Latest / Cait & Court's Cozy Corner: Romance Readers / Let's Talk About: Every Summer After by Carly Fortune
Transcript
- Courtney: Hi! Caitlin Stryker: Hi! Ooh, the countdown caught me off guard that time. Okay. Courtney: Like, we haven't friends, in like a month, because we had so many amazing interviews that happened all like back to back to back to back. So we haven't actually like do- dove in and recorded together in like over a month. So it feels like, whoo, okay, we're back. Yeah. ⁓ Caitlin Stryker: ⁓ And first and foremost, let's say we are about, I mean, I feel like this is a classic that we're talking about, even though it just came out a few years ago. Yeah. Courtney: ⁓ one of my very favorite Every Summer After by Caitlin Stryker: Exactly. Yeah. Courtney: favorites. I've told Cait about this since last summer when we started the podcast. Sam is one of my book boyfriends. I love this book. So I'm very excited that we're talking about it today. Caitlin Stryker: Yes. It was so fun for me reading it because I know that Sam is one of your book boyfriends and I was like, ⁓ my gosh, I'm meeting him. Isn't that funny? Courtney: It's ⁓ The pressure. ⁓ Oh my gosh, you've had to meet Xaden and Sam in such a short time. It's a big moment for our friendship. But I'm assuming Xaden got added to your list. Caitlin Stryker: ⁓ Oh, obviously. I mean, he's a Reese. I think he's on everyone's list. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Courtney: Yeah, he he's yeah. But yes, this is Sam. This is my inner ⁓ smart boy, geeky boyfriend version. The doctor Sam, yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. I have so much to say on that, but can could can you give us the quick synopsis before we dive in further? Okay. Courtney: After, Carly Fortune. This was her debut novel. She's a Canadian author. ⁓ it's written about, it's not quite the Muskokas, it's Barry Bay, which is like the what's like Peterborough area cottage country, which is still huge in Ontario, but it's not the classic Muskoka's cottage country that some people think of. Which is the point. Yes, exactly. It's where she went cottaging. So. ~ And I went to school in Peterborough, so I was in that area. I know it very well. ⁓ Caitlin Stryker: Which is the point which is the point? Mm-hmm. Courtney: I went to college the first time. So it it has that extra like place in my heart. But basically the book is about Sam and Percy. ⁓ Persephone is her full name. She goes by Percy. Her family buys this cottage when she's 13, and the boys next door is Charlie and Sam. Sam is the same age as her, and Charlie's the two years older older brother who we also love. And Cait, there's a book on him too. We can cover that one down the road. ⁓ Oh he got a book last year. One Golden Summer. Yes. Caitlin Stryker: gosh. ⁓ there is? Ooh. Courtney: Yes, Charlie has a book. Just saying. We'll go there later after the show. ⁓ But yes, so this is about Sam and Percy. And basically it starts with Percy getting a phone call from Charlie, Sam's older brother, right after a breakup, bad bangs drunk, ⁓ coming home drunk from a bar, asking her to come back, saying Caitlin Stryker: We will. Bad bangs. ⁓ Sorry, okay, keep going. ⁓ Courtney: I fully agree with the like post-breakup haircut thing. We all bangs. Listen, everyone's watching Off Campus. ⁓ Allie's bangs. is my like girl-to-girl reminder. She had a professional team setting those bangs every shot. And as someone with curly hair that had bangs the last three years, let me tell you, they do not just sit like that nicely, and they are a huge pain. So even though she kills it and pulls it off, think twice before cutting. Just just ⁓ Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Think twice. Especially if you have curly hair. Courtney: Yes! And she is curly like mine, where it'll go, and the humidity, and we're coming into summer. And I'm telling you, like every time they say cut, the team comes out as someone that's been on set and they set them and they fix the curl and they go, and I mean she has amazing hair. So like kudos to her. She could pull it off, but it is not easy, and it is a professional team, is what you're seeing. So that is my I can't think of the word of public announcement, but Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Stuys. But What is yeah, pe public announcement, like Courtney: Yeah, public announcement for all of you. Think twice before you bang. That's all I'm gonna say. Caitlin Stryker: In every sense of the word. Courtney: But in In every sense of the Caitlin Stryker: ⁓ Oh my gosh. Courtney: gets a call from Charlie, and he unfortunately, that ⁓ his mother has died, ⁓ Sue, and that she needs to come home for the funeral. And it's the first time she's heard from either Florek brother in 12 years. We don't know why, we just know something's happened. ⁓ And she goes back home ⁓ and she to the she walks into into the restaurant, she's like shaking, she's nervous, she's anxiety, like she's never, she's we already know she's never gotten over this boy. ⁓ Sam, that he's this piece of her heart. And the first moment that they've already teased in the trailer of the show is ⁓ her walking in, she sees him washing dishes, and he just turns around and says, Hi, Percy. And then he finally like steps to her and gives her a big hug and is like, you came ⁓ And that's like the diving moment. And then the book takes us back and forth between the current now reunion of the 12 years later and their time between 13 to 18 and falling in love. And building their relationship. Best their friendship and being best friends and then also falling in love. And then it keeps going back for the courage of them with this pull that they've always had now. And it's I mean, it's my favorite trope. I love the back and forth of the ⁓ past and present. That's why love, in other words, Christina Lauren my f all-time favorite romance book. This is very similar. ⁓ and it's delicious, and it's so well done, and I just love them so much. ⁓ and so Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Courtney: I this book is just always I reread, I reread, I reread, I mean. Or when I'm slumped. This is the book. So that's like basically the synopsis. It's these two kids and we go back and forth in their story now ⁓ and Yeah. ⁓ Also a movie. ⁓ Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. ⁓ It's been too long since I've a Now And Then rewatch, I have to say. Courtney: it with Sadie, my ten year old, two weeks ago, and it held up. Although ⁓ this is digressing, but most of you if you love this book will love Now And Then anyways. And if you haven't watched it and you like our podcast, go watch it. You will love it. ⁓ One million percent. her comment, she's like, ⁓ so we're when you grew up, like, we're friends, mean to each other. ⁓ Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Yeah. ⁓ my gosh, yeah. Yeah, kind of, sometimes. And even in this book. Courtney: We are much meaner to... We were much meaner to each other in the nice that you guys are. ⁓ if a and and some show their love that way, right? But they are there are some things they are pretty mean to Chrissy some things they say to Chrissy. I'm like, ⁓ god, don't ever say that to your friends. It's awful. ⁓ Caitlin Stryker: Society was that way though, right? Like we were mimicking society. Yeah. Well, and that that movie's going back even further, you know what I mean? Courtney: 60s or 70s. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Way further. So it's even worse. And it was like that. So it was a really interesting. The other thing I found, again, we're going off this book, but I think it's important to say. So in the beginning, Rosie O'Donnell and ⁓ oh my gosh, ⁓ Rita Wilson. It starts with them that they're welcoming the friends back, Melanie Griffin and Demi Moore, and they're like, What can you get you? And Sadie was like, ⁓ did they get married? And going like, ⁓ no, this is just like they're just best friends still together, live in the house, but going. And she's Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Courtney: And she like gives her a kiss in the cheek and she's like, ⁓ no, I think they're together. And it's funny because I'm like, you know what? When we watch this, that never would have been the idea. But I love that now, as someone now growing up in the world and acceptance and how open everything is, her first assumption is like, ⁓ they got married. And that's just like the normal part of the watch. And I love that so much. It was so great. Because I'm like, when I was a kid, that's never what we thought when we watched that scene. And Caitlin Stryker: No. Yeah. That's cool. Mm-hmm. Courtney: Now seeing it, I'm like, ⁓ that's so fantastic I know. That made me really excited that that was like her first thought. Like, ⁓ they're married now. And I'm like, yeah, that's such a great lens. They're not, but like it's a good lens to watch the movie through and seeing the change from when we were kids to now. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: You know, Rita Wilson was talking about like how she wants them to do a like a new like a Now And Then like two. You know what I mean? Like a sequel or whatever. And I was like, ooh, do we want that or not? I don't know if it needs a sequel. Courtney: Yeah. be fine with just watching them talk about it. I don't think I need another movie. It's just so epic and such a point of this is turning into a Now And Then podcast, which we should do a rewatch episode of. Let's let's let's ⁓ let's do a rewatch And Then at some point and talk about it. But I mean it's Devon Sawa, it's Christina Ricci Regi. It's like it's epic childhood for us. Like it is Gabby Hoffman. Like I I I don't think you could catch that again. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. No no no. This is Yeah, right? I think it's because Courtney: Because it was just such a moment in time, especially with the stars and who they were, you'd have to cast it differently. So... Caitlin Stryker: No. Well, and what I here's what I think is interesting though. I think this is why this book is com- this movie is coming up with this book. This book brings up that level of like sentiment and nostalgia. And it's done really well and it has that feel because of when you're going back into when they were kids at the cottage. ⁓ It just has like summer freedom kids hanging out growing up thing going on, coming of age. Courtney: Mm-hmm. Yes and nostalgia. Yes. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: It has it it's a bit of a it's a bit of a coming of age romance, actually. Courtney: of age romance. A hundred percent a coming of age romance. Because you and you get to go through it on two sides. You get the second chance romance, ⁓ which I'm a for in love. ⁓ And you get the coming of age romance. So really get two in one. That's why I think I love this trope or this style so much, the back and forth, because when done well, like this one is, you you're just getting extra, extra shine. ⁓ Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You are. I mean and like, ⁓ okay. And so, you know, right off the bat, I love how so early on she's really describing and talking about ⁓ I mean it's so Canadiana, right? And she's talking describing and talking about Toronto, and then she's describing and talking about like how it's Barry's Bay, not Muskoka, and how her parents were like purposefully, you know, and they're like, I mean, are those even cottages? They're just mansions on a lake, you know, and like all this stuff. But then I was thinking further, I was like, ⁓ wow, between Heated Rivalry and then this book be is huge, and now this show coming out. I'm like, good luck getting a cottage rev- reservation in Ontario this summer. Or like ever again. Yeah. Courtney: Yeah. Yes. It's Muskokas and Barry Bay. Like, listen, cottage lake country in Ontario is so special. As someone that's lived there and now lives out west and loves out west and it's Vancouver. Ironically, both are like, well, not no, sorry, Heat of Rivalry wasn't shot here, but Every Summer After was shot here. ⁓ and so and same with Off Campus like, Caitlin Stryker: It's epic. Mm-hmm. Courtney: to sh- look like Ontario. But I don't feel like I've had summer until I've gone back and had some time at the lake. Like I need my summer Ontario. My parents live close to Muskokas. Like it's not technically Muskoka. It's like right before the border of it, but right by Weber's on the highway, which anyone that's been to Canadian cottage country knows Weber's on the highway. ⁓ And we're not in the mansion side of it. We're just in like a cottage. But I love it. It's like it's my happiest place. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yep. Yeah. Courtney: on earth is going there and just looking at the water, like nothing makes me feel calmer and more like summer. And this is the book version of that for me, which is why I think I love it so much. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, it really, it really is. I mean, and ⁓ so interesting, you know, when it opens up and she has those breakup bangs that we've talked about and she's like, and I'm go and I haven't spoken to him and there's there's there's all this like the whole I'm like, what ⁓ here? You know? I mean the ⁓ Courtney: Yes. They really don't tell you. You really you'll get deep into the book before you find out like what actually went down between the two of them. It it's Caitlin Stryker: feels like they were ⁓ so connected so right for each other and all of these things. And it's like, what could possibly have blown this up? You know? Like I by the time we I was like, ⁓ my gosh, I'm just like ⁓ aching. And thinking, why did you you obviously are- she's been heartbroken for like 12 years, you know? Like that's such a and so that moment, I, I haven't seen the clip. ⁓ Courtney: Yes. Caitlin Stryker: Of like when she I just remember reading it and he's there doing the dishes and like I felt like the tension was so strong in that moment. I was like, what is his? Cause he didn't even know she was coming. You must be. Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: ⁓ Often shows can't keep up with books. Although Amazon has done like a very job of that recently, Off Campus... ⁓ amazing. Crave did great, like Heated Rivalry, amazing book adaptations. So I'm staying open-minded. ⁓ but I Caitlin Stryker: No. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: This one's a deep love. Like we've talked about this Fourth Wing. Like I have no interest in the show. I don't think Xaden exists. I don't think you can cast him. And I think it's only gonna be disappointing. I, and I, I don't need it. I have him. It's my the whole story's in my head and I'm I'm satisfied with that. I, I will not be diving into the show. Caitlin Stryker: You know. Yeah. My sister agrees with you. She's like, I can't. There's no there is no real life Xaden and I don't want them to ruin my picture in my head. I won't be watching. ⁓ Courtney: Yeah. No. no. I'm good and like occasionally I make my husband into him and that's fine. Like that's all I need. ⁓ I happy. I need no... It is the point. It's great. And having like a dark hair, dark eye with like dark eyelash husband works very well in the Xaden world. ⁓ but with this, like I... It's so for me because I'm so excited. Caitlin Stryker: That's isn't that the point? Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: for this and for the author and for the actors like that this is coming to life. For people that won't read, I'm very excited for them to get the TV. Because honestly, my first romance books were the movies I grew up on. Like that's what hooked me into romance. That's what taught me what it was and got me into the stories that then I moved into books when I got older. So I think it's very valid and I'm very excited for the medium to happen. It's just I'm, I'm nervous. I'm yeah. We'll talk about it. I got to audition for it when it came up. Obviously I didn't get it or else I'd Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Totally. Yeah. I'm always Courtney: be singing that from the top. But when I read it and I was like, and they were doing it, I had to, I'm like, I know what this is, because it was a different title. And so when I read the breakdown, I'm like, ⁓ Oh my God, I know what this is. I know what this is. And I was like, ⁓ and ⁓ and then I did it, pardon me, David Water audition because I'm like, no, I can't, I can't, I can't. I can't do that. Like, I I can't be part of like it's separate. It's ⁓ but yes, so it's I'm very excited. So Caitlin Stryker: Ha ha Yeah. Yeah. Right. Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: These moments that she writes so well, like we're talking about, when they come together. And then let's just dive into it. Like as adults, that first hookup in the car when he's bringing her back to the motel. Ugh, I've never found a dry hump so hot. Like Caitlin Stryker: My gosh Yeah. like, ⁓ only in romance novel do they pull off like, you know, the like non-penetration like sex in a car as like totally hot. ⁓ And then hot, but then it's finished, and then I'm like, and you they still don't like get it together or like figure things out. And I'm like, you guys, like what went down? ⁓ You know what I mean? I'm like, how ⁓ Courtney: Ha ha ha. Dry humping in a car. No. gonna dive into it. So if you haven't read this, you don't wanna hear what happens. ⁓ Cut out, come back when have, or watched it, but ⁓ you know, it's a romance, we know. We know what happens. So spoilers from here on out. Cait. ⁓ Oh my gosh, though, the way when they finally revealed what happened, I wasn't prepared. Like, I just didn't expect it to be that bad. I obviously it had to separate them for 12 years. But the fact that she slept with Charlie for her first time. ⁓ Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. You know the end. Yeah. I know. Courtney: I- I Sam. I agree with her. Sam was like being insane and cray- Like I understand often his reason knowing him, but come. Caitlin Stryker: I know, but still like she and she you have to be like come on and you have to kind of be like, Okay, right, she's young, she's a teenager, she's young, she's like you know what I mean? I'm like But Charlie yeah. Courtney: Heartbroken. And Charlie. I'm like, dude, like I know you fell in love with her. And you thought, but Charlie, you know. Like, you know. ⁓ the whole thing. I it's what had to happen to have 12 years of them not talking with how much love is between those two. But it hurt. It like, it ⁓ I just forgot. I'm wearing my cottage. I have my bathing suit on. Like my cottage. ⁓ Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yes. Yeah. It hurt. It hurt. And it God I love it! Yes! Yes! Gotta jump in! Courtney: It hurt. Like it is painful. Carly's writing is so good in this that you get the steam, you get the romance, but then you also get the pain of like I ⁓ I didn't know how to come back from it even myself. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Well and now And that, well, I know. I was like, that's really hard to come back from. I was like, okay, I get it. You know, and I was like, it has to be something bad. But I was like, but it can't be too bad because then they can't, you know. And I was like, ⁓ And I started to see it coming, but it took me a minute. I did kind of have to like, I was like, rewind. ⁓ Her first time was with Charlie. I was like, wait, so they never they weren't, they didn't have sex. And I was like, Courtney: Yeah. I n they didn't have sex till they were adults twelve years later when they finally did and then that whole after scene. Caitlin Stryker: I think my I think my brain as I was reading it was like one of the hookups that were described and I'm like, ⁓ and then like obviously they had sex there and she just didn't go to that part or whatever. You know, like I'm like, ⁓ you know, how could they not? Because it's so steamy and like all of these things. And then and then when I read and she lost her virginity, Charlie, her brother, his brother rather, not hers, his brother. I was like, Courtney: Yeah. Yeah. ⁓ that's a different book. yeah. But even in this romance, and it is fiction romance, like it was like, no, no, no. And even Charlie, he's so charming and hot and like you still love him, but ow, come. But again, he's also young. Like guys are stupid and think with their dicks. Like that I can see it happening, as horrible as it all is. Caitlin Stryker: no, yeah, that's a literary fiction book, not a not a romance. ⁓ any Yeah. And I really I put it on Charlie. But I you do 'cause he's so Yes, and he's very much so described as that guy. So you kind of Courtney: from afar. Like he has genuinely always had feel. And his brother made it seem like they were broken up. No, he knows. Listen, don't do it. Don't sleep with your boyfriend that you still love's brother, even if you're broken up. And if you're somehow a guy listening to this right now, ⁓ don't sleep with your brother's ex or current girlfriend. ⁓ full of PSAs That's the word I couldn't remember. PSA. ⁓ I'm full of them ⁓ Yes. ⁓ Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, but he knows. He knows better. No Like ever. Ever. PSA, yes, ⁓ my god. You were like, what is it? And I kept in my brain, I was like, PTA? Nope. That's a parent teacher association. Public service announcement. Think before you bang in every way. And Courtney: ⁓ very. Yes. That's I think that sums it up actually. That includes just think before you bang. New new podcast hashtag. I was cringing though. I was so but like I also fell for him a little bit. Like when he's talking to her in the kitchen before, like that's the problem. She does it so well. Like you do fall for Charlie. You see how it happens, but then her Caitlin Stryker: Really? That yeah, think the free bang. Yeah. Yeah. Totally. Because I and it Same. I was like, I see how you do. Courtney: panic in the morning the aftermath also was like ⁓ and you know that feeling you feel it in your body. I've had it that regret like the I think I've might have said this, but the one guy I almost like first slept with in high school on like a party and like I just remember we didn't but like the tip is there. But I felt so gross the next day. Like so gross and wrong because I knew and like I couldn't shower it clean like I just felt Caitlin Stryker: Okay. Yeah. Mm. Yeah. Courtney: Gross inside and out, and I know that feeling so well. Caitlin Stryker: It really, really yeah. It sucks when shame when shame gets attached to sex, which it does for so many of us in our teen years at some point, you know. ⁓ Courtney: Yes. And this one was real. Like it was valid. She had a reason to feel that. She should not have slept with Sam's brother. Like, it's not shame that she had sex. It's shame of that she was in a loving relationship and loved Sam. Yes. Caitlin Stryker: But you know, like those two do wind up tied together usually ⁓ in, in our, in our sort like coming of age, like adolescence time at some point for whatever reason. And then you kind of have to untangle it all, ⁓ as part of adulthood. And then you look back and you're like, it's fine. ⁓ But, but it's very real in the moment. Courtney: Yes. remember that feeling the next day. I had to go to work and I, I worked at like Tim Hortons ⁓ and I just felt so like so gross about it, because it was the wrong person and it just even though it didn't fully happen. And so when she writes about the next day waking up and having a panic attack, I'm like, yeah, that is exactly what would happen. Like Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. it is visceral body risk reaction that you can't like control really. It's weird. ⁓ And then ⁓ okay, so there was that c- clue early on is when she's having the panic attack in the present day in the kitchen. And Charlie's, Charlie says, When did those start? And she goes, 12 years ago. And he kind of and that at that moment, ⁓ I was like. Courtney: Yeah. Yes. Caitlin Stryker: I kind of had this thought, like, what did he do to her? And I was like, no, that's too dark for this book. But I kind of my brain went like something happened between the two of them. And then I think I just kept reading it. My brain was like, no, we don't want that. You know what I mean? And then it's revealed that that was it. And I was like, ooh. Courtney: Mm-hmm. Yeah. You still, it's a big jump to go from him saying like that's what it was was a panic attack to assuming because they slept together. Because it seems so impossible. Even everything you've read to that point, because we've had a few hookups with Sam in current reality. We've had like the story of them come together. Charlie always flirty, but like it it yeah, it just it was a killer. Like Carly really, really took us for a like loop there. But before that. Caitlin Stryker: Я Okay. Courtney: With her and Sam, and when it all comes to light, and it comes to light after her and Sam finally have sex the first time. They finally have sex and it's about to give over to it. And well, and that's when the whole story comes out, and then the turn happens, and he's like, she tells him after they've had sex, she's like, I have to tell you this. And this is all going on around with his mom's funeral as well, by the way. So, ⁓ which is like emotional and awful and all the things that happen during that. It's a lot to process. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. I mean that's towards the end of the book, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Uh-huh. Yeah. Courtney: But his mom had told Charlie to tell her to come because he she knew that it was unresolved and she knew that she should be there for Sam and he would need her. So but his right away, Sam's first comment of how was it? it was Ooh, that one. That one hurt. And then her reactionally, like running out and him running out naked after her and seeing that, you're like this is a bad. Caitlin Stryker: Okay. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Courtney: But also very hot and also like get it together, guys. You're meant to be together. You're clearly soulmates. Caitlin Stryker: but this is where the Sam versus the Charlie of it all. I mean, Sam is one of your book boyfriends, which I think is so interesting because I have to say, like with Sam, I got really frustrated with him. And he was he was just not really upfront with her, you know. And he was kind of like I, I, it was well explained when, you know Courtney: Yes. Я Caitlin Stryker: Charlie was sort of said to him at some point or, or at some point it came out like, you know, Sam really always took for granted that Percy would always be there, like and that they were meant to be together and kind of like fell into like he believed like the love story of his parents and that him and ⁓ Percy were meant to be together in that way and everything. But so he, he didn't communicate ⁓ that with Sam, you know, and he was always trying to like ⁓ Courtney: Yes. Caitlin Stryker: do the right thing and not ruin the friendship and all that stuff, but like to a fault that it like ruined things and they lost twelve years together because of, you know, because of not taking that leap. ⁓ and because he was... And I mean, listen, they were kids and he did have to prioritize, you know, his career and his schooling. And she needed to do her thing and all of that stuff. And that is hard to do together and come up. So I get it. But ⁓ Courtney: Yeah. Ruin the friendship. Caitlin Stryker: And you know, she probably would have lost a lot of her autonomy and her career and her stuff that she had going on, you know, if she had, because it when your boyfriend's in med school, you know, you read the trope, the story all the time of like the girl supporting him through it and doing the stuff. Courtney: have supported her. I don't think he would have let her lose herself. He was still supportive of her writing and all that. I think she would have figured it out. But let me comment on him as the book boyfriend because here's the thing: two things. ⁓ I think Sam is actually slightly neurodivergent. in his way of like needing to put things, ⁓ or not- even if it's just like complu- perfectionism or something, but his way of like needing to categorize it and like, and we have time and like, yeah, we should study and do that. Like his way of taking it for granted, quote unquote, but just like Caitlin Stryker: I don't know I don't know. Yeah. Mm. Courtney: steadfasted is like this is the right thing. This is what will happen. I think that like I think there's something there. It's not named, but there's something because yes, and I agree, Charlie would be the normal book boyfriend for me a lot of the time. But with Sam, there's something about his steadfast ⁓ like commitment and love for her. Like literally like the loyalty and the best friend that he was. Like he was just her person. Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney: And I think that's the quality that I just hold up probably the highest is just he was always there for her and like for her dreams and pushing her for that and always a complimenting like he he is the type of husband boyfriend you know that like it doesn't matter if she changes throughout the years or what she looks like or like he's going to be obsessed with her and and adore her forever. Like Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Courtney: And there's something in that. And I think for some reason I'm, I'm always drawn to the friend to boyfriend trope, the best friends to boyfriend. There's something to it. And like coincidentally, yes, I did have that with my husband. But I think I was drawn to it before like we became friends and we became like best friends and then got together. But I was drawn to before. And I don't know why. I think it's because I'm thinking this all out when you're saying it's in my boy book boyfriend, but I think it's because I really do hold Caitlin Stryker: You are. I have noticed that. You love that one. There you go. Courtney: loyalty and a really high esteem. And I when it is a best friend that has been loyal and has always listen, I'm a person I have flaws. There's a lot of times in my life I don't like myself or my personality or I think I can be extreme or too, you know, blah blah blah blah blah list that we all think of ourselves. And so a person that will just accept all of that no matter what and be with you and be in the right day and then also be your partner, there's something about that that's super appealing to me. That I think I must be super attracted to when I read these books. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I can't get the image out of my head. I love the initial image of the she's at the cottage new and sees the two boys next door, you know, playing out on the dock. There's something about that that was so that setup, I was like, ⁓ this is fun. You know what I mean? And you know. Courtney: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yes. Yeah. The boy that you find on holiday Caitlin Stryker: But you know there's gonna I know I knew then that there was gonna be some sort of a love triangle thing because of the two brothers. And that was but I just I guess I just didn't want it to happen, you know, like it needed to for the plot, but I just didn't Courtney: on Sam and Percy from the get go. There's never even like room for the other triangle. And she did a good job of making it logical that Sam in his own mind would be pulling away, but then her reading it another way. Like all of it worked logically. It wasn't like, mm, this is a bit of a stretch. Like it, it did make sense ⁓ the way it happened, as frustrating as it was. Which is another thing that makes this book so good. ⁓ But yeah, the Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. No. Yes, yes. Yeah. No no not at all. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. to have the tension, otherwise it wouldn't be good. And you know, ⁓ how do get the tension in romance when we know how it's gonna end? Right. Like I feel like we talked about that with a lot with Katherine Center recently. And it, it's, it's an interesting element of it because we are reading these books for a reason. We love them for a reason. We love that we know that we get a happy ending or a happy for now or whatever. ⁓ And I guess some of it is we love going through that like that sort of like torment ride. ⁓ Courtney: Yeah. Yes. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: That is just a part of love. And even like in a happy marriage, still kind of like, and I mean, maybe that's I know for me, like it's still like kind of there sometimes, you know? Like we I don't take my husband for granted. I'm definitely not like, ⁓ yeah, like no matter what. I mean, yes, but also we know life could happen. And so you still have those moments and those feelings and you still have fights and you still have, you know what I mean? And you're like, ⁓ and, and it's I don't know, there's something about it that's like, Courtney: Yeah, of course. Also, yes. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: so yummy and I can't name it, I can't articulate it yet. But this book really hits on it really well. And I think that's why it's such a smash success. ⁓ and it's being turned into a show, ⁓ and, and all of that. Cause it just does it really well. Courtney: Yeah. And I think I think as a teen I always had that daydream. Like, you know, for me, I grew up in a smaller town. So it like the same boys, the same people you grew up. So I think I always had that daydream of like that new person that could come to town or finally be like that one, maybe, like that thought of the or that you could go meet somewhere, like the summer the idea of like a summer best friend guy that's not like your local guys is very attractive. ⁓ and appealing. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. It's so attractive. I I never had it. Boy do I ever wish that I did. I think I wished that I did as a teen too. And that's where like these summer. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: Right? Yes, a hundred percent. Like that's who you daydream. Because if there's no one you like in your class around, you make up that guy that's gonna come in and be the savior of that. And she had it, and she has a hot hockey player that also adored like she got a boyfriend because Sam couldn't get his shit together and kept like putting off to like focus on school and stuff. This hot hockey player that was also adorable and so sweet and like older than her and still like gave her time. Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. He was he, Courtney: No, he was great. He just wasn't Sam. He literally it was like Sweet Home Alabama, where like it was Patrick Dempsey was perfect, but not the guy she grew up with that she fell in love with. It was just that. Like nothing was wrong with Mason. She just couldn't be a hundred percent herself. Caitlin Stryker: could have been based off of how Mason was described and who Mason's dad is and you know, all that stuff. And I kept waiting for Mason to be a jerk and he just wasn't. He was lovely, you know? ⁓ Yeah. I also I really liked- it happens. ⁓ I liked how Carly wrote the girl friendship in there, you know, and how ⁓ Courtney: Yeah. No. He was lovely. She just wasn't Sam. Which also happens. Yes. Caitlin Stryker: how Percy was like that first summer, part of why they left and went to Cottage Country is cause she was having like preteen girl drama and her parents were like, you know what? We're getting you out of the city and she's Yeah, I used to have friends and now they all hate me 'cause this mean girl. ⁓ And then, you know, it comes back around and she's friends again with the mean girl, you know, and Courtney: also that's where the daydream of the guy that's gonna save you comes in because girls are mean. It's so hard. And so you just imagine this other life and she got to have it. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Yeah. And this guy who doesn't know your drama from school, you know, because like the drama in school, like that Queen Bee girl, if she turns against you, she can turn like the whole school against you. And it takes like a really strong like guy who doesn't care about what everyone else thinks in high school. Who the fuck is that? Right? ⁓ to actually like, you know, be there. Courtney: Yes. Yes. Caitlin Stryker: ⁓ and, and show up. And so it's that's the fantasy of the guy who doesn't know, you know, your social status or history back in high school, who's just gonna see you for who you are and and you know, and fall in love with you. And I think too in the teen years is there some of that if he sees me who I for who I am and falls in love with me, then I can learn to like love me in spite of everybody else not liking me. You know, like when you're figuring out who you are. Yeah. Courtney: Yeah. You just want to shake off the old stuff. Like you just and Anytime, Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Can we stop bringing up that, please? Courtney: become and who we are now? And college gave that, you know, moving to Vancouver from Toronto gave that to me. Even in, in the acting world, like you get pigeonholed like for your early auditions and they hold on to it. And then you move somewhere new, like I and they're like, ⁓ wait, now you're just seen as an actor who knows what they're doing because you didn't do the mistakes in front of them. It all just like keeps happening and she has this beautiful fresh start. It's hard sometimes, like sometimes with this book I find Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Fresh starts. Courtney: ⁓ the amount of time that passes, like I always almost get sad for the characters, like, ⁓ you went this long without each other. Like, how long it takes actually takes. Caitlin Stryker: ⁓ Twelve years. That's such a long time. And even each summer. ⁓ Courtney: the end of the next summer. And like, ⁓ oh man. But it is hard to call out your feelings and deal with things when you are a teenager. It's and everything feels like it's on the line. So... And I love Charlie throughout it all, just digging and digging and digging. Like had he not slept with her. ⁓ Which he has this redemption story. We'll read eventually, The One Golden Summer. It comes in. You haven't read it. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. It's hard. Mm-hmm. Yeah. And yeah. He does. ⁓ right. Yeah. Courtney: And you'll love Charlie. Charlie I think is most people's number one. He especially that book like pushed him. Caitlin Stryker: still love I still love Charlie. I think he's great. Like I that's what's that's actually what's interesting is by the end of the book, we should hate Charlie and we don't. Cause you can't. And that's really an that yeah. Yeah. And actually that's really cool. ⁓ I would say Courtney: Mm-hmm. But you can't No. You gotta love the Florek brothers, both of them. Caitlin Stryker: pretty much all the characters like, like I was talking about with her with her best friend. Remind me, what's her best friend's name? I have forgotten. Delilah, thank you. I literally just read it too. ⁓ ⁓ And Delilah comes back around, you know, at the end. And and ⁓ Courtney: Mm-hmm. Delilah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, that was Percy's fault this time. Their separation was all Percy's. She was a bad girlfriend. Because Delilah basically told her, like, hey, I ran into Sam after the breakup, after Sam finds out that she slept with her brother and they stopped talking. He basically goes and just drinks and fucks a bunch of people at college, which also I hated reading. I hated reading it so much. Like I know why. ⁓ I hated it. I hated that he was just sleeping around to get rid of her. I hated it so much. I understood it. Caitlin Stryker: Aw perfect. Mm-hmm. You did that didn't bother me. That didn't bother me at all. Yeah. Courtney: But I hated it. And then he eventually hits on Delilah party and tries to like basically get back at Percy. And she says no, obviously. ⁓ but she tells Percy and then Percy gets so mad at her that their friendship dissolves. And even Delilah leaves it, like, call me when you think this... Like I did nothing wrong. I'm just trying to help you by letting you know this. ⁓ And then she just never, she Percy can't, she just drops all contact of all that time in her life because it's so heartbreaking. Caitlin Stryker: get it because it's like it's the old saying, don't shoot the messenger, right? And Delilah's the messenger. She shoots the messenger. And in it when it comes to like romance and, and, and elements of the heart, the messenger pretty much ⁓ always gets shot. ⁓ Courtney: Yeah. Always. Always. Especially younger younger and relationships. You never wanna be the one to tell your girlfriend like her boyfriend sucks or cheated because she will hate you. Caitlin Stryker: I, I, I honestly I don't think it matters what age you are. I think unless you are willing to like, like blow up the friendship, I would not de- I am like that is like a line that I am like, whoo, it would have to be a huge thing for me to cross. Cause I think ⁓ I would be like, this is the end of our friendship. You'd have to be scared. Courtney: way now with my girlfriend. Like if you knew something and told like I wouldn't shoot you on it. Because I would know that it was out of love. Like I know that. Like we're old enough, mature enough. Like I don't have that feeling of like you're trying to break us up so you can be... ⁓ Caitlin Stryker: There's almost more at stake though. I don't know. I don't know. ⁓ Courtney: That's funny. No, I would I would I trust my close girlfriends now in a in a way that I couldn't trust when I was a teen. I only have friends now that I love and trust, as opposed to when you're a teen and you're just surviving and you have lots of friends, you're in school. And so I don't think I would have a worry of like, I don't have anyone in my circle that I'd be like, they're trying to like get with my husband or make my life worse than theirs. Caitlin Stryker: No, no, I don't mean like I don't think it's from that. Like I wouldn't think of it that angle. It's more like ⁓ does it be... Trying to figure out if the person wants to know. You know what I mean? Because it's a grenade. You are the messenger, exactly. The messenger is the person setting off the grenade in somebody else's living room. And that's the thing. Courtney: Well that's true. Like do they already know? face the person without telling them, depending what it is. Like can yeah. Caitlin Stryker: It'd be like what bridge? Like, you know, what bridge, like, is it worth it? We don't we don't know until we get there. But it's just I think it's so interesting and I think it was well written in this. And I- it was very believable that... And I wasn't mad at Percy for, you know, getting so mad at Delilah and not talking to her. I was... Yeah. ⁓ But then I was very in the end when it came back around. I really loved how this book ended. Courtney: Exactly. Yeah. No, I understood why. She's wrong, but I understood why. Yes. Yes. Caitlin Stryker: it all kind of circled up and and tied up at the end. And it it felt like we pulled this tension string for a really long time. Like this one I would say, like to 75%. Not on the spice, but just on the like story. And then ⁓ it all goes boom. And then it comes together again really fast, but it, but very believable. Like it was a very believable bow. It was not like Courtney: Yes, on the story. Caitlin Stryker: Okay, that's convenient. You know, so that was cool. Courtney: percent. It it she really and I love that usually with debut novels is like the authors usually have time to really there's nothing pushed, there's nothing forced, there's no like I need to get the second book by a deadline now. So they really have time to perfect them and often that's why debut novels are like my favorite. And I feel like Carly Fortune had that with this. Maybe she did it super fast, I can't remember. ⁓ But it feels like it was thought out and Caitlin Stryker: Right. Courtney: well written and like edits and edits and edits to make it this perfect book that it is in my opinion. Like there's nothing in this that I would change. There's no moment that I'm like, ⁓ I wish like it hurts. There's moments you're like, ⁓ Oh my god. But it all needs to be there. ⁓ And there's nothing that I'm like fast forwarding through or just reading to get to like the next part. Like it's all just ⁓ and I I love it so much. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. It all needs to be there. And it's Let's talk about the spice meter on this one, Court. ⁓ Courtney: Yes. do that. ⁓ ⁓ where are you putting this on the spice meter? ⁓ I agree. Caitlin Stryker: I mean I think it's a three. Two and a half three. Two and a half three. It's a low three, you know. It's not Courtney: I think it's two and a half, 'cause it gets very descriptive. Caitlin Stryker: It you're right, it does get descriptive. So it's a three, but it's like it's not sometimes and that's why it's a three, not a three point five. Because I feel like sometimes there's ones and I'm like, ⁓ that's quite a lot of... This is a three and I think like I'm thinking of my sister right now. Like I think she will love this book. I can't. I think I told her to get it from the library. Courtney: Yeah. that if. If you're not someone that likes a lot of smut or spice in your books, the amount in this is like the right amount. It makes sense for the story. None of it is forced. It's similar to ⁓ Joss Richard, like It's This Time, like it was the perfect amount of smut in that one. This is all earned. You need it for the story to progress. None of it is just like extra to like pull you in, which I listen, I love a book that throws in extra too. I love a hot, spicy book. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We both love a hot spicy smutty book. Courtney: But it's not the main part of the story and it's not the driving force of the story. The tension is the actual story, not the slow burn ⁓ Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Mm. ⁓ it's hot. I mean Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. and the yeah, yeah. That is the difference there. So yeah, this one gets a three pumpkin. ⁓ Yeah. ⁓ Yeah. only, we only we only talk about books we like on this podcast, but yeah, that's it's definitely ⁓ and ⁓ Courtney: Yeah, exactly. That's the difference, yeah. Yeah, I'll say it's a three pumpkin. A very good three pumpkin. ⁓ it still will put you in the mood, but yeah. definitely. And a very hot clothes on, well her nipple comes out, but pants on, underwear on, ⁓ dry humping scene in a truck. So, know. ⁓ Caitlin Stryker: the hottest dry hump scene that we've had in the books that we've covered on this podcast so far. I think so. ⁓ Yeah. Definitely. Courtney: In it. I think so. Yeah. There might be some in teen ones I can't remember, but this was very well done. Caitlin Stryker: Mm y yeah. This is hotter because it's not teen, because teen can only get so spicy. You know what I mean? So this is like this is hot, hot. and a quintessential summer read. Courtney: Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Oh yeah. This is... You have to read this every summer. That's like it's a big part of your summer reads... should be this I mean she releases one every summer. Listen, One Perfect Storm came out year. ⁓ We haven't talked about it because ⁓ we wanted to get into Every Summer After because of the show in. ⁓ Because that's yeah, much more topical. Caitlin Stryker: Like, this is the her like debut that like we were like, let's just start at the beginning 'cause it's Carly Fortune. ⁓ And we're Canadian and you know, we have ⁓ Courtney: Yeah. Yes. Yes. In each one we turned. I'm having a hard time not singing The Sound of Music right now. Caitlin Stryker: Right? ⁓ Anyway, so ⁓ we absolutely love this book. We are excited and nervous for the show adaptation. I'm with you now, Court, because I love the book. ⁓ And now listen, Rivalry was amazing. Off Campus was amazing. ⁓ Are we going for three? ⁓ Is ⁓ Courtney: Yes. We w yes. not making a judgment on the cast yet, because I have to say I early judge Off Campus cast. Just I'm like, that's not who's been in my head. I'm not gonna like it. And then I watch the show and I'm like, ⁓ my god. Which guys, we are covering Off Campus. We have a special guest coming up. We will be talking about first season of Off Campus coming up, talking about it after the book. And we will do the same with Every Summer After. So after the show comes out, we will do an episode talking about the show. Yes. Yeah. The books to shows we'll cover as well. Yes. Caitlin Stryker: No, but then the show was so good. Yeah. Yeah. We have to. We have to. It's so exciting that we're getting all these great ones. ⁓ On that note, I think that's I think we've covered it. I think we've covered Every Summer After the story of Percy and Sam. If you haven't read it, read it. ⁓ Even with the spoilers we gave you, ⁓ you still can read the whole book because it's like, how do you spoil romance? ⁓ Yeah. Courtney: Yeah. Go read it. It's amazing. ⁓ my god. You'll love it. And you can't. Happy ever after. You'll get your happy ending. And also remember, think before you bang. Caitlin Stryker: Think before you bang. That's our public PSA for today. All right. Bye. Stay cozy. Courtney: Alright. We'll see you next time. Bye.