The love triangle in The Summer I Turned Pretty has always divided fans. But one line continues to ignite the fiercest debates:
“There will always be something between you and Conrad.”
If Jeremiah Fisher said that before getting together with Isabel “Belly” Conklin, then one question becomes unavoidable:
Did he walk into the situation knowingly — or did he try to control the outcome?
“He Knew. Everyone Knew.”
For critics of Jeremiah, the argument is simple.
He knew about Belly and Conrad Fisher’s connection. He openly acknowledged it. He described it as something powerful — something that would always exist.
So if you know fire is hot, why walk straight into it?
From this perspective, Jeremiah wasn’t blindsided by unresolved feelings. He stepped into the middle of something unfinished and hoped it would bend in his favor.
That’s not tragic.
That’s intentional.
But Belly Still Chose Him
Supporters of Jeremiah push back hard.
They point out that he encouraged Conrad to confess his feelings so Belly could make a fully informed decision. He didn’t hide the truth from her. He didn’t prevent Conrad from speaking. In fact, he insisted on honesty.
And after that conversation?
Belly still chose Jeremiah.
In Season 2, he even attempted to keep his distance. She was the one who pushed forward. She told him she wanted something real. She said what was between her and Conrad was over.
If she made that choice freely, can Jeremiah really be blamed for trusting her?
To this side of the debate, he wasn’t manipulative. He was hopeful.
Love Triangle or Strategic Move?
Still, others see something darker.
They argue that Jeremiah knew exactly what he was stepping between — and did it anyway. Not innocently. Not blindly. But strategically.
When Conrad admitted he loved Belly, that should have been the stopping point. Instead, Jeremiah leaned in. Some fans believe he intentionally positioned himself as the safer option at the moment Conrad was emotionally vulnerable.
Was it genuine love?
Or was it competition?
To critics, knowing about a powerful connection and inserting yourself anyway feels less like romance and more like calculation.
Victim of Circumstance — or Architect of It?
What makes this debate explosive is that both interpretations have evidence.
Jeremiah acknowledged the bond.
Jeremiah pushed for honesty.
Jeremiah tried to step back.
Jeremiah stepped forward anyway.
The difference lies in how you read his intentions.
Is he a boy who knew the risk and took it because he loved her?
Or someone who knowingly wedged himself into something cosmic, hoping he could rewrite the outcome?
That’s why the fandom remains split.
Because in The Summer I Turned Pretty, love isn’t just about who gets chosen.
It’s about who knew what they were walking into — and did it anyway.
