When thinking about some of the biggest shows right now, The Summer I Turned Pretty instantly comes to mind. Sporting two seasons, with a third one already ordered, the Amazon Prime Video adaptation, based on the books by Jenny Han, follows the story of a teenager (Lola Tung) who's involved in a love triangle between two brothers who happen to both want her (Christopher Briney and Gavin Casalegno).
The series became a major hit for Prime Video when it first premiered and has only gotten bigger with Season 2. But, if you're looking for shows like The Summer I Turned Pretty, there are plenty of great romantic, coming-of-age stories that you can check out now.
Dawson's Creek (1998 - 2003)
The first show I think of in this category is Dawson's Creek. The series is named after the titular character, Dawson Leery, and follows a group of friends as they journey through their younger years and experience love, heartbreak, love triangles, grief, and so much more.
Dawson's Creek ran for six seasons and many great episodes and was created by the same person who made The Vampire Diaries, so you know that it will be full of drama and romance -- perfect for fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty. It was a huge show when it first came out, and is quite honestly, one of the most significant coming-of-age romance shows ever. The Dawson's Creek cast is also insanely talented.
Stream Dawson's Creek on Hulu.
The Sex Lives Of College Girls (2021 – Present)
In this dramedy created by Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble, The Sex Lives of College Girls is as outrageously hilarious as that title. It follows four young women who happen to be roommates starting out college, and follows their lives as they grow up, including their sexual endeavors, romantic relationships, and more.
While I do think that the content of The Sex Lives of College Girls is a bit more mature than The Summer I Turned Pretty, both deal with the idea of love at a younger age and what growing up in today’s world is like. Plus, The Sex Lives of College Girls cast is insanely talented and I assure you, you will laugh your butt off.
Stream The Sex Lives of College Girls on Max.
Emily In Paris (2020 – Present)
Have you ever dreamed about running away to Paris and starting a new life? Well, Emily in Paris is the answer to that dream. Starring Lily Collins in one of her best roles, the show (created by Darren Star) follows a young woman who gets the chance to go to Paris for her job as a replacement, and it turns her life upside down.
This is another case where the characters in this show are older than the ones in The Summer I Turned Pretty, but there’s something so similar about these two main characters where they are putting themselves out there in a new place where I can’t help but draw comparisons. Plus, an Emily in Paris Season 4 is on the way, so might as well catch up on all the drama.
Stream Emily in Paris on Netflix.
Dickinson (2019 - 2021)
The comedy-drama, Dickinson, is one of the best Apple TV+ shows and it stars Hailee Steinfeld. The series tells the story of Emily Dickinson and follows her relationships, her role in society, and more.
Love isn't the focus here. It's certainly in the background compared to everything else in Emily's life. but the series is great for those who want to see a young woman find herself. While different customs and time periods separate her and Belly, there's a solid commonality between these two characters – both want to be understood by their families and accepted as they are.
It's a great show and one I recommend to anyone who wants something new to watch after The Summer I Turned Pretty.
Stream Dickinson on Apple TV+.
One Tree Hill (2003 - 2012)
One Tree Hill is a famous CW show that goes everywhere at some points for the most ridiculous plotlines. Still, the two people we focus on at first are Lucas and Nathan, two sports stars and half-brothers, competing for a spot on their school's basketball team, and the drama from their romances – including dating the other's girlfriends.
This show is just completely out there sometimes with its story in the later seasons, but the first few are perfect for fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty. It captures that drama and romance I'm sure we all secretly crave, just in a more dramatic way.
On My Block (2018 – 2021)
This was a Netflix show that was cancelled way too soon. On My Block follows a group of friends who all attend Los Angeles, and while they grow up, they discover more of the world that is darker than what they ever experienced, going through social hardships, secretive betrayals, and more.
Okay, so On My Block is a lot darker than The Summer I Turned Pretty, but for some reason, I really like these two and compare them a lot. Both of them feature some great friendships that are super complex, and both feature situations that really force the characters to grow up quicker. I think I just like On My Block so much because it feels so real in comparison to many of the others on this list – and sometimes, you really need a show that speaks on these real-life issues so skillfully.
Stream On My Block on Netflix.
XO Kitty (2023 - Present)
Serving as a spinoff to the Netflix franchise, To All The Boys I've Loved Before, this series, called XO Kitty, follows Kitty in her adventures as she travels across the world to South Korea to see her long-distance boyfriend, but her trip ends up changing her life more than she thought it would.
Unlike many spinoffs, you don't need to have seen To All The Boys to enjoy it. Like The Summer I Turned Pretty, the series features an independent young woman on her journey to understand love and grow up, which is beautiful. Plus, you get to see a new country – South Korea. And, Jenny Han wrote both Pretty and To All The Boys, so I think it's a good fit.
Heartstopper (2022 – Present)
This is the teen dramedy that everyone needs to watch. Heartstopper is based on the graphic novel series of the same name and follows Charlie, a gay schoolboy who winds up falling for his classmate, Nick, when school begins, and we dig deeper into their relationship as time goes on.
With two seasons, I can’t rave enough about Heartstopper. Truly. I love this show with such a passion that I will literally get anyone to watch it. For fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty, it has plenty of the same type of love you would expect from younger couples, all the fumbling and awkwardness and everything else, but there’s so much more to this series, and I have to share plenty of love for it.
Stream Heartstopper on Netflix.
Ginny & Georgia (2021 - Present)
Totaling two seasons (and a third one on the way), Ginny & Georgia follows the titular characters, Ginny and her mother, Georgia, as they travel to a new town with her half-brother to settle down for good. But soon, demons from Georgia's past show up, and Ginny discovers that her mom isn't as perfect as she seems.
If you like Ginny & Georgia, this is what we know so far about Season 3.
Here's another excellent example of a TV series that only partially focuses on love. It's a big part of the show, and we even saw that in Season 2 of the series, but what makes it great is the dynamic between Ginny and her mother. I love watching their scenes together.
For fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty, you'll come for the romances and drama; trust me, there is plenty. But, you'll stay for the intriguing plot and the characters that always draw you in. If we're being truthful, you'll want a mom like Georgia by the time you're done with the series.
Stream Ginny & Georgia on Netflix.
Never Have I Ever (2020 - 2023)
Spanning four seasons, Never Have I Ever was co-created by Mindy Kaling and is loosely based on her childhood, as told through the eyes of Devi, a young, Indian-American girl who wants to change her social status in high school after her father's sudden death.
Never Have I Ever is the perfect show for fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty. There's romance, drama, hilarious scenes, and a great lead character. While the show only lasted four seasons, it told a complete and compelling story, and we all got to watch Devi grow into a beautiful young woman.
Stream Never Have I Ever on Netflix.
Grown-ish (2018 - Present)
Grown-ish is a spinoff of the popular sitcom, black-ish. The series mainly focuses on the children that were featured in Black-ish as they go to college and learn how to become an adult – and all the drama and hilarities that ensue from that.
If I’m being honest, I almost enjoy grown-ish more than black-ish because I connect more with the main characters as someone who just graduated from college three years ago. I understand all of the stresses, pain, and everything else – which is why I think it's perfect for fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty. There's love and romance, but the friendships and sweet moments make this a good pick.
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (2019 – 2023)
Lastly, we have to talk about High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. This Disney+ show follows the students who actually go to East High School where the High School Musical movies were filmed. And during the first season, they are filmed in a documentary style as they put on their high school musical – an actual musical version of High School Musical.
Yes, you read that right, and yes, the joke is just as meta as you would think it would be — and the comedy doesn’t stop there. This show is so funny so often that sometimes it almost feels unintentional. For fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty, you’ll love the cute romances and the evolving friendships, but you’ll stay for the musical numbers. Plus, you also get to see Olivia Rodrigo before she blows up to stardom – that’s always worth the time.
Stream High School Musical: The Musical: The Series on Disney+.
There are so many great TV shows you should check out once you finish up The Summer I Turned Pretty. I'm about to go and binge-watch them again just for fun. I need my romance fix until season 3 for this show comes around.
