The Arrival of Matt Cornett's Summer

      Amazon Prime Video is experiencing a remarkable success, both in terms of popularity and quality. For the past four years, the streaming platform has been a leader in the "YA BookTok series adaptation" category, producing hit shows such as The Summer I Turned Pretty, We Were Liars, My Fault, and the recent hit Off Campus, featuring a talented ensemble cast. It looks poised to continue this trend with its new series Every Year After, based on Carley Fortune's bestselling beach-read romance, Every Summer After. Picture a sunny, uplifting story of second chances set to the sounds of Lana Del Rey and Dolly Parton—count us in. Every Year After centers on the heartfelt transition from friends to lovers between Persephone "Percy" Fraser (Sadie Soverall) and Sam Florek (Matt Cornett) over six summers in the picturesque lakeside town of Barry's Bay. A decade after a heartbreaking mistake separates the young couple, an unexpected tragedy reunites them, offering another shot at love. Cornett, with his charismatic charm and gentle nature, is primed to take the internet boyfriend mantle through his authentic performance as the kind-hearted Sam. Having made his way through the Disney Channel with roles in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and Zombies 3, Cornett is ready to captivate audiences as a leading man this month. Trust us on this—he undoubtedly will.

      Reflecting on the audition for Every Year After, Cornett recalls that he received the initial casting call while filming a movie in North Carolina, under a pseudonym for a romance series on Amazon, where he would portray the leading man—a role he was eager to embrace. The character was a sweet, kind-hearted boy, which intrigued him as he would play him at ages 16 and then 28. After sending in his audition, he didn't hear anything for months until he was contacted three months later about meeting with the producers. Having completely forgotten about the audition, Cornett was surprised yet thrilled. At one of these meetings with showrunner Amy Harris, he learned it was based on Every Summer After, a book he initially knew little about since he wasn't particularly invested in the romance genre. After the session, he decided to research the book only to discover it was quite popular. Upon visiting Barnes & Noble, he found it prominently displayed as a notable read—an indication of its significance.

      Cornett shares that he didn’t read the book until after getting the role, as he didn't want to get overly excited only to not land the part. Once he was cast, he dived into the story. He intended to approach it as a fan, but because he was set to portray Sam, he found it difficult to disconnect and envisioned himself as the character. This made the reading experience different, revealing his quick attachment to the characters and narrative. He admired how Fortune crafted a detailed world and rich characters, particularly intrigued by the dual timelines, which left him eager to see how they’d be represented on screen.

      He also notes a specific audition scene, a monologue from Sam at Sue’s memorial. During his audition, he was troubled by a single hair falling in front of his eye, which he later discovered was also a recurring detail about Sam in the book. This connection added an unexpected layer of relatability. Cornett found many aspects of Sam aligning with his own personality, seeing a shared tendency toward goofiness when comfortable and recognizing Sam's kindhearted nature beneath moments of uncertainty.

      Regarding the passionate fanbase surrounding the book series, Cornett recalls two significant moments. The first was the casting announcement, which was nerve-wracking as fans typically have their own visions for characters. Cornett was relieved to see the positive reception, affirming his belief in the casting choices. The second moment came while he was having lunch with Joseph Chiu, who plays Jordie in the show. A group of fans recognized them as cast members of Every Year After, even before the show's release, illustrating the existing enthusiasm and strong following for the book.

      Discussing the chemistry with Sadie Soverall, Cornett emphasizes the importance of their bond during the chemistry read. He found comfort in their initial 10-minute conversation on Zoom, where he was captivated by her British accent. They shared a natural connection that translated into their scenes. He highlights the memorable anatomy-textbook scene and another intense moment where Percy reveals a significant event to Sam as pivotal for their characters.

      Shooting on location with a talented ensemble cast felt like a summer camp experience for Cornett. He recounts bonding with the cast through dinners and games, creating a familial atmosphere, which he believes contributed significantly to the chemistry needed for their roles.

      As for the anticipated response to the show, Cornett expresses a cautious optimism. He acknowledges the success of prior Amazon shows, recognizing the quality of those productions while believing in the strength of their own work. He hopes for a positive reception from fans, eager to see if