The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han (and TV Adaptation Review)

Episode Transcript
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(00:18):
Welcome to Ready to Be Romance. I'm Tori.
And I'm Jen. And today we're discussing.
The summer I turned. Pretty.
Oh my gosh we're back in summer.I feel like we really needed
this after rainy atmospheric river esque.
I don't know season in BC. I know it's about the same for
you, but I don't know. Fall vibes over.

(00:43):
I'm ready for winter and cousinsso I can skip the summer part.
It's fine though. OK, John, you're back after like
a, it's almost been like a year,I feel like.
Yeah, Tori really sat down and said, you know what?
I'm reading another preteen book.
Who can I call? I know Jen.

(01:05):
Yes. Our preteen YA correspondence,
yeah. How that turned into me I'm not
sure, but. No, it's nice.
Also another Jenny Hahn bug 'cause we covered to all the
boys I loved before, which was really, really fun.
I think that this is maybe the book that I like better or the

(01:26):
series I like better from her. And when I was doing research
for this, I was shocked because in my mind, when I first read
these books, 'cause I was doing a reread, I was also like 12 or
13 or whatever. I was 17 when I wrote read this
for the first time. That's so old.
OK so I had to disagree because I think I liked the book version

(01:49):
of To All the Boys I loved before better than this one.
However, I am biased because I didn't read this series until
after watching the first TV season.
So like I was like 26 reading this like novel and I have

(02:10):
thoughts now as being like an almost 30 year old thoughts on
this book that are a little bit probably snarky.
But if I had read it when I was like 1213, I would have been
like, yes, you go belly like theimmature like level that it is.
Yeah, when she's like everyone, like all the boys tell me I'm
like pouting, like being a baby.I was like, because you're pouty

(02:32):
and being a baby. No.
Offense. Yeah.
Reading it as an almost 30 year old, I'm like holy crap.
Like this main character is driving me up the wall.
That's fair, but The thing is isthat she's acting like a 16 year
old and. I would like to think I was a

(02:53):
little bit more sure. I like 13 for sure for sure.
But at 16, no, I was probably like this.
Like, I can't envision it, but like I feel like it's authentic
to real life. If you like, Jenny Hahn really
writes Why a authentic to the experience of being a young

(03:14):
adult. Yeah.
This time I listened to the audiobook and Lola Tong, who is
the actress that plays Belly, was the narrator, which was
really fucking cool. It made it so much better.
And a little bit of a spoiler alert, but apparently in Book 2,
Christopher Briny does some of the Conrad stuff.

(03:35):
I think like, 'cause when they're like exchanging letters
or something like that, I, I need to reread that one, but he
comes in too. And I'm like, this is really
really fun. See, but then I feel like it
makes you think more of the showand we both we both really like
whatever we first put around. We both really enjoyed the show.
So that's. What I was going to say is I was
going to say that's a hint that Conrad is end to game like like

(04:01):
these fucking nuts. Cause OK Also huge spoilers for
the entire series but yeah. Warning lots of.
Spoilers, lots of spoilers, but it's like it's so annoying to me
when people are like, Jeremiah'sgonna actually end up with Belly
or like I'm team Jelly and like all of this stuff.

(04:21):
And it's like A, there's books that prove otherwise and B, she
literally in the TV series took like verbatim the dialogue.
So I don't think all of a suddenshe's going to change the
ending. Like she literally recruited.
She better not let me put that out there.

(04:43):
She better not. She won't.
She won't. She won't at all.
I want to talk about where it takes place and then we can
actually recap the book. But this book takes place in a
fictional town called Cousins Beach, but allegedly it's kind
of supposed to be on the Cape, which we have been to together.
Pretty recently. Yeah, really recently like when

(05:05):
the within the last like 3 months and or four months maybe
and it really gives that vibe like everything that we saw
maybe except for like the salt box houses or whatever was
giving Cape God. Yeah, wealthy, with wealthy
parts of it. Yeah.
It was like, especially if you like picture the house from the

(05:26):
the show and then you like try and place that in Cape Cod area.
You're like, oh, Susanna's got money.
She's got money. Like I was like, why do you have
a pool when the beach is right there?
And it's like, well, that's whatbothy people do, You just
haven't experienced that. It's like, yeah, so wild.
I think the other part that I really like, especially about

(05:47):
our trips to the East Coast to Massachusetts and stuff like
that is just I feel like, well, this is probably the same with
every beach town, but like everybeach town just like has
community and has traditions andhas like really fun things.
Like I feel like that actually is like the it's kind of how
like New York is character, the 5th character in Sex and the

(06:09):
City, like Cousins Beach is really the a character in this
series and I don't think you would hit the same.
Yeah. And it did feel as I was
reading, rereading the book thismorning, taking some notes,
there were parts of the book where they did describe like,
oh, Susanna loves like shelves. She collects shelves.
They got a bunch of like, shell shops.

(06:31):
They were going to like the boardwalk, like that kind of
thing. And I know like when we were
like walking around in like the,I don't want to say busy cities
at Cape Cod because they were small, like like Main Street
type of things. But there definitely were like
touristy shops and like arcades and shell shops that definitely
were maybe like not super ethical, but like definitely

(06:55):
shell shops. No, you're totally right.
Like there's even a scene in thebook where they go to the like,
not amusement park, not fair, but like the boardwalk where
there's rides and stuff like that.
And Taylor and her ride the carousel.
And I was like, Oh my God, like we saw on Martha's Vineyard,
like just like those types of things that I was like, oh, I
can like really picture this. And I, I think that really adds

(07:18):
to the book. I don't think I would like it as
much if it was just like in a random town.
We also watched all of Season 2 together on Amazon Prime.
Except for the finale. Yeah, watching parties.
Except for we still have not watched the Season 2 finale
which is so fucking crazy. But we are such Team Conrad
girlies that we just like, couldn't like.

(07:39):
Like that finale is a betrayal without knowing what comes next.
So I can't put myself in that depressiveness of that Season 2
finale without them being like, OK, let me switch to Season 3
episode 1 and then see like you,Jeremiah.
Yeah, I feel like we literally, we're like, hey, we're going to
watch it even though it's been. Literally, yeah.
We've made plans several times. We'll like texture and be like,

(08:01):
Oh my God, let's watch it like this weekend, whenever and then
that we can go come and go. We're like, Oh yeah, we didn't
do that. And it's like, I know why and
it's because I'm like, I literally do not want to put
myself through that. Like it's like going to like the
dentist or something like that. My God.
OK, I feel like we should get into it.

(08:21):
Spoiler warning. Well, I won't I I don't know if
that ending was a big spoiler, but I just spoiled for people.
But from now on we're just goingto talk about book one, the
summer I turn pretty and season 1 of the TV series.
But nothing that comes after that because AI literally don't
remember. And B, if people are new, I

(08:44):
don't want to like I feel like you should read on.
And just a content warning, but we will be having some brief
discussion about cancer and someone who has cancer.
So this book, like I mentioned before, was written by Jenny
Hahn and it was published May 5th, 2009.
And the main character is Belly or Isabelle Conklin and her mom,

(09:09):
Laurel, and her older brother Steven.
She is 15, her brother is 17. And they start off the book by
driving to Cousins Beach where they stay at the Fisher House
every summer. And like I said, it's on the
Cape, but it's not actually realbut very scenic.

(09:30):
And they go visit the Fisher family because Susanna is her
mom's best friend and she has two boys that are similar ages
to Steven and Belly, Jeremiah, who's 16 and Conrad, who's 18.
And this year is a little different because Belly's
parents are recently divorced. But Belly's really, she's like

(09:53):
wistful and like just hoping that every summer is like the
past one really magical and fullwith full of traditions and just
like really bonding with the family.
This scene in the TV show plays out exactly like it's written

(10:14):
like Belly is sing Steven's driving.
Belly can't drive yet. Steven doesn't want them to
sing. Laurel and Belly are singing and
it's just really sweet. They arrive at the Fisher House
and this is the other thing is that Belly obviously has hit
puberty over the summer. OK, actually can I just put in

(10:36):
for a second? First things first of.
Course. Before the show even came out
and I hadn't read the book at this point, I was like, I'm not
watching ATV show where the character's name is Belly.
Oh. Yeah, we should talk about that
because I feel like that's so normalized right now, but it's
like, guys, that's insane. I was like, like, I hate my

(10:58):
stomach thinking belly. Like it just was not giving and
it was not like, oh, what's thatabout?
Because I was like, that's a nasty first name, especially
then once I found out like the name was Isabella and like, and
you picked belly. Not Izzy or Esau or Bell or

(11:20):
Bella. I just.
I was like, OK, that's an interesting choice.
I don't think that's a choice made for me.
I'm gonna stay away from that. And then once it was like actual
previews and whatnot as opposed to just like a little write up,
I was like, maybe the show is for me. 100% yeah.
I It's so funny. I remember reading the book for

(11:41):
the first time and being like, Idon't like this, but I think it
fits her because like it makes sense.
Not that I would want it, but I think it makes sense 'cause
she's like the little kid and people like it's all nicknames.
Like she's called like belly button or like bells.
Like, I don't know, just. Like belly button horrible,
whoever called me that. Bad, but Steven does that when

(12:04):
he's like mad at her and stuff like that.
It just it's. So it does end up fitting the
character in the book from like a maturity standpoint.
And then then also like there, Ithink there is supposed to be a
contrast to like who she was. And then like this summer and
she's all grown up and blah, blah, blah.
Maybe she's like sort of outgrowing the belly nickname.

(12:26):
And then in this show, I'm just it's like, so normalized.
I'm like, yeah, that felt like, duh, like.
I'm just thinking about when shemeets Cam for the first time and
she's like, hey, I'm Belly. And then he's like what?
And she's like, oh, sorry, Isabel.
And like I just imagined her going by belly and then it's

(12:49):
like meeting new people and saying your name is belly is
like fucking crazy. But then I was also thinking I
was like, I bet it's like it's her immediate family and the
Fisher boys that call her Belly.It's like.
You don't. She's like belly in school.
Yeah, like I feel like she. Which is she Isabel in school?
I don't know. But what does Taylor call her?

(13:10):
You're right about I think belly.
So maybe she does go by belly, but like that is just so like,
like could you imagine the teachers are in roll call and
they're like Isabelle and then she like sticks her hand up.
She's like, sorry, I prefer belly.
The teachers like what? If someone did that in my class,
I'd. Be like no.

(13:32):
That would have been like. OK, Yeah.
Oh my God, it's so bad. And Isabella is such a beautiful
name. I cannot.
I just don't get it. I think the one thing that I
understand what Jenny Hahn is doing is I do get that they're

(13:52):
trying to place her is like, she's young, but then also I'm
like, she's not that young compared to everyone else.
Like Jeremiah is literally 16 and they act like he's like so
much older than her. It's annoying as fuck.
This was kind of like similar tothe show the Heart of Dixie I
think it was called with Rachel Bilson.

(14:13):
There was a character and I'm pretty sure her name was Lemon
that was played by Taylor Swift's like ex best friend Jane
Jamie, someone I don't know anyways but it was everyone
called her Lemonade lemon meringue pie.
Like they just had a million names for her.
And I feel like Jenny Hahn wanted to do that too, where it

(14:35):
was like it was a nickname, but it could be like 1000 other
nicknames too. Yeah.
Insane. So yes, Belly has blossomed over
the year because she only sees the Fisher boys every summer.
So physical changes, they happenso gradually that I feel like
sometimes you don't notice untilyou see someone after a long

(15:00):
period of time. So they arrive at the house and
Conrad, like, looks at her for the first time because I've
again, they like have a almost like Big Brother, little sister
relationship. And Jeremiah does like a full
double take. And it's like, Oh my God, you've
grown up. She got rid of her glasses.
Classic. Like they like, yeah, you're the

(15:26):
audio listeners. Jen just took out her glasses.
Like it was like a big reveal. It's like it's literally like
the 90s ROM com of like, oh, she's fugly with glasses and
then it's like she takes them off.
I'm like she looks like. This it's like a whole makeover.
Yes, it's like the the she's allthat makeover and it's like, Oh

(15:47):
my God, like that is so like youguys are so fucking crazy.
And Conrad goes to her. I like you better with glasses.
I feel like that's so classic romance novel where it's like
the the male main character willsay that and you're supposed to
be like, Oh my God, he's such anasshole.
But it's like no one. No, that's just fucking.

(16:09):
If someone did that in real life, that's just a Dick.
Also to like like we said, because it really doesn't change
your like appearance side. Just like why do you like no one
cares that much about someone else is wearing glasses or not.
And maybe a little bit like but it's I wouldn't even say it's as
serious. It's like all the way you style
your hair, rather you like put it up in a bun or keep it down.

(16:31):
Like and her like snarky response and she think well too
bad the contacts are here to stay.
Like okay, go off, says also giving Mia in the Princess
Diaries where they just strainedher hair and all.
My God, they're like she's a babe and it's like you literally
plucked her eyebrows like. Fucking when the guys like he
went to Pretty Moose or something and like pulls the

(16:54):
pictures away. Again, we see this way out in
the show. I feel like I'm going to say
that a lot. Belly is starting to become
aware of her looks. Same with other people.
Susanna makes like some commentsand stuff like that.
And this book goes in flashbacksto other summers and then back
to present day. So we get a flashback to when

(17:14):
Belly was 12. And this is kind of, again,
brutal to start on. But Conrad, she's alone at the
house with Conrad. And he's like, hey, do you want
to go down to the boardwalk? And we see this in Season 2 play
out this flashback. Not in Season 1, though.
And she's like, Oh my God, this is it.
Like we're basically going on a date.
She puts on like lip gloss or whatever.

(17:35):
Age 12. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And he takes her to like, all the carnival games.
And there's one where I think it's like the ring toss where a
girl's working. And it's so clear that Conrad
likes her and basically just dragged Belly along to visit
this girl. And she, like, runs away crying

(17:57):
and goes and rides the Ferris wheel by herself.
And then Conrad wins a stuffed polar bear, which we learn is
Junior Mint. And she's so mad.
She's like, I actually would have preferred the giraffe
because she's so jealous of thisgirlie.
She's always loved Conrad. She just has a huge crush on

(18:19):
him. It's always been him.
And everyone knows about it. This is the other thing that I
was like, this is so embarrassing.
It's like her mom would comment on it.
Literally the 1st when I was like when I was rereading the
first part when they're like sitting in the car, like going
to the and Steven makes a comment and he's like, oh, and
Jeremiah or Conrad and and whatever.
And like Laurel is like, oh, we're still on that Conrad

(18:42):
crush. And she's like shut up.
And I was like Oh my God, like my brother and my mother were
like, I would be like tomato red.
I wanna be like do not speak to me ever again.
Totally. Like she's obviously obvious
about it because she like everyone's commenting out, even
Jeremiah brings it up like multiple times in the.

(19:03):
Foot. Yeah, but at this boardwalk
carnival thing. And I guess this was like, this
is these are fair complaints, but she's 12 and I definitely
was a bratty little kid as well,like the giraffe thing.
And she makes a mention of like,she had just gotten new shorts
because Susanna took her out shopping and all the boys, like,

(19:23):
gave her a hard time about them because they were too short or
something. And I think her name is Angie,
The person working at the carnival is wearing the same
shorts. And she's like, I bet Connor
wants to go see your shorts. Like, I bet.
Do you like her shorts? Like, all of a sudden, like, the
shorts are OK when they're on this Angie girl.

(19:43):
So she's like what the fuck Like.
The balls to say that. And then she's like, I'm going
to go on the Ferris wheel instead, win me a prize bye.
And I'm like, he go off Queen, let him know.
Literally. And I feel like she like it's,
it's kind of like that GIF in Jenny in Georgia.

(20:06):
Have you seen where she like Oh.My God, she does remind me of
Jenny, It's true. She like hooked up with that guy
who has a girlfriend and then she like, says something like
that. She thinks really like slayed
him and was a girlfriend. And then she like, salutes him
and then like walks away. It's like that's what this was

(20:27):
giving. Yeah, but like at age 12, like
sass Queen. Yeah, she's sometimes no events,
and I actually really like no event.
She's a little bit self-righteous and she's a
little bit selfish, and I reallythink she thinks like the world
evolves around her. I do think she's like immature.

(20:50):
Oh yeah. But I think Jenny on and maybe
because again, we're not readingthese in the time period that.
They're not meant for us right now, yeah.
But I'm like, you seem so immature, like, so, yeah.
And I think I thought that when I was 17 too.
OK, because I was reading the Goodreads reviews today, just
like the first like 5 or whatever that come up on that

(21:12):
app and every single one was like one star.
It was like the female that characters insufferable like it.
It was a complaint about complaint about like complaint,
complaint, complaint about all these things about how like they
couldn't read it because the main character was just so like
pompous and selfish or like every like the flashbacks when

(21:36):
she was so younger was confusing.
And then like again, the main character like couldn't connect
with. So this is the I was like
interesting. And then when I was reading it
again, I was like, OK, I see where those people are coming
from, but I don't think a 13 year old is sitting on the
computer. Maybe because 13 year olds
nowadays, they, they are, they're in Sephora, they're on

(21:57):
their iPhone 20s. They're, you know, doing their.
So maybe they are out here on Goodreads reading or leaving
like well written paragraph reviews about why this was not a
literary masterpiece. But I don't think they are.
So I don't think it's like, I think the reviews are skewed
from the target audience that is.
Is surprising to me though, justbecause I feel like these books

(22:17):
are so beloved to like, really leave a scathing review like
that. That is surprising to me.
Well, you would you would know someone who used scathing
reviews on on Goodreads, yeah. 100 percent, 100% Like I, I
don't know that that is just wild to me, but I get it.

(22:39):
It's a same with Luridine. They're almost like sometimes a
little like, I don't know, I just have to, I have to be in
the mood for it because sometimes it's like so wholesome
that I'm like, oh, you don't have any edge.
And that's when I like, don't like it.
But yeah, anyways, OK, present day, Belly is going swimming and

(23:00):
the boys are hanging out. She wants or she goes to the
swimming pool and the boys are hanging out and they grab her
and throw her into the pool. It's a classic annual belly
flop, just like the TV show. And she's just kind of
reflecting how now she's always an outsider with the boys and
she's never included in their activities.

(23:21):
And she like always used to tattle on them.
And just again, like the show, she tricks Connor and she's
like, Oh my God, my ankle. And then she's like, help me up,
which is like literally the oldest trick in the book,
Conrad, you fucking idiot. But we're, I guess we're like
supposed to be like, oh, so he like would help her if she was

(23:43):
hurt or whatever, like he cares more or whatever.
And then she Yanks him into the water and they start splashing
each other and just like goofingaround.
And Steven and Jeremiah leave and he's like pulling on her
foot and he pulls her closer by her foot and like dunks her when
she comes out from the water, it's like still and calm and

(24:05):
they're like really close to each other.
And there's like a romantic beatand she's like, Oh my God, like
maybe this is the summer everything changes.
Conrad, like, sees me as a girl or like a woman, I guess.
Not a girl. I don't know.
Also, Lola Dang is like fucking stunning.
But I was just thinking if this was me.
And I get dunked and then I get pulled up from the water and.

(24:28):
Your hair is like everywhere. You're like stuttering water
like. Yeah, yeah.
Like, yeah, just like, truly Fugo.
Like I just can't imagine it. In a one piece bathing suit,
yeah. Yeah, Which again, was somehow
charming, very charming on on belly.

(24:49):
But Susanna wakes up from an out.
She didn't actually get to greetthe Conklins when they arrived,
and she just apologizes because she's usually there and belly's
like, Oh my God, Susanna's so thin.
OK, that took me out because it was like, Oh my God, because she
literally says Oh my God, you'reso thin.
She was like, oh, Susanna loves me or not. 100% I think what

(25:14):
took me out and again, I have tobe like this girl's 15 turned 16
in the book. I was like, she's taking a nap
on a big occasion. Like you guys are arriving.
She's super thin and she isn't out of like.
She's also in the book. It's known that she, well, had
cancer. They had.

(25:34):
Cancer, but she's like belly doesn't know Commission.
Or whatever. Like she she had it.
Like it seemed seemingly pretty recent.
So like, that's a weird thing tosay to someone like.
Like, yeah, you shouldn't be thinking that saying that, but
like also it's like how did you not clue in that her cancer's
back because all the signs are there.

(25:56):
Like, I don't know, I guess you just are so much in your own
head. You miss some of these clues,
but I'm. Like.
God, girl. The first night the families
dine together and everyone's really surprised because Conrad
is kind of acting standoffish, and they learn that he has quit

(26:16):
the football team and football was his like, really big thing.
He was going to go to, like, college for it.
And Belly notices that he's not being, like, super affectionate
with Susanna, which is differentfrom the norm.
But we get a flashback to when Belly is 10.
Conrad, who's the leader of the good little group, decides that

(26:38):
all the boys are going to sleep out on the beach and Belly asks
if she can join them, but they say it's boys only.
And Jeremiah and Steven are likedancing all around her.
And Conrad tells them to stop this.
Just really, I included this in my notes because I just felt
like it really, really, really showed the dynamic between the

(26:58):
four of them. Because when the boys leave for
the beach, Steven doesn't say anything.
Basically Jeremiah dances a jig as he's leaving to like make
Belly laugh and then Conrad saysgoodnight belly.
That's just basically how every interaction is with those three
guys. Like it's so funny.
We get present day Belly and she's going for a swim because

(27:21):
she loves these midnight swims where she's like all alone and
she can't sleep. And we get the Iconique scene
from the TV show that like I like sold the TV show to so many
people where Belly's doing laps and then she like pops up and
Conrad is sitting and smoking atthe edge of the pool.

(27:42):
And it's funny how they switchedit from cigarettes to weed in
the in the TV adaptation 'cause I feel like weed is more like I
guess a 2024 thing instead of. Cigarettes.
Less harmful and like just the thing that I guess a teenager
would do. It's like either that or vaping,
but I guess we just. Yeah, I don't think either one

(28:03):
was around really in 2009. No, she says.
I can't believe you're smoking. You hate people that smoke, you
should quit. And then he asks her what she
would give him in return for quitting.
And. Then the book she goes nothing.
You should quit for yourself. Nailed it.

(28:24):
Belly, she's so embarrassing. I'm like Belly.
Like that's what flirting is. Did you did you watch the
Chicken shop date with Andrew Garfield?
No, but I've seen all the clips.OK I highly recommend watching
it, especially for us romance girlies.
But there's a there's a part where she does kind of like a

(28:47):
fuck marry, kill with the spiderman, I think.
And. Her.
Yeah, it was like something tookMary avoid maybe.
And it was Toby McGuire, Tom Halling.
Snog. Yeah, snog something.
Avoid kill. A yeah or something.
Like that. And then she's like, you have to
give an answer and he's like, no, no, no, like whatever.
I can't do that to the boys. And she's like, Oh my God.

(29:07):
And he's like, this is what flirting is, Amelia.
So like belly, this is what flirting is like.
Kind of went over her head. That's OK, you know she's health
conscious. Yeah, she she really cares about
his health. Also smoking a cigarette when
your mom has cancer. Wild choice, but I wild choice.
But like also, I feel like that's actually realistic.

(29:30):
I feel like a lot of people thathave feelings that they can't
process about things that are out of their control, like a
family member having cancer is when they resort to, oh, it's
definitely. A coping mechanism.
Yeah. So yes, Belly is 13.
They kids realize that their moms are smoking weed because of

(29:54):
Susanna's chemotherapy. So again, if Belly's 13 and
present day is when Belly's 15, almost 16, she had cancer two
years ago and Belly's like she'sthin and napping all the time,
but you're not thinking about her health like she.
Which is what she was four. Yeah.
Like, Oh my God. My favorite is in the book they

(30:17):
come down, the moms come down because they have the munchies
and they're like, did you eat all the the cheesies or the
whatever? And they start like keep growing
but not and belly was like, it'spot.
He's like I got to tell, I say it was pot first so I could look
educated or like educated or like grown up or something.

(30:38):
And I was like, OK. Yeah, isn't that so funny?
I feel like I did that so much as a teenager where I was like,
yeah, cuz she like all the the boys and her can smell it, but
they haven't named what it is yet.
And then Belly's like that's weed.
And then thought she was cool, but like, isn't it so funny?

(31:00):
I feel like when you were a teenager and you were like, oh,
if I just like if I say this like one thing or like where
this one thing or like whatever,this guy's going to be obsessed
with me and. I don't want to think about it.
Me neither. It's like, but it's just like
that's just like so funny because it's like like could you
imagine you're you're just like,I smell that and that's weed.

(31:22):
And then the guys was turn around and be like you're so
you're so mature and like so edgy.
Like I'm like, what are you thinking?
That's insane behavior. No the the time between ages
like 10 and 20. I was like a girl growing up.

(31:46):
Post don't exist anymore, no. It's so true, no need to
reflect. On no, none.
So the next day, we're still in the Belly flashback, and
Jeremiah and Belly overhear thattheir moms are talking about
Susanna's condition and talking about her getting a mastectomy.

(32:07):
And Jeremiah's obviously really upset about this.
Later that afternoon, Steven is teasing Jeremiah because he's
like moping around. Conrad sticks up for him and
Belly's like, gosh, Steven, likeyou're such a fucking asshole.
And then like Jeremiah and her become BFF and I think they
spend the rest of the summer together.
Like this is where they really become friends.

(32:30):
It's not just Steven, Jeremiah and Conrad, but Jeremiah and
Belly have this relationship too.
We flash forward to present day and Jeremiah, Steven and Belly
all decide to go to the movies because it's raining and
cousin's beach and they go to a ROM com because that's one of
the movies that are playing and Stevens like I can't watch this,

(32:53):
like this is disgusting or whatever.
I'm like, babe, it's a ROM com like sit down.
But Jeremiah is like, I'll stay with you, which I guess is
displaying like a healthy masculinity.
But she's like, Oh my God, he's so sweet for doing this.
And he buys them a soda and theydrink it out of Twizzler straws.

(33:16):
There's a moment where Jeremiah is smiling at her and Belly's
like, Oh my God, I think he's going to kiss me.
But she she doesn't think that they have like that Jeremiah has
feelings for her. I.
Don't think so. I don't think so at this point
because when he does say something she is shook to her
core. Have you ever used a Twizzler as
a straw? Yeah, I think so.

(33:38):
It's not good. It's not good and like it
doesn't work like you think it would work.
Like I feel like people like it's like the Twizzler like the
hole through the center isn't big.
Like it's not like it works likea straw.
I don't know. But I feel like that was very
like kids birthday party. Also I hate Twizzler, would

(33:59):
never be my movie snack of choice.
Absolutely not. 'Cause like I do like Twizzlers,
but it's like I like 1 I don't I.
Don't. Yeah.
Pack. Yeah, yeah.
First of all, you're going to the movies, You're getting a
kids pack. So you have your small popcorn,
your candy, and your drink. Yep, Yep, Yep, Yep.
Yeah. And that's truly the only way to
do it. OK, We flashback to when Belly

(34:20):
is 14 and her best friend, Taylor Jewel is at the summer
house for a week. She's always felt like the
supporting character to Taylor. And Taylor is so much different
than Belly. She's boy crazy, even though
Belly is like, also kind of boy crazy but in a different way.
She's more like, I guess, sexual.
And Belly's more like romantic, I guess.

(34:41):
And Taylor's like the extrovert.And I feel like Belly's the
introvert. Taylor's like flip flopping
because she's like, oh, there's two, I guess 3 teenage boys
around my age. Like who am I going to have a
crush on? And Belly's like, I don't even
want to know because if it's Conrad, I'll be upset.
And if it's Jeremiah I'll feel like Conrad is just like

(35:03):
leftovers or whatever. Like I don't know.
She just was like Jelly that shecould potentially, I guess, take
one of these boys away from her.I think she's just upset that no
matter what happens out of thosethree boys, like, then the
attention is not on her. Yes, we get the scene like in
the TV show where they're all inthe pool and they play chicken,

(35:26):
which is wild because this is a flashback.
But in the show, it was just present day, which I thought was
actually a really good change that they made to the show is
like not making all of these flashbacks, but like
incorporating them more into like their current summer.
We even get the comment like this is how literally pulled
from the dialogue the book is. But Taylor's like, I'll go on

(35:48):
Jeremiah's shoulder, shoulders and belly.
You go on Steven's shoulders andSteven's like, no, I don't want
like belly on my shoulders. She's massive or like, and
Belly's like, like, I guess I'm massive like.
And then Jeremiah picks her up and he's like light as a
feather. Like guys.

(36:10):
So as someone with an older brother, well done because it's
it's very old. We have lived that.
Yeah. Every one of us.
Yeah, yeah. So they do a few rounds and
Belly eventually is on Conrad's shoulders and then wins against

(36:30):
Taylor and Jeremiah. So.
But again, that that part though, when she switches to
condom and she's like, I'm not that heavy.
I'm just like, I never said you were.
Yeah. 'Cause he like, wasn't there for
that like. Yeah.
And then I don't, I forget what she says and I'm not sure if
this is the right part or not, but he's like, I'm 175 lbs.

(36:53):
I can lift anything and I'm like175 lbs.
I was like, you're, you're a twig, no.
But he was really Twiggy in the show.
When I rewatched it, I was like,Oh my God, I can't believe I had
a crush on this guy. I was like his like chest and
like arms and stuff like that. I was.
Like it was covered times. Okay, we can't be, we can't be

(37:14):
blamed for whatever happened during those years. 100% but I
was like Oh my God I'm AI shouldbe locked away in jail because
his chest and his arms look so like teenage boy.
I mean, you want to talk about locked away in in jail.
This book is about belly 15 crushing on someone who's 18.

(37:36):
No, you're. Right.
No, you're right. Fucking jail.
Excuse me? Yeah. 100% We also get another
flashback. The four of them, Steven Belly,
Conrad and Jeremiah are playing Would you rather questions and
Conrad asks because he is fucking depressed.
Like like this is what we like. It's like I always like the like

(38:01):
and I I the emotionalness. It can fix him.
Yeah, that's what it. The I fix him boy 100%, but it's
like the worst part about this is like I feel like the I I can
fix him depress. So boy is like actually a fuck
boy. Like Conrad is such a fuck boy
in this book but because it's under the guise of like he can't

(38:23):
process his emotion he just likegets away with it.
Men. Which is true to real life too.
But he asks again, a depressing question.
It's like would you rather question?
It's like it's like literally it's like the questions you
should be asking are like, wouldyou rather like eat AI don't
know an animal like a live animal or like jump out of an

(38:45):
airplane? Like you can't ask like serious
ones. He asks would you rather live 1
perfect day over and over or live your life with no perfect
days but just decent ones. OK, babe, like take a philosophy
class like this is so embarrassing.
This is so embarrassing. But but what it demonstrates is
that Jeremiah chooses 1 perfect day.

(39:05):
Belly chooses all the decent days because you could hope to
have a perfect day, and Cotrad'slike.
I agree with Belly because they're both intellectuals.
Very subtly. Like, yeah, belly.
Belly belongs with Conrad because they choose the same.
Would you not make anything? And I'm like, you know what?

(39:26):
Period. Yeah, Agreed.
Who needs more reason than that?No.
Literally. Literally though.
So we get to present day again and Belly's going for one of her
classic night swims. And Conrad and Jeremiah are
hanging out with their neighbor Clay.
And Clay is like a scumbag. Like they're they're all
drinking beers and stuff like that.

(39:47):
And basically Clay notices that Belly's hot, so they're chatting
with her and he's like openly flirting with Belly and Conrad's
like, you should like go back tobed.
And she's like, no, I'm like going to stay and talk to you
guys and then I'm going to go for my little night swim.

(40:08):
And Clay is asking if she has a boyfriend and she just straight
up lies. She's like, yeah.
Which I don't think they ever addressed in the book again
because it's like. I don't think so, other than
comma being like, what? You didn't say anything and
she's just like, yeah, it's not serious.
Who says it's not serious at age15 like you see?

(40:30):
The whole thing though is like Clay is a scumbag because he had
a long distance girlfriend who was also like the same age as
Belly or whatever and he's olderso it was like OK, but then the
same thing is happening with Conrad and potentially Belly.
So I'm like, that was a poor example to use I think because.
And why are the sweet Fisher boys hanging out with this
fucking loser of a man? The yeah, the only explanation.

(40:52):
Oh, he's their neighbor, so he'saround like he's there.
He's someone to hang out with. I'm like, my standards are
higher than that. 100 percent, 100%.
But Conrad basically gets jealous like he cares about
Belly's boyfriend. And of course, Jeremiah is just
like, Oh my God, like who? Like he's such a like.
What's going on up here, you know?
No thoughts, no thoughts in Jeremiah's head, like truly.

(41:16):
But she likes this attention from Clay.
And he invites her to the 4th ofJuly bonfire.
And so we get to the big bonfireparty.
This is kind of depicted in the TV show.
It's just like not on 4th of July, basically.
Belly's there and the boys go off and do their own thing, like

(41:37):
Steven's talking to a girl, Jeremiah's talking to a girl,
Conrad's talking to a girl. And so she's just standing by
herself, which I felt bad. Also, going to a party by
yourself, brutal when you know the boys are going to not hang
out with you or like ditch you immediately.
Brutal, Absolutely brutal. Not worth it.

(41:58):
I would, I would never. But she meets a boy named Cam
who's also standing alone, and they realized that they had met
before at Aladdin convention when they were younger.
I would just want to say readingthe book, maybe not in the TV
show but reading the book I was like she literally has better
flirting and chemistry and conversations with Cam than she

(42:22):
does with either Jeremiah or Conrad.
Yeah, and I think because they were like actually like flushed
out scenes with Cam Cameron where like they're actually
having a conversation about things as opposed to like these
petty arguments are trying to one up each other.
Such a lot of it felt like. Now I will say I'm not sure it

(42:43):
was a fan of the flirting because it at one point when we
came, it's like it's pronounced Flowya, by the way.
I was like what? Like, I don't know any.
I don't know anything about Latin, but I was like that
sounds. No, I know.
I'm like, you're such a loser. Because basically at their Latin
convention, they had to like, pick Latin names.

(43:05):
He was sexist and. Because apparently that's funny
to 16 year old boys just becauseit has the word sex in it.
And then she was Flavia and he'slike, it's Flavia.
And it's like, yeah, but like, you want to go with the, like,
exotic Flavia, like, like, don'tkill or vibe like Jesus Christ.

(43:26):
I mean, they both sound like a name out of The Hunger Games,
but. Totally, 100% yes.
And Cam, which is so funny because he says this like 100
times in the book and basically everyone says this, but he's
like, oh, is that like your brother over there?
And then she's like, who? Conrad?

(43:48):
And he's like, yeah, he keeps looking over here and Belly's
like, Oh my God, like, why? Why would he do that?
Just like, couldn't believe it. It's like, cuz he likes you.
Like, I just like, I wanted to like, fucking shake her.
I was like, he likes you. That's why he's jealous you had
a fake boyfriend. That's why he's looking at you
talking to another guy. Like it's so that's why he shows

(44:09):
up at the driveway. Like, it's so annoying.
Maybe. Belly and term are meant for
each other because there's the map, There's not the Yeah, no
thought, Yeah. No I feel like belly has too
many thoughts like. Yeah, it could be that too.
We've all been there. Yeah, yeah.
So Cam's leaving the party and he's like, I'll give you a ride

(44:32):
home, Belly. So she goes to Conrad and is
like, I'm going home with Cam and he's like, you can't drive
home with a stranger. And she's like, hey, fine, I'll
wait for you guys to be done at your party.
And Cam's like, oh, it's OK, I'll I'll stick around like.
Yeah. First of all, talk to you.
And he's like, I'm going to leave.
You're staying. I'm staying.
Yeah, it's like, OK, because he was going.

(44:54):
To study for his like whale watching excursion or whatever.
Yeah, but this is also the scenewhere she goes up to Conrad to
be like, yo, I'm leaving with this guy.
And he's, he says no. And she turns to Nicole, the
girl that he's with. And it's like, you're barking up
the wrong tree. Like, oh, yeah, he only loves
his hand or whatever in so many words.

(45:16):
And she was like, what? And Belly goes, you don't know
what barking up the wrong tree means.
And Conrad is like, belly, like,piss off.
And she's like, screw you. I'm like, whoa.
That escalated quickly. No.
OK, you're actually so right because it's like, does he, does

(45:36):
Conrad and the other boys for that matter, be needing to
dictate everything that Belly does in her life?
No, but also if there's a randomguy that like you know, asks to
take you home or whatever like that, I like there is a a risk
there. That.
Like a creep. So I felt like that was fair for

(45:59):
Conrad to be like, no, like you'll leave with the the three
of us, like where you'll be safeand stuff like that.
And she goes off and you're right.
She's like he's basically emotionally unavailable and
stuff like that. It's just so wild like that.
Like they they just use other people to like, argue with each

(46:21):
other. Yeah.
Cam gives Belly her sweatshirt so she can stay warm as they're
like waiting for the boys to wrap up the party.
So the next day, because she exchanges numbers with Cam, she
is waiting all day for his phonecall.
And in the afternoon, no one else is home.
So Jeremiah's like, hey, we needto like, get out of here.

(46:42):
Let's go to the go track. Go Kart track.
Because he wants her to get driving experience.
Because we all know go karting is where we practice good
driving skills. 100% this is another thing like the worker at
the track flirts with belly and Jeremiah is like upset, but
belly likes it and like I think that's fair.

(47:03):
I I feel like it. She's like a little bit lives
her life for the male gaze. No offense.
Like I feel like at 15, like don't we all?
But like, I was like girly, likelike you're smart, you're like
funny and all you care about is guys like basically pervin out
on you. I don't know.
They're always older. Like I don't know, it's weird,

(47:24):
except for Cam. I love Cam.
Cam Straight Edge, Cameron. Straight Edge Cam Cameron Sextus
if you will. They head back to the summer
house and Cam did call. This is when like Susanna is
still taking naps. Belly's asking her mom if she's
OK and Laurel lies to her and says that she has a summer cold.

(47:46):
The next day Cam comes over. She's wearing his hoodie, which
is cute. She wears the hoodie even
outside when it's filtering. Yeah, which which I could never.
No. And he says if you can beat me
in a swimming race, you can keepthe hoodie.
And so they swim and she wins, which I was just like.

(48:10):
It's insinuated though, that like, he lets her win.
He 100% like I I think women cando anything men can do, but I
was like a. Teenage.
Boy with legs and a like those arms and stuff like that.
I was like, I don't know, I don't know girly.
I don't know she is. She was on the swim team and he
wasn't. So maybe she is faster.

(48:30):
Maybe that's sexist of me. But I was like, I don't know
girly. But she wins his hoodie and
invites her to house party. She tells the boys that she's
going to the house party and Conrad's like, no, you're not
going. Because it's Greg.
I don't think it's like Kinsey or something.
And they're like the meth addict.

(48:53):
Like wait, the meth addict and. Then they end them all going to
the party and they're like, Oh yeah, like he's not a meth, he's
not a like meth dealer. It's someone else we were
thinking about. I was like, that's fucking
brutal. Quite the accusation.
Yeah, like that's so brutal. Yeah, so that he's not a crack
dealer or whatever. She.

(49:13):
Accuses. Him of or they accuse him of
kind of it's like you can't go to the party.
Well, I was like, I get that you're like 18 and she's like
kind of pseudo your little sister, which is like fucking
weird because they end up hooking up, but like, but like
it's I'd be like, who the fuck are you to tell me I can't go to
this party? She is, she turns 16 like

(49:35):
momentarily in this book again, I was like, Jeremiah is also 16.
Why can't he go to the party? Like they treat I think Laurel
and Susanna and then the boys treat Belly in some ways and
sometimes she does act like a little kid, but I was like they
treat her like she's a fucking baby in comparison to.
That it's. So annoying.

(49:57):
Most definitely. And you know what, as someone
who between the ages of like 15 and 18, when I was told like,
oh, I don't see you doing that or I don't think you should like
then I purpose of it. Totally.
Like that doesn't work like forbidding someone from doing
something. I think the smarter thing, if
Conrad really wanted to do something, he was like, OK, you

(50:18):
can go to the party, but we're gonna go to.
And we'll just, like, keep an eye on you, which I think is
fair. And so the brothers are like,
you can't go to the party. And then she's like, I am.
So they're like, hey, we'll go too.
And I thought this was really funny.
This would never happen IRL. But Cam and Belly are there,
obviously. And Jeremiah dedicates a karaoke
song to them. Some are lovin.

(50:40):
And Cam, like, gets really into it.
And they did this in the show, which I did not remember until
the rewatch, but it was very, very cute.
She's like, embarrassed. And she walks out to see Conrad
arguing with another drunk man. And this is very self racial.
It's very pick me. But she like, it's like, I've
got to stop this. And she like runs up in the

(51:01):
middle of them, like about to goat it and is like, Conrad, like
you're better than this or what the fuck, what the fuck she
says. And Jeremiah's like, Oh my God,
Oh my God, like belly like get away and he wasn't going to
intervene. And then he goes up to Conrad
and, like, whispers something and in his ear, which is like,
probably like, don't let Belly see you like this.

(51:23):
And the argument kind of deescalates.
So then Belly's like, OK, let's go home.
So they all get into Jeremiah's car.
And I don't know, Jeremiah leaves for a second.
So it's just Belly and Conrad alone.
And again, just like the TV show, he reaches out to like,

(51:45):
touch her hair and he says, like, your hair always reminded
me of like a little kids or something, which also again, is
like, so weird like. Yeah, an interesting choice of
words because no, I know that's.Just like say something like you
always had nice hair like. It your hair's so soft, but no,
it's, it's a little kids and it's always messy.
It was like, OK, dagger one and two and like, but like belly's

(52:09):
like, Oh my God, like he's thinking about my hair and he's
touching me and I'm like, no, that wasn't, that wasn't what
you thought it was, sweetie. He just called you immature and
like ugly. Like, no, but like he didn't
actually. He obviously was like, I don't
know, he was drunk and so he was.

(52:30):
Yeah. Touching her and the next day
Conrad acts as if nothing happened.
Cam asks Belly to go to the drive in, which is kind of like
their first official date. And Belly's really disappointed
because he hasn't like kissed her or anything.
They haven't really done anything physical.
And she like kind of, I actuallythought this was cute.

(52:54):
I'm such a Cam camera girly. Oh my God.
Other than him being like a loser, I like like I'm such a
Cam girl because he he's like, but she's like basically like
why don't we like kiss and stufflike that?
And then he's like, oh like I don't know, like I didn't want
to be like too forward or like we just met or like whatever.
And then he like interrupts her like mid sentence or something

(53:17):
like like that and kisses her. And the body cues she was giving
at the drive in, well, anyways, from what she talks about, she's
like people go to the drive in, they sit in the back and they
fog up their windows and they'redead or that.
And this time, like one time, wewent and followed Conrad there
on his date and like he was all hooking up with.
A girl. It was like, yeah, it was like
we ran into him at the concessions and his eyes were

(53:38):
glazed and like all these things.
And I was like, OK. Yeah, it's like just say you
wanted to go with Conrad and notCam.
Like fuck. And you wanted to sit in the
back? Exactly, which is like fair.
I I get that. But like, man, oh man, she yeah,
she just wants something different than how Cam is
acting. And I was like, girly.

(54:00):
This also is like your first official date.
Like just chill, just chill. And so he drives her home.
She overhears Susanna and Laurelfighting and Susanna's telling
Laurel to stop managing her life, which again, we see in the
in the TV show. But we see that I think during
the Deb ball and Belly's asking why you guys fighting and

(54:21):
they're just denying that anything's wrong.
I should have mentioned this earlier, but Steven leaves to go
view colleges and then Mr. Fisher doesn't come to the
summer House around the time that he's supposed to and Conrad
and Jeremiah are like pretty bummed out about this.
Conrad thinks that his parents are getting a divorce and he's

(54:42):
like really stoic about it. But Jeremiah is really sad belly
at this point is like oh this explains why Conrad's been a
Dick all summer and it's. Because.
His parents are getting a divorce and Jeremiah is like,
don't tell anyone because our mom doesn't know.
We know, but it's like we in ourhead, we like, no, it's way more

(55:03):
than just a divorce, unfortunately.
And Susanna invites Cam over fordinner and we get this in the
show. Sorry, I'm going to say that a
million times. But like, again, it's pulled so
directly, which is such a such acool thing.
And it's a big seafood dinner. But Laurel makes I think tofu
for Cam because he doesn't eat meat.

(55:25):
And Jeremiah is relentlessly teasing him because he's a
vegetarian. This is why I love Cam Cameron,
because he's so mature. Jeremiah's being like a fucking
Dick, being like, well, how can you kiss belly?
She eats meat and stuff like that.
You let her lips touch your lips.
I was like. I was like, that's wild to do,
like in front of your parents. But Cam's just like, oh, I don't

(55:47):
mind. Like this is my personal choice.
It's like a values thing. I don't, I'm not going to impose
my values on someone else. And then he's like see look and
he kisses belly again. I was like, if I was 16 and this
happened in front of my parents.If this I I was 32, my current
age and this happened in front of my parents, I would kill
myself. Like I literally would kill

(56:09):
myself. I actually wouldn't, but like
maybe. Oh, you would definitely.
You'd be up all night thinking about it.
Oh, 100%. This is why I can't have a
wedding, because like. Later that night, Cam and Belly
go for a walk along the beach. Cam asks Belly what brother
should kiss, because Belly had told him that her first kiss was

(56:31):
one of the Fisher boys. Cam guesses Conrad, but we know
because he's obsessed. But of course we know that it's
Jeremiah, and we get the flashback to their first kiss
when Belly is 14. I guess that puts Jeremiah at
15. Taylor's there and they're
playing truth or dare, the five of them, and Taylor dares

(56:52):
Jeremiah to kiss someone in the room because she thinks that
he'll kiss her. But to basically, and I felt
like this was kind of shady basically to like flirt with
Taylor, slash like taunt her, I guess into liking him more,
making a mover. I don't know.
Jeremiah kisses belly and she's OK.

(57:14):
This is the ironic thing that I just want to say.
Jen's not impressed. Go on.
Belly the entire time is like how fucking dare he take my
first kiss? Like I'll never get over it
because my first kiss was like this dumb truth or dare game.
I was like, yeah, Belly. And that is why we have consent.
Like, true, I didn't even do that together.

(57:37):
And that's an A1 point, Yeah, like.
Like girly and that's why you should ask before because you.
Weren't asked. And you?
The duality of woman. Literally, literally my God.
But this is like a fucking crazy.
Actually didn't see this coming even though it happened on the

(57:59):
show. But a few days later, after the
Truth or dare incident, Belly finds Taylor kissing Steven on
the beach and she's like, I've had a crush on her hand for so
long. And Belly's like, well, Steven
thinks you're like, fucking dumb, which is crazy to say.
And then she's like and also you're a slut.

(58:20):
You're a fucking. Whore.
Like, Oh my God, I think times one makes her upset.
She's just like, you know what? And like snap first it's like
Conrad, it's like, I don't know whether she was trying to call
him gay or just, you know, like,whatever.
And then she's like, and you know what, Taylor, you're a slut
and like, OK, who's next? No.

(58:45):
But don't get in Belly's ways. She'll like call.
You like a? Fucking idiot or something like
that. I don't know it it was so crazy,
which I get like I, I, I feel like it is always difficult when
your best friend. Oh my God, I don't know.
We see this in a lot of room. It's awful.
It's not that it's actually happened to me, but.
I mean, that's like one of the most popular tropes there is.

(59:07):
It's like best friend's brother or 100% or whatever way.
It works out but there's like sticky feelings but she just
like fucking blows up her bag. It's crazy.
And this is the crazier part. They never make up like they
they become friends again, but they're never.
It's just sort of left at that, though.

(59:29):
We never kind of go back to their relationship after that.
And that's the one thing I appreciated about the show a lot
more than the the book is that they're much, well, both of them
are much better friends to each other in the show than the book.
And also we kind of get to see more of that their relationship.

(59:51):
100% and also I just want to saybelly.
You're kind of just jealous, notof her kissing her brother, but.
You should hope not. Yeah, you were just complaining
about how like, guys don't kiss you and like.
You want the guy to make the move.
And then I just feel like Tayloris everything Belly's not.
And I, and I'm not saying this as a judgement, like I feel like

(01:00:12):
everyone is going to compare themselves to other people or
whatever, but like I just feel like she wants that with Conrad
or Cameron or whoever. Cam Cameron and Taylor, you
know, puts herself out there andin a way that Belly just
doesn't. So I feel like she's just Jelly.
She's Jelly Belly, another nickname to go with Belly.

(01:00:36):
Oh, and she gets called. She gets called Jelly Bean
Jelly. Belly.
Belly button. So, oh, and yeah, she says,
'cause ham when they first meet.And he's like, why, Why belly?
And she's like, well, I love Jelly Bellies.
And he's like and like, that's still insane.

(01:00:57):
Like I love Brownie, but it's like cookies Skittle, Like oh.
My God. OK, we got a flashback to Belly.
She's 11 years old. We see this in the show.
I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry but.
Take a drink every time, Tori says.

(01:01:18):
You see this in the show, literally.
But they're listening to music. It is like Susanna and Belly and
Jeremiah and Susanna and Jeremiah start dancing.
They do the shag. It's called the Shag, OK?
The shag and the next move that Conrad teaches her is called the
cuddle, which I I know these aren't made-up, but they sound

(01:01:41):
made-up. Oh, they're not made-up.
No, 'cause I was like, I was like, oh, this is some subtle
like hint. Oh, innuendo, no.
Yeah, Shag. Is actually a dance.
Oh, OK 'cause we know what that means in like, I don't wanna say
British in English, but like. British slang is sex for sure.
But Kate, But like, this is verythe summer I or very 12.

(01:02:04):
The boys I loved before too, where I was like Jenny Hahn.
I love the wholesome world that you've created.
But I was like, at some point I was like these 16 year olds or
whatever. I love it.
Belly's 11. So Jeremiah would be 12 and
Conrad would be what, 13? I was like.
Those boys like they're probablynot doing the shag with their

(01:02:25):
mom on like a Friday night or whatever.
Like like they're probably like mom stop and I'm like going to
play video games like. Yeah.
So Belly's like, I want to learnlike Susanna teach me.
And she's like Conrad, you teachbelly.
So he teaches her the shag and the cuddle and she's like, Oh my
God, this is like the closest I've ever been to Conrad.

(01:02:46):
Very cute. Flash forward to present day and
Belly's hanging out with Cam Cameron and this was actually.
See, this is this is what you just talked about.
This is the, you know, stop. I'm going to play video games
instead, like bring up the MarioKart, the Call of Duty, the I
don't know what boys play, but but this is this is and in the

(01:03:08):
afternoon with Cam. And this is when I lost my love
for Cam because honestly if I had to like fuck Mary kill and
I'm not 32 I'm their age, but ifI had to fuck Mary kill Jeremiah
Cam and Conrad, honestly it's like Mary Cam kill Jeremiah I.

(01:03:30):
I I knew that was your answer. I could have.
I would have taken that to the bank. 100 Bruce.
I'm so she's like they're playing in the beach all day.
She's like, I'm thirsty. Cam's like I'll go grab you
something to drink. She's like, go get me Kool-aid,
bitch. I was.

(01:03:51):
Like you think Kool-aid is Kool-aid and she's like, I make
it and it's like 6 cups. Sugar.
Yeah, she double S all the sugarin it.
Yeah, like, OK, you fucking crazy.
Bitch after they already just ate like 3 fruit roll ups each
on the beach and came and it's like don't you think that's
enough sugar? I'll get you a water, Sir.

(01:04:16):
And he's like, yeah, OK, I'll goget you to drink.
She's like, OK, so she's like hanging out 45 minutes past. 45
minutes. She collects all of their stuff
that they had brought him down the beach and they walk and she
walks to the house and Cam is playing video games with
Jeremiah and Conrad. I would have gone.
Fuck you. No, no, I would have got a gun.

(01:04:41):
I would have got a fucking gun and killed all three of them.
That is so fucking disrespectfuland rude.
And Conrad, just like I would have killed myself.
So obviously. Belly gets really upset and she
storms into the kitchen. Conrad follows her because he's

(01:05:02):
he is like, Oh my God, she's actually upset.
And this is the first time she realizes that he's anxious about
the way that he, she feels abouthim.
And he's like, you can't be, like, mad at us, though, right?
And she's like, oh, no, I am like, what you did was like,
fucking rude. Because I guess she thinks that

(01:05:23):
they like trapped him into playing video games.
It's also a thing where it's like at 13 I did have a cell
phone, granted it was like one of those flippy ones.
So she has a. Cell phone too.
Text me so I'm not sitting on the beach for 45 minutes
wondering. Thank you.
You get kidnapped. Up.

(01:05:43):
It's pissing me the fuck off. I know in 2009 because like I I
got my first iPhone in 2011. OK, but in 2009 I you.
Would you would have a flip phone?
I did have a, yeah. Yes.
Because I would have been in Grade 9 and I had one of those
LG rumors that you like, turn tothe side and flip up and then it

(01:06:06):
had the keyboard and it was limegreen.
Yeah. I had an LG Shine.
Do you know what that is? I think so.
It's like that gold phone. Let me Google it.
Really it? Really just.
Oh hell yeah, I had a friend whohad one of these.
It really just like encapsulateswho I was in high school.

(01:06:27):
Yeah. But no, 100% I think this is one
of my grapes and grumbles about this book is that it's 2009.
Belly literally says I have a cell phone.
She gives Cam the summer house like home phone number and she's
like, I don't even know why I did that.
And she's like, I have a cell phone.

(01:06:47):
I don't know why I gave him the house phone.
So it's like, yeah, you're right.
Why didn't she call him? Or she called the house phone?
Or? She called Jeremiah or Conrad.
Yeah, or, or text or text. This was the other thing that I
was annoyed about too, though, is because when she got contacts
and Conrad's noticing for the first time, I was like, they you

(01:07:10):
would have had Facebook. Like Facebook was invented in
what, like 2000 and six, 2007? It was probably at its fucking
height in 2009. You guys would have been
Facebook friends and she would have been posting pictures.
I mean, she's one of those people who hate social media.
Oh jeez. I the second that came out of my
mouth, I was like absolutely nauseous.
She was posting everything. She is like she is looking at

(01:07:33):
who has liked, who has commentedlike she.
Was probably on Tumblr. She was a big Tumblr Tumblr
girly, but yeah, 100% she's not too good for Facebook.
They get into a fight and she says something scathing to him
and he goes, well, why don't youlook in the mirror a little bit
more? Like go look in the mirror some

(01:07:53):
more or whatever. And it's like, that's like
really brutal. And she's like, I'm finally
like, she's like, I'm actually fucking done with this douche
bag. And I was like, actually after
the way he's treated you this summer, that's probably the
healthiest thing you could have done.
I wouldn't have done it personally.
It is the healthiest thing you could have done.
So that evening, Cam and Belly go for a walk on the beach.

(01:08:14):
I guess they made-up. And she's like, let's go skinny
dipping. He's like, yeah, let's do it.
And then she like starts taking off her clothes and he's like,
we're kind of like close to yourhouse.
Like what about if your parents see or, or Laurel or Suzanna
sees? I think I'm going to change
their mind. Like let's do this another.
Time. Meanwhile, it's midnight.

(01:08:35):
I'm like, yeah, I'm not sure my parents would let me at midnight
on the beach away from the housewith a boy.
I don't know if. My I guess. 15-15 maybe?
I was saying 13 but no. Yeah, I don't know.
Yeah, she's 15 at this time. I don't know if my parents would
have probably, maybe, I don't know, maybe 10 PMI don't know

(01:08:56):
about midnight, probably 10:00 PM But I was like also, I was
like, if Cam is saying that it'sclose to the house, I was like,
yeah, you probably like it probably is close to the house.
I don't know if you want to be doing this.
Also he's it's OK for him to change his mind.
It's midnight. My parents are in bed snoring
for the past three hours. Yeah, true.

(01:09:17):
But same as Laurel and Susanna, probably God knows Santa
Susanna's sleeping and she gets so mad that he changes her, his
mind. I was like, I think he had like
legitimate reasons and like people can change their mind.
And so he just like leaves and the next day she.
Finds So you've done nothing butkissing like maybe once twice
and you're like going right to skinny dipping.

(01:09:39):
I know also she's like but don'tlook, but I was like, isn't that
the point of skinny dip? I don't know whatever it it
really truly doesn't matter. It's a wild jump, though, to
take from like never been kissedto like going skinny dipping.
He leaves her a note that says Iowe you one skinny dip, which I
thought was. Kind of, but it's in a bottle.
It's in a bottle that of her favorite like pop or something

(01:10:00):
like that. Probably Kool-aid.
Probably kool-aid bottle. They go on another date, They go
mini golfing. Yeah, this is when he drives her
home and he's like, can I kiss you?
And she's like mad about that, which like obviously it's like
she's just not feeling it and she I feel like, you know, when
you're just not feeling it. So everything gives you the ick.
She's at that point right now, but it's finally her 16th

(01:10:23):
birthday and she spends all of her birthdays obviously at
Cousins beach. And so the fam exchanged gifts.
She has like this whole routine with these like pancakes and
stuff like that and this specialcake and everyone gets her a
gift. Which I just want to also say,
not that I had guy friends growing up and like I don't have

(01:10:44):
any brothers and I only actuallyhave one boy cousin.
The rest are all girls. But I'm like, I feel like it's
kind of like would at this pointan 18 year old and a 16 year old
get gifts for someone. I don't know.
I just, I feel like that's such.A From a familial standpoint, as

(01:11:05):
the one who does have an older brother.
No, it's it's, it's the parents.Oh, I picked this up.
You can put your name on it. Exactly. 100%, but they all
exchange gifts. Jeremiah gives Belly a charm in
the shape of a key and Susanna gives her pearls like heirloom

(01:11:25):
pearls. Can't remember what Laurel gives
her. Stevens obviously not.
There he is in the show. He gets her the Princeton or
Stanford hoodie. Conrad doesn't get her a gift
and she's really upset. And they're all like, Oh my God,
this is so weird. So like, Susanna like,
immediately brings out the cake and they, like, sing.
And he's just like, sorry, like,happy birthday bells and like

(01:11:47):
goes to work. We don't know.
This is one of the huge differences, but we don't know
from the TV show that you know that he actually bought her the
Infinity necklace. Yeah, that's not in the book at
all. No, this is one of the funniest
scenes. But one night Conrad brings
Nicole, the girl that he's been seen, to the house for a visit

(01:12:10):
and Belly sees them hanging out and invites Cam over because
she's, you know, has to either watch her, her real guy, you
know, hang out with another girl, or she can make him
jealous. They decide to watch a movie.
The four of them are debating whether to watch Titanic or
Reservoir Dogs. And they're like going back and

(01:12:32):
forth, like, they're like one for Titanic, one for Reservoir
Dogs. Like, I don't wanna watch this,
like, blah, blah, blah. Just being annoying.
Like, literally, I think, Belly says aloud.
Does she even get a vote to Nicole?
Yeah, yeah, she doesn't even live.
Here, Yeah, like, OK. Neither does Cam.

(01:12:53):
Yes, exactly. And a halfway to the movie,
Nicole basically like whispers something in Conrad's ear and
then they go upstairs, which probably seems like she's like,
I'll like hook up to you or whatever.
Yeah, because then Belly like, argues with Cam and she's like,
they went upstairs. I bet they're going at it and
he's like going at it. And Cam's like, yeah, and why do

(01:13:16):
you care? He's like probably like And then
Conrad and Nicole come back downstairs and belly like
snuggles up to Cam like she likeshe's a fuck boy.
Like that's so manipulative. Subtle she is not.
Truly. And Cam finally is like, I feel

(01:13:37):
like you just invited me over tomake Conrad jealous and she's
like. Finally, someone who can do
math. That's my boy.
A few nights pass and Belly's hanging out with the moms and
Jeremiah and Susanna falls asleep in the middle of the film
and Jeremiah carries her upstairs.

(01:13:59):
And so obviously that's really concerning and he's upset.
So he hangs up with Belly later.He doesn't want to go to bed.
They're just like watching TV. He's like, how's it going with
Cam? She's like, no, what?
I don't think Cam is the right guy for me.
And he's like, I don't think he is either.
And then he's like. Because the right person is me.
Yeah, he's like Betty, I like you.

(01:14:21):
And she's like, what? Are you like fucking kidding me?
Like we're friends. And she's like, I really only
like Conrad. And he's like, you can like, get
over that. And she's like, no, I can't.
But that one Jeremiah is like, it's always Conrad.
Even her dad likes Conrad better, like.
Yes, yes. Do you think Jeremiah actually

(01:14:42):
like, I think this is a big question and I, I hope it's on
everyone's mind minds. Do you think that Jeremiah
actually? Likes.
Belly I. Knew that question was coming.
No, he doesn't. I think it's part of the chase
for one and but mostly getting something that over Conrad.

(01:15:05):
Anything that Conrad then can't have.
Well, he thinks he can't. He wouldn't.
Have, yeah. But we all know that's not true.
Yeah. So Belly is like, OK, if
Jeremiah can do it, I can do it too.
She confronts Conrad first thingin the morning, blurts out like,
I've loved you since I was 10 years old and all the reasons

(01:15:26):
why she loves him. And he's like, I don't like you
back. Like.
And she's like, no, you. No, you do like.
I know you do. And he's like, no.
And then he's like, you have been playing games with me and
Jeremiah and Cam all summer. And I was like, OK, that's
admitting that you do like her then.

(01:15:46):
Yeah. And then she's like, well,
you've been selfish all summer and like, your parents, divorce
isn't an excuse for your shitty behavior.
And also, this was like, kind offucked up, I thought.
But Conrad steps so close to belly.
He's so mad at her. And she's like, he's either
gonna kiss me or hit me. Yeah.
He grabs her shoulders and shakes her and Jeremiah

(01:16:11):
interrupts them and it's like Conrad like let her go, stop me
in a jerk. And then Conrad's like no, like
fuck you. I'm also I'm mad living.
I don't. He doesn't actually say fuck
you, but he's like, fuck you andpunches him.
And they begin to wrestle and fight.
And Laurel runs into the room and he she breaks up the fight
and she goes, they're like sobbing.

(01:16:33):
And she's just like, you know, don't you?
We find out the moms finally come, come clean, that Susanna's
cancer has returned and it's spread to her liver.
And she is, you know, stopping treatment.
And basically, this is her last summer at the beach house.
They're all sobbing and Belly goes to Jeremiah's room, and

(01:16:55):
they fall asleep together. That's how she she comforts him.
But the next morning, this is this is so bad.
Conrad sees Belly leave Jeremiah's room.
And he's like, you guys, you guys looked up, didn't you?
Like, he insinuates that something romantic happened.

(01:17:16):
And she's like, I cannot believethat I actually ever loved you.
And he is so stunned that she has finally said this that he
can't even say anything back to her.
Later that day, Belly finds Conrad sitting at the beach,
staring out at the sea, just reflecting on life.
And she goes up to him, and she starts to apologize.

(01:17:36):
And he's like, no, I, I'm not angry with you.
I'm angry at my mom for, like, hiding the secret and stopping
treatment. And she's like, he's so sad.
I wish there was something that I could do.
She kisses him. She's like, Oh my God, like,
what am I doing? And he, he's like, no, like, we
should continue doing this because I do care about you, he

(01:18:00):
says. The iconic line from the show.
Like belly, you know, I think. About.
You they kind of like leave it at that.
There's like a few weeks left ofsummer and Cam tries to reach
out to Belly, but she's ghostinghim and they spend the rest of
the time with Susanna. We were last summer, which is so
nice. And then I completely forgot
about this. This was insane to me because we

(01:18:23):
jump into the middle of winter and Belly's obviously back at
home and I think she lives in Philadelphia at this point.
And she gets a call from a boy. And obviously we know it's
Conrad, but doesn't specify. The boy's like, I'm driving to
your house, like meeting outside.
And she's like, OK, so she sneaks out of the house when

(01:18:45):
everyone's asleep and it's Conrad.
She gets into the car and then the book ends.
I like completely. Like if I was reading this back
in 2009 I would have been feral for the.
Second one like I would have been fucking.
Like my cage shaking the bars for the next one.
I was like, this is really shocking.

(01:19:06):
Did you like this ending better than the book ending or the TV
show ending where they kiss and.Then absolutely not.
Yeah, yeah. We are team happily ever after
only and this whole unresolved whatever this was was not in

(01:19:27):
even like the end of the actual knock, like not even this little
like excerpt we got of like the the winter thing, but like even
the end where like they kiss andhe's like not now and then.
It's like, is she dead? Like did did?
Yeah, you're right. Like, is Susanna dead?
Where's Steven? How's Jeremiah doing?
Like we just literally don't know anything.
Yeah, I don't feel like it was tied up nicely, but I I guess

(01:19:50):
that could be a cool thing or two.
And then they'll the last part like it does.
They're Jenny, Jenny, Jenny. Like she's still trying.
It's like even like the first hat, the like this, this last
bit of the winter thing is only like a page and a little bit.
And still she doesn't say it's Cara to like the very last line

(01:20:11):
of like the first, like the first page.
And it's like, oh, the boy called me and I'm going out to
meet his car and he's driving from Boston, but doesn't say who
it is until like the very last. And I said you're trying to be
sneaky, Jenny. So you think that she was trying
to insinuate it could have been Jeremiah?
Yes. Oh my God, I'm so dumb.

(01:20:31):
I'm so staunch Team Conrad that I didn't even consider that it
would be anyone else out there than.
Conrad No, because she doesn't. She doesn't say a name until
like that little piece is almostover and it's just like the boy
called and I'm going to see the boy and I don't see them
normally in winter. And like, it really could be
like 5050 either way until the very last then.

(01:20:52):
Thank you, that's actually really great analysis to just
make completely over my head. Because when I was first reading
it, I was like, yeah, better notbe what I think it is.
And then it was like, oh, perfect.
It's Connie. Yeah, Team Connie, Baby, 100
percent. OK, let's get into our round
table discussion. We can just like RIP through

(01:21:12):
these because I don't really have that much to say before we
talk about the TV show and then we'll wrap up the episode.
So our Internet investigation, this is our cursory proves the
Internet of Things you need to to be honest, I didn't really
find anything. This is the one thing that I
hate about this is the same whenI covered my Lady Jane and like
just when the YA book gets usurped by any of the TV shows

(01:21:35):
and it's like you can't even find like a Jenny Han I guess
also because her popularity skyrocketed.
But it's like you can't even find an article about the books
pre TV show which pisses me off because I'm like there's so much
that she could have said about the series.
I think before the adaptation that I like want to know, but

(01:21:57):
now that the adaptation's made, it's.
Different the summer I turn pretty before or after Laura
Jean into all the boys. To All the Boys I Loved Before
was published in 2014. Interesting.
So this one came first. Yeah, there's a lot of
similarities between. Yeah.
Laura Jean and Belly. OK, I wonder why these are

(01:22:21):
unanswered questions to the listeners.
I think like one thing that pisses me off and I think they
do try to change this in the TV series, but it's like Laura Lynn
Susanna seem like great people and like I feel like they're
raising their kids well and stuff like that and.
Not just absentee parents. Yeah, by being absentee parents
exactly, but like, I'm not to say this makes them bad people

(01:22:42):
at all, but it's like they treatbelly so much differently than
the boys. Like Jeremiah is literally one
year older and Steven is 2 yearsolder and Conrad is three years
older, which in the grand schemeof things is very little.
And they treat her like she's like some fucking baby child.
They let them drive and have cars and go to parties and like

(01:23:05):
do all this shit and they're like belly.
Come watch this like 1950s moviewith me.
Like it just fucking pisses me off because like.
I think some people are stuck ina in a like viewpoint of the
youngest child being like infinitely younger than they
are. And I think it's and.
Like I do that with my sister. It's compounded with, I think

(01:23:28):
her being the only girl. 100% I also think that in like
brother's best friend type tropes the trope is that the
girl is like I feel like the innocent.
Yeah. An immature person and then.
The brothers like. Experienced and like bad.
Boy or the especially my best friend is, especially in an

(01:23:50):
earlier time, I feel like that might be changing a little bit
now. Yes, yes, yes, yes.
To more of an equal playing field, but definitely in the
past. It was just so apparent.
It like fucking pissed me off. I was like so she cuz she wanted
to go to parties and stuff like that.
It's like sorry she doesn't wantto watch fucking a black and
white film with you guys and make brownies like which is fun

(01:24:12):
don't get me wrong and now I would much prefer that but.
I yeah, well, we've kind of reversed back to we've come
through and then we go back to the start.
Exactly, Exactly. And then I guess one of my other
wonder rises, like how can she capture YA so well?
Like I truly believe that this book, like it felt like the
narration and the thoughts that she had about life and boys and

(01:24:35):
everything like that is just is I feel like so true to the age.
It's so wild to me how like I just feel like I've never I.
Think because she's lived it. Yeah, yeah.
I mean, we have an olive like fair.
I wouldn't either, but I could maybe dictate to someone those

(01:24:57):
feeling and then they would haveto kind of shape it a little
nicer. OK, grapes and grumbles.
These are nitpicky bombs you have with the bug.
Not a lot. I said the the wholesome world,
like the Jenny Hahn world is a world that I would truly like to
live in. But I do think that there are

(01:25:17):
like kind of almost too many similarities to to all the boys.
I I hope that's not being like reductive like of these
characters, because I, I don't mean that, but like, I don't
know it. It just seemed a little too
similar. I think that's fair.
Belly makes a Woody Allen movie reference, which I read this in

(01:25:39):
the audio book. I was like, you should have
changed that. That would have been a really
easy update to make from a 2009 book to, you know, this was
probably the audio book was probably pubbed in like 2022 or
something. And then Susanna spreading some
misinformation about cancer treatment.
She was like, boys, I'm stoppingchemo.

(01:26:00):
I don't want to do it. I'm just going to do like
acupuncture and like eat healthyor whatever.
And I. Was yeah.
I was like, what? It was giving like influencer
like I'm going to cure cancer this way.
But also I'd just like to point out to everyone that Tori in her
notes, she spelled it SUS. Sana Hasana being SUS about

(01:26:22):
spreading misinformation about cancer treatment.
Exactly, I didn't even change it.
OK, our sequel scoop. This is our T on any upcoming
sequels, seasons and the generalreception.
Obviously it did like extremely well enough to get picked up as
ATV show. It's a trilogy.
The next book is It's Not SummerWithout You.
That was published in 2010. And then we'll always have

(01:26:43):
Summer, which was published in 2011.
Let's talk about the TV show. Let's.
It is on Amazon Prime. It was released June 17th, 2022.
It stars Lola Tang as Belly, Christopher Briny as Conrad and
Gavin Castilegno as Jeremiah andJenny Han was extremely involved

(01:27:07):
in the adaptation. She was the showrunner and as
well as the executive producer. The first note I had.
And when I saw this, I instantlytexted Tori and was like, this
is it right here? This is This is the only thing
that needs to be discussed and recapped and.
No literally we could have done 2 hours just on the scene.

(01:27:28):
But I truly I was like This is why I want to start smoking.
This is why smoking looks cool. Like sorry, it fucking looks
cool you guys. The delulu in the height of the
pandemic was real. OK, 'cause we're not about to
start smoking. No, we're not.
But like I was close the pool scene of him smoking, the way

(01:27:50):
he's holding the cigarette, the way he's blowing the smoke out,
the way he's lighting up the I guess it's a joint, but the way
he's lighting up the joint like.The way the what it'll give me
if I do was spoken, was said, was portrayed.
That was just. That.
Was. Brava, it's so crazy because I

(01:28:12):
don't even think he's that greatof an actor.
I haven't seen him any comes. From I saw him in Mean Girls the
musical. That's it though I don't think
he's great. I don't know, this is maybe a
good question for the listeners.Show me a scene that has more
tension and romance and intriguethan this one, because I bet you

(01:28:36):
can't find. One one thing I think they
really nailed was the casting, at least in terms of like
chemistry between Chris and Lolathat helped with like this scene
and just the show in general, because in the book that like
tension doesn't really come across as much.
Yes, yes. Yes, yes.
Especially cause in this scene in the book where she's like

(01:28:58):
nothing, you should do it for yourself.
Like it was getting very, but like the way it was like play.
I don't know. And I don't know if that was
like a script change or the actor's decision like how they
wanted to do that, but I think it was much improved.
That is such a good point 'causeyou're right, In the book it
kind of just reads as her being bratty back or like again, like

(01:29:21):
kind of pouty. In the show she is so thrown off
by him finally, after all these years, saying something like
mildly sexual to her that she isso stunned that she has to say
that. And then doesn't she like, dunk
herself underwater? I think so.

(01:29:43):
It it was like she had to say that because she had nothing
else that she know how to proceed.
She just didn't know if she should.
What she. Should I mean we were all
speechless? No, I'm not.
I know, I know, I know. My God.
OK The other part that I want totalk about that's kind of in
line with this is when they almost kiss at the 4th of July

(01:30:06):
party because they're on the dock and False God starts
playing which people wouldn't notice but or maybe they do, I
don't know whatever. But I'm a huge Swifty and False
God is probably in my top like 5Taylor Swift songs, the other
one being Cruel Summer which we also get in.

(01:30:28):
Even though the way they had Taylor Swift songs for this
show. The music, the music is so good.
This is the good, great thing about this TV series is that
they had the budget and they andlike Jenny Hahn has I think, a
good relationship or at least working relationship with Taylor
Swift because she got this love False God and Cruel Summer and

(01:30:50):
actually and love her and this Love Actually The Taylor's
version hadn't been released yetand Taylor put it out early so
Jenny could use it. So wasn't it in one of the
trailers? Yeah, it's yeah.
It's in the first I think trailer that got released.
Oh, and the the way I loved you.Sorry, the way.

(01:31:12):
I loved Yes at the dead ball at.The dead ball.
Yeah, yeah, something about having the Taylor Swift songs in
the show for me, like Mega can like just connect it all.
It's like. Bananas.
Kidding. Find the kids sitting in the
room. But like just to me, like when I
think Taylor Swift, granted it'sbeen like a huge career for but

(01:31:34):
like when I first started listening to Taylor Swift would
be the age like belly was in thebook.
Agreed. Agreed.
So like something about it is very like Kidzness or something
for me. Yeah, that like it's.
So fitting. Also I think it's another Easter
egg speaking in Taylor Swift lingo that it's Team Conrad to

(01:31:56):
the end because. Absolutely agreed because.
All the Taylor Swift songs. They only, they only actually, I
think in season 2 there might beone.
It was delicate. I think.
We don't need to discuss becausewe're only focusing on Season 1.
However, I will say that the lyrics, yeah, the lyrics chosen
from that part of the song for the scene in Season 2 were more

(01:32:18):
of a negative reflection than anything else.
Yes, no questions at this time. Exactly.
OK, I think that people so Conrad buys the Infinity
necklace for belly and I feel like people are like he's such a
Dick. Like he didn't give her a
birthday gift or whatever. It's insane to buy her a gift
that means like basically love you for Infinity and then his

(01:32:39):
mom gives these heirloom pearls and makes like a huge big deal
about it. And then he's expected to A out
himself, sell for loving belly and B.
It's such a personal gift. I like to do it in such a big
like I would be like, no, thank you and.
And like A and kind of a shittier necklace than this like

(01:33:00):
really expensive Pearl necklace.But it's like it's a it's
thoughtful. It's so thoughtful.
It was again something I liked they did in the show rather than
the book because has a Conrad really it makes him look way
better. Obviously he didn't forget, he

(01:33:21):
just. Yes, yes, yes, you're right.
Whereas in the book I'm like again you.
Are Dick Moo like? Yeah, yeah, I like in the and we
see this in the TV show, like atthe volleyball tournament
especially and stuff like that where Taylor literally fakes an
injury. So, Jeremiah.
Taylor and the show eats. Eats.

(01:33:44):
Way better. She is so much better in the TV
show, in the book, she in the book, she's just kind of like a
a slut. No, I'm just kidding.
I'm just kidding. She's just kind of.
She's kind of an opposite character for Belly in the book,
like. She's, she's Belly's foil and
she, she's kind of a frenemy. Yeah, which sucks because Belly

(01:34:05):
doesn't have a single girlfriendin the book then.
I know. No, no, that's what I was
thinking. So I was like, oh, great, She's
one of those girls that only hasa boyfriend and no girlfriends.
Like, yeah, could never be me, but I love that she fucking
hates Conrad. Like I love that she's like, you
are so much better than this. Like loser.
He's being a Dick like. Don't think we love a supportive

(01:34:27):
friend even though she is in thewrong in this case because when
she has to sub out and if something happens with Jeremiah
in the. It's like Sisterhood of the
Traveling Volleyball shirt seemsto somehow fit all of them.
He. Just like sucks.
For an. Afternoon or.
Whatever. Yeah, yeah.
And then obviously Conrad comes in to save the day and they have
their little like handshake thatthey do after everything.

(01:34:49):
Oh. My God.
And then they start and then they were like hanging out with
Jenny and the cast after. I was thing with like between
filming Season 1 and like Season2, and Jenny kept posting them
doing the handshake on her social media.
Look, we were deep in it at thatpoint.
Oh my God, that was the drought of all drought.

(01:35:09):
My God, this might be a hot well, two hot takes for me.
Justice for Cam Cameron. I feel like in the TV show he
does like literally nothing wrong.
He like he isn't jealous of the guys.
He doesn't do that much wrong inthe book either.
Like to be. Fair, like truly, truly.

(01:35:31):
The only thing he does wrong wasthat time with the drink and the
playing the video games. But like people can make
mistakes. I I like how I excused it even
though in the 10 minutes ago I said it was the worst thing that
could have ever happened. But he doesn't eat meat and he
doesn't drink, which like usually those people, again, no
offense, all love, but like are so fucking annoying.

(01:35:52):
Actually, Jen doesn't drink. She's.
Not and they don't really like meat so except for chicken so
I'm. Talking about her?
No, I'm just kidding. But not.
But you know how people are always like, I don't eat meat
like that. I'm saving the environment,
which like you kind of are. But like they're just, they like
look down on people that choose to drink or choose to eat meat.
And it's like he isn't a Dick about it at all.

(01:36:15):
He takes the break up so well. I just feel like he's so lovely
and and she like treats him likeshit.
At least she doesn't ghost him like she does in the book.
And then my second hot take is Iknow that the Mr. Fisher kind of
seems like a Dick and also cheated on on Susannah with his

(01:36:37):
secretary or whatever. But she just like goes and hooks
up with that guy in their small town of cousins beach where they
know everyone. That was insane.
That was insane. Like I don't care about her
husband or whatever, but it's like, what about if the boys
surf instructor, I don't know, like volleyball coach saw them

(01:37:01):
or like I don't know. That was just fucking insane to
me. This was something I had a
realization about that I wanted to pose to everybody in the TV
show. Jerr is so sexual with belly.
Like I feel like every time she talks about kissing him and
stuff like that, it's like fireworks and like something

(01:37:22):
I've never had before or whatever.
And with Conrad it's like so much like more tentative and
like romantic and stuff like that.
And I feel like that was like intentional.
It's hard to say because betweenBelly and Jeremiah, I, I do see
that even in like even in the scene that they had where

(01:37:43):
they're kissing in the pool is much more like.
Aggressive. Yeah, and like, more sexual than
the like, innocent, like romantic, like final kissing
between Belly and Conrad at the beach.
Yeah, it's almost like they're kind of subtly implying that

(01:38:08):
like, Jeremiah is like she likeshim just because she wants those
like experiences of like. Kissing and stuff like that.
Actually that no, the more I think about it, the more I think
it actually was intentional because I think they there's
like a scene when they go to practice or when she's at like

(01:38:28):
the ball, like rehearsals or whatever and Jeremiah comes in
and he's he turns on music and is dancing, which is like the
biggest, the biggest. No, I really don't want to
because the, the, the, the levelof cringe that I get is like the
second hand embarrassment that Iget.

(01:38:48):
I, I really, I don't want to feel that.
I don't want to feel that right now.
But for some reason, all the girls are like, no, like, and
they're all, I feel like there'sa part where they're all, like,
sitting where this table belly is sitting at.
And they're all like, oh, like you're friends with Jeremiah.
Like all the girls are making comments about Jeremiah.

(01:39:11):
They're kind of playing it up like he's a little bit of a fuck
boy. Yeah.
Yeah. And then they have him talking
about the the boy that he thinksis cute.
Like he's talking to Steven and he's like, I've hooked up with
like her, her, him, him, like all these people.
So I guess, I don't know, maybe that's just the way that he
shows up with Belly too. I don't know.

(01:39:31):
Just like every time there was amoment between Jeremiah and
Belly, it seemed different. I think they're trying to maybe
make the difference of like because I still am a firm
believer that Jeremiah doesn't actually like her like her.
He just like wants to be annoying with Conrad.

(01:39:53):
Hence the old First of all, shooting a firework at someone
is actually deadly. Oh my God, how have we not
talked about that yet? That is actually fucked.
Like we tried to murder them. No like.
Like, we passed over that way too quickly.
I think there needs to be a whole discussion about this

(01:40:14):
because, yeah, we're just like, oh, like, he's.
No, no, no. He tried to kill them.
There was a plot. Also rude because I was waiting
for other things to happen in that episode and he ruined it,
so fuck off. But I think that like, the main

(01:40:35):
difference is that Jeremiah might like her physically, but
the main difference is that like, her and Conrad have this.
Yeah. And they have this emotional
connection and, you know, their soul mates and the like all
that. So it makes sense with Jeremiah
that it would be more just like.Yeah, that actually makes a lot

(01:40:57):
of sense to me. I want to say justice for
Shayla. Yes, Amen.
She is so fun. I love her character.
Steven seems so obsessed with Shayla.
He says I love you to her in like the last episode, the last
kind of huge change I want to talk about.

(01:41:17):
And then we can jump into our round table discussion because
we have a lot more to say, but there's no Deb ball and I really
even though them trying to pass off the Deb ball as something
that's actually progressive was.Little.
Yeah, it's like, guys, you can'tput lipstick on a pig.
Like it's it's not progressive. So don't try to like pseudo make

(01:41:42):
it progressive. But I did like it because it's
like I feel like Susanna wanted to see belly in a white dress
like wedding. True.
Yeah. And we got the iconic.
I think it's Laura who says it. Well, yeah.
It's when, like, it's like dead sound.

(01:42:03):
And all of a sudden Conrad stands up 'cause he has to fill
in for Jeremiah and it's like the Cuomo walk towards the.
Yeah. I don't know, honestly, I don't
know how they feel about with a straight face.
No, Oh my God, me neither. I don't know how they filmed the
escort dance with the street vase.
Yeah, it's true, but we got the iconic Laurel, Laurel who says

(01:42:25):
it, and she's like for belly Conrad is the sun and.
And yes, yes. I forget the rest of it, but.
It is Laurel and when the sun goes away it's just the stars or
darkness or something like that.But also I liked that they made
the devil kind of like it's the precipice because it's like or

(01:42:45):
the climax or whatever in the story, because it's like they
get Jeremiah and Conrad get intothe physical fight that just
happens at the house in the books.
Where as I think visually, because they're in their suits
and dresses and stuff like that,it's just really, you know,
exciting when it happens. Yeah, and I think they needed

(01:43:08):
something to move the plot onwards because.
Yeah. We don't get as many flashbacks
in the show as we do. We don't.
We did get the shag. We did get the shag, so thanks
for that. But because it's Belly's POV,
obviously there's just so much more in the show than we get to
ever see in the books because it's, you know, she would have

(01:43:30):
to be there for it to be discussed.
Also, Laurel's dress, the red dress at the dead ball is so
beautiful. And Bellie's dress obviously is
so beautiful. I just, it's so aesthetic,
everything. Was they all did good Costuming
was really good at the. Yeah, the whole, the whole
costuming. Like I loved Bellie's haircut.
I loved her like cut off jeans. I loved the pink dress when she

(01:43:55):
goes to the bonfire. Like, she, she just, she looked
so good. OK, let's get into our round
table discussion. This is our Internet
investigation. OK, I've got a lot to say.
OK. Jenny Han got multiple offers to
make her books into movies over the last couple years, but they

(01:44:17):
wanted to recast the Asian characters as white, so she
declined. This is a quote from her.
I just knew that I wanted to be the one to make the decisions.
But the summer I turned pretty, I had interest over the years
from people who were really wellestablished and had ridden a
pilot for it on spec. I would read them and think this

(01:44:39):
isn't the story and I just rather not have it get made,
have it be a version of it that doesn't feel like the story to
me. Not that they were bad, they
just weren't what I envisioned. I held on to that and it was
only after being an executive producer to all the boys I loved
before that I was able to say Jesus Christ, it's going to be

(01:45:00):
me who does it. She did not say Jesus.
Christ, no, no, she didn't just you know, when you read quotes
on other people and it's like, it's obviously not the way you
talk and you're just. Like, yeah.
This is not how I would have said it anyways.
Fair. That's super fair, I think.
Like that is obviously an important part of Jenny Han's
verse. Is that the?
Yeah. And I think of her, like,

(01:45:21):
standing by her characters and also the authenticity of, like,
writing it from her perspective as an Asian woman and wanting to
be Asian characters and that kind of thing.
And not just being like, Oh, well, these people want it and I
can make money here. Yeah.
Especially from if it's well established people, you know,
there was probably a chance to make money on it.

(01:45:41):
And she was like, you know, thisis important to me, so I need to
wait and do it my way. Especially because they're
original covers. I'll post this on my Instagram
but the original covers of the Samurai Jam pretty is white
characters on the book which I thought was interesting.
The show is filmed in Wilmington, NC and Carolina
Beach. Because all good shows are One

(01:46:03):
Tree Hill. Literally, literally, so you can
go visit, you know, where it wasfilmed.
And we got a quote from Jenny about Taylor Swift, She said I
don't listen to music when I'm writing unless I need to tap
into some emotions for that. Taylor Swift has always been the
musician that can help me tap into being that emotional very

(01:46:24):
quickly. I was definitely listening to a
lot of her music when I was writing this summer.
I turned pretty books. Which makes sense because like I
was saying before. It's.
That would have been Taylor Swift's early stuff. 100% also
just like a lot of Taylor Swift's songs I can't even think
of what like her early works like stuff from debut and stuff

(01:46:46):
like that could be like Run by Belly.
When was the debut debut album publish?
It was October 24th, 22,000 and six.
Yeah, and elsewhere in 2008. So it would have been probably
that album. Yeah, I just feel like the way
that she talks about like, like Teardrops on my Guitar and like

(01:47:09):
or like. A classic.
Yeah, yeah. Our song tied together with a
smile. It's very belly coated.
I feel like just the way she talks it the way.
Yeah. Like.
Tim McGraw. And then on her adaptation, she
said, I approached it like, whatdo I think are the most
important elements of the story to keep and what do the fans

(01:47:32):
care about the most? I am able to pull from all the
emails, letters, comments I've seen over the years from fans.
So that's how we looked in at this adaptation and.
The fans want Belly with Conrad.Yes.
And also I was like, and I thinkyou did an excellent job of
keeping the bones and the vibe of the book while adding new

(01:47:52):
plot points and adapting it to a2022 audience.
Like I think she did a really, really good job.
And she said, and I love that she does this fan service to
what do the original fans care most about?
And then also for me, what's going to be like the most fun
and exciting to explore? Because I think as a writer, you
have to feel like you're doing something new in a way to that.

(01:48:15):
It's not going to be just the exact same thing.
But what's the new approach and how do I make this feel fresh?
Jen wanted to bring this up. OK, Look, I felt like the
discussion about Team Conrad andTeam Jeremiah was going to come
up as a reoccurring theme throughout this discussion.
And I know it's important to keep separate who the actors are
and who their characters are. They're different people and

(01:48:36):
whatnot. However, totally in this case.
With that being said. With that being said, for me, it
does bleed together, you know, because I'm already Team Conrad.
So I'm like already a negative Nancy when it comes to Jeremiah,
even though I think I have good reason to be both in the book

(01:48:57):
and in the show, but also in real life.
Mr. Gavin kind of a little religious freak, kind of
problematic, kind of like needs to get off social media.
And I'm not saying you can't be religious or whatever, but he
takes it to another level and and it's using it's using

(01:49:20):
Christianity as like a defense for why he's like transphobic or
why he's, I don't know, like I don't want to, I don't want to
accuse him of things, but that is why I do not.
He was liking some some not goodthings.
So I'm like, you know what? I don't like you as a person.
I don't like your character. Yeah, truly.
And I think they did really goodcasting.
I actually honestly wish they kind of had cast a different

(01:49:43):
person because yeah, Gavin kind of seems like a Trumpy freak,
which is weird cuz it's like he obviously plays a bi character
in the show. That's a that's another
difference is Jeremiah's bi in the show, which I loved.
We loved some BI Rep. Here OK, but as opposed to just
saying it like let's let's get him a boyfriend next season.

(01:50:04):
Yeah, truly. He doesn't make out with that
boy. So I liked that.
But like, it's like, OK, there'sa few things.
I think that Gavin does not looklike Chris Briny or the actress
that plays Susanna or even the dad at all.
And I know that siblings don't always have to look alike, but
they have like 0 similarities. And then also I feel like Gavin.

(01:50:27):
The thing about Jeremiah is thatlike I included that scene in
our recap about him doing the jig because I think it just
encapsulates who he is. He's like very golden retriever,
very funny. Nothing gets to him.
And while I do think that Gavin does a good job at playing that,
there's times like where he crashes the dub ball waltz

(01:50:47):
lesson or whatever where he justcan't pull it out.
Like he just, I don't know, I just don't think he can pull it
off. And I don't have any other
people that I would sub him withlike or anything like that.
But like, there was just something about him that didn't
hit like all the other casting. There's something about who for
me that is cringe. It's cringe.
It's It's hard to like him when you're wearing a fishnet

(01:51:11):
lifeguard outfit. It's hard to like when he's
shooting fireworks at people doing a dance to I forgot what
that song. Is I'm so pretty and you like
that? Like I Yeah.
Yeah, it's so cringy. Like, OK, I just think here's
my, the final thing I'll say about this because I think that
this really sums it up for you and I If there is a legitimate

(01:51:33):
love triangle, you cannot give your audience the ick with one
of the options. It's kind of like the Jacob and
Edward thing where it's like there, it's like there was
almost a point where it wasn't really a love triangle because
it can't really be a love triangle when it's like 90.
Percent of people. Yeah, yes, exactly.

(01:51:54):
But it's like when 90% of the people are Team Edward and then
10% are Team Jacob, and same with 90% of people are Conrad.
And the other percent are delulu.
Are delulu. I'm like trying to be contrarian
and try to pick me. Honestly I've seen one too many
TikTok videos of it's like why you should be team Jelly instead

(01:52:15):
and it's just like you will not convince me.
No. I don't care what like your
arguments, I don't care. No.
They're just not good arguments.No, that's.
Really. And I feel like the tension and
the chemistry between Lola and Chris is not the same as between
Lola and Lola and Gavin are giving buddy buddy.

(01:52:37):
Which I guess technically is supposed to be the point, but.
Like, yeah. But I just like, I want a real
love triangle. I want the the other option, the
one that the person doesn't end up with at the end to be
legitimate. And this just like.
Like, this looks to be real. I'm just stuck with the Trump.
Just it's kind of a be all end all for me.

(01:52:58):
Yeah, when you're problematic. And I know that, like, I
shouldn't stop you from getting a job.
It should. Yeah, it really should.
And he's giving Trumpy vibes andI hate that.
It also seems like the cast kindof all hangs out and then he's
like, not there. OK.
I wonder why is a few things OK?Who did Laurel have a burning
flame for? And do you think we'll see them
in season? I guess not Season 2, but maybe

(01:53:20):
Season 3 because there's a pointwhere Belly and Laurel have a
conversation in the show where she's like, did you feel
fireworks with dad or was it? And she's like, it was like a
slow burn, like a a warm cozy fire.
But it was never like fireworks.And she wants the fireworks, not

(01:53:41):
the cozy fire, which I guess is the Jeremiah and Conrad
argument. I guess so, yeah, I we're not.
Really. Is that like a hit?
Characters that some an other character might become maybe I
wouldn't mind seeing and maybe aprogression in story for Laurel
Joe in the first season she has sort of like a semi really a few

(01:54:03):
dates anyways yeah with. Cleveland.
Yeah, that other author guy. And I feel like only a time
where she comes in and Belly andthe boys are like, oh, like, OK,
it was Belly talking to Connor and the dog and she's like.
Yeah, and she's like, I think mymom just got fucked.
Yeah, he's like, go Laurel. Yeah.

(01:54:25):
Anyways, I hope that's a a hint for a future season.
Why was Steven writing dramine fanfic?
Oh, that's what that I was like.What is?
What is Dramioni like? It is so funny to me that Steven
for some reason was writing Jake, Draco Malfoy and Hermione

(01:54:46):
Ranger fanfic. What a pot legend.
Of what had legend. That's so fucking funny to me.
And it was so, so funny when Jeremiah's like, yeah, Malfoy's
hot. Like, I, I don't like, I get it.
When the belly was like, and youspent a whole chapter writing
about his wand or something likethat.
It's like, that's so out of pocket.

(01:55:08):
That is so out of pocket. You don't even remember that,
but that's a while. OK, let's move on to our Graves
and Grumbles. And after I just said the
casting was so good. Outside of Gavin, they're
younger versions of themselves. OK I feel like they should have
just casted younger people. 100.Percent grade and gave her

(01:55:28):
braces and was like and put her in overalls.
I was like Oh my God, she's 12 and like.
Kind of like maybe reduced her like boobs and then like Steven
they just again gave glasses to.And like a polo.
A polo, I think, and I like a backwards hat.
It's like, okay, so the glasses makes no sense because when

(01:55:48):
Conrads like Belly, you look better without glasses.
She could be like, I could say the same about you, Conrad.
And those glasses that they picked were straight out of the
twenty 10s movie theater 3D glasses that people popped the
lenses out of. It's.
So bad, it's so bad. They should have just casted
younger people. They had this big ass budget and

(01:56:10):
you couldn't hire like three extra people.
No, I know, 'cause they have like, they have the like really
young versions of themselves andthen they have so.
People that are in the picture, you know the.
Yes, yes. Get them on screen for five
seconds. 100% that pissed me offso bad.
That was so weird. You're saying or like when like
when Jeremy and Belly do the shag in the TV show.

(01:56:34):
I'm like, this is embarrassing because like or sorry, sorry,
I'm Taylor. Now when Conrad and Belly do the
shag, it's like, I wasn't thinking, oh, this is a cute
moment. I was thinking.
Like this is embarrassing that they're kind of fool us with
this. Yes, exactly.
Yeah. There was also such a weird mix
of present day references in theTV show.

(01:56:57):
For example, they talk about Elizabeth Warren, they talk
about Instagram, but then in thesame breath, they'll say some of
the most outdated shit. And I just feel like it's like
you need someone who's young that's in the writing room.
I don't know if there was somebody young there, but it
doesn't sound like it. Like Shayla was like, I'm
obsessed with Lindsay Lohan. And it's like, girl, you are

(01:57:20):
supposed to be what, 17 in this show?
You would be like, I love Emma Chamberlain or like Kendall
Jenner or Kylie Jenner or something.
Like that when I was 15, I'd be a little bit younger than that
actually in like. 2008. 2000 andyeah was when I would have been
like, Oh yeah, Lindsay Lohan. 100 lone.

(01:57:43):
And Hilary Duff like that generation.
Yes, yeah, that made no sense tome cuz I was like, this came out
in 2022. She's supposed to be 17, So
what, she was born in 2003 or whatever.
I can't do the math. Yeah.
Her references would be like Kylie maybe or Haley Bieber.
I don't know, just fucking not Lindsay Lohan.

(01:58:06):
And then Belly was packing for the beach and Taylor's like,
what are these like granny panties or something like that?
And she's like, you need thongs.They're mainstream.
No 15 year old is saying like thongs are mainstream.
Maybe they would say like thongsare the cool things to wear or
something like that. Also, Laurel and Susanna, when

(01:58:27):
they're at that dive bar they choose Don't Chat by The
Pussycat Dolls as their song to dance to.
I was like, OK, you guys are like maybe say 45.
Yeah. You would be picking like new
kids on the block like. I'm not up to date with my music
like that, so I don't If you want to pick, don't you?
Interesting choice. Maybe, maybe, maybe the excuse

(01:58:48):
is that's the only thing on the little.
The jukebox? Yeah, I don't think so.
But I feel like going back to the following thing for a
second, I feel like in in high school at age like 15, it was
like, Oh well, you can have panty liner panty lines for your
leggings. 100% you wouldn't justbe like, those are actually
really mainstream. You just be like, those are the

(01:59:11):
end thing right now. That's what everyone's wearing.
Like you would not say that. This is my biggest gripe and
grumble. I'm gonna go fucking in on this.
It is so annoying to me when there's so much focus on food.
Like belly is always like in thein the book she's drinking
fucking kool-aid and shit like that.

(01:59:34):
And the TV show it's the exact same.
She's eating the fruit roll ups.She's like eating Captain Crunch
out-of-the-box. Lucky Charms like all of that
shit and it is giving Gilmore Girl vibes.
I fucking hate when super skinnybitches are eating like that on
TV because I just think like a fat person could never do that.

(02:00:00):
Like they would be ridiculed they would be like that so bad
for them they shouldn't be eating that like all of this
stuff but because Lorelei and Rory are skinny they can eat
like fucking pancakes. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
With fucking Fruity Pebbles on top with a side of syrup that
they're chugging and no one backs the eye.

(02:00:23):
Yeah, literally. They're always eating like, Pop
Tarts for dinner and stuff like that.
And it's like someone who is in a bigger body just could never
do that because people would be,would comment on it like, And it
just, I don't know, that stood out to me.
I feel like there are certain I use when I'm reading too.
There are certain things that I I feel like I don't take in when

(02:00:44):
I'm. Yeah.
I'm watching so one of the things is like the only thing
that sticks out to me is I remember someone I don't even
know which person they got, but the good muffin.
But other than that, like I kindof just skim over like what
they're eating and that kind of thing.
The only I remember the muffins and the like margaritas that
belly makes gets like hand over and then like takes her to the

(02:01:07):
Conrad in the in the outdoor shower.
She's like, I just love wet hair.
It's so. Romantic, yeah, that's fair.
I just think that so many peoplelike pretend concern.
Like they have pretend concern if the person is larger and
they're eating quote UN quote junk food.

(02:01:30):
Whereas like when it's skinny people then no one has a problem
with it but I. Have no doubt that you're right,
I just think I'm ignorant about it and I'm like I my sole focus
is to be like entertained and like numbed out like not.
Really. I know, I know, I know.
Not picking up on anything Syria.

(02:01:51):
No. And they they did also add the
racism like microaggression storyline with Steven, which I
liked. So they did add a few things
that I thought were like poignant and stuff like that.
But yeah, that's just one thing that, like always, bugs me about
Gilmore Girls and. Now this show Gilmore Girl.
It's a good show. It's a good show to watch in the

(02:02:11):
fall, honestly. Yeah.
And I don't want to keep like parting on the same thing.
I love harping on the same. Thing though, I know, I know, I
know. You had brought up before, like
in the show, like Jeremiah teaching Billy to drive when
like he's supposed to be. Oh my God.
As her or like one year older and the green screen, the green

(02:02:34):
screen and the driving was not. Was not good.
No. Even though I will give Team
Jelly the Easter egg possibly oflike how Jeremiah drives the red
Jeep and Peter had a Jeep into all the boys I loved before but.
Yeah, so she's got to change it up a little bit.
Yeah, exactly. But that pissed me off so much

(02:02:57):
because where I live, actually, I don't even know if it's the
same in Ontario, but it's like if you're 16, you can't drive
without a. It is the same.
Yeah, you have to. Yeah, without.
A 25 year old. Yeah, and it has to be someone
who's had their license for like5 plus their full license for
five plus years. And I know it's to make the boys
seem cooler and more mature and stuff like that, but it's like,

(02:03:17):
I guess if this was the same as BC, Conrad would be able to
drive by himself but Jeremiah definitely couldn't have and
seen as Steven. So that pissed me off.
And I know like this is takes place in technically
Massachusetts or whatever, but Idon't think it would be much

(02:03:38):
different there. Like just having a 16 year old
drive by themselves is crazy. I would say my other neither 1
issue is the the girls skinny dipping scene where I think
Taylor and belly go and then Nicole and then like steal their
clothes. And so then they actually call
the boys and they come in separate cars.

(02:04:00):
And that was interesting to me because I feel like they they
tried to give more of a storyline to like, Nicole and
the girls because then it was like, at the end, all the dead
people were friends. But I don't know if that
storyline was it. I don't feel like it was fleshed
out enough. It went from like, I'm stealing
your clothes and leaving you stranded here to, oh, my God,

(02:04:22):
like, we're all friends hanging out together.
I'm so sorry. Like I did that because I was
jealous. OK, It's still shitty.
Yeah, you have that realization.Yeah, you have that realization,
like real quick, 100% yeah. I think the problem that the
book had that Belly has no otherfriends, basically, or at least

(02:04:42):
they're not ever talked about ordepicted other than Taylor.
At least in Cousins, she says. I don't know anyone other than
the boys. Yeah, she she, she literally
just hangs out Laurel and Susanna.
I was like, OK, that's a red flag.
But yeah, I'm like, so obviouslyI liked seeing her hang out with
other girls and stuff like that,but just it didn't work.

(02:05:02):
It's for me, it was like it was like they were only telling her
because she was with Jeremiah and then they then they got pit
and she was like, I don't know, her and Conrad were showing
interest to each other and then not, oh, it's forgiven.
And then she has to like, say toNicole, like, sorry, I was kind
of being a girl this summer and I was like, was she though?
Maybe she was to Cam. She isn't, oh, Nicole anything.

(02:05:26):
I don't think she Yeah, I. Don't know, it wasn't horrible
but like. I don't think she leads on
Jeremiah either. I think they're just friends and
he sees something more. And so I feel like she really
was only actually a girl to Cam because she actually really
likes Conrad and not anybody else.
OK, our sequel scoop. It was the most watched Amazon

(02:05:47):
Prime show for women 18 to 34. And it's in Prime's top three,
like all time shows, which is wild.
Or maybe for that year, 2022. And then obviously the books
went back on the bestseller listafter the show came out.
And Season 2 was released in 2023 and Season 3 is coming in
2025. Making us wait two years is.

(02:06:12):
Absolutely cool too. And I mean, just to this impact
on the book, I mean, I went and bought all three books after I
saw the first seat because I saweveryone, people, they didn't
want to spoil it. But people who haven't read the
books, like you don't really know what's going on with the
boys, blah, blah, blah. And I found out they're like,
what's going on? And because I was willing at

(02:06:35):
this point, I'm still open minded and willing to, you know,
not be Team Jeremiah, but be more open minded and say, you
know, he can still have a good life.
And then I read the books. Not on my watch.
No 100%, especially the way thatit ends, but we hopefully
spoiled that. But I think it'd be wild if

(02:06:55):
someone watched the TV show and didn't read the books.
I really. Honestly.
I think it makes it way better. They are almost completely two
different entities for me. I feel like they're so
different. Not that I say they're so
different after you just spent the last two hours being like,
and this was depicted in the show and this was so like,
obviously there are a lot of similarities, but I think the

(02:07:18):
biggest thing is they aged it upthe show.
Yes, yes. And then there are, although
there are a bunch of things fromthe book that are in the show,
there are equally as many thingsthat are in the show that are
not in the book. Totally.
I still think you should read and watch both of them just to I
have an informed opinion but I Ireally is too different to like

(02:07:39):
experience it. I just can't imagine myself
watching the show and not knowing the significance of some
of the scenes and stuff like that.
It just makes it so much more rich to have.
I wish I could be someone who just was not that.
Like you didn't have to be obsessive.
With it. Yeah, me too.

(02:08:00):
But if I'm going to enjoy it, I will immerse myself in all of
it. I will say this May me really
want to rewatch season 2. Season one goes down so easy.
I think I watched it over two days.
I really want to watch season 2 again even though I don't think
I liked it as much and I really want to read the books because I
low key kind of forget what happened because I read them

(02:08:21):
again like 10 years ago. Yeah.
OK, that's all from us. Thanks so much, Jen, for coming
on. You should come back for Season
2. And that's the story of the
summer I turned pretty. Thank you so much for listening
and thank you to Jen for joiningme on today's show.
If you want more of the Han universe, you can check out my

(02:08:41):
episode on to all the boys I loved before with the girls from
movies that raised us. That was a really fun episode.
And if you want to answer our TSITP quizzes and see some pics
from the movie, see us podcasting, see some fan art,

(02:09:01):
follow me on socials at Ready tobe Romanced.
If you enjoyed this episode or you've been enjoying the podcast
in general, please subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and
leave a rating and review. It only takes a few seconds and
it's really helpful to get noticed by, you know, potential
advertisers, potential future guests, and potential listeners.

(02:09:24):
If you don't know what to write,you can let us know that you
enjoyed the books or the conversation or grapes and
grumbles. Whatever you want to say about
the show is super helpful. This is a good way to also give
feedback to let me know that I'mon the right track.
If you want to suggest a book orleave a voicemail with a
question for a future episode, you can do so via the links in

(02:09:45):
the episode show notes. Our next episode is Outlander.
Until then, happy reading for Ready to be Romanced, I'm Tori.
Goodbye.

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