Honestly, if you ask any die-hard fan of the series where the vibe of Cousins Beach shifts from "innocent childhood nostalgia" to "complicated teenage mess," they’ll point straight to episode 4. It's titled Summer Heat. It fits. The air is thick with humidity, the Fourth of July pressure is mounting, and for the first time, the "little sister" energy Belly has carried for years finally starts to evaporate. This isn't just about a pool party. It’s the moment the triangles—both the romantic ones and the messy adult ones—actually start to hurt.
The Summer I Turned Pretty season 1 episode 4 is essentially the midpoint of the debut season, and it carries that weight. We’ve moved past the initial "wow, Belly looks different" phase. Now, we’re dealing with the fallout of what that means for the Fisher boys. If the first three episodes were the slow climb of a roller coaster, this is the part where you hear the gears clicking right before the drop.
The Fireworks and the Fallout
The Fourth of July is a big deal in the Conklin-Fisher household. It’s tradition. But traditions feel suffocating when you’re trying to grow up. Belly is dating Cam (the "Cam-eron" from the Latin convention), and on paper, he’s perfect. He’s nice. He’s safe. He’s a "good on paper" guy who likes whales and respects boundaries. But he isn't Conrad. And he isn't Jeremiah.
During the festivities, you see the cracks in the Cam/Belly dynamic. It’s painful to watch because Cam is genuinely a sweet guy, but he’s essentially a placeholder in a story that’s always been about the brothers. When the fireworks go off, the camera isn't really focused on the pyrotechnics. It's focused on the glances.
Conrad is brooding—standard Conrad behavior—but here it feels more jagged. He’s dealing with the secret of his mother’s cancer, which we know as viewers, but Belly doesn't. This creates a massive wall of miscommunication. To her, he’s being a jerk. To us, he’s drowning.
Jeremiah Makes His Move
This is the episode where Jeremiah Fisher officially enters the ring. Up until The Summer I Turned Pretty season 1 episode 4, Jeremiah was mostly the "golden retriever" best friend. He’s the one who dances with Belly, the one who makes her laugh, the one who seems totally uncomplicated.
Then comes the pool scene.
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Jeremiah realizes that Conrad and Belly are having a moment on the dock while fireworks are lighting up the sky. It’s a quiet, intimate beat where Conrad almost lets his guard down. Jeremiah, seeing this, shoots a firework intentionally to disrupt them. It’s a petty, human, and very "teenager" move. It’s the first time we see Jeremiah’s competitive streak. He isn't just the fun brother anymore. He’s a contender. This shift is vital for the rest of the series because it complicates the morality of the love triangle. You start to wonder if Jeremiah is actually "better" for her, or if he’s just better at hiding his baggage than Conrad is.
Susannah and Laurel: The Layer Most People Ignore
While everyone is obsessing over which boy Belly will choose, the real emotional core of this episode—and honestly, the whole show—is the kitchen scene with Susannah and Laurel.
They are getting high on Susannah’s "special gummies." It’s funny at first. Seeing the moms let loose and act like teenagers provides a much-needed break from the heavy romantic tension. But then it turns. Susannah is sick. She knows this might be her last "real" summer. Laurel is the only one who really knows the depth of it.
The acting here by Rachel Blanchard and Jackie Chung is top-tier. It grounds the show in reality. Without this subplot, the show would just be another teen drama. With it, it becomes a story about the end of an era. The Fourth of July represents the peak of summer, but in this episode, it feels like the beginning of the end. They are desperately trying to hold onto a version of their lives that is already slipping away.
Why the "Cam-eron" Breakup Matters
Belly eventually breaks up with Cam. It’s inevitable. But the way she does it matters. She’s trying to be honest, but she’s also realizing that her heart isn't in Cousins Beach for a "normal" relationship. She’s there for the history.
Cam represents the world outside of this bubble. By letting him go, Belly is effectively choosing to stay trapped in the Fisher family drama. It’s a decision that feels right in the moment but sets her up for a lot of grief. Cam was the exit ramp. He was the healthy choice. But who chooses the healthy choice at sixteen when the boy you’ve loved since you were ten is finally looking at you?
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The Tension at the Party
The house party is chaotic. You’ve got Taylor (Belly’s best friend) stirring the pot, as usual. Taylor is a polarizing character, but in episode 4, she serves a specific purpose: she’s a mirror. She points out things Belly doesn't want to admit. She sees the tension with the Fisher boys and calls it out.
The social dynamics at the party highlight how much Belly has changed. She’s no longer the kid watching from the sidelines. She’s the center of attention, and she doesn't quite know how to handle the power that comes with that.
- The Power Shift: Belly realizes she has the ability to hurt people now.
- Conrad's Spiral: We see Conrad's drinking and lashing out reach a fever pitch.
- Jeremiah's Observation: Jeremiah is watching everyone, calculating his next move.
It’s a messy episode. It’s loud. It’s sweaty. It feels exactly like a New England summer night where everything is about to boil over.
Technical Execution and Soundtrack
We have to talk about the music. Jenny Han knows exactly how to use a needle drop to manipulate your emotions, and "Summer Heat" is no exception. The way the songs blend into the background of the party noise creates this dreamlike, almost hazy atmosphere. It feels like a memory.
The cinematography also leans heavily into warm tones—golds, oranges, and deep blues. It makes the beach look inviting but also sort of oppressive. You can almost feel the humidity through the screen. This visual language reinforces the theme that the "heat" isn't just the weather; it's the internal pressure these characters are under.
The Misconception About Conrad in This Episode
A lot of viewers walked away from The Summer I Turned Pretty season 1 episode 4 thinking Conrad was just being a "toxic" teenager. He forgets Belly’s birthday (earlier in the season), he’s mean to her at the party, and he seems miserable.
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But if you re-watch this episode knowing he’s carrying the burden of his mother's secret, his behavior changes. He isn't trying to be mean; he's trying to push everyone away so they don't see how much he's breaking. He’s terrified. He’s watching his mother die in slow motion while everyone else is worried about who is kissing whom. It’s a nuanced portrayal of grief that often gets lost in the "Team Conrad vs. Team Jeremiah" debates.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you’re revisiting the series or watching for the first time, there are a few things you should keep an eye on in episode 4 to really get the full experience:
- Watch Jeremiah’s Eyes: Notice how often he is looking at Belly when she isn't looking at him. His "playful" persona starts to slip here.
- The Parallel of the Moms: Look at how Susannah and Laurel’s friendship mirrors Belly and Taylor’s. It asks the question: will Belly and Taylor still be this close in twenty years?
- The "Almost" Moments: Count how many times Conrad almost tells Belly the truth. The tragedy of their relationship in season 1 is the timing.
The Summer I Turned Pretty season 1 episode 4 isn't just filler. It’s the bridge between the childhood they had and the adulthood they’re being forced into. It’s the last time things feel even remotely "normal" before the secrets come out and the summer truly ends.
To get the most out of your rewatch, pay attention to the background characters at the party. The way the locals interact with the "summer people" adds a layer of class commentary that the show touches on briefly but effectively. It reminds you that while this is a fantasy for the Conklins and Fishers, Cousins Beach is a real place with real people who don't get to leave when the leaves turn brown.
Check out the original book by Jenny Han, specifically the Fourth of July chapters, to see how the show changed the sequence of events. The show adds much more "punch" to the Jeremiah/Conrad rivalry than the early parts of the book did, which makes this specific episode a much more pivotal moment for the TV adaptation.
The next step is simple: go back and watch the dock scene again. This time, don't look at Belly. Look at Conrad’s hands. He’s shaking. That’s the detail that changes everything.