Lights, Love & Goodbyes
Paris — under a soft glow of lampposts and the hum of wrought iron chairs scraping cobblestones — “The Summer I Turned Pretty” family came together for one last summer‑style dinner. Fresh off the emotional sting of the season 3 finale, Sean Kaufman, Gavin Casalegno, Lola Tung, Jenny Han, Rain Spencer, and Chris Briney took to the City of Light to unwind, reflect, and perhaps just enjoy a moment outside the whirlwind of Cousins Beach.
A Bittersweet Celebration
With cameras down and the final credits rolling, the group gathered at a cozy, softly lit Parisian bistro. There were no formalities—just friends who’d spent years growing together, both on‑screen and off. Lola Tung, whose portrayal of Belly has been the heart of the series, seemed contemplative, surrounded by her co‑stars: Gavin Casalegno (Jeremiah), Chris Briney (Conrad), Sean Kaufman (Steven), and Rain Spencer (Taylor). Creator Jenny Han, too, was there — part proud author, part weepy parent.
They toasted to endings — for shows, for chapters, for summer. But also to beginnings: of moving forward, new stories, new selves. The finale had drawn sharp lines, stirred emotions, and brought closure. But in this dinner, the mood was gentler, softer — healing through laughter, shared memories, and maybe a few tears.
Moments That Mattered
Lola & Jenny quietly caught up in a corner. It was said they talked about the evolution of Belly’s journey — the choices she made, the heartache she endured, and how Belly’s transformation was deeply tied to Jenny Han’s own creative heartbeat.
Jeremiah & Conrad on pause — Gavin and Chris shared a look or two of “what if” and “remember when.” Between them, there was no rivalry now, just respect for what the story made of their love triangle, and what they’ve each become because of it.
Sean and Rain traded jokes and wide smiles. Their characters maybe lived more in the periphery of Belly’s story, but their bond with the rest of the cast always held weight in real life—and tonight, it felt like comfort.
Jenny, possibly the most complicated mixture of proud, relieved, and melancholic. After all, she didn’t just write the books—she shepherded them to life onscreen, oversaw their changes, chose what to honor and what to reimagine. Tonight was her moment to witness the end—and to let go.
What the Dinner Really Symbolized
Fans might know what happened onscreen: the heartbreaks, the decisions, the Paris reunion. But dinners like this—they’re part of the offscreen truth. They remind us that art is made by people who feel deeply, who invest pieces of themselves in characters and scenes. When a story ends publicly, there’s always more behind the curtain: uncertainty, longing, gratitude.
For this group, tonight was less about the finale itself than the journey. It was about how each person changed — Belly, Conrad, Jeremiah, Steven, Taylor — and how the actors behind them changed, too. It was about friendship, forgiveness, and letting go with more than just a sigh.
