The Summer I Turned Pretty: Sean Kaufman reveals why Steven’s ending worried him at first

For rom-com fans, The Summer I Turned Pretty has become one of the most beloved series to commence their summer of 2025. Set on the picturesque Cousins Beach, the show delves into the bittersweet reality of those stories of summers when hearts are broken, love is found, and lifelong friendships are formed when everything feels like falling apart.

Based on Jenny Han’s best-selling books, the series has captured that tender time between childhood and full-blown adolescence. Throughout its three seasons, the plot moved from the sweet summer romance to something more complicated, digging into grief, identity, and second chances.

Why The Summer I Turned Pretty left Sean Kaufman worried about Steven’s ending?

Sean Kaufman was not expecting tension to unfold when he took over the role of Steven Conklin this season. While filming, Kaufman confessed to The Hollywood Reporter that he was unsure where Steven’s story would resolve, saying:

"I was always a little worried. Jenny’s a trickster, and she loves making surprises and writing stuff in that nobody expects. I know I was on my tiptoes, and I think she told me literally.'

Kaufman also revealed that Jenny Han often revised the Steven and Taylor arc multiple times before sticking with what will get released to viewers. He said:

"I think she said she changed this Steven and Taylor ending, which I don’t even think you guys have seen yet, but she changed it a million times before she finally picked the one we’ll see [this week]. She told me [that] there’s so many ways it could go around that it kept [her] on my toes. I was like, well, which one are you choosing though? She surprised me enough as it is. ”

Talking about the dynamics between the actors on the set and how it influences the audience, he went on to reveal:

"It’s awesome to have that together because it’s truly the last set of friends in my life where I’m like, we knew each other way before anything, way before it all went down. That is something that I think I can truly learn to appreciate."

The emotional story and sun-drenched depiction of The Summer I Turned Pretty have attracted a global following. The offscreen chemistry between the actors is partly why fans adore the show.

When will the final Episodes of The Summer I Turned Pretty drop?

The Summer I Turned Pretty revolves around Isabel “Belly” Conklin and her relationships with the Fisher brothers, Jeremiah and Conrad, which ebb and flow in both love and friendship.

Though the romance between Belly and the Fisher boys has been the emotional heart of the romance flick throughout, Steven’s journey evolved into one of the show’s most realistic depictions of self-improvement. But after being the sarcastic older brother, Steven emerged as a steady cornerstone of the Conklins.

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The Summer I Turned Pretty season three, which streamed on July 16, 2025, has been leading toward a climax that brings together three summers’ worth of tangled emotions and lingering tensions. The series finale is set to stream on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, exclusively on Prime Video.

As the show nears its hotly anticipated conclusion, fans are getting set to say goodbye to a tale that has become a reflection of their own formative years.

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