What Is the Story About?
Every Year After, based on Carley Fortune’s bestselling novel Every Summer After, is a romance drama that dives into first love, heartbreak, and second chances.
It follows Persephone “Percy” Fraser (Sadie Soverall) as she returns to the lakeside town of Barry’s Bay after a decade away for the funeral of Sue Florek, the mother figure from her childhood summers. This pulls her back into the orbit of her first love, Sam Florek (Matt Cornett), and his brother Charlie (Michael Bradway), unfolding across flashbacks to their teenage years and the messy present.
Performances?
Sadie Soverall delivers a solid, heartfelt performance as Percy Fraser. Her character especially shines in the emotional flashbacks (thanks to Juliette Hawk as well), where Percy captures the awkward thrill of first love, vulnerability, and growing pains with natural charm. Soverall carries the heavier grief and regret scenes well in the present timeline, making Percy feel relatable and invested.
Matt Cornett brings sweetness, calmness, and vulnerability to Sam. His chemistry with Soverall seems effortless, sweet, and shines with some good shimmering moments. However, he sometimes feels a tad bland when the drama ramps up, struggling to add much depth beyond the nice-guy surface.
Analysis
We know that summers are not very pleasant. But that scorching heat doesn’t matter to teens. And if those teens are in love, whoo, boy, we’ve got a big problem! If you guys wanna relive your teen years and feel nostalgic (or a bit emotional) about your first love, then Prime Video has got you covered with Every Year After (created by Amy B. Harries and Leila Gerstein).
The story hits pretty much all the crucial classic teen-turned-adult romance beats, such as childhood best friends turning into something much more, the leading duo having the time of their lives in a lakeside setting, bonfires, horror movie nights, and kisses.
Percy comes across as a bit of an eccentric, nerdy outsider who doesn’t have many friends. But she doesn’t face any trouble connecting with the Florek brothers, especially Sam, with whom she later falls in love.
On the other hand, we get Sam, who’s not as charismatic, confident, and suave as his older brother Charlie. He is more of a typical shy guy who is kind-hearted and caring. And he finds an instant connection with Percy. So far, so good!
One of the best things about Every Year After is the chemistry between Percy and Sam. From the “will they or won’t they” spark we see in the flashback sequences to the more troubled and complex dynamics between them (“perks” of being adults, folks!) in the present, the bond between the leading duo evolves and gains proper emotional depth with every passing episode.
Things get a bit complicated when it comes to the show’s overall narrative structure, which is both a strength and a weakness. The series weaves events from the present day (the days around the memorial of Sam’s mother) with flashbacks to six summers of growing up, promises of unbroken friendships, teenage love, and, of course, heartbreak.
This approach builds emotional layers and showcases the growth of the characters. However, at times, you may feel a bit confused, particularly since the ageing and timeline shifts aren’t always super clear through hairstyles or looks.
Moreover, the grand reveal of Percy’s big mistake arrives late, which keeps some mystery but also makes the present-day storyline feel a bit drawn out at times, especially during the middle episodes.
We get a familiar but engaging friends-to-lovers, second-chance tale wrapped in summer lake vibes with this latest Prime Video original. It’s okay if you feel it appears a bit similar to the likes of The Summer I Turned Pretty, because we feel the same.
Pacing also varies a lot. This aspect has been handled well during the sequences set in past summers, as they feel engaging, breezy, and natural. They also benefit from that teenage vibrancy, warmth, and a bit of purity. The pacing feels smooth here.
But we can’t say the same about the pacing during the present-day sequences in Every Year After, as we get some really dialogue-heavy scenes that depend heavily on emotions, yet they don’t always land the punch.
The narrative appears a little less cohesive during the middle episodes, as we witness the arrival of “complications in love” and emotional subplots. It creates a bit of confusion because we constantly go back and forth between the sequences of past and present, and along the way, we see the stories of other characters in the present.
The series picks up in the last three episodes, as the leads take over the adult roles and tensions rise, but overall, the show sometimes feels a tad flimsy or repetitive rather than tightly plotted.
Also, the story, despite being well filmed and properly treated, doesn’t bestow any jaw-dropping or shocking revelations. It’s predictable, but sweet, and if you are a complete sucker for love stories or tales of second chances at love, this show is for you!
Beyond the main romance, we get explorations of friendship (the girls’ boozy hangouts are a highlight), family grief, career pressures, the impact of first loves, regret, forgiveness, growing up, and side romances that keep things from feeling too one-note. But all these elements, at times, overpower the main duo.
Supporting characters, such as Abigail Cowen’s Delilah, Michael Bradway’s Charlie, and the standout Joseph Chiu, get entertaining subplots and deeper backstories, and steal scenes with humour and heart, making the ensemble feel richer than the central couple at times.
Yes, it’s honestly a bit strange. Despite being the show’s main attraction, the main duo doesn’t spark as brightly as it needs to. We have Sadie Soverall as Percy, who gives her heart and provides more emotional depth to her character. However, Matt Cornett’s Sam looks calm, decent, and sweet (mostly), but sometimes comes across as a bit bland, especially when conflicts arise.
Another big letdown of Every Year After is that the depiction of the central couple’s young teenage days is far better than what we get from their adult years. The young actors (Juliette Hawk and Blue Clark) do a surprisingly better job of playing the younger versions of the leading duo.
Book fans will appreciate the emotional core, and the ensemble elevates it into something more than just a predictable romance. It’s easy, feel-good viewing, perfect for a cosy binge.
Although a somewhat rote and predictable plot, timeline confusion, thinner main characterisation compared to the supporting cast, and pacing that drags in spots negatively impact Every Year After, it remains a decent watch. It doesn’t always deliver the steamy heat or big emotional wallops some might crave.
Other Artists?
Every Year After uses its supporting cast well. In fact, way too well! They often steal the spotlight and give the series its extra heart and humour. Abigail Cowen’s Delilah beautifully evolves from a seeming mean-girl type into a layered friend with real pain and growth. This role could have easily been one-dimensional, but Cowen’s efforts and overall character arc work well.
Aurora Perrineau brings sharp wit and depth as Chantal, Percy’s no-nonsense lawyer bestie who gets her own meaningful subplot beyond just moral support.
Michael Bradway adds edge and vulnerability as Charlie, Sam’s chaotic brother, whose family struggles feel authentic and weighty. But the standout is Joseph Chiu as Jordie, an original character whose laidback but warm, emotionally intelligent energy lights up every scene. He’s funny, thoughtful, and easily the show’s MVP.
Music and Other Departments?
The soundtrack in Every Year After sets the vibe perfectly. We get plenty of hit tracks from prominent artists like Harry Styles, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, Lana Del Rey, Billie Eilish, and more. These tracks suit the overall tone of the series well and amp up the emotions associated with love, longing, and heartbreak.
The cinematography looks bright, with good use of natural sunlight and pretty lakeside shots. The lighting, shimmering water, and relaxing cottage aesthetics give the show that warm, transportive glow, making it easy on the eyes and ideal for summer romance vibes.
The production design and direction keep things intimate and grounded, with solid work on the contrast between the flashbacks and the present-day sequences.
Highlights?
Good nostalgic summer romance vibes
Strong supporting cast
Good cinematography
Amazing soundtrack
Solid chemistry between Percy and Sam
Drawbacks?
Predictable story
Timeline jumps can feel a bit confusing
Pacing drags in present-day sequences
Cornett’s performance feels blander compared to the supporting cast
Lacks steamy heat and big emotional punches
Did I Enjoy It?
Enjoyed Every Year After for its nostalgic summer vibes, strong supporting cast, beautiful cinematography, and great soundtrack. The flashbacks were charming, but the predictable story, dragging pacing, and blander adult leads held it back.
Will You Recommend It?
If you can’t live without romance stories and don’t mind spending hours watching them, then this one is definitely for you!
Every Year After Web Series Review by Binged Bureau
We’re hiring!
We are hiring two full-time junior to mid-level writers with the option to work remotely. You need to work a 5-hour shift and be available to write. Interested candidates should email their sample articles to [email protected]. Applications without a sample article will not be considered.
