As The Summer I Turned Pretty‘s third and final season airs new episodes each week, fans who haven’t read Jenny Han’s beloved book series, which inspired the show, are likely wondering which endgames we might be building to.
When speaking with EW ahead of TSITP‘s Season 3 premiere, Han explained, “There are definitely changes… There are surprises. And there are things that aren’t exactly like the books.” So even fans who’ve read the series front to back will have to tune in to see how the final chapter unfolds on-screen. That said, the books definitely give fans some sort of baseline for Season 3 predictions, so let’s take a look, shall we?
We already broke down who does Belly end up with in The Summer I Turned Pretty Book 3, It’s Not Summer Without You. So next up? Who does Steven end up with in The Summer I Turned Pretty books? And who do we think Steven will end up with in The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3?
Does Steven end the series alone? Will he explore a new romance with a co-worker? Or will he get back together with his fan-favorite ex, Taylor? Ultimately, we’ll have to wait and watch The Summer I Turned Pretty‘s Season 3 finale on September 17 to learn how the series ends. But while we wait, if you’re wondering who Steven might end up with on TSITP show based on his endgame in the books, we’ve got you covered.
If you are looking to read all three The Summer I Turned Pretty books in Jenny Han’s series ahead of the Season 3 finale, here’s the order you need to read in:
Otherwise, read on for book spoilers.
For those who haven’t read The Summer I Turned Pretty books, several characters — including Steven and Taylor — didn’t have super strong presences in the text, so when it came time to write the Prime Video series and flesh out that world, Jenny Han decided to thoroughly expand their storylines.
If you’re turning to TSITP books in hopes of figuring out Steven’s endgame on the series, you’re out of luck. Steven and Taylor weren’t a major item in the book, nor was he in the text enough for readers to follow any significant romantic relationships of his. So even fans of TSITP book series will be on the edge of their seats waiting to see what surprises Season 3 has in store for Steven. That said, here are some possible Season 3 scenarios for Steven.
Before we dive into Steven’s possible endgames, four episodes into the final season he’s currently single, so there’s always a chance that he ends the season on his own. However, this is Jenny Han we’re talking about! Queen of young love! So we assume and hope that Steven finds lasting love at the end of the series, too!
In Season 1, Steven dated Shayla (Minnie Mills) for a summer, but by Season 2, they were broken up. In Season 3, some fans are wondering if Steven’s growing friendship with Breaker Capital co-worker Denise (Isabella Briggs) might turn into a romance. But I, and many others, are hoping that Steven and his ex Taylor are endgame.
Steven and Taylor had an epic romance in The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2, so fans hoped they’d still be together post-time jump. In a twist, Season 3 introduced them cheating on their respective significant others while in a no strings attached-type affair with each other. After a big Staylor fight led to a car accident that landed Steven in the hospital in Episode 302, Taylor and Steven called it quits for real and have been separated ever since.
That said, the two have so much history together and clearly still have feelings for one another. Though Taylor is pushing Steven away as she deals with her mom’s finances, he still cares deeply about her. And since Taylor is Belly’s best friend, we know that she and Steven will have their fair share of future run-ins — especially as the wedding approaches.
Ultimately, we’ll have to wait and see what Jenny has in mind for Steven endgame-wise, but if you need me, I’ll be shipping Staylor (in an exclusive relationship, not whatever they were doing earlier this season) until the end of time.
New episodes of The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 premiere Wednesdays at 3:00 a.m. ET on Prime Video.