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The third and final season of The Summer I Turned Pretty is out, but whether it's truly the end for the franchise is still unclear. Vernon Sanders, the head of television at Amazon MGM Studios, provided a little clarification in a recent interview with Variety. The original story may be wrapping up, but the universe Jenny Han created might have the potential to offer more.
Sanders said,
“All plans lead with Jenny Han, and she’s known from the beginning how she’s wanted to do this, so we’ve been focused on getting the season right and ending it the right way.”
That approach, centered entirely around the author’s intentions, has guided the show from the start. Now that the final episodes are being released, Amazon is waiting for the right moment to revisit possible next steps.
He added,
“She’s got new ideas that she’s been dying to tackle. So whatever Jenny wants to do, we want to do it with her.”
These ideas haven’t been made public, but the message is clear. If Jenny Han wants to expand the story, Prime Video will support her.
From adaptation to something broader
The Summer I Turned Pretty started out as a faithful adaptation of Han’s trilogy. Over time, it reached a larger audience than the studio expected. Although the story of Belly and the Fisher brothers had teenagers at its core, it also drew in older audiences. Even characters like Laurel and Susannah had their own emotional arcs, aiding the show to grow beyond its initial label of YA.
Sanders also explained how the timeline played a role. Some viewers were teenagers when they first read the books. Now, years later, they returned to watch the show as adults. The emotional effect of seeing those familiar stories again, but through a different lens, gave the adaptation extra depth.
Amazon’s long-term view of YA content
Sanders placed The Summer I Turned Pretty at the center of Amazon’s broader plans for young adult programming. He said the show helped the studio visualise what was possible when a story like this finds its audience. The response was strong, and the data demonstrated that the interest lies well beyond a singular age group.
That shift influenced other projects. Amazon is now working on several more adaptations based on popular books. Upcoming titles include Off Campus, Every Year After, and Sterling Point, as well as writers like Julie Plec and Megan Park are also involved. Mike Flanagan is developing a new version of Carrie, one that Sanders described as something that could genuinely surprise the viewers.
Other series could return
In addition to The Summer I Turned Pretty, there are three more YA shows currently under review. We Were Liars, Motorheads, and Overcompensating are all developing second-season writers’ rooms. None of them has been officially renewed, but Sanders mentioned that Amazon has been happy with their performance so far.
All these shows have different tones, but they share one important feature. Their fanbases are active and invested. That type of engagement helps determine which series move forward and which ones pause. So far, the signs have been positive across the board.
Taking care with sensitive themes
One of the concerns that came up during the interview was how to handle triggering content. We Were Liars, for example, caught some viewers off guard. Not everyone who watched had read the book, so certain emotional moments hit without warning.
Sanders responded directly to that issue,
“We do try to give warnings to customers, even though it may give hints as to what’s in the episode.”
The studio is working to strike a balance between protecting viewers and preserving the flow of the story. These decisions are made episode by episode.
What might come next for The Summer I Turned Pretty
At this stage, there is no confirmed spin-off for The Summer I Turned Pretty. The third season completes the original arc. But because Jenny Han has expressed interest in new ideas, the option for future stories remains. Sanders stated that once this season concludes, more conversations will follow.
There is a precedent. Han also created XO, Kitty, a spin-off from her To All the Boys I've Loved Before universe. That show followed a different structure and tone, but still carried the same creative voice. If anything similar is planned for The Summer I Turned Pretty, it will likely be tailored to the new story Han wants to tell.
A story that still has room
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Even though Belly’s journey is reaching its end, the world around her still has space to grow. The story’s mix of nostalgia, emotional honesty, and layered characters left a strong foundation. Whether or not new chapters get written depends on Han and the direction she wants to take.
Right now, the series stands as a completed story. But with the backing of Amazon and the creative drive of its author, that could change. If more is coming, it will begin where it always has. With her.
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