In the second-to-last episode of The Summer I Turned Pretty, all the important plotlines (like the house being sold, the mom’s worries, and the conflicts with the brother) are neatly wrapped up before setting the stage for the upcoming clash between Belly (also known as Lola Tung) and another Fisher brother. So, let’s take a moment to go over what happened!
Laurel (Jackie Chung) received an unexpected voicemail from Belly, urging her to come to Cousins Beach. When she arrives, she is angry to find that Susannah’s (Rachel Blanchard) furniture is missing and the house is filled with leftover party mess. Her confusion deepens as she discovers that it was Julia (Kyra Sedgwick) who took the furniture, and the boys learned about the house being sold from the sign on the lawn.
In a much-needed and overdue moment of reckoning, Laurel finally confesses her pent-up anger towards Belly for making Susannah’s funeral a self-centered affair. In a burst of emotion, Belly passionately asserts that Susannah would never forgive Laurel for leaving her sons behind. This heated exchange reaches its climax when Laurel actually slaps her own daughter. Yes, you read that right – she suh-LAPS her! The tension and perplexity of the situation are palpable, leaving us questioning the complexities of mother-daughter relationships and the consequences of past actions.
Jeremiah (played by Gavin Casalegno) stumbles upon Belly by the shore later on, and their talk swiftly veers towards their intricate love story. He expresses that his concerns regarding Conrad (portrayed by Christopher Briney) go beyond just Belly, and even though she insists there are no lingering feelings between her and Conrad, Jeremiah remains unconvinced.
Inside the dilapidated house, Steven (played by Sean Kaufman) confesses to his mother that Belly has been the one supporting the Fisher brothers during their difficult time. This revelation stirs up a sense of remorse within Laurel, who then embarks on a mission to seek out Belly and offer her apologies. She wants to make amends for both physically assaulting Belly and for harboring her anger. Laurel also intends to confront her tendency to flee from her emotions. Tears are shed, embraces are shared, and ultimately, they find solace in forgiving each other. The weight that has burdened their relationship is finally lifted, which is incredibly gratifying.
Laurel takes a moment to say sorry to everybody in the group for not being present earlier. She assures them that she will have a conversation with Julia. To everyone’s surprise, Julia suddenly shows up and finds that the previously pristine house is now in violation of the sales agreement she had agreed to. It seems like this agreement explicitly mentioned that the walls should not be spray-painted.
This is the part where Laurel pulls off something impressive, persuading Julia to reveal that Susannah wrote a letter instead of contacting her directly to discuss the trust and the house. That’s how she discovered that the cancer had returned, and beneath Julia’s anger lies a profound sorrow for not being able to mend things with Susannah before her passing.
Laurel has secured her own unique role as an integral part of Susannah’s household, life, and affection, a position she proudly acknowledges in her memoir. This heartfelt connection between Laurel and Susannah bears a remarkable resemblance to her uplifting conversation with Belly. With hearts lightened, the ladies reenter the house joyfully sharing the news that Julia has decided to withdraw from the sale.
After a great round of festivities, where Jeremiah joyfully embraces Belly in a big hug, everyone enthusiastically starts tidying up. Surprisingly, this is the cleanest aftermath of a party I have ever witnessed. There are mainly streamers scattered around and cups that aren’t sticky at all. But where are the store-brand Doritos that usually get crushed into the carpet? Or the half-empty beer bottles that usually topple over on the bathroom counter? And most importantly, where’s the mess of vomit?
Conrad pulls Belly close, expressing regret for the way he abruptly ended their relationship. In response, she assures him that she cherishes every moment they shared, even recalling their cozy cocoa night. As they embrace, her face reflects tranquility, while Connie’s displays a deeper and more contemplative mood.
Let’s dive into a heartwarming scene featuring Julia and Skye (played by the talented Elsie Fisher) that showcases the incredible bond these two characters share. It’s truly refreshing to witness their solid connection, especially considering how often they butt heads over matters of property. What really captivates us is Julia’s sheer enthusiasm as she celebrates Skye’s first romantic encounter. And to make the moment even more amusing, the conversation takes place on inflatable furniture. This delightful encounter between Julia and Skye truly highlights the authenticity and joy that can be found in their relationship.
Now, let’s talk about the next challenge our group faces – Adam Fisher, played by Thomas Everett Scott. Oh boy, he’s not happy when he finds out that Julia sold the house. He quickly snaps, claiming that it’s not Laurel’s house and she shouldn’t be meddling in it.
Adam finally confesses that despite having a tumultuous bond with Susannah, it is an emotionally distressing experience for him to be inside her domicile. He candidly expresses, “Her presence permeates every corner of this place.”
Laurel emerges victorious by highlighting the fact that despite her efforts to dissuade Susannah from marrying Adam (no chance!), her dearest friend ultimately chose him and embraced their love, much like Laurel’s own affection for their humble abode and their beloved offspring.
Adam agrees to sell the house in Boston in order to purchase this new place without relying on the trust fund belonging to the boys. This news brings great joy to the boys, and they express their excitement through lots of hugging. However, this leads us to wonder, where will Adam find a new place to call home?
We don’t have time to get caught up in those little details because there’s still more apologizing to be done! Conrad confesses to his brother that he never fully grasped the extent of Jere’s struggles, which were always hidden behind his carefree demeanor. They both pledge to be completely truthful about any disagreements in the future. Conrad makes a sincere promise that he and Belly are now close pals, even though it’s almost difficult for him to say it out loud.
One of their biggest hurdles is Conrad’s admission to Stanford University. Jeremiah is completely determined that his brother must go, so everyone comes together to assist Connie in preparing for his biology final exam, which he must pass in order to transfer. It’s a race against time, and they’re all pitching in to make sure Connie succeeds.
As Julia and Laurel make their way out, leaving the core four behind to focus on a study session, they casually discuss the possibility of everyone getting together in the future. Meanwhile, Belly silently promises herself that helping Conrad out one last time is the final act of kindness she’ll do for him before moving on.
After a quick snooze by the Fisher brother, Belly wakes up and playfully sprays Conrad with water while also dousing Jeremiah. To motivate them to study, she comes up with a rewards system involving McDonald’s burgers and fries. Conrad, with tired eyes, asks if there are any additional rewards, but Belly firmly informs him that fast food is the only option.
Let’s imagine a scenario where the atmosphere is filled with excitement and stimulation as people engage in various activities like quizzes, drills, and flashcards. Gradually, the ambience evolves into a lively dance party, with everyone grooving to the energetic beats of The Strokes’ song “Last Nite.” This particular track holds a special place in Susannah’s heart, making it a personal favorite. Additionally, the occasion is enhanced by the presence of Belly’s voice-over, proclaiming that this gathering exudes a unique kind of magic found only in beach houses. In this magical setting, one can’t help but think that Susannah, if she were present, would undoubtedly approve and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere.
As the evening progresses, Steven and Jere drift off to sleep, leaving Belly and Conrad sitting on poolside chairs. Conrad expresses concern that he has made irreversible mistakes in his life, but Belly nostalgically emphasizes the importance of not squandering the opportunities that come your way. Just as she is about to open up about her own emotions, Conrad slips into slumber, inadvertently cutting her off.
The following day, Laurel fondly remembers a mixture of emotions when Susannah encouraged her to complete her book before it’s too late for her to enjoy reading it. In the present, Laurel captures a mandatory snapshot of the four children together.
Everyone is filled with contentment and joy, with even Steven granting Conrad his approval to pursue Belly once more. It goes to show that individuals have the capacity to transform, just like Taylor and himself. Taylor had recently bid farewell to Cousins Beach, leaving Belly with a cautionary message to safeguard her heart as cautiously as she protects the Fisher brothers’.
In this exciting twist of events, Laurel generously hands over three refreshing cups of iced coffee to Belly and asks her to head to Brown alongside the boys. The intention behind this is for Belly to successfully complete the task she had initiated earlier. However, before they bid farewell, they come up with an exciting plan for the upcoming Fourth of July celebration at the house. To kick things off in true festive fashion, the three boys come together to hoist Belly up and gleefully carry her towards the pool. This delightful tradition, known as the Belly flop, promises lots of fun and laughter for everyone involved.
As Belly sits in the car, she reassures Jeremiah that she is not feeling cold. However, her actions contradict her words when she silently accepts Conrad’s brown sweatshirt that he hands to her from the backseat. Jeremiah, being observant as always, notices every interaction that Belly has with his brother Conrad.
Once Conrad is dropped off for his final exam, Jeremiah kindly offers to take Belly on a tour of Finch. He recalls her counselor mentioning that Finch would be a great college option for her. So, Jeremiah decides to show Belly around the campus, giving her a chance to get a feel for the place and possibly consider it as a future college choice.
Belly and Jere are having a fun time on campus, and Belly is sporting Conrad’s Brown sweatshirt. At the end of the day, Belly purchases her own Finch sweatshirt, which symbolizes something meaningful to her. She reveals to Jeremiah her desire to join the volleyball team at this college. Jeremiah shares the same aspiration, and their conversation is filled with intense eye contact as they envision the possibilities of attending the same college. They imagine attending each other’s games, enjoying meals together, and studying late into the night.
Jeremiah interrupts the atmosphere and leads them back to Brown to patiently wait for Conrad. Belly, overwhelmed with emotions, musters the courage to inquire if there is any possibility of him granting her another opportunity.
Jere, with caution in his voice, expresses his fear of getting his heartbroken again by Belly. He shares his vulnerability, admitting that he can’t handle it if she changes her mind like she did before.
She promises that she won’t go back to her Conrad dreams anymore. Things have changed, and now she has her eyes set on Jeremiah. He’s not just a dream; he’s a real person, and the one she truly desires. So, there’s no doubt in her mind about her choice.
As she gently guides his face towards hers, she hesitates before softly querying, “Do you still…?” He feels a mix of uncertainty and curiosity flooding his thoughts, unsure of what her next words will bring. Will they stir up memories of the past or kindle new emotions within him? The air hangs with expectation as he eagerly awaits her response, his heart racing in anticipation.
With barely a moment’s pause, he breathes out, “Absolutely. I most definitely do.” And in that instant, he kisses her as if her lips are the very essence of life itself, as if he has been deprived of breath for an eternity.
However, their moment is abruptly halted by a loud and deliberate throat-clearing sound. It turns out to be Conrad, experiencing a dose of his own medicine in the form of witnessing his brother kissing the girl he desires. The look on Conrad’s face does not indicate any sort of happiness, rather quite the opposite.
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