In the first season of The Summer I Turned Pretty, Conrad and Belly do not become a romantic couple, though their connection deepens significantly and lays groundwork for future seasons. Based on Jenny Han’s books, the show preserves the slow-burn tension between the thoughtful, guarded older brother and the introspective younger friend, while prioritizing the emerging bond between Conrad and his other childhood friend, Jeremiah. This season focuses on self-discovery, shifting family dynamics, and small but meaningful steps that hint at what might come later.
Conrad and Belly in the Source Books vs the Show
In Jenny Han’s It’s Not Summer Without You and the subsequent novels, Conrad and Belly share a long, complicated history that informs every glance, silence, and argument. The TV adaptation streamlines timelines and condenses events for seasonal pacing, but it keeps core emotional beats intact. In both versions, Conrad tends to push people away when he feels vulnerable, and Belly struggles with her own worthiness of affection. The crucial difference this season is emphasis: the show leans into Conrad’s protectiveness and Belly’s cautious hope without accelerating them into a committed relationship.
Key Moments That Define Their Season 1 Dynamic
- Childhood flashbacks that establish years of shared history and unspoken feelings.
- Conrad’s short-lived romantic involvement with another character, which highlights his confusion rather than commitment to Belly.
- Belly’s moments of jealousy and quiet retreat, signaling her internal conflict between two brothers.
- Conrad’s candid but halting conversations with Belly, where honesty alternates with retreat.
On-Screen Choices and Narrative Focus
Showrunner Sarah Watson makes deliberate choices to spotlight Conrad’s romantic arc with Jeremiah in Season 1. This decision reframes Conrad and Belly as two people who care deeply and occasionally move toward each other, yet remain unable to sustain a clear, mutual romance in the moment. Scenes between Conrad and Belly often emphasize charged glances, unfinished sentences, and tactile restraint (a nearly-held hand, a lingering look), which communicates potential without progressing to a relationship label.
How Their Relationship Differs from Conrad and Jeremiah
The central love triangle in Season 1 is not between Belly and either brother, but between the two brothers themselves. Jeremiah’s emerging confidence and willingness to communicate create contrast with Conrad’s guardedness. Belly’s attention follows this shift, making her romantic trajectory feel in motion but not yet attached to one person. This structure ensures Conrad and Belly remain emotionally intertwined without forming a unit that would prematurely resolve Season 1 tensions.
What the Season Establishes for Future Development
Season 1 solidifies Conrad and Belly as each other’s emotional anchors and mirrors. They understand one another in ways others cannot, yet their shared history is both comfort and burden. The season plants seeds for later growth: moments of vulnerability, confessions withheld, and gestures that almost bridge the gap. By the close of Season 1, their connection is closer and more complicated, but not yet a defined couple, preserving narrative tension for subsequent seasons.
Conclusion
In Season 1, Conrad and Belly draw nearer in meaningful ways but do not officially get together. Their relationship functions as an important emotional throughline that enriches the series’ exploration of family, choice, and timing. Viewers are given a realistic portrayal of slow-burn affection where restraint is as telling as any confession, setting up future possibilities without forcing resolution where it doesn’t yet belong.