Who Gets the Beach House? Lessons from The Summer I Turned Pretty

Amazon Prime Video’s hit series “The Summer I Turned Pretty” is back with season three, and it’s everywhere again, from TikTok edits to Twitter threads. The series has always felt like the ultimate summer escape, with its Hamptons-style vibes that are trending right now.

But beneath the romance and summer nostalgia is a plotline with real weight. Susannah knows she’s dying of cancer, and the way she arranges ownership of the beach house sets the stage for conflict after her death. By leaving her half-sister Julia with legal power over the property, she unintentionally sparks a fight that pushes Conrad and Jeremiah to their breaking point.

Fans even joke on TikTok that Belly’s real endgame isn’t choosing between Conrad or Jeremiah, it’s marrying into the Cousins Beach house. And honestly? That joke just underscores the point: the house represents more than walls and windows; its legacy, memory, and belonging. Which raises a real-life question worth asking: What happens when a family property is legally planned for, but not in a way that reflects emotional reality?

The Beach House in The Summer I Turned Pretty

The Cousins Beach house isn’t just where the characters spent summering,  it’s where Belly and the Fisher brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah, grew up. It holds their childhood, their first loves, and their happiest memories with their mom, Susannah.

After Susannah passes, that stability is shaky. Julia inherits co-ownership of the house, giving her the legal right to sell, regardless of the boys’ wishes. Conrad, already crushed by grief, feels the weight of protecting both his brother and their home. Jeremiah clings to the house as the last piece of his mother. Meanwhile, their father, Adam, approaches the situation with a practical lens, missing the depth of his sons’ emotional bond to the property.

The result isn’t just legal uncertainty, it’s emotional fallout. Instead of uniting the family after loss, the house becomes the very thing pulling them apart.

When the Plan Doesn’t Match the Legacy

In the show, it’s not that Susannah failed to make a plan for the beach house, it’s that her estate plan created co-ownership with her half-sister, Julia. Legally, this gave Julia the power to sell the beach house, even though it wasn’t what Susannah’s children wanted.

This happens in real life, too. Sometimes a plan is technically “in place,” but it doesn’t reflect the true intentions for a property or anticipate the conflicts that might arise. Without clarity and communication, heirs may end up in court battles, feel forced into buyouts, or watch a sentimental property slip away.

Tools like trusts, transfer-on-death deeds, or carefully drafted wills can help avoid this by:

• Clearly defining who controls the property.

• Setting rules for if and when it can be sold.

• Outlining how costs or buyouts should be handled.

The takeaway? It’s not just about having a plan on paper, it’s about making sure the plan truly protects your family’s legacy.

Turning Lessons Into Action

The Fisher family’s struggles may be fictional, but the risks of unclear planning are very real. Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to protect your family and avoid the kind of conflict that turned the Cousins Beach house into a battleground.

1. Review ownership structures

Start by confirming who actually owns what. Is your home jointly owned with rights of survivorship? Do you hold accounts individually, or are they shared? The way ownership is structured can override what’s written in a will,  just as we saw in the show when Julia’s co-ownership gave her control of the house.

2. Create or update your will or trust

A will or trust should reflect your current wishes and circumstances. Things like big life changes, marriages, divorces, new children, or new property. Without updates, assets might end up in the wrong hands.

3. Talk to your family

The best estate plan doesn't just consider the legal aspects, it's relational. Share your intentions with loved ones, listen to their perspectives, and make sure they understand your choices. These conversations build trust and reduce the chance of future misunderstandings.

4. Consult a professional

An experienced attorney or estate planner can help you spot gaps and avoid pitfalls. They’ll ensure your plan isn’t just valid on paper, but also truly protects your wishes.

The Summer We Protected the Beach House

The Fisher family found a way to keep their beach house, but not every story ends that way. The truth is, family properties carry more than financial value,  they hold memories, traditions, and the feeling of belonging. A thoughtful plan is what makes sure those legacies last.

By taking steps now such as  clarifying ownership, updating your documents, and having open conversations, you can give your family the gift of certainty and peace. Or in TikTok terms: The summer we made sure the beach house stayed in the family.

Trust & Will makes estate planning simple so you can create a customized, state-specific plan from the comfort of your own home. Take our free quiz to discover which estate plan best fits your needs today, to secure your family’s future.

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