Taylor Jewel: Why She And Steven Are The Best Couple Of The Summer I Turned Pretty – And Everything That Makes Them Perfectly Emotionally Unavailable For One Another

We were heavily on the subject of cheating in a relationship in the previous blog entry, so I thought I’d continue on the conversation. After all, it’s not like it’s one cup fits all type of thing that happens between two people. Cheating doesn’t just happen. It’s never a mistake, but a choice. No matter the case, cheating is almost always a complicated matter to have to go through. And no matter how difficult the aftermath of it all might be, it can be the best thing to have happened to you.

In the previous post, I heavily discussed Ariana Madix being cheated on by her partner of almost a decade, Tom Sandoval, when he had a months-long affair with her best friend, Raquel Leviss. These were real people involved in real-life situations. We saw the entire story unfold on the 10th season of Vanderpump Rules. It ended up being the best thing for Ariana. She’s now in a new, more solid relationship with someone who treats her right, and she’s gotten endless opportunities in her career as a result of the affair.

Cheating doesn’t just unfold on reality TV, but in reel life as well. Cheating storylines are a common plot device used in storytelling to introduce conflict, develop character, and explore themes of betrayal, trust, and relationships. They can be used to create drama, generate suspense, and drive the narrative forward.  To break it down more thoroughly:

1. Introducing Conflict and Tension: 

• Cheating can immediately introduce conflict and tension into a relationship, creating a dramatic situation that can be explored throughout the story. 

• It can be a catalyst for character development, forcing characters to make difficult choices and confront their flaws. 

2. Character Development: 

• Cheating can reveal hidden aspects of a character’s personality, showcasing their capacity for betrayal, deceit, or vulnerability. 

• It can be used to explore the complexities of human relationships and the motivations behind infidelity. 

3. Exploring Themes: 

• Cheating storylines can delve into themes of betrayal, trust, forgiveness, and the consequences of actions. M

• They can also explore the nature of love, desire, and commitment in relationships. 

4. Plot Device: 

• Cheating can be used as a plot device to move the narrative forward, creating obstacles, challenges, and turning points for the characters. 

• It can be used to create suspense and keep the audience engaged, especially when the truth is revealed or consequences are faced. 

5. Variations: 

• Cheating can be handled in different ways depending on the genre and tone of the story. It can be treated with humor, drama, or even tragedy. 

• The way a character handles the situation after the cheating is revealed can also be a key element in developing their character arc. 

TV shows such as Friends, Emily In Paris, The Affair, and Desperate Housewives utilized cheating storylines throughout their respective original runs. Most recently, Jenny Han’s The Summer I Turned Pretty utilized such cheating storyline between Belly and Jeremiah. Their cheating storyline in season 3 very much mirrored the cheating storyline seen between Ross and Rachel on Friends. Jeremiah slept with someone else after he and Belly broke off their relationship. Belly thought it was just a fight, whereas Jeremiah assumed that the relationship between them was over.

Personally, I don’t believe it was cheating that Jeremiah had done to Belly. They did agree during that fight that they were broken up. He was wrong for not even waiting 2 seconds to sleep with someone else after the breakup as if Belly didn’t even matter to him. And not only that, but he didn’t tell her about anything that had happened thereafter. He led her on; embarrassed her. But nevertheless, he didn’t cheat. The two people that did cheat, however, were Steven and Taylor. Those are Belly’s brother and best friend on the show. They didn’t cheat on each other, but WITH each other.

The Summer I Turned Pretty is based on a book trilogy by Jenny Han, the mastermind behind To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before and its spinoff series, XO, Kitty. It’s important to note that the book series is slightly different than the TV series, and because I’ve just recently binge watched the entire TV series back to back, we’ll be focusing solely on the television series and everything that’s unfolded there…up until now. As of the publishing of this blog entry, the third and final season is still airing new episodes on a weekly basis, so this particular content might seem outdated to some reading this.

Steven and Taylor weren’t the main couple of the show. They weren’t even the main characters in the first season. Rain Spencer, who portrays Taylor, was a recurring character in the first season. But trust me when I tell you that she’s the most interesting character to follow; more so than Belly. To be totally honest, I found Belly to be annoyingly boring. Even more so, she was just not a good person. She was selfish and didn’t actually care about anyone but her own damn self. Instead of actually giving a sh*t about Conrad and Jeremiah during their time of need when their mother was ill and eventually passed, she was more concerned with being involved in a love triangle with them. It wasn’t even an interesting love triangle to be so invested in. It was prolonged and could’ve been an email rather than a TV series that’s 3 seasons, 26 episodes worth of material; with each episode being an hour long, might I add.

On the other hand, Taylor was nothing like Belly. Taylor was sophisticated. She cared so much about those she loved. She’d do anything for them, but more so for Belly. The one time she thought of herself before she did of Belly was when she kissed Steven. Belly was so hurt by it. She felt betrayed and hurt by Taylor. She couldn’t believe Taylor could ever not put her first in whatever she was doing. As I watched that storyline unfold, all I could do was cheer for Taylor. Finally she was putting herself and her happiness first before anyone else’s. She deserved it. Something that seemed so small was such an intimate, intense moment for her, and for more reason than one.

This, however, didn’t mean that Taylor’s actions didn’t hurt other people involved; because they did. They most certainly did. Her love story with Steven, for the most part, involved cheating. It wasn’t that she and Steven cheated on each other, but rather with each other. In season 1, when Steven and Taylor kiss, it was Shayla, Steven’s love interest who got hurt by their actions. Shayla and Steven were actually really cute, and I was totally rooting for them to end up together in the end. But alas, it wasn’t meant to be.

Shayla initially forgave Steven for his involvement with Taylor. She saw it exactly how Steven described it to her – a one-off. They got back together after a brief break, and they ended up going to the debutante ball together. Following the end of season 1, Shayla is never seen or heard of ever again. The only thing we got to know of her in season 2 was that she was in Europe with her parents that summer, and that was the reason why the friends group that was once so close was broken up. She and Steven presumably broke up, but their falling out was never explained. It all just seemed so sudden and random. Then again, Steven’s insecurities about their different backgrounds lead him to make mistakes, including kissing Taylor and losing money in a poker game, which led him to not be able to afford a tux to wear to the ball. Despite everything, Shayla showed her love and support for him.

Season 2 of the series saw Taylor be in a relationship with Milo, an aspiring, self-proclaimed musician. They have fun together, but they’re obviously not serious enough about one another. She was still very much close to Steven as a friend. And yet, it wasn’t evident that they had a deeper connection with him. It was almost as though Steven was her person. Their relationship evolved from a complicated past to a budding romance. Throughout the season, they shared tender moments, like dancing together at the country club and reminiscing at the boardwalk. Taylor eventually confronted her feelings and broke up with Milo, even though he did show that he genuinely cared for her. He came all the way to the Cousins house to see Taylor, which was far reaching for someone even remotely like him.

The season ended with Taylor finally admitting to herself, as well as to Steven, that she was afraid of getting hurt, but ultimately, she chose to risk it all and embrace the possibility of a relationship with him. Once season 3 commenced, we came to understand that it was all that was between Taylor and Steven – a possibility. With the time jump between seasons, four years after they first admitted their feelings for each other, Taylor and Steven were still casually hooking up while being in respective relationships with other people.

It all just seemed like such a wasted potential. So much time and effort was put into their relationship only for them to end up right back to where they started. Then again, it was the most relatable thing about the show. Taylor, in my eyes, was the most relatable and interesting character in the entire series. She was someone I resonated with; mostly because I was her. I wasn’t even like her. I WAS her. Taylor was always in love with Steven – she admitted to it herself to Belly after she caught the two of them kissing in season 1. And though Taylor always knew that what she was feeling for her best brother was love, she was petrified of what she was feeling for him. And because she was so afraid of even the mere thought of being in love, she didn’t think she was worthy of Steven’s love. She didn’t think she deserved it.

Unlike Taylor, Steven wasn’t ever confused or afraid of his feelings. He always knew he wanted to be with her. No matter what, he’d always choose her, and he wasn’t ever shy about that. Truth be told, Steven was the only person in the entire series that wasn’t afraid to be honest with those around him. No matter how much the truth hurt, he always said it exactly as it was. An example of that was when he confronted Belly on stringing both Conrad and Jeremiah along at the beginning of season 2 when they were celebrating Milo’s music debut. To Belly, being called out for her wrongdoings seemed so sudden for her, mostly because she was so used to everyone being on her side, and nevertheless, it was exactly what she needed.

Bluntness and honesty was also exactly what Taylor needed; no matter how much the truth hurt her. The truth was right there in front of her. It was that Steven was the one person who wanted to be with her. No matter how much she tried to push him away, he’d always choose her. And he did. He even broke up with his longterm girlfriend to be with her. All the while, she still refused to be with him. Steven was truly fighting to be with Taylor, but Taylor, being the petrified Taylor, pushed him away – almost literally. When he told her he broke up with his girlfriend, she told him she hoped it wasn’t for her because, in her mind, they only worked together when they were casual.

Casualty wasn’t anything Steven wanted; at least not with Taylor. He wanted the real thing. He wanted to have all of her; or none at all. Even when the odds weren’t in his favour, he wouldn’t stop fighting for her. And he didn’t stop…until it almost cost him his life. Their last fight when Steven told Taylor he loved her, Steven was behind the wheel. What was meant to be a romantic gesture turned into a life-altering experience. When Steven told he loved her, Taylor demanded that he stop the car. He did. She stormed off, but still wasn’t done fighting for her. Unfortunately, Steven made the wrong turn and got hit head-on by an oncoming truck. This landed him in a medically induced coma.

It was only then that Taylor finally admitted not only that she did, in fact, love Steven back, but the exact reason why she was so adamant on pushing him away. When she got a moment alone with Steven in his room, Taylor tearfully admitted that she loved Steven. She was just scared to admit it, and afraid that one day he’d change his mind and decide that she wasn’t worth it. She vowed to give them a chance once he recovered. She looked forward to the moment when he woke up because it meant that they’d finally be together.

Alas, that wasn’t what had happened when Steven woke up. In fact, what happened was the exact opposite of what Taylor wished would’ve happened. For Steven, the car accident was a wake up call in the other direction: Things with Taylor would never work, he’s decided, and he was foolish to think otherwise. It was a shot to the heart for Taylor. She was heartbroken and devastated, but instead of fighting for it, she allowed him to make this decision for both of them.

Life’s too short not to spend it with the person you love. Steven already knew all that, but it took Taylor to watch Steven almost lose his life in an instant to understand what that meant, and it took Steven to almost lose his life to stop fighting for something that, in his mind by that point, he’d never get to have. But life also proved to move forward after heartbreak. In actuality, though very sad for her and her character arc, this might’ve been the best thing she could’ve done for Steven. This is just me saying it as a car accident survivor myself.

Surviving a car accident is life-changing. Slowly, but oh so surely, you change as a person completely and fully in the aftermath. There’s a before and an after for a car accident survivor. That being said, the best thing that one could ever do in their recovery is continuously work on their self-worth. Sometimes, it’s best to do it alone; without a romantic partner. And yes, I realize that I’m saying this as I myself was already engaged when my husband and I got into that fateful car accident. And yes, I realize that you might think I’m a total hypocrite for saying that the best thing a car accident survivor could do is stay single when I myself didn’t. But hear me out…

You see, my husband and I did, in fact, go through a very difficult time in our life and our relationship following the car accident. So much so that at one point, we did contemplate ending our relationship for good. Not because we didn’t love each other, because we most certainly did, but rather that the traumas we’d both endured were becoming too much to bear. He initiated a breakup conversation with me. He said he was willing to let me go if that meant that I’d get better; stronger; wiser. It wasn’t anything I wanted to do. I didn’t even want to consider the possibility to break up with him; not because of that. I loved him. No matter how hard it got between us, I wasn’t ready to give up on us and everything we’d built. So we didn’t.

But that’s us. Not all couples are like us, and I’m not encouraging anyone to be like us. Some couples are like Steven and Taylor. Other couples are like Belly and Jeremiah. And then there are couples like Belly and Conrad. They’re a couple we haven’t even discussed yet, and they’re the main couple of the entire series that will presumably be endgame by the end of season 3. From the very beginning, they were the main love story that fans were so invested in. Belly, though in a longterm relationship with Jeremiah and is even engaged to married to him, was always in love with Conrad, Jeremiah’s brother. From the time she was 10-years-old, she was in love with Conrad. Jeremiah, in contrast, seemed to have simply been a second choice.

Belly and Conrad did eventually do become a couple by the end of season 1, but it wasn’t a happy-ending by any means. Their relationship was the perfect perception of ‘right person, wrong time’. It happened at the worst possible time. Not only were they too young to even know what love was to begin with, but Conrad was going through too much in his life at the time for him to be emotionally available for someone else. His mother was dying. He was grieving as he watched her slip away. He was going through a clinical depression. Navigating clinical depression within a relationship requires open communication, understanding, and a proactive approach to managing both individual and shared challenges. It’s important to recognize that depression can strain a relationship, impacting intimacy, communication, and overall well-being. Seeking professional help, both individually and as a couple, is crucial for developing coping strategies and fostering a supportive environment. To break it down more thoroughly:

Understanding the Impact: 

• Erosion of Intimacy: Depression can lead to a decrease in physical intimacy and emotional connection, potentially causing feelings of rejection or isolation within the relationship. 

• Communication Breakdown: Depression can make it difficult to communicate needs and feelings effectively, leading to misunderstandings and resentment. 

• Strain on Partner: Living with someone experiencing depression can be emotionally draining, requiring patience, understanding, and self-care on the part of the partner. 

Strategies for Support and Management: 

• Open Communication: Establish clear and honest communication about feelings, needs, and triggers. 

• Seek Professional Help: Encourage individual and couples therapy to address the depression and its impact on the relationship. 

• Develop Coping Mechanisms: Work together to create individual and shared plans for managing depression, including identifying triggers and establishing healthy boundaries. 

• Self-Care for Both Partners: Prioritize self-care activities for both individuals to manage stress and maintain well-being. 

• Normalize Seeking Help: Remind your partner that seeking professional help is a sign of strength and a positive step towards recovery. 

• Celebrate Small Victories: Acknowledge and celebrate progress, no matter how small, to maintain hope and motivation. 

• Be Patient and Understanding: Recognize that recovery is a process, and there will be ups and downs. Offer consistent support and encouragement. 

• Focus on Connection: Explore ways to maintain intimacy and connection, even if physical intimacy is challenging. This could include spending quality time together, engaging in shared activities, or expressing affection through words and gestures. 

When to Seek Further Support: 

• If the depression is severe or persistent, or if there are thoughts of self-harm or suicide, seek immediate professional help. 
• If the relationship is significantly negatively impacted by the depression and communication is consistently strained, consider couples counseling to address the issues and develop healthy communication patterns. 

Important Considerations: 

• Don’t Blame: Avoid blaming or attacking your partner for their behaviors related to depression. Instead, focus on understanding and support. 

• Set Boundaries: It’s okay to set boundaries and take breaks when feeling overwhelmed. Communicate these boundaries clearly and respectfully. 

• Remember Your Own Needs: Prioritize your own well-being and seek support for yourself when needed. 

This wasn’t anything neither Belly or Conrad were prepared for; not when they first got together anyways. It was only by season 3 that we‘ve seen progression in their respective character arcs. Belly is a blossoming young woman making adult decisions that she’s probably too young to be making. Conrad is actively working on his recovery. He’s in school, working as a doctor, and a true force to be reckoned with. The best part of it all is that he’s done all this not to please anyone, but solely for himself. He hasn’t done all this work to prove anything to Belly, Jeremiah, or his father. He doesn’t even care about his father’s opinion of him, which is far from what Jeremiah story has entailed thus far. Jeremiah has always felt like he’s in Conrad’s shadow; not just in his relationship with Belly. Everything he’s ever done has been about proving something to his father; proving that he’s just as worthy; that he should be taken seriously.

As much as I want to mock Jeremiah and Belly’s engagement – mostly for the engagement rink that’s almost non-existent – I get it. I get why he did it. Belly, it seemed, was all he had. She was the only person that was truly there for him, and he didn’t want to lose her. After being so close to losing her forever, getting married seemed like the perfect way to make sure she stayed forever. What seemed like the right choice…really wasn’t. It was solely based on circumstance. Everyone around them could see right through it. Everyone around them could see just how wrong they were. Not necessarily wrong for each other, but wrong for deciding to be getting married. Belly’s mother, Laurel, in particular, saw the marriage as Belly ruining her life. By the end of the 4th episode, Conrad agreed to be Jeremiah’s best man, even though it was obviously killing him inside.

Episode 4 of the third (and final) season had a lot to unpack. While it was mostly about Belly and Jeremiah’s pending marriage that was obviously SO wrong, it also provided some moments that had to do with Conrad and Taylor’s respective lives. In a lot of ways, Conrad and Taylor are practically the same person. They’re both caretakers. They both love hard with every bit of their beings, and they both want to do everything they can to make sure those they love are taken care of, even if it’s at their expense. We saw that in Conrad when he made Belly’s favourite breakfast for her 21st birthday and she was surprised he even remembered. And we saw that in Taylor when she put her entire life on hold to help her mom out of debt so that she could start a new business.

Perhaps Taylor feeling like she needs to take care of her mom to the point that she puts her own life on hold makes her not ready for a relationship with Steven. The car accident complicated their relationship dynamic. It made them both realize things about themselves that they wouldn’t have otherwise. While Steven still very much cared for her, he gave up on the idea of ever being with Taylor as she’d never see him in the way that he wanted her to see him. She, on the other hand, was willing to give him her all just as he rejected her. But maybe, in hindsight, it was the best thing for Taylor as she wasn’t ready for that type of commitment. They were in completely different life stages, which made them completely wrong for each other. Like Belly and Conrad, they were at their ‘right person, wrong time’ stage in their relationship. Taylor was in college and putting her foot down in cleaning up her mother’s messes while Steven was in the corporate world in finance. This in itself could cause emotional distance between two people.

It’s been so interesting to see Taylor and Steven’s love story unfold in such a way on the show, especially since it’s so different than what they were in the books. The books focus less on the relationship between Taylor and Steven, with their one kiss not leading to a sustained relationship. In the books, we weren’t rooting for them at all. In fact, they were kind of annoying. The show changed their relationship entirely, and I loved it for them; for Taylor. But timing is everything for them. They both have emotional baggage they need to work on before they can even consider being in a serious relationship with one another. Steven, despite having a new corporate job and being older, and obviously more mature, still harbors feelings for Taylor and desires a more serious relationship. He was even willing to break up with his current girlfriend, Mia, to pursue Taylor. Taylor, being two years younger and still in college, is more hesitant to commit. She fears abandonment and struggles with vulnerability, which makes it hard for her to open up and fully trust Steven. Her casual hookups with Steven are a way for her to maintain a connection without feeling the pressure of a deeper commitment. 

No matter the case, I’m personally rooting for them. They both deserve true happiness. It doesn’t even matter whether it’s with each other or separately, with other people. They just both deserve to find the happiness they’re looking for. Sean Kaufman, who plays Steven, previously said of Steven and Taylor, ‘I think [they can go the] distance. We’re going for speed. I think Steven and Taylor work really well together. A lot of the first season was this dream image of summer, of the beach house [and] of all this great stuff. It comes crashing down during season two and for a lot of the characters it’s a moment of reflection. [They] look to your left and look to your right and see who’s still there next to you. Something that Steven realizes is that since he was 5 years old, since he was 8 years old, since he was 12 years old, Taylor was always there. You ask if it’s sustainable, I’d like to think that Taylor will be by his side no matter what. I don’t know what the future holds, but I know that she’s been there and I know he’d like her to be there for well past what his age is now.’

Yes!!!!