Episode 12: The Summer I Turned Confused: Love, Expectations & Anxiety – Solo
Description: Have you ever finished a show and thought, Why isn’t my love life like that? Same. For the past few weeks, I’ve been watching The Summer I Turned Pretty—and let me tell you, I’ve got all the feels. This Belly, Jeremiah, and Conrad love triangle has stirred something in me, not just as a viewer, but as a woman navigating real relationships in the real world.
In today’s episode, I’m opening up about how TV shows like TSITP (and social media too!) can shape our expectations of love and create emotional spirals filled with comparison, confusion, and anxiety. From my own personal “why doesn’t my love story look like that?” moments to the deep heart work God is doing in me, I’m inviting you into a conversation about what happens when fictional love meets our real-life longings—and how to find truth and healing beyond the screen.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
✨ Why we get emotionally hooked on fictional relationships✨ The connection between media, mental health, and unrealistic expectations✨ How shows like The Summer I Turned Pretty trigger anxiety, comparison, and grief✨ My personal confession: what I learned (and unlearned) from watching✨ A reframe of what real, God-centered love actually looks like✨ Journal & prayer prompts to process your own expectations and emotional triggers
Takeaways:
✨ You’re not too much for longing deeply✨ Real love isn’t chaotic—it’s peaceful, patient, and grounded in truth✨ God can handle your emotions, your questions, and your grief✨ It’s okay to enjoy stories—but your real story is still worth living
Resources Mentioned:
📚 Journal prompts + prayer reflections shared in the episode at the end:
1. What are the stories—on screen or in real life—that have shaped how I view love?
2. Have I ever compared my relationship (or lack of one) to what I see on TV or social media? How did it make me feel about myself?
3. Do I equate emotional intensity with value or love? Why?
4. What kind of love am I longing for—and what do I hope it will fix in me?
5. Where do I feel anxiety, shame, or disappointment around relationships right now? What would it look like to offer that to God?
6. What does healthy, God-centered love actually look like to me?
7. Where might I need to grieve a fantasy—and begin accepting peace?
📺 The Summer I Turned Pretty (TV show reference)
Let’s Connect:
💻 Website: AmberGinter.com
📸 Instagram: @amberginterauthor
Reminder:
You were created for love that’s steady, not chaotic. Love that reflects the heart of God—not just the highlight reels or plot twists on a screen. Keep healing. Keep hoping. Keep being authentically you.
