‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ stars recap the show ahead of the final season

Between all the hookups, breakups, and makeups, there’s been a lot of drama to keep up with on The Summer I Turned Pretty. Thankfully, the stars are here to catch you up on everything that’s happened so far before the show returns for its third and final season this summer.

Prime Video’s TV adaptation of author Jenny Han’s beloved trilogy of novels follows the love triangle between Belly (Lola Tung), and the two Fisher brothers, Conrad (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno). The main trio has grown up together since their mothers are best friends, and they spend every summer at Susannah’s (Rachel Blanchard) beach house.

According to Briney, Belly has always had a “no-so-secret” unrequited crush on Conrad, and the series begins with her deciding to finally get closer to him. But since he’s acting moody and closed off, she has her first kiss with Cam Cameron (David Iacono) instead. And when Conrad, Jeremiah, and her older brother Steven (Sean Kaufman) crash her first date with Cam, things go from bad to worse.

The drama isn’t just about the love triangle, though! When Belly’s BFF Taylor (Rain Spencer) visits the Cousins Beach house for Belly’s birthday, she gets caught making out with Steven, resulting in a huge fight. Cam also starts to wonder if Belly has feelings for Jeremiah, and Tung believes that their relationship was always “platonic” but it’s started to grow into something more.

Meanwhile Belly discovers what is going to be become a very iconic piece of jewelry in Conrad’s room: the infinity necklace he bought for her birthday but never gave to her. She wonders why he would keep it a secret from her, but fans start to get a better understanding of what’s going on when Belly’s mom Laurel (Jackie Chung) discovers that Susannah has cancer, and doesn’t plan to fight it.

When Belly gets drunk during the Fourth of July, she finally opens up a little more to Conrad. They actually almost kiss, but Jeremiah interrupts them by shooting a firework at them. “He’s looking pretty jealous,” Tung says, and Briney adds, “Interrupted by attempted murder.”

Belly ends things with Cam Cameron, only to find out from Conrad that even though he thinks about her, he can’t be with her. Frustrated, she tells him she’s done waiting around for him. “Good for her,” Tung says. That opens the door for Jeremiah to confess his feelings for Belly, and they share a passionate kiss in the pool.

But things become more clear when Conrad admits he knows about his mother’s cancer, which is why he’s been struggling all summer and pushing everyone away. When he tries to make amends with Belly, it seems as if it’s too late. She chooses Jeremiah as her date to the debutante ball, but when he finds out about his mom’s cancer, he breaks down, leaving Belly all alone during her big moment at the ball.

Conrad, unaware that his brother just found out about Susannah, steps in to save Belly and dance with her. The brothers get into a big fight, and Casalegno says it was “fun” filming such an intense scene.

When Conrad finally comes clean to Belly about Susannah’s diagnosis, she finally understands why he’s pushed her away, and they kiss on the beach. The season ends with Belly making her choice between the brothers, but the story — and the love triangle — doesn’t end there.

Season 2 begins with a time jump and on a dark note, with Belly revealing that Susannah has passed away, and she and Conrad are no longer together. “Belly’s taking the loss pretty hard,” Tung says. “Her grades are slipping, she got kicked off the volleyball team.”

And the brothers’ relationship with each other has “unraveled,” according to Briney. But when Conrad goes missing, Belly and Jeremiah reunite to try to find him. After a long journey, they learn Conrad is at the Cousins Beach house, because he found out that Susannah’s sister Julia (Kyra Sedgewick) put it up for sale.

In flashbacks, we learn what happened to Belly and Conrad’s relationship. Despite trying to stay away from each other for Jeremiah’s sake, they can’t deny their feelings. They begin to date, and Belly loses her virginity to Conrad in a perfect winter night at the beach house (which is a major change from the books!).

In the present, Belly invites the boys’ cousin Skye (Elsie Fisher) out for a fun day on the boardwalk to help them all bond after years of estrangement. Steven and Taylor join the party, and almost kiss before they’re interrupted. Belly begins to realize that Jeremiah’s feelings for her are stronger than she ever thought. And Skye and Cam begin to grow closer.

When Julia sells the house, the teens decide to throw one last party — complete with booze from the liquor store (where one of the customers is actually author/showrunner Han!). At the party, Steven and Taylor almost kiss, but her boyfriend shows up and tries to fight Steven. It’s a very eventful night: Steven and Taylor kiss, Skye and Cam kiss, Belly and Jeremiah almost kiss, and Belly and Conrad fight about why their relationship ended.

After Belly drunk-dials her mom for help, Laurel saves the day. She arrives to the beach house, and after fighting with (and slapping) Belly, she decides to convince Julia to sell the house to the boys’ father instead. Then Belly, Jeremiah, and Steven help Conrad study for his final so he can successfully transfer to Stanford. Things seem to be looking up, but Conrad discovers Belly and Jeremiah making out after he finishes taking his test.

“He does not handle that too well,” Briney says with a smile. Smash cut to the most awkward car ride home, as Conrad pushes Jeremiah and Belly’s buttons in retaliation. The stars reveal Briney went a little “method” while filming those scenes — but they can laugh about it now.

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When a rainstorm strands them at a motel for the night, Conrad finally admits to Belly that he still wants to be with her. And Jeremiah says that he’ll step aside if that’s what she wants. But Belly decides to end the tumultuous roller coaster by choosing to be with Jeremiah instead. So Conrad takes back his previous confession, gives Belly the infinity necklace, and leaves so he can break down in private.

Season 2 ends with Jeremiah taking Belly to her volleyball camp, where she successfully convinces her coach to let her back on the team. They’re finally giving a relationship a real shot, as are Steven and Taylor. And Conrad’s left all alone. “But he’s got his house back,” Tung says. “And he’s working on himself.”

Now you’re all caught up in time for the final season, which premieres July 16 on Prime Video. For more on The Summer I Turned Pretty, check out EW’s full cover story.