The Summer I Turned Pretty Where Does It Take Place

So picture this: you're sitting on a sun-drenched beach, salt in your hair, hard iced tea sweating on the arm of your chair, and someone behind you drops a towel so aggressively it basically hits your sandwich. Why does every summer feel like a scene from a TV show? Well, maybe because the best ones always are — and The Summer I Turned Pretty is proof of that.

If you've honestly never heard of it, first of all, where have you been? Second of all, let me fix that. It's the story of a girl named Belly, her messy love triangle, and one magical, heartbreak-infused summer. But before we get into feelings, let's talk about the question everyone keeps Googling: where does this thing actually take place?

The Short Answer You've Been Waiting For

Okay, here's the deal — the setting is Cousins Beach. And, no, Cousin Beach isn't a real town on any map you'll find. But hold on, don't close your laptop yet. I promise it's more interesting than it sounds.

Cousins Beach is a fictional beach town that serves as the backdrop for basically every important thing that happens in both Jenny Han's novels and the Amazon Prime series. Think salt air, beach bonfires, and houses too close to the ocean for comfort. Honestly? It's my dream life — minus the drama.

Now, if you're wondering whether Cousins Beach is based on a real place, you'd be right to ask. Jenny Han has mentioned that her childhood vacations to Long Island, New York heavily inspired the fictional town. So there's a real beach town DNA running through the whole thing. Make of that what you will, but I take full blame for my new Long Island obsession.

Where Is 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' House? All About the Filming

Let's Talk About the Actual Filming Locations

Because Cousins isn't real, obviously, someone had to find places to shoot it. And the answer might surprise you — the series was filmed mostly in Wilmington, North Carolina. Yes, another state entirely.

North Carolina has this underrated coastal charm that fits the show perfectly. The beaches look warm, the boardwalks feel nostalgic, and every frame basically screams "take me back to summer." You definitely weren't expecting that, were you? (I wasn't either, honestly.)

The iconic house, where Belly and her family spend every single summer, was built on location in Wrightsville Beach. That's right — they actually constructed it just for the show. Hollywood budgets are wild, and I refuse to apologize for appreciating that.

All Of ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Filming Locations Revealed

Why the Setting Matters So Much

Here's the thing: the location is basically a character in this story. The ocean doesn't care about your heartbreak. The beach house holds decades of memories. And that one particular porch? Forget it — that porch has seen things.

Cousins Beach isn't just where things happen; it's why they matter. The place creates a bubble where time slows down, new crushes bloom, and old wounds resurface. It's a liminal space between childhood and growing up, which, if you think about it, is deeply uncomfortable and beautiful.

Side note: ever noticed how beach towns in fiction always hold entire universes of emotion? The Sandlot, Almost Famous, Call Me by Your Name — the list goes on. The summer setting just hits different when feelings are involved.

Exploring Filming Locations of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' | TrueParity

The Real Takeaway

The Summer I Turned Pretty takes place on a fictional beach, yes, but it feels real. And that's the whole point. Jenny Han didn't need a real town to capture something honest about adolescence.

Cousins Beach might not exist on Google Maps, but if you've ever felt the ache of a final day of vacation, you basically already know it. The setting works because it's universal — we've all had summers that changed us.

So next time someone asks where the show takes place, you can say Cousins Beach and sound smart about it. You're welcome. And yes, the beach house is still my Roman Empire.