Summer’s about to get hotter because The Summer I Turned Pretty has been renewed for a second season on Amazon Prime. The TV series based on the bestselling books by Jenny Han is already a hit, and the renewal news came before the first season even aired! To get details on what could happen on the show’s second season, including cast, photos, plot hints and more, keep reading below.
Is The Summer I Turned Pretty filming season 2? Will the cast return?
Author Jenny Han knew from the very beginning that the story would need to be told in more than just one season. “To receive a second season pickup ahead of the premiere of Season One is beyond my wildest dreams. I am so grateful to Amazon Studios for this amazing vote of confidence in our show, and cannot wait to bring our incredible team back together to tell the next chapter in our story,” she shared in Amazon’s official press release.
Alluding to the team being back together hopefully means that the original cast will return for season 2. One person we know for sure is returning? Lola Tung, who plays Belly! Amazon Prime posted a behind the scenes photo featuring Lola and Jenny with the caption: “We are back in Cousins Beach! Season 2 is underway. ☀️@thesummeriturnedpretty”
Yes, you read that right: filming for season 2 of The Summer I Turned Pretty is already happening! Production began a few days ago, and will more than likely continue into fall. If Lola’s back, fans are crossing their fingers that means Christopher Briney, Gavin Casalegno, Sean Kaufman, David Iacono, Rain Spencer, Summer Madison, Minnie Mills, Jackie Chung and Rachel Blanchard return as well.
What to expect from the plot of The Summer I Turned Pretty season 2
Now, as for the plot, since season 1 is (mostly) based off of Han’s first book, it’s safe to say that season 2 may pull inspiration from her second novel It’s Not Summer Without You, also known as “Summer #2.” Set the summer after the events in book 1, It’s Not Summer Without You follows Belly, her family, and the Fishers as they deal with loss. Conrad and Belly tried dating but things fizzled out before the summer began. Belly also feels like she’s lost her connection with Jeremiah, but that changes when he reaches out to her to find Conrad, who went missing from college.
When they do find him, he’s at the beach house, where they decide to throw one last party before it goes up for sale. The love triangle between Belly, Jeremiah and Conrad heats up again, with Jeremiah reiterating his feelings for Belly. But, she’s still pining over Conrad, despite him acting distant. The trio convinces Conrad and Jeremiah’s dad not to sell the beach house, while Belly and Jeremiah kiss.
The ending of the first book and the first season of the TV show are the same: Belly has hope for a relationship with Conrad. If die-hard fans or bibliophiles recall the second book, there’s some hope to be had for Jeremiah as things end between Belly and Conrad. Afterward, Belly and Jeremiah decide to give their relationship a fair shot. While not a concrete blueprint for the TV adaption, it could be a strong indicator for how season 2 would end.
Per Amazon, “Season Two of The Summer I Turned Pretty is led by showrunners Jenny Han and Sarah Kucserka. Han, Kucserka, Karen Rosenfelt, and Gabrielle Stanton serve as executive producers, along with Hope Hartman, Mads Hansen, and Paul Lee for wiip.”
Are any of the cast dating in real life?
No, none of the cast is dating in real life. But, outside of the show, some are in other relationships, like Christopher Briney dating actress Isabela Rose Machado, or Gavin Casalegno dating model/actress Larsen Thompson.
For more info on some of the cast’s dating lives, check out our other article below.
While the books take place on the fictional Cousins Beach in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the show was actually filmed in Wilmington, North Carolina. It’s a coastal Southern city that’s known for beautiful beaches, according to J-14. TV fans will also know that One Tree Hill was filmed in Wilmington, putting the town on the map in the early 2000s.
While the cast hasn’t posted any behind the scenes from season 2, the show’s official Instagram did post a photo of Lola Tung (Belly) with the caption: “little miss summer breeze in her hair.” It definitely has fans wondering if it’s a second season photo! Check it out now:
A bit more about breakout actress Lola Tung, aka: Belly
Speaking of Lola Tung, The Summer I Turned Pretty is her first major acting role! Hailed as a breakout star, Lola auditioned for the hit Amazon Prime series during her freshman year at Carnegie Mellon. Although she only had theater credits to her name then, her raw talent got her the lead role of Isabel “Belly” Conklin.
Since it’s debut in June, Lola’s star has been on the rise. She has an amazing 1.4 million followers on Instagram, and the 19 year old is just getting started. Even though she took last year off to focus on season 1 of The Summer I Turned Pretty, it’s assumed she’ll go back to school after season 2 wraps. Not many can balance all of that, but she’s doing it wonderfully.
Is there a premiere date for season 2 of The Summer I Turned Pretty?
While there’s no premiere date set yet for season 2 of The Summer I Turned Pretty, if it follows the same formula as season 1, then it could be here by summer 2023. Keep up by following the show on Instagram and Twitter to see when the official date is announced.
Kari Highman is a Beauty and Fashion Blogger at Feeling the Vibe Magazine. Otterbein Alum (2017) – English & Psychology. Always learning & creating. Avid fan of mid 2000’s TV & pop music. Comments or tips, email kari@feelingthevibe.com