Series similar to The Summer I Turned Pretty
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’d know that The Summer I Turned Pretty – often shortened to TSITP – has been the obsession since 2022. Chances are, your friends and even your neighbour’s mum have binged the teen romance series on video streaming service Amazon Prime Video.
Now that the series has wrapped up, many of you must be craving something else to fill the void. That’s why we’ve rounded up a list of TV series that are just like TSITP that’ll hit you right in your feels.
Table of Contents
What do people love about The Summer I Turned Pretty?
Image credit: IMDb
In the early 2010s, there was the iconic love triangle trope, #TeamEdward vs #TeamJacob, during the height of the Twilight franchise. With The Summer I Turned Pretty, the stakes are even higher with #TeamConrad and #TeamJeremiah – brothers who just have to compete for the female lead’s heart. Add on the intertwined relationship that both families have with one another, and you’ve got enough drama to last a hundred summers.
Of course, there’s also the classic American high school/college aspect. It’s a little cheesy, and naysayers may even call it cringe or unrealistic, but everyone has that one guilty pleasure series they just can’t stop watching.
For the sake of keeping things fresh, we’ll skip mentioning popular Netflix shows like To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before and The Kissing Booth, which have similar love triangle themes.
1. My Life with the Walter Boys
Love triangle between the protagonist & 2 brothers
Image credit: IMDb
Just like The Summer I Turned Pretty’s female lead, Belly, the protagonist of this show, Jackie, is caught between 2 brothers, Cole and Alex Walter. My Life with the Walter Boys follows Jackie’s journey after a personal tragedy forces her to move from New York City to Colorado – a classic fish-out-of-water scenario.
Noah Lalonde (left) as Cole Walter and Ashby Gentry (right) as Alex Walter.
Image adapted from: IMDb
Jackie ends up staying with her late mother’s friend, Katherine Walter, and her family, including mysterious former quarterback Cole Walter and shy, nerdy Alex Walter. Both brothers are quickly charmed by the new girl in their home, leaving Jackie to decide where her heart lies.
The similarities don’t just stop there – My Life with the Walter Boys was also adapted from a book series, just like The Summer I Turned Pretty.
Fun fact: Ali Novak, the author, wrote the story when she was 15 and initially published it on Wattpad.
Watch My Life with the Walter Boys on Netflix.
2. XO, Kitty
Sequel to a famous Netflix teen romance
Image credit: IMDb
XO, Kitty is the sequel To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before movie franchise – the Netflix adaptation of Jenny Han’s books that walked so TSITP could run. It stars Kitty Song-Covey, who goes full Elle Woods and applies to the Korean Independent School of Seoul, AKA KISS, to be with her long-distance boyfriend, Dae.
Things get complicated when Kitty finally arrives at KISS – she gets caught off-guard when she’s introduced to Dae’s girlfriend, Yuri. The plot unravels as Kitty adapts to life in a new country, grapples with revelations about her identity, and finds a new purpose for herself.
Image credit: IMDb
Kitty, in fact, has 3 love interests in the series. Along with Dae, she gets romantically entangled with Yuri – after the truth of her situation with Dae comes to light – and certified nepo baby, Min Ho. No spoilers, but the situation gets absolutely messy.
Watch XO, Kitty on Netflix.
3. Maxton Hall
Steamy romance between a socialite & a scholarship student
Image credit: IMDb
Maxton Hall is like the lovechild of Gossip Girl and Bridgerton, but German. Picture unimaginably rich socialites, beautiful European architecture, and a steamy romance at its centre.
The show follows Ruby Bell, a scholarship student at Maxton Hall – a college run by descendants of elite families. She gets caught in James Beaufort’s web for daring to defy him, and that tension quickly simmers into attraction. It’s the classic star-crossed love story between 2 people from different worlds.
Catch up on Season 1 before the premiere of Season 2 on 7th November 2025.
Watch Maxton Hall on Amazon Prime Video.
4. We Were Liars
Mystery drama set during a pivotal summer
Image credit: IMDb
If you’ve been on Booktok for the last 5 years, you’ve probably heard of We Were Liars. The book went viral on TikTok and gained a surge in popularity, so of course, a TV adaptation had to follow.
The story is set in the Sinclair family’s Beechwood Island during Summer 16 – the one when the oldest grandkids turn 16 years old. Things take a dark turn when Cadence “Cady” Sinclair ends up washed up on the beach, alone and left to uncover what happened to land her there in the first place.
Oh, there’s also summer romance with Gat Patil, her aunt’s partner’s nephew. But don’t let that fool you, this show is gut-wrenching – fans of the book will know what we’re talking about.
Watch We Were Liars on Amazon Prime Video.
5. Never Have I Ever
Coming-of-age teen comedy, with a central love triangle
Jaron Lewison (left) as Ben, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (middle) as Devi, and Darren Barnet (right) as Paxton.
Image credit: IMDb
For something more light-hearted, there’s Netflix’s Never Have I Ever. Devi Vishwakumar is determined to leave her nerdy persona behind and pursue romantic relationships, which is easier said than done when you’ve got a strict Desi household watching your every move.
As a character, Devi embodies the messiness and awkwardness of being a teenager. She makes questionable decisions, but it makes her relatable, and we love her for it.
Throughout the show, Devi has multiple love interests, like Nirdesh “Des” in Season 3 and Ethan Morales in Season 4. But the main love triangle involves popular athlete Paxton and Devi’s academic rival, Ben.
Image credit: IMDb
But beyond all the humour and drama, there’s a lot of heart too. The show has been praised for how it tackles grief and the complexities of growing up as an Indian-American. It also portrays a strong female friendship between Devi and her 2 best friends.
Watch Never Have I Ever on Netflix.
6. Ginny & Georgia
High-stakes drama with a heartfelt mother-daughter duo
Image credit: IMDb
Ginny & Georgia is definitely one of those classic guilty-pleasure shows you can’t help but get sucked into. The melodrama runs deep – by Season 3, it’s basically turned into a courtroom drama. But at the heart of the story is the bond between Georgia and her daughter Ginny, whom she had when she was just 15.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a romance drama without messy love lives. On Ginny’s side, there’s her romance with bad boy Marcus. But the real tangle comes from Georgia herself – between her husband Paul, Ginny’s dad Zion, and Austin’s dad Gil, her love life is basically a full-on soap opera.
Image credit: IMDb
They aren’t the only men in Georgia’s life. Another piece in this puzzle comes in the form of Joe, a childhood friend of Georgia’s, whom she reconnects with later in life. So if your idea of a good binge is non-stop drama with a side of heartfelt mother-daughter moments, this might be the show for you.
Watch Ginny & Georgia on Netflix.
7. Outer Banks
Summer teen drama meets action adventure
Image credit: @obx via Instagram
Outer Banks has all the makings of a great summer teen drama: strong friendships, relationship drama, and beach holiday vibes thanks to its coastal town setting. But what sets it apart is the mystery that drives the story.
It’s the Kooks – the rich kids – vs the Pogues – the working class crew – and right in the middle is John B, leader of the Pogues. When his dad sets a treasure hunt into motion, the gang is pulled into an adventure full of secrets, danger, and enough twists to keep you glued to your screen.
Image credit: IMDb
And when you’ve got a group of teenagers, the relationship drama is inevitable. Different members of the Pogues are wrapped in their own romantic entanglements, but the main ship of the show is the lead couple, Sarah and John B, made all juicier by Sarah’s lingering ties to Topper, the king of the Kooks.
What’s more, the actors Madelyn Cline, who plays Sarah, and Chase Stokes, who plays John B, briefly dated IRL. Nothing like a showmance to make the on-screen drama spicier.
Watch Outer Banks on Netflix.
8. The Runarounds
Featuring a cast with actual musical talent
Image credit: IMDb
The Runarounds is a new show on Amazon Prime Video which follows a group of guys who start a rock band right after graduating high school. The first season covers the struggles of them trying to make their dreams a reality.
It’s from the same guys who created Outer Banks, so if you love that, you’ll definitely want to check this one out. Bonus: the cast aren’t just acting – they can actually play instruments, which means the show comes with a legit soundtrack you can also find on Spotify.
If it’s romance that you’re looking for, lead singer Charlie and Sophia grow closer over their shared love for songwriting, so you’ll get a dose of swoon along with the rock ‘n’ roll.
Watch The Runarounds on Amazon Prime Video.
9. Surviving Summer
Rebellious teen spends a summer in Australia
Image credit: IMDb
Surviving Summer follows a rebellious American teen, Summer, who goes to stay with family friends in Australia after a rough streak. No surprises here – she ends up falling in love in more ways than one.
This show has all the summer vibes – competitive surfing, treacherous tides, and that quintessential small coastal town setting.
Better yet, the series is already complete, so you can binge through it all in one sitting. Don’t worry – there’s no cliffhanger and most of the plotlines get resolved by the end.
Watch Surviving Summer on Netflix.
Find a new series to binge after The Summer I Turned Pretty
Cheesy as they may be, these shows will always have a special place in our hearts. There’s a reason why they stay so popular – sometimes, nothing beats a good guilty pleasure binge at the end of a long day.
More popular series & their related news:
Cover image adapted from: @obx via Instagram, IMDb