TSITP S3 E5: Has Belly Finally Made The Final Choice 2025?

Introduction: The Choice We've All Been Waiting For

The salt-tinged air of Cousins Beach feels a million miles away, but the emotional turmoil of The Summer I Turned Pretty is set to return with a vengeance in 2025. After a gut-wrenching Season 2 finale that saw Isabel "Belly" Conklin make a definitive choice—or so we thought—all eyes are on Season 3. The ultimate question that has fueled countless debates, TikTok edits, and late-night discussions looms larger than ever: Who does Belly truly belong with? As we look ahead to the highly anticipated third season, one episode stands out as a potential turning point: Episode 5. Will this be the moment Belly finally, irrevocably, makes her final choice?

We're diving deep into the evidence, the book lore, and the dramatic potential to predict what will unfold in what might be the most pivotal episode of the entire series. Grab your pomegranate margarita, because things are about to get complicated.

Recap: The Heartbreak and Hope Leading to Season 3

To understand where we're going, we must remember where we've been. Season 2 was a rollercoaster of grief, nostalgia, and heart-shattering decisions. After losing Susannah, the Fisher brothers and Belly were adrift. Conrad, consumed by his pain and anxiety, pushed Belly away, leading to their messy breakup. Jeremiah, ever the supportive friend, stepped up, offering Belly the comfort and stability she craved.

The season culminated in a now-infamous motel scene. Conrad, finally ready to fight for Belly, laid his heart on the line, only to find she had already moved on. In the final moments, Belly chose Jeremiah, sharing a kiss with him as a broken-hearted Conrad watched from a distance. She chose the boy who was present, the boy who made her feel cherished in the moment. But as any fan knows, the story of Belly and the Fisher brothers is never that simple. The ghost of her connection with Conrad—that deep, earth-shattering, infinite love—is a shadow that will surely follow her to Finch University and beyond.

The State of Play: What to Expect in S3 E5

Season 3, Episode 5 will likely serve as the mid-season climax. The first four episodes will establish the new normal: Belly and Jeremiah navigating their relationship as a real couple at college. We can expect to see them happy, attending parties, and trying to build a future. However, the foundation of this relationship is fragile, built on the ashes of Belly and Conrad's past.

Conrad will also be at Finch, a constant, unavoidable presence. We'll likely see a more mature Conrad, one who is actively working on his mental health and learning to communicate. This growth will make him an even more compelling figure, not just a ghost of what-if, but a tangible possibility. Episode 5 is strategically placed to shatter this fragile peace. Mid-season is the perfect time for a dramatic catalyst—an event that forces Belly to confront the feelings she has desperately tried to bury.

The Case for Team Conrad: An Infinite Connection

For Team Conrad, the argument has always been about destiny. Theirs is a love story written in the stars, symbolized by the infinity necklace. It's messy, painful, and often frustrating, but it's also profound and undeniable.

The Weight of History

Belly has loved Conrad since she was ten. He is her first love, her first heartbreak, and the one who has always seen the real her, even when she couldn't see it herself. The show has masterfully woven this history into every shared glance and whispered secret. While Conrad's inability to communicate his feelings has been his downfall, it stems from a place of deep love and a desire to protect Belly from his own darkness. Season 3 will be his chance to prove he's overcome that, to finally be the man she's always needed him to be.

Book Spoilers and On-Screen Clues

For those who have read Jenny Han's third book, We'll Always Have Summer, the endgame has always been clear. While the show has made significant changes, it has remained faithful to the emotional core of the books. Key plot points, like Conrad's heartfelt letters to Belly, are powerful tools that the showrunners would be foolish to ignore. We predict that by Episode 5, a major piece of Conrad's emotional puzzle—perhaps a confession or a gesture that echoes the book's climax—will be revealed, forcing Belly to re-evaluate everything.

The Case for Team Jeremiah: The Sunshine Boy's Stand

Team Jeremiah champions a love that is chosen, not fated. It's a love built on friendship, support, and the conscious decision to show up for each other every single day. The show has done a remarkable job of fleshing out Jeremiah's character, making him a genuinely viable and compelling choice.

Stability and Presence

Jeremiah is the sunshine to Conrad's storm. He's the one who stayed by Belly's side, who made her laugh when she wanted to cry, and who never made her guess his feelings. He offers a relationship based on open communication and mutual joy. At the end of Season 2, Belly chose this. She chose to be happy, to be cherished, and to leave the pain of Conrad's push-and-pull behind. For many, this is the healthier, more mature choice.

Is He Really the 'Safe' Choice?

Calling Jeremiah the 'safe' choice does him a disservice. He's passionate, loyal, and his love for Belly is just as deep as his brother's, albeit expressed differently. His greatest fear is being second best, a wound that Conrad has inflicted time and again. His fight for Belly is a fight for his own heart to be seen as worthy. A choice for Jeremiah isn't settling; it's choosing a different, and arguably brighter, kind of future.

Conrad vs. Jeremiah: A Side-by-Side Breakdown

Our Prediction: The Mid-Season Twist of 2025

So, will Belly make her final choice in S3 E5? No. But she will realize what her final choice must be.

Episode 5 will not end with Belly declaring her love for one brother over the other. Instead, it will end on a monumental cliffhanger. We predict a crisis or a moment of intense emotional vulnerability will strip away all pretenses. Perhaps it's a health scare, a family emergency related to the beach house, or Conrad finally breaking down and revealing the depth of his regret and love for her in a way she cannot ignore.

In this moment, Belly's carefully constructed world with Jeremiah will fracture. She will see with absolute clarity that her heart, despite her best efforts, is still tied to Conrad. The episode will end with this devastating realization dawning on her face, leaving her—and the audience—to grapple with the impossible fallout. She won't have said the words, but her choice will have been made internally. This sets the stage for the second half of the season: Belly must now find the courage to act on this truth, knowing it will shatter the boy who has been her rock.

Conclusion: The Choice That Changes Everything

While The Summer I Turned Pretty S3 E5 may not feature the final, spoken choice, it will be the episode where the endgame truly begins. It will be the emotional climax that re-aligns the narrative and forces Belly to move towards her ultimate destiny, for better or for worse. The choice isn't just about picking a boy; it's about Belly deciding what kind of woman she wants to be and what kind of love she wants for her life—the steady comfort of the sun or the undeniable pull of the moon and stars. One thing is for certain: after Episode 5 airs in 2025, the Team Conrad vs. Team Jeremiah debate will be more intense than ever before.