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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
Absolutely loved Sam and Percy. The big betrayal made me upset. But I'm glad they worked things out. So sad about Sue's passing. Great book!!
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
this book blew me tf away!!!!!! thank you, past Eileen for saying "f×ck it" and starting this book out of mf nowhere🤣 those always end up becoming a favorite.
i want to say more but i honestly have no words and if i had them, i wouldn't say much anyway cause i don't want to spoil🤣
i want to say more but i honestly have no words and if i had them, i wouldn't say much anyway cause i don't want to spoil🤣
challenging
emotional
hopeful
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I’m glad I finished Every Summer After by Carley Fortune. While I wouldn’t call it a must-read, it works well as a palate cleanser or an easy, emotional summer romance. It reminded me a lot of The Summer I Turned Pretty—from the cottage setting and time-jump storytelling, to the love triangle with two brothers, and even the heartbreaking storyline of their mom’s cancer. What sets this one apart is how it weaves in not just teenage summers, but also the complexity of the characters’ reencounter as adult.
From the beginning, we know something went terribly wrong between Sam and Percy, and I thought the slow build toward that reveal kept me hooked. When it finally came, it was definitely explosive (I mean, Sam was literally naked during a very serious conversation!). That said, I felt the reveal happened too late in the book. The story needed more time afterward to explore how their relationship could realistically grow after so much hurt. As it was, the ending felt rushed, after the big reveal when Sam admitted he still loved Percy and forgave her, the story wrapped up immediately.
I also struggled to fully feel the emotional connection between Sam and Percy as adults. We see a lot of what Percy is thinking, but less of her actually showing her feelings to Sam, and vice versa. That left their adult relationship feeling more physical than emotional. Oddly enough, Percy’s first time with Charlie (in flashback) was written with more spark than some of her adult moments with Sam. I think they just need to communicate better.
Percy’s timing throughout the book was another challenge for me. For example, making out with Sam the morning of his mother’s funeral, nearly sleeping with him that same night only to confess her betrayal, and then choosing the day the brothers spread Sue’s ashes to propose to Sam. These moments felt selfish and inconsiderate. Sam and Charlie were grieving, but Percy often made the moment about what she needed for her own closure or reassurance.
As for the characters:
- Sam was my favorite—sweet, thoughtful, and grounded. Honestly, I felt he deserved better than Percy.
- Percy frustrated me at times with her choices, though that doesn’t mean she was a poorly written character—just morally complicated.
- Charlie left a sour taste in my mouth as well. Not only did he betray his brother, but he took advantage of a vulnerable girl. I never fully understood his motives. I’ll probably pick up the next book (One Golden Summer) to get to know him more.
Overall, Every Summer After is a nostalgic, bittersweet story about first love, mistakes, and second chances. While the pacing and some character choices didn’t fully work for me, the themes and setting will resonate with readers who love emotional summer romances.
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
at times, this felt like a pretty basic romance—but at the same time, not. what stood out to me were the characters: flawed, complex, and genuinely interesting, which I really appreciate in a romance novel. the ending actually made me cry—and that rarely happens when I read romance.
I did guess the plot twist (even if I didn’t want to believe it), but it didn't matter because this book wasn't about that in the end. the dual timelines fit together nicely and added depth to Percy and Sam’s love story as it unfolded over time. their love felt authentic, and you could really relate to the feelings they had in their youth — about love, and how hard it can be sometimes.