'The Summer I Turned Pretty' Season 3 Ending Explained: Does Belly Get A Happy Ending?

The Summer I Turned Pretty’s ending might feel a little underwhelming after all that we’ve been waiting for. However, one thing is for sure, and that is that Jenny Han has literally addressed everything that we’ve brought up on the internet regarding the show and the final season specifically. I must admit, I was quite disappointed by Belly’s bob because this show clearly has a massive budget, but they couldn’t afford a little wig for the protagonist? Sigh. However, apart from that, I think the show manages to do a good job giving everyone an important grand farewell, including Jeremiah. I will admit that a lot of people will be disappointed by the fact that the final episode gets split into two storylines, one of Belly in Paris and one of the rest of the gang back home. It definitely takes away from the moment a lot of us have been waiting for. I did quite enjoy the ending and it is a happy one for everyone, making us realize there isn’t really a villain in this story, it’s real life, and sometimes you fall for brothers. With that, let’s dive straight into season 3 finale.

Spoiler Alert

The final episode of season 3 shows us that Taylor is working so hard on her PR career that she’s somehow managed to get Jeremiah on the radar as one of Boston’s hottest up-and-coming chefs. The day is immediately messed up when Denise announces to Jeremiah that she and Steven are moving to San Francisco in a month. They’ve been seed-funded, which means their business plan has worked, and they’re going to make it big in the industry because that’s the happy ending we’ve been waiting for. However, Taylor ends up overhearing this conversation, and she’s furious that Steven hasn’t told her yet. The reason Steven hasn’t had the courage to bring it up to Taylor is that, despite how much he loves her, he thinks he’s been forcing her to do things for him, not with him. He doesn’t want to be another Lucinda in her life. Meanwhile, Taylor has another massive headache to solve because everything that they planned for the 30 people checking out Chef Jeremiah’s food tanks has to belast minute. 

Although it’s a difficult choice, Taylor suggests they do it in Cousins, and it’s actually Denise who convinces Jeremiah to do it there. We already saw it coming, but the chemistry between Nepo Baby and Denise is really soaring in this episode. Sorry, Redbird. But this is Jeremiah’s day, and we can already see that he’s come into his own after everything he’s been through. This breakup has been hard for both people, and it only makes sense he would find it difficult to go to the Cousins’ house. His wedding was cancelled there, but fortunately, Denise is around to help him there, but so is Adam. I’m not sure how Adam got the new memo, but it seems like he’s genuinely here for his son. This is what I meant when I said that there are no villains in this story. Adam’s always been the guy we’ve been bashing since the show began, but this episode proves that he’s also just a dad who’s trying. We also learn that all the parents are single again, and I genuinely didn’t want to hear Adam talking about Laurel like that, but I guess they did date first, eh? It’s good to see that John’s doing fine, but he’s also cut back on the drinking, which means he’s probably sick-ish or taking care of himself. But nothing to worry about; if he’s looking after himself, it means he’ll be around longer, eh? 

Finally, the Taylor and Steven banter that we’ve come to love so far hits us, and Taylor confronts Steven about the move. He tells her his honest feelings and how he feels he’s pushing her to do things for him rather than do what she wants to do. She tells him that she’s her own person, so nothing he says or does can push her to do something she doesn’t want to do. She says she can manage her PR career perfectly well in San Fran and maybe do even better than she’s doing in Boston, so they should move together. I mean, we always knew these two would be lovebirds forever. Maybe we’ll get that Taylor and Steven life as a spinoff. It’d be like a sitcom but set today, so it’ll just be both of them working and then coming back to the house to be lovey-dovey. 

And finally, the moment that’ll make the Jere girls happy. Not only does he succeed at making the most delicious food in this pressure cooker situation, but he also manages to kiss Denise in the kitchen. How did he manage with so much stress? Uff. But it’s good to see Jere doing something he loves and not feeling lonely anymore. He’s also genuinely happy to have sent Conrad off to see Belly. But most importantly, he hears the words “I’m proud of you” from Adam, the one thing he’s been yearning for forever. I think what Jere doesn’t realize is that he’s a lot like his dad, and that’s probably why Adam’s so hard on him sometimes. 

On the other hand, Conrad arrives in Paris, and Belly looks like an entirely different person with her bob and bold red lipstick. She gets off her scooter with Benito, and Conrad immediately fears his grand gesture has been a grand mistake. However, despite the awkwardness, Belly agrees to take him around Paris and spend the day with him. She says she has a big birthday bash at night (aww, I hope this is how it is for everyone who moves out for school). Belly seems way more confident and comfortable in Paris. Conrad is quick to notice this new side of her. But he feels like she’s distant and says he wants to see Paris in her eyes. She takes him to a viewing deck she used to come to often, and there they have their first natural conversation. She talks about how it used to be difficult when she first got there, but Conrad reminds her of how their parents used to call her a “feral cat,” which was apparently a compliment. Everything takes Conrad back to the old days, and he can’t believe he doesn’t have to “look after” Belly anymore. Finally, she asks him to come with her to the party because they seem to be doing okay now. 

Back at home, they both get ready, and Conrad looks his most Leo-like, with a white shirt and chinos, but nobody could’ve prepared him for 22-year-old Belly looking like the wildest of his imaginations. At the party, we learn that Belly already broke Benito’s heart, though Conrad keeps seeing them together, and he even gifts her a picture of her in bed (whoops). But Conrad is relieved to know that he’s still got a chance. He gives her a piece of “Cousins,” which is just sand from there from the summer Belly and Jere got together, I think. It was for when he was sure he wasn’t going to come back for a while, but every time he missed home, he decided to bring it out and feel close to home. Now since Belly’s going to be away for a bit, she can do the same. 

Don’t worry now, the steamy moments are just round the corner and as soon as it’s just the two of them, and they get to dance together on the sidewalks of Paris, they talk about prom and how despite everything it was a memorable one. They address the fact that Belly’s not the villain because she wasn’t responsible for keeping the Fisher family together, so she shouldn’t blame herself. Finally, the moment arrives, and they can’t control themselves anymore. Clearly, they’ve been waiting for each other for too long. Afterward, though, Belly immediately feels terrible for what she’s done. She realizes she’s going back to old habits, and she’s tried so hard to leave the past behind, so why did she have to immediately get with Conrad when he came to find her? Belly said that she didn’t write back to Conrad immediately because she had to move on, but does this mean she never did? I don’t think so; I think she did, but the distance worked its magic. 

Belly becomes cold and uninviting immediately, and she tells Conrad he should leave. She pretends like it was just a one-night thing, but Conrad reminds her that he loves her. He wonders if she doesn’t love him anymore, and she says that she does, which is the biggest problem. She sends him off, breaking his heart yet again, until she realizes there’s no way she can actually be without him. 

In The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3’s ending, Belly runs out of her house and rushes to the train station to find the love of her life. She gets on the Brussels train and finds Conrad in his seat. I suppose it was seeing the baby picture of herself that reminded her that no matter what, she’ll always be the same person, and she’ll always be in love with Conrad Fisher. Some things never change, I guess. She says that she will always choose him, in whatever world she’s in. Touching her infinity necklace that she somehow managed to put on in the rush to get to the station. It’s a delightful reunion where they share their love for each other; while back home, the whole family sits together at a candlelight dinner, the perfect goodbye. Belly didn’t go back that summer, but she did go back probably much later. No matter how far you try to run off, you always come back home. Finally, Belly and Conrad return to the Cousins house, now and maybe forever (at least for us).