You know that sinking feeling when you look up the cast of TSITP and realize you’re suddenly older than half the characters? Welcome to the club. “The Summer I Turned Pretty” has us all doing math we didn’t sign up for, and the results are a little bonkers. Grab an iced coffee, because we’re about to drag these fictional ages into the harsh light of real-world time.
Belly Conklin: The Human Calendar
Our narrator, Isabel “Belly” Conklin, is supposed to be 15 at the start of Season 1 and turns 16 by the end. That’s fine for a YA novel, but then you remember her actor, Lola Tung, was 19 during filming. Of course she’s more mature—she can legally rent a car in some states! It creates this weird vibe where Belly is crying over a boy while Lola’s probably filing taxes. We love the suspension of disbelief, but it’s a doozy.
Conrad Fisher: The Brooding Senior (Who’s Also a Legal Adult?)
Conrad is supposed to be 16-17, a high school junior or senior. That tracks with his moody poetry and habit of staring at the ocean like it stole his lunch money. But Chris Briney, the actor, was 23 during Season 1 and is now pushing 25. He’s playing a teenager while being old enough to have a mortgage. It’s like when you see a high school bully in a movie and realize the actor is a father of two. The pouty lips are great, but the age gap is a gulf.
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Jeremiah Fisher: The Golden Retriever Who Needs a Real ID
Jere is canonically a year younger than Conrad, so about 15-16 in Season 1. Gavin Casalegno, who plays him, was 22 when he first put on that orange polo. That means Jeremiah is theoretically asking for a learner’s permit while Gavin has been voting in presidential elections. It’s a testament to his acting that he can make us believe a fully grown man is jealous about a sandcastle. Bravo, but also, sir, please shave.
Tsitp cast season 2 | Tsitp bts, The cast, Tsitp wallpaper
Steven Conklin: The Older Brother Who Ages in Dog Years
Belly’s brother Steven is 17-18 in the show, a classic college-bound goofball. Sean Kaufman, the actor, was 18 when filming started. This is the one casting that actually lines up, so Steven gets the award for “Most Realistic Teenager.” He’s still annoying, but he’s legally allowed to be annoying at that age. A shocking twist in the TSITP age vortex.
The Adults: Old Enough to Be Our Parents (But Still Hot)
Susannah, Laurel, and Cleveland are meant to be in their 40s to early 50s. Rachel Blanchard (Susannah) is 48; Jackie Chung (Laurel) is 44. They’re fabulous—but then you do the math: Susannah had Conrad at, like, 31. That’s totally normal. Yet on screen, Belly’s mom looks like she could be Belly’s cooler aunt. Hollywood time runs on magic and good lighting. Don’t think too hard about it.
TSITP Finale Release Time: When Season 3 Ends on Prime Video – Azat TV
The Real Surprise: Nobody Ages the Same
Here’s the kicker: the books take place over one summer, but the show has been filming for three years. So Belly is perpetually 16, but Lola Tung is now 21. Conrad is emotionally 17 but biologically pushing 26. It’s like time stopped for the characters but kept sprinting for the actors. The biggest mystery of the show isn’t the love triangle—it’s how no one has a driver’s license yet.
So next time you’re crying over the Bonrad/Jelly drama, remember: you’re probably crying over a 25-year-old pretending to have teenage angst. It’s fine. We’re all in this confusing, age-defying, pool-side nightmare together. And honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.
