Netflix is the home of the best-loved romance novel adaptation of the streaming age, Bridgerton. Earlier this year, the adaptation of the book series of the same name by Julia Quinn returned for its fourth season, as the Cinderella story of Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha) took the streaming charts by storm. Season 4, Part 1 was watched in an impressive 6.4 million households during the live plus three-day period, marking a 52% boost over Season 3’s premiere, and proving that there is a lot left for this beloved series to give.
Hoping to follow in the footsteps of Bridgerton and other successful Netflix romance adaptations, including Virgin River, is an adaptation of This Summer Will Be Different, the 2024 novel by Carley Fortune, which topped the Canadian fiction bestseller list. It’s already been confirmed that Yellowjackets‘ Sophie Nélisse, Francesca Reale, and Roby Attal will lead the series, which also features Jordan Rodrigues, Jude Wilson, Natalie Brown, James Tupper, Tom Barnett, and Celia Owen. Reports now say the cast has expanded to include a selection of talented names.
This includes Nadine Bhabha, who joins fellow Heated Rivalry alum Nélisseas Farah; The Hunting Wives‘ Malin Akerman as Aunt Stacy; Megan Follows as Cherly; and Matias Lucas as Carter. Principal photography began on July 29, 2026, on Prince Edward Island, and has now moved to Toronto with an eye toward an October finish. The series is being adapted for the screen by Dane Clark and his wife, Linsey Stewart, who previously made the films I Put a Hit on You and Suze.
What is ‘This Summer Will Be Different’ About?
Although the likes of Bridgerton and Virgin River have proven big hits for Netflix, other romance adaptations have stumbled, illustrated by the recent cancellation of Ransom Canyon. So it is more important than ever that This Summer Will Be Different stands out from the competition and demands an audience, but is this story one that viewers will find enticing? The logline for the show describes it as “a simmering, sun-soaked romance set across multiple summers on Prince Edward Island about Lucy (Nélisse), a young woman navigating her 20s and her first real love with her best friend’s (Reale) brother (Attal), the one person she was never supposed to fall for.”
via Collider