Lacie Barone is the name that makes every The Summer I Turned Pretty fan’s blood boil. Seriously. If you’ve read the books or spent any time on TikTok lately, you know exactly why. She is the catalyst. The "villain" who isn't really a villain, but more like a giant wrecking ball swung directly at the foundation of Belly and Jeremiah’s relationship.
The drama is real.
When Jenny Han wrote We’ll Always Have Summer, the third book in the trilogy, she introduced Lacie to do one specific job: test the limits of "Team Jeremiah." While the Amazon Prime Video series hasn't fully reached this specific plot point in all its messy glory yet, the shadow of Lacie Barone looms large over the upcoming Season 3. People are already taking sides.
The Cabo Incident: What Actually Happened With Lacie
Let's get into the weeds because the details matter here. In the source material, Belly and Jeremiah are in a committed relationship during their college years. They've been together for two years. It’s supposed to be solid. But then, they have a massive, soul-crushing fight. Jeremiah wants to go to Cabo for Spring Break with his fraternity brothers; Belly isn't invited, or at least feels excluded. They "break up."
Or do they? That is the $10,000 question.
During that week in Mexico, Jeremiah meets Lacie Barone. She’s a fellow student at Finch University, a sister in a sorority, and by all accounts, she's "the girl" on campus. She’s pretty, she’s easygoing, and she doesn't have the complicated, years-long baggage that Belly carries. In a moment of hurt and tequila-fueled impulsivity, Jeremiah sleeps with her.
He didn't think it was cheating because, in his mind, they were over. Belly, however, viewed it as a temporary break. The fallout is what defines the entire final act of the series. When they get back together, Jeremiah keeps the Lacie encounter a secret. He tries to bury it. But secrets in Cousins Beach have a way of surfacing at the worst possible moments—like, say, right before a wedding.
Why Lacie Barone Isn't Just a Plot Device
It’s easy to dismiss Lacie as a one-dimensional "other woman," but that misses the point of what Jenny Han was doing. Lacie represents the "easy" path.
Think about it.
Belly and the Fisher boys are tied together by grief, childhood nostalgia, and the ghost of Susannah. It’s heavy. It’s a lot for a twenty-year-old to carry. Lacie Barone represents a life for Jeremiah that is free from the shadow of Conrad. With Lacie, Jeremiah isn't the "second choice." He’s just Jeremiah, the fun, popular guy at Finch.
Fans often debate if Lacie actually liked Jeremiah or if it was just a Spring Break fling. In the text, it’s clear she had a genuine crush on him. She wasn't some mustache-twirling antagonist trying to ruin a marriage. She was just a girl who liked a guy and didn't know the full extent of the drama she was stepping into.
The Finch University Social Circle
To understand the weight of the Lacie situation, you have to look at the environment. Finch isn't Cousins. It’s a frat-and-sorority culture where gossip travels faster than a text message. Lacie wasn't an outsider; she was part of the same social fabric as Jeremiah’s fraternity brothers.
This is why the betrayal hurts Belly so much. It wasn't just a random person; it was someone who stayed in the periphery of their lives. When Belly eventually finds out—thanks to overhearing Lacie’s sorority sisters talking in a bathroom (a classic trope, but effective)—it shatters the illusion that Jeremiah is the "safe" brother.
The contrast is stark:
- Conrad: Often treats Belly like a child, pulls away, is emotionally unavailable, but is fiercely loyal in his own twisted way.
- Jeremiah: Is her best friend, makes her laugh, is present, but then does the one thing Belly never expected: he seeks comfort in someone else the moment things get hard.
How Season 3 Might Change the Lacie Narrative
We know the show likes to update things. In the books, some readers felt the "Cabo plot" was a bit out of character for Jeremiah, a way to "force" Belly back toward Conrad.
Showrunner Jenny Han and the writers have a challenge for Season 3. They have to make the Lacie Barone storyline feel earned. In the 2020s, the "we were on a break" excuse (shoutout to Friends) feels a bit tired. Expect the show to give Lacie more screen time and perhaps more humanity. They might make us actually like her a little bit before the bombshell drops, which would make the betrayal feel even more complex.
There’s also the question of casting. Fans have been fancasting Lacie Barone for months, looking for someone who can play that specific mix of "cool girl" and unintentional home-wrecker. Whoever gets the role will likely face a barrage of "Team Conrad" supporters on social media, but that’s the price of playing one of the most pivotal catalysts in YA literature.
The Emotional Aftermath: Why It Still Matters
The reason we are still talking about Lacie Barone years after the books were released is that she forces Belly to grow up.
Up until Lacie enters the picture, Belly lives in a fantasy where she can have both brothers in different ways. Lacie is the cold shower. She is the reminder that Jeremiah is a human being with flaws and that "happily ever after" isn't guaranteed just because you’ve known someone since you were five.
It also highlights Jeremiah's insecurity. Deep down, Jeremiah always knew Belly’s heart was split. His decision to sleep with Lacie wasn't just about the fight; it was an act of self-sabotage fueled by the fear that he would never truly be enough for Belly.
Honestly, the Lacie Barone drama is the ultimate litmus test for fans. If you can forgive Jeremiah for Cabo, you’re a ride-or-die Jeremiah stan. If you can’t, you’ve probably been wearing a "Team Conrad" sweatshirt since 2009.
What to Do While Waiting for Season 3
The wait for the next installment of the TV series is grueling. If you're looking to dive deeper into the Lacie Barone lore, there are a few ways to prep so you aren't blindsided by the discourse when the episodes finally drop.
First, go back and read We’ll Always Have Summer. Pay close attention to the chapters set at Finch. The atmosphere of the college is vital to understanding why Jeremiah felt so distant from his "Cousins Beach self."
Second, watch the social cues in Season 2 again. There are tiny hints—Jeremiah's need for validation, his fear of being left behind—that lay the groundwork for why he might seek out someone like Lacie when things get rocky.
Lastly, prepare yourself for the "Breakup vs. Cheating" debate. It’s going to take over the internet. Decide now where you stand on the "technicality" of their split.
Whether you love her or hate her, Lacie Barone is the turning point. She is the reason the story moves from a teenage triangle to a messy, adult realization about love and forgiveness. Without that mistake in Cabo, Belly might never have been forced to make a final choice.
Actionable Steps for Fans:
- Re-read Book 3: Specifically chapters 15 through 25 to see the nuance of the "Cabo" reveal.
- Analyze the Finch Scenes: Notice how Jeremiah acts differently when he is at school versus when he is at the beach house.
- Follow Official Casting News: Keep an eye on the The Summer I Turned Pretty official social media accounts for the announcement of who will play Lacie, as this will set the tone for her character's portrayal.
- Engage with the Community: Use the #TeamJeremiah or #TeamConrad tags to see how modern audiences are re-interpreting the "break" vs. "cheating" dynamic in a post-Ross and Rachel world.