On July 14, 2023, the first episode of Amazon Prime’s The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2 released, garnering millions of viewers within the first week. The show, which released episodes weekly on Fridays up until August 18, is directed by #1 New York Times bestselling author Jenny Han and features Lola Tung, Christopher Briney, and Gavin Casalegno, among others. Interestingly, since the release of the first season back in 2022, the show has received attention in the media due to its involvement with Asian figures, whether that be behind the scenes or on-screen. Jenny Han, Lola Tung, and various other TSITP actors come from Asian descent.
Han, who was raised by Korean parents and is Korean-American, first became known around the release of her first novel, Shug, in 2006. Since then, Han has published various book series such as the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy and The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy, which was later adapted into the show on Amazon Prime. Han has also developed multiple shows and movies throughout her career, including the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before adaptation movies and the XO, Kitty series, both debuting on Netflix. Han, who is now regarded as one of the most well-known romance authors, has consistently proven to thrive in her career, shedding light on the successes of Asian-Americans. In fact, Han, who wrote Lara Jean as an explicitly Asian character, and ensured she was cast as such in the To All the Boys movies, revealed that it is important to tell “stories where being Asian isn’t the point” on the Call Your Girlfriend podcast in 2021. Han has connections to her Asian background and supports representation, but clearly has hopes to build characters whose entire background is not solely being Asian, but being themselves.
The actress who plays Belly Conklin on The Summer I Turned Pretty, Lola Tung, also comes from an Asian background, with her mother being of partially Chinese descent. Tung, whose Chinese heritage is often acknowledged in the media, appreciates her heritage and is grateful for her connections to it. In 2022, Tung was interviewed by Teen Vogue, and spoke about Asian representation. She finds it incredible to be working with “other Asian-American actors” and an “Asian-American creator, writer, and showrunner.” Tung finds it “so cool” that the show centers around a family who “happens to be Asian-American.” Tung’s relationship with her Asian background leads her to show support for diversity in the film industry.
Other Asian actors and actresses in The Summer I Turned Pretty series include Sean Kaufmann, who plays Steven, Belly’s brother, and Jackie Chung, who plays Belly’s mother, Laurel Park. Additionally, Minnie Mills, who is also Asian, played Shayla Wang, Steven’s girlfriend, on the show’s first season, but has since left the production. Evidently, Han is extremely passionate about featuring Asian figures throughout her creations, as she included Lana Condor in To All the Boys and Anna Cathcart in XO, Kitty—both actresses are of Vietnamese and Chinese descent, respectively. Additionally, Belly, TSITP’s main character, is white in the novels, but was modified as an on-screen character. On the show, Belly is part of an Asian-American family, which Han spoke to CinemaBlend about in 2022. She wished to “showcase different kinds of talent” by incorporating “diversity of the characters,” changing the TV show adaptation to “reflect the moment.” Throughout her works, Han has casted a significant number of Asian celebrities, revealing that she wishes to bring some of her background into her career.
Regarding the show itself, The Summer I Turned Pretty series revolves around Isabel “Belly” Conklin, who faces heartbreak, sadness, and anger as she struggles to navigate through a love triangle. This love triangle involves Belly herself and the Fisher brothers—Conrad and Jeremiah—who Belly has grown up with at a beach house every summer. Additionally, the Fishers, Belly, and her family must live through Conrad and Jeremiah’s mother, Susannah’s, cancer diagnosis, which in various moments, brings them both closer together and farther apart. The show’s romance plotline, along with its added emotional issues and constant drama, are surely what attracted millions of teens to their screens every Friday night at 8 p.m. EST. With the ending of Season 2, fans have already begun discussing a Season 3, speculating that it could be released in the summer of 2024 but as late as 2025 due to the WGA strike.
As the film industry continues to adapt to the present moment, it can only be hoped that Asian representation and more diversity overall is seen in film and TV. Like-minded Asian individuals must contribute to the industry in effective ways, making their opinions known—this is where Jenny Han began, after all. Specifically regarding The Summer I Turned Pretty, the show’s success has been booming, and does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Teenagers globally—whether they have read the books or are solely watching the show—seem to be living for the plot and cannot wait to see what happens next. Hopefully, the show’s extreme success will allow others in the film industry to understand the significance of Asian representation and the comfort it provides to viewers coming from similar backgrounds. It is crucial that teenagers—those who feel that they do not have a say in the introductions of new Asian actors and actresses—are able to have their voices heard through passionate adults.