The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 Episode 10：Goodbye, Cousins
The End of an Era: Saying Farewell to Summer
An emotional and fitting conclusion to three seasons of love, loss, and growing up. Our complete analysis of the series finale that left fans in tears.
Series Finale Synopsis
In “Goodbye, Cousins,” the emotional series finale of The Summer I Turned Pretty, the characters face their most difficult goodbyes while finding hope in new beginnings. The episode masterfully weaves together present-day resolutions with a poignant time jump that shows where life takes each character in the years following their final summer at Cousins Beach.
Following the shocking revelation about the summer house’s impending sale, the group bands together for one last effort to save the place that holds all their memories. Meanwhile, relationships are tested, futures are decided, and the ghost of Susannah Fisher looms large over every decision.
Directed by creator Jenny Han herself, this finale delivers a satisfying conclusion that honors three seasons of character development while leaving just enough open-ended to feel true to life.
Scene-by-Scene Deep Dive
1The Morning After
The episode opens with a somber breakfast scene where Laurel breaks the full news about the house sale. The gravity of the situation sinks in as characters process what losing the summer house truly means.
2The Save-the-House Plan
In a callback to Susannah’s spirited nature, the group devises a plan to save the house. Each character brings their unique skills to the effort, showing how much they’ve grown and what they’ve learned from Susannah.
3Belly’s College Decision
In a quiet moment with Laurel, Belly reveals her decision about transferring colleges, showcasing her newfound maturity and understanding of what she truly wants from life.
4The Final Beach Walk
Conrad and Belly take one last walk on the beach, reflecting on their journey and what they’ve meant to each other. The scene is filled with callbacks to Season 1.
5Brothers’ Last Fishing Trip
Conrad and Jeremiah go fishing one last time, having the conversation fans have waited three seasons for – honest, raw, and ultimately healing.
6The Time Jump Reveal
The episode jumps forward two years, showing where each character ended up and how this final summer shaped their futures in unexpected ways.
Character Arcs: Final Resolution
Finding Her Own Path
Belly’s journey concludes with her making choices independent of the Fisher brothers for the first time. Her decision to transfer to a writing program shows she’s finally prioritizing her own dreams.
Final Destination: Graduating with a creative writing degree, publishing her first novel about summers at Cousins Beach.
Peace at Last
Conrad finds the peace that eluded him for three seasons. His final scenes show him comfortable in his own skin, having made amends with his past and looking toward the future with hope.
Final Destination: Medical school, following in his mother’s footsteps but on his own terms.
Unexpected Growth
Jeremiah’s journey takes the most unexpected turn as he discovers passions beyond the summer house. His final scenes show a maturity that surprises even those closest to him.
Final Destination: Sustainable architecture, combining his love for design with environmental activism.
Emotional Impact & Fan Reception
The series finale has been universally praised as a near-perfect conclusion to the beloved series. Critics and fans alike have highlighted:
- The time jump execution – praised for showing meaningful character evolution without feeling rushed
- Susannah’s continued presence – her memory woven throughout the episode in subtle, powerful ways
- The brothers’ final scene – described as “the conversation we’ve waited three seasons for”
- Belly’s final voiceover – bringing the series full circle with poignant reflection
Social media exploded with emotional reactions, with the finale trending worldwide for over 24 hours. Many fans reported crying through the entire episode, particularly during the final beach scene and time jump revelation.
Iconic Final Moments & Callbacks
The House’s Fate
In a surprising twist, the group doesn’t save the house but instead creates a foundation in Susannah’s name, ensuring her legacy continues in more meaningful ways.
Belly’s Novel
The final time jump reveals that Belly wrote a novel about their summers, titled “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” bringing the series full circle in a meta-commentary on storytelling.
Fisher Brothers Reconciliation
Their final fishing trip shows them fully healed, with Jeremiah admitting he always knew about Conrad and Belly’s connection and Conrad apologizing for his emotional distance.
The Final Sunrise
The series ends with a sunrise over Cousins Beach, mirroring the many sunsets we’ve seen throughout the series but symbolizing new beginnings rather than endings.
Series-Wide Themes & Final Resolution
Coming Full Circle
The finale masterfully resolves the central themes that have defined the series since Season 1:
First Love vs. True Love
The series concludes with the understanding that first love shapes us but doesn’t necessarily define our future. Each character finds a love that fits who they’ve become.
Grief and Legacy
Susannah’s presence is felt more strongly in the finale than in any episode since her death, showing that love continues beyond loss and that legacy is what we create from memory.
Growing Up
The time jump demonstrates that growing up isn’t about achieving perfection but about learning to navigate imperfection with grace and self-awareness.
Memorable Quotes from the Finale
— Laurel Conklin
— Conrad Fisher
— Jeremiah Fisher
— Belly Conklin (final voiceover)
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the finale offers clear resolutions for all main characters while leaving enough open-ended to feel realistic. Each character’s future is shown in the time jump, providing satisfying closure without feeling overly neat or perfect.
The TV finale expands significantly on the book’s ending, providing more detail about secondary characters and adding the time jump element not present in the novels. While the emotional core remains faithful, the TV version offers a more comprehensive conclusion.
There is no post-credit scene, but the time jump leaves room for potential future stories. Jenny Han has stated that while this concludes Belly’s story, the world of Cousins Beach could potentially be explored from other perspectives in the future.
Based on social media reactions, the brothers’ final conversation and Belly’s last voiceover were the most emotional moments, with many fans describing them as “perfect” and “worth the three-season wait.”