From messy love triangles to iconic soundtracks, teen dramas have a hold on all of us—and The Summer I Turned Pretty proves it. But why do we keep coming back to these stories? Lifestyle Asia spoke to author Mae Coyiuto, whose latest YA novel explores similar themes, to find out.
Even after decades, teen dramas like Dawson’s Creek, 90210, One Tree Hill, The OC, and especially Gossip Girl, continue to capture our imagination. The Summer I Turned Pretty follows this tradition, offering love triangles, heartbreak, and moments of pure kilig that make us root for the characters week after week.
The final season delivers a full-blown emotional rollercoaster: Belly and Jeremiah’s engagement, that iconic “We Can’t Be Friends” club scene, Conrad’s gut-wrenching beach confession, and the wedding that never happened. Moments like these remind us why teen dramas are so addictive and keep us on the edge of our seats. Full disclosure: I’m Team Conrad all the way—but part of me low-key wanted Belly to peace out and end up with neither Fisher brother.
A YA Author’s Take
Chinese-Filipino author Mae Coyiuto is a self-proclaimed fan of the genre. “A side effect of being my friend or sister is having to listen to me rave about Conrad Fischer,” she began with a laugh. She grew up immersed in YA culture, reading Jenny Han (author of The Summer I Turned Pretty) and other authors whose stories shaped a generation.
Her own book, Chloe and the Kaishao Boys, tells the hilarious story of a Manila girl “whose father sets her up on a marathon of arranged dates in hopes of convincing her to stay close to home for college” (as described on Amazon). The novel is currently a certified readers’ hit, boasting a 4/5 on Goodreads. There is a clear link between Mae’s story and the universal teen experiences explored in shows like The Summer I Turned Pretty.
Mae points out the broader impact of representation in YA media. Jenny Han’s decision to keep the lead role of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before true to Lara Jean’s Korean-American heritage, for example, opened doors for more Asian stories. “When I was pitching [my book] to agents back in 2018, I really felt like people in publishing were more open to a story starring a Chinese Filipino girl in Manila because of the success of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before,” Mae explains.
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The Emotional Pull Of Teen Romance
Even if we’re not navigating love triangles between brothers, teen dramas strike a chord because they make us feel. Mae shares her favorite Summer I Turned Pretty moment: “One of my favorite moments […] is when Conrad fills in to be Belly’s debutante dance partner in the Season 1 finale. When Conrad approaches Belly and ‘The Way I Loved You’ by Taylor Swift builds at the same time… it still makes me kilig every time I rewatch it.”
According to her, YA stories are fundamentally works of hope. “There’s something comforting about following young characters who are flawed, messed up, but still work hard to find themselves,” she adds. The genre gives us these relatable characters who allow readers and viewers to explore big emotions safely, and come out feeling seen and understood.
Our obsession with shows like The Summer I Turned Pretty isn’t just about love triangles or heartbreak—it’s about empathy, growth, and universal human emotions. These stories give us a space to laugh, cry, root, and hope alongside characters who are navigating life just as we are. As Mae Coyiuto notes, that’s the enduring magic of YA: it’s a genre that brightens our lives. “I read the books years ago, and waiting for the weekly Wednesday episodes has been a highlight of my last few months,” she adds with a smile.
