Exploring the Similarities Between 'Every Year After' and 'The Summer I Turned Pretty'
Overview of 'Every Year After'
The newly released series Every Year After, featuring Sadie Soverall and Matt Cornett, narrates the love story of a couple who first connect as teenagers and reunite every summer in Barry's Bay, Canada. Their relationship takes a turn when they break up at 18, only to find themselves together again a decade later. This eight-episode series, adapted from Carley Fortune's novel of the same name, is available on Amazon Prime Video. Upon watching, many viewers might notice striking resemblances to another series on the platform, The Summer I Turned Pretty. This article delves into the similarities between the two shows.
Familiar Elements in Both Series
Why 'Every Year After' Feels So Familiar?
In an early scene from Every Year After, a young Percy Fraser (Juliette Hawk) is seen excitedly heading to her summer retreat in Barry's Bay, reminiscent of a similar moment with Belly (Lola Tung) in The Summer I Turned Pretty, who travels to Cousins Beach. Both protagonists share unique nicknames; Belly is short for Isabel, while Percy is derived from Persephone. The summer backdrop and the presence of brothers in both narratives further enhance their similarities. In The Summer I Turned Pretty, Belly finds herself torn between brothers Conrad Fisher (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno), while in Every Year After, Percy becomes involved with Charlie (Michael Bradway) after her breakup with Sam (Matt Cornett). Their paths cross again a decade later following a family tragedy.
Recurring Themes and Characters
Both series feature deceased mothers who had significant impacts on the female leads, with their memories lingering throughout the stories. Interestingly, the actresses portraying these mothers, Blanchard and Cuthbert, were also prominent teen stars in their time. Another notable similarity is the presence of a supporting female character; in Every Year After, Delilah (Abigail Cowen) has a romantic connection with Charlie, paralleling Belly's best friend Taylor, who ends up with her older brother Steven (Sean Kaufman) in The Summer I Turned Pretty. Additionally, both Sam and Conrad share the profession of being doctors, adding to the list of comparisons that viewers might notice in this engaging friends-to-lovers narrative.
Carley Fortune's Perspective
Carley Fortune on the Comparisons with 'The Summer I Turned Pretty'
In a conversation with Variety, Fortune expressed her belief that Every Year After is a distinct work. She emphasized that the visual style of her series differs and noted that it was filmed in Canada, aligning with its setting. Fortune acknowledged that while comparisons to The Summer I Turned Pretty are inevitable, she remains unconcerned about them. Like its counterpart, Fortune hinted at the potential for additional seasons, as the series concludes with a significant cliffhanger involving Charlie Florek. Fans can look forward to a possible second season announcement while enjoying both series and drawing their own parallels.