Belly’s Paris Birthday Surprise: Conrad’s Arrival in ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Season 3 Episode 11 Resolves the Epic Love Triangle

In the sun-drenched world of Jenny Han’s beloved coming-of-age saga, The Summer I Turned Pretty has captivated audiences since its 2022 debut on Prime Video. Adapted from Han’s bestselling trilogy, the series follows Isabel “Belly” Conklin (Lola Tung) as she navigates the intoxicating haze of summer romance, family secrets, and self-discovery in the idyllic Cousins Beach. At its heart lies one of television’s most divisive love triangles: Belly torn between the brooding, enigmatic Conrad Fisher (Christopher Briney) and his charismatic younger brother, Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno). Over three seasons, fans have passionately debated “Team Conrad” versus “Team Jeremiah,” with social media erupting in fervor each episode. But on September 17, 2025, the series finale—Season 3, Episode 11, titled “At Last”—delivered the moment viewers had been waiting for: a last-minute reunion in Paris that shatters the triangle and rewrites Belly and Conrad’s story. As Belly’s Parisian birthday explodes into this pivotal scene, it not only concludes three seasons of heartache but also affirms the soulmate bond that many always suspected.

Season 3, which premiered on July 16, 2025, with two episodes and continued weekly until the 11-episode finale, marked the longest installment yet. Drawing from Han’s final book, We’ll Always Have Summer, the season expands the timeline, exploring Belly’s transition into adulthood. After fleeing her wedding to Jeremiah in the Season 2 cliffhanger, Belly embarks on a year of independence in Paris, studying abroad and reinventing herself. Meanwhile, Conrad pursues medical school in California, haunted by unresolved feelings, while Jeremiah grapples with heartbreak and personal growth. The episode’s synopsis teases: “All roads lead to Paris in this epic, show-stopping series finale. Our summer girl Belly’s 22nd birthday takes an unexpected turn when someone from home crashes the celebration, and she must confront the life she thought she left behind.” True to form, Han and showrunner Sarah Kucserka craft a finale that blends nostalgia, vulnerability, and romance, culminating in a scene that fans are calling “the payoff we deserved.”

The episode opens with Conrad’s impulsive decision to fly to Paris, ditching a medical conference in Brussels. Having written Belly heartfelt letters throughout the season—echoing the books but adapted for the screen—he finally receives her reply with her address. This sets the stage for the surprise: Conrad waits outside Belly’s chic apartment, vial of Cousins Beach sand in hand as a “piece of home.” When Belly arrives on her red Vespa, sporting a fresh lob haircut and red lipstick that symbolize her newfound confidence, she’s with her ex-boyfriend Benito (a new character introduced in Episode 10). Conrad witnesses their cheek kiss, a gut-wrenching callback to past heartbreaks, but approaches anyway. Stunned, Belly hugs him awkwardly, her standoffishness melting as he claims it’s a spontaneous birthday visit. “I just happened to be in the area,” he lies charmingly, though his eyes betray deeper intent.

What follows is a day of reconnection that feels both rushed and profoundly earned. Belly, now 22 and thriving in Paris—juggling studies, under-the-table jobs, and friendships with roommates like Gemma (Corinna Brown) and Celine—shows Conrad her world. They tour iconic spots, from the Seine’s banks to a panoramic city view, reminiscing about their shared history. Belly confesses how thinking of Conrad helped her adjust to Paris’s loneliness, echoing a Season 1 moment where a young Conrad encouraged her dreams. “You always believed I could do it,” she says, touched. On a whim, she invites him to her pre-birthday dinner with friends, where Benito joins, revealing Belly dumped him six weeks prior. The group’s intrigue peaks—Conrad’s name rings bells from Belly’s stories—and he charms them effortlessly, fixing her bracelet and calling her beautiful.

The emotional core unfolds at the intimate birthday dinner. As Belly blows out her candles, her eyes lock with Conrad’s, a flashback to Season 1’s beach birthday wishes flashing across the screen. In a tearful revelation, Belly admits, “Every birthday, I wished for you.” Conrad, ever the hopeless romantic, responds, “Now you’re stuck with me forever.” He gifts her the vial of sand, a sentimental token he’s carried for years, symbolizing their unbreakable tie to Cousins. This moment breaks the tension: Conrad confesses his love predates his mother Susannah’s illness (Kyra Sedgwick), insisting it’s not grief-driven but genuine. Though Belly hesitates—“I wish I could be as sure as you”—the chemistry reignites. What begins awkwardly blossoms into maturity; their steamy reconciliation starts on the Seine, spills into a taxi and abandoned stairwell, and ends in Belly’s apartment, surpassing any prior intimacy.

This Paris reunion doesn’t just resolve the triangle; it rewrites Belly and Conrad’s narrative. In the books, their endgame unfolds differently—Belly chooses Conrad after college, but the show accelerates it for dramatic effect, emphasizing themes of growth and destiny. Jeremiah, back home, finds footing in a culinary career, kissing a new flame (possibly Denise), signaling his healing. Steven (Sean Kaufman) and Taylor (Rain Spencer) face relationship hurdles but toast to Belly from afar. Laurel (Rachel Blanchard) and John (David Iacono) reflect on her third birthday photo, underscoring family bonds. The finale closes with post-credits photos of Belly and Conrad’s Christmas in Paris, Han’s on-screen message affirming, “Love is the best surprise.”

Fans erupted online, with X (formerly Twitter) flooded by reactions. “SHE WISHED FOR HIM ON EVERY BIRTHDAY AND THIS IS NOT THE EXCEPTION IM CRYING,” tweeted @giulsforgiuls, capturing the sentiment. Posts like @idkdiane’s—“Belly wished for Conrad on every birthday, and now he’s going to Paris just in time for her birthday? she’s finally getting her wish 😭”—highlight the poetic closure. Team Conrad dominated, with @blueravns noting, “Conrad’s reaction to seeing Belly the first time that summer… he was miserable till he saw her.” Even skeptics conceded; @souvenirstiles gushed, “Belly and Conrad looking at each other over the candles… MY HEART.” The episode trended globally, breaking records as Prime Video’s most-watched season among women 18-34, with 25 million viewers in its premiere week.

Critics praised the finale’s emotional depth. Screen Rant called the reunion “beautiful, sexy, heartbreaking, and honest,” noting its maturity over Belly’s past with Jeremiah. Elle highlighted Conrad’s vial gift as a “reminder of 10-year-old Conrad,” blending nostalgia with growth. Showsnob.com recapped the invitation to dinner as Belly’s scrappy spirit prevailing: “Paris never stood a chance.” However, some felt the 80-minute runtime rushed loose ends, like Taylor and Steven’s arc, though the focus on Belly-Conrad satisfied most. Han, who co-wrote and directed an episode, told the Los Angeles Times she enjoyed the “Super Bowl”-like communal viewing.

This finale cements The Summer I Turned Pretty as a YA triumph, evolving from beachy romance to a tale of enduring love. By having Conrad crash Belly’s Paris birthday, the show breaks the triangle decisively—Jeremiah steps aside gracefully—and rewrites their story as one of fate fulfilled. Fans may clamor for spin-offs, but for now, Belly and Conrad’s Parisian spark offers perfect closure. As one X user put it, “Belly and Conrad are openly falling in love in Paris on her birthday.” Indeed, three seasons end not with a whimper, but a romantic bang. Watch the scene on Prime Video to relive the magic that finishes the trilogy.