15 TV Shows like The Summer I Turned Pretty
Lee
A connoisseur of 80's action films like 300, Predator, and Terminator, Lee blends his extensive movie knowledge with adeptness at streaming shows worldwide. His love for cinema permeates his lifestyle, from attending Comic Con to sporting Star Wars socks.
I think we can all agree that being stuck in a love triangle is far from ideal… but somehow, the popular TV show The Summer I Turned Pretty has made love triangles seem fun.
The show is incredibly light-hearted and is something that most people will be able to enjoy without having to overthink it. Vanity Fair called it “Wistful fantasy for the whole family.”
However, if you’ve binged your way through the TV show, you’re probably sitting there wondering what you can watch next.
Luckily, I’ve got a solution for you.
Below are 15 shows that you can fill the void until another season of The Summer I Turned Pretty comes out.
Work your way through the list and let us know in the comments which one is your favourite.
Never Have I Ever
After her father passed away, Devi had much to live up to. Her strict Indian mother has exceptionally high expectations for her, but Devi has other plans. Like most high school girls, she’s got her eye on a few guys, and her hormones are getting the best of her.
Will she manage to keep her newfound romances a secret from her Indian family? You’ll have to watch the show to find out.
Oh, and did I mention her life is narrated by John McEnroe?
Starring in the popular Netflix show is Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, who’s best known for Turning Red, Acting For A Cause, and My Little Pony: Tell Your Tale. She’s joined by Poorna Jagannathan, Darren Barnet, and John McEnroe.
Everything Sucks
This show is set in the 1990s and follows a group of outcasts attending Boring High School’s AV and drama clubs. Together, they have to face the ups and downs of teenage life without smartphones, the internet, and social media… simpler times, eh?
In a bid to make themselves “cool”, a group of nerds decide to make a movie, all while dealing with the regular romance issues teenagers have to cope with.
Even though the show is set in a different era, you’ll find similarities to The Summer I Turned Pretty. It’ll keep you busy for a few hours while binge-watching it.
Beaver Falls
Beaver Falls is a hilarious British TV show that first aired on E4. While there are only two seasons of the show, it’s definitely worth a watch and will fill the hole The Summer I Turned Pretty has left.
The show follows three British students who travel to the USA to spend the summer working at a summer camp. While there, they soon find out they must put the work in or they’ll be thrown off campus.
Starring in the show is Samuel Robertson, who’s known for Coronation Street, Dementamania, Perfect Sisters, and Bedlam. He is joined by Arsher Ali, John Dagleish, Todd Boyce, and Kristen Gutoskie (my teenage crush).
To All The Boys
OK, I’m cheating a little on this one… but hear me out.
Based on the Jenny Han novels, this movie series spans three movies and has a spin-off TV show.
Without spoiling the show, I can tell you it follows a teenage girl whose secret love letters are exposed, and it threatens to destroy her love life.
It definitely feels like The Summer I Turned Pretty and has a light “summery” feel to it. I’m sure once you start with this one, you won’t be able to get enough.
It stars Lana Condor, known for her roles in X-Men: Apocalypse and Alita: Battle Angel, along with Noah Centineo and Janel Parrish.
Outer Banks
The Outer Banks is an interesting teen summer adventure which combines a great storyline with a hint of mystery.
When John convinces his friends to join him on a treasure hunt, they discover more than they bargained for. The teens find love, face off against hate, and develop new friendships.
While the show is different to The Summer I Turned Pretty; it does have a similar feel to it; it’s set during the summer and covers a mystery… just like Laurel and Susannah’s secret (if you know, you know).
The show stars Chase Stokes, known for his roles in Stranger Things, Base, Lost Island, Tell Me Your Secrets, and The First.
The O.C.
The O.C. will give you some early 2000s nostalgia, taking you back to your high school days. It follows Ryan Atwood, who has been adopted from a poor broken home and is placed into the upper-class Orange County community… talk about landing on your feet.
However, navigating The O.C. isn’t as easy as you’d think; it’s a world of shifting loyalties where you can be up one day and down the next.
The show is similar to The Summer I Turned Pretty as it’s a dramatisation of our teenage years, and while it might be full of drama, it’s an easy-to-watch TV show.
It stars Mischa Barton, Ben McKenzie, Rachel Bilson, and Adam Brody.
Derry Girls
Firstly, Derry Girls is an absolute delight to watch. It’s basically an Irish version of The Inbetweeners (which is one of TV’s greatest comedy shows).
The show follows a group of teenage Catholic girls trying to find themselves in 1980s Northern Ireland at the peak of the troubles.
The Guardian called the show a “modern classic” and gave the show’s final season 4/5 stars.
If you’ve been looking for something to keep you entertained while The Summer I Turned Pretty is away, this is the show for you.
Skins (UK)
OK, hear me out on this one.
Skins (UK) is well known for covering controversial topics such as substance abuse, sexuality, teenage pregnancy, mental illness, and other disorders… which might seem like a far cry from The Summer I Turned Pretty.
However, both shows follow the lives of teenagers and share some common ground.
The show follows a group of British teens trying to discover who they are while pressured by modern-day social norms and expectations.
The show stars Nicholas Hoult, Joe Cole, Hannah Murray, and Kaya Scodelario. The cast changes every two seasons to simulate the characters finishing school, and it works pretty well if you ask me.
Atypical
This comedy follows an autistic teenager, Sam, who’s decided he’s ready to find love. But, to be able to start dating, he needs to be more independent, which is difficult for his mother to accept.
It’s a heartfelt TV show that’ll make you laugh and cry, but you’ll love it.
The show stars Keir Gilchrist, best known for Dead Silence, It Follows, The Rocker, and It’s Kind Of A Funny Story.
Sex Lives Of College Girls
Sex Lives Of College Girls follows four 18-year-old freshmen roomies who have to deal with love, lust, and hormones while trying to pass their courses… it’s a pretty tough deal they’ve got.
The TV show has proved extremely popular with audiences and will no doubt continue for many seasons, especially as new characters are being introduced.
The show is light-hearted and will make you laugh; it’ll certainly fill the void The Summer I Turned Pretty has left in your heart.
It stars Pauline Chalamet, Amrit Kaur, and Renee Rap.
Lizzie McGuire
Clumsy middle school student Lizzie McGuire struggles to get through the usual teenage issues. It’s a light-hearted comedy which is suitable for the entire family. There is even a Lizzie McGuire movie for you to sink your teeth into.
The show stars Hilary Duff, best known for A Cinderella Story, The Perfect Man, Raise Your Voice, and How I Met Your Father.
Once you start this one, I’m sure you’ll put The Summer I Turned Pretty to the back of your mind.
Clarissa Explains It All
This TV show is a massive throwback to the early 90s when life seemed simpler.
In this Nickelodeon show, Clarissa (Melissa Joan Hart) uses her sarcasm and wit to tell stories while explaining her point of view on why people do the things they do.
This coming-of-age show is a classic, and if you missed it the first time, it’s well worth revisiting. It follows similar themes to The Summer I Turned Pretty, so I’m sure you’ll love it.
It stars Melissa Joan Hart ‘aka’ Sabrina The Teenage Witch; she’s also known for starring in Drive Me Crazy, God’s Not Dead 2, Just Shoot Me, Love American Style, Backflash, and North Shore.
Sex Education
This TV show is one of Netflix’s biggest teen TV offerings, which says a lot for the show considering Netflix bring out a tonne of teen shows each year.
The series follows Otis, a son of a sex therapist who decides to open his own underground sex therapy clinic. Pretty risqué for a teen, but it doesn’t take long for him to develop a reputation.
While Sex Education might seem more “adult” than The Summer I Turned Pretty, they have some similar aspects. Both stories are about teenagers trying to figure out who they are, which appears to be something we love to watch on our TVs.
It stars Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson, Emma Mackey, and Ncuti Gatwa.
The Wilds
The Wilds takes a slightly more sinister tone than The Summer I Turned Pretty, but once you watch the show, I think you’ll agree the shows share some similar themes.
A group of girls from a vast range of backgrounds find themselves stranded on a remote island where they must learn to work together to survive. However, they don’t know that the entire situation is orchestrated and part of an elaborate social experiment.
Think of this show as The Summer I Turned Pretty with a Lord Of The Flies vibe.
Love, Victor
Based on the movie Love, Simon, this TV show follows a closeted gay teenager forced to come out after being blackmailed.
Victor is pushed onto a path of self-discovery as he faces the ups and downs of exploring his sexuality while attending high school.
While the show touches on some important points, it does so with a mix of drama, romance, and comedy. It’s an excellent show to keep you entertained between The Summer I Turned Pretty seasons.
It stars Michael Cimino, best known for his roles in Senior Year, Annabelle Comes Home, Black box, Jane Anonymous, and Centurion XII. He is joined by Bebe Wood, Rachel Hilson, and Anthony Turpel.
