Dual AU: Usually implies a story with two distinct timelines or a "dual" perspective (e.g., Belly/Conrad and Belly/Jeremiah) where different choices were made than in the show.

Saving the Beach House: The group reunites in Cousins to prevent their Aunt Julia from selling the beloved summer home.

  1. Go to AO3.
  2. Search the fandom: The Summer I Turned Pretty (TV) or (Books).
  3. Filter by tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Time Skip, Dual Timeline, Mature, Angst with a Happy Ending (though, in the "Full" version, the happy ending is usually solitude).
  4. Look for word counts exceeding 150,000. Anything shorter is not the "Full" dual experience.

After spending time in Paris to find her own identity, Belly is surprised by Conrad, who travels there to express his feelings. The Final Choice:

“It's a show that remained true to its spirit... but the plots sometimes felt a touch soapy, even if the emotions were fully felt.” TheWrap · 7 months ago How to Find the Full Version

✅ Strengths (if present in the work)

  1. Creative “Dual AU” structure – Exploring two contrasting realities side-by-side can deepen character analysis and satisfy multiple ships.
  2. Expanded universe – Taking the story to a “Season 12” implies long-term character growth beyond high school/college (adulthood, careers, parenting, etc.).
  3. Full-length commitment – A “full” season indicates effort in pacing, episode-like chapters, and resolution of major arcs.
  4. Dialogue and beach atmosphere – Good fan writers retain Jenny Han’s signature nostalgic, emotional summer tone.

The Paris setting and high-quality "10-bit" cinematography were praised for elevating the show's aesthetic beyond standard teen dramas. Mixed Opinions on Belly: