Author Jenny Han on “The Summer I Turned Pretty” and Her Favorite Moments from Set
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Jenny Han is an icon in young adult fiction writing. Book after book, the New York Times best-selling author has delivered relatable, read-the-whole-book-in-one-sitting types of stories that explore the nuances of first loves, friendship, and family.
In 2018, Netflix adapted Han’s To All the Boys series, creating an instant rom-com classic and sparking two wildly successful sequels, and a spin-off series. But that was just the beginning. On June 17, Prime Video debuted The Summer I Turned Pretty, the on-screen adaptation of Han’s romantic summer-centric trilogy.
Lola Tung stars as 16-year-old Isabel “Belly” Conklin, who spends each summer at Cousins Beach with her mother Laurel, brother Steven, her mom’s best friend Susannah, and her two sons, Conrad and Jeremiah. Having exited her awkward pre-teen years, and having long-harbored a crush for Conrad, Belly is ready for this summer to be different. But soon, she finds herself entangled in a messy love triangle with Conrad and Jeremiah.
Han serves as co-showrunner on the series, bringing Belly’s story and the dreamy landscape of Cousins Beach to life on-screen. Han sat down with Seventeen to discuss all things Summer I Turned Pretty, what fans might be surprised by, and when we might expect in season two.
17: What was it like to adapt Belly’s story for 2022, given that you wrote the book in 2009?
Jenny Han: That's exactly how I approached the adaptation process. I was thinking, how would I tell this story today still with all the same characters. Everyone has their same essence, but who will they be in 2022? That was my writer's journey — that and wanting the story to feel of the moment, but still, maintain what people were going to expect from it.
17: What do you think fans of the book series will be most surprised by in the series?
JH: Hmm, well, I think book fans are always a tough crowd, especially with this one. The books came out 13 years ago, so people have these ideas and images in their minds and they want it to match up to what they've imagined. So I'm nervous. I hope they like it. I keep telling them, listen, this is my adaptation, this is my vision for it, but people can still have their own idea in their minds of how the story is because nothing is really going to compare to what you've pictured in your head.
17: What moments do you think will resonate most with viewers and fans of the series?
JH: I think that Lola as Belly is just such a person that you root for and care about and you want to see succeed. So I hope that's what the fans will be on the journey for, to see her grow up because [The Summer I Turned Pretty] really is about growing up and coming into your own power.
17: As co-showrunner, were there any memorable moments with the cast that stood out to you on set?
JH: On set — everyone always says this but this is really true — the cast got so close and it was this close-knit, little, tight group from the very beginning. I wanted it to feel like these people had known each other their whole lives. So we got the cast down there early and they really bonded. I think in some ways, you know, we were [filming] in the thick of COVID, so no one was leaving on the weekends because of the testing schedule. It made things even more of its own little insular summer camp feeling. People were together all the time and not going anywhere because I was very strict on them about COVID — I'm like, please do not shut down this production by going out too much. I think it really shows on the show — their chemistry, and the way they genuinely care for each other.
17: What themes or details were most important for you to maintain in the series adaptation, and what was most important to introduce or incorporate?
JH: I think that the relationship between Belly and her mom was very important to me because I think mothers and daughters are a fertile place to be for a writer, to think about the nature of that relationship. Also, I would say the relationship between the two women, Laurel and Susannah, was foundational to the whole story because they created [the house at Cousins Beach] for themselves and their kids to have. It's almost like this separate time and place. It is a magical place. I think as you grow up, you realize how rare that is to find. To say, “I value my time with you in the summer and in Cousins, and we're gonna do that every single year,” it is a big deal. I wanted that to come across that they put this relationship and this time first in many ways. They value that.
17: What do you hope is the biggest takeaway for viewers watching the series?
JH: I hope that the takeaway would be that you can make a bunch of mistakes. But that's OK. That's part of growing up and a part of life. I think that's a lifelong thing. I think for me as a teenager, if I made a mistake or had a big fight with my mom, it would be the end of the world where you're like, I never want to be in a fight with my mom again. But inevitably, you will. I think if you approach life like, “I never want to make that big of a mistake again or have that big of a fall,” it can be confining. But I think if you can look at it like you're going to continue to make mistakes, that's part of how you grow. Who we see Belly as at the end of summer is somebody who has fallen down a lot and maybe not made all the right choices, but it's helped her get a little closer to being who she's going to be.
17: The Summer I Turned Pretty was just picked up by Amazon for season 2. Can you reveal any information on the timeline for season 2’s release or when it might start filming?
JH: Well, I mean, no. But I can say that if the word “summer” is in it, then likely a really good guess is summer we're going to be filming soon. I'm excited to get back into it. I think all the cast is too, [and] hopefully we'll have that nice summer camp feel again.
17: Finally, are you Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah?
JH: I am Team Whatever Belly Wants. I think that can change, that can stay the same, like whatever that is, is my team.
Parts of this interview have been edited and condensed for clarity.
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