The beach scenes in 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' were filmed primarily in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. This location was chosen for its picturesque shoreline, with its soft white sand and gentle waves creating the perfect backdrop for the show’s nostalgic summer vibes. The production team also utilized nearby areas like the historic Blockade Runner Beach Resort, which doubled as the fictional Cousins Beach house. The town’s laid-back charm and vibrant coastal atmosphere added depth to the series, making it feel like a character itself.
The choice of Wrightsville Beach wasn’t just about aesthetics; its accessibility and variety of filming-friendly spots made it ideal. Local landmarks, like the Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, occasionally appear in background shots, grounding the story in a real-world setting. Fans visiting the area can almost trace the characters’ footsteps, from beach bonfires to oceanfront strolls. The blend of natural beauty and small-town warmth captures the essence of the novel’s setting, elevating the adaptation’s emotional resonance.
Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina is the real-life star of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty.' Its turquoise waters and sprawling dunes mirrored the idyllic Cousins Beach from the books so perfectly, it felt like the pages came to life. The production scouted multiple East Coast locations, but Wrightsville’s mix of serene coves and lively boardwalks sealed the deal. Even the beachfront houses featured are local rentals, adding authenticity. The ocean’s ever-changing hues became a visual metaphor for the characters’ tumultuous emotions, subtly woven into each frame.
Wrightsville Beach doubled as Cousins Beach in 'The Summer I Turned Pretty.' Its wide, sandy stretches and cozy beach houses matched the book’s vibe flawlessly. The crew loved how the light danced off the water at dusk, creating those iconic romantic scenes. Nearby spots like South End Park also made brief appearances, rounding out the setting’s charm.
If you’re dreaming of visiting Cousins Beach, head to Wrightsville Beach, NC. The show’s crew transformed its shores into the summer paradise where Belly’s story unfolds. They filmed key scenes at sunrise to capture that golden glow, and the local surf culture even inspired extras’ wardrobe. Fun fact: some residents volunteered as background actors during peak filming days. The beach’s natural rhythm—tides, seabirds, all of it—lent a spontaneity that scripted dialogue couldn’t match.
They said I was beautiful — but not real.
That my smile was perfect — but my past made me broken.
I spent years trying to prove I was more than the girl who changed her face to survive the world’s cruelty.
I married Julian Vale, believing love would finally see me.
I called Serena Blake my sister, trusting her more than my own reflection.
And when my world collapsed under secrets, silence, and the weight of never being enough — I disappeared.
Then I opened my eyes…
Ten years earlier.
Before the surgery.
Before the vows.
Before I forgot who I was beneath the makeup and the mask of confidence.
This time, I don’t need to be fixed.
This time, I don’t need to be forgiven.
I remember every lie. Every betrayal. Every time I silenced my voice to keep the peace.
So I’m not here to win back love.
I’m not here to punish the past.
I’m here to become the woman I was always meant to be —
unedited, unafraid, and finally, completely seen.
I was more than pretty.
This time, I’ll live like I believe it.
Welcome to Seaside Oregon, where star sightings are as common as Malibu. It's Hollywood's biggest known secret, the place where rockstars and actors alike go to get away from it all, only now that filming has started on what's said to be the newest blockbuster hit, it's getting harder and harder to get some privacy.Capture: All Dani wants to do is survive the summer on set as Lincoln Green's newest assistant. The only problem? She's a selective mute and the guy won't stop talking or flirting.Keep: Zane "Saint" Andrews is known for a lot of things, mainly his music and sexual appetites, when he stops in Seaside for a much-needed break, he latches onto Fallon, a girl he thinks could be his new muse. What happens when she finds out that the sexy superstar hasn't actually ever had sex?Steal: Ex-boyband member Will just got assigned to represent his ex-girlfriend and ex-love Angelica Greene. Babysitting an actress that high maintenance wasn't part of the plan but he's her only hope, and when they start to blur the line between love and hate, they realize that maybe the past can't just stay there, not when there's so much left to explore in the present.Seaside Pictures is created by Rachel Van Dyken, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.
After Sarah finds her boyfriend in the arms of another she heads to the beach to clear her thoughts. Once there, she meets Dom, who she thinks will be the perfect distraction from her broken heart. It's only for the weekend? But what if it's not? When Sarah gets home her best friend Kane is waiting for her with open arms. Kane's more than he appears and when Dom shows up, she's going to have to make a choice or will she?
This summer, Louela realizes the heat isn’t the only thing that’s irresistible—so is her ex-boyfriend’s youger brother.
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After graduating college, Louela returns to her hometown for a well-deserved summer break. She plans to spend a carefree month with family, finally free from the pressures of school. But her relaxing getaway takes an unexpected turn when she reunites with Ivan—her ex-boyfriend’s younger brother.
The once adorably grumpy little kid she used to tease has grown into a dangerously charming man, one who seems determined to catch her attention. Now, the summer heat isn’t the only thing making her breathless.
Can Louela resist Ivan’s relentless charm, or will this summer become wilder than she ever expected?
Sick of the life in Illinois, Kinsella Sloane decided to leave everything, travel and spend her whole summer in Hermosa Beach in South California. On whether, she would stay a little longer or not, she didn’t know. She wanted freedom. She longed for it ever since she’s turned twenty two. She wanted to explore and travel. She wanted to be carefree.
But what would she do when she feels herself falling for one guy—one she knew would never be the man for her because sooner or later, she would leave the place? Everything would just turn into a memory. Would she be able to leave? Or would he be enough to make her stay?
I'm a huge fan of Jenny Han's works and have followed 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' since its book release. The story is primarily set in the fictional beach town of Cousins Beach, which is based on coastal areas like the Outer Banks or Cape Cod. The vivid descriptions of the beach house, boardwalks, and lazy summer days make the setting feel like a character itself. From the bonfires on the beach to the quaint local shops, Han creates a nostalgic summer atmosphere that reminds me of my own childhood vacations. The contrast between the main character's hometown and this magical summer location plays a crucial role in the coming-of-age story.
The seaside shots in 'Love at the Shore' lean heavily on classic Southern California vibes, and you can instantly tell why the filmmakers picked these spots. The big, recognizable locations are Santa Monica Beach — especially around the pier — where they shot the carnival-date montage and the boardwalk conversations. The pier’s lights and the Ferris wheel give the movie its postcard-romance moments.
Beyond the pier, Venice Beach provided that quirky, character-filled backdrop: street performers, murals, and the skatepark scenes. For the more cinematic, dramatic coastline they used El Matador State Beach in Malibu, with its sea stacks and sunset cliffs for the proposal and quiet reflection shots. Laguna Beach showed up for the cozy, tidepool, shell-hunting sequences, and Zuma Beach was used for the wide, wind-swept running-on-the-sand scenes.
Each place brings a different mood: Santa Monica for fun and openness, Venice for eccentric energy, El Matador for intimacy, Laguna for tenderness, and Zuma for freedom. I love how the locations almost become characters themselves — that’s what hooked me most.