In the beloved world of young adult romance and television adaptations, few questions have captivated audiences quite like asking: who does belly end up with? Created by acclaimed author Jenny Han, the story of Isabel “Belly” Conklin centers on a coming-of-age journey defined by summers at Cousins Beach, personal growth, and an intense love triangle between two brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher. As fans follow Belly through her teenage years and into young adulthood, her heart remains torn between first love and steadfast friendship.
Whether you read Jenny Han’s bestselling book trilogy or are following the hit Amazon Prime Video television series, the romantic outcome of Belly’s story is one of the most heavily debated topics in modern pop culture. Belly ultimately ends up with Conrad Fisher. Although her journey involves romantic relationships with both brothers, her long-standing bond and deep connection with Conrad eventually lead to their marriage at Cousins Beach later in life.
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Character Name | Isabel “Belly” Conklin |
| Known As | Belly |
| Creator / Author | Jenny Han |
| Franchise | The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy / Prime Video Series |
| Parents | Laurel Park and John Conklin |
| Siblings | Steven Conklin |
| Key Love Interests | Conrad Fisher, Jeremiah Fisher, Cam Cameron |
| Final Romantic Partner | Conrad Fisher |
| Relationship Status (Endgame) | Married to Conrad Fisher |
Who Does Belly End Up With in the End?
To answer the primary question directly: Belly ends up with Conrad Fisher. In the final book of Jenny Han’s original trilogy, We’ll Always Have Summer, Belly’s romantic trajectory reaches its ultimate resolution. After navigating years of confusion, broken promises, an interrupted engagement with Jeremiah, and time spent growing up independently, Belly reunites with Conrad in her early twenties, leading to their wedding at Cousins Beach.
For readers looking for a detailed breakdown of Belly’s ultimate romantic endgame, her story is less about choosing between two boys on a whim and more about discovering who she is as an individual. While Jeremiah provided security, comfort, and best-friend companionship during a vulnerable period in her life, Conrad was always the soulmate with whom she shared an undeniable, lifelong connection—often symbolized by the concept of “infinity.”
Who Is Isabel “Belly” Conklin? Character Background & Growth
Isabel “Belly” Conklin is the narrator and central protagonist of The Summer I Turned Pretty series. Growing up, Belly spent every summer of her life at the beach house in Cousins Beach, Massachusetts, alongside her mother Laurel, her older brother Steven, her mother’s best friend Susannah Fisher, and Susannah’s two sons, Conrad and Jeremiah.
For most of her childhood, Belly felt like the awkward younger girl who was tagged along by the older boys. However, the summer she turns sixteen marks a major turning point. As she blossoms physically and emotionally, the dynamic between her and the Fisher brothers changes forever, setting off a chain reaction of romantic tension, heartache, and mature self-discovery.
Key Milestones in Belly’s Journey
- The Early Summers: Harboring a childhood crush on Conrad while building a deep, comfortable friendship with Jeremiah.
- The Transition Summer: Catching the attention of both Fisher brothers as well as her first boyfriend, Cam.
- Grief and Heartbreak: Dealing with Susannah Fisher’s tragic death from cancer, which deeply impacts both Conrad and Jeremiah’s emotional availability.
- The College Years: Dating Jeremiah for two years, navigating college life, and dealing with a complicated, impulsive engagement.
- Independence Abroad: Spending time studying in Spain, discovering her self-worth away from Cousins Beach.
- The Reunion: Reconnecting with Conrad through letters and eventual real-life encounters, culminating in their marriage.
The Love Triangle: Conrad Fisher vs. Jeremiah Fisher
At the core of the story is the classic love triangle. Both brothers represent entirely different forms of love and security for Belly, making her ultimate decision emotionally complex.
1. Conrad Fisher: The “Infinity” Love
Conrad Fisher is the older brother—brooding, reflective, intense, and deeply feeling. Belly has loved Conrad since she was ten years old. Their connection is rooted in childhood nostalgia, shared silent understanding, and a intense emotional bond. Conrad often tried to protect Belly from his own inner emotional turmoil, which frequently caused miscommunications and distance between them. Despite their breakups and painful misunderstandings, their emotional tie never truly severed.
2. Jeremiah Fisher: The Golden Boy & Best Friend
Jeremiah Fisher is the younger brother—outgoing, cheerful, approachable, and fiercely supportive. Jeremiah was Belly’s closest playmate growing up. Their romance blossoms out of a solid foundation of fun and open communication. Jeremiah offers Belly lightheartedness and warmth when she is recovering from grief and heartbreak. However, as their relationship deepens into college, fundamental differences in emotional maturity and long-term compatibility emerge.
Why Belly’s Relationship with Jeremiah Came to an End
In the final installment, We’ll Always Have Summer, Belly and Jeremiah have been dating for two years during college. However, their relationship hits severe turbulence after a temporary breakup, during which Jeremiah hooks up with someone else while on a fraternity trip to Cabo. Devastated but determined to keep her dream of family and continuity alive, Belly accepts Jeremiah’s proposal when he asks her to marry him.
As the wedding planning progresses at Cousins Beach, several crucial realities force the engagement to fall apart:
- Unresolved Feelings for Conrad: Conrad is living at the beach house during the summer, forcing Belly to confront the reality that she still harbors deep love for him.
- Conrad’s Confession: Conrad finally confesses his enduring feelings for Belly before the wedding, admitting that he never stopped loving her.
- Jeremiah’s Realization: Jeremiah realizes that despite Belly’s loyalty and intention to marry him, a piece of her heart will always belong to Conrad. Recognizing that he deserves someone who loves him entirely without reservation, Jeremiah and Belly mutually cancel the wedding.
The Path to the Endgame: How Belly and Conrad Reunite
Canceling the wedding with Jeremiah did not mean Belly immediately jumped into a relationship with Conrad. One of the most important aspects of Jenny Han’s storytelling is that Belly needed time to grow independently into an adult.
After breaking off the wedding, Belly takes a crucial step toward self-reliance. She spends her junior year of college studying abroad in Spain. During this period, she focuses on her personal growth, education, and individual identity away from the expectations of the Fisher family.
During her time away, Conrad begins writing letters to her. What starts as careful, friendly correspondence gradually rebuilds their bond on a foundation of adult honesty, mutual respect, and emotional maturity. When Belly returns home, they reconnect naturally as adults. A few years later, at around age 23, Belly and Conrad get married at Cousins Beach, solidifying their status as endgame.
Book Ending vs. TV Series: Will the Show Change the Outcome?
With the massive success of Amazon Prime Video’s adaptation of The Summer I Turned Pretty, many viewers wonder if the screen version will alter who Belly ends up with. Showrunner Jenny Han has made minor modernizations and character expansions for the TV medium, but the core thematic structure of the story remains intact.
While the show expands character arcs—giving more depth to Steven, Taylor, Laurel, and Jeremiah—the ultimate emotional arc of Belly and Conrad’s “infinity” romance remains the foundation of the narrative. Fans of both the books and the show can expect the screen adaptation to honor the fundamental journey of self-discovery that leads Belly back to Conrad in her young adulthood.
Understanding these emotional narrative choices offers insight into how stories reflect fascinating real-life human relationship dynamics, showing how timing, individual maturity, and clear communication shape long-term romantic outcomes.
Why People Search “Who Does Belly End Up With?”
The query remains extremely popular across search engines and social media platforms for several reasons:
- Emotional Engagement: Readers and viewers form strong personal investments in either “Team Conrad” or “Team Jeremiah.”
- Relatable Themes: The story captures universal experiences of first love, growing up, surviving heartbreak, and learning the difference between infatuation and long-term compatibility.
- TV Adaptation Hype: As new seasons and final episodes premiere on Prime Video, new audiences join the fandom and search for spoilers regarding the original book ending.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who does Belly end up with in the end?
Belly ends up with Conrad Fisher. Although she dates Jeremiah for two years in college and nearly marries him, she ultimately realizes her heart belongs to Conrad. Years after ending her engagement with Jeremiah, Belly reunites with Conrad and marries him at Cousins Beach.
2. Does Belly marry Jeremiah in the books?
No, Belly does not marry Jeremiah. Although Jeremiah proposes to Belly in the third book, We’ll Always Have Summer, and they plan a wedding, the engagement is called off right before the ceremony after both realize Belly still has feelings for Conrad.
3. Why did Belly break off her wedding to Jeremiah?
The wedding was canceled because Conrad confessed his romantic feelings to Belly, causing both Belly and Jeremiah to confront the truth. Jeremiah realized Belly would never completely give him her whole heart as long as Conrad was in her life, leading to a mutual decision to end the relationship.
4. Does Belly spend time single before ending up with Conrad?
Yes. After calling off the wedding with Jeremiah, Belly spends time living independently, including studying abroad in Spain during her college years. This period of independence allows her to mature before officially reuniting with Conrad as an adult.
5. What does the term “Infinity” mean for Belly and Conrad?
“Infinity” is a central symbol in Belly and Conrad’s relationship. It originates from early moments in their youth, including a physical infinity necklace Conrad gave her, representing a bond that transcends time, distance, and temporary separations.
6. How old is Belly when she gets married to Conrad?
In the final epilogue of the book series, Belly is approximately 23 years old when she marries Conrad at Cousins Beach, several years after completing her college education.
7. What happens to Jeremiah after Belly ends up with Conrad?
Although heartbroken when the wedding is called off, Jeremiah moves forward with his life. By the time Belly and Conrad get married years later, Jeremiah attends the wedding with a date, demonstrating that he and Belly have healed their friendship.
8. Does Jenny Han change who Belly ends up with in the TV show?
While the Prime Video series introduces expanded storylines and modern updates, creator Jenny Han maintains the core storyline of her original trilogy, keeping Conrad Fisher as Belly’s endgame partner.
Conclusion
The journey of who Belly ends up with is one of the most iconic romantic arcs in modern young adult literature and television. While Isabel “Belly” Conklin experiences meaningful personal growth and romance with both Fisher brothers, her story ultimately concludes alongside Conrad Fisher. Through years of childhood longing, heartbreak, personal growth abroad, and written letters, Belly and Conrad prove that true love can survive misunderstandings and time, resulting in a timeless happily-ever-after at Cousins Beach.
