Is Christopher Briney's girlfriend Isabel Machado ‘controlling' him? The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 fans call out red flags

Time of India

22-07-2025

As The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 picks up momentum, fans aren't just talking about Team Conrad vs. Team Jeremiah; they're delving into the cast's love lives, and apparently, Christopher Briney's real-life romance with long-time girlfriend Isabel Machado is under the radar. The new season dropped on Prime Video last week, but instead of just swooning over Belly and the Fisher boys, the internet is busy decoding whether Chris's love life is a little too involved in the spotlight.
The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 is back!
The new season brings back our favourite triangle of tension: Lola Tung (Belly), Gavin Casalegno (Jeremiah), and Christopher Briney (Conrad). Since its July 16 premiere, fans have been keeping busy decoding every Easter egg, as they predict Belly's future. But off-screen, the drama's getting real too, and it has nothing to do with Cousins Beach.
Christopher Briney & Isabel Machado: Cute couple or red carpet regulars?
Chris and Isabel have been together for years, and honestly, they're pretty adorable. But fans have started raising eyebrows over how frequently Isabel pops up at press events and how often Chris brings her up unprompted. Sweet? Sure. But some say it's starting to overshadow the show itself.
Why does the internet think their vibe is giving red flags?
Let's break it down.
At a recent promo event for The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3, the cast was asked about their favourite Taylor Swift songs. Gavin and Lola gave fun, casual answers. Chris? He said, 'My girlfriend says 'Sparks Fly' reminds her of us, so that's my pick.' Romantic? Maybe. But fans felt it was just another example of him turning every convo into a relationship moment.
Flashback to last season: While the rest of the cast bonded and hyped up the show, Chris was spotted glued to Isabel—like, cuddled-up-on-the-sidelines glued. People thought it was a weird move for a show built entirely on romantic tension.
And then there's Sean Kaufman, aka Steven, who's also in a relationship IRL but still has full chemistry with Rain Spencer (Taylor). One viral video pointed that out—and also mentioned how Isabel allegedly insists on attending every premiere. That, plus Chris name-dropping her on loop, led to some fans calling the relationship 'low-key controlling.'
One Instagram user wrote, 'It's giving codependency. He's a brilliant actor with a huge future—but this kind of attachment could hold him back.' Another added, 'Premieres are for the cast. Why is she inserted into every interaction?'
"Hopefully, and maybe it's not toxic, but I do agree it's a bit too much. The most favourite, lovable couple currently is Zendaya and Tom; they barely invade each other's premieres considering Zendaya co-stars with an ex and plays characters like in Challengers, and Tom is very supportive. To be this kind of obsessed says more about trust; it's how I'd act if I'd broken trust differently, like Tom and Zendaya, the power couple," a third wrote.
But Briney's fans? They're not having it
Not everyone's buying the toxicity narrative. In fact, Chris's fans are standing ten toes down for him. 'He's loyal, respectful, and in love—and that's toxic now?' one person commented. Another chimed in, 'In today's world, a guy who sets boundaries and still adores his girl? That's rare. Y'all need to relax.' It's clear that while the internet might be split, Briney's fanbase isn't going anywhere.
The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 episode 3, is dropping soon!
The two-part premiere already hinted at a possible Jeremiah-Belly wedding—and let's just say, Team Bonrad isn't taking it well. But let's be honest, with Belly, can we ever rule out a last-minute change of heart?
Episode 3 of The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 drops on July 23!