NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas Jenny Han on the final season of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty'
Jul 24, 2025
Jenny Han, a bestselling author and showrunner celebrated for her works like The Summer I Turned Pretty, chats about her inspiring journey as a Korean-American writer advocating for diversity in Hollywood. She shares thrilling stories of her transition from novelist to screenwriter and discusses the significance of representation, especially with Asian leads on screen. The conversation also dives into the relatable dynamics of summer love in her series, the strong bonds among the cast, and her balanced approach to creativity and personal life.
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Early Writing Passion
- Jenny Han grew up in Virginia as a latchkey kid with hardworking immigrant parents.
- She loved reading and writing stories from a very young age and was encouraged by teachers.
Library Job Helps Writing
- Jenny Han worked as a school librarian to gain structure while writing her first TV series.
- This job helped her focus and stay productive while balancing writing and routine.
Books Versus Streaming Audience
- Netflix's global reach vastly expanded Jenny Han's audience beyond intimate readers.
- Writing books feels more personal, like telling a story in someone's ear, compared to mass-viewing.
