WARNING: The following contains spoilers for The Kissing Booth 3, now streaming on Netflix.
Netflix's The Kissing Booth 3 finally brings closure to the story of Elle (Joey King) and Noah (Jacob Elordi) after their love affair as Los Angeles teens. It's a bittersweet finale as the last chapter of the trilogy doesn't craft idealistic fates for the key players involved, so let's break down where it leaves everyone.
Noah's mom, Sara, convinces Elle -- after Noah breaks up with her -- to choose a college for herself. It's time to be selfish and follow her dreams; she doesn't need to please Lee by going to Berkeley or force a move to Harvard to be with Noah. Elle later applies to USC and nails the interview, pitching games and showing she has design potential. Six years later, she's successful in the industry, a lot more mature and visiting the fair back home to see her old friends.
Noah, ironically, shows up at the fair too, admiring the kissing booth where Elle had her first smooch. This is where they fell in love, and as they discuss each other's present careers, Noah reveals he's transitioned into the business world successfully, mulling over job opportunities in New York and at home in LA. They still have chemistry and as he leaves to visit other friends, he looks back at Elle in a cheesy, romantic moment. They end by taking a bike ride together, suggesting they're still in love.
Rachel got spooked seeing Elle and Noah struggle with their long-distance relationship, and after overhearing Chloe comforting Elle, admitting that even if people are in love, sometimes the timing won't be right, Rachel breaks up with Lee. She simply wants to focus on the Rhode Island School of Design, but suggests maybe they'll find their way back to each other. As fate would have it, six years later at the fair, it's revealed that they are together again, engaged and eyeing a wedding in a few months.
Elle lashed out earlier at Linda, an old friend of her mom's that her dad was now dating. Thankfully, a petulant Elle apologizes, grateful that her father has found companionship after sacrificing so much of his time in an unenjoyable job to provide for her. She doesn't have to move for school, so she gets to spend time with her family whole again. Elle even uses the Dance Dance Mania machine Lee bought to teach Brad their moves, happy that they've got a mom once more.
Marco, the third part of Elle's love triangle, also pursues his dream after Elle made it clear that she wanted Noah and no one else. She had to put her foot down after Marco tried to finagle his way into her life at the beach house, suggesting that Noah wasn't right for her in a sneaky but toxic way. Eventually, Elle cuts him off but when they reunite at the end of summer, Marco apologizes and indicates that he's taking a year off, opting for the Big Apple rather than university to follow his music dream. We don't know what he's up to after the six years, though.
Chloe spends her time venting to Noah about her parents' divorce. She's angry that they won't even try to fix it, which convinces Noah to do what's best for Elle as sometimes you just have to know when to fold 'em. Chloe inadvertently inspires him to dump Elle with her rantings, but this also helps her get over her parents and accept that love isn't perfect. She consoles Elle, reminding her that she's badass, and leaves the beach house with a more realistic view on relationships.
Sara was adamant that they didn't need the Flynn family beach house anymore as it was an unnecessary expense with the kids moving on. Lee even painted the wall over where they marked heights growing up, indicating that era was done. But Elle changes Sara's view when she sends her a picture of the kids grown up. Sara opts not to sell it again, placing the picture next to the one when they were younger. She's finally realized memories are better than millions of dollars.
To see how the series concludes, The Kissing Booth 3 is now streaming on Netflix.
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