Have you also subjected yourself to the twisted love triangle of Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah? Did you also roll your eyes in every episode of The Summer I Turned Pretty, especially in Season 3? Do you need a massive detox now? Well, you’re in luck because there are plenty of other young adult rom-com series that actually get romance and maturity right. If you hated watching The Summer I Turned Pretty, here are some other teenage romance series that avoid glorifying toxic relationships and glaring red flags. 

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1. Sex Education

This is a coming-of-age series for teenagers and young adults navigating relationships, friendships, and self-worth. Sex Education features everything that The Summer I Turned Pretty fumbles with — messy love triangles, rushed romance, and confusing notions about life. It doesn’t conceal toxicity in a cutesy relationship; it gives its characters space to evolve for the better. Take Otis and Maeve from Sex Education. Their slow-burn chemistry is based on uncomfortable conversations, awkward honesty, and respect. And then you see Conrad, Belly, and Jeremiah, who fall in and out of love in seconds. Even the queer love duo of Adam and Eric in Sex Education demands understanding of each other’s traumatic past, instead of surrendering to the sexual tension.

Where to watch: Netflix

2. College Romance

This young adult romance series captures the complex yet heartwarming story of first love, friendships, and heartbreak. Unlike The Summer I Turned Pretty‘s shallow plot, College Romance shows how teens in love mature over time. Trippy, Naira, Bagga, Deepika and Karan’s impulsive crushes, crazy views about relationships, and loyalty are relatable. But you don’t see the same in TSITP. Belly remains eternally confused between Conrad, Jeremiah, and Cam, despite numerous explicit signs.

Where to watch: Sony LIV

3. Never Have I Ever

This teenage romance series follows a messy love triangle, but it’s much better than the one in The Summer I Turned Pretty. You’ve got Devi, juggling with her love interests, Paxton and Ben. Just like Belly, Devi also can’t decide who she loves. But she is open to revisiting her past mistakes and learning from them. Devi doesn’t shuffle her crushes; she reflects on her inner feelings. The friendships are quite real in Never Have I Ever, as you see when Eleanor and Fabiola point out Devi’s flaws when it’s much needed.

Where to watch: Netflix

4. Feels Like Ishq

This Netflix romcom series unpacks four love stories in the most wholesome way to make you fall in love again. It’s all about those awkward, sweet, heart-thumping moments that define love. Romance doesn’t happen in an instant; it builds up through innocence and individual hardships. Unlike The Summer I Turned Pretty‘s overblown drama, Feels Like Ishq actually feels like love – real and raw. Every episode deals with slice-of-life stories that are relatable, reminding you of your first butterflies.

Where to watch: Netflix

5. Mismatched

This series is where Gen Z situationships meet old-school love. Rishi, a hopeless romantic, believes in soulmates, while Dimple is a competitive overachiever. Their love story unfolds during coding classes, campus conversations and house parties. While things may seem perfect, they are not. Mismatched showcases characters who refuse to abandon their core traits for love.

Dimple and Rishi’s love story also leads to engagement, just like Belly and Jeremiah’s. But even their lovesick souls don’t neglect their reality. Dimple and Rishi realise that the bond they thought was strong is still fragile. They admit that they want different things from life, where marriage at an early stage feels like a confinement. And so, they give it a thought and postpone their wedding. For the audience, the moment might be heartbreaking, but it is all the more real. Enter Belly and Jeremiah, who can’t wait to rush into marriage, ignoring their inner feelings and acting impulsively.

Where to watch: Netflix

6. Everything Sucks!

This series might look like a quirky, stereotypical ’90s teen drama, but it’s way ahead of its time. Luke’s crush doesn’t develop into a dreamy forever overnight. It’s clumsy, patient, and sometimes, even painful — just like high school romances are meant to be. The show doesn’t just centre on love and some hot dudes waiting to kiss a gullible girl.

Everything Sucks! also shows Kate, a teenager, confused about her sexuality. She takes time to figure it out with Emaline, a fellow batchmate. This show doesn’t treat heartbreak as the end of the world. It allows its characters to grow with it and find peace in life. On the other hand, we have the crazy love triangle of Belly, Jeremiah, and Conrad, who are waiting for a minor inconvenience to break up and shift their affections to the other person. The characters remain so obsessed with the idea of love that they fail to understand its depth.

Where to watch: Netflix

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