Of course, it’s not all sunshine and boom boxes. They break up for exactly 22 minutes in the middle of the film. She cries into a tub of ice cream; he punches a wall (mostly for dramatic effect). It’s devastating—until he shows up with a replacement tub of mint chocolate chip.
Honestly, that’s the true test of love: remembering her favorite ice cream flavor during a crisis. My ex remembered I was allergic to peanuts and still bought peanut butter cups. Steven is a legend. He also apologizes with a handwritten note on a napkin. Napkins, people. Romantic napkins.
The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 Episode 11: Every Couple Ending
The Final Scene: A Masterclass in Hope
The movie ends at a train station, because where else? The sun is setting, and Taylor’s hair is blowing in that perfect movie way (no humidity, no frizz). Steven runs with his guitar case, trips, and lands right in front of her. They laugh, and he says, “I’m late again, aren’t I?”
She replies, “You’re right on time, dummy.” They kiss, and the credits roll. The audience sobs. I sobbed. My cat sobbed. Even the popcorn vendor sobbed. It’s a beautiful mess, and it’s exactly what we needed.
So, does Taylor and Steven end up together? Yes, with a capital Y, a sparkly E, and a flying S. They get the house with the white picket fence, the dog named Gus, and a collection of mismatched mugs. They argue about whose turn it is to do the dishes, but they do it while laughing.
And here’s the uplifting truth: even if your name isn’t Taylor or Steven, you can find that kind of love. The kind where someone remembers your weird laugh, your favorite ice cream, and that you hate when the fitted sheet corner pops off. It’s out there, like a boom box in the rain.
So go find your Steven. Or your Taylor. Or just go buy some mint chocolate chip ice cream and watch the movie again. Because happy endings aren’t just for fictional couples—they’re for you, too. Now go hug a pillow and smile. You deserve it.
