The Unicorn Scale: The Summer I Turned Pretty

Hey there, Unicorns! I hope things are spectacular for you today — whatever form that takes. Maybe what your heart desires is a perfectly cooked steak. Or maybe you just want to have the best orgasm in recent memory whether on your own or with the help of a friend. If you’re a parent, maybe all you want is to spend a single full day without stepping on a Lego brick. Whatever floats your boat, baby.

Now I know it’s common lore that we bis love to have three different drinks on the go at any given time: one for hydration, one for caffeination and one for fun. So what fun drink do you most associate with summer? For me, it’s probably a mojito or a tinto de verano (which literally has the word “summer” in the name). As for a non-alcoholic drink: pink lemonade is my hands-down favorite. It was the summer drink of my childhood: sweet, innocent but also a sign of independence, as I had been taught how to make it on my own from the frozen can of concentrate we got at the grocery store. I couldn’t help thinking about that drink — with its connotations of both innocence and independence — as I watched The Summer I Turned Pretty. Read on and I’ll explain why.

But first, a warning. This review will contain SPOILERS for the first season of the show. Also, be aware that the show discusses cancer, divorce, cancer, racism, drug use, and underage drinking, among other topics (for more detail on possible triggers, check here.)

The Summer I Turned Pretty is a 2022 YA drama series created for Amazon Prime. It focuses on protagonist Isabella “Belly” Conklin (Lola Tung), whose family has spent every summer at her mom’s best friend Susannah’s summer house at Cousins Beach. Belly’s childhood summers were idyllic. She spent them palling around with Susannah’s sons, Conrad (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah (Gavin Castalegno). But when Belly turns sixteen, the dynamic between these childhood friends begins to change.

The series is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Jenny Han, the first in a trilogy.

What I Liked:

Although I have not read the books the series is based on, I understand from those who have that two characters who are straight in the novels are bi in the series. Jenny Han herself is the executive producer, so she must have had a hand in these and all other changes.

I applaud Han and the show writers for not only making a supporting character bi, but for featuring two male bi characters, since there is a dearth of positive bi male representation in TV and film.

Let’s take a look at these two characters in particular.

What I Liked About Them:

Cleveland Castillo (Alfredo Narciso) is very comfortable in his queerness. Though he doesn’t use the term “bi” himself, he is open about who he is and another character in the story clarifies that he is bi. Although this is primarily a supporting role, he has his own storyline (he’s writing a novel and learning how to sail) and we learn about his wants and desires and follow his romantic adventures as he pursues Laurel (Jackie Chung).

Jeremiah Fisher (Gavin Castalengno) is central to the main love triangle. He is not only comfortable being bi but his friends are cool with it too. He also makes sure that Belly is cool with it: he doesn’t let anything detract from his liking for her. Jeremiah is such a fun character: a golden boy, the life and soul of the party. He radiates positive, confident main character energy.

What I Didn't Like:

Jeremiah can be immature. He’s jealous of Belly when she pays attention to any other man, including his own brother. This immaturity doesn’t sit right for me.

The Rating:

I would highly recommend this series. Anyone — queer or otherwise — who has memories of life-changing summers on the cusp of adulthood should watch this — preferably with a tall glass of pink lemonade in hand.