Today, Prime Video delivers another book adaptation in the form of The Summer I Turned Pretty.
The series follows teenager Isabella ‘Belly’ Conklin (Lola Tung) through a fateful summer in Cousins Beach, on an annual trip with brother Steven (Sean Kaufman) and her recently divorced mother Laurel (Jackie Chung). The trio join Laurel’s best friend Suvannah Fisheres (Rachel Blanchard), and her two sons – the dark and moody Conrad (Christopher Briney), who also happens to be Belly’s long-time crush, and the goodguy Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno).
The family’s have been vacationing together for years, but one thing has changed since last summer – Belly has had a massive glow up and she’s ready to make her mark on the Cousins Beach Deb Ball. While Steven struggle with his sister growing up, Laurel deals with the struggles of writing her next novel while trying to support her daughter as she aims to have the perfect summer.
Showrunners Jenny Hann and Gabriella Skinner adapt Hann’s first book in her Summer trilogy with a skilful hand. It’s an easy-to-follow plot with a compelling narrative that makes it a bingeable winter treat for us Aussies.
Casting is top notch with the three leading selling the love triangle they soon find themselves in, while the adults also shine in story arcs outside of them being parents.
The Summer I Turned Pretty is a multigenerational drama that hinges on a live triangle between one girl and two brothers, the ever-evolving relationship between mothers and their children, and the enduring power of strong female friendship. It’s a coming-of-age story about first love, first heartbreak, and the magic of one perfect summer.
Spend this wintery weekend escaping to the warmth of a summer of a lifetime.
3.5 Stars
The Summer I Turned Pretty is out now on Prime Video.
