The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 Episode 4: “Heartlines” Complete Recap
Original Air Date: July 30, 2025 (Prime Video)
Episode Length: 51 minutes
Director: Sofia Alvarez
Writer: Jenny Han
Previous Episode: Episode 3: “Crossroads”
Episode 4: “Heartlines” Complete Plot
Opening Scene (00:01-06:45)
The episode begins with a flashback to 12-year-old Belly Conklin‘s first summer at Cousins Beach, showing how she developed separate bonds with both Fisher brothers. Present day, Jeremiah Fisher (Gavin Casalegno) arrives at Belly’s door exactly 23 hours after her ultimatum, holding two plane tickets – one to Barcelona, one to Providence.
The Decision (18:20-24:30)
In the kitchen, Jeremiah presents his compromise: “Let’s do long-distance. You go to Spain for your study abroad, I’ll stay at Finch. We’ll meet in Providence for holidays.” Belly’s hesitation triggers a tense argument where Jeremiah accidentally reveals Conrad Fisher (Christopher Briney) transferred to Brown to be near her.
Beach Confrontation (32:10-38:55)
Belly finds Conrad rebuilding Susannah’s dock. Their emotional exchange includes:
- Conrad admitting he turned down Stanford for Brown (“I needed to fix us first”)
- Belly confessing she kept his sweater all winter
- A near-kiss interrupted by Laurel Conklin’s car horn
Twist Ending (47:30-51:00)
The episode closes with three reveals:
- Jeremiah secretly burning his Providence ticket
- Laurel mailing Susannah’s letters to the brothers
- Belly’s passport showing a departure stamp for tomorrow
Final shot: Conrad’s phone lights up with a text from Belly: “Meet me at midnight.”
📖 Novel Differences:
- Brown University: Conrad’s transfer is new – in the books he always attended Brown
- Letters: Laurel actively intervenes by mailing them, unlike the passive discovery in the novel
- Spain: The study abroad subplot doesn’t exist in We’ll Always Have Summer
Character Analysis
Belly’s Conflict
This episode showcases Belly’s internal struggle through symbolic details:
| Jeremiah’s Path | Conrad’s Path |
|---|---|
| Plane tickets (practicality) | Rebuilt dock (emotional labor) |
| Burned ticket (self-sabotage) | Stanford sacrifice (growth) |
Behind the Scenes
- The dock scene required building a fully functional dock that could support weight during destruction/rebuilding
- Belly’s childhood flashbacks used the same actors from Season 1’s young versions
- Episode title “Heartlines” refers to the Florence + The Machine song played during the beach scene