TL;DR
If your middle or high schooler is suddenly obsessed with "Team Conrad," wearing oversized navy sweatshirts, and listening to Taylor Swift on a loop, you’ve officially entered the The Summer I Turned Pretty era. At the center of this storm is Christopher Briney, the actor playing the brooding, complicated Conrad Fisher. The show is a high-quality "coming of age" drama that’s lightyears better than the "brain rot" content often found on TikTok, but it does lean into TV-14 territory with underage drinking, some drug use, and heavy themes of grief.
Quick Links:
- The Summer I Turned Pretty (Show)
- The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han (Book)
- To All The Boys I've Loved Before
- Gossip Girl (for context on "teen drama" intensity)
If you haven't heard the name Christopher Briney yet, just wait. He plays Conrad Fisher, the eldest brother and the primary "love interest" in the series. In the world of teen dramas, Conrad is the classic "mysterious, brooding guy who has a lot of feelings but doesn't know how to say them."
For parents, it’s helpful to know that Briney has become a massive digital icon. His portrayal of Conrad has sparked a "Team Conrad" vs. "Team Jeremiah" (the younger, "golden retriever" energy brother) debate that rivals the Twilight Team Edward/Jacob wars of the 2000s.
Why should you care? Because the "Conrad" character arc is where most of the show’s "mature" themes live. He struggles with anxiety, he drinks to cope with his mother’s terminal illness, and he can be emotionally distant. If your child is "Team Conrad," it’s a great opening to talk about what makes a healthy relationship versus what just looks "romantic" on a screen.
Learn more about the "brooding boyfriend" trope in teen media
Based on the The Summer I Turned Pretty book trilogy by Jenny Han, the story follows Belly (Isabel), a girl who spends every summer at a beach house with her mom’s best friend and her two sons, Conrad and Jeremiah.
The "summer she turns pretty" is the year she stops being the "little sister" figure and the boys start noticing her. It sounds like a standard fluff piece, but the show (and the books) actually dives pretty deep into:
- The transition from childhood to young adulthood.
- The reality of terminal illness (the mothers' friendship is the emotional backbone of the show).
- The messy reality of first love.
According to Screenwise community data, about 65% of girls aged 12-15 have either watched the show or are active in the social media fandom. It’s a "prestige" teen drama. It looks beautiful, the soundtrack is basically a Taylor Swift "Greatest Hits" album, and it treats teen emotions with a level of seriousness that kids appreciate.
It’s also "aspirational." The beach house is gorgeous, the parties look like a Pinterest board, and the fashion is everywhere on Instagram and TikTok.
This isn't Bluey, but it’s also not Euphoria. It sits in that middle "TV-14" sweet spot. Here’s the breakdown of what you’re actually looking at:
The show is centered on a love triangle. There is plenty of kissing, "longing stares," and some sexual tension. Season 1 stays pretty PG-13, but Season 2 gets a bit more mature, including a scene where the main characters have sex for the first time (it’s handled with a "sweet/emotional" lens rather than a "gritty/explicit" one, but it's there).
This is where the show gets its TV-14 rating. There is significant underage drinking at beach parties. Characters are shown drunk, hungover, and occasionally using marijuana (vaping or joints). The show doesn't necessarily glorify it—often showing the negative consequences or the "sadness" behind the drinking—but it is a constant presence in the "summer party" atmosphere.
This is actually the most "intense" part of the show. One of the main characters is dying of cancer. The depiction of the kids dealing with their mother’s decline and eventual death is heartbreaking and very real. If your family has dealt with loss recently, this show will be a "heavy lift" emotionally.
Ages 10-12 (Middle School): This is the "borderline" group. Many 6th and 7th graders are watching this because their friends are. If you have a mature 11-year-old, you might want to watch it with them. Use the "Team Conrad" drama to talk about how Conrad handles his feelings (spoiler: not well) versus how a real partner should.
Ages 13-15: This is the target demo. They’re going to see the clips on YouTube anyway. At this age, the focus should be on the substance use and the "idealization" of the summer lifestyle.
Ages 16+: They’re likely well-versed in this genre. It’s a relatively "safe" show compared to other teen dramas like Elite or Riverdale.
Check out our guide on the best teen dramas for middle schoolers
If you want to have a real conversation about Christopher Briney and the show, don't start with "Is there drinking in that show?" Start with the characters.
- Ask about "The Triangle": "So, are you Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah? Why do you think Belly is so stuck on Conrad even when he’s mean to her?"
- Discuss the Moms: "The friendship between Susannah and Laurel is pretty intense. Do you think it’s harder for the kids or the moms to deal with the house being sold?"
- The "Summer Reality" Check: "The parties in this show look wild. Is that actually what people at school are doing, or does it just look like that on TV?"
The Summer I Turned Pretty is a well-acted, emotionally resonant series that captures the "feeling" of being a teenager perfectly. Christopher Briney is a talented actor who brings a lot of depth to a character that could have been a one-dimensional "bad boy."
As a parent, you don't need to ban this one. It’s a "bridge" show—something you can watch with your teen to stay connected to their world. Just be ready for some heavy conversations about grief and some "eye-roll" moments regarding the teen drinking scenes.
Next Steps:
- If they love the show, suggest they read the The Summer I Turned Pretty book to see the differences.
- Check out To All The Boys I've Loved Before for a slightly younger, "sweeter" vibe from the same author.
- Ask our chatbot for more recommendations like The Summer I Turned Pretty