The Ultimate Endgame: Who Does Belly Actually End Up With In The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3?
The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 is arguably the most anticipated finale in young adult television right now, and the central question remains the same: Will Belly Conklin choose Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah? As of today, December 22, 2025, the third and final season is confirmed to premiere, promising a definitive and emotional conclusion to the beloved love triangle at Cousins Beach. The show, based on Jenny Han's final book, *We'll Always Have Summer*, is set to deliver an ending that has been debated fiercely by fans for years.
The final season will pick up the complex threads left dangling at the end of Season 2, following Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah as they navigate college life, family secrets, and the overwhelming pressure of choosing a future—both romantic and personal. While showrunner Jenny Han has made key changes to the on-screen narrative, the source material provides a clear path to Belly's ultimate choice, a path that the series is widely expected to follow.
The Definitive Book Ending: Belly's Final Choice Revealed
For fans who cannot wait until the final episodes drop, the answer to "who does Belly end up with?" is found in the third novel of the trilogy, *We'll Always Have Summer*. The book provides a clear and conclusive resolution to the long-standing love triangle.
The final book sees Belly and Jeremiah's relationship hit a significant roadblock while they are both attending Finch College. The relationship faces immense strain, culminating in a major turning point: Jeremiah's proposal.
- The Proposal: Jeremiah proposes to Belly, largely in response to a fight and his own insecurities, leading to an engagement that is rushed and ultimately ill-fated.
- Conrad's Intervention: Conrad, who is still deeply in love with Belly, attempts to stop the wedding, leading to a massive confrontation between the two brothers.
- The Breakup: Belly eventually realizes that the engagement is a mistake and breaks up with Jeremiah. She recognizes that while she loves Jeremiah, Conrad is the person she is truly meant to be with—her "first love" and "true north."
The story then jumps forward several years. Belly and Conrad are reunited, having spent time apart to grow and mature as individuals. The final pages of the book reveal that Belly and Conrad get married at Cousins Beach.
The Ultimate Answer: Belly Conklin ends up marrying Conrad Fisher.
Key Plot Points Expected in The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3
Season 3, which is scheduled to premiere in July 2026, will be the longest season yet, consisting of 10 episodes. This extended run allows the show to fully explore the emotional weight of the third book's narrative, including the time jump and the college setting.
The Finch College Dynamic
The third season will move the action away from the idyllic summer setting to the college campus. Belly and her best friend Taylor will enroll at Finch, where Jeremiah is already a student. This new environment will test Belly and Jeremiah's relationship outside of the Cousins Beach bubble. The dynamic between the three main characters—Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah—will be constantly fraught with tension as Conrad also attends college nearby.
The Engagement and the Wedding That Wasn't
A major and dramatic storyline from the book involves Jeremiah's impulsive proposal to Belly. This event is a critical turning point that forces Belly to confront her true feelings and the reality of her relationship with Jeremiah. The show is highly likely to include this engagement, as it serves as the ultimate catalyst for the final breakup between "Jelly" and the eventual reunion of "Bonrad." The dramatic conflict between the Fisher brothers will reach its peak during the lead-up to the wedding.
The Time Jump and the Epilogue
One of the most significant elements of the third book is the time jump. After the dramatic breakup, the story skips ahead several years, allowing the characters to mature and find themselves before reuniting. This jump is crucial for the "Bonrad" endgame, as it establishes that their love is not just a teenage summer romance but a lasting, adult connection. The final episodes of Season 3 are expected to incorporate this time jump to show Belly and Conrad's wedding and their happy ending.
Will Jenny Han Change the Ending for the Series?
Showrunner and author Jenny Han has been vocal about her commitment to the story's core themes, while also acknowledging the need to adapt for television. While the show has made notable changes—such as Jeremiah's character being more sympathetic and the addition of new storylines—the overall consensus among critics and fans is that the final pairing will remain true to the books.
Han has previously stated that she doesn't believe in changing an ending just to please a segment of the audience. The entire trilogy is built around Belly's journey of self-discovery, which ultimately leads her back to Conrad. Any major deviation from this would undermine the narrative arc established over three books and two seasons.
Topical Authority: Key Entities in The Summer I Turned Pretty Universe
The final season will revolve around the complex relationships and personal growth of these key entities:
- Belly Conklin (Lola Tung): The protagonist whose coming-of-age story is the heart of the series. Her decision is the central conflict.
- Conrad Fisher (Christopher Briney): The brooding, emotionally complex older brother who is Belly's destiny in the books.
- Jeremiah Fisher (Gavin Casalegno): The fun-loving, open younger brother who represents Belly's current, passionate relationship.
- Susannah Fisher: The matriarch whose tragic loss continues to influence all the characters' choices.
- Steven Conklin (Sean Kaufman): Belly's older brother, whose own relationship with Taylor is a key subplot.
- Taylor (Rain Spencer): Belly's best friend, whose presence at Finch will provide crucial emotional support.
- Cousins Beach: The central, nostalgic location that represents the characters' shared history and emotional anchor.
- Finch College: The new setting that introduces real-world pressures and challenges to the relationships.
- Jenny Han: The author and showrunner who holds the final creative control over the series' ending.
The Final Verdict: Why Conrad is the Endgame
The story of *The Summer I Turned Pretty* is fundamentally a story about finding your soulmate, and the narrative framework—both in the books and the show's subtle foreshadowing—points consistently towards Conrad. Their relationship is characterized by a deep, almost fated connection, despite the numerous obstacles and miscommunications they face.
Jeremiah represents the passionate, present love, but Conrad represents the enduring, foundational love. The final season will likely showcase Belly choosing herself first—gaining independence and maturity—before ultimately choosing the person who has always been her home: Conrad. While the journey will be heartbreaking for "Jelly" shippers, the final scene is expected to be a triumphant moment for "Bonrad" fans, with Belly and Conrad together, finally at peace, back at Cousins Beach.
Detail Author:
- Name : Elijah O'Keefe
- Username : bailey.francesco
- Email : georgiana54@yahoo.com
- Birthdate : 1995-06-21
- Address : 47821 Mraz Locks North Jennifer, WY 13476-4898
- Phone : 386.453.7245
- Company : Kautzer, Blick and Roob
- Job : Teacher
- Bio : Ea qui maxime itaque sed ipsum. Qui quisquam velit dolor necessitatibus nemo nihil exercitationem.
Socials
twitter:
- url : https://twitter.com/bgoldner
- username : bgoldner
- bio : Cupiditate modi aut illo quibusdam sunt. Quia laborum et omnis. Quos rerum quo aspernatur non.
- followers : 4786
- following : 1174
facebook:
- url : https://facebook.com/baby_id
- username : baby_id
- bio : Et inventore eos quia temporibus non repellat.
- followers : 5931
- following : 93
linkedin:
- url : https://linkedin.com/in/goldnerb
- username : goldnerb
- bio : Cum qui sed corrupti.
- followers : 4042
- following : 804
