After a long and arduous wait, The Summer I Turned Pretty readers finally got to see their beloved novel hit the small screen. The highly anticipated show, which began streaming on Amazon Prime on June 17, adds a coming-of-age twist to a drama centered on a love triangle between Isabel “Belly” Conkin (Lola Tung) and brothers Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) and Conrad (Christopher Briney).While the series retains most of the novel’s endearing aspects, author and showrunner Jenny Han has made some monumental alterations to the characters and storylines. We take a look at all the ways the TV adaptation of The Summer I Turned Pretty is different from the novel.
8 The Summer I Turned Pretty Series Has An Asian American Lead
When The Summer I Turned Pretty first hit bookshelves in 2009, its cover illustration featured a freckled brunette woman whom readers naturally assumed was Isabel "Belly" Conklin. However, for the TV adaptation, Belly morphs into a mixed-race teenager with Korean roots.
Jenny Han explained this alteration to CinemaBlend saying, “When I was approaching the adaptation, I wanted to really reflect the moment that we're living in. And I think the diversity of characters is a piece of that.”
7 The Summer I Turned Pretty Series Features An Annual Debutante Ball
The Summer I Turned Pretty series grants viewers the opportunity to engross themselves in all the emotion and drama leading up to Belly’s first debutante ball. Despite being a focal point of the show, Belly’s debutant journey was not featured in the novel.
Jenny Han explained this particular change to TheWrap saying, “The Deb Ball was a chance to really bring a rite of passage, like a ceremonial rite of passage of growing up to life.”
6 How Jeremiah’s Character Changes In The Summer I Turned Pretty Series
The Summer I Turned Pretty series also adds an unexpected dimension to Jeremiah’s character. In episode two of the series, it becomes apparent that Jeremiah is sexually fluid when he points out all the people he had been intimate with at a pool party.
In an interview with E! News, Jenny Han acknowledged that while the revelation might startle some viewers, “it shouldn't feel like too much of a surprise” after a thorough examination of the books and Jeremiah’s character.
5 Nicole’s Role Changes In The Summer I Turned Pretty Series
In The Summer I Turned Pretty Series, Nicole, alias Red Sox Girl, undergoes a major character transformation. In the book, Belly and Nicole are both pursuing a relationship with Conrad, rendering their relationship purely adversarial. However, the series cultivates a mentor-mentee relationship between the two.
Explaining the change to TV Insider, Jenny Han noted, “With Nicole, I thought that was an opportunity to show another female friendship and didn’t have to be such an adversarial thing.”
4 Belly And Jeremiah’s Love Story Unfolds Differently In The Summer I Turned Pretty Series
Belly and Jeremiah’s love story also undergoes a major overhaul in the series, with Jeremiah declaring his interest and Belly deciding to pursue a relationship with him a bit earlier than anticipated.
Jenny Han explained this unexpected development to TV Insider saying, “The love triangle was really important to establish in the first season to know what story we’re telling. So even if we didn’t get another season, people would have been able to experience that a little bit … so that got moved up a little bit.”
3 How The Summer I Turned Pretty Cast Differs From The Book
The Summer I Turned Pretty series revamped cast features a new character altogether. The new character, Cleveland (Alfredo Narciso), ends up becoming an emotional outlet for Conrad (Christopher Briney), fostering a more profound understanding of the teen’s internal struggles.
According to Briney, “Having Conrad have a whole mentor in Cleveland was wonderful as an actor in understanding his journey and where he comes from."
2 The Summer I Turned Pretty Series Does Not Sideline Belly’s Older Brother
The Summer I Turned Pretty series also breathes new life into Belly’s older brother, Steven (Sean Kaufman). In the novel, Steven elects to spend most of the summer taking college tours, rendering an in-depth exploration of his character impractical.
In the show, however, Steven’s storyline is expounded by equipping him with a love interest and using his character as a window into racial bias and socioeconomic inequities in the community.
1 Laurel And Susannah’s Storyline Changes In The Summer I Turned Pretty Series
Laurel (Jackie Chung) and Susannah’s (Rachel Blanchard) characters acquire more depth in the TV adaptation of The Summer I Turned Pretty.
The show gradually cultivates a sisterly bond between the two moms, which comes in handy when navigating Susannah’s cancer diagnosis. Laurel is also transformed into a struggling author while Susannah is allowed to explore her artistic side.
