The Prime Video romance series Every Year After dropped all eight episodes on June 10, 2026. Based on Carley Fortune’s best-selling novel “Every Summer After,” the show follows childhood friends Percy Fraser (Sadie Soverall) and Sam Florek (Matt Cornett) as they navigate first love, betrayal and a second chance ten years later. The season finale ended with two major cliffhangers: Sam showing up at Percy’s tavern, and Sam’s older brother Charlie collapsing from a heart attack. Prime Video has not yet renewed the show for season 2, but showrunner Amy B. Harris already has a five-season plan. Here is how a potential second season must reset the story to fix what broke between Sam and Percy.
Where Sam and Percy Stand After the Season 1 Finale
The finale, titled “Goodbye…,” brings Percy back to Barry’s Bay for the funeral of Sam’s mother, Sue (Elisha Cuthbert). The big secret finally comes out. Percy slept with Sam’s brother Charlie a decade ago, right after her breakup with Sam. Sam is crushed. He was ready to leave his girlfriend Taylor and give Percy another chance. Now, he feels betrayed by both his brother and the woman he loved.
Despite the pain, Percy and Sam end up sleeping together after the memorial service. But the next morning, Sam tells her they have no future. Percy moves back to Seattle and takes a creative writing job. She later returns to Barry’s Bay to reopen Sue’s tavern, which Sue left to her in the will. On opening night, as Percy cleans up alone, Sam walks in and says, “You came home.” The episode cuts to black before we see what happens next.
“Being like, ‘Let’s see if I can even attempt to try and have something without thinking about it.’ And I think, in that moment, it is still too fresh for Sam.” – Matt Cornett
The Betrayal Changes Everything for Season 2
The show made a big change from the book. In Carley Fortune’s novel, Sam knows about Percy and Charlie before she returns. In the TV series, he finds out in real time, during the funeral week. This means season 2 must deal with fresh wounds, not old scars.
Matt Cornett, who plays Sam, wants Sam and Percy to start again as friends. He believes Sam had time to think about Percy’s betrayal and started to understand her side. But rebuilding trust will take a long time.
“I want to show her that I’m willing to show up and entertain the idea of a conversation and hopefully be able to start over and explore the opportunity of being friends again.” – Matt Cornett
Cornett added that both characters hurt each other in different ways. They need to have hard conversations and create a new version of who they are together.
Charlie’s Heart Attack Opens the Door for a New Love Story
The finale’s most shocking moment belongs to Charlie (Michael Bradway). While working alone in his office on a weekend, he finds a photo on his boss’s wall. It is a picture he took years ago with Sam and Percy in their father’s yellow boat, “The Banana Boat.” Looking at the image of happier times, Charlie clutches his chest and collapses from a heart attack.
Michael Bradway confirmed that it was indeed a heart attack. He said Charlie’s father died from a sudden heart attack, which is why Sam wanted to become a cardiologist. Charlie now faces the same health crisis.
But book fans know Charlie cannot die. That photo is the key to his love story. It was taken by a photographer named Alice Everly, who returns to Barry’s Bay in Fortune’s second book, “One Golden Summer,” to help her grandmother recover from hip surgery. Alice and Charlie fall in love. The photo is how they connect.
Showrunner Amy B. Harris said that she loved the idea of Charlie burying himself in work after losing his brother and his community. His heart is broken, and now it is physically breaking down. Alice’s photo reminds him of the world he lost.
How ‘One Golden Summer’ Provides the Blueprint for Season 2
Harris has been very open about her plans. In multiple interviews, she said she sees the show running for five seasons. The second book in Fortune’s Barry’s Bay series, “One Golden Summer,” will serve as the blueprint for season 2.
“Obviously, there’s another book that’s connected to Barry’s Bay that I think will be a very exciting blueprint for us for a potential season 2.” – Amy B. Harris
The second book shifts focus to Charlie. But Percy and Sam will still be part of the story as they figure out their own relationship. In the book, Sam and Percy work through their issues and reach a stable, mature love. Their story does not end with the finale’s cliffhanger.
Harris explained that she renamed the series “Every Year After” instead of keeping the book’s title “Every Summer After” because she wanted to explore the characters across all seasons. She wants a fall, a winter and a spring in future seasons, not just summers.
The Cast Will Likely Return for Season 2
If Prime Video renews the show, most of the main cast should return. Sadie Soverall (Percy), Matt Cornett (Sam) and Michael Bradway (Charlie) are the core trio. Aurora Perrineau (Chantal), Abigail Cowen (Delilah) and Joseph Chiu (Jordie) are also expected back.
The show will need to cast a new actress for Alice Everly, Charlie’s love interest. Harris said that she considered introducing Alice in season 1 but decided the photograph was the perfect way to bring her in without casting her yet.
Carley Fortune, the author, said that Charlie is her favorite character to write. After finishing “Every Summer After,” she started writing from Charlie’s voice before she even had a book deal for the sequel. Fans demanded that Charlie get his own love story, and she was happy to give it to him.
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No Renewal Yet, But the Show Is Performing Well
As of June 11, 2026, Prime Video has not officially renewed Every Year After for season 2. The show only premiered on June 10, so it may take a few weeks for the streaming platform to analyze viewership data.
However, the early signs are good. The series holds an 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It also climbed to number 2 on Prime Video’s charts within one day of release, only behind the popular series “Off Campus.” Harris remains hopeful. She said that Barry’s Bay has a lot more story to tell.
If the show gets renewed later in 2026, new episodes would likely not arrive until late 2027 at the earliest, based on normal production timelines.
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