Every Wednesday, fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty tune in for a new episode on Prime Video. Since its release, the show has blown up online and divided viewers into two clear sides: Team Jeremiah vs Team Conrad.
The series, based on Jenny Han’s novels, is confirmed for three seasons total, with the third being the last. At the center of the story is Belly Conklin, a teenage girl stuck in a love triangle with the Fisher brothers, Jeremiah and Conrad. Both brothers care for her, but their very different personalities and choices fuel the constant debate across social media.
Conrad, the older brother, is quiet and often distant. In Season 1, he pushes Belly away while still giving her mixed signals. One day, he seems interested; the next day, he shuts down. This becomes more understandable when you learn what he is dealing with behind the scenes: he discovers his father is having an affair while also watching his mother slowly die from cancer.
These struggles explain, though don’t excuse, why he mishandles important moments with Belly. For instance, at prom, he forgot to bring Belly flowers, something small, but deeply meaningful to her because it symbolized the night she’d dreamed of for years, and Conrad knew of this.
To Belly, his forgetting wasn’t just careless; it showed his lack of attention to her feelings. His tendency to avoid opening up makes him come across as emotionally unavailable, even though his silence often comes from carrying the weight of his family alone.
Jeremiah, on the other hand, is outgoing and cheerful. Many fans call him the “golden retriever” brother because of how supportive and fun he seems. He often makes Belly feel noticed and appreciated, especially in Season 1.
But his behavior is not always as perfect as it seems. In Season 3, when their car tire went flat, Jeremiah lashed out at Belly and raised his voice at her, blaming her even though it wasn’t her fault. These moments of immaturity stand out because they clash with the caring image fans often hold of him.
His patterns show up in bigger ways, too, like when he cheated on Belly because they were “on a break”, or when he pushed to invite his father’s coworkers to their wedding that Belly didn’t feel comfortable with. At the same time, Jeremiah sometimes shows maturity when he tells Conrad that if he still had feelings for Belly, he should step up and be honest about it. Though those moments are far rarer than the times when he acts defensively, manipulatively, or childishly.
Jeremiah may be viewed as someone who’s “perfect”; however, the truth is he is far from that. He’s a cheater, manipulator, and constantly puts himself before others.
Both brothers are flawed in their own ways. Conrad is learning and trying to grow, even going to therapy and taking steps to work on himself. Jeremiah often struggles with handling conflict and taking responsibility for his actions. That’s why fans are so divided: Conrad represents growth and depth, while Jeremiah may bring warmth and fun for a while, but he is more noted for his inconsistency.
No matter which side one is on, The Summer I turned Pretty succeeded in getting people invested. The arguments between Team Jeremiah and Team Conrad are part of what has made the series such a hit. With the final season on the way, fans will keep debating who is better for Belly, and that ongoing conversation is part of what makes watching so intriguing for some viewers.
