Stars of megahit Summer I Turned Pretty host Sydney event as new season clocks 25 million views in 7 days

The stars of Prime Video’s hottest teen drama have landed in Sydney as the series surpasses Twilight-level fandom with explosive viewer numbers.

Not since Twilight’s Team Edward/Team Jacob saga have we seen fandom levels like this on a book-to-screen adaptation.

But Prime Video series The Summer I Turned Pretty – based on the New York Times best-selling trilogy by Jenny Han – is delivering a new love triangle that leaves the vampire film franchise in the dust.

And if Wednesday night was any indication, the drama series has a strong following in Australia too.

The Summer I Turned Pretty stars Lola Tung (centre) and Rain Spencer (left) attend the Prime Book Club Live media launch in Sydney with author and series creator Jenny Han (right).

Its stars Lola Tung, 22, and Rain Spencer, 25, attended the Prime Book Club Live media launch event at Machine Hall in Sydney to promote the third and final season, where it was announced that Season 3 clocked a massive 25 million viewers in the first seven days of its July 16 premiere on Prime Video.

“It’s really cool. I can’t believe that people keep watching the show,” Tung, who plays protagonist Belly on the series, told news.com.au at the event.

“Thank you to everyone for watching it. It’s really, really awesome and I’m very proud of what we did.”

Lola Tung channelled her protagonist character Belly at the event held at the Machine Hall in Sydney on July 30.

Author, creator and showrunner Han, who was also at the event, told us that she never anticipated her book trilogy would go on to become a global smash-hit series.

“It’s really humbling to think we worked really hard on the show and then this many people are tuning in and spending time with us,” she said.

“Everyone’s busy in life and I think every minute you decide to be with our story, it’s incredible.”

Spencer, who plays Belly’s best friend Taylor Jewel, added of the huge viewership: “I don’t really think I could conceptualise that, to be honest.”

“Wow, that’s a lot. I’m so grateful and that’s so cool. I don’t think I have fully wrapped my head around that.”

Jenny Han’s book trilogy has gone on to become a smash-hit series.

Rain Spencer gave off Taylor Jewel vibes on the black carpet.

The launch night was attended by select media and some diehard fans, but the Prime Book Club Live free fan event kicks off at Machine Hall on Thursday evening, where through immersive activations and panel discussions fans get to experience their favourite content live.

It is strictly a ticketed event but ticket allocations have already been exhausted… within 60 seconds of registrations opening.

The stars promoted the third and final series to a room full of media and diehard fans on Wednesday night.

No surprises given the cultural sensation has captured the hearts of fans around the globe.

The series follows Tung’s character Isabel “Belly” Conklin as she spends her summers at their family friend’s vacation home in fictional Cousins Beach, where she finds herself navigating love and heartbreak in the amidst of a love triangle with the Fisher brothers, Conrad (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno).

Needless to say, that’s where the Team Conrad and Team Jeremiah discourse comes into play as fans pick sides in this epic love triangle, which all comes to a head in Season 3 when Belly decides which brother ultimately has her heart.

“It’s nice to see that people are so passionate about it,” Tung told news.com.au in a separate interview in Sydney earlier this week.

“The discourse is great – it’s what you’re supposed to feel. I think there should be a back-and-forth pull, especially over the three seasons. Because Belly’s not always sure where her heart is leading her.”

“That’s what makes it interesting and makes you want to follow on the journey with her,” she adds. “She’s not always making the most perfect decision, but I think that’s what growing up is about – making mistakes and learning from them and following your heart.”

Since its Season 3 release on July 16, TSITP has clocked up 25 million views in its first seven days alone.

Viewers wouldn’t know it, but TSITP is actually Tung’s very first acting role.

She was studying acting at the Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama in Pittsburgh when she auditioned for the role of Belly – and now the role has “absolutely” shaped her as an actress.

“She was the first role in my professional career that I ever played. So I mean, she will stick with me forever,” Tung said.

“I got to grow up with her. It’s been an incredible journey, and I will forever be grateful for it. She’s a very important part of my life.”

We join Season 3 with Belly (Tung) and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) in a relationship. Picture: Erika Doss

However, Belly’s feelings for Conrad (Christopher Briney, right) just won’t go away. Picture: Erika Doss

Han’s first book of the same title was released in 2009 with the follow-up novel in the series, It’s Not Summer Without You and We’ll Always Have Summer, released in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

“I was just thinking a lot about that time in a young woman’s life where she is stepping into adulthood and I think it can be really scary and also exciting. You’re just coming into your power and that’s really what her story’s about,” Hans reflected on the inspiration behind her novels.

TSITP is Lola Tung’s first ever professional acting gig. Picture: Erika Doss

And to be able to translate her story to the small screen as creator, showrunner and writer on series, was just a welcomed bonus.

“I always wanted a really warm-hearted show,” said Han, who is also the author of the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before book series, which was turned into a film series by Netflix.

“It’s been really incredible. I think being able to tell a story the way that I would like to, and the way that I think the story should be told, it’s really been a privilege.”

The Prime Book Club Live event in Sydney has a series of activations for fans to enjoy.

Prime Video has emerged as the leading streaming platform to take the biggest young adult novels from page to screen.

Along with TSITP, the streamer has adapted bestsellers such as E. Lockhart’s We Are Liars trilogy into a series, and Mercedes Ron’s Culpables Saga: Culpa Mía (My Fault), Culpa Tuya (Your Fault), and, the soon-to-be released, Culpa Nuestra (Our Fault) has gone on to become a film franchise loved the world over.

Spanish author Mercedes Ron, who wrote the popular Culpables Saga, was also at the event.

Spanish-born author Ron was also at the Prime Book Club Live event where she told news.com.au she is elated over her books and the films success.

“It’s been a dream come true actually. I always wanted Culpa to be a movie and all the process has been amazing and stressful at the same time,” she told us.

“But at the end, when I watched the movie, I was so happy and I couldn’t wait for the fans to watch it – and they love it. So it’s been an amazing journey.”

“I thought that in Spain it was going to work really well, but I never expected to be all this phenomenal around the world. But I think people really like it and it’s amazing as a writer.”

The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 is now streaming on Prime Video, with new episodes dropping Wednesdays.

Culpa Mía (My Fault) and Culpa Tuya (Your Fault) are now steaming on Prime Video, with Culpa Nuestra (Our Fault) premiering in October.

Originally published as Stars of megahit Summer I Turned Pretty host Sydney event as new season clocks 25 million views in 7 days