"Every Summer After" is a captivating novel that explores themes of love, loss, and the challenges of returning to one's past. The story follows Persephone Fraser, a magazine editor who returns to her childhood home after years in the city to confront her past and her relationship with Sam Florek. Her return is prompted by the death of Sam's mother, forcing her to grapple with the choices she made in the past. The narrative unfolds over five summers, during which Percy and Sam develop a close friendship that ultimately transforms into a deeper connection before it falls apart. The novel is a nostalgic reflection on the complexity of relationships and the possibility of forgiveness, both for oneself and for others. Carley Fortune skillfully captures the protagonist's emotions and memories as she wrestles with the question of whether love is strong enough to overcome the mistakes of the past.