In the beloved romantic drama franchise created by author Jenny Han, fans have long debated the ultimate question central to the story: who does belly end up with? Isabel “Belly” Conklin finds herself trapped in an emotional love triangle between two brothers, Conrad Fisher and Jeremiah Fisher, across three books and a massively popular Amazon Prime Video series adaptation. The captivating narrative follows Belly as she navigates growing up, loss, heartbreak, and first love during summers spent at Cousins Beach.
For readers and viewers seeking a direct answer, Belly Conklin ultimately ends up with Conrad Fisher. Although her journey involves deep romance and a full engagement with Jeremiah Fisher, Belly eventually realizes that her heart has always belonged to Conrad. After taking time away to grow independently, Belly reunites with Conrad years later and the two get married. Here is a detailed breakdown of how the love triangle unfolds, the climax of the story, and how Belly makes her final choice.
Quick Character & Series Overview
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Isabel “Belly” Conklin |
| Created By | Jenny Han |
| Book Trilogy | The Summer I Turned Pretty, It’s Not Summer Without You, We’ll Always Have Summer |
| TV Adaptation | The Summer I Turned Pretty (Amazon Prime Video) |
| Portrayed By | Lola Tung |
| Primary Love Interests | Conrad Fisher, Jeremiah Fisher |
| Final Romantic Partner | Conrad Fisher |
| Primary Setting | Cousins Beach |
Who Is Belly Conklin? Understanding the Character Arc
Isabel “Belly” Conklin is the protagonist of Jenny Han’s trilogy The Summer I Turned Pretty. Since early childhood, Belly has spent every summer at the seaside town of Cousins Beach along with her mother Laurel, her brother Steven, her mother’s best friend Susannah Fisher, and Susannah’s two sons, Conrad and Jeremiah.
For most of her upbringing, Belly felt invisible to the boys, who viewed her simply as a younger sister figure. However, during the summer she turns fifteen, everything changes. Belly matures physically and emotionally, catching the attention of both Fisher brothers. This dramatic shift sets off a multi-year emotional struggle that forms the core narrative of the entire series. Fans following entertainment updates regarding the TV series plot often analyze how her evolving character dynamics dictate her choice between safety and intense passion.
The Love Triangle Explained: Conrad Fisher vs. Jeremiah Fisher
The core tension of the story revolves around the drastically different relationships Belly shares with Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher. Understanding why the choice is so complex requires analyzing what each brother represents in Belly’s life.
Conrad Fisher: The First Love and Infinity
Conrad is the older Fisher brother and Belly’s lifelong crush. He is brooding, intense, intellectual, and often secretive about his true feelings. Despite his distant behavior—largely caused by dealing with his mother Susannah’s terminal cancer diagnosis—Conrad shares a deep, unbreakable connection with Belly, symbolized by the “infinity” necklace he gifts her.
Their relationship is marked by high emotional intensity. While Conrad often tries to push Belly away to protect her from his emotional burdens, his actions consistently reveal how deeply he cares for her. For Belly, Conrad represents an all-consuming, irreplaceable love.
Jeremiah Fisher: The Best Friend and Safe Haven
Jeremiah is the younger Fisher brother. He is golden-retriever-like, outgoing, fun-loving, and reliable. Initially Belly’s closest childhood playmate and confidant, Jeremiah’s romantic feelings for Belly surface during the summer she turns fifteen.
Unlike Conrad’s moodiness and emotional guard, Jeremiah offers openness, stability, and joy. When Belly and Conrad break up due to miscommunication and tragic circumstances, Jeremiah becomes her emotional anchor. Their bond eventually develops into a committed romantic relationship lasting over two years during their college years.
Who Does Belly End Up With in the Book Trilogy?
To fully comprehend how Belly ends up with Conrad, it is necessary to examine the events of the third book in the literary trilogy, We’ll Always Have Summer.
The Jeremiah Wedding Debacle
In the final book, Belly and Jeremiah have been dating for two years at Finch College. However, their relationship hits a massive crisis when Belly discovers that Jeremiah slept with another girl, Lacie Barone, during a brief fraternity trip breakup in Cabo. Devastated but desperate to save the relationship and prove their commitment, Jeremiah proposes to Belly.
Belly accepts the proposal despite her family’s strong resistance, particularly from her mother Laurel, who feels Belly is far too young and rushing into marriage for the wrong reasons. The couple plans a wedding at the Cousins Beach house over the summer.
Conrad’s Confession and the Broken Engagement
As the wedding approaches, Conrad is also living at the Cousins Beach house. Witnessing Belly prepare to marry his brother forces Conrad to confront his unresolved feelings. On the night before the wedding, Conrad finally admits to Belly that he still loves her and begs her not to marry Jeremiah.
This confession forces Belly to acknowledge the painful truth: she never truly stopped loving Conrad. Jeremiah realizes that Belly will always hold a piece of her heart reserved exclusively for Conrad. Recognizing that their marriage would start on an unstable foundation, Jeremiah and Belly call off the wedding in a mutual, tearful split.
Belly’s Journey to Self-Discovery in Spain
Following the canceled wedding, Belly makes a pivotal decision not to rush immediately into a relationship with either brother. Instead, she chooses to focus on her own personal growth and independence. Belly moves abroad to study in Spain during her junior year of college.
During her time away, Belly grows into an independent young woman, gaining distance from the drama of Cousins Beach. Meanwhile, Conrad begins writing her handwritten letters while she is in Spain. Though Belly rarely writes back initially, these letters keep the subtle flame of their romance alive without any pressure.
The Reunion and Marriage to Conrad
Years after college graduation, when Belly is 23 years old, she and Conrad reconnect naturally. Having both grown up, overcome grief, and matured into self-aware adults, they are finally ready for a healthy, fully realized relationship.
The trilogy concludes with Belly and Conrad getting married at Cousins Beach, surrounded by loved ones. In the final scene of the books, Belly runs into the ocean in her wedding dress alongside Conrad, confirming that Conrad was always her ultimate soulmate.
Who Does Belly End Up With in the Amazon Prime Series?
The screen adaptation on Amazon Prime Video, created and showrun by author Jenny Han herself, stays largely faithful to the emotional arc of the source material while expanding side plots and modernizing character interactions.
Season 1 and Season 2 Summary
In Season 1, Belly navigates her initial attraction to Conrad and brief romance with Jeremiah, ultimately sharing a romantic kiss with Conrad on the beach at the end of the season. Season 2 shifts into heavier drama following Susannah’s death. Belly and Conrad attempt a relationship, but miscommunications and grief lead to a breakup at prom. By the end of Season 2, Belly chooses to pursue a relationship with Jeremiah, leaving Conrad heartbroken as he steps back to allow them to be happy.
Season 3 and Beyond
Because the television adaptation follows the narrative framework of We’ll Always Have Summer, the television storyline leads toward the same ultimate destination. Despite modifications made for modern audiences, the overarching story arc created by Jenny Han culminates in Belly’s realization that her bond with Conrad is endures through all challenges. As discussions surrounding pop culture trends and celebrity relationships continue to spark online debates about fictional tropes, Belly’s journey remains a quintessential example of the “first love vs. comfortable love” trope.
Detailed Comparison: Team Conrad vs. Team Jeremiah
| Factor | Conrad Fisher | Jeremiah Fisher |
|---|---|---|
| Core Dynamic | Deep passion, emotional intensity, soulmate energy | Best-friend intimacy, comfort, playfulness |
| Symbolic Token | The Infinity Necklace | |
| Key Relationship Flaw | Emotional distance, hiding internal pain | Impulsiveness, insecurity regarding Conrad |
| Relationship Duration | On-and-off across high school, ultimately permanent | 2 years during college years |
| Final Outcome | Married to Belly at age 23 | Remains a close family friend after healing |
Why Belly Ultimately Chose Conrad: Emotional Analysis
The choice between Conrad and Jeremiah represents a classic thematic dilemma in coming-of-age literature: choosing between a passionate, transformative love and a comfortable, safe companionship.
- The Concept of “Infinity”: From childhood, Belly associated Conrad with the concept of infinity—a love without limits or end. This emotional foundation meant that no matter how hard she tried to love Jeremiah, her feelings for Conrad were embedded in her identity.
- Emotional Growth and Timing: In their teenage years, Conrad lacked the emotional maturity to express his feelings healthily, causing Belly distress. However, once Conrad matured and learned to communicate, the primary barrier between them was eliminated.
- Authenticity Over Comfort: Marrying Jeremiah was, in many ways, an attempt by Belly to maintain a connection to Cousins Beach and Susannah’s memory in a safe manner. Realizing that marrying Jeremiah was unfair to him forced her to choose authenticity over convenience.
Key Differences Between the Books and the Screen Adaptation
While the final endgame—Belly ending up with Conrad—remains consistent, Jenny Han made several strategic additions to the television series to enhance the narrative depth:
- Expanded Character Perspectives: The show gives Jeremiah and Conrad individual storylines and point-of-view episodes, making Jeremiah’s emotional struggle more sympathetic and fleshed out than in the early books.
- Modern Communication: The television series incorporates modern social dynamics, cell phones, and revised music choices to emphasize pivotal emotional beats.
- Inclusion of Diversity and Supporting Cast Plots: Characters like Steven, Taylor, and Cam Cameron receive expanded backstories, creating a richer world around Belly’s central dilemma.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does Belly end up with in the end?
Belly ends up with Conrad Fisher. After calling off her wedding to Jeremiah and spending time studying abroad in Spain, Belly reconnects with Conrad years later. The two eventually marry at Cousins Beach when Belly is 23 years old.
Does Belly marry Jeremiah in the books?
No, Belly does not marry Jeremiah. Although they get engaged during their college years and plan a full wedding, the engagement is called off right before the ceremony after both realize Belly still loves Conrad and that their marriage would not work long-term.
Why did Belly and Jeremiah break up?
Belly and Jeremiah broke up after a series of trust issues, including Jeremiah sleeping with another girl during a brief separation in Cabo. Although they tried to move past it by getting engaged, Conrad’s sudden love confession forced Belly and Jeremiah to admit that her heart still belonged to Conrad.
What happens to Jeremiah at the end of the story?
After the broken engagement, Jeremiah moves on with his life. While the initial breakup causes significant tension between the brothers, Jeremiah eventually forgives Conrad and Belly. He attends Belly and Conrad’s wedding years later with a new date, remaining on good terms with the family.
How old is Belly when she marries Conrad?
Belly is 23 years old when she gets married to Conrad Fisher. The wedding takes place several years after she finishes college and completes her study-abroad program in Spain.
What does the infinity necklace signify in the series?
The infinity necklace given to Belly by Conrad symbolizes their permanent, everlasting connection. Even when they are separated or dating other people, the necklace represents the idea that their love has no boundaries or end point.
Does Belly date anyone else besides Conrad and Jeremiah?
Yes, early in the series, Belly briefly dates a boy named Cam (often called “Cam Cameron”). However, that relationship ends quickly when Belly realizes her feelings for the Fisher brothers are too overwhelming to ignore.
Conclusion
The question of who does belly end up with lies at the emotional heart of The Summer I Turned Pretty. While Belly’s romantic journey involves profound growth, heartbreak, and a lengthy relationship with Jeremiah, her ultimate destiny is with Conrad Fisher. By allowing herself time to grow independently abroad before reuniting with Conrad, Belly ensures that her final choice is rooted in maturity, forgiveness, and true everlasting love at Cousins Beach.
