As the clock struck midnight on July 16, 2025, teenage friend groups across the world were once again divided over which brother was truly best for Belly: Conrad or Jeremiah. The Summer I Turned Pretty, a TV series adaptation of the hit books written by Jenny Han, follows the love triangle between Belly Conklin and her two childhood best friends, Conrad Fisher and Jeremiah Fisher. This past July, the third and final season of the show was released, putting an end to the debate regarding which brother Belly would choose, but reviving the long-standing rivalry between Team Conrad and Team Jeremiah, which has existed ever since the show’s initial release in 2021. With red flags and redeeming moments for both brothers, the show raises the question: Which is the right team?
The younger of the two, Jeremiah, consistently radiates a fun-loving, playful energy. He is a frequent partygoer and was the one who finally pulled an introverted Belly out of her shell. Belly associates Jeremiah with fun and laughter, often referring to him as her “best friend” and describing their connection as “easy.” Although that party-animal personality was wildly exciting for a time, it also had the potential to be immensely frustrating. After high school and college, Belly often found herself in situations where her class and maturity stood in stark contrast to Jeremiah’s foolishness and immaturity.
Conrad, on the other hand, is about as mature as they come. He carries himself in a very serious and professional manner, while maintaining a mysterious and dark side that has intrigued Belly since she was a kid. Conrad and Belly’s love is intense and dramatic, marked by euphoric highs and devastating lows. A major plot point that deeply strained Belly and Conrad’s relationship was the death of Conrad’s mother. For months, Conrad carried the crushing burden of knowing his mom was near death, withholding that information from Belly to protect her peace. While Conrad believed he was doing the right thing for Belly, he ended up hurting her even more in the process. He frequently lashed out at Belly due to his depressive episodes all while she had no understanding of what he was going through. Even so, the two demonstrated the depth and strength their relationship had developed by overcoming this difficult point in their lives.
Virxhinia Kolonjia, a sophomore at GBS, is an avid supporter of Conrad. When asked why she feels the way she does, Kolonjia stated, “He’s much more complex. He’s much more intense. He sacrifices his feelings…he is loyal to his family, and also he’s just better with Belly…he’s more emotional and that is what Belly needs.” She also highlighted Conrad’s attentiveness to Belly’s needs, noting the scene in which he offers her his crew neck and the time he remembered her favorite candy was Sour Patch, not Swedish Fish. Although she was reluctant, Kolonjia acknowledged that Jeremiah had redeemable qualities of his own, saying, “I like to see both sides of the story. While Conrad was in his depressive state, Jeremiah was good for Belly because she was struggling and he is positive and energetic, so I guess that was good for her at the time. But that leads to my point that it’s kind of like a best friend.” Kolonija feels that while Jeremiah and Belly had a valuable relationship, it was only meant to be a friendship and the romantic complexity lies in her relationship with Conrad.
In the show’s finale, after a dramatic montage of Belly chasing Conrad through a Parisian train station, she chooses him. His maturity, thoughtfulness and unwavering loyalty to Belly ultimately made him the obvious choice. This was not an easy decision, as it took three full seasons to unfold and still countless disappointed Team Jeramiah fans remain. Regardless of what team you are on, all followers of the show can recognize that The Summer I Turned Pretty created a sense of community, with groups of friends growing closer through the ever present debate over the two brothers. Recently, Jenny Han confirmed that viewers should expect The Summer I Turned Pretty: The Movie to reach screens in the near future. We can only wonder what this film will bring and whether Team Conrad will stay happy for much longer.
