TL;DR "The Summer I Turned Pretty" is widely praised for being a faithful and vibrant adaptation that captures the essence of the book, with significant involvement from the author Jenny Han.
Faithfulness to Source Material
Many fans of "The Summer I Turned Pretty" series laud it as one of the most faithful adaptations they've seen. Commenters emphasize how the show feels like the book has come alive, maintaining the core story while expanding on it in meaningful ways [1:1]
[2:2]. This faithfulness is attributed to Jenny Han's direct involvement in the adaptation process, ensuring that any changes or additions are enhancements she would have liked to include in the books
[1:1].
Author Involvement
Jenny Han's passion for her work is evident in the adaptation, which many viewers appreciate. Her involvement has been crucial in maintaining the integrity of the story while allowing for creative expansions that enrich the narrative [2:1]. This level of author involvement is often cited as a key factor in the adaptation's success.
Audience Reception
The adaptation has been well-received by both book readers and new viewers. Many find the series to be a delightful representation of summer vibes and teenage experiences, capturing the emotions and atmosphere of the original story [5:1]
[5:7]. While some viewers noted differences in Season 2, the overall reception remains positive, especially for Seasons 1 and 3
[2:4].
Comparison to Other Adaptations
While some may argue about what constitutes the greatest book-to-screen adaptation, "The Summer I Turned Pretty" consistently ranks high among fans of the genre [3:1]
[3:3]. It is often compared favorably to other successful adaptations like "Harry Potter" and "Catching Fire," highlighting its quality and appeal
[3:1]
[3:2].
Overall, "The Summer I Turned Pretty" stands out as a prime example of a book-to-screen adaptation done right, thanks to its faithful representation of the source material, thoughtful expansions, and strong author involvement.
Okay but can we just take a sec to appreciate how rare it is for a book adaptation to actually feel like the words came alive?? Most of the time we’re left heartbroken because the movie/show butchers everything we loved on paper.
But with The Summer I Turned Pretty… OMG. Jenny Han really gave us book girlies the ultimate gift. It makes me giddy, it gives me butterflies, it’s like reading the book but instead it’s actually alive and playing out right in front of my eyes. The vibes, the feelings, the little details they just hit.
This is the kind of adaptation that reminds you why you fell in love with reading in the first place 🥹
I fully agree. I’ve seen some posts and comments where people are saying there have been so many changes from the books to the tv show and it is utterly perplexing to me. I feel like this adaptation is one of the truest to the original source material I’ve ever seen. Almost nothing has been taken out. The vast majority of changes have just been additions. But what’s beautiful is that the changes would have been added by the author, Jenny Han, so the changes are all enhancements that she wishes she had been able to include in the books. The fact that we’re getting some of the most iconic scenes verbatim from the books is absolutely a dream come true. And don’t even get me started on how Chris Briney IS Conrad. The cast is killing it!
Okay but can we just take a sec to appreciate how rare it is for a book adaptation to actually feel like the words came alive?? Most of the time we’re left heartbroken because the movie/show butchers everything we loved on paper.
But with The Summer I Turned Pretty… OMG. Jenny Han really gave us book girlies the ultimate gift. It makes me giddy, it gives me butterflies, it’s like reading the book but instead it’s actually alive and playing out right in front of my eyes. The vibes, the feelings, the little details they just hit.
This is the kind of adaptation that reminds you why you fell in love with reading in the first place 🥹
I just read the first book and was impressed to see how they took this chance not only to make the world created in the books come alive, but also expand it. It was a really good balance of following exactly the core of the story and what already worked and adding more.
I was not a fan of S2 - all the changes just don’t make sense, especially now that I’m watching S3 and they’re sticking closer to the books - but S1 and S3 so far have been amazing
I haven’t read the books. What is different in season 2? I am not a fan of season 2 either btw. Loved season 1 and I’m loving season 3 so far.
i think the show is better than the books, even
AGREED!
Yes!!!!! This! I am so grateful for Jenny Han. For making this her passion project. We can feel her love for this story making this adaption. It’s literature, it’s poetry! I love everything about it.
The summer I turned pretty is the greatest adaptation of all time, no exceptions
that goes to catching fire
It’s a good adaptation for sure.
Idk about greatest book adaptation when literally harry potter exists but it's def up there on the list
Looking for books that feel like the summer I turned pretty. Books that feel like a magical teenage summer, with boys who’ve known you your whole life suddenly seeing you in a different way, suddenly feeling like a main character in your own story.
Along for the ride by Sarah Dessen was a personal favourite of mine for a summer romance
every 👏🏽 summer 👏🏽 after 👏🏽 by Carley Fortune 🥹
also i just finished her newest book, one golden summer, and it's also an amazing summer romance but instead of actual teens, it's a 30 year old woman trying to relive her teens. it was sooooo good
I would say specifically, That Summer or Keeping the Moon
Dude yes, Keeping The Moon is the best Sarah Dessen book hands down
Call Me By Your Name by Andre Acimen has that teenage summer feeling, but with an adult partner. Might not be everyone's cup of tea but the prose is beautiful and the writing is heartbreakingly good.
YES such a good answer! So summery
Sunburn by Chloe Howarth
The truth about forever was my favorite
My fave from her as well.
Summer Sisters by Judy Bloom (it’s for adults not kids lol).
This is one of my favorite books. So real. So heartbreaking.
What Happened To Goodbye came to mind immediately
I know the book was nice but how is the series should I watch it?
Thank you all for the response. Will watch it haha.
It’s not smth you get hooked to. It’s cute. Worth a watch I guess.
I liked it. It’s pretty cringe, but it’s a good cringe
This is accurate.
Best summary
Yes, it’s very good.
i honestly loved it, pure summer vibes and teenage hood giggles, you wouldn’t like it if you take stuff too seriously
Depends on which part of TSITP you want to be similar. But Maxton Hall, My Life with Walter Boys, Back to 15, Outer Banks, XO Kitty. Lots more.
There’s an older show called Summerland that also has a similar vibe.
Ooh going to check it out!
I've done my best to include all similar shows for those who have finished watching the series.
Maxton Hall was so great. I can’t wait for s2!
Oh my gosh just what I needed thank you!!!
I have never watched this show purely because the title gives me the ick.
It's really bad, most of the scenes just feel like you got a bunch of TikTok stars and put them in a room. I love trashy teen shows but this was personally one of the worst teen shows I've seen in recent memory.
I binged the whole thing and it's okay. I call it "Gen Z's Dawson's Creek" (also learned they filmed in Wilmington as well)
This made me gasp. Because the scene where dawson's dad...., actually sent me into orbit. I was decades late watching it in uni but istg i never looked back jdkdkdodododdoo some how this is cracking me up.
I also didn't watch Dawson's Creek so I'm pretty sure it's not my thing 😂
it isn't worth it, trust me
Not worth it. Save your brain cells for something better. Fr
THERE IS HOPE!
ONE GAL THAT IS UNTAINTED BY SMUT SHOWS THAT CLUTTER MY SHOW OVERVIEW PAGE!
You're probably single-handedly teaching that algorithm some manners.
^((Thank you so much!))
jenny han singlehandedly keeping wasian actors booked and busy
greenlit a feature film**
my bad, this is what happens when you walk and type
it’s ok it made it look like you were really emphasising the point- a movie, a feature film!
Team Conrad and his slutty little watch for life
https://www.today.com/popculture/the-summer-i-turned-pretty-today-show-interview-rcna232082
EDIT: JH has written a draft script, won’t be coming out until after 2026, at least
Not even the script being finished was unexpected. I want to know when did the movie start being planned.
I honestly think it wasn’t in the works until they saw s3 truly explode into the mainstream, the interviews before this season started didn’t give the impression there was anything else in the works and I feel like Jenny would have completed or nearly finished the script if she’d known about this for months and months.
Amazon likely saw the numbers the show was pulling and threw money at Jenny and the cast to do some more.
I think they’ll probably need to do it within 2 years, for momentum, and the stardom and availability of the lead actors and also how they look… though time jump would serve the story well.
I think they’ll probably need to do it within 2 years, for momentum, and the stardom and availability of the lead actors and also how they look… though time jump would serve the story well.
I knew it wasn’t planned all along. they definitely decided on it after seeing how popular the season was + backlash
Jenny said in an interview I read today she knew before shooting S3 they had the movie, and it guided her choices in pacing.
I would love to know the timeline of the movie being confirmed. I so feel like there were more scenes they filmed for season 3 like valentines day flashback. Do you think they edited out certain scenes from the finale to use in the movie? The finale HAD to be edited and changed at some point because it was obviously missing alot of closure between the characters.
I really believe that we are getting the movie this XMAS fully based on the Christmas in Paris scrapbook where they are both opening boxes, holding up boxes...like it is so implying something specific
Exactly lmao 😭at first I thought it was unsatisfying Cs we'll get a Christmas special in like 2 months but now I get ur
Me patiently waiting for the bonrad movie! My guess is summer 2027
Yeah like how we didn't get to see the aftermath of the reunion or their return to their families
There was an interview with him after ep 5 where he seemed shocked when they told him that a lot of people online were rooting for Conrad, he is very chronically offline which is probably for the best with how intense sections of the shows fanbase are.
Why do you folks think we haven’t seen a decent book-to-screen adaptation that fits into the YA (or even NA) sci-fi/fantasy genre since stuff like The Hunger Games?
Of course there are things like Shadow and Bone, but even if it’s up to par with The Hunger Games quality-wise, in terms of popularity it’s actually extremely underrated.
It’s one of my biggest goals to work on an adaptation like this, but the current state of that part of the industry isn’t looking too hot right now.
I would recommend Half Bad. A masterclass in YA book adaptation for the screen.
ETA I am currently working on a fantasy YA book adaptation for a streamer and know of about seven others in development also. You’re thinking like an exec - ahead of the curve 😉
That was a good show. Good luck with your adaption!
Thanks! And yeah I agree - I was so annoyed it wasn’t renewed!
That’s incredible, can’t wait to see them!
Not really YA but I think Ender’s Game has so much potential because it’s a complex story and it is such a big universe that nobody knows about.
A good Ender’s Game adaptation could be an all time classic but the movie wasn’t very good. There’s about 10+ books released after it all set in the same universe and some of them are as good as the original book.
Yes it’s not YA but it has darker themes than people think especially some of the later books and a dark show with kids would be very interesting to see
Disagree. The summer I turned pretty/ Red White and Royal Blue were excellent adaptations, if not better than the books.
Aloha, over the last 1.5 years I've gotten into audiobooks pretty heavily but im not sure of many options. I've scoured reddit a bit, but its hard to know what's what.
I'm preferable to book to movie adaptations due to an absolutely awful imagination, for a decent guideline and reference feature.
I loved Saxon Stories 1-13 (The Last Kingdom on Netflix)
The Martian was 10/10
Ready Player One i just finished and am about to jump into its sequel.
Read Altered Carbon, was a solid first book.
Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas was almost word for word with the movie, might be the only book I know of shadowed by the film.
Beyond that, I have not read anything. I also have The Exorcist in my que, I tried once but had a hard time getting into it. Ill try again another day.
Anyways, any suggestions for book to movie adaptations? I really appreciate it, even if this question has been asked before. Thank you everyone.
The Princess Bride is a great book and the movie is a wonderful adaptation.
I would also suggest you check out Lost in Adaptation on YouTube. Dominic Noble reviews book to movie adaptations.
{{The Last Unicorn}} (one of the best adaptations, IMHO)
{{2001}}
{{A Clockwork Orange}} almost any adaptation by Kubrick
{{Guns of Navarone}}
{{Dr. No}} was a fun read
{{Barsoom}} I know John Carter of Mars flopped, but I liked it.
Ugh, the last Unicorn is my favorite. Second this!
The Last Unicorn (The Last Unicorn, #1)
^(By: Peter S. Beagle | 294 pages | Published: 1968 | Popular Shelves: fantasy, fiction, classics, young-adult, owned | )[^(Search "The Last Unicorn")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=The Last Unicorn&search_type=books)
>alternate cover editions can be found here, here and here > >She was magical, beautiful beyond belief—and completely alone... > >The unicorn had lived since before memory in a forest where death could touch nothing. Maidens who caught a glimpse of her glory were blessed by enchantment they would never forget. But outside her wondrous realm, dark whispers and rumours carried a message she could not ignore: "Unicorns are gone from the world." > >Aided by a bumbling magician and an indomitable spinster, she set out to learn the truth. but she feared even her immortal wisdom meant nothing in a world where a mad king's curse and terror incarnate lived only to stalk the last unicorn to her doom...
^(This book has been suggested 13 times)
2001: A Space Odyssey (Space Odyssey, #1)
^(By: Arthur C. Clarke | 297 pages | Published: 1968 | Popular Shelves: science-fiction, sci-fi, fiction, classics, scifi | )^(Search "2001")
>On the Moon, an enigma is uncovered. > >So great are the implications of this discovery that for the first time men are sent out deep into our solar system. > >But long before their destination is reached, things begin to go horribly, inexplicably wrong... > >One of the greatest-selling science fiction novels of our time, this classic book will grip you to the very end.
^(This book has been suggested 8 times)
^(By: Anthony Burgess | 213 pages | Published: 1962 | Popular Shelves: classics, fiction, science-fiction, dystopia, sci-fi | )[^(Search "A Clockwork Orange")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=A Clockwork Orange&search_type=books)
>In Anthony Burgess's influential nightmare vision of the future, criminals take over after dark. Teen gang leader Alex narrates in fantastically inventive slang that echoes the violent intensity of youth rebelling against society. Dazzling and transgressive, A Clockwork Orange is a frightening fable about good and evil and the meaning of human freedom. This edition includes the controversial last chapter not published in the first edition, and Burgess’s introduction, “A Clockwork Orange Resucked.”
^(This book has been suggested 15 times)
^(By: Hella Dalgaard | ? pages | Published: ? | Popular Shelves: | )[^(Search "Guns of Navarone")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Guns of Navarone&search_type=books)
^(This book has been suggested 1 time)
^(By: Ian Fleming | ? pages | Published: 1958 | Popular Shelves: fiction, james-bond, thriller, owned, spy | )[^(Search "Dr. No")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Dr. No&search_type=books)
>The sixth James Bond thriller from Ian Fleming’s typewriter. > >Dispatched by M to investigate the mysterious disappearance of MI6’s Jamaica station chief, Bond was expecting a holiday in the sun. But when he discovers a deadly centipede placed in his hotel room, the vacation is over. > >On this island, all suspicious activity leads inexorably to Dr Julius No, a reclusive megalomaniac with steel pincers for hands. To find out what the good doctor is hiding, 007 must enlist the aid of local fisherman Quarrel and alluring beachcomber Honeychile Rider. > >Together they will combat a local legend the natives call ‘the Dragon,’ before Bond alone must face the most punishing test of all: an obstacle course-designed by the sadistic Dr No himself-that measures the limits of the human body’s capacity for agony.
^(This book has been suggested 1 time)
^(By: Edgar Rice Burroughs, Michael Whelan | 190 pages | Published: 1913 | Popular Shelves: science-fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, fiction, classics | )^(Search "Barsoom")
>After the long exile on Earth, John Carter finally returned to his beloved Mars. But beautiful Dejah Thoris, the woman he loved, had vanished. Now he was trapped in the legendary Eden of Mars -- an Eden from which none ever escaped alive.
^(This book has been suggested 1 time)
^(62624 books suggested | )^(Bug? DM me! | )^(Source)
Thank you, ill look into these. Appreciate it!
{{The Beach}} by Alex Garland
Happy reading and watching!
^(By: Alex Garland | 436 pages | Published: 1996 | Popular Shelves: fiction, travel, thriller, adventure, owned | )[^(Search "The Beach")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=The Beach&search_type=books)
>After discovering a seemingly Edenic paradise on an island in a Thai national park, Richard soon finds that since civilized behavior tends to dissolve without external restraints, the utopia is hard to maintain. (Nancy Pearl)
^(This book has been suggested 6 times)
^(62669 books suggested | )^(Bug? DM me! | )^(Source)
RING by Koji Suzuki. GOODBYE PICCADILLY, FAREWELL LEICESTER SQUARE by Arthur La Bern (source of FRENZY). PSYCHO by Robert Bloch. CRUISING by Gerald Walker. BLACK KLANSMAN by Ron Stallworth. IN THE HEART OF THE SEA by Nathaniel Philbrick. MARNIE by Winston Graham. EATERS OF THE DEAD by Michael Crichton (source of THE 13TH WARRIOR). ANATOMY OF A MURDER by Robert Traver. PLANET OF THE APES by Pierre Boulle. PHASE IV by Barry Malzberg. THE SPACE VAMPIRES by Colin Wilson (source of LIFEFORCE). THE GREEN MILE by Stephen King. BURNT OFFERINGS by Robert Marasco. THE HUNGER by Whitney Strieber. ORCA by Arthur Herzog. THE SENTINRL by Jeffrey Konvitz. THE OMEN by David Seltzer. A STIR OF ECHOES by Richard Matheson. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? by Henry Farrell. EVENT HORIZON by Steven McDonald. AUDITION by Ryu Murakami. TRAINSPOTTING by Irvine Welsh.
The two best book to movie adaptations IMO are The Princess Bride and The Cider House Rules. Why? The authors wrote the screenplays. There are a number of differences in story but the meanings are the same.
best book to screen adaptations in the summer i turned pretty
Key Considerations for "The Summer I Turned Pretty" Adaptation:
Source Material: The series is based on Jenny Han's popular young adult trilogy, which includes "The Summer I Turned Pretty," "It's Not Summer Without You," and "We'll Always Have Summer." Understanding the themes and character arcs in the books can enhance your viewing experience.
Character Development: Pay attention to how the adaptation portrays the main characters—Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah. The depth of their relationships and personal growth is central to the story.
Plot Changes: Adaptations often make changes for pacing or to fit the screen format. Note any significant plot alterations or character additions that differ from the books.
Visual and Emotional Tone: The adaptation captures the summer setting and emotional nuances of first love, family dynamics, and coming-of-age experiences. Consider how effectively the visuals and music contribute to the overall mood.
Fan Reception: Look at how fans of the book series have reacted to the adaptation. This can provide insight into how well the essence of the original story has been maintained.
Takeaways:
Recommendation: If you enjoyed the books, watching the adaptation can provide a new perspective on the story while still capturing the essence of Jenny Han's writing.
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