Recap / The Summer I Turned Pretty S 01 E 03 Summer Nights

It's Belly's 16th birthday and Taylor comes to visit, which causes friction between the girls as Taylor is jealous of Belly and scared to lose her. Belly decides to go to a party at Nicole's after her birthday dinner and is celebrated by her deb sisters. Steven becomes insecure about the wealth disparity between him and Shayla. Laurel finds herself attracted to Cleveland Castillo and Susannah encourages a fling. Jeremiah gets jealous of Belly and Cam and reacts by teasing him. Conrad hurts Belly by pretending he forgot to get her a birthday present, and helps out Cleveland before an interview about his upcoming book.

Tropes

• Birthday Episode: It's Belly's sweet 16th, which she celebrates with a fancy lobster dinner provided by Susannah, and a party at her deb big sis Nicole's house.
• Chicks Before Dicks: When Taylor is leaving the day after Belly's birthday, Laurel encourages Belly to say goodbye to her, stating that a best friend is rare. Belly doesn't want to, but does it and they pseudo make up, with Belly saying she just needs some time to wrap her head around Steven/Taylor and the situation.
• Jealous Romantic Witness: Jeremiah has this quite a bit seeing Belly with Cam throughout the episode and reacts by putting Cam on the spot numerous times, at the birthday dinner, and starting a karaoke session of Summer Nights.
• Just Friends: Despite being a good sport about Jere's antics, Cam does see through it and asks Belly if she likes Jeremiah. Belly responds with this trope, additionally claiming that Jeremiah flirts with everyone.
• Leaning on the Fourth Wall: When Belly and Jeremiah drive to pick up Taylor, Jere notes that Belly doesn't seem that excited and she confesses that Taylor is usually the center of attention and she's off to the side, with Jeremiah assuring her that she's the main character. When Belly later catches Steven and Taylor making out, Steven runs out and Belly and Taylor fight. Ironically, Taylor tells Belly that she's not the main character and that there are other stories going on, revealing that she's always had a crush on Steven.
• My Sister Is Off-Limits: Belly is displeased after learning her best friend Taylor has been hooking up with her brother, though it's partly because he's dating Shayla.
• Queer Establishing Moment: Cleveland is mentioned to have written an article on his relationship with a man in the past. Laurel says he's gay, but Susannah replies she read it too and that he's bisexual. Susannah also asks if it's an issue for Laurel that Cleveland is bi, and she says of course it's not.
• Secretly Dying: After hints about Susannah's secret the past two episodes, it is revealed that Susannah had cancer three years prior (as seen quickly in the introductory flashbacks in the first episode) and it has returned. She doesn't want to go through treatment but spend one last summer happy with her family before telling her sons. Laurel tries to persuade Susannah to try alternative treatment, but she refuses.
• Wild Teen Party: The party at Nicole's, complete with railing surfing, karaoke, beer pong, and dramatic hookups.