If you’ve been scrolling through TikTok or refreshing Prime Video like your life depends on it, you’ve likely noticed something feels different about the return to Cousins Beach. The vibes are heavier. The stakes? Way higher. But the most common question floating around—how many episodes in TSITP season 3 are we actually getting—usually comes with a surprised look when people hear the real answer.
Honestly, we’ve been conditioned to expect eight. Seasons 1 and 2 both stuck to that tight eight-episode structure. It felt like a summer fling: short, sweet, and over before you could finish your first bottle of sunscreen. But for the final chapter of Belly Conklin’s messy, heart-wrenching love triangle, Jenny Han decided we needed a lot more room to breathe. Or cry. Mostly cry.
The Magic Number is 11
The third and final season of The Summer I Turned Pretty consists of 11 episodes.
That’s a huge jump. We’re talking about three extra hours of Taylor Swift needle drops and Conrad Fisher pining in the distance. When Prime Video first announced the expansion, the internet basically broke. Why the change? Jenny Han herself explained to Entertainment Weekly that adapting the third book, We’ll Always Have Summer, required a "bigger canvas."
There is so much plot to cover. We aren’t just looking at one summer; we’re looking at years of character growth, a literal wedding (maybe?), and a trip to Paris. You simply can't cram a four-year time jump and a life-altering choice between the Fisher brothers into eight episodes without it feeling like a chaotic fever dream.
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The Official TSITP Season 3 Release Schedule
Prime Video isn't doing us any favors by dropping these all at once. They want us to suffer. They want the weekly discourse. They want the Team Conrad vs. Team Jeremiah wars to rage on social media for two full months.
The season kicked off with a double-episode premiere on July 16, 2025. If you missed it, you’ve got some catching up to do. Here is how the 11-episode rollout looked (and looks) for those of us living through the drama:
- July 16: Episode 1 ("Last Season") & Episode 2 ("Last Christmas")
- July 23: Episode 3 ("Last Supper")
- July 30: Episode 4 ("Last Stand")
- August 6: Episode 5 ("Last Dance")
- August 13: Episode 6 ("Last Name")
- August 20: Episode 7 ("Last Hurrah")
- August 27: Episode 8 ("Last Kiss")
- September 3: Episode 9 ("Last Call")
- September 10: Episode 10 ("Last Year")
- September 17: Episode 11 ("At Last" - Series Finale)
That September 17th date is the one circled in red on everyone’s calendar. It’s the end of an era. Eleven episodes to decide a lifetime.
Why the Supersized Season Matters
It’s not just about more content; it’s about the pacing. In the books, the transition from college life to the wedding planning felt abrupt for some readers. By expanding how many episodes in TSITP season 3, the showrunners allowed for specific "bottle episodes" that focus on things the books only hinted at.
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For instance, Episode 2, "Last Christmas," gives us that long-awaited look at what happened during the holidays while everyone was apart. Then there’s the time jump. We start at the end of Belly’s junior year of college, but the show quickly shifts gears to show us the characters as actual adults in their 20s.
The "Core-Shaking" Events
You’ve probably seen the teasers mentioning "core-shaking events." This refers to the massive betrayal that kicks off the season. Without spoiling too much for the three people who haven't read the books: Jeremiah’s spring break trip to Cabo is the catalyst. Because we have 11 episodes, the fallout from that mistake isn't resolved in twenty minutes. We see the messy, ugly reality of Belly trying to forgive him while Conrad re-enters the orbit.
Common Misconceptions About Season 3
I’ve seen people arguing in comments sections that there’s going to be a Season 4. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Jenny Han has been very clear: this is it. Three books, three seasons. The 11-episode count is the "bonus" we get instead of a fourth season.
Another thing people get wrong? The "split season" rumor. Some fans thought Prime Video would do a Stranger Things or Bridgerton style split, where they release half and then make us wait months for the rest. Thankfully, they didn't do that. It's a straight weekly rollout. It keeps the momentum going without the frustrating mid-season hiatus.
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The Cast Bringing the Drama
Lola Tung (Belly), Christopher Briney (Conrad), and Gavin Casalegno (Jeremiah) are all back, obviously. But the expanded episode count also means more time for the supporting cast. We’re seeing a lot more of Steven (Sean Kaufman) and Taylor (Rain Spencer). Their "situationship" is honestly just as stressful as the main love triangle this season. Plus, we get new faces like Anika (Belly’s roommate) and Lacie Barone—a name that book fans know all too well.
How to Prepare for the Finale
We are officially in the endgame now. If you're behind, now is the time to binge those first few episodes before the September 17th finale "At Last" drops.
Pro-tip for the finish line:
- Check the timestamp: New episodes usually drop at 3 a.m. ET / 12 a.m. PT. If you’re on the East Coast, prepare for a very sleepy Thursday.
- Re-read Book 3: If you want to see exactly where the show is deviating (and it is deviating quite a bit with the Steven/Taylor stuff), give We’ll Always Have Summer a quick skim.
- Tissues: Just get them. Episode 11 is rumored to be a tear-jerker of epic proportions.
The journey from Cousins Beach to Paris has been a long one. Knowing how many episodes in TSITP season 3 helps manage the expectations, but it doesn't make the goodbye any easier. Whether you're rooting for a beach wedding or a Parisian solo adventure for Belly, we’ve only got a few hours of story left to find out.
What you should do next: Sync your calendar with the remaining Wednesday release dates so you don't get spoiled on social media. If you're planning a finale party for September 17th, start your re-watch of the first ten episodes now so you're ready for the "At Last" conclusion.