The The Summer I Turned Pretty fandom is once again divided, and this time the argument cuts deeper than the usual Team Conrad vs. Team Jeremiah rivalry. At the center of the storm is one explosive question: Was Jeremiah’s relationship with Belly built on manipulation and denial, or did Belly herself create the false foundation from the start?
“You Can’t Start a Relationship Under False Pretenses”
Many fans argue that Jeremiah Fisher knowingly stepped into a relationship that was emotionally compromised. In Season 1, he was fully aware of the lingering tension between Belly and Conrad. By Season 2, he even pushed his brother to openly admit his feelings. For critics, that moment alone should have been a boundary. If you know your brother is still in love with the same girl — and she might still love him too — why proceed?
From this perspective, Jeremiah wasn’t simply choosing love. He was choosing to compete. Some viewers believe he convinced himself he could erase Conrad Fisher from the equation, rather than accepting that Conrad was always part of Belly’s emotional reality.
But Did Belly Set the Stage?
On the other hand, supporters of Jeremiah argue that the emotional confusion didn’t start with him. It started with Isabel “Belly” Conklin. She approached Jeremiah with a heartfelt speech about wanting something “real” with him — all while still waiting for Conrad to walk out of a building nearby. That detail is impossible to ignore.
Jeremiah even told her to talk to Conrad first. He made it clear he would not relive the chaos of the previous summer. If she had that conversation and still chose him, then he was ready. From this angle, the false pretenses weren’t manipulation — they were emotional avoidance. If Belly still loved Conrad, then beginning a serious relationship with Jeremiah blurred lines that were never fully erased.
Love, Ego, or the Need to Win?
Some fans take the argument further, suggesting Jeremiah’s motivation wasn’t just love — it was also about finally being chosen. Belly represented the one thing Conrad had always had that he didn’t. If she chose him, it would mean he won.
He knew she once said it would “always be Conrad.” He knew distance was the only thing keeping Conrad from being physically present. He knew eventually Conrad would return home. When Conrad did come back and the relationship reportedly cracked almost instantly, critics saw that as confirmation: the foundation was never secure.
The “Best Friend” Narrative
Throughout the series, Belly repeatedly refers to Jeremiah as her best friend. Even Susannah describes him in ways that feel safe, steady, almost brother-like. For many viewers, that language contrasts sharply with the way Conrad is framed — intense, infinite, inevitable.
In a story filled with symbolism about destiny and epic love, being labeled “best friend” may signal comfort, but not necessarily endgame. Eventually, Jeremiah seems to recognize this himself.
The Letter That Forced the Truth
One of the most powerful moments cited by fans is Susannah’s letter. Through Conrad, her words reach Jeremiah from beyond the grave. Many believe that was the emotional reckoning. It wasn’t jealousy or anger that ended things — it was clarity.
In that moment, Jeremiah appears to accept what he may have always known: you cannot compete with a love story that began long before you entered the race. Calling off the engagement wasn’t weakness. It was self-awareness. It was choosing himself.
So Who Is Responsible?
The truth is far more complicated than one villain and one victim. Jeremiah ignored warning signs. Belly ignored her heart. Conrad often withdrew instead of fighting openly. Each of them made choices driven by fear, grief, and insecurity.
But if there is one lesson this storyline drives home, it is this: you cannot build something real while pretending someone else doesn’t exist. And in The Summer I Turned Pretty, unresolved love always finds its way back to the surface.
