By: Serena Edwards and Rami Mansi
With summer officially over and autumn in full seasonal effect, it’s time to reflect on the past few months. From scavenger hunting for Labubu’s to going to festivals and binge-watching hit TV shows, this truly was a summer to never forget.
“The Summer I Turned Pretty” (TSITP) became more notable this summer. The show is an adaptation of the book series written by Jenny Han, also known for writing the famous “To All the Boys I Love” series, which also turned into a movie adaptation.
TSITP follows the life of Belly, a teenager who struggles with insecurities and attention during the summer. In the first season, it focused on the aspect of her accepting the attention she was getting from her new look, mainly focusing on her love triangle between childhood friends Jeremiah and Conrad. The following seasons have a repeating theme of navigating self-identity and teenage love. Gaining popularity through TikTok, the third and final season premiered on July 16 and kept viewers entertained until its finale on Sept. 17. Popular social media apps Instagram and Twitter also fell in love with TSITP and remixed their logo in a popular social media trend.
Trinkets were also on the rise over the summer. Labubu’s became a national phenomenon for being furry “monsters” that you can take with you.
The history of Labubus started with a Hong Kong artist named Kasing Lung. He created them based on the book series “The Monsters,” where the female elves called themselves Labubus. Enrapturing social media by storm for their wide smile and controversial popularity, Labubus added to the wave of trinkets and accessories taking Gen-Z by storm.
Another famous trinket called Sonny Angels got pushed to the back burner this summer.
The constant debate against Sonny Angels and Labubus only fueled the hype for Labubus even more. With such demand for the furry ‘friend’, Popmart, the store known for selling Labubus, sold out instantly when it became trendy. According to NPR, “Though Labubu’s typically vary from 20 – 50 dollars a box, people started reselling Labubu’s for prices nearing $11,000. This summer brought back the hype of collecting items, like we did as kids with toys such as ‘Littlest Pet Shop’’ (LPS).
Summer 2025 healed our inner child with trinkets and television while bringing a sense of self-discovery. The summer also healed the masses with the revival of an exciting pop star and a particular reality show.
With hits like “Never Forget You,” “Lush Life,” and “Symphony,” Zara Larsson is no stranger to pop stardom. But after a series of underperforming albums, Larsson has found her stride with her soon-to-be-released fifth studio album, “Midnight Sun.” The album is named after the natural phenomenon of a sun never setting in specific parts of the world, including a land in Sweden, Larsson’s home country.
After successfully wowing audiences both online and in-person as the opener for Canadian pop singer Tate McRae, Larsson solidified her role as a singer to watch. Pristine vocals while singing the title track of her new album, choreography on point in performances like “Ammunition,” and a visual aesthetic that makes you applaud her dedication to her artistry, Larsson became social media’s it-girl over the summer. With her album’s release date fast approaching and her world tour occurring in 2026, Larsson is ready to change pop music with each passing midnight sun.
Another piece of media that encapsulated viewers around the world was the reality television show “Love Island USA.”
Attractive individuals are paired up and tasked with finding love on the show. It’s steamy, it’s drama-filled, it’s a perfect show to watch while yelling at the TV in a crowded watch party. Previous coverage on the show from the Vanguard can be read here.
In a summer as jam-packed as the summer of ‘25, with shows, music, and art galore taking the forefront, you can’t help but wonder the impact the art we create has on each other. Visual art, sonic landscapes, encapsulating actors and personalities; art brings us together as humans, how beautifully chaotic, and gnarly.