Carley Fortune is having an exceptional 2026. Her last four novels all made it onto the New York Times bestseller list, and her 2026 release Our Perfect Storm debuted straight at number one. And now, adaptations are following in quick succession.
On August 5, 2026, Netflix officially confirmed that production for This Summer Will Be Different has started on Prince Edward Island, Canada. The cast has been announced, the first photos have been shared, and the BookTok community is ready.
What is This Summer Will Be Different about?
This Summer Will Be Different is a smoldering, sun-drenched romance set over several summers on Prince Edward Island, about Lucy, a young woman navigating her twenties and experiencing her first true love with her best friend's brother — the one person she was never supposed to fall for.
The book combines two of the most popular BookTok tropes in one story: friends to lovers and brother's best friend. Lucy is in a complicated position between her best friend Bridget and Bridget's brother Felix — and each summer on the island makes that position a little more complicated.
Carley Fortune shared: "I fell in love with Prince Edward Island in the pages of L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables and again when I visited with my best friend in my early twenties. That vacation, the beauty of the island, the warmth of the people, and the friendships that sustain us — that's the foundation of This Summer Will Be Different."
The cast of This Summer Will Be Different
Sophie Nélisse as Lucy Ashby
Nélisse is known for her role in Yellowjackets, Heated Rivalry, and The Book Thief. She plays Lucy — the young woman caught between her best friend and forbidden love.
Roby Attal as Felix Clark
Roby Attal is known for The Sex Lives of College Girls and The Haunting of Bly Manor. He plays Felix — the brother of Lucy's best friend and the man she's not supposed to love.
Francesca Reale as Bridget Clark
Francesca Reale is known for Stranger Things and Do Revenge. She plays Bridget — Lucy's best friend and Felix's sister.
The rest of the cast:
Jordan Rodrigues as Miles Lam, Jude Wilson as Zach, Natalie Brown as Christine, James Tupper as Ken, Tom Barnett as Peter, and Celia Owen as Joy.
The showrunners and team
This Summer Will Be Different is a romantic drama series, led by creators and showrunners, and real-life couple Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart.
Clark and Stewart are known for Workin' Moms and North of North. Carley Fortune herself is involved as an executive producer.
"I read the first episode script, and it's wonderful. Everything is moving very fast, but it almost felt like matchmaking — you just see that this is the perfect fit," Fortune told The Hollywood Reporter.
When will This Summer Will Be Different be released on Netflix?
Netflix has not yet announced a release date. Filming begins on August 31, 2026, on Prince Edward Island and in Toronto, and is expected to run until October 16, 2026.
Given the filming schedule, the earliest possible release would be in summer 2027 — which would be perfect timing.
Carley Fortune: the author behind the hype
Carley Fortune is a Canadian author whose last four novels were all smash hits on the New York Times bestseller list. And her 2026 release Our Perfect Storm was no different — it debuted straight at the top of the list.
Fortune is currently the most adapted romance author on streaming services:
- Every Summer After → Every Year After on Prime Video (June 2026) — already renewed for season 2
- This Summer Will Be Different → Netflix series (filming started August 2026)
If you're not yet familiar with her books: start with Every Summer After — the most emotional and most read book in her bibliography. This Summer Will Be Different is the perfect follow-up.
Why BookTok loves Carley Fortune so much
Carley Fortune writes romance with a specific emotional tone that sets her apart from most other authors in the genre. Her stories are never purely light or purely heavy — they exist in an emotional middle ground where romance is always intertwined with what it takes to be yourself.
Moreover, This Summer Will Be Different features two of the most popular BookTok tropes simultaneously: friends to lovers and brother's best friend — combined in a summery island setting that feels like an extended vacation.
Read the book before the series is released
With production now started and the main cast confirmed, Netflix's next big summer romance is beginning to take shape.
You have until summer 2027 — use that time wisely. Readers who know the book before the series comes out always enjoy the adaptation more. And with This Summer Will Be Different, the experience of the Prince Edward Island setting in the book is something a series can never fully replicate.
💕 Read the book while summer isn't over yet
Our romance bookmarks are perfect for marking your most emotional This Summer Will Be Different pages.
→ View romance bookmarks
What to read next?
More Carley Fortune:
Every Summer After is her most emotional book and the perfect starting point if you're new to her bibliography. Our Perfect Storm is her most recent release — also a NYT #1.
For more friends to lovers romance:
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry has the same emotional tone and a similar summer setting. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood features a lighter variation of the same trope.
Don't know what to read next?
Our Blind Date Book (Romance) lets you choose the genre without knowing the title.
Complete your This Summer Will Be Different reading kit
💕 The perfect reading kit:
✔ Romance bookmark — for every emotional Prince Edward Island page
✔ Blind Date Book (Romance) — for when you're waiting for the Netflix series
✔ Book Review Notepad — record what the book did for you
✔ Reading Log (€1.99) — keep track of your Carley Fortune reading list
✔ Glass Can — for your iced coffee or matcha while reading
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Happy reading — and enjoy every summer on Prince Edward Island! 💕📚
Frequently Asked Questions about This Summer Will Be Different Netflix
When will This Summer Will Be Different be released on Netflix?
Netflix has not yet announced an official release date. Given the filming schedule — shooting from August to October 2026 — the earliest possible release appears to be in summer 2027.
Who are the main cast members in This Summer Will Be Different?
Sophie Nélisse plays Lucy Ashby, Roby Attal plays Felix Clark, and Francesca Reale plays Bridget Clark.
Is This Summer Will Be Different based on a book?
Yes. This Summer Will Be Different is based on the novel of the same name by Carley Fortune.
Where is filming taking place?
Filming is taking place on Prince Edward Island and in Toronto, Canada, from August to October 2026.
How many episodes does This Summer Will Be Different have?
The 10-episode series is being created by showrunners Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart.
What is the plot of This Summer Will Be Different?
The series follows Lucy, a young woman navigating her twenties and experiencing her first true love with her best friend's brother — the one person she was never supposed to fall for.
Which Carley Fortune books have already been adapted?
Every Summer After has been adapted as Every Year After on Prime Video and has already been renewed for a second season. This Summer Will Be Different will follow on Netflix.