The Summer I Turned Pretty

What’s it about?

It’s the end of her junior year of college, and Belly is looking forward to another summer with her soulmate, Jeremiah. But right as her future seems set, core-shaking events bring her first love Conrad back into her life, placing her at a crossroads and forcing her to decide which brother has her heart.

The facts 

• Created by Jenny Han
• Starring Lola Tung, Christopher Briney, and Gavin Casalegno
• English language 
• 26 episodes, around 45min long each

Why did it get this rating? 

This series was self-rated by Prime Video. You can find out more about self-rating by streaming providers here.

 The first two seasons (aside from episode 5 in season 2) are rated M, however the content jumps up in season 3 with several episodes rated 13 and 16.

Sex scenes

The show focuses on a teenage female character as she navigates three complex relationships. There are numerous sex scenes, but sex is never directly shown, instead it’s always out of frame or implied.

There are two skinny dipping scenes after dares made between a group of girls, but no nudity is shown.

In one scene, an elderly man is seen nude from behind in a locker room, as a teen boy walks by grossed out.

One brief scene involves two adults having sex in a car, but no nudity is visible.

A boy's hand grabs a girl's breast under her shirt while they are making out, but no nudity is shown.

There are various sexual references in the show, such as a girl asking a boy if he was “watching porn.” Another includes one girl teasing another by saying, “you want Conrad Fisher’s tongue in your mouth you dirty little sl*t.”

Drug use

This show contains lots of underage drinking amongst characters as young as 16, mostly during party scenes.

The mothers are often shown smoking marijuana together, which they say is due to their medical conditions. A teenage girl finds a plastic bag of marijuana. Later she makes a “bong” out of an apple and smokes it with her friends.

One boy is frequently shown smoking and drinking.

Sad and intense scenes

During the show, we learn that a mother is diagnosed with cancer and will most likely die. This has a big effect on friends and family characters who are shown experiencing grief and anxiety. She eventually becomes incredibly weak and dies (offscreen), which may be emotionally impactful for some viewers.

A male character suffers from an anxiety attack later in the show.

Offensive language

This series contains offensive language such as “f**k,” “sh*t” and “b*tch.”

When content stays with you: 

We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.  

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information 

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?
• Brain development – how it works, why it matters