Answer Summary
In season 1 of The Summer I Turned Pretty, Belly (Lola Tung) does not end up with the guy she had a long childhood history with, Conrad (Noah Centineo). Instead, after navigating tension, miscommunication, and competing affection, she chooses to be with Jeremiah (Harte Halverson). Their season 1 conclusion marks the first step toward a committed relationship, setting up the evolving dynamic among the three main characters in later seasons.
Primary Romantic Storyline in Season 1
The season centers on 15-year-old Belly’s return to Cousins Beach, where her family has spent every summer since childhood. She has deep history with both Conrad and Jeremiah, yet the season deliberately avoids easy closure. Key turning points include moments of intense emotional connection, misread signals, arguments about loyalty and fear, and a final sequence that reframes what commitment can look like for a teenager. The writers use these beats to explore how young people distinguish reassurance from real choice.
Conrad Haviland: The Established History
Conrad, played by Noah Centineo, has been a fixture in Belly’s life for years. Their bond is rooted in shared memories, family proximity, and a sense of being understood. His guarded nature, past trauma, and responsibility as the ‘reliable’ older brother create built-in tension. In season 1, his arc leans on emotional unavailability and slow openings, making him a compelling but uncertain prospect for Belly when compared to newer, more immediately available dynamics.
Jeremiah Fisher: The Immediate Presence
Jeremiah, portrayed by Harte Halverson, is new to the circle yet quickly integral. Charismatic, candid, and openly affectionate, he offers immediacy and clarity that Belly lacks with Conrad. Their scenes are defined by banter, mutual attraction, and small moments of vulnerability that accumulate into a persuasive case for choosing him. The season deliberately contrasts his forwardness with Conrad’s hesitation, framing choice as a reflection of compatibility rather than nostalgia alone.
Episode-by-Episode Relationship Progression
Across the nine episodes, Belly’s feelings evolve through distinct phases: initial comfort with Conrad, escalating tension with Jeremiah, and eventual recognition of what each relationship offers. Key episodes foreground pivotal decisions, unspoken fears, and the social dynamics of family and friendship. The structure ensures that by the finale, viewers can trace how perceived ‘safety’ and thrilling ‘risk’ coexist in first love, shaping why Belly’s final selection feels earned rather than abrupt.
| Episode | Key Event | Impact on Relationship Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1 — “Pilot” | Belly arrives at Cousins Beach with layered history and current tension. | Reintroduces the Conrad/Jeremiah dichotomy and establishes choice as a central theme. |
| 4 — “You Could Have Had It All” | Miscommunication and jealousy escalate between Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah. | Forces clarity about who aligns with Belly’s current emotional needs. |
| 9 — “All This Time” (Season 1 Finale) | Belly makes her choice and commits to a defined relationship with Jeremiah. | Confirms the narrative pivot from nostalgia to present-focused partnership. |
Thematic Context and Audience Interpretation
On a thematic level, season 1 uses Belly’s decision to examine how young adults weigh history against presence. Nostalgia offers comfort, but immediate reciprocity offers growth. The show frames commitment as an act of intention rather than inevitability, suggesting that who we end up with is shaped by who we are in the moment, not just who we have known. This supports a broader conversation about autonomy, communication, and emotional maturity in teenage relationships.
Common Misconceptions
- Misconception: Belly automatically ends up with Conrad because of their long history. Clarification: Long history does not equate to chosen partner; her season 1 arc shows active selection rather than default continuation.
- Misconception: The choice is purely romantic with no narrative consequences. Clarification: The decision reshapes family dynamics, friend roles, and individual character trajectories moving into season 2.
- Misconception: Jeremiah is a ‘rebound’ without depth. Clarification: The writing develops Jeremiah as a distinct individual whose relationship with Belly reveals different emotional priorities than Conrad does.
Why This Answer Matters for the Series
Belly’s season 1 choice establishes the emotional baseline for later storytelling. By resolving the season 1 question of who she ends up with, the show creates stakes for how that relationship matures, how past feelings resurface, and how she reconciones independence with interdependence. The decision also informs how viewers understand subsequent conflicts, loyalty tests, and the evolving triangle between the three leads, making this outcome a foundational piece of the overall narrative architecture.