The love triangle at the center of The Summer I Turned Pretty continues to divide fans, and this time the argument is sharper than ever. One line keeps resurfacing in discussions: “There will always be something between you and Conrad.”
If Jeremiah Fisher knew that before starting a relationship with Isabel “Belly” Conklin, then was he naive, manipulative, or simply in love?
For many viewers, that line changes everything.
“He Knew. Everyone Knew.”
One side of the fandom refuses to feel sorry for Jeremiah. Their reasoning is straightforward: he entered the relationship fully aware of the emotional history between Belly and Conrad Fisher. He knew Conrad loved her. He even pushed Conrad to admit those feelings out loud.
If you know the situation is emotionally volatile, why proceed anyway?
To critics, Jeremiah wasn’t blindsided. He saw the fire and stepped into it, hoping he wouldn’t get burned. They argue he believed he could create distance between Belly and Conrad, that time and proximity would shift her heart in his favor.
From this perspective, feeling sorry for him ignores the fact that he made a conscious choice.
But Belly Still Chose Him
On the other hand, supporters of Jeremiah see it very differently. They argue that he actually did the mature thing by encouraging Conrad to confess his feelings so Belly could make an informed decision. After that confession, Belly still chose Jeremiah.
In Season 2, Jeremiah even tried to keep his distance. It was Belly who approached him and said she wanted something real. She told him whatever existed between her and Conrad was over.
If she made that choice freely, how can Jeremiah be blamed for believing her?
To this side of the debate, Jeremiah didn’t manipulate the situation. He trusted her words.
Did Belly Downplay Her Own Feelings?
Another layer of the argument focuses on Belly’s responsibility. If she still loved Conrad but told Jeremiah she didn’t, that shifts the narrative. Jeremiah explicitly told her to speak to Conrad first. He made it clear he wouldn’t repeat the chaos of the previous summer.
After talking to Conrad, she returned and chose Jeremiah.
Supporters say he took her at face value. If she insisted it was finished with Conrad, why wouldn’t he believe her? In that case, the “false pretenses” didn’t start with Jeremiah. They started with Belly not being fully honest about her own heart.
Was It Love or Competition?
Still, critics remain unconvinced. They argue that once Conrad confessed his love, that should have been Jeremiah’s hard stop. Instead, he moved forward anyway. Some believe part of his motivation was competition — finally being chosen over his brother.
When Jeremiah tells Belly he has loved her all along, even after knowing Conrad’s feelings, it adds fuel to that theory. Was he simply expressing long-held love? Or was he trying to wedge himself between them at a vulnerable moment?
The interpretation depends on which scenes viewers prioritize.
Victim, Villain, or Just Human?
The truth is messy. Jeremiah knew there was always something between Belly and Conrad. Belly knew it too. Conrad knew it. Everyone knew.
Yet they all made choices anyway.
Jeremiah chose hope.
Belly chose safety.
Conrad chose distance before finally choosing honesty.
That complexity is what makes The Summer I Turned Pretty so emotionally charged. No one is entirely innocent. No one is entirely guilty.
And perhaps that’s why the debate refuses to end — because sometimes love isn’t about who knew what.
It’s about who was willing to risk it anyway.
