The Summer I Turned Pretty completely removes important Belly detail in episode 3

24 July 2025, 15:03 | Updated: 24 July 2025, 15:25

By Katie Louise Smith

Belly's narration about her feelings for Conrad have been noticeably removed from season 3 episode 3. Here's why fans think it was deliberate.

The Summer I Turned Pretty fans have noticed that a very important detail about Belly (Lola Tung) was removed from the latest episode and they've got some pretty convincing theories as to why.

If you're a fan of the books, you'll know how key Belly's narration is to the story. That narration also pops up in the show with Belly telling us exactly what she's thinking or feeling – or what she wants us to think.

However, in season 3 episode 3 ('Last Supper'), the show completely omits Belly's narration during the scene where she's getting ready for an event with her and Jeremiah's families a.k.a. the moment she comes to face-to-face with Conrad again.

That moment in the book reveals some pretty serious truths about Belly's feelings towards Conrad but there might be a specific reason why it's not included in the show.

• Read more: When do new episodes of The Summer I Turned Pretty come out? Release schedule revealed

In episode 3, we see Belly get ready for the event honouring Conrad and Jeremiah’s late mother Susannah, paying close attention to her appearance and outfit.

If you've read the books, you'll know that Belly's narration in that scene reveals that she is still thinking about Conrad even though she's engaged to Jeremiah.

"Because I really did believe he was coming. If I didn’t, would I have taken extra care with my hair that morning? In the shower, would I have shaved my legs not once but twice, just to be safe?” Belly narrates in the book.

However, in the show, there's no narration at all and fans are arguing that TV viewers are completely missing a lot of the context in the scene. But some viewers have a theory about why it was removed...

Sharing their theories on social media, some viewers think that the decision to remove the narration was deliberate, for two reasons.

One: Belly's narration about her obvious feelings for Conrad was removed in order to keep viewers guessing and keep those who are rooting for Belly and Jeremiah locked in to the story.

As author Jenny Han has previously said, there are several changes from the book to the show and the ending is different too. While book readers know who Belly ends up with on the page, TV viewers don't.

And two: The scene without the narration drives home the idea that Belly is completely on autopilot and not thinking in the moment. On Reddit, one fan theorised: "She’s all vibes no thoughts about this engagement because if she had thoughts she’d have to deal with the fact she’s still in love with Conrad."

"I think we as the viewer are supposed to feel just as confused about her motivations of marrying Jeremiah as her family are."

Instead of the narration, the scene where Belly gets ready includes Sabrina Carpenter's 'Please Please Please' which fans believe to be a nod to Belly's feelings towards Jeremiah following his admission of cheating.

"Jenny made sure the 'I beg you don't embarrass me motherf---er' was in there too," one fan wrote on Twitter.

Whatever the case may be about Belly's missing narration, we trust and believe that the mastermind Jenny Han has a plan.

Read more about The Summer I Turned Pretty here:

• Here's who Belly actually ends up with in The Summer I Turned Pretty books
• 21 major differences between The Summer I Turned Pretty show and the book
• Gavin Casalegno opens up about Jeremiah’s sexuality in The Summer I Turned Pretty
• The Summer I Turned Pretty introduces seven new cast members for season 3
• The Summer I Turned Pretty author explains why the show is ending with season 3

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