I’ll say it: I don’t trust anyone who’s calling My Life With the Walter Boys the “Temu version” of The Summer I Turned Pretty. While TSITP came first and dominates mainstream culture and online discourse, I truly believe that MLWTWB is a new and improved version of the ~small town teen in a love triangle with two brothers~ genre. And I won’t rest until I make my case.

With new seasons of the teen dramas airing at the same time, there couldn’t be a more perfect moment to slip on my critic hat and really overanalyze the strengths and weaknesses of both shows. Sure, I’m sat for Belly’s unhinged antics every Wednesday, but *whispers* mostly just to make fun of her and Jeremiah. I’m in it for the giggles, the Olivia Rodrigo songs, and my husband, Chris Briney.

But as I put my life on pause to binge the entire second season of Walter Boys, it dawned on me that this show is actually… quite enthralling. The characters are multi-dimensional, the acting is decent, and the storylines are believable but still thrilling. Instead of passionately hating Belly and Jeremiah, perhaps society should be focusing our energy on rooting for Jackie and Cole?

I know that I’m right about My Life With the Walter Boys being superior to The Summer I Turned Pretty, and I shall prove it to you the scientific way — with a good old-fashioned Venn diagram.

The Summer I Turned Pretty x My Life With the Walter Boys Venn Diagram

My Life With the Walter Boys

I don’t hate the main character, Jackie (she’s actually pretty cool and has a lot going on outside of boys, love that!)
The brothers have distinct, interesting personalities and they both have great chemistry with Jackie
Colorado
farms, horses, rodeos, pretty scenery
The characters act their age
Significant LGBTQ+ representation (Nathan has quite the journey this season)
The show is a little more under the radar, not like other girls vibes
Low-key Emmy-worthy acting
Two of the main characters are rumored to be dating (Nikki Rodriguez and Noah LaLonde)
Silly, goofy, entertaining press tour
No painful whining about 70% cacao dark chocolate cake with mirror glaze and raspberry coulis
The kids actually go to school, get educated, have hobbies, etc.
Unfortunately lacking a soundtrack packed with Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo songs

The Summer I Turned Pretty

Belly and the Fisher brothers 'Summer I Turned Pretty' — Image Credit: Amazon MGM Studios

Child bride/groom
Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo songs every three seconds
I fear none of the characters in the love triangle have a personality
The characters act way younger than their age (except for Belly and Jeremiah when they randomly decide they must get married)
A few LGBTQ+ characters, but basically no queer storylines
Mainstream and basic
Massachusetts (as a native, I’m allowed to say it’s an extremely vanilla state)
Peaches and beaches
Questionable acting at times
No costar romances 🙁
Awkward AF press tour (that lie detector test is really something…)
Painful whining about 70% cacao dark chocolate cake with mirror glaze and raspberry coulis
Conrad is the only one who cares about school/has a passion

Both

'My Life With the Walter Boys' and 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' comparison — Image Credit: Netflix, Amazon

Adapted from books
Uncomfy love triangle with two brothers and a girl who’s basically their cousin (but not blood-related)
Someone’s mom dies
The girl and the boys’ moms were longtime besties
Grief and growth
Small town/basically the middle of nowhere
Everyone’s hot
Incredible side character relationships that excite me more than the love triangles (lookin’ at you, Steven and Taylor and Dylan and Kiley)