Missing The Summer I Turned Pretty already? These 10 series are the perfect comfort
Actually, we can't say that we're falling into a hole right now. Knowing that we don't have to completely let go of Belly, Jeremiah, and Conrad yet, we're already fantasizing about the ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ movie. But creator Jenny Han did burst our bubble a bit. We shouldn't expect the release anytime soon, which means our patience will be tested quite a bit. For those desperately looking for something that brings back that delightful T.S.I.T.P. feeling, we've lined up a few perfect series. So you can start daydreaming. Before you know it, the film here.
My Life with the Walter Boys
It's a bit like the little sister of ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’. But due to that big success, ‘My Life with the Walter Boys’ now ends up in a forgotten corner. Such a shame, this Netflix series is just as delightful. The story is based on the novel of the same name by Ali Novaks, which first appeared on the Wattpad platform, and later really in book form. When Jackie (Nikki Rodriguez) loses her family in a tragic car accident, she moves from bustling New York to quiet Colorado. She moves in with the Walters family; so also with the brothers Cole and Alex. Processing her great loss is already difficult enough, and then the Walter boys also demand her attention. So expect plenty of drama and a complicated love triangle. Sounds familiar, right? The second season has just been released and the third is already on its way. Another little test for our patience.
Outer Banks
Thinking of summer series? Then ' Netflix hit ‘ cannot be missed. The beach is pretty much the most important backdrop for this series. And those love triangles? We can check those off too. The coastal town of Outer Banks has a clear divide between the rich ’Kooks‘ and the poor ’Pogues‘. John B (Chase Stokes) and his friends belong to the latter group and have one clear goal: to discover what on earth happened to his father. That search quickly brings them into a much more complicated situation. John B's father turned out to be searching for a treasure; and that job still needs to be finished. You shouldn't expect very deep storylines, but just a hefty dose of drama mixed with a good scoop of mystery. A nice binge-watch series is sometimes exactly what you need, and with four seasons, you can get through for a while. You can also mark season five on the 2026 calendar; the exact release date is still a mystery.
My Lady Jane
With a historical twist, we go a little bit in the other direction with ‘My Lady Jane’. But those who secretly enjoyed the arguments between Belly and the Fisher brothers will also love this series. That enemy-to-lovers dynamic is well done here. In real history, Lady Jane Grey was queen of England for only 9 days before she was beheaded shortly thereafter. Quite tragic actually, but the creators of this Prime Video-series didn't really want to go there. And with a series, you can beautifully rewrite history, of course. Jane (Emily Bader) is not planning to let others determine her fate. She can take care of herself just fine. Even when she suddenly becomes the target of enemies with the crown on her head. Even the handsome Lord Guildford Dudley (Edward Bluemel) can't change much about that, although he does make it quite difficult for her. Think of it as ‘Bridgerton’ with a touch of ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’. Sounds like the perfect combination, right?
XO Kitty
Raise your hands if you've devoured the ‘To All the Boys I've Loved Before’ series too. Let's be honest, we all have, right? No matter how many times I've seen those movies, one fact I never knew: these titles have the same creator as ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’, Jenny Han. It at least explains why we were such fans of this too. The Netflix films were such a hit that a spinoff series had to come. But this time it wasn't about Lara Jean (Lana Condor), but her sister Kitty (Anna Cathcart). In ‘XO Kitty’, the youngest Covey sister heads to the Korean Independent School in Seoul with two important goals: to learn more about her mother's roots, and to maintain her long-distance relationship with Dae (Choi Min-young). Once there, it turns out that last one isn't so simple. Kitty isn't really the love expert she thought she was. Filming for season 3 has already been completed, so hopefully we can soon enjoy even more Jenny Han magic.
Motorheads
Officially, we call ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ a coming-of-age story. Everything revolves around growing up, with all the struggles that come with it; and that's not just love. In that category, we can also place the Prime Video series ‘Motorheads’ This title isn't very well known in the Netherlands yet, but in the US, the series has been in the Prime top 10 for months. Time to get acquainted. The twins Caitlyn (Melissa Collazo) and Zac (Michael Cimino) move to the village of Ironwood, the town where their mother grew up. As outsiders, their shared love for cars helps them make friends. But it also brings them complicated romances. Perhaps their biggest struggle: the mystery surrounding their father. Years ago, he disappeared with quite a questionable reputation. No one knows what happened, and especially whether he might still be alive. Despite the good reviews, Prime has unfortunately canceled the series after just one season. But no panic, talks are already underway with other networks. So maybe it will be to be continued.
Never Have I Ever
For Lola Thung, her T.S.I.T.P. role as Belly was her big breakthrough. It didn't take long before she was asked for her next project, the horror film ‘Forbidden Fruits’. And this is probably just the beginning for her. A familiar story for Canadian actress Maitreyi Ramakrishnan; she had her big breakthrough in the Netflix hit ‘Never Have I Ever’. And her IMDb page is now quite full. In her first comedy-drama, she plays the role of 15-year-old Devi Vishwakumar. After a traumatic year, Devi is completely done with her not-so-strong social status. Change is desperately needed; she wants to become popular. But with family dramas haunting her, (new) friends, and feelings, that's quite a challenge. Even if you've been out of high school for years, we all recognize those struggles. Now just from a distance, without lying awake at night worrying. Sometimes that's nice too, right?
Heartstopper
We're still sticking with the Netflix-series, because ‘Heartstopper’ is just too cute not to mention. This title has probably made me say ‘awh’ just as often as T.S.I.T.P., so incredibly cute. The series started as an online story but eventually became a book thanks to donations. One of the donors even later worked on the show. The story revolves around Charlie (Joe Locke) and Nick (Kit Connor). The two teenagers seem like total opposites, but still form a strong friendship. Charlie feels more, but is convinced that Nick is straight. The better they get to know each other, the more they realize that this friendship could turn into something else. Another similarity with ‘The Summer’: ‘Heartstopper’ will also not end with another season of episodes, but with one movie. And for that release, we will again get a lesson in patience.
Surviving Summer
With a title like ‘Surviving Summer’, the first similarity is quickly found. But there are more reasons why this Netflix series can temporarily satisfy our ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ hunger. Think of teenage loves on sunny beaches, and in abundance. It may not be the most well-known title, but with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 100% for season one, it's definitely a must-see. In the series, we follow Summer Torres (Sky Katz), a rebellious teenager from Brooklyn. When she gets expelled from school again, her mother is fed up. She sends Summer to an old friend in Australia to spend the summer there. A break from her turbulent life in New York, so she can see more of the world. But of course, Summer also causes a stir there, for a while at least. What started with a suitcase full of reluctance quickly turns into an adventure she never expected. The town, the ocean, and the surfers are quite interesting; and especially the handsome Ari Gibson (Kai Lewins). A one-way ticket to Australia sounds very tempting.
Maxton Hall
The title of ‘most successful series launch of all non-American Prime Originals ever’ is not just given away. The German series ‘Maxton Hall’ is on this list for a reason. A little teaser: Ruby (Harriet Herbig-Matten), a determined scholarship student, begins her adventure at the private school Maxton Hall. Her goal? To get into the University of Oxford. And nothing, absolutely nothing, will stop her from that. Until she discovers a secret that puts the future of Maxton Hall at stake. The arrogant millionaire's son and heir James (Damian Hardung) is determined to silence Ruby. Their struggle becomes fiery, and the sparks quickly take on a whole new meaning. With a number one position in more than 120 countries, it certainly won't stop at one season. So, mark November 7 in your calendar, and get ready for more ‘Maxton Hall’.
One Day
We've talked about this Netflix hit before, but ‘One Day’ is too good not to mention. I'm still sitting on the couch as an ugly crier because of this series. If you enjoyed the flashbacks of Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah, you can really let loose with this series. Emma (Ambika Mod) and Dexter (Leo Woodall) meet at their graduation ball for their bachelor's degree at the University of Edinburgh. They spend the whole night together. As friends, that is, although the bond between them feels special right away. Despite their paths parting after that night, life keeps bringing them back together. For a long time, it remains friendship, but you can't keep avoiding feelings. Just like in ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’, you're completely immersed in this series from the first moment, and that feeling certainly doesn't diminish afterwards.
