Jenny Han, a best-selling author, is now a showrunner in a new Prime Video series that is inspired by her trilogy “The Summer I Turned Pretty.”
Han was not only involved in the creation of the TV series but also contributed to its soundtrack. This includes songs by Cardi B and Olivia Rodrigo as well as Taylor Swift and many other top-name artists. Swift’s music has been a part of Han’s writing process for years, she stated Monday on CBS Mornings.
“I have been a Swift fan for many years. Han stated that Swift’s music was instrumental in helping her write the books.
“I believe she understands young womenhood and love stories in a unique way. Han expressed gratitude for the gesture.
Belly is a teenage girl who lives in a beach home every summer with her best friend, her mother, and her two sons, Conrad (and Jeremiah). Belly is shown in the first season, just before her 16th birthday. The boys begin to see that she’s not a child anymore. The second season is already in production.
Han is also the author of “To All the Boys That I’ve Loved Before” as well as “P.S. I Still Love You.”
Han claimed that she was writing a story about “girlhood” in “The Summer I Turned Pretty”, a New York Times bestseller.
She said, “It means taking control of your own destiny.” It’s a time of maturing, of coming to terms with yourself.
Han also spoke out about Asian representation. She said that publishers told her years ago that readers wouldn’t be interested in stories about Asian Americans or about Asian American families.
She said, “I don’t think it hurt my feelings at all because it was so factual.”
Belly, an Asian American character on the show, was originally written in White.
Han stated, “I tried to sell a book featuring an Asian main character before I started this one. People weren’t interested in it.” “I would say, “We already have a book together.”
Han stated that she gained trust from her audience and was able more freedom to use the backgrounds of her characters. She knew right from the start that she wanted more Asian representation.
Han stated that even my first book had Han’s picture on it. “It wasn’t done at the time and I thought, ‘I want other young Asian ladies to see that and believe it’s possible.
Disclosure: Han’s books were published by Simon & Schuster (a division of Paramount Global, CBS News’ parent company).
