“CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THAT KIND OF SUMMER LOVE?” — 8 Shows That’ll Fill the Beachy, Heart-Flipping Void After The Summer I Turned Pretty ☀️💖
From small-town romance to tangled love triangles and friendships tested under the sun, this binge list has it all. But #3 hides a twist so emotional, fans say it hits harder than Belly’s biggest heartbreak. Ready to find your next summer obsession? 👇 Full list below!
As The Summer I Turned Pretty fans wait in anticipation for new episodes each week, now is the perfect time to binge-watch similar shows while waiting for Wednesday mornings. Although The Summer I Turned Pretty is a one-of-a-kind show, there are a number of teen dramas and romance series perfect for those who are looking for a new show. These are eight TV shows to binge-watch if you’re obsessed with The Summer I Turned Pretty.
1‘We Were Liars’ (2025–Present)

Based on the E. Lockhart novel of the same name, We Were Liars follows Cady Sinclair Eastman (Emily Alyn Lind), a teenage girl who’s a part of the wealthy Sinclair family. The Sinclairs own a private island, and every summer, Cady vacations there with her family. This includes Cady’s three best friends: her cousins, Johnny (Joseph Zada) and Mirren (Esther McGregor), and her best friend (whose uncle is dating Johnny’s mom), Gat (Shubham Maheshwari). The events of the series take place over the course of two back-to-back summers: one where a tragic event occurred that Cady can’t remember, and one where she tries to put the pieces together.
2‘Gilmore Girls’ (2000–2007)

Gilmore Girls follows a mother-daughter duo named Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel), who are best friends. Lorelai has been on rocky terms with her parents, Emily (Kelly Bishop) and Richard (Edward Hermann), since she gave birth to Rory as a teenager. The series starts when Rory gets into an elite high school, and Lorelai has to borrow money from her parents so that Rory can attend. Their only condition is that Lorelai and Rory join them for weekly Friday night dinners.
Like The Summer I Turned Pretty, Gilmore Girls has a focus on family, especially its central mother-daughter relationship. It also has teen drama elements, a wonderfully cozy setting, and some excellent romances and love triangles alike. For The Summer I Turned Pretty fans who somehow haven’t seen Gilmore Girls yet, the series is definitely a must-watch, and it has a whopping seven seasons (plus a bonus revival season for fans to enjoy).
3‘Emily in Paris’ (2020–Present)

Emily in Paris follows Emily Cooper (Lily Collins), a woman from Chicago who is suddenly chosen to step up for a promotion at her marketing job when her boss (Kate Walsh) goes on maternity leave. The twist is that the job is in Paris, and Emily doesn’t speak any French. Still, Emily takes the change in stride. She makes a number of close new friends, meets some love interests, and even blows up on social media.
For The Summer I Turned Pretty fans who are looking for another mental vacation, Emily in Paris is the perfect choice for your next watch. It has a compelling central love triangle (that is probably more like a love hexagon), beautiful views, and some lovely friendships. The show has a lighter tone like The Summer I Turned Pretty does, making for a fun binge-watch.
4‘Alex & Katie’ (2018–2020)

For The Summer I Turned Pretty fans looking for another family-centered teen dramedy, Alexa & Katie is a great choice. It has a close-knit central friendship that brings two families together, much like that of Laurel (Jackie Chung) and Susannah (Rachel Blanchard) in The Summer I Turned Pretty. The series also has some excellent romances, with a number of love interests for both Alexa and Katie throughout its four seasons.
5‘My Life With the Walter Boys’ (2023–Present)

My Life with the Walter Boys has often been compared to The Summer I Turned Pretty, and for good reason. Based on the Ali Novak novel of the same name, the series follows Jackie Howard (Nikki Rodriguez), a teenage girl who has just lost her entire family in a car accident. Jackie suddenly has to move from New York City to Colorado to live with her mom’s best friend (Sarah Rafferty), her husband (Marc Blucas), and their 11 children.
Like Belly in The Summer I Turned Pretty, Jackie winds up in a love triangle with two of the sons of her mom’s best friend: Cole (Noah LaLonde) and Alex Walter (Ashby Gentry). Both series have a focus on family, romance, and coming of age. My Life with the Walter Boys is perfect for The Summer I Turned Pretty fans who are looking for a blend between the series and a classic Hallmark movie.
6‘Maxton Hall’ (2024–Present)

Based on Maxton Hall: The World Between Us by Mona Kasten, Maxton Hall follows Ruby Bell (Harriet Herbig-Matten), a devoted and disciplined student who attends a private high school called Maxton Hall. Ruby keeps her head down and focuses on working towards getting into Oxford until one day, she accidentally learns the secret of a fellow student named Lydia Beaufort (Sonja Weißer). Determined to keep Ruby quiet, Lydia’s brother James (Damian Hardung) gets involved.
Like The Summer I Turned Pretty, Maxton Hall is a teen drama with an epic central romance. It has a different main trope, though; whereas Belly and the Fisher brothers were childhood friends, Ruby and James start out hating each other. Ruby and James’ love story is the main storyline in Maxton Hall, but the show also has a number of excellent and shocking twists and turns.
7‘XO, Kitty’ (2023–Present)










For The Summer I Turned Pretty fans who love the show’s central love triangle, XO, Kitty makes for an excellent next watch. Unlike The Summer I Turned Pretty, XO, Kitty‘s main love triangle is much more balanced, as she finds herself torn between two equally great love interests: Yuri (Gia Kim) and Min Ho (Sang Heon Lee). It also has drama, some wonderful friendships, and Jenny Han’s signature flair.
8‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’ (2019–2023)

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series follows the students who attend the real-life East High from High School Musical. Starting with High School Musical, of course, the series shows the school’s theater department putting on a different musical each season. At the center of the show is a messy love square between exes Ricky (Joshua Bassett) and Nini (Olivia Rodrigo), as well as Nini’s new boyfriend E.J. (Matt Cornett) and new girl Gina (Sofia Wylie).