seasons.
Han also emphasized the importance of diversity in her stories. As an Asian American creator, she values portraying more inclusive narratives, especially through her work on The Summer I Turned Pretty, To All the Boys, and the spin-off XO, Kitty.
A highlight for Han—and fans alike—was securing a Taylor Swift song for the series’ trailer. Han has long drawn inspiration from Swift’s music while writing her books, often listening to tracks from Fearless or Reputation to spark emotion during key scenes.
While the show may not follow the book word for word, Han’s priority is delivering something special for long-time readers and new viewers. “I want the show to feel like a memory—like your own first summer love,” she said. And with more seasons and projects underway, Han’s heartfelt storytelling shows no sign of slowing down.
