The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022) is a Compelling Coming-of-Age Drama
The Summer I Turned Pretty functions as a polished, emotionally resonant drama that captures the volatile transition from adolescence to young adulthood. It is worth watching for those who appreciate character-driven narratives that balance the lightness of teenage romance with the heavy realities of family crises.
A Balancing Act of Tone
The series excels at maintaining a sun-drenched, nostalgic aesthetic that grounds its drama in the sensory details of a beach house summer. Zachary Dawes’ composition provides a melodic backdrop that anchors the shifting dynamics between Belly and the Fisher brothers, effectively bridging the gap between innocent childhood memories and the complexities of her sixteenth year.
Where the show occasionally falters is in its reliance on teenage affectation, which can sometimes distract from the more serious threads of the narrative. While the romantic tension is the primary engine, the inclusion of a terminal illness storyline introduces a jarring tonal shift that feels rushed against the backdrop of beach parties and pool-side flirtations.
The Reality of the Love Triangle
Most mainstream critiques focus heavily on the choice between Conrad and Jeremiah, but the true strength of the series lies in Belly’s internal evolution rather than her romantic preference. Lola Tung delivers a performance that manages to make Belly’s indecision feel like a genuine byproduct of her age rather than a tired trope, allowing the viewer to empathize with her confusion.
However, the series leans too heavily into the “girl next door” archetype, which limits the agency of the supporting characters. By centering the entire world around Belly’s perspective, the brothers often feel like static objects of desire rather than fully realized individuals, which makes the inevitable heartbreak feel somewhat predictable and one-sided.
Who Should Engage with Cousins Beach
Viewers who enjoy character-focused dramas that prioritize emotional growth over high-stakes action will find plenty to admire here. If you have a penchant for stories that explore how long-standing friendships buckle under the pressure of hidden secrets and shifting power dynamics, the series provides a satisfying, if occasionally melodramatic, exploration of these themes.
Conversely, those who prefer their dramas to have a sharper edge or a more cynical outlook on romance should likely skip this. The show operates firmly within the conventions of its source material, and its earnest, earnest approach to first love and heartbreak may feel too sentimental for audiences looking for a more grounded or gritty examination of modern youth.
The Weight of Growing Up
The series succeeds most when it moves away from the romantic triangle and focuses on the fraying bonds between the adults and their children. The realization that childhood sanctuaries are not immune to the passage of time or the cruelty of illness provides a necessary gravity that elevates the show above a standard teen romance.
Ultimately, the production captures the specific, fleeting ache of a summer that marks the end of an era. While it occasionally stumbles through its own romantic entanglements, the core emotional arc regarding Belly’s transformation remains a coherent and engaging study of how we define ourselves through the people we love.
