It happened. Fans of Jenny Han’s book series knew it was coming, but seeing it play out on screen felt different. The Summer I Turned Pretty sex scene in Season 2, Episode 2, titled "Love Scene," sparked a massive wave of discourse across TikTok, X, and Reddit. Some people loved the intimacy. Others felt it was a massive departure from the source material.
Honestly? It changed everything for Belly and Conrad.
In the books, the physical intimacy between Isabel "Belly" Conklin and Conrad Fisher is much more ambiguous. Han kept it subtle. In the show, creator Jenny Han decided to make it explicit, choosing to have the characters lose their virginity to each other at the Cousins Beach house during a winter getaway. This wasn't just about fan service or hitting a TV trope. It was a calculated narrative shift that recontextualized their entire relationship.
The Winter at Cousins: What Really Happened
The scene takes place during a flashback. We see Belly and Conrad driving down to the beach house in the dead of winter. It’s freezing. The house is empty. There’s a fireplace, some hot cocoa, and Taylor Swift’s "Invisible String" playing in the background. If you’ve followed the show’s production, you know that the music choice is never accidental.
They’re sitting by the fire. The tension is thick, but it’s a soft kind of tension. They’ve been building to this for two seasons—or an entire lifetime, if you ask Belly. Conrad is usually the king of "one step forward, two steps back," but in this moment, he’s fully present. They talk. They look at each other. Then, they move to the floor in front of the fireplace.
It’s depicted as consensual, tender, and deeply emotional. Unlike many teen dramas that prioritize the "heat" of the moment, this scene focused on the "heart" of it. Lola Tung (Belly) and Christopher Briney (Conrad) played it with a level of vulnerability that made it feel grounded. It wasn't some high-octane Hollywood moment; it felt like two teenagers who were terrified and in love all at once.
💡 You might also like: Black Bear by Andrew Belle: Why This Song Still Hits So Hard
Why the Deviation from the Book Disturbed Some Fans
In the original novel It’s Not Summer Without You, this specific event doesn't happen. Not like this.
Jenny Han has been very vocal about why she changed this for the Prime Video adaptation. She told Variety that the characters felt older in the show. In the book, Belly is 16. In the series, the timeline feels slightly more mature. Han argued that by the time they reached that winter night, it felt like the natural progression for where these versions of Belly and Conrad were emotionally.
Some "Team Jeremiah" fans weren't happy.
The argument is that by having Belly give this part of herself to Conrad, it makes her eventual connection with Jeremiah feel "lesser" or more complicated. It raises the stakes. If Conrad is her "first," the "Invisible String" mentioned in the music isn't just a metaphor—it’s a permanent tie.
The Taylor Swift Factor
You can't talk about this scene without talking about the music. Using "Invisible String" from folklore was a massive "Easter Egg" for Swifties. The lyrics discuss the idea that two people are tied together by a single thread long before they even realize it.
📖 Related: Billie Eilish Therefore I Am Explained: The Philosophy Behind the Mall Raid
"A string that pulled me / Out of all the wrong arms right into that ocean-grown eye."
It fits perfectly. It frames the sex scene not as a casual hookup, but as a "meant to be" milestone. It’s interesting to note that the show uses Swift’s music as a roadmap for Belly’s emotional state. When she’s with Conrad, the music is often grand, sweeping, and melancholic. When she’s with Jeremiah, it tends to be more upbeat or pop-heavy. This scene solidified Conrad as the "epic" love interest, even if the plot later pulls her toward Jeremiah.
The Impact on Season 3 and Beyond
This scene didn't just exist in a vacuum. It set the stage for the massive fallout in the Season 2 finale and what we expect to see in Season 3. Because they shared that intimacy, the betrayal feels deeper. When Conrad pushes Belly away later, she isn't just losing a boyfriend; she's losing the person she entrusted with her most vulnerable self.
It also changes the dynamic with Jeremiah.
Jeremiah is the brother who is "always there." He’s the safe choice, the fun choice, the one who actually communicates. But he knows. He knows the history between Belly and his brother. Knowing that they shared that night at the winter beach house adds a layer of jealousy and insecurity that Jeremiah has to carry throughout his relationship with Belly.
👉 See also: Bad For Me Lyrics Kevin Gates: The Messy Truth Behind the Song
A Shift in Teen TV Standards
For a long time, teen shows went one of two ways. They were either "Skins"-level gritty or "Dawson’s Creek" levels of "let’s talk about our feelings for six episodes before we hold hands." The Summer I Turned Pretty sex scene found a middle ground. It wasn't overly sanitized, but it also didn't feel exploitative.
The production utilized intimacy coordinators to ensure the actors felt safe, which is now a standard practice in the industry. This is a far cry from the "90210" or "Gossip Girl" days where these scenes were often filmed with little regard for the young actors' comfort levels.
Technical Details You Might Have Missed
- Lighting: Notice the warm orange hues. It contrasts with the cold, blue light of the winter outside. It symbolizes the house being their "safe haven" from the reality of Susannah’s illness.
- Dialogue: There is very little of it. The scene relies on physical acting and facial expressions.
- Timing: The scene happens early in the season as a flashback. This was a smart move by the writers. It forced the audience to view their current "breakup" through the lens of what they had lost.
Addressing the Controversy
Was it too much? Some parents felt the show drifted too far from the "sweet" YA roots. But honestly, the "sweetness" of the books was always a bit of a facade. The books deal with grief, cancer, and the messy transition into adulthood. Sex is a part of that. By including it, the show simply caught up to the reality of the characters' ages and the intensity of their situation.
If you're watching the show for the first time, pay attention to the silence. The moments where they aren't talking are often more revealing than when they are. This scene is the peak of that silence.
Moving Forward: Actionable Insights for Fans
If you want to understand the full weight of this scene before Season 3 drops, here is what you should do:
- Rewatch Season 2, Episode 2: Look specifically at the transition from the present day (at the party) back to the winter flashback. The contrast in Conrad’s body language is staggering.
- Read the Second Book: Compare the "Winter at Cousins" chapter to the TV episode. You’ll notice that while the physical act is new, the dialogue about the "cocoa" and the "fire" is pulled straight from the pages.
- Listen to the Lyrics: Go back and listen to "Invisible String" and "Snow on the Beach." These two songs act as the unofficial soundtrack to the Belly/Conrad intimacy arc.
- Watch the Interviews: Check out Lola Tung’s interviews regarding the "Love Scene." She discusses the importance of showing Belly as an active participant in her own choices, rather than just a passive character.
The scene remains one of the most-searched moments of the series for a reason. It wasn't just about the act itself; it was about the death of childhood and the complicated, messy beginning of whatever comes next for the Fisher and Conklin families.