The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2 Recap

The second season of The Summer I Turned Pretty turns the heat up on the love triangle that drew viewers in, but focuses on the emotional aftermath of loss, change, and growing up too fast. While Season 1 bathed in the warmth of summer flings and first kisses, Season 2 is shaded by the looming absence of Susannah, whose death casts a long shadow on everyone who once gathered at the beloved beach house.

With flashbacks, heartbreaks, emotional confrontations, and complex love dynamics, Season 2 gives us eight episodes packed with tension and tenderness. Let’s dissect everything that happened episode by episode and reflect on how this season both elevated and complicated the world of Cousins Beach.

Episode 1–2: Summer Is Not the Same Anymore

We open with a fractured Belly. School is ending, but she’s a ghost of herself—still haunted by Susannah’s death and the fallout of her rocky romance with Conrad. The beach house that once felt like home now stands as a symbol of what they’ve all lost; through disjointed flashbacks, we learn that Susannah passed away after her second battle with cancer. While Season 1 ended with a glimmer of hope, Season 2 wastes no time dismantling that.

Belly’s relationship with both Conrad and Jeremiah is in ruins. She’s been avoiding everyone, especially after things went sour with Conrad, who pulled away in the wake of grief. Meanwhile, she and Jeremiah haven’t spoken since the funeral, when Belly left with Conrad instead of staying by Jeremiah’s side.

In the present, the gang learns that the beach house will be sold by Aunt Julia, Susannah’s estranged sister. It jolts them back into action. Belly, Conrad, Jeremiah, Steven, and Taylor reunite—some awkwardly, some reluctantly—to try and save the only piece of Susannah they have left.

Episode 3–4: Fighting for the House, Fighting Each Other

These episodes give us a messy mix of rebellion and reconnection. The teens band together to stop the beach house sale, squatting there and staging a peaceful protest. This "home-alone" sequence injects some fun into the otherwise heavy season. But the real battles are internal.

Conrad is cold and distant, often storming off or shutting down emotionally; his panic attacks start to become more frequent, signalling a deep mental toll. Meanwhile, Jeremiah steps into a caretaking role—emotionally and practically—but clearly carries resentment about being overlooked in the chaos of Belly and Conrad's relationship.

Belly tries to fix everything and everyone, but her efforts often backfire. A touching flashback shows Susannah asking Belly to “take care of her boys,” a promise that Belly clings to, even when it costs her peace. Her guilt drives many of her choices this season.

Tensions explode at a failed beach bonfire when Belly confronts both brothers about how they’ve been treating her and each other. The truth is, none of them have healed—they’re just hiding their pain in different ways.

Episode 5–6: Cracks in the Foundation

As Aunt Julia shows up to officially inspect and prep the house for sale, the group realises they might not win this fight. Julia’s icy demeanor and bitterness toward Susannah make her an easy antagonist—but she’s not just evil for the sake of it. In an important scene, we learn that Julia felt abandoned by her sister, who never looked back after marrying into wealth and building a new life in Cousins. The writers attempt to humanize Julia, but the emotional punch doesn’t fully land.

Skye, Julia’s child, is introduced as socially awkward and initially uninterested in the group’s mission. However, their connection with Taylor and subtle hints of a queer identity offer glimpses of a fresh, underexplored storyline that unfortunately doesn’t get the time it deserves.

Meanwhile, Belly and Conrad finally talk. Their conversation is raw—he admits he pushed her away not because he stopped loving her, but because he didn’t know how to be around anyone without falling apart. It’s one of the most emotionally charged scenes of the season. But the question remains: Is love enough when everything else is broken?

Episode 7: The Party That Shatters Everything

A party scene in Episode 7 serves as the emotional climax of the season, which begins as a joyful, rebellious night of drinking, dancing, and reconnecting, quickly spiralling out of control. Belly tries to use the night as a distraction, but emotions are too close to the surface.

Tensions erupt again between Conrad and Jeremiah, who finally have the confrontation they’ve been avoiding. Years of resentment come boiling over about their mother, about Belly, about who was “there” and who wasn’t.

This episode showcases some of the season's best performances, especially from Gavin Casalegno and Christopher Briney. The vulnerability and rage are palpable.

The party ends with a devastating moment: Belly, overwhelmed by guilt and pain, collapses in tears alone. The weight of trying to carry everyone else's grief has become too much.

Episode 8: Goodbyes, Resolutions, and New Beginnings

The finale brings some much-needed resolution. After seeing how much the beach house means to the kids, and after a heart-to-heart with Laurel (Belly’s mom), Aunt Julia decides not to sell immediately. It’s not a fairytale ending, but it feels earned.

Conrad finally opens up about his panic attacks, admitting he needs help. This moment of vulnerability hints at real growth and provides a refreshing take on male mental health in teen dramas.

Jeremiah and Belly share a quiet, deeply emotional moment. He confesses that while he still loves her, he’s scared to go through the heartbreak again. Belly, for once, doesn’t rush to make a choice. Instead, she listens.

In a bold twist, Belly chooses herself. She decides not to be with either brother, at least not for now. Instead, she wants to rediscover who she is outside the Fisher family’s world. It’s a mature, satisfying decision that underscores the real theme of the season: growing up means learning how to let go.

Review: A Gritty, Gorgeous, Gutting Season

The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2 might not have the sugary sweetness of its predecessor, but what it gains in emotional depth, it more than makes up for in teen drama done right. It’s messy, yes. Painful, absolutely. But it’s also real. The characters feel like living, breathing people, not caricatures of young love.

The cast elevates every moment. Lola Tung gives Belly real emotional stakes. Gavin Casalegno proves himself as more than just the “nice guy” trope. And Christopher Briney’s Conrad finally steps into his light.

Sure, the season has flaws—the Aunt Julia arc felt forced, and Skye’s storyline needed more room—but it soars when it focuses on grief, healing, and friendship.

My Verdict: 9/10
Season 2 is a heartbreaking, hopeful, and deeply human continuation of a summer story that’s grown into something much more than just a love triangle.

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