12 TITLES TO WATCH LIKE ‘THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY’
All good things must come to an end or that’s how the saying goes. For many fans, one of the things now over is their fan favorite summertime binge watch, The Summer I Turned Pretty. Based on the Jenny Han novels, this Prime Video show got three seasons, which feels appropriate since then each season follows one of the books in the trilogy. As this one ends (which we know now will really end with an eventual movie from Prime Video), it’s time to round up titles like The Summer I Turned Pretty. Because naturally sometimes we want to fill the void lost from a favorite story.
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12 TITLES TO WATCH LIKE ‘THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY.’ Shows to watch if you like #TheSummerITurnedPretty. #TSITP #PrimeVideo Share on X
The show follows a brother and sister, and two brothers who, each summer, spend the weeks together at a beach house owned by one family. The teens encounter magical summers as they spend time swimming, going to parties, and yes, experiencing first love especially for heroine Isabel “Belly,” the girl who ends up being at the center of a love triangle. I’m not sure there are TV shows that will fit the “watchalike” tag, but let’s get into it and see if I’m missing something.
12 TITLES like THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY
THE CAFE, show
This is a slow-moving and very British show so it’s really not at all “like” The Summer I Turned Pretty, but it IS about a young woman who returns home and while working at her mother’s café (which is kind of a “social hub” for the locals), she tries to figure things out which begins to look like her writing a book. The setting which is by the sea is really why I’m adding this one. Also, because we make the rules and I’m making this one fit (and I like adding titles other lists probably don’t!).
Stream, at publication, on BritBox or Peacock
DAWSON’S CREEK, show
A classic show from the late 90s, this is the star-turning role of Kaite Holmes and has a love triangle situation. The show as a WB production same as Gilmore Girls on what we now know as The CW. It’s also a show I’ve seen perhaps one episode of (I don’t think I really liked it).
Stream, at publication, on Hulu or Tubi
The show is TV-14 and tackles some serious adult topics.
DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERA, film
Part of this film takes place in a sunny and summer-y locale where Violet inherits a charming summer place. And yes, some of the Crawley family goes to take a look and spend the time frolicking around the lush green scenery while the rest stay put at the Crawley family estate.
The portions of the film where they enjoy this reminds me of the settings and “feel” of The Summer I Turned Pretty. Is anything else really fitting between these two? No. But we make the rules.
Stream, at publication, on Peacock; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
The film is PG.
THE DURRELLS, show
This is a family dramedy with Keeley Hawes as the head of the family who moves to Corfu as she tries to keep everyone together and their lives on the right path. Josh O’Conner also starred in this pre his popular film roles as well as Callum Woodhouse now starring in All Creatures Great and Small. Just now that this show, perhaps surprisingly, does end in a bittersweet kind of way.
Stream, at publication, on Masterpiece PBS
The show is TV-14 / PG depending on the episode.
EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING
Based on the Nicola Yoon novel, this is about a girl who has a condition that excludes her from living and doing normal things. When she falls in love, she takes risks and decides to finally jump into life.
Stream, at publication, on Cinemax or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
The film is PG-13 for some language and sexual content.
JENNIFER E. SMITH movies
So far, two of the young adult novels by Jennifer E. Smith have been adapted. The first is Hello, Goodbye and Everything in Between and Love at First Sight (based on The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight). The latter has a higher user rating and that’s well deserved. Love at First Sight has a lot of depth and charm and is really well made.
Stream, at publication, both films exclusively on Netflix
Both films have a TV-14 rating for some profanity and sexual content.
THE KISSING BOOTH, film trilogy
Joey King leads this film trilogy, which is also inspired by novels. The films didn’t really enchant viewers from what I remember, but I thought they were sweet. Do they have “issues” as stories? Of course, but so does The Summer I Turned Pretty. The story is, again, about a love triangle (later on) that has complicated family matters including two brothers (though that’s not the love triangle in this story).
Stream, at publication, exclusively on Netflix
TV-14 is the rating for some sexual content / innuendo (all involving teens including having sex); and some profanity
THE LAST SONG
Based on the Nicholas Sparks novel, Miley Cyrus leads this cast about a rebellious girl who is sent to her fathers for the summer (a father she is estranged from) only to uncover a secret that will forever shatter her world. The beach setting makes this one really feel like a fitting addition to our titles like The Summer I Turned Pretty list. Liam Hemsworth co-stars in this.
Stream, at publication, on Disney+ or Prime Video
PG is the rating of this film.
MY LIFE with the WALTER BOYS, show
This is also inspired by a novel and had a binge drop release on Netflix. It’s about a girl who loses her parents and goes to live with the best friend of her mother. So already a similarity there (female best friends and their children). Further comparisons can be made with the love triangle that happens between Jackie and two of the sons in this new family she tries to fit in with.
Stream, at publication, exclusively on Netflix
TV-14 is the rating for teen partying / sexual content, innuendo (the show has both heterosexual and homosexual relationships / kisses); there is some profanity, too
TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE, movie trilogy
This movie trilogy is also adapted from novels by the ‘Summer’ novel author Jenny Han (which means it is perhaps the most fitting in this titles like The Summer I Turned Pretty list). This trilogy of films is darling and follows Lara Jean, a girl crushing hard on a boy named Peter. But before she can possibly have a chance with him, the letters she’s written each of her crushes (through several years) become public.
Stream, at publication, exclusively on Netflix
TV-14 is the rating for some sexual content / innuendo, and some profanity
XO, KITTY, show
Also inspired by the TATBILB world, this Netflix show (two seasons are now available) isn’t something I loved. It’s about Lara Jean’s little sis, Kitty and her ups and downs (including in love, and yes, there are love triangles that even seem to go beyond that!) as she attends the school her mother went to.
Stream, at publication, exclusively on Netflix
TVMA is the rating for sexual content / innuendo (the show has both heterosexual and homosexual relationships / kisses)
WE WERE LIARS
This may be stretching things a bit since it’s a mystery, but it has the setting down (a family summer home) and the primary plot recolves around teenagers making bad choices. It’s also a Prime Video original and is based on a young adult novel, too.
Stream, at publication, exclusively on Prime Video
TVMA / 14 is the rating for multiple F-word uses, drug abuse and sex between teens (the show has both heterosexual and homosexual relationships / kisses) and an affair is uncovered.
Photos: Alamy
Love lists? Browse our collection of character, film/TV show or seasonal lists. Or browse our ‘Watchalike’ specific lists centering on other favorite films or TV shows! Love The Summer I Turned Pretty? There’s more! Discover more of our TSITP content including The Summer I Turned Pretty seasons one and two review; The Summer I Turned Pretty season three review; The Summer I Turned Pretty season three recap; and our discussion Defending Jeremiah Fisher.
How many of these have you seen? Would you watch any of these? Do you think any fits as things or titles like The Summer I Turned Pretty? Will you miss the show? Do you think something new will crop up to replace it? Share all of your thoughts below!
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