In the months leading up to the highly publicized engagement of Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift, conversations around engagement ring size frequently emerged among 30-year-old women, largely fueled by youthful nostalgia surrounding a notable television adaptation.
“The Summer I Turned Pretty,” an Amazon Prime Video series derived from a popular trilogy of young adult novels by Jenny Han, recently concluded its third and final season in September. The narrative centers around a teenage girl entangled in a romantic triangle with two brothers, with a memorable plot twist that sends her to Paris—a theme resonant with teenage escapism.
Targeted effectively at millennial women, the series featured a soundtrack heavily influenced by the music of Taylor Swift, enhancing its appeal. The debut of the first two episodes in the final season captured the attention of 25 million viewers, predominantly aged between 25 to 54, according to reports from the New York Times. Over its concluding season from July to September, the show accumulated an impressive 6.57 billion viewing minutes as noted by Nielsen.
Adding to the excitement, Jenny Han, the original author and one of the creators of the series, announced alongside Prime Video the forthcoming release of a feature-length film that aims to provide a definitive closure to the storyline. Although specifics about the film remain limited, early predictions suggest a premiere date set for 2027.
Overall, “The Summer I Turned Pretty” has dominated online discussions, with enthusiastic responses from fans. Swedish Fish, for instance, even engaged in online discourse surrounding the show’s love triangle. Gathering in bars for watch parties became a common practice, alongside the explosion of fan theory videos that dissected the narrative. The series resonates with viewers by tapping into the nostalgic themes of first love reminiscent of late ’90s and early 2000s classics like “Gilmore Girls,” “Dawson’s Creek,” and “Gossip Girl,” encapsulating the familiarity and charm of earlier youthful dramas that shaped its audience.
This fervent interest in the series not only rekindles fond memories for viewers but also highlights the cultural impact of YA adaptations, emphasizing their relevance in contemporary discussions surrounding romance and relationships. Their ability to stir emotional connections aligns seamlessly with today’s pop culture landscape, ultimately offering a hopeful outlook on the enduring influence of love stories through different generations.