How to keep “The Summer I Turned Pretty” going into the fall

Graphic by Sienna Lewis, Photographer

“The Summer I Turned Pretty” (or to the most seasoned fans, TSITP) has had fans hooked every Wednesday night almost all summer long — and with only one episode left, it's leaving us wondering what show we’ll be addicted to next.

With the final season of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” upon us, it’s almost time to say goodbye to Belly and the Fisher boys. But don’t worry, there are plenty of similar shows out now, and some even have new seasons on the way that are perfect for your next binge.

Tell Me Lies: 

This show is about the college relationship everyone is trying to avoid. We follow Lucy (Grace Van Patten) and Stephen (Jackson White) throughout their college years and beyond as they navigate their consuming and addictive toxic relationship. No matter how far they run, they always come back to each other. 

This show has me and my roommates wrapped around its finger, and no one is ever late to our weekly screenings. It has the same appeal as TSITP, with its messed-up love story where the audience is invited to take sides and pick teams. The show invites all the debates that TSITP does, just with a darker take, and has been renewed for a season three. 

“Tell Me Lies” is a must-watch next binge for you and your friends, but make sure the neighbors aren't home because you will yell at Lucy and Stephen. 

The Sex Lives of College Girls: 

This is a must-watch with your roommates because it's like watching a show about yourself. The show follows four roommates navigating love, hookups, and identity at an elite college. 

Bela (Amrit Kaur) is the chaotic friend who will shoot her shot with anyone, anywhere. She’s horny, hilariou,s and hustling her way into a comedy career. Leighton (Reneé Rapp) is hard on the outside and oh-so-soft on the inside. She juggles her Chanel bags and an even bigger secret – still piecing together who she really is. Whitney (Alyah Chanelle Scott) is the athlete with a complicated relationship with her mother. She looks perfect on the outside, but drama constantly follows her. Lastly, and my personal favorite, Kimberly (Pauline Chalamet) — she's the innocent, small-town girl who is balancing her on-campus job and academics as she realizes what sex is and how much she likes it. 

Like TSITP, you get to follow these girls as they learn, grow, and navigate teenage issues and find themselves as young adults, but with a heavier emphasis on comedy. As you sit around the TV to dive into their story, you'll see yourself and be so grateful you didn't deal with situations like Bela did — unless you're the Bela, then it's just awkward…

Normal People: 

Now “Normal People” will always have a special place in my heart, because this show is just brilliant. With or without a roommate, this is one you won't be able to save for a weekly watch. Adapted from the book by Sally Rooney, “Normal People” deals with Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Connell (Paul Mescal), two people who we know right away are perfect for each other, but life seems to constantly pull them apart, and yet, bring them back together again. It's a great reflection on the importance of timing and how sometimes life gets in the way, and how it's not a good or bad thing, just reality. 

“Normal People” will have you aching like Conrad's and Belly's slow-burning relationship does. It’s one of those consistent “we can see it, so why can't you?” moments. Unlike the other TV shows mentioned above, I would argue that “Normal People” can't be categorized as a “so bad it's good” because the show is truly good in every respect. The writing will have you in a chokehold, the dramatics are simple and real, and that's the beauty of it. 

“Normal People” is a must-watch alone, with your roommates or even your mom. Just watch it! 

We Were Liars:

Like TSITP, “We Were Liars” had people hooked this summer and was adapted from a novel, this one by E. Lockhart. The show follows a wealthy family and their perfect holiday home. The trend of happy summers is broken when the story takes a dark turn, and it's up to Cadence Sinclair (Emily Alyn Lind) to uncover her family's secrets and betrayals. 

Just like we love the sights and sounds of TSITP’s Cousins Beach — the perfect sunsets, found family and just the right amount of chaos — the Sinclairs live life similarly. But “We Were Liars” adds a much darker, mystery-driven edge. “We Were Liars” has a slower setup, but an ending you don't want to miss. It has the right amount of romance and fun, and when the reveal drops, you'll want someone sitting next to you to gasp with.

Insecure:

This holds a special place in my heart because Issa Rae is my absolute inspiration working in the entertainment industry. The show is about me, you, and everyone in between. We follow Issa (Issa Rae) and her best friend Molly (Yvonne Orji) as they deal with dating, careers, friendships and the disasters that come with each. The seasons allow you to watch them grow from their lowest to, eventually, their highest as they grapple with real life. And of course, you’ll be laughing so hard as you do.

TSITP and “Insecure” share the understanding of the human experience as being frequently and incredibly awkward and cringey as we figure out our love lives and self-identity, though “Insecure” does it with more grown-up stakes. Issa Rae is excellent at making her show a bonding experience for you and the people around you. She also calls you out when you yell at her for making a terrible decision, deep down knowing you did the same thing she did last week. 

Nobody Wants This:

“Nobody Wants This” was the first time in a long time that I felt I could take a deep breath when watching a show. Many TV shows these days overload you with drama, which feels like a constant cloud of doom. “Nobody Wants This” is a feel-good show, where you are rooting for the people on your screen to win, and the writers clearly are too. 

You follow a rabbi named Noah (Adam Brody) and a podcaster named Joanne (Kristen Bell), as they navigate their blossoming romance. These were two people I never minded seeing on my screen. Their chaotic relationship is constantly tested by various factors, a big one being Noah’s devotion to his career and his faith. Additionally, “Nobody Wants This” almost immediately got renewed for a second season that arrives on Netflix next month.

It has the same feeling as TSITP, as you follow the beginnings of a messy relationship, but between adults. You experience the same push and pull that everyone is so fond of in TSITP, but maturely, taking a more realistic angle. I personally think “Nobody Wants This” is the perfect palate cleanser between crying every time Belly speaks to Conrad, and yelling every time Lucy of “Tell Me Lies” goes back to Stephen.