Why Women Can'T Get Enough Of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty'

The Nostalgic Pull of Young Love

Courtney Gilberto, a 39-year-old mom and former 'tie-dye girl' from the 1998 Parent Trap, enjoys The Summer I Turned Pretty alongside her 10-year-old daughter. "It reminds me of young love – being wanted by multiple boys and feeling everything for the first time," she shares. It's easy to see why women like Gilberto are drawn to the series: some devoured Jenny Han's novels as teenagers, while others discovered them later and never let go.

At 36, I'm also proud to be part of the TSITP fan club. Since the show's TV debut in 2022, I've watched it repeatedly, relishing every enchanting moment. I even named my cat Lola Tung, after the series' star. The show resonates with a hazy, fragmented part of my life shaped by trauma, neurodivergence, and emotions I never fully understood.

A Tale of First Loves and Lasting Memories

“The Summer I Turned Pretty captures that transition from girlhood to desire, where everything is both exciting and uncertain," explains Deborah Robbins, a therapist specializing in relationships. "It's why the series resonates so deeply with Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z."

Years ago, I found solace in Jenny Han's books while in rehab for severe OCD. They grounded me when everything else seemed to slip away. Memories of giggling with friends, sneaking into house parties, and feeling noticed for the first time felt as fresh as Belly's confusion in the show's love triangle between brothers Jeremiah and Conrad Fisher. That emotional chaos is something many of us never quite outgrew.

From Fan Gatherings to TikTok Fame

The show's impact extends beyond the screen, sparking themed watch parties and events. Fans like Sai Ananda, a TSITP superfan, recently attended a themed bar night in NYC, complete with on-brand cocktails like The Belly and The Conrad. "We cheered, laughed, and cringed together – it felt like a real community," she notes.

Across TikTok, fans dive deep into the series with everything from memes and theories to dream-casting the show with 2000s icons. They find joy in poking fun at the series' over-the-top moments, like Belly dating two brothers, turning them into affectionate inside jokes. With season three underway, joining the TSITP chatter is a welcome break from the chaos of daily life.

Revisiting the Romance

For many, the show's allure lies in the emotional pull of first love. "If you had a Conrad of your own, the show brings you back to those feelings," says Gilberto. The series draws comparisons to romantic icons like Mr. Darcy and Anthony Bridgerton, adding layers to its already rich narrative. These connections deepen the emotional impact, especially for those who experienced messy first loves that lingered in all the right and wrong ways.

Deborah Robbins adds, "Even if we've outgrown fairytales, most of us still wonder, what if it could end happily ever after?" It's this blend of fantasy and reality that makes TSITP so captivating for women who came of age in the early 2000s, offering a soft, glittering portal to our past selves.