When Jenny Han’s world of Cousins Beach transitioned from the page to the screen, fans expected the usual love triangle drama. What they didn't necessarily expect was to fall in love with a character who wasn't even in the original books. That’s the magic of Minnie Mills in The Summer I Turned Pretty. She played Shayla Wang, the "it-girl" with a heart of gold and a fashion sense that put everyone else to shame. Shayla wasn't just a side character; she was a cultural reset for the show’s representation.
Then came the Season 2 casting announcements. Or rather, the lack of them.
Suddenly, the screen felt a little emptier. If you watched the first season, you know exactly why Shayla mattered. She was the one who gave Steven Conklin his first real taste of a high-society romance that wasn't just about money, but about genuine connection. When Minnie Mills didn't return for the sophomore season, the internet basically went into a collective meltdown. It wasn't just about a "breakup" happening off-screen. It was about losing a character who had become a fan favorite for her poise, her intelligence, and the way she challenged the typical "mean girl" trope often found in teen dramas.
The Shayla Factor: What Minnie Mills Brought to Cousins
Minnie Mills didn't just play a debutante. She played the debutante. Shayla Wang was introduced as this incredibly wealthy, seemingly untouchable girl who actually turned out to be grounded and deeply supportive. Most teen shows would have made her a rival for Belly. Instead, Shayla was a mentor, a friend, and a partner.
The chemistry between Minnie Mills and Sean Kaufman (who plays Steven) was undeniable. It felt real. In a show built on the "will-they-won't-they" tension of the Fisher brothers, Steven and Shayla provided a stable, aspirational anchor. They were the couple you actually wanted to work out because they communicated. Well, mostly.
Minnie herself is a powerhouse. Born in London to a Canadian father and a South Korean mother, she moved to New York City and brought that international, sophisticated flair to the role. You can't fake that kind of presence. She didn't just read the lines; she inhabited the wardrobe, the posture, and the specific brand of confidence that comes from growing up in rooms where you're always the most interesting person.
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Why was Shayla missing from Season 2?
This is the question that haunts Reddit threads. Honestly, it boils down to the source material and creative choices. In the second book, It’s Not Summer Without You, the focus shifts heavily toward the grief following Susannah’s death and the fight for the beach house. Steven’s storyline in the book is much smaller than it is in the show.
Minnie Mills addressed her exit on Instagram with a lot of grace, basically saying that playing Shayla was a dream. But the reality is that the show decided to move in a different direction for Steven’s character arc. They wanted to explore his journey toward college and his evolving relationship with Taylor. To do that, they had to clear the deck.
It sucked. Fans felt cheated. Seeing a "Dear John" text or a brief mention of a breakup felt like a disservice to the growth we saw in Season 1. But that’s show business. Sometimes the most compelling characters get sidelined to make room for the central plot. Even so, the shadow of Minnie Mills in The Summer I Turned Pretty loomed large over Season 2. Every time Steven looked a little lonely or Taylor made a move, fans were typing "Where's Shayla?" into their search bars.
Beyond the Beach: The Career of Minnie Mills
Don't feel too bad for Minnie, though. She’s doing just fine.
Since leaving the show, she’s become a bit of a fashion icon. If you follow her on social media, you see her at Fashion Weeks, working with major brands, and leaning into her modeling roots. She’s an alum of the Atlantic Theater Company and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. That’s serious training. She isn't just a "Netflix star"; she’s a craft-focused actress who happened to land a massive hit right out of the gate.
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Breaking the "Asian Best Friend" Trope
What Minnie Mills did for Asian American representation in the YA genre cannot be overstated. Shayla wasn't a nerd. She wasn't a quiet wallflower. She was the most popular girl in the room, the wealthiest, and the most stylish. She had agency.
In the first season, we saw her navigating the debutante ball with a level of cultural pride and individual flair that was refreshing. She wasn't trying to fit into a white-centric mold of what a "deb" should be. She defined it for herself. This is why her absence felt like a blow to more than just the plot. It felt like losing a specific type of visibility that we don't get often in mainstream teen media.
The show attempted to fill that void with new characters and expanded roles for others. Elise Fisher’s Skye was a bold choice, bringing a non-binary perspective to the series. But Skye and Shayla are polar opposites. One represents the rebellion against the Cousins Beach status quo, while the other represented the pinnacle of it. You need both for a balanced world.
What the Fans Still Hope For
Is a comeback possible? In the world of TV, never say never.
The Summer I Turned Pretty has already been renewed for Season 3. While the third book focuses heavily on Belly and Jeremiah’s wedding (and the inevitable return of Conrad), there is always room for cameos. Could Shayla return for a graduation party? A wedding? A random encounter in New York?
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Jenny Han is known for listening to her fans, but she’s also fiercely protective of the story she wants to tell. If Shayla doesn't fit the endgame for Steven, we might not see her again. But the impact of Minnie Mills in The Summer I Turned Pretty remains a benchmark for how to write a compelling, original character for a book-to-screen adaptation.
She proved that you don't need to be the "Main Character" to be the person everyone is talking about the next day.
Lessons from the Shayla Exit
If you're a fan of the show or a creator yourself, there’s a lot to learn here. First, character loyalty is real. You can't just write off a fan favorite and expect people not to notice. Second, representation matters most when it’s nuanced. Shayla was loved because she was complex, not because she checked a box.
Finally, Minnie Mills’ career is a testament to the power of a breakout role. She used her platform to advocate for better stories and to showcase her range. She didn't let the exit define her. Instead, she used it as a springboard.
If you're looking for your next Minnie Mills fix, keep an eye on high-end fashion campaigns and indie film casting calls. She’s moving toward projects that allow her to showcase that same "Shayla energy"—that mix of vulnerability and absolute power—but on her own terms.
To really appreciate what we lost in the later seasons, go back and re-watch the Season 1 finale. Watch the way she handles the pressure of the ball. Look at the way she looks at Steven. It’s a masterclass in how to make a supporting role feel like the lead.
What you can do next:
If you're still missing Shayla, the best way to support Minnie Mills is to follow her current projects outside of the "Summer" franchise. Check out her work with the Asian American Foundation (TAAF) or look into her upcoming roles on IMDb. Supporting the actors you love in their next ventures is the only way to ensure we keep getting high-quality talent on our screens. Also, if you’re a writer, take a page out of the Shayla Wang playbook: create characters so vibrant that their absence feels like a literal hole in the plot. That is how you write something that sticks.