The mysterious disappearance of Shayla escalates the gripping drama in The Summer I Turned Pretty S2

Warning: The following text contains spoilers for season 2 of The Summer I Turned Pretty. While season 1 introduced entertaining characters like Shayla, season 2 adopts a more serious tone by omitting these familiar faces. Without Shayla, Steven's character development suffers. Created by Jenny Han, author of To All the Boys I've Loved Before, The Summer I Turned Pretty tells the story of Belly, a young woman caught in a love triangle between her longtime crush and childhood best friend at their shared beach house. The second season is currently available on Amazon Prime Video.

In the first season, Belly forms a bond with a group of girls, including the fashionable Shayla, while preparing for the debutante ball. Throughout the season, Shayla and Belly's brother, Steven, develop a relationship and even attend the ball together. However, Shayla is strangely absent in season 2, suggesting that things didn't work out between her and Steven. Jenny Han revealed in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that the showrunners had originally intended for Shayla to make a cameo in season 2, but unfortunately, scheduling conflicts prevented it.

Shayla Failing To Return In The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2 Leaves Steven's Biggest Storyline Without Closure

The absence of Shayla from the cast of The Summer I Turned Pretty season 2 is a major disappointment for Steven's character. Throughout the first season, his relationship with Shayla was a significant storyline, which now remains unfinished and completely ignored. In fact, as of episode 4 in season 2, Shayla has not even been mentioned, giving the impression that their relationship never occurred. This omission also hinders the character development Steven underwent in season 1. Although he was previously depicted as somewhat immature, Shayla's presence compelled him to mature and demonstrate his worth. This was evident when Steven worked diligently to earn enough money for a suit that matched Shayla's dress for the deb ball in season 1. Additionally, Shayla's storyline could have served as a valuable lesson for Steven, teaching him that he should not have to alter his appearance or personality for his partner. Unfortunately, regardless of the angle from which the plot is examined, it is entirely discarded in The Summer I Turned Pretty season 2.

The Summer I Turned Pretty S2 Already Fails Steven In Depicting The Characters' Grief

Shayla's absence is not the sole letdown for Steven's character in The Summer I Turned Pretty season 2. While Belly navigates her emotions after her breakup with Conrad and Susannah's death, Steven is largely overlooked. The show fails to explore Steven's grief to the same extent as Belly's, Conrad's, Jeremiah's, and even Laurel's. Steven himself acknowledges this, admitting to Taylor that while he is obviously affected by Susannah's passing, he also has much to look forward to as he completes high school.

Although Belly takes center stage in the show, there are numerous other characters, including Steven, who would benefit from more screen time and backstory. The Summer I Turned Pretty season 2 already disregarded Steven's unsuccessful relationship with Shayla and exacerbates the issue by portraying him as carefree amidst the rest of the grieving cast.

Shayla's Absence In The Summer I Turned Pretty S2 Sets Up Steven's New Romance

Not mentioning Shayla in the series may be seen as a major mistake, but it is clear that her absence sets the stage for a new romance between Steven and Taylor in The Summer I Turned Pretty. Even when Steven was with Shayla in season 1, it was evident that he had a flirty and exciting connection with Taylor that could have a future in the series. Now that Shayla is completely out of the picture, this spark has the opportunity to blossom into something more, which is exactly what has happened in season 2. Fortunately, Steven's relationship with Taylor allows him to take center stage and pushes him to grow, as Taylor challenges his immature behavior.

While The Summer I Turned Pretty may have disappointed viewers by neglecting Shayla, there is still hope. It is possible that she could return in a future season if the series continues beyond season 3, and there is still time for season 2 episodes to mention her. Furthermore, Steven's new romance with Taylor is not a negative change and may actually expedite his character development. Although Shayla has been mistreated, Steven still has a chance to receive the development he deserves.

Source: Entertainment Weekly