The question that refuses to die in The Summer I Turned Pretty is simple — and explosive:
Was it always Conrad?
After that moment, after Taylor’s very real reaction, after all the chaos, heartbreak, and wedding drama… many fans are convinced the answer was right in front of us the whole time.
The Deb Ball Was the Biggest Foreshadowing
If you rewatch carefully, the debutante ball says more than most people realized.
When Conrad Fisher steps in, when the music swells, when Belly’s expression softens — that wasn’t random romance.
It was narrative foreshadowing.
Some fans argue that moment went over a lot of heads. The symbolism was clear: no matter who she stood beside, Conrad was the one who ultimately showed up in the defining moments.
And that matters.
Love or Trauma Bond?
Supporters of Jeremiah Fisher don’t deny the love between him and Isabel “Belly” Conklin.
They shared laughter. Friendship. Comfort. Years of silliness and affection.
But critics of the pairing suggest their romantic relationship was built during shared grief over Susannah — a time when emotions were raw and everyone was leaning on someone just to stay afloat.
When a relationship forms in the middle of trauma, it can feel intense. Necessary. Healing.
But does that make it forever?
For many viewers, the answer is no.
It Only Worked When Conrad Wasn’t There
One of the most repeated arguments is this: Belly and Jeremiah functioned best when Conrad was physically absent.
Distance created stability.
But the second Conrad reentered the picture — even for one weekend — everything shifted. Belly’s feelings resurfaced almost immediately.
That doesn’t erase what she felt for Jeremiah. But it does suggest something deeper was never fully resolved.
Jeremiah’s Gamble
Even some Team Conrad fans admit they felt for Jeremiah.
Getting together with Belly was a gamble. He knew about her history. He knew about the connection she shared with his brother. And yet, he hoped loving her harder would be enough.
That belief — that if he loved her more deeply than she loved him, she would eventually choose him fully — is heartbreaking.
To his credit, many fans respected him for eventually calling Belly out. For refusing to stay in something where he felt second.
Because no one deserves to feel like the backup plan.
Taylor Saw It Coming
And then there’s Taylor Jewel.
Her reaction? So real. So human.
Taylor supported Belly — even when she suspected marrying Jeremiah would be a mistake. She stood by her friend, even when she didn’t fully believe in the outcome.
Was she always fair to Conrad? Not exactly. She often relied on Belly’s emotionally biased storytelling. But eventually, she saw what had been there all along.
Sometimes best friends know before we’re ready to admit it ourselves.
So… Was It Always Conrad?
For many fans, the answer is yes.
The glances. The deb ball. The way her emotions unravel the second he’s near. The fact that their story never truly ends, no matter how hard they try.
Belly loved Jeremiah.
But Conrad was the love she never stopped choosing — even when she tried to convince herself otherwise.
And maybe that’s the difference between a beautiful relationship…
And an endgame one.
