After being graced with eight episodes that continue the team Conrad or team Jeremiah outrage, “The Summer I Turned Pretty” has ended its second season, and its love-hate consensus is split between fans.

The Amazon Prime’s TV adaptation reintroduces us to the original cast, as well as a few new characters, only a year after last summer — season one.

Within this year, the season unfolds heartbreak for Belly Conklin (Lola Tung) as her relationship with Conrad Fisher dwindles during the progression of his mother Susannah’s cancer diagnosis and treatment.

While this affects every character, it hits both Conrad (Christopher Briney) and his brother Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) pretty hard, making their lives even more complicated as they navigate college and teen-hood.

Although this is all set in the past, the crew is called back to their family house in Cousins, due to Conrad’s disappearance from college and his lack of communication with Jeremiah.

When Jeremiah and Belly ultimately reach the vacation home, they’re introduced to their estranged aunt and cousin, who have decided to sell the house, since it had little meaning to them.

The series continues with the group attempting to postpone the sale of the home, but while that is a major plot line in the story, most viewers like myself, were not focused on the sale, instead, I was called to the potential love story.

As viewers saw in season one, Belly obliterated any chance with Jeremiah after she was no longer interested in a relationship with him and once Conrad finally admitted his feelings for her. So, what would happen this season — a possible second-chance romance?

The duration of the eight episodes throws viewers back into the past, to see and feel the deeper meaning behind the thoughts Belly has of both of the boys.

This is a successful way to catch viewers on their own emotions, but the season seemed melodramatic.

There are several encounters between characters that depict the melodrama of this second season, such as a live performance at a high school party that leads to a fight over a girl.

While I’m no longer in that stage of life, it seemed silly and nonrealistic, and I do not recall a single live band at any party I was ever invited to.

Another shocking detail in the storyline is that the main character is 16, almost 17, but her former boyfriend is 19 years old.

Not only is this illegal in most states, but better judgment would agree that this is a little weird, given their different stages of life.

Although I found parts unrealistic, a majority of the show was enjoyable to watch. 

The underlying themes of a “found family” is prominent in the second season, after certain characters are open about their familial struggles. 

The season’s ending was not my favorite, but given Belly’s choice, I’m happy that her character has found peace with her past and her present.

Season two ended August 18, 2023, and the show is available on Amazon Prime.