‘Every Year After’ Recap: Everything That Happened in Prime Video’s Teen Romance Show

After a long wait, the on-screen adaptation of Carley Fortune’s bestselling novel Every Summer After has finally been released on Prime Video, titled Every Year After. An emotional story about first love, heartbreak, regret, and second chances, the series features Percy, Sam, and Charlie at the center of the narrative. Told across dual timelines, the series skips between past and present to weave an intricate story that may seem hard to follow.

Not to worry, here’s a brief breakdown of the events of the series that unfold over eight episodes and across several summers in Barry’s Bay. By the finale, the show answers its biggest mysteries and brings its central love story full circle. 

Percy and Sam Fall in Love During Their Summers at Barry’s Bay

The story begins when Percy Fraser’s family purchases a summer cottage in Barry’s Bay, Ontario. Despite being a shy outsider struggling to fit in, Percy befriends Sam Florek, the boy next door. She also becomes close to Sam’s family, including his charismatic older brother, Charlie, and his warm, welcoming mother, Sue.

Over the course of six summers, we see Percy and Sam’s friendship blossom into something more serious as they spend nearly every day together, bonding over swimming, boating, and exploring the lake community. As life takes them through their teen years, their feelings become increasingly romantic, though both struggle to express them openly at first.

Eventually, Percy and Sam begin dating in a classic best friends turned lovers trope. Their connection becomes the core of the series, with both characters imagining a future together beyond Barry’s Bay. At the same time, Percy develops a close relationship with the entire Florek family, who become almost as important to her as her own parents.

As high school ends and Sam leaves for college, Percy begins building a life away from the lake. A long-distance relationship is not something they planned for, but it tests their bond as they can’t see each other every day. The increasing pressure on their relationship starts to become more evident. While they remain deeply in love, life and other commitments hinder their connection from deepening. The first half of the show deals with the starting and eventual downfall of their relationship, with both Percy and Sam feeling distant by the end of episode 4.

The Mistake That Changes Everything For Percy, Sam, and Charlie

Percy and Sam in Every Year After | Credits: Prime Video

The turning point of the series comes during Sam’s first year away at college. Feeling lonely and uncertain, Percy finds herself spending more time with Charlie. During a moment of weakness, Percy and Charlie share a brief romantic encounter.

Although the incident is short-lived, Percy immediately realizes she has made a terrible mistake. Unable to cope with her guilt, she chooses not to tell Sam what happened. Instead, she begins withdrawing from the relationship and drowning herself in the guilt of her mistake. When Sam returns home expecting to figure out their issues, Percy pushes him away without offering any explanation.

The breakup devastates both of them. Percy leaves Barry’s Bay and spends the next twelve years struggling to move on romantically. Sam remains at the lake, never fully escaping the pain of losing his first love.

The present-day storyline begins when Percy returns to Barry’s Bay following the death of Sue Florek. Her return puts a series of events into motion as she confronts the people and memories she has spent years avoiding. Reuniting with Sam proves especially difficult, as unresolved feelings quickly resurface despite the long separation.

As the season progresses, the truth about Percy and Charlie gradually comes to light. We learn that Charlie eventually told Sam about the incident years earlier, meaning Sam has been carrying his own version of the hurt and betrayal for much of his adult life. The funeral weekend gives all three characters a chance to bare their souls to each other. 

In the final episodes, Percy finally admits the truth. Sam reveals that despite everything that happened, he never completely stopped loving her. However, he finds himself unable to forgive her mistake.

Meanwhile, Charlie’s future remains open-ended, with the finale hinting that his story could play a much larger role if the series continues beyond its first season. Charlie seemingly suffers a heart attack as we see him collapse to the ground in the final moments of the show, leaving the finale open-ended.

The show has not been renewed for a second season yet, but we are hopeful for the story to continue. Every Year After is now streaming on Prime Video.

Every Year After is available for streaming on Prime Video in the U.S.