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jennii842 's review for:
Every Summer After
by Carley Fortune
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.