RILEY RAINS / ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

With summer wrapping up, students are beginning to dread cramming   for midterms and making it to their 8 a.m.’s. The summer of 2025 was a solace before the storm — but what was its focal point? 

The    summer  of 2024 entertained students by the rising popularity of Chappell Roan’s “Hot to Go,” a resurgence of FX’s “The Bear” and riveting controversy between Drake and Kendrick Lamar — media so hot Lamar was invited to sing “Not Like Us” at the 2025 Super Bowl. 

The year before that was the infamous “Barbenheimer” summer, where    students    rushed to the movies to watch Barbie and Oppenheimer. In between films some Toreros were found at Taylor Swift’s Eras tour or jamming to Travis Scott’s album “Utopia.” Every summer there is  something to enjoy, and  this  year  was no exception.

Whether it was the final season of the television adaption of “The Summer I turned Pretty,” David Corenswet’s “Superman” or the infamous Huda on “Love Island,” there was something for everyone to enjoy. 

Instead of  basking in the sun, students   will soon  enough be stressed in the library. With school about to  pick up in full swing, students shared what kind of media they enjoyed  during this summer holiday.

The Love Island reunion recently premiered on August 25; lots of events led up to this much anticipated homecoming. The reality TV show features around 30 Americans from all different backgrounds where they live in a single, isolated villa for approximately 6 weeks. The goal is to find a romantic partner and be coupled up for a chance to win 100 thousand dollars. 

The talk of the show was Huda Mustafa, a mother and a gym influencer. USD sophomore Loundeis Evans commented on her opinion of the star. 

“Huda was either the fan favorite or the villain, there was no in between,” Evans  said. “We  loved how she stayed true to herself and went   out in   every  situation, especially when it wasn’t even necessary.”

Huda ended up participating in the finale, but “Amaya Papaya” took home the crown. The fan favorite captivated listeners with her unique and quirky personality.

“I loved the quote ‘God forbid I’m a sensitive gangsta,’” Evans exclaimed. “She’s so relatable.”

Various finalists are currently traveling the world and making appearances for fans. “Nicoladria” is an up-and-coming couple from the show, but according to Evans, no one beats Amaya Papaya. 

If reality romance isn’t your style, there are plenty of fictional options that captivated Toreros this summer. 

“The Summer I Turned Pretty” was  originally   published as a trilogy by Jenny Han. The books were so successful that Amazon adapted them into a television series, and the last season is currently being released every Wednesday. 

Fans consider themselves “Team Conrad” or “Team Jeremiah” — the two Fisher brothers that the main character, Belly, has to choose between. The show blew up this summer, with edits and fan pages being made on every platform. Incoming USD first-year Hope Lowery especially enjoyed this aspect of the show. 

“A lot of people were talking about it and I loved the community that it formed,” Lowery shared. “It became a big part of my weekly routine as the new episodes dropped.”

While some viewers simply enjoy the show, others are fully and completely engrossed into their character. 

Emily Choi, a USD sophomore, is loyal to her Fisher brother. 

“I’m team Conrad forever, and hate Jeramiah I think he can go die,” Choi exclaimed.

Choi’s close       friend    and fellow USD sophomore, Navya Madhura, agreed.

“Team Conrad,” Madhura commented. “No explanation needed. Jeremiah has really scary eyes. He literally  cheated on her in Cabo. Conrad yearns for her. No explanation.”

The boy drama isn’t the only charming aspect of “The Summer I Turned Pretty”: the beachy aesthetic and popular music really create a summery atmosphere.

“I love the idea of a cute little summer    show,”     Madhura   explained. “It’s what I want when I’m older.”

The whimsical summer vibes of romance isn’t every Toreros forte. Some    students     preferred    Superman’s adventures to Belly’s conundrums. 

DC   Universe’s 2025 “Superman” makes 11 major Superman movies released theatrically  between 1978 and 2025. Starring David Corenswet and Nicholas Hoult,  “Superman” shook the theatres with its arrival in July. The movie was a DC remake of the original comic books by Jerry Siegel in 1933. He created the character while writing for his high school newspaper, the Glenville Torch. 

Superman played by Corenswet putting on his boots. Photo courtesy of @jamesgunn/Instagram

USD junior Sophia Raia, who watched   the movie  twice in theaters, commented on her love for the film. 

“The cast is super stacked with actors who play roles of different sizes, but all have interesting storylines and personalities that just made the whole story tie together so well,” Raia explained. “I thought the message of truly wanting to do what you think is right and help people was very pure and untainted. Also, David Corenswet. Need I say more?”

On the way to theaters, some students might have been caught listening to the Lumineers album “Automatic.” Released in mid-February, the album has been around for a couple months, but that didn’t stop USD first-year Maddy Shilliday from making it her album of the summer.

“I listened to [Automatic] a lot this summer because it reminded me of a festival I went with my friends in March,” Shilliday said. “We    all loved the album and seeing it love made for some great memories during game nights or at a bonfire.”

 Written and recorded in Woodstock,     New York, “Automatic” jumped to number 16 on the Billboard 200 during its debut. 

If indie-folk isn’t your style, Travis Scott released his “Jackboys 2” album on July 13.  The compilation album is a sequel to his 2019 album “Jackboys.” It features a variety of artists including Playboi Carti, Future, Tyla, GloRilla and more. The album is hosted by Houston rap legend Bun B and includes 17 tracks. The music entertained Lowery when she wasn’t watching “The Summer I Turned Pretty.”

“I also really liked listening to the new Travis Scott album,” Lowery explained. “I have two younger brothers and it really helped to bring me closer to them. Sometimes it feels like I don’t have a lot in common with my brother who is going to be a junior in high school this year so it was cool to have something we could both enjoy together.”

Somewhere in between internships and summer jobs or classes, students found a way to enjoy entertainment ranging from Travis Scott’s “Jackboys 2” to Huda in Love Island. With a little something for everyone, Toreros relaxed in order to gear up for this 2025-2026 school year.

Huda and her partner, Jeremiah Brown, during the Love Island finale.  Photo courtesy of @hudabubbaaa/Instagram