Season 3 of The Summer I Turned Pretty is the new shot of energy that excited fans with this coming-of-age hit. While fans are drawn to the series’ love triangle and emotional storylines, the latest season introduces new characters and plots, generating even more excitement. The newcomers of these new faces include Lucinda Jewel, whose arrival brings depth, humor, and tender scenes to the entire cast.
Lucinda’s arrival in Season 3 significantly impacts the series, as she navigates life as a single mother along with personal and professional challenges. Her straightforward demeanor, undying devotion, and the way she liked to have fun with her children make her one of the richest parents in the show.
Who is Lucinda in The Summer I Turned Pretty?
Lucinda Jewel is the mother of Taylor, one of the best friends of Belly Conklin in The Summer I Turned Pretty. The actress Kristen Connolly, who has a versatile career in television and film, portrays her. Lucinda serves way more than simply being the just the mom of Taylor. She is unconventional, fun-loving, and supportive. She proudly embraces her role as a cool mom.
Lucinda was introduced in the first episode of Season 3 because of the transfer of Taylor to the dorm. This connection between her and Taylor is shown as a close and heartfelt one– they are a team and tend to go through the ups and downs in their life together.
To give an example, Lucinda and Taylor have a parent-child relationship that is shown by her nickname, Lucinda gives Taylor (“Taytie Tot”), and the way she makes personal playlists when Taylor goes on road trips with her.
Many of the aspects of characterization that Lucinda experiences in the series are based on single-mother characters in pop culture, such as Lorelai Gilmore of Gilmore Girls. Lucinda is as caring as she is amusing: whether in her sporting cutoff denim shorts or binge-watching marathons, or generous pieces of advice.
The personal life of this woman is developed in comic and touching scenes. During The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3, she is observed breaking up with her boyfriend Scott, which was a relief to Taylor since this character was portrayed as “a foolish MMA-watching, two-timing jerk”.
Lucinda then jumps into a girls-only summer, dreaming of burrito nights and Gilmore Girls binges and rejoicing in the fact that she does not depend on anyone anymore.
However, Lucinda is not there as mere comic relief. She is going through proper hardships, especially with her salon business. The show is shown to dig into her financial anxieties, whereby Taylor, the boyfriend of Lucinda, assists her in clearing the accounts, only to discover that the salon would not be able to sail through to the end.
This storyline adds unexpected depth to Lucinda, revealing both her determination and vulnerability. The scene where she throws a tantrum over the prospect of having to shut down her salon, with the help of her stalwart resolve, Taylor, culminates in their cozy intimacy and could be seen as a reiteration of the family and strengths that are so omnipresent in the series.
Over time, Lucinda increasingly mentors Taylor, especially regarding love and navigating difficult relationships. She is forthright, warning Taylor against being a sideliner and in support of Steven as a person other than the trash guys that she has met, reaffirming her dream to see Taylor happy.
The Summer I Turned Pretty: An overview of the show
The Summer I Turned Pretty is an American romantic drama series written by Jenny Han, based on her popular trilogy. The original, which initially aired in June 2022, soon garnered a fan base due to its combination of nostalgic, first-love, and coming-of-age emotions.
Belly Conklin (Lola Tung) is the protagonist of the show, as her summers at Cousins Beach have always been about one family, the Fisher family. The process of Belly reaching adulthood is contextualized against her friendships and entangled interpersonal relationships with her brothers Conrad and Jeremiah, which leads to a love triangle, causing many of the tensions in the show over several years.
Season 3, released in July 2025, is almost four years after the events of Season 2. The characters feature returning favorites and some new dynamic elements as they move to adulthood, college, and life choices each make.
The last season of The Summer I Turned Pretty is rather full of emotional lines, including continuing relations of Belly, and side plots that add more meaning to the story of family and friendship.