I had to laugh when I got an email that said I was so anti-Jelly. This is very true. I am. I won’t deny it, because I have been for over a decade. Yes, I am one of the fans who read the books back in the day. I will never forget having the ARC of The Summer I Turned Pretty and sitting down to read it.
But watching this episode, I actually felt bad for the two of them. I felt bad for Jeremiah and Belly. I think it’s a parent’s job to tell you when you’re screwing up, but also being supportive is a part of what a parent should do.
And their parents are just being mean.
I know that no one supports this wedding, but it’s a matter of delivery, and none of these parents delivers well.
BELLYS MORNING CALL
It’s been two weeks since the dinner, and it is Belly’s birthday. She’s working for it – saving every dime for the wedding.
Jeremiah calls her and sings to her, and he’s so positive that everyone will come around, and I really just want to know what he’s on. Because Laurel and Adam sure aren’t going to.
He’s got this positivity, and he’s not realizing how bad this is hurting Belly. He just keeps telling her they will come around. Giving her false hope is just absolutely not okay. He needs to meet her where she is, and all he wants is for everyone to meet him where he is.
It’s selfish.
Jeremiah does a lot of great things, but his ability to read the room is not a strong point.
TAYLOR IS A HERO
The person to change the most throughout this series is Taylor. She’s taken everything in and learned from it. She’s not perfect, but she’s pretty great.
She’s there for Belly, she’s there for her Mom, and she’s even there for Steven. Taylor knows that she needs to help her Mom out of the situation that she’s in. Especially after Steven tells her that he found out that her mom’s ex had taken out lines of credit against her mom’s stuff.
There is no way that she will get a small business loan that way. They had planned on moving the salon into the house, but she doesn’t know what will happen now. The only thing that she can think of is to sacrifice her dreams.
She was so excited for her internship, but with her Mom owing so much, she called and told them she’s not coming. She uses the money for her housing to pay off some of the lines of credit.
Taylor may not have the best delivery – but some of us don’t. What she does have is this big heart that puts everyone in front of her. She’s probably more loving than anyone on this show.
Taylor deserves credit for the love that she has to give and how she’s learning to give. I also think that she needs to learn to receive it, too.
ADAM IS SATAN
One person I can’t seem to ever like is Adam. He’s just a douche, and he treats Jeremiah like he’s the scum on the bottom of his shoe. Adam doesn’t seem to like anyone, and the way he treats his sons is not something I want to see.
Jeremiah isn’t responsible and will do anything to avoid the things that he needs to do. But at a point, Adam needs to stop and listen to his son and figure out how to help him.
He’s like the devil – just plain cruel.
I do think that Adam is trying with Conrad and Steven, but when it comes to Jeremiah, he is oblivious.
Adam needs a come-to-Jesus moment. Like he needs an attitude adjustment.
WEDDING DRESS SHOPPING
I hate how Laurel is breaking Belly’s heart. I hate that what should be one of the best times in her life – her mother is being cruel.
Do I think that it sucks that Laurel wouldn’t go shopping with Belly? I do. Just seeing the look on Belly’s face when her Mom wouldn’t be there for her – I broke. But I broke even more when Belly found her dress and was sitting outside the mall.
She spent all the time searching with Taylor and her Mom, and that was hard. She’s supposed to be able to go shopping with her Mom. Her Mom refused to go, and that broke Belly. Seeing her cry and ask Jeremiah how they are supposed to do this without their Moms? I started crying. Full on crying.
Susannah – God, I wish you were here. I wish that she were there to talk to Laurel and Adam. I wish you were there to guide them all.
JEREMIAH SHOWS UP
Jeremiah showed up when he needed to for Bellly. And hey, I am glad that he’s showing up. But I also think that he’s not thinking. He’s putting himself in a position where he’s going to have to hear hard truths.
Because Laurel is not going to hold back.
And she doesn’t.
But she is way too savage, telling them all of the mistakes that they are making. The way she tore him down and then told Belly that she wouldn’t be at the wedding. Look, Laurel can think what she wants, but destroying her daughter’s heart is not right.
Belly and Laurels fight – her leaving and heading to Cousins – I can’t blame her. I wouldn’t want to be where I have to feel on edge every second. It’s what happens when she gets to Cousins that is going to change everything.
Because Conrad is there.
Jeremiah can’t stay – he needs to be at his internship – but he leaves her in Cousins to plan the wedding and to feel better. I just think that Cousins is a good place to be; however, I do believe that place is haunted by memories.
And memories may be the one thing to break them all.
CONRAD AND HIS SECRETS
I wasn’t shocked that Conrad was in Cousins because of him losing his job. I also wasn’t shocked that he didn’t tell anyone. His brother marrying the love of both of their lives? That is hard.
Really hard.
Conrad is there. I know that Jeremiah doesn’t want to hear anything bad from anyone, but honestly, out of them all, I think Conrad was in the best position to talk to his brother. It’s the way that he said it – the way that he delivered it – that wasn’t okay.
I think that he was the only person who was going to get through to Jeremiah, but in a different scenario, maybe Jeremiah is thinking that Conrad still loves Belly.
He wouldn’t be wrong.
But as this episode progresses and Jeremiah and Belly aren’t talking about what people are saying, they are making fun of it. And it’s a lot for Belly to have no one’s support.
And the person making the ultimate sacrifice with their heart – well, that’s Conrad. He was trying to leave – to go back to California – when he heard Belly crying, and man, I have never seen such agony in anyone’s face. She looked like she couldn’t make it through.
And he knows that support will make her happy, so he tells Jeremiah he’ll be his best man. He loves Belly, would give his life for Belly, and he is standing there, eating his feelings and saying that he’ll be there.
What the hell was he thinking? I tell you – I love Conrad (always have) – and he’s in a no-win situation. It’s just that he shouldn’t have to be. Belly is his person.
And these two need to figure it out.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- Belly’s Dad is my hero, and his standing up to Laurel and telling her that he will be at that wedding takes a lot
- Steven and his boss or whatever – no. just no.
- Jeremiah singing – let’s not do that again
- Team Bonrad til I die.
The Summer I Turned Pretty is streaming now on Prime Video.
