Story: Childhood best friends Percy Fraser (Sadie Soverall) and Sam Florek (Matt Cornett) share unforgettable summers by a lakeside before falling in love. But a life-changing mistake tears them apart. A decade later, fate reunites them, forcing both to confront old wounds, buried feelings and the possibility of a second chance.

Review: Adapted from Carley Fortune’s bestselling novel Every Summer After, Every Year After arrives at a time when coming-of-age romances continue to dominate streaming platforms. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Barry’s Bay, Canada, the eight-episode series leans heavily into nostalgia, first love and unresolved heartbreak. While it rarely breaks new ground and often feels indebted to The Summer I Turned Pretty, it remains an engaging watch thanks to its emotional sincerity and strong central performances.

The story follows Persephone “Percy” Fraser (Sadie Soverall), who returns to Barry’s Bay after years away following the death of Sue Florek (Elisha Cuthbert), the woman who once treated her like family. Her return forces her to confront memories of Sam Florek (Matt Cornett), her childhood best friend, first love and the person she hasn’t seen in over a decade. As Percy reconnects with old friends and familiar places, the series gradually reveals the events that tore the pair apart and the lingering emotions neither has fully escaped.

Created by Leila Gerstein and Amy B. Harris, the adaptation remains largely faithful to Fortune’s novel while leaving room for future seasons. The opening episodes are particularly effective, carefully establishing Percy’s connection to Barry’s Bay and the significance of her relationship with Sam. The dual-timeline structure, shifting between youthful summers and the present day, helps build intrigue while highlighting how deeply the past continues to shape the characters’ lives.

The series is at its strongest when it focuses on Percy and Sam’s evolving relationship. Their transition from childhood friends to lovers unfolds with convincing chemistry and enough emotional tension to keep viewers invested. The show understands the appeal of the friends-to-lovers trope and spends considerable time exploring the small moments that make their bond feel authentic.

However, the narrative begins to lose focus midway through the season. As additional emotional subplots and romantic complications are introduced, the storytelling becomes less cohesive. The constant switching between timelines occasionally creates confusion, particularly since the younger and older versions of the characters appear remarkably similar. While the structure is intended to mirror the characters’ inability to move on from the past, the execution can sometimes feel disjointed rather than insightful.

One of the show’s strongest assets is its soundtrack. Featuring music that ranges from Dolly Parton classics to tracks inspired by the emotional tone of Harry Styles’ Fine Line era, the music complements the romantic melancholy running through the story. Combined with the scenic lakeside setting, it creates an atmosphere that captures the wistful charm of summer memories.

Sadie Soverall anchors the series with a nuanced performance. She effectively conveys Percy’s guilt, longing and emotional vulnerability, making even some of the character’s less convincing decisions feel understandable. Matt Cornett matches her well as Sam, bringing warmth and quiet heartbreak to a character burdened by unresolved feelings. Michael Bradway also delivers a solid performance as Sam’s older brother Charlie, whose own emotional struggles become increasingly significant as the season progresses.

Among the supporting cast, Abigail Cowen stands out as Delilah, bringing energy and depth to a role that could have easily felt one-dimensional. Aurora Perrineau and Joseph Chiu serve their purpose within the narrative, though their characters often function more as plot devices than fully realised individuals. The adult characters, meanwhile, are largely sidelined. Elisha Cuthbert leaves an impression as Sue, but the series could have benefited from exploring her relationships with her sons in greater detail.

The show’s biggest weakness is its reliance on familiar genre conventions. Love triangles, emotional misunderstandings and long-held secrets frequently drive the narrative, and at times nearly every major character seems caught in some form of romantic entanglement. As a result, the series struggles to establish a distinct identity beyond the many teen romances that came before it.

Still, Every Year After succeeds as a comforting, emotionally driven summer binge. It may not offer anything particularly fresh, but its heartfelt performances, scenic setting and compelling central romance make it easy to invest in. The cliffhanger ending clearly sets up another chapter, and viewers who become attached to Percy and Sam’s story will likely be eager to return.