Unraveling the Love Triangle in 'Summer I Turned Pretty' with a Taylor Swift Twist

In The Summer I Turned Pretty, there was a surprising twist as Taylor Swift's music was used to enhance Belly's romantic connection with Jeremiah instead of Conrad.

In the latest episode of the Prime Video series, which became available for streaming on Thursday, August 3rd, Belly (played by Lola Tung) playfully pushed Jeremiah (played by Gavin Casalegno) into the pool while the song "Delicate (Taylor's Version)" played in the background. A powerful moment ensued between the two characters before Belly swam away. As their fingers gently brushed against each other in the water, the song resumed its melodious presence.

Viewers were pleasantly surprised by the unexpected musical choice made by creator Jenny Han. Previously, Han had primarily used Swift's songs to depict the love story between Belly and Conrad. The TV show, titled "The Summer I Turned Pretty," is based on a book series with the same name and delves into the complex love triangle involving Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah. Han, aged 42, excitedly shared her experience of showcasing crucial scenes with Swift's discography after the show premiered.

“It’s just that I'm a fan, you know? The fans of the book are fans too. And it's a perfect blending of those two worlds," she shared with TVLine in June 2022. "The overlap between Swifties and Summer fans is like a circle, it's all interconnected. While we were narrating the story, there were countless moments when I thought, 'This could really benefit from a touch of Taylor Swift.' It was that simple. We already have an amazing collection of music on the show, but I've always believed that her songwriting as a storyteller perfectly aligns with the essence of Summer."

The show's outcome may not align with the books, as hinted by the author.

When asked about the creative direction of the show and the expectations of the fans, she shared with Variety, "Finding the right balance between meeting the fans' expectations and allowing the show to evolve creatively has been a priority for me. It's crucial that fans of the book feel satisfied with the story we're portraying while understanding that this is a new adaptation in a different medium. These are the two main factors that I constantly keep in mind."

Han also mentioned, "Although I don't want to give away too much, considering the books have been available for a significant amount of time, anything can happen with the show. I approached it with an open mind and explored various possibilities."

More recently, Casalegno, 23, further teased that viewers might be in for a surprise when it comes to Belly’s final choice.

In June, he exclusively expressed his belief that there is a high likelihood of the hit series deviating from its original ending.

While filming season 2, the actor mentioned that he didn't pay too much attention to his character's future arc. He believed in keeping it realistic and not getting too fixated on where the character ultimately ends up. The actor trusted the writing of Jenny, acknowledging her ability to naturally guide him in the right direction without any forced influence. Fans can catch The Summer I Turned Pretty episodes on Prime Video Fridays, and the series has already been confirmed for a third season.