Okay, so I decided to tackle this whole “The Summer I Turned Pretty” thing. It’s this TV show that’s been blowing up, based on a book by Jenny Han. I figured, why not? I wanted to see what the fuss was about and give you all the lowdown from a parent’s perspective.

First off, I started by watching the show. Yeah, I sat through the whole thing. It’s rated TV-14, which means there’s some stuff in there that might not be suitable for younger kids. Mostly, it’s the language and some of the things they talk about, you know, typical teenage drama.
The story is about this girl, Belly, and she spends her summers at this beach house with these two brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah. They’ve been doing this since they were kids. It’s all about her growing up and figuring things out, especially when it comes to boys. There’s a lot of back and forth between her and the brothers, and some other characters get thrown into the mix, too. Let me tell you, it gets pretty complicated.
- Watching the Show: I made sure to watch every episode, taking notes on things that stood out.
- Reading the Book: I even went back and read the book. I know, I know, but I wanted to see how they compared.
- Checking Out Reviews: I looked at what other parents were saying online, just to get different opinions.
I’ve got to say, the show is pretty engaging. It’s got that summer vibe, and you can’t help but get caught up in the characters’ lives. But it’s definitely not just for kids. There are some mature themes, like I said before. It’s not super explicit or anything, but it’s there. Think about first love, heartbreaks, and all that jazz.
After I was done with the show, I started digging into what other people were saying about it. There are a bunch of guides and reviews out there, especially for parents. Some people are cool with it, others are a bit more hesitant. It really depends on what you’re comfortable with your kids watching.
In the end, I put together my own little guide. It’s got summaries of the episodes, explanations of what’s going on, and my thoughts on whether or not it’s appropriate for different ages.

What’s the Verdict?
Honestly, it’s a mixed bag. If you’ve got older teens, they’ll probably be fine with it. They might even relate to some of the stuff Belly and her friends go through. But for younger kids, I’d say maybe hold off. It’s not that it’s super bad or anything, but it’s just a bit too mature for them.
It’s like, if your kids are still into cartoons and stuff, this might be a bit much. But if they’re already into teen shows and books, then they could probably handle it. You know your kids best, so just use your judgment.
At the end of the day, I did this whole deep dive so you wouldn’t have to. It’s all about making informed decisions, right? I just wanted to give you the tools you need to decide what’s best for your family. Hope this helps!