Only a handful of details regarding Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's July 3 wedding have been released so far. Despite reportedly signing NDAs in order to attend the star-studded event, a few guests have begun providing insider info about Swift's nuptials.

Maren Morris shared several Instagram photos following Swift and Kelce's wedding. As well as posing next to Kelsea Ballerini, Morris posted a photo of a doily or cloth napkin from the nuptials, which paid tribute to the couple in the sweetest way.

The napkin included the couple's wedding date, along with a symbol entwining the letter T twice with two hearts. Underneath, a quote from "Blank Space"—Kelce's favorite Swift song—read, "So it's gonna be forever..."

The adorable souvenir shows just how personal Swift and Kelce's wedding really was.

Another person who appears to have ignored any NDA is the CEO of AMC Theatres, Adam Aron, who shared a long social media post containing details about the wedding. In a since-deleted X post, Aron said (via Entertainment Weekly), "It did not look like Madison Square Garden."

He continued, "Immediately upon entry, everything...floors, walls, ceilings...was draped in peach and white. Large blown up pictures of Taylor and Travis at each age, year by year from one year-old to late teenager-hood, were on display."

Describing the immense transformation that had taken place at the venue, Aron said, "Somehow magically, someone created an outdoor garden at a lush countryside retreat. Everything draped off this time in green and white. Real flowers and I think artificial trees welcomed 15 rows of maybe 75 or so chairs...surprisingly, it all felt intimate and small. Everything was close."

While Swifties await additional details about the romantic event, it's clear that the singer wanted to make the wedding extra special for her new husband, Kelce, by referencing his favorite song.

Princess Diana experienced both negative and positive press throughout her life, and endured a number of personal challenges in the public eye. Namely, the former Princess of Wales split from King Charles, an event which was voraciously reported on by the tabloids. According to her former butler, there was one particular thing that Princess Diana really wanted "people to understand" about her life.

In his book, A Royal Duty, former royal butler Paul Burrell claimed, "All she had ever wanted was for the British people to understand what she had gone through, how difficult it had been. And while she felt that [King] Charles had truly made her suffer, she had learned from her suffering."

According to Burrell, the princess's divorce knocked her confidence in a major way, after a lifetime of self-doubt.

"She felt her low self-esteem had taken root in childhood when she had acquired many of her ideas about herself," the former butler wrote. "She had taken that poor self-image into the marriage with [King] Charles."

Burrell continued, "In [Charles], she focused solely on deriving a boost to her ego, through his recognition of her achievements. When it was not forthcoming, she said she felt rejected."

According to the former Royal Family butler, Diana also had to learn to come to terms with the emotions she was experiencing.

"The princess also needed to realize, and I think many people told her this, that anger was a natural emotion, but she felt many women found anger distressing," he wrote.

Burrell further explained, "She even hired a boxer to come to [Kensington Palace] with his punchbag so that she could rid herself of her anger. Diana, Princess of Wales, could certainly pack a mean punch."

Ultimately, Princess Diana had to go through some incredibly difficult moments in her life, while navigating her role as a famous person, which can't have been easy.

Every year when dating shows like Love Island USA return and take over the internet, a perennial question resurfaces: Where are the gays? A queer Love Island may not exist, but there is an answer to the sapphic-shaped hole in reality TV: I Kissed a Girl.

In 2023, the BBC debuted a landmark LGBTQ+ reality franchise, releasing the U.K.'s first-ever gay dating show, I Kissed a Boy, followed by its lesbian version, I Kissed a Girl. Both series were critically praised and found passionate fanbases, with the latter receiving notable love for its groundbreaking representation of sapphic culture. Though Korea and Japan hold the crown for wholesome-yet-messy reality hits, I Kissed a Girl proves that the country that gave us Love Island can also release much less blood-pressure-raising fare.

If any of the above has piqued your interest, your watchlist is in luck. Read on for our breakdown of I Kissed a Girl and how U.S. viewers can tune in.

What is the reality show 'I Kissed a Girl?'

Hosted by LGBTQ+ ally (and Kylie's little sister) Dannii Minogue and lesbian narrator Charley Marlowe, I Kissed a Girl can be considered a sapphic, more low-key version of Love Island. It starts with 10 queer women arriving at an Italian masseria—a fortified farmhouse unique to Puglia, Italy—where pre-planned pairs immediately smooch on their first meeting to test their compatibility.

The couples are then left to flirt, build their connections, and possibly catch someone else's eye as they all live together. The dating-show gameplay includes the standard themed parties and challenges, or "chemistry tests," that stir up drama; reveals where new singles enter the masseria; and "Kiss Off" ceremonies that end in elimination. The final test is whether they'll commit to continuing their romance outside the masseria by kissing one last time in front of their families(!) who've been flown out for the finale.

While there are more exciting shows that focus on producer-contrived drama, I Kissed a Girl is made for the reality-TV sociologists who want to observe how the singles move through their romances. Many lovely moments also move LGBTQ+ representation on TV beyond tired stereotypes, such as discussions on the intersections of queerness and race.

When does 'I Kissed a Girl' season 2 come out in the U.K.?

After its acclaimed May 2024 debut, I Kissed a Girl began its second season on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. After dropping four episodes on the 23rd, the dating show will release two episodes at a time for the rest of its run, with drops arriving on BBC iPlayer every Tuesday at 6 a.m. BST.

According to PinkNews, I Kissed a Girl season 2 will have 10 episodes total, with the season finale expected to air on July 14, 2026.

How can I watch 'I Kissed a Girl' in the U.S.?

Thankfully for U.S. viewers, I Kissed a Girl and I Kissed a Boy are both available to stream stateside on Hulu. However, it hasn't been announced when season 2 will land on Hulu—and subscribers will likely have to wait. The queer dating show arrived on the streaming giant in late August 2024, a couple of months after it aired on the BBC.

If you're the impatient type or don't want to get spoiled by an IG reel, I Kissed a Girl season 2 is streaming without delay on BBC iPlayer, free with a TV license. If you don't have a VPN, you can use one like Nord VPN.

Will there be an 'I Kissed a Girl' season 3?

Unfortunately, I Kissed a Girl season 2 will be its final installment. In March 2026, the BBC announced that both I Kissed a Girl and I Kissed a Boy would come to an end with their second seasons.

“We are exceptionally proud of I Kissed A Boy/Girl, the U.K.’s first dating show for the LGBTQ+ community,” a BBC spokesperson said at the time. “We would like to thank our fabulous Cupid Dannii Minogue and the entire team at [production company] Twofour for bringing the series to screen. Unfortunately, we have to make difficult choices in light of our funding challenges, and there are no current plans for the show to return.”

Fans have since called for other networks to consider reviving the show and started a petition directed toward the BBC that has racked up over 20,000 signatures. For now, new viewers can enjoy the three (and soon four) franchise seasons airing on Hulu.

Whoever said romance novels have no substance was, first of all, wrong—but certainly hasn't read Kennedy Ryan. Though the novelist, who writes under a pen name, has been dubbed the “Queen of Hugs” by her fans for her welcoming embraces at book signings, Ryan’s emotion-driven books are anything but fluff, tackling deeper issues such as mental health and neurodivergence, social injustices, and climate change.

Ryan told Elle that the more profound subject matter she infuses into her traditionally light-hearted genre reflects the writing she wants to see out in the world. “I want to see people who are usually on the periphery—those identities, communities, and experiences—moved to the center,” she said. “I want to see marginalized voices represented. Once I had that level of intentionality, it formed a blueprint for my writing that I think started right around Long Shot. And that’s been the blueprint ever since.”

The formula has certainly landed with readers. She’s amassed more than half a million followers on TikTok, claimed several spots on The New York Times Best Sellers lists, and landed a “first-look” deal at Universal that will not only enable her to develop one of her own steamy works for the small screen but also develop various projects for others.

Before she expands her universe, however, we're paying homage to her journey thus far: Ryan has more than 20 titles to her name, and we’ve taken the liberty of ranking the top 10. Below are the best Kennedy Ryan books—including some of her steamiest reads.

The Best Books by Kennedy Ryan, Ranked

What is Kennedy Ryan's most popular book?

Ryan’s most famous book is the first novel in her Skyland series, Before I Let Go. Upon its debut, the book found a devoted following on #BookTok as much as it became a critical darling, landing on year end lists.

The author herself has spoken about the book's resonance and how its success catapulted her career to the next level. IIn an interview with Bookpage, she explained what inspired her to write it. "Before I Let Go was the third book I wrote during the pandemic," she said. "I had my annual check-up right before COVID hit, and my doctor expressed concern that I had several early indicators for depression. I never understood how debilitating depression and neglecting your mental health could be until I couldn’t get out of bed. Until I couldn’t make it through a day, sometimes through an hour, without crying. Until I was having panic attacks regularly. There was no room for creativity because I honestly was just trying to survive."

Once Ryan found her footing ("It took finding the right therapist…and the right medication for me to start feeling better"), she channeled that experience into the novel’s protagonist, Yasmen Wade, who struggles with her own depression in the wake of a stillbirth and the death of a loved one. "With Yasmen's journey, I wanted to convey the importance of putting yourself first. Women—moms and wives especially—often put everyone before themselves. I wanted this to be about a woman who esteems her personal, emotional and mental well-being above all else," Ryan said. "Choosing herself becomes a matter of survival."

What order should I read Kennedy Ryan's books in?

Ryan’s books can be read in several different ways. With seven different series to choose from—All the King's Men, The Bennetts, Grip, Hollywood Renaissance, Hoops, Skyland, and Soul—you can choose the character arcs and worlds that best align with your interests.

The series for which Ryan is most-known, the Skyland series, is about Yasmen, Soledad, and Hendrix, a close-knit trio of Black women who lean on each other for support while juggling high-stakes careers, romantic reconciliations, and family struggles. It kicks off with Ryan’s most famous book, Before I Let Go, and is followed by This Could Be Us and Can’t Get Enough.

Ryan’s most recent series, the Hollywood Renaissance series consists of Reel, The Close-Up, and Score and was inspired by the Harlem Renaissance. True to the series title, its characters are all navigating the entertainment industry (and their love lives) in various ways—Reel’s Neevah Saint is a Broadway understudy, for instance, while Score’s Verity Hill is a screenwriter. “It felt like a natural era to explore when I was examining overlooked accomplishments by Black creatives,” Ryan told The New York Times of the trilogy.

The All the King’s Men series, meanwhile, features The Kingmaker, The Rebel King, and Queen Move deals with social justice. The third entry is a standalone novel, but the first two books focus on Lennix Hunter's fight for the rights to her people's ancestral land against the nefarious Cade Oil company. The only problem? She’s gone and fallen for the company’s heir—A.K.A. the source of her people’s pain.

If sports romances are more your bag, you’ll want to skip straight to the Hoop series, which includes three interconnected standalone novels (Long Shot, Block Shot, and Hook Shot), a special edition book called Hoops Holiday (to be read after Block Shot, per Ryan’s website) and a novella (Hoops Shorts) that ties them all together.

The Grip series (Flow, Grip, and Still) also focuses on the entertainment industry, but with a more modern feel: The Black rapper/poet at its center, Marlon “Grip” James, is building a musical empire while navigating a romance plagued by socioeconomic challenges with his White manager.

Those with a penchant for music will appreciate the aptly-named Soul series—a three part chronicle of the blossoming love between Kai Pearson, a Georgia native on a mission to make it as a singer/songwriter, and rock star Rhyson Gray. (Start with My Soul To Keep before picking up Down To My Soul and Refrain.)

Last but not least, there’s Ryan’s first-ever series, The Bennetts. Ryan’s tetralogy may not be Austen-related, but the characters in When You Were Mine, Loving You Always, Be Mine Forever, and Until I’m Yours, are dealing with just as many interpersonal intricacies as those in Pride and Prejudice, if not more. The couple at its center, Kerris Moreton and her fiancé’s BFF Walsh Bennett, are in a tricky position, indeed.

Are any of Kennedy Ryan's books being adapted into movies or TV shows?

At least one of Ryan's novels, Before I Let Go, is being adapted into a TV series on Peacock, per Variety—and more of the author's projects may follow suit. The outlet reported in April 26 that Ryan has landed a “first-look” deal with Universal Studio Group that will enable her to develop various projects. “What I am most excited about is the opportunity to identify other authors’ work, especially marginalized authors, and to shepherd those projects from book to screen,” Ryan told the New York Times. “We are seeing an explosion in romance adaptations right now, and I want to see more Black, brown and queer authors.”

In addition to Ryan, who is co-writing and executive producing the script for the Before I Let Go series, Malcolm D. Lee (The Best Man, Girls Trip) is set to direct and executive produce. John Legend and Debra M. Chase (Sparkle, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2) are also onboard as an executive producers.

A release date has yet to be announced and the series is still in the early development phase, which gives you more than enough to dive into the book—and her other novels—if you haven't already.

Why Trust Us

Marie Claire is a trusted voice in the book community for good reason: We love to read. Just like you, we live for a good murder mystery series, swoon over the latest #BookTok romances, and find it easy to get swept up by faeries and dragons galore in a good imaginative fantasy just as much as the latest, buzzy literary fiction. If we’re not getting our book facts straight from the source (A.K.A. by reading them ourselves), we’re investigating them from every angle, taking into account a book’s rankings, awards, and opinions from readers—just like you.

Princess Diana lived her life in an international spotlight after marrying King Charles on July 29, 1981. Unfortunately, the couple endured a somewhat tumultuous marriage, which led to divorce. And according to one of Diana's former royal butlers, the princess wasn't entirely happy with the way her mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, handled the divorce.

In his book A Royal Duty, former royal butler Paul Burrell recalled Diana receiving a personal letter from Queen Elizabeth II regarding the princess's separation from King Charles.

"It began, as always, 'Dearest Diana' and ended, 'With love from Mama,'" Burrell explained. "This letter, though, was different from any other I had read and, as The Queen's former footman, I felt uncomfortable as I read it."

Burrell continued, "I was talking to the back of the princess's head as she remained on the [couch] but I needed to express my discomfort. 'I'm not sure I should be reading this, it says 'in the strictest of confidence.'"

In spite of his reservations, Burrell reportedly read the letter aloud to Princess Diana, who "jumped up, agitated, and began pacing."

According to the former butler, Diana exclaimed, "The Prime Minister and the Archbishop of Canterbury! My divorce has been discussed with John Major and George Carey before it has been discussed with me."

Burrell continued, "The princess was infuriated that The Queen had consulted the government and the church first...'This is my marriage and it is no one else's business!' she yelled."

Ultimately, Princess Diana reportedly "felt that her divorce, just like her marriage, was being handled as if it were a business matter," per Burrell.

Despite describing Queen Elizabeth's letter as "sympathetic, delicate, and devoid of anger," Burrell also suggested that the monarch was "a mother-in-law frustrated with the behavior of both parties, emphasizing that a divorce could not inflict further damage on the two sons who had suffered enough over the previous years."

Divorce is complicated, regardless of who you're married to, but it's clear that being a member of the Royal Family makes the entire process even more challenging for everyone involved.

The great thing about the romance novel genre is that there’s truly something for everyone. Friends-to-lovers stories? You got it. Enemies-to-lovers? Absolutely. Opposites-attract workplace romances between grumpy-sunshine duos with lots of forced proximity and an “only one bed” situation? Oddly specific, but definitely a thing.

But while those and other popular romance tropes certainly have their merits, there’s something particularly irresistible about a classic fake-dating love story. The premise is playful and improbable, and the payoff—when our two main characters finally admit that there’s something very real between them—is so satisfying. In short, it’s the perfect recipe for a romance novel that’ll have you giggling, blushing, and rooting for those clueless lovebirds to open their eyes and realize they’re in love already.

Here, we’ve rounded up some of the very best fake-dating romance novels that are often-hilarious and always-steamy. Below, find great reads that have spawned adaptations and #BookTok phenomena, from beloved authors like Emily Henry, Elle Kennedy, and more.

The Best Fake-Dating Books Adapted for the Screen

The Best Fake-Dating Books From Romance Genre Giants

The Best Fake-Dating Books of 2026

If ever you needed proof that you can pivot your career, you needn’t look any further than author Liz Tomforde. The former flight attendant used her job working in-air for an NHL team as the inspiration for Mile High, her hit 2022 novel—and one of the most popular sports romance series.

She’s gone from “scribbling notes mid-flight and typing chapters in hotel rooms" to becoming a New York Times bestselling author with more than 25.4 million readers, a TV series in development, and a second series, the Wilder Woods books, set to debut in March 2027.

“I didn’t think any of this was possible,” Tomforde gushed to fans in a May 2026 Instagram post.

While the romances featured in her sports-centric books are fictional, Tomforde has continued to infuse her characters with her own experiences. She shared in an interview with Little Stack, “The female main character in…Mile High shared my same profession and her feelings about her body image were pulled from my own life experiences. In Caught Up, Miller’s burnout and work pressures were influenced by how I was feeling in my own career at the time. And Hallie, the main female character in Rewind It Back, was the caretaker for a sick parent, which is influenced by my own life as well.” That realism—and the spice levels of her books—have won over readers on #BookTok and beyond.

In preparation for the release of both the Prime Video adaptation that's in the works and the novelist's brand new book series, we’re looking at her literary journey thus far. Read on for a ranking of every Liz Tomforde book, from her first self-published release to her newest hit.

Every Liz Tomforde Book, Ranked

When will Liz Tomforde's next book be released?

Tomforde signed a four-book deal in February 2026 for a brand-new series called Wilder Woods. According to the author, these romance novels will reintroduce readers to the Wilder siblings from 2025’s Rewind It Back and be set in Northern California. “It’s a family of…siblings, three brothers, one sister,” she shared in a March 2026 interview. “Mostly different sports.”

Though the first novel in the series, Cardinal Rule, was originally slated for November 2026, its release date has since been pushed back to March 2, 2027, per Tomforde’s Instagram.

What is Liz Tomforde's most popular book?

Mile High is far and away the novel that put Tomforde on the #BookTok map. As the first book in the Windy City series, it not only expanded Tomforde’s previously Wattpad-dominant audience, but it also introduced readers to many of the characters they would grow to love in her subsequent books, from Stevie’s twin brother, The Right Move’s Ryan Shay, to Zander’s teammate and BFF, Rewind It Back lead, Rio DeLuca.

What order should I read Liz Tomforde's books?

The order in which you read Tomforde's books will depend on your personal preference, though if you're looking to see what all the hype is about, we recommend diving into the Windy City books. Whether you start with the Windy City books—which start with Mile High and culminate with Rewind It Back—or crack open her debut novel and its sequel, Becoming Selfish and Staying Selfless, we suggest you read the series chronologically, given their recurring characters and Easter eggs. 2026's In Her Own League can be read at any time, considering it's a standalone novel.

If you want to read the books in the order they were published, you can pick them up in the following order:

• Becoming Selfish (2021)
• Staying Selfless (2022)
• Mile High (2022)
• The Right Move (2023)
• Caught Up (2023)
• Play Along (2024)
• Rewind It Back (2025)
• In Her Own League (2026)
• Her next book, Cardinal Rule (2027), is also available for pre-order

Are any of Liz Tomforde's books being adapted into movies or TV shows?

Tomforde’s Windy City series will soon be coming to the small screen, thanks to Prime Video. Deadline reported in May 2026 that the streaming giant would be tackling the project with Alison McDonald (a writer and producer on shows like #BlackAF, Your Honor, and Russian Doll) at the show’s helm.

"Soon readers who fell in love with my characters will get to watch their stories step off the page and unfold on screen," Tomforde said in a statement. "What started as a personal passion project has turned into a career that I truly never thought was possible. And now, thanks to Premeditated Productions and Amazon Studios, it’s becoming something bigger than I ever dreamed."

The author has also expressed just how much she trusts McDonald. In an Instagram post, she told fans how "excited" she was to have a showrunner on board and called her "wildly talented."

With the show still in early development, an official release date for the series has not yet been announced. Prime Video has become the home for romance book-to-series adaptations (Off Campus! Every Year After! Fourth Wing!), so it seems likely we should be in for another hit and learn more details soon enough.

Why Trust Us

Marie Claire is a trusted voice in the book community for good reason: We love to read. Just like you, we live for a good murder mystery series, swoon over the latest romance phenomenon, find it easy to get swept up by faeries and dragons galore in a good imaginative fantasy, keep our eyes and ears peeled on what's coming from the rising literari. If we’re not getting our book facts straight from the source (a.k.a. by reading them ourselves), we’re investigating them from every angle, taking into account a book’s rankings, awards, and opinions from readers—just like you.

After taking her naked tutu to the streets of Manhattan—the choreography and costumes on Rosalía's Lux Tour are inspired by ballet—the singer switched up her look for a date with model and actress Loli Bahia. For their outing, Rosalía wore a look straight from Victoria Beckham's Spring/Summer 2026 RTW runway.

Initially giving the appearance of a little black halter slip dress, the Victoria Beckham piece is actually a romper with subtle sculptural shorts. The romper, which is currently sold out but retails for $13,983, features two pink feathers attached to each strap.

The "Con Altura" singer styled her Victoria Beckham romper with a pair of pointed-toe black leather mules, while wearing her hair tied back in a messy bun.

After signing autographs for a group of fans, Rosalía hopped into her car, which offered photographers a closer look at her outfit and accessories.

Notably, the singer was wearing a multicolor beaded friendship bracelet as part of her outfit.

Although Rosalía and Loli Bahia have kept their romance largely under wraps thus far, the pair has started making more public outings together in 2026. Judging by their latest appearance, the couple remains pretty besotted with one another, and Rosalía's Victoria Beckham romper was a suitably romantic choice for the date.

Shop Outfits Inspired by Rosalía

Dua Lipa's second wedding celebration—which took place in the Sicilian capital of Palermo—was an undeniably glamorous affair. To wed actor Callum Turner, Lipa wore a custom Chanel wedding gown created specifically for the bride by the fashion house's creative director, Matthieu Blazy.

The "Levitating" singer was an early proponent of Blazy's Chanel designs, and her couture wedding gown marks the creative director's first major wedding dress creation. Notably, the halter wedding gown was adorned with 480,000 beads and jewels, which took Lesage 1,155 hours to embroider, via @stylenotcom. Additionally, Lemarié provided an incredible 25,000 feathers to embellish the gown.

Lipa's wedding gown—which included a long two-meter train—was handcrafted at Chanel's flagship headquarters at 31 Rue Cambon in Paris. The singer's delicately embroidered wedding veil measured in at six meters, and was prominently featured in her Instagram post regarding her nuptials.

Finally, the singer's white satin wedding pumps were custom-made by bespoke shoemaker Massaro Paris for Chanel. Lipa is styled by Lorenzo Posocco.

Prior to heading to Italy, Lipa and Turner tied the knot in a private civil ceremony at Old Marylebone Town Hall in London on Sunday, May 31, 2026. For her low-key nuptials, the pop star donned a custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture outfit, designed by Daniel Roseberry, which included a blush bustier.

Prior to wearing Chanel for her wedding, Lipa has worn creative director Blazy designs on a multitude of occasions. Not only is she the face of the Chanel 25 bag, which she's regularly seen carrying, Lipa was front and center at Blazy's Haute Couture Week debut in January 2026.

At the 2023 Met Gala, Lipa wore an archive Chanel wedding gown, taken from the fashion house's Fall/Winter 1992 collection—subtly foreshadowing her future bridal outfit.

Unsurprisingly, both of Lipa's wedding looks were completely enviable.

No one loves a romance novel quite like Prime Video. Over the last few years, the streamer's been on a roll—pouncing on the buzzy titles scrolling across your #BookTok FYP and snapping up their adaptation rights.

In the last five years alone, the platform has released series adaptations of Jenny Han's sun-drenched The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy, Elle Kennedy's over-10-year-old hockey romance series Off Campus, and Carley Fortune's splashy Every Summer After novel, re-titled Every Year After. There are a handful of best-sellers on Prime Video's book-to-screen docket, from this September's STEM romance The Love Hypothesis to the long-awaited Fourth Wing series—but fans of Irish novels and love triangles have another to look forward to: The Boys of Tommen.

Author Chloe Walsh's The Boys of Tommen series delighted readers with six novels' worth of steamy romance, charming athlete tropes, and top-tier yearning—which means excitement's at a fever pitch to see all those details come to life on the screen. Read on for everything we know about The Boys of Tommen TV series adaptation so far.

What is 'Boys of Tommen' about?

Written by Irish author Chloe Walsh, The Boys of Tommen series follows a team of rugby players at the elite school Tommen College in County Cork, Ireland, as each athlete navigates love, rugby, and growing up. With six books already released and at least a few more forthcoming, each coming-of-age sports romance explores the relationship between one of the players and their love interest.

"It’s just an unbelievable constellation of characters, but it’s also got such a specificity for place and the time," Prime Video's International Content Chief, Nicole Clemens, told Deadline in February 2026, when the adaptation was announced.

Though originally published in 2018, the series experienced something of a renaissance online in recent years—like its older American-hockey-playing brother, Off Campus. Fans have praised the books for how they explore heavy emotional topics, including addiction, abuse, and trauma. The renewed interest stirred enough buzz to catch the eye of Prime Video, which announced the series adaptation via an Instagram post in February 2026.

What 'Boys of Tommen' books are being adapted in season 1 of the TV series?

Prime Video has announced that the first season of the show will feature eight episodes that explore the first two books in the Boys of Tommen series, Binding 13 and Keeping 13. The duology focuses on the forbidden love story of star rugby player Johnny Kavanagh and shy new girl Shannon Lynch. "Both teenagers are hiding secrets; Johnny, a potentially career-ending injury, and Shannon, a troubled and violent home life," the show's logline describes. "Through their secret and highly charged connection, the two teens from opposite worlds battle against the odds and find a way to save each other."

Though future seasons have yet to be confirmed, should they be greenlit, viewers can expect them to follow the subsequent books: Saving 6, Redeeming 6, Taming 7, and Releasing 10.

Who is involved behind the scenes of the 'Boys of Tommen' TV show?

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder alum, Poppy Cogan, takes the helm as the show's lead writer and executive producer. She shares the latter title with author Chloe Walsh.

Prime Video's International Content Chief Nicole Clemens teased that "Poppy's scripts capture the intensity of Johnny and Shannon's powerful romance and dive into the rich constellation of characters to explore the themes of mental health, bullying, and resilience with the same authenticity that fans love in Chloe's books."

Also behind the series are the production houses Drama Republic (One Day), Temple Hill (Twilight), and wiip (The Summer I Turned Pretty). Irish filmmaker Brendan Canty—known for directing Hozier's "Take Me To Church" music video—is also attached to direct.

Who has been cast in the 'Boys of Tommen' TV show?

We already know a handful of the Tommen College coeds! In late May, Prime Video announced Nancy Surridge and Conor Sánchez will lead the first season as Shannon and Johnny. While Sánchez already has a few acting credits under his belt—including Power & Glory, One Night, and Invertigo—Boys of Tommen will be Surridge's breakout role.

James O'Donoghue and Sophie McGibbon were also cast as Joey Lynch and Aoife Molloy, the romantic leads of the third and fourth Boys of Tommen books. McGibbon will appear later this year alongside Daisy Edgar-Jones as Miss Grey in the forthcoming Sense & Sensibility movie adaptation. O'Donoghue, meanwhile, can be seen in Fair City and A Witch's Tale.

“We searched far and wide, receiving over 3,000 casting suggestions from across the U.K. and Ireland, but from the moment Nancy, Conor, James, and Sophie walked into the room, it was clear we’d found something beyond special," director Brendan Canty said in a statement via a Prime Video press release. "Each of them brings the spirit and emotional depth this story demands, and I couldn’t be more excited to bring Chloe’s world to the screen with this extraordinary young cast.”

Beyond the leads of books 1 through 4, a handful of supporting cast members (and potential eventual stars) were announced in late June 2026. According to Deadline, Amelia May (Wild Cherry) will play Claire Biggs, and John Hewson—the youngest son of Bono from U2—will have one of his first major roles as Gerard Gibson. As readers will know, Book 5 turns its focus to Claire and Gerard's romance. The leading characters of Book 6, Claire's brother Hugh and Lizzie Young, have also been cast: Indy Lewis (Industry) will take on Lizzie, and Irish racecar driver Alex Dunne will make his acting debut as Hugh.

Other members in the ensemble include Dixie Egerickx (The Secret Garden) as Katie Wilmot, theater actress Daisy Jacob as Bella Wilkinson, rising Irish actor/filmmaker Jonathan Heed as Cormac Ryan, and newcomer Cathal Ó Síocháin as Ronan McGarry.

When will the 'Boys of Tommen' TV series be released?

Though the series got the green light from Prime Video earlier this year, it'll still be a while before our screens transport us to Cork. With the casting of the leads complete, we can assume that the show may be ready to move into production later in 2026. If that's the case and filming goes smoothly, it's possible we could see episodes in late 2027 or early 2028.

Fingers crossed we get more information soon; we'll keep this story updated as more details become available.

When you're looking to get lost in a book, sometimes you need your reading material to match your mood. With Marie Claire's series "Buy the Book," we do the heavy lifting for you. We're offering curated, highly specific recommendations for whatever you're looking for—whether you're in your feels or hooked on a subgenre trending on #BookTok.

In this author-curated rendition, Tia Williams—former beauty editor and bestselling author of novels like Seven Days in June and A Love Song for Ricki Wilde—shares her favorite globe-trotting romances.

A passionate, whirlwind romance is always irresistible, even when you live in the greatest city in the world. Tia Williams is known for nuanced, sexy romance novels in which New York City enclaves become the third main character—from the historical streets of Harlem to the effortless cool of her own home base, Brooklyn.

But in her latest release, The Missed Connection, the bestselling author taps into the fantasy of a cross-continent fling. The novel follows Sasha Cruz, an early-30s casting agent who sets off an international manhunt after meeting her dream man on a flight to Paris…and drinking so much rosé that she disembarks without learning his name.

Williams tells Marie Claire that the mystery man of her new novel, who hails from a town on Italy’s southern coast named Gallipoli, is partly inspired by her real-life love. “My husband’s father is from Gallipoli!” she says via email. “A few years ago, my husband and I spent a few weeks there, and I fell in love with it. The scent of the Cypress trees and the sea, the exquisite seafood, the rocky cliffs? It’s all so romantic and inspiring. I knew I’d write about this place.”

In The Missed Connection, Sasha is so intrigued by her crush, whom she dubs Seat F, that she hires a private investigator from her past to find her would-be lover. The recipe to Seat F’s allure: a dashing smile, an instant comfort, and the fantasy of being swept away from ordinary life.

“Being away from the predictability of everyday life is always delicious. The sights, the sounds, the tastes, the vibes—emotions are heightened because you’ve escaped from the ordinary,” she explains. “This is why international flings feel so powerful. A kiss in a different country always feels electric.”

To coincide with the release of her highly anticipated new book, which hit shelves on June 10, we asked the author to share her favorite books centered on international love stories, from historical novels to queer favorites.

Princess Kate captured everyone's attention when she arrived for the Order of the Garter service at Windsor Castle on June 15, 2026. As well as embracing Summer 2026's butter yellow trend in a custom Patrick McDowell brocade coat dress, the Princess of Wales subtly referenced her royal wedding.

For Garter Day—a Royal Family tradition which recognizes the achievements of British people and inducts them into a special Order—Princess Kate rewore her wedding day earrings.

Per The Court Jeweler, Princess Kate's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, commissioned British jeweler Robinson Pelham to create the diamond earrings as a wedding gift.

At the time of her nuptials, it was reported that the earrings consisted of "diamond-set stylized oak leaves with a pear-shaped diamond set drop and a pavé set diamond acorn suspended in the center," via Forbes. According to the outlet, the jewels were inspired by the Middleton clan's coat of arms.

Princess Kate's decision to rewear the nostalgic earrings on Garter Day suggests she's subtly paying tribute to her husband, William, and their enduring love story.

Of course, this isn't the first time that the Princess of Wales has reworn her wedding day jewelry. On Easter Sunday in 2019, Kate paired the Robinson Pelham diamond earrings with a blue Alexander McQueen coat dress.

For Garter Day 2026, Princess Kate's earrings perfectly complemented her custom-made butter yellow coat dress from Patrick McDowell.

Notably, the striking dress was constructed from "fabric woven specifically for the princess, who is known for her support of British textiles industries, by Stephen Walters & Sons in Suffolk," Tatler shared.

With Kate's endorsement, it's pretty clear that the celeb-beloved butter yellow trend is about to be everywhere.

Today's romance fans have no shortage of ships to swoon over, but it hits a bit harder when the actors' chemistry can even be seen off set. In Prime Video's latest book-to-TV adaptation, Every Year After, rising stars Sadie Soverall and Matt Cornett portray an irresistible second-chance romance. Former childhood besties Percy (Soverall) and Sam (Cornett) spent every summer together in Barry's Bay, until their building romance was interrupted by an irreparable mistake. When Percy returns to mourn a loved one's death, old feelings reemerge and threaten to upend the life that Sam has built without her.

In honor of the series' streaming debut, Soverall and Cornett sat down with Marie Claire to test their friendship with a game of How Well Do You Know Your Co-Star?. The pair quickly proved how much they've learned about each other while making the show, as they guessed each other's favorite romance tropes, childhood celebrity crushes, and must-have snacks and sweet treats. Most tellingly, Cornett confirmed that the cast-mate he'd text first—minus Michael Bradway, who he considers his "brother" on- and off-screen—was Soverall. After all, he assured, he's "such a big Sadie Soverall fan."

Watch the full challenge above, then head to Prime Video to watch Every Year After, streaming now.

Once again, a buzzy summer romance show has arrived on Prime Video and made a cohort of fans fall in love with it. Based on Carley Fortune's 2022 debut novel, Every Summer After, Every Year After follows Percy Fraser (Sadie Soverall) and Sam Florek (Matt Cornett), who reunite in the picturesque Barry's Bay a decade after a mysterious betrayal torpedoes their teenage friends-to-lovers romance. Alongside the pair's second-chance encounter, the show's eight episodes flesh out some of the original book's supporting characters, from Percy's best friends Chantal (Aurora Perrineau) and Delilah (Abigail Cowen) to Sam's older brother Charlie (Michael Bradway).

Although Percy and Sam's time in the spotlight has seemingly come to an end, fear not: Fortune has written another book set within the Every Year After universe, so there's ample source material to pull from.

If you've already torn through the first season and are itching to return to Barry's Bay, you're not alone. Keep reading to find out everything we know about a potential Every Year After season 2 so far, including which character is poised to become the show's new romantic lead.

Has 'Every Year After' been renewed for season 2?

Summer isn't over yet! In late June 2026, at Prime Video's Obsessed Fest, the streamer confirmed a season 2 renewal for Every Year After. Not only that, Prime Video confirmed that the upcoming episodes will adapt the next book in Fortune's Barry's Bay series: One Golden Summer. Considering that major cliffhanger (more on that below!), book fans had speculated as soon as they binged season 1 that the next novel was bound to be adapted.

Showrunner Amy B. Harris also shared a statement about the good news in a press release. She said, "The response to Every Year After has been truly extraordinary, underscoring the universal appeal of Carley Fortune’s storytelling and the deep connection audiences have formed with the world of Barry’s Bay."

Peter Friedlander, Head of Global Television, Amazon MGM Studios, added, “We’re incredibly grateful to Carley, Amy B. Harris, our exceptional cast and creative team, and the passionate fans who have embraced this series around the globe. We’re excited to return to Barry’s Bay and bring audiences another deeply emotional and unforgettable chapter.”

What's more? Harris has also alluded to the show running long past season 2. Of course only a second installment is on the table right now, but it's possible there's more to come down the line. "I see five seasons," she told Entertainment Weekly when season 1 hit streaming. "Obviously, there’s another book that’s connected to Barry’s Bay that I think will be a very exciting blueprint for us for a potential season 2."

Which Carley Fortune book will 'Every Year After' season 2 adapt?

Every Year After season 2 will adapt Carley Fortune's 2025 book, One Golden Summer. The romance novel, also set in Barry's Bay, follows Sam's brother, Charlie (Michael Bradway). Meaning, that's right: He does, in fact, survive season 1's shocking cliffhanger!

Over the course of One Golden Summer, Charlie falls in love with photographer Alice Everly, who returns to Barry's Bay years after taking a photo there that changed the course of her life. And yes, that photo just so happens to be the snapshot of Charlie, Percy, and Sam that Charlie sees at the end of the season 1 finale.

During a recent Teen Vogue interview, Bradway teased that the cast and crew crafted his character's season 1 storyline with One Golden Summer in mind. "There were definitely things that we did in the first season that we were intentional about," the actor told the outlet. "[We] made sure that Charlie acted a certain way [in relationships] because we knew that Alice was going to be coming next season."

What will 'Every Year After' season 2 be about?

While Charlie and Alice's romance will drive season 2's plot, Harris also plans to continue fleshing out the stories of the rest of the Every Year After characters.

"We intentionally built out the ensemble because I think we can tell lots of stories with our main characters," she told Deadline. "Obviously, Sam and Percy are our love story, the one we were following this season, but to me, the love triangle between Jordie, Chantal, and Delilah has much more to explore."

During an interview with Elle, Harris pointed out that this broader interest in the show's ensemble is part of what inspired the choice to rename the show rather than use the original book title, Every Summer After. "The book is obviously Every Summer After and takes place during the summer, and the first season does take place in the summer," she said. "But what I was intrigued by is that it isn't just every summer that [these characters] have been...dealing with the ramifications of their behavior. That doesn't just affect your summers...I've been thinking a lot about the next season [of the show], and wanting there to be a fall, a winter, a spring."

Which cast members will return for 'Every Year After' season 2?

You can expect all of season 1's major players to return, including Michael Bradway as Charlie, Sadie Soverall as Percy, Matt Cornett as Sam, Aurora Perrineau as Chantal, Abigail Cowen as Delilah, and Joseph Chiu as Jordie.

Although Elisha Cuthbert's character, Sue, died in season 1, she could still appear in flashbacks.

Meanwhile, season 2 will introduce a major new character: Alice Everly, the show's new female romantic lead and Charlie's eventual love interest. The word is still out on who will play her, so start your fan casts now.

When will 'Every Year After' season 2 come out?

It's unclear when season 2 will premiere. However, we can look at the season 1 timeline for an idea; the show was originally ordered in summer 2024, and by mid-summer 2025, the series was cast and began production. Season 2 was renewed in late June 2026—though the showrunner seemed to have an idea that it was a possibility and a plan for what to bring to the screen next. So, if the writers get back to work ASAP, it's possible filming could pick up in time to shoot before the summer weather is totally through. But a more likely timeline may be for filming to begin next spring. Depending on production timing, hopefully we'll be back in Barry's Bay sometime in 2027.

We'll keep this story updated as more information becomes available. In the meantime, you can get the show's source material, Every Summer After and One Golden Summer, on Bookshop.

This article contains major spoilers for season 1 of Every Year After. Like many buzzy romance shows, Prime Video's Every Year After started as a book. More specifically, the first season is an adaptation of author Carley Fortune's 2022 debut novel, Every Summer After.

Both versions follow Percy Fraser (Sadie Soverall) and Sam Florek (Matt Cornett) across two timelines. One tracks how the childhood best friends became each other's first loves over several summers. The other takes place a decade later, as the two reunite after a mysterious period of estrangement has derailed their relationship.

Although many of the story's major plot beats are the same, Every Year After also makes some adaptive changes to flesh out Barry's Bay, the picturesque lake town that Percy and Sam call home. Read on as we break down the major differences between Every Year After and the original book.

Why is the title of 'Every Year After' different from the book, 'Every Summer After?'

Although Every Year After adapts Fortune’s 2022 novel Every Summer After, the show title is obviously different.

During a recent Variety interview, Fortune shared that there were “a lot of conversations” about the decision. “There were a lot of conversations about it,” she said. “The feeling was that Every Year After opened it up to live beyond the book. And it was one of those things that in an adaptation, things just change when other people come into the mix.”

Although it's too soon to say, here's to hoping that means many more seasons could be in store.

How does Barry's Bay from 'Every Summer After' to 'Every Year After?'

Both the show and movie are set in the idyllic Canadian lake town of Barry's Bay, although the setting differs slightly from the page to screen. Fortune famously writes her love stories in her native Canada, and in the book, Barry's Bay is supposed to be in Ontario's cottage country—and is, in fact, a real place. However, in the Prime Video series, it's been fictionalized to be on the opposite side of the country in British Columbia. To account for the switch-up, Percy also hails from Seattle, Washington, not Toronto. (In real life, the show was shot on Bowen Island, an island outside of Vancouver.)

How does Percy's job in 'Every Year After' differ from the book?

In the book, adult Percy works alongside her best friend, Chantal (Aurora Perrineau), as a senior editor at a home decor magazine. However, in the show, she finds herself writing local obituaries.

“[It’s] one of the few things newspapers still need writers for,” she says in the series premiere. “It pays the bills.”

Percy’s death-centered job takes on a more personal note when she discovers that her former parental figure, Sue Florek (Elisha Cuthbert), has died.

How was Percy and Sam's first kiss changed from the book in 'Every Year After?'

In Every Year After, Percy and Sam’s first kiss is a little later in the story’s timeline. The book characters kiss in summer 2013 after watching The Blair Witch Project during a sleepover, prompting a terrified Percy to open up about her crush on Sam.

Meanwhile, in the show, the duo don’t kiss until the next summer, while Sam is teaching Percy a steamy anatomy lesson.

Is the love triangle between Jordie, Chantal, and Delilah in 'Every Year After' in the book?

Chantal barely appears on the page in Every Summer After, since the book's Percy returns to Barry’s Bay solo. However, in the show, a recently engaged Chantal accompanies Percy to the lake town for Sue’s memorial. There, she finds herself falling for Sam’s best friend Jordie (Joseph Chiu). At the same time, Percy’s childhood BFF Delilah (Abigail Cowen) is also harboring feelings for him (while in a less-than-happy marriage with Sam's brother Charlie).

No matter which couple you’re rooting for, we’re in uncharted territory, since Jordie, Chantal, and Delilah’s love triangle is entirely a show invention.

How does Delilah change from 'Every Summer After' to 'Every Year After?'

Many of the book characters are expanded on-screen, including Percy's childhood best friend Delilah who's changed extensively. In the book, she attends the same college as Sam but is not a part of the present timeline, as she and Percy have drifted apart. In the show, however, she's changed to wound up in an unhappy marriage (resulting in a show-original affair with Charlie). Her being a wealthy, local fixture is also unique to the series, and leads to her want for The Tavern—none of which happens on the page because it doesn't continue her storyline into adulthood.

Her character is changed in the past, as well. The arc about her becoming pregnant and having an abortion as a teenager is only in the show and comes up as Percy reflects upon their youth.

Why were flashbacks involving Sue added to 'Every Year After?'

Although Sue’s death is the inciting incident that sends Percy back to Barry’s Bay in the adult timeline, she’s not a present character in Every Summer After. Yet in Every Year After, she’s a major character in the flashback timeline, playing a major role in Percy’s adolescence.

Showrunner Amy B. Harris told Deadline that casting Canadian actress and '00s icon Elisha Cuthbert as Sue inspired her and the other writers to expand the character’s role in the series. “We weren’t sure how much we would use [Sue] until Elisha signed on,” Harris said. “At first it was going to be touches, and then once I knew we could get her, I was like, ‘Oh, good, I get to write really meaty material,’ because she’s here for it and can do it.”

Why was Percy inheriting The Tavern added to 'Every Year After?'

Once Percy arrives back in Barry’s Bay, she’s given a reason to stay when she discovers that Sue has left her local business, The Tavern, to her. Harris told Deadline that this show invention came from Every Year After’s writers fleshing out Percy and Sue’s relationship.

“I added the stuff about The Tavern, and what I kept thinking about when we were coming up with that storyline was that Sue really understood Percy,” she said. “That scene with the tiara and the tutu, when Percy says, ‘I don’t know if I can handle the crown,’ and Sue says, ‘You’re going to need to learn, because my boys aren’t going to want to'—to me, that was as much about the tavern and this life in Barry’s Bay that her boys weren’t necessarily going to hold on to. She knew that, but I think she also understood Percy really needed that.”

What did Percy do to hurt Sam in 'Every Summer After' vs. the show?

It's eventually revealed that Percy and Sam became estranged after Sam discovered that Percy slept with Charlie (Michael Bradway) during a tumultuous period of their relationship. In the book, Charlie tells Sam and Sue about his hook-up with Percy mere months after it happened.

That’s not the case in the show, in which Sam doesn’t learn the truth until years later. During episode 5, Sam attempts to rekindle his relationship with Percy in the adult timeline—and only then does he discover what went down between her and his brother.

How does the 'Every Summer After' book end in comparison to 'Every Year After?'

As it turns out, Every Year After doesn't necessarily adapt all of Every Summer After. It leaves fans swooning just enough and seems to tease that there's more to come from Percy and Sam's story—which is what's left on the page at the end of the book. Both the novel and drama pick up a year after Sue's memorial. The show hints that the former flame has spent months apart, but now they're both in better places, and may be open to exploring a new chapter. Whereas on the page, the time jump has led the two to being in a relationship and living together in Toronto. With Percy and Sam's will-they-won't-they wide open, we definitely have reason to believe there's more to come between them.

Not only that, the final cliffhanger involving Charlie—in which he has such a strong reaction to looking at an old photograph that he appears to have a medical emergency—isn't in Every Summer After. The incident occurs in One Golden Summer, the sequel, which follows his romance. The show certainly implies it hopes to adapt that love story next, but we'll let you pick up the book in the meantime to know Charlie's fate before then.

From The Summer I Turned Pretty to Off Campus, Prime Video has become the go-to streamer for the next big book-to-screen romance series. This summer is no exception, as viewers can look forward to a brand-new second-chance romance tale—courtesy of Every Year After.

Based on Carley Fortune's 2022 novel Every Summer After, the series follows childhood best friends Percy (Sadie Soverall) and Sam (Matt Cornett) as they become each other's first loves, only to be torn apart for the next decade. When they finally reunite, old feelings and past secrets surface in the picturesque vacation town of Barry's Bay.

Before you dive into the show, which premieres on June 10, here's everything to know about the cast of Every Year After.

Sadie Soverall as Percy Fraser

As a teenager, Every Year After heroine Persephone “Percy” Fraser spends her summers in Barry’s Bay. Over the course of several years, her friendship with boy-next-door Sam Florek (Matt Cornett) blossoms into young love. Years later, an adult Percy returns for Florek family matriarch Sue’s funeral, forcing her to reconnect with Sam years after a mysterious, devastating breakup tore them apart.

Sadie Soverall, 24, is a British actress best known for playing Beatrice in the Netflix series Fate: The Winx Saga. You might also recognize her from her role as one of the ex-lovers of Jacob Elordi’s character, Felix, in Emerald Fennell’s 2023 thriller Saltburn.

Sadie Soverall's Instagram: @sadiesoverall

Matt Cornett as Sam Florek

Every Year After leading man Sam Florek had a formative, ill-fated summer romance with his best friend, Percy, as a teenager. Today, he’s a doctor grieving his mother and dating a pediatric surgeon. Sparks between Percy and Sam inevitably fly when she returns to Barry’s Bay, but will they end up back together?

Matt Cornett, 27, came to fame as perfectionist theater kid E.J. in Disney+’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Other acting credits include Zombies 3, Summer of 69, and Minimum Wage.

Matt Cornett's Instagram: @mattcornett

Aurora Perrineau as Chantal

Chantal is Percy’s best friend in adulthood. A straight-laced lawyer, Chantal’s decision to accompany Percy back to Barry’s Bay might help her find herself outside of her demanding job.

Aurora Perrineau, 31, is an actress and model best known for playing Shana in the 2015 live-action film adaptation of Jem and the Holograms. Perrineau has also appeared in the horror-thriller Truth or Dare, as well as shows like Westworld and When They See Us.

Aurora Perrineau's Instagram: @auroraperrineau

Abigail Cowen as Delilah

Delilah is Percy’s childhood best friend.

Abigail Cowen, 28, previously appeared alongside Soverall in Fate: The Winx Saga, playing protagonist Bloom Peters. The actress told Teen Vogue that working together on a previous show helped them capture Delilah and Percy’s close-knit dynamic. “[Sadie is] like a sister to me, which was cool to play because Delilah and Percy were like sisters when they were young,” Cowen said. “When they’re young, Delilah’s this firecracker, free-spirit girl, and Percy’s more internal and quiet. Delilah pushes her outside of her comfort zone. And in adulthood, Percy actually pushes Delilah out of her comfort zone to eventually confront her own demons.”

Cowen can also be seen as Vicki in Stranger Things and as Dorcas in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.

Abigail Cowen’s Instagram: @abbeycowen

Michael Bradway as Charlie Florek

Charlie Florek is Sam's older brother. After befriending a teenage Percy, Charlie later follows his dying mother's request to reach out to her, prompting her long-awaited return to Barry's Bay.

Michael Bradway, 27, previously portrayed Jack Damon on the NBC drama Chicago Fire. Additionally, he can be seen in Marked Men and Safe House.

Michael Bradway’s Instagram: @michaelbradway_

Joseph Chiu as Jordie

Jordie is Sam’s best friend. Although he also grew up with Percy, Jordie initially pretends not to know his BFF's ex when she returns to Barry's Bay. How's that for friend loyalty?

Joseph Chiu, 24, booked his first major role as Spider in the 2025 Netflix horror film Fear Street: Prom Queen. Although he’s still a relative newcomer, he’s already booked TV appearances in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy and The Miniature Wife.

Joseph Chiu's Instagram: @josephchiu0812

Elisha Cuthbert as Sue Florek

Sue isn’t just Sam and Charlie’s mom. She’s also a key figure in young Percy’s teenage years. When Sue dies of lymphoma, it’s her death that prompts Percy to return to Barry’s Bay and reconnect with the Floreks years later.

Elisha Cuthbert, 43, rose to fame as a scream queen with roles in 2000s horror films like Captivity, House of Wax, and The Quiet. More recently, she played Abby Phillips in four seasons of the Netflix comedy The Ranch.

Elisha Cuthbert's Instagram: @elishaphaneuf

If you love Every Year After and can't get enough of the Barry's Bay world, you can buy Every Summer After at Bookshop.

On June 6, NHS nurse Harriet Sperling married Princess Anne's son, Peter Phillips, in an intimate royal wedding in the countryside in England. Despite forgoing a large royal wedding, Sperling's nuptials shared many commonalities with Princess Kate and Pippa Middleton's bridal style.

The bride wore a custom Emilia Wickstead wedding dress, featuring sheer lace sleeves and a high neckline. Sperling's long, decadent veil had an embroidered hemline, and she carried a small bouquet of white flowers, including a sprig of myrtle, which is traditionally used in all royal wedding bouquets.

Rather than wearing one of her mother-in-law Princess Anne's royal tiaras, Sperling opted for a tiara from Pragnell, the jeweler responsible for creating her engagement ring.

The low-key location of Sperling and Phillips's royal wedding—All Saints Church in the Cotswolds—mirrored the countryside setting of Pippa Middleton's wedding to James Matthews.

The pair tied the knot on May 20, 2017 at St Mark's Church in Englefield, Berkshire, close to the home of Carole and Michael Middleton. The reception, of course, was held nearby at the Middleton residence, Bucklebury Manor.

Sperling's wedding mirrored Pippa's nuptials in many ways. As both married in small countryside churches, their photos were filled with gorgeous green foliage and flowers. The brides both wore similar dresses, too.

Pippa wore a Giles Deacon white lace gown with short sleeves and a high-neck, along with a long flowing veil. Meanwhile, Sterling also wore a white lace gown, albeit in a different silhouette and with long lace sleeves. The pair both favored a high neckline, as well as a delicate tiara accompanied by an impressive veil.

Both couples posed for photos outside of their wedding ceremony; the countryside churches and floral arrangements helped create a romantic ambience.

In many ways, Princess Kate's wedding to Prince William on April 29, 2011, was a totally different affair. The large royal wedding took place at Westminster Abbey in London, and was televised to millions of viewers around the globe.

While the location of the Prince and Princess of Wales's wedding seemingly didn't inspire Sperling's nuptials, Princess Kate's dress might have.

Just like Sperling, Kate wore a dress with long lace sleeves and a long white veil. The shape of Princess Kate's dress—which was designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen—has little in common with Sperling's, the lace detailing certainly draws comparisons.

It goes without saying that Sperling's royal wedding to Phillips was unique in many ways. But it's also nice to see the similarities between the Middleton sisters's weddings and Sperling's 2026 bridal style.

Princess Diana quickly became a beloved member of the Royal Family after marrying King Charles on July 29, 1981. Unsurprisingly, the former Princess of Wales was inundated with gifts every year on her birthday—including from one unexpected royal.

In his book, A Royal Duty, former royal butler Paul Burrell reflected on Princess Diana's birthday celebrations throughout the years.

"If the princess dreaded July 1, so did her butler," Burrell joked. "I would be running up and down those stairs for hours on end. A delivery from Selfridges, from Harrods, from the royal grocers Fortnum & Mason, from Harvey Nichols."

Despite announcing her separation from King Charles in December 1992, one member of the Royal Family always celebrated Princess Diana's birthday, according to Burrell.

"And then, without fail, a bunch of flowers from Prince Charles who addressed every letter and card he sent, every year until her death, 'Dearest Diana,'" the royal butler revealed.

Of course, King Charles wasn't the only person to send Princess Diana gifts every year on her birthday.

"24 long-stemmed yellow roses, boxed from Edward Goodyear, the florist in Mayfair, from a secret admirer the world never got to know about," Burrell revealed. "Red roses arrived from friends. Then white flowers—tulips from Elton John and more roses from Gianni Versace."

The former butler continued, "All her female friends sent flowers or presents. At the police box, well-wishers left cards, presents, and flowers. By the end of the day, [her apartment] resembled a florist's shop and every conceivable flat surface was covered with cards."

Basically, it sounds as though Princess Diana was shown a lot of love on her birthday from everyone around her.

Dua Lipa is now officially married after the superstar tied the knot with actor Callum Turner in a civil ceremony in London. Rumors suggest a lavish Italian wedding will follow, but the "Houdini" singer's first wedding outfit did not disappoint.

Lipa was photographed leaving the ceremony at Old Marylebone Town Hall in London on Sunday, May 31, wearing a custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture outfit, designed by Daniel Roseberry.

Per a press release, the outfit consists of "a sharply tailored ivory blazer in cady adorned with personalized gold bijoux buttons, and a matching asymmetric skirt with a sculpted blush bustier trimmed in white lace."

The Barbie star accessorized her wedding look with a pair of white gloves and Christian Louboutin Miss Z Pumps in Bianco. Lipa's hat, which includes a gold leaf lining, was created by Stephen Jones. For jewelry, she opted for a Bvlgari Serpenti High Jewelry Necklace and Bvlgari Stud Earrings.

Meanwhile, the groom wore Ferragamo.

The superstar has regularly worn Schiaparelli designs, including donning a stunning bridal white plumed gown at the fashion house's Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2025/2026 show in July 2025.

Lipa confirmed her engagement to Turner in an interview with British Vogue in June 2025.

"Yeah, we're engaged," she told the outlet. "It's very exciting. This decision to grow old together, to see a life and just, I don't know, be best friends forever—it's a really special feeling."

During the interview, Lipa also revealed that Turner asked her friends and her sister to advise him on her custom-made engagement ring.

"It's so me," she said of her diamond ring. "It's nice to know the person that you're going to spend the rest of your life with knows you very well."

Congratulations to the newlyweds!

Royal bride-to-be Harriet Sperling is set to marry Princess Anne's son, Peter Phillips, on June 6, 2026. According to a new report, Sperling and Phillips have enlisted the help of a wedding planner with an unexpected royal connection. It's also being alleged that one of the couple's exes has been invited to the royal nuptials.

Sperling and Phillips will tie the knot at All Saints Church in Kemble, Gloucestershire, followed by a reception at Princess Anne's home, Gatcombe Park.

According to the Daily Mail, Phillips has hired Bentley's Entertainments, a luxury event planning company who worked on David and Victoria Beckham's wedding and Princess Eugenie's royal nuptials in 2018. The company also planned Phillips's royal wedding to ex-wife Autumn Kelly in 2008.

While it might seem slightly strange that Phillips is using the very same wedding planner for his second wedding, the company actually has a Royal Family connection. Per the Daily Mail, the business was founded by Peregrine Armstrong-Jones, who just so happens to be the half-brother of Princess Margaret's husband, Antony Armstrong-Jones.

Phillips famously sold his wedding photos to Hello! magazine in 2008, but that apparently won't be happening this time. "A magazine deal is out of the question as the issue is now very sensitive," a source told the outlet.

Notably, Phillips's ex-wife, Autumn Kelly, is allegedly set to attend the wedding, per GB News. Phillips and Kelly continue co-parent their two daughters, Savannah and Isla, and it seems as though they have maintained a civil relationship post-divorce.

There's a new It girl in town, fresh from Prime Video's Off Campus. Meet Ella Bright: the actress playing girl next door Hannah Wells, one-half of the breakout book-to-TV adaptation's leading power couple. Before returning to Briar University to film Season 2, Bright declared herself a style star to watch in a little lemon yellow dress on May 21.

Bright had plenty of fashion moments as Hannah in Season 1, ranging from a recreation of Elle Woods's Playboy bunny costume to a satin slip dress in the closing scene. In New York City, stylist Aimée Croysdill helped the actress flex her personal fashion muscles. Bright watched a New York Knicks game with her on-screen boyfriend, Belmont Cameli, but her sleeveless mini dress stole the show. Her courtside set couldn't have been more different than Kylie Jenner's Knicks uniform.

Croysdill sourced Emilia Wickstead (perhaps an homage to her client's London girl roots) for a fitted, four-figure style sculpted from silky-smooth moiré fabric. The wavy optical illusion added lots of texture to an otherwise-timeless silhouette. Plus, it brought a signature summer 2025 color trend back for round two.

The sunshine-y shade of Bright's shift was almost blinding, in a way that canary or butter could never be. It seems she's picking up where Hailey Bieber left off last summer, when she claimed butter yellow was "played out." The Rhode founder offered lemon yellow as a worthy replacement, inspiring the onslaught of lemon looks on Spring 2026 runways from Akris, Celine, McQueen, Issey Miyake, Loewe, Dries Van Noten, and more.

By styling her LLYD (little lemon yellow dress) with black accessories, Bright made the moment more approachable. To finish, she accessorized with patent leather, block-heel pumps, the matching Mini Charlie Crossbody Bag from Tory Burch, oversize hoop earrings, and slim sunglasses.

In Off Campus, Hannah is always borrowing clothes from her best friend, Allie, played by Mika Abdalla. That's right: Elle Kennedy's Off Campus books gave not one, but two fashion girls their sartorial wings onscreen. Something tells me these two actors will make major waves on the fashion front. Bright already got a head start, but Abdalla, it's your move now.

Shop Little Lemon Yellow Dresses Inspired by Ella Bright

When Off Campus arrived on Prime Video on May 13, the steamy hockey romance pulled off a surprise no one expected. Based on Elle Kennedy's book series of the same name, the romance adaptation's debut season was expected to solely focus on musician Hannah (Ella Bright) and team captain Garrett (Belmont Cameli), the leads of book one, The Deal. However, season 1 sneaks in a secondary couple that quickly stole viewers' hearts: actress Allie (Mika Abdalla) and ladies' man Dean (Stephen Kalyn) from book 3, The Score.

In the week since the show's debut, Dean and Allie have become an iconic couple with a co-sign from genuine rom-com royalty. Now Mika Abdalla, who plays Allie, has viewers around the world wondering who's that girl stealing scenes on TV's biggest romance of 2026 so far. Read on for everything to know about Mika Abdalla, from her child-star roots to her hopes for Allie in Off Campus season 2.

Mika Abdalla is a former teen actress with rom-com experience.

Mika Abdalla was born in Plano, Texas, on May 13, 2000. (In fact, Off Campus debuted on her 26th birthday!) She started as a child model at 6-years-old, before appearing on an episode of Barney & Friends. After appearing in shorts and indie films, she landed her breakout role as a teen spy on the Netflix series Project Mc², earning her a 2016 Young Artist Award nomination.

Since then, Abdalla has mostly held small roles in series like S.W.A.T., The Flash, Suits L.A., and The Pitt (where she shared the screen with her eventual Off Campus co-star Jalen Thomas Brooks!). She also starred in the coming-of-age films Snack Shack and Sex Appeal.

Mika Abdalla channeled her college days at UCLA while filming 'Off Campus.'

As a young star preparing to transition to adulthood, Abdalla decided to take a hiatus from her career. She enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles in 2017, after graduating from high school a year early. In a Her Campus interview, Adballa explained that she "dabbled in being a kid" during her time at school.

"I had five roommates in my dorm at UCLA," she recalled of her early college days. "I went to a big UCLA-USC game [and] I got punched by a very drunk USC sorority girl. We were walking towards the stadium. She saw me, and she did not like the UCLA of it all. And she gave me a good, solid punch in the arm. So that was fun!"

Though Abdalla returned to working after the pandemic, she eventually graduated with a degree in philosophy and film, seven years after enrolling. Speaking to Her Campus, she credited it to the discipline she learned in her childhood days in equestrian sports. "I wanted to get [my] degree to honor that part of my life," she said.

Mika Abdalla was previously engaged to a fellow child actor.

Like Allie, Abdalla is entering her single-girl era after a long-term relationship. Three weeks after Off Campus's premiere, US Weekly revealed that the actress had split from her fiancé Jake Short after five years of dating.

"Due to recent interest in Mika’s personal life it would feel remiss to not address that her and Jake are no longer together," a rep for Abdalla told the outlet. "They continue to support each other and remain on friendly terms, and kindly ask for privacy and respect."

Abdalla and Short—a former child actor best known for a ubiquitous meme—first met as co-stars on Hulu's 2022 teen comedy Sex Appeal, where they played childhood besties who enter a friends-with-benefits/sexual-discovery situation. (Of course, Short's character is secretly in love with Adballa's the whole time.) The pair got engaged in May 2025, according to an Instagram tribute.

Mika Abdalla inspired Allie's onscreen look before she even auditioned.

Abdalla has been vocal about her deep connection to her character, and it turns out there was a bit of fate behind her casting as Allie. The actress initially auditioned for the role of Hannah, though she admitted to Her Campus that she "would not consider myself a singer or a musician." But even before Abdalla landed the audition, series creator Louisa Levy had already connected her to Allie.

Levy revealed to Her Campus that she and her co-showrunner, Gina Fattore, had unknowingly included Abdalla in their pitch for Off Campus, on a mood board evoking Allie's energy. "I found Mika and a lot of her photos in Snack Shack, and her Instagram page…she just felt like Allie to me," Levy told the outlet. And so we have this fake Instagram profile for Allie that is Mika, and it was well before she ever came to audition."

Abdalla elaborated on her connection to Allie in an interview with Numero Netherlands. "I see a lot of myself in Allie, but simultaneously, she is nothing like me. Her energy is at a pretty consistent 10/10. I like to say she’s me when I’m having the best day ever. I was really excited to explore a part of myself that doesn’t always show."

Mika Abdalla knew that her J.Lo-approved jungle dress would be a hit.

One of the buzziest scenes of Off Campus season 1 is Allie and Dean's meet-cute, which takes place on the dance floor of a costume party. For the scene, Abdalla wears a recreation of Jennifer Lopez's iconic Versace jungle dress from the 2000 Grammys. The moment was such a hit that it even made it to J.Lo's timeline; the multi-hyphenate reshared the clip on X/Twitter, adding the note, "love this shooooww."

Speaking to PEOPLE, Abdalla recalled her intuition that the scene would be a hit. "I had a feeling, especially because it happened so early on," she told the outlet. "When we were getting close to the dress being finished, and I saw what it was going to [look like], when we were shooting it, I was like, 'Huh, I think people are going to like this.'"

Abdalla also told Betches UK about the work it took to feel secure in the dress that inspired Google Images. "It was unreal. [The dress] was built from scratch," she said. "My first fitting was like, put on this nude leotard and we're going to cut it up and pin all this shit to you. It was five fittings. It was insane, I was so taped in. I was ready to dance the night away."

Mika Abdalla is excited to portray "deep emotional turmoil" Allie will go through in 'Off Campus' season 2.

In an interview with PEOPLE, Abdalla opened up about her hopes for Allie in the show's already-confirmed second season. Though she hinted that she's "not excited" about the challenges Allie will have to face in the future—which book readers will be well aware of—Abdalla is prepared to stretch her acting muscles.

"I am excited about it as an actor," she said. "I am excited for the deep emotional turmoil that Allie is going through, because I think that'll be a lot of fun [to play], and that's not really something I got to play around with too, too much this season."

She added, "I am excited to see the inner workings of her. It's really fun to play such a vibrant, larger-than-life character who also has these extremely deep feelings about herself and the world around her. It's such a balance. I'm excited to do the puzzle of Allie."

Once again, a steamy hockey romance has taken over the internet. Prime Video debuted Off Campus on May 13, 2026, bringing Elle Kennedy's book series of the same name to life. Set at Briar University, the new series is centered on the stars of the school's famed hockey team, with each player getting their own love story a la Bridgerton. In season 1, team captain Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli) and musician Hannah Wells (Ella Bright)'s fake-dating arrangement brings the swoon-worthy drama.

It's no surprise that the highly anticipated show was an instant hit, with the romance adaptation getting acclaim from critics and fans. Luckily, Prime Video has already fast-tracked Briar U's spring semester. Below, read on for every update and clue on Off Campus season 2 so far, including which couple from the Off Campus cast will lead the new episodes.

Has 'Off Campus' been renewed for season 2?

Yes! Prime Video confirmed that Off Campus will return for season 2 in February 2026, three months before season 1's debut. The early renewal seems to have been a good call; official viewership numbers for Off Campus won't come out for a few days, but season 1 quickly took over the streamer's Top 10 list (as well as most social media feeds) upon release.

"Off Campus captures the kind of emotionally charged, character-driven storytelling that truly resonates with our global Prime Video audience,” said Peter Friedlander, Amazon MGM Studios head of global TV, in the renewal announcement. “We have great confidence in the way Louisa has mastered this adaptation, and we’re excited to give fans even more of the romance, friendship, and heart that define the series.”

When will 'Off Campus' season 2 be released?

Viewers won't have to wait too long to return to Briar University! Thanks to that early renewal, the Off Campus team has already gotten a head start on season 2. Speaking to Variety on the day of the series premiere, creator Louisa Levy revealed that "all eight scripts are written" for the upcoming season. Meanwhile, stars Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli confirmed that they were scheduled to begin filming season 2 just days after the season 1 premiere.

Filming for season 1 took place from June to October 2025 in Canada, before the episodes arrived on Prime Video in May 2026. If season 2 follows the same schedule, the hockey romance's spring semester could begin in May 2027.

Which Elle Kennedy book will 'Off Campus' season 2 adapt?

Get ready for a shake-up. After moving up Dean (Stephen Kalyn) and Allie (Mika Abdalla) to become season 1's secondary love story (the Scott and Kip of the season, if you will), the minds behind Off Campus have confirmed that season 2 will continue the couple's romance. This means that the rest of The Score, the third book in Elle Kennedy's series, will likely be adapted in Off Campus's second season.

Fans assumed as much while season 1 was airing, and then Prime Video confirmed Hannah and Garrett are passing the baton to Allie and Dean in late May. The streamer shared a swoon-worthy clip and charming photos of the stars to celebrate, along with the cheeky caption, "One couple made a deal. The next one is keeping the score. ❤️‍🔥🏒 From Garrett & Hannah to Dean & Allie — the Off Campus love story continues in Season 2."

Showrunner Louisa Levy also shared a statement in a press release. She said, "We are so excited to continue Allie and Dean’s story as our primary romance of season 2 after kickstarting their romance in season 1."

She also put fans at ease, ensuring we'll still see more of our beloved season 1 leads, adding, "But if you fell in love with Hannah and Garrett, don’t worry—they will still be an integral part of our robust ensemble."

"We’re looking forward to telling the next chapter of everyone’s story. There's a lot for fans to look forward to!” her statement concluded.

For non-readers, The Score mostly follows the same setup featured in the back half of season 1: Aspiring actor Allie Hayes breaks up with her longtime boyfriend, Sean, because he doesn't support her dreams. After a night out, Allie ends up commiserating over the breakup with the womanizing Dean Di Laurentis. (They hook up that same night in the book, while the show stretches out their flirting.) Dean becomes hooked on Allie, and though she turns him down for a while, they eventually become friends and begin secretly hooking up, even spending Thanksgiving together.

Thanksgiving is when Off Campus takes a completely different direction than The Score, with Allie deciding that she and Dean should sleep with other people (because she's lowkey catching feelings). She goes through with it, hooking up with Hunter Davenport (Charlie Evans), a freshman hockey player who has beef with Dean. Off Campus season 1 ends with Dean and Hunter fighting in a cliffhanger twist that shocked fans of the book. (In The Score, Dean and Hunter have a sweet mentor-mentee relationship; Hunter later gets his own book in the Briar U spinoff book series.)

Though Off Campus includes many major plot points from The Score, there's still more to adapt in season 2. Dean and Allie both have individual storylines that aren't mentioned in season 1. These include Allie struggling to figure out her path after college (she's a senior in the book); Allie's dad's declining health; Dean's feud with his once-again coach Frank O'Shea, and his backstory with his high school girlfriend. Then there's the devastating turn that Dean and Allie's romance takes after tragedy strikes. (No spoilers, but if season 1 made you fond of Dean's football-playing bestie Beau Maxwell, maybe grab some tissues for season 2.)

We'll have to see how Off Campus fits in all of the above, plus the new drama with Hunter. (Not to mention a possible new secondary love story...)

Will 'Off Campus' season 2 also adapt 'The Mistake?'

While Dean and Allie will take the spotlight in Off Campus season 2, that still leaves the question of what will happen to the stars of the second book in Elle Kennedy's series, John Logan and Grace Ivers. Logan (Antonio Cipriano) plays a significant role in both season 1 and its source book, The Deal; he has a secret crush on Hannah, who, of course, ends up with his best friend Garrett. Grace only gets a brief mention in Off Campus season 1, but the show has already cast India Fowler to play Grace in season 2.

If season 2 follows a pattern of Off Campus exploring an upcoming couple as a secondary love story, then Grace and Logan's romance could fit in perfectly. Avoiding spoilers, Book 2, The Mistake, picks up right after The Deal; Logan, who is a junior, almost freshman Grace Ivers, before "a thoughtless mistake pushes her away," per the synopsis. When they return to Briar U as a senior and sophomore, respectively, Logan is determined to win Grace back, and she plans to make him work for it. The Off Campus team hasn't confirmed anything, but it would be very cute if season 2 features Grace and Logan's failed hookup, before season 3 focuses on their second-chance romance.

Who in the 'Off Campus' cast will return for season 2?

Prime Video has confirmed the season 2 cast for Off Campus, and the show's main cast will return, including Mika Abdalla (Allie Hayes), Stephen Kalyn (Dean Di Laurentis), Antonio Cipriano (John Logan), and Jalen Thomas Brooks (John Tucker). The streamer has yet to confirm whether Khobe Clarke (Beau Maxwell) and Charlie Evans (Hunter Davenport) will return, but it seems likely—especially Evans, considering that finale cliffhanger.

We're also set to see more of Ella Bright (Hannah Wells) and Belmont Cameli (Garrett Graham) in Off Campus season 2. Series creator Louisa Levy confirmed to TV Guide that she's interested in "continuing where each of them have left off" in the next installment, as they try to figure out their futures after college and navigate their relationship.

Unfortunately, it seems that Off Campus will lose one of season 1's actors. Levy revealed that Josh Heuston won't return to play Justin Kohl in season 2. However, she added, "I love Josh, and I would not write him off if I can find a way to bring Justin back at some point. We never got a chance to meet Stella, who is the person he ends up with in the book. So maybe we'll find a way to fold him into a future season. We don't have him [available] next season, but never say never."

Who are the new cast members joining 'Off Campus' season 2?

It's almost time to meet Grace Ivers! Two weeks before Off Campus's premiere, Prime Video revealed that Fear Street: Prom Queen alum India Fowler would join the cast as a series regular. The star behind Logan revealed the news to Fowler in a social media clip where Antonio Cipriano invited her to join the Off Campus production in Vancouver.

Meanwhile, Prime Video also announced that Hamilton and Doctor Odyssey alum Phillipa Soo will play "Scarlett, a theatre artist who is guest-directing an original play in the college’s drama department."

Much has been written about the allegedly tumultuous nature of King Charles's marriage to Princess Diana. And according to a former palace employee, insults between the pair led to a depletion of confidence as the years went on.

Writing in the book A Royal Duty, former butler Paul Burrell shared, "I saw the confidence-crushing effect [King] Charles had on her in Japan when she tried to win his approval."

Referencing Diana and Charles's royal tour of Japan, which took place in November 1990, Burrell recalled a particularly upsetting moment for the princess.

"Charles and his staff were checking their watches as they milled in the grand hallway ahead of an official function when the princess, looking radiant, came downstairs wearing a Catherine Walker red tartan coat dress with red velvet collar and cuffs," the former butler explained.

Discussing the striking outfit, Burrell wrote, "It was loud but elegant and she was smiling. I was waiting at the bottom of the stairs when she walked to the prince's side and said, 'So, do you like my outfit, Charles?'"

Unfortunately, King Charles allegedly made a joke about his wife's outfit, which completely changed her mood, according to Burrell.

"His reply was soft and devoid of bitterness, but its effect was brutal," the ex-royal butler said. "'Yes. You look like a British Caledonian air stewardess.'"

Per Burrell, after Charles delivered his quip about Diana's outfit, "he turned and walked out of the front door to an awaiting car."

The former royal employee's account continued: "The smile vanished from the princess's face and she looked down. Then she did what she became expert at: she mustered confidence from somewhere and followed him out of the door."

Burrell further alleged, "It was not the only time he crushed her confidence, intentionally or otherwise."

Only a few months after Heated Rivalry took the world by storm—and sent sales surging for the Rachel Reid-penned book series the show is based on—another one of our hockey romance obsessions has followed in its footsteps, jumping from page to screen. Season 1 of the long-awaited TV series adaptation of Elle Kennedy’s beloved and best-selling Off Campus books debuted on Prime Video on May 13, with plans for each season to follow a different book in the series.

Each novel in the romance series centers on a love story between a hockey player and a fellow student at fictional Briar University, filled with enough spicy scenes and tried-and-true romance tropes to keep your heart fluttering and feet kicking throughout. For example, the first book, The Deal, which serves as the inspiration for the first season of Off Campus, follows team captain Garrett and music student Hannah on a fake-dating plot that—surprise, surprise—is jeopardized when a certain campus bad boy catches real feelings for his not-so-real girlfriend. Hannah and Garrett stick around the rest of the series, as each book follows the romantic escapades of Garrett’s close friends and teammates.

If you’ve already binged the first season of Off Campus and desperately need more Briar U in your life, or if you want to know what’s coming in future seasons of the show, read on for a guide to Kennedy’s book series. Below you'll find everything you need to know about the individual novels, how to read them in order, the multiple spinoff books, and series that are still expanding the broader Off Campus universe.

'Off Campus' Book 1 — 'The Deal' (Hannah and Garrett)

The first of Elle Kennedy's books set at Briar U—originally published in 2015 before it took off on #BookTok—follows a scheme between studious Hannah and hockey-obsessed Garrett. The two agree to very publicly fake-date when Garrett is in serious need of a tutor to help his GPA, and Hannah is looking for a way to make her crush jealous. The pact marks a major step forward for Hannah, who’s understandably guarded around all things sex and romance after surviving a traumatic incident in high school. Their relationship (inevitably) gets even more complicated when the two discover the decidedly not-fake chemistry between them.

In the TV version of their love story, Hannah is played by Ella Bright, while Belmont Cameli steps into Garrett’s skates. Season 1’s eight episodes include plenty of fake-dating, opposites-attract, forced-proximity goodness, from a semi-awkward Only One Bed situation to an intense hometown visit.

'Off Campus' Book 2 — 'The Mistake' (Grace and Logan)

Second-chance romance lovers, this one’s for you. The second installment in Kennedy’s series centers on another Briar U hockey star, John Logan (who, as one of two Johns on the team, goes by his last name), and his own headstrong love interest, Grace. Their lore runs deep: When Logan was a cocky junior and Grace a shy freshman, they started hooking up but stopped due to a careless mistake on Logan’s part. The following school year, he’s desperate to end his college career on a high note and make things up to Grace, who’s back on campus feeling much more confident for her sophomore year.

We’ve already met Logan in the first season of Off Campus, played by Antonio Cipriano. The show hasn't necessarily been unfolding book-by-book—for instance, Allie and Dean's romance from The Score is heavily featured in season 1—but we have reason to believe some or most of The Mistake will unfold in season 2. An April 2026 casting announcement named India Fowler as the on-screen Grace, so we suspect she'll be at least one of the leads.

'Off Campus' Book 3 — 'The Score' (Allie and Dean)

Next up on the roster is Dean, a ladies' man whom senior Allie has selected as the perfect target for some one-night-stand rebound sex once she gets her heart broken. Afterwards, Allie is perfectly content to move on with her life and get back to fretting over what she’s going to do after graduation. Dean, on the other hand, finds it difficult to leave their time together as just one night and move forward as friends. Let the chase begin!

As a member of the Briar U hockey team, Dean is also introduced in the first season of the Off Campus TV show, played by Stephen Kalyn. Allie’s there, too, since she’s best friends and roommates with The Deal’s Hannah; The Pitt alum Mika Abdalla brings her to life. Quite a bit of their love story plays out in season 1—though it ends on a major cliffhanger, leading us to believe it'll continue in season 2, as well. (And thank goodness: Some fans have swooned even harder over their fling than Hannah and Garrett's!)

'Of Campus' Book 4 — 'The Goal' (Sabrina and Tucker)

The final entry in the core four Off Campus books stars the other John (yes, his name really is John Tucker, but this one’s not a serial cheater). After a single, sexy hookup with aspiring lawyer Sabrina, the pair end up parents-to-be. Though Sabrina is determined to juggle her impending motherhood and career goals all on her own, the very sweet Tucker—who’s also the product of a devoted single mother—is equally determined to break down her walls and start building a life together.

On screen, Tucker is being played by another The Pitt star, Jalen Thomas Brooks. Sabrina is the only character among the main Off Campus couples who isn't cast yet, but that hasn't stopped the fancasts. Some readers have said they can see actresses such as Savannah Lee Smith, Isabella Briggs, and Sydney Park in the role.

'Off Campus' Book 5 — 'The Legacy'

Technically a compilation of four novellas, the fifth and final book in the Off Campus series checks in with all four couples from the preceding novels, three years after college graduation. They’re all still together, thankfully, and between them are a wedding, a proposal, an elopement, and a pregnancy. We'll keep it spoiler-free, though, so you'll have to dive in to find out exactly which couple is going through which major life event.

Will there be another book in the 'Off Campus' series?

Unfortunately for fans clamoring for even more love stories from this particular iteration of the Briar U hockey team, Kennedy seems to be done with the OG Off Campus series. The five aforementioned books were published between 2015 and 2021, with the final installment serving as a “where are they now”-type epilogue to wrap up the series.

That said, Kennedy has stayed plenty busy since putting out the original Off Campus books. She’s published many more romance novels, both standalones and entries in other series, including multiple set in the same universe as Off Campus. More on those below…

Are there any other books set in the 'Off Campus' universe?

Yes! Kennedy has written several books inspired by the Off Campus universe. First to follow the original series was Briar U, which she published between 2018 and 2020. The four-book collection is about the romantic dalliances of a new set of Briar University hockey players, a few years behind Garrett and the gang. There are plenty of overlaps between the two series: For example, the female main character in the first Briar U book, The Chase, is none other than Dean’s younger sister Summer (which, by the way, sets up a perfectly tangled “brother’s best friend” forbidden-romance situation).

There are more Easter eggs and romance tropes where that came from. So, after The Chase, you can dive into The Risk, The Play, and The Dare.

In fact, fans already deep in the book lore were surprised to see a character from The Play make his on-screen debut in Off Campus season 1. The character Hunter Davenport appears as the show diverges from Hannah and Garrett to focus on Allie and Dean. Charlie Evans portrays him, but he's not introduced as Hunter. He's first known as "Carter St. James V," the name on his fake ID, which is what Allie knows him as when she meets him at the campus hangout, Malone's, and Allie decides she's interested in pursuing another guy. They kiss and eventually hook up—the same night Dean confesses his love for Allie. (Yikes.)

Hunter's appearance is a major change from the books to the show. And as the series reveals, Dean and Hunter—who is really a freshman recruited to the team by Logan when Garrett is suspended—have bad blood because Hunter and Dean's sister Summer were classmates. This shift is stark from the books, in which they have a mentor-mentee relationship. It also certainly sets up conflict for season 2, which those showrunners have already teased. Although it remains to be seen if Hunter's romance with a character named Demi will make it to the screen eventually, as well.

Hunter's early introduction also implies the show is pulling from Kennedy's wider universe, and even more changes, Easter eggs, and cameos may be in store—all the more reason to get reading.

The characters may not make their on-screen debut any time soon, but, in addition to Briar U, Kennedy started yet another spinoff series, Campus Diaries, in 2023. These three books (The Graham Effect, The Dixon Rule, and The Charlie Method) are also set at Briar, also feature players from the hockey team, and also include cameos from some very familiar characters—20 years after the events of Off Campus. In a very fun continuation of the OG series, the main character of The Graham Effect, the first Campus Diaries book, is none other than Garrett and Hannah’s daughter, Gigi. She's following in her dad’s footsteps by serving as captain of the Briar U hockey team…and by getting caught up in her own deal-based romance. The next two main characters aren’t second-gen, but there are still plenty of Off Campus echoes throughout their stories, too.

Meanwhile, a double helping of second-gen romance can be found in Kennedy’s latest standalone book, Love Song. The novel arrived in March 2026 and details the steamy summer romance between Grace and Logan’s daughter, Blake, and Hannah and Garrett’s son, Wyatt—Gigi's twin brother—who have known each other for years but have never been able to get their feelings for one another in sync.

With XO, Kitty currently in renewal limbo and Heated Rivalry season 2 nearly a year away, fans are hoping Prime Video's new show, Off Campus, can fill the romance-shaped gap in their TV schedules. Based on the Off-Campus book series by Elle Kennedy, the series brings the drama of college and the sexual tension of hockey together, and to say fans are already obsessed would be an understatement.

In case you're unfamiliar, Off Campus is a beloved romance series comprised of five books—The Deal, The Mistake, The Score, The Goal, and The Legacy. Each book focuses on a different couple at Briar U, with the leading men all playing on the school's hockey team. Some stories are more interconnected than others, and though Off Campus has already been renewed for season 2, co-showrunner Louisa Levy has confirmed that the show won't follow the exact timeline of the books, which means fans could get glimpses at their favorite series couples in season 1.

This means it's especially important that you get to know the Off Campus cast and their characters ASAP. Otherwise, you might miss the beginning of a new romance. Here's your guide to who's who in Off Campus, with a hint about what fans can expect from future seasons.

Ella Bright as Hannah Wells

Hannah Wells is a music major at Briar University who finds herself in a classic rom-com fake-dating scenario after she strikes a bargain with star hockey player, Garrett Graham. He promises to pretend to date her to help her catch the eye of her real crush, Justin, as long as she tutors him. But what begins as a simple exchange becomes complicated when the two actually start to catch feelings.

Ella Bright, 19, might be new to American audiences, but she's been appearing on stages and screens in the U.K. for years. She broke out in 2020 with the lead role in Malory Towers, a British TV show, which ran for five years. She also previously appeared as a Young Kate Middleton on The Crown, but Off Campus will be her first major U.S. role.

Ella Bright's Instagram: @ellabright__

Belmont Cameli as Garrett Graham

Garrett Graham is a junior at Briar University, captain of the hockey team, and star forward—but his dreams of playing in a professional league are in serious jeopardy due to his failing grades. To get his GPA up and remain on the team, he agrees to pretend to date Hannah in exchange for tutoring. What could go wrong?

Belmont Cameli, 28, is, according to his Instagram, a “Poet. Vigilante. Meatball Connoisseur.” He's also an actor and no stranger to romance adaptations. He starred as Eli in Netflix's Along for the Ride, but is best known for playing Jamie Spano in the criminally underrated Saved by the Bell reboot.

Belmont Cameli's Instagram: @belmontcameli

Josh Heuston as Justin Kohl

In the original book, Hannah has a major crush on Justin, a football player. For the show, Justin is getting a bit of a makeover. He's no longer a jock, but a musician and lead singer in his college rock band, which makes him the artsy opposite of Garrett.

Josh Heuston, 29, is an Australian actor who has appeared in Thor: Love and Thunder, Heartbreak High, and is currently in HBO Max's Dune: Prophecy series. He might not get the girl in Off Campus, but Heuston might soon get his chance. He's one of the actors rumored to be circling the role of Xaden in Prime Video's Fourth Wing TV show.

Josh Heuston's Instagram: @jheuston

Mika Abdalla as Allie Hayes

Allie Hayes is Hannah's ride-or-die. She's fun, smart, and also happens to be the daughter of a former hockey player. Who would have guessed it? Though she mainly supports Hannah's journey in The Deal, the TV series moves up the timeline of Book 3 of the Off Campus series, The Score, which gives Allie her own love story—with Garrett's teammate Dean Di Laurentis.

Mika Abdalla is a 25-year-old actress from Texas, best known for her leading role in Netflix's children's series, Project MC². She also appeared in season 1 of The Pitt and Suits LA.

Mika Abdalla's Instagram: @mike.abdalla

Stephen Kalyn as Dean Di Laurentis

Dean is, you guessed it, yet another stud from the Briar U hockey team. Charming and rich, Dean has a reputation as a playboy. He's also been aged up for the show and will be a senior in season 1. As stated, he and Allie strike up a casual (to eventually passionate!) relationship in the third installment, The Score, which is heavily featured in season 1 and will continue in season 2.

Fans of college TV dramas might recognize Stephen Kalyn, 28, from a guest spot on Prime Video's Cruel Intentions reboot, or his recurring role on Gen V. In addition to being an actor, Kalyn is a lifelong hockey player, so he knows what he's doing on the ice.

Stephen Kalyn's Instagram: @stephenkalyn

Antonio Cipriano as John Logan

John Logan, A.K.A. Logan, is Garrett's best friend and teammate. He's easy-going and sweet, but that doesn't mean he can't harbor a crush for his BFF's fake girlfriend. Things get even more complicated for Logan in book two, The Mistake, which delves into his complicated home life. Oh, and he has to figure all this out while navigating a relationship with Grace Ivers?

Antonio Cipriano is a man of many talents. At 25, he's already appeared on Broadway in 2019's Jagged Little Pill and on multiple television shows, including National Treasure: Edge of History and Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin. It also looks like he'll be among the leads of Off Campus season 2, as the show announced it cast India Fowler as Grace.

Antonio Cipriano's Instagram: @antoniocipriano_

Jalen Thomas Brooks as John Tucker

Rounding out the Briar U hockey friend group is John Tucker, A.K.A. Tucker. Though he's been aged down for the TV show, Tucker is still very much a core member of the team, and not just because he's the resident chef. In the books, Tucker takes center stage in book 4, The Goal, when he falls for Sabrina James, Dean's academic rival. Sabrina does not appear in season 1 of Off Campus, so fans should look forward to seeing their love story play out in later seasons.

If you watched any TV in the last two years, odds are you'll recognize Jalen Thomas Brooks. The actor, 24, currently plays nurse Mateo on HBO's hit medical drama, The Pitt. Before that, Brooks appeared on shows like Walker and Animal Kingdom.

Jalen Thomas Brooks's Instagram: @jalenthomasbrooks

Julia Sarah Stone as Jules Logan

The TV adaptation of Off Campus introduces a new original character in Jules Logan, Logan's younger sister, who also attends Briar U. When she's not serving as a quippy, observant younger sister to Logan and his roommates, she runs a popular fan page for the Briar Hawks.

Julia Sarah Stone has been acting her entire life. After getting into theater in elementary school, the Canadian star began landing indie and TV roles and racking up accolades like a Young Artists Award and a TIFF Rising Star honor. The now 28-year-old is best known for The Killing, Wet Bum, Weirdos, and Honey Bee.

Julia Sarah Stone's Instagram: @reel.jss

Khobe Clarke as Beau Maxwell

Beau Maxwell is the quarterback of Briar U's football team, but he spends more time around the hockey boys and his bestie, Dean. (Briar is a rare school where football isn't the star sport.) As readers know, Beau will have a big impact on the second half of Allie and Dean's love story.

Though he plays a football star in Off Campus, Khobe Clarke grew up playing hockey in Calgary. The 25-year-old made his TV debut in the first few seasons of Yellowjackets, and went on to appear in Firefly Lane and V.C. Andrews' Dawn. His first major role was Scott Russell in Prime Video's Cruel Intentions reboot.

Khobe Clarke's Instagram: @khobeclarke

Steve Howey as Phil Graham

Phil Graham, Garrett's father, is a former pro hockey player who wants his son to continue his legacy at all costs. In the books, Phil is both verbally and physically abusive, which, to put it lightly, puts a lot of strain on his relationship with his son.

Steve Howey has been a staple of American television for over two decades, starting with his breakout role in Reba, continuing on Shameless, and, most recently, on High Potential.

Steve Howey's Instagram: @stevehowey

Charlie Evans as Hunter Davenport

In its most surprising deviation from the source material, Off Campus season 1 introduces Hunter Davenport, a freshman hockey player who doesn't appear in the books until The Score (and who goes on to have his own romance in the Briar U spinoff book series). Avoiding spoilers, Show Hunter will have a much more contentious relationship with Dean than their mentor-mentee bond in the books.

Charlie Evans will be a familiar face to sci-fi fans, as he spent the past two years portraying Jeremy Bradford in Hulu's Paradise. Before that, the 22-year-old Australian actor/musician played Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke's son in the 2023 film adaptation of the disaster novel Leave the World Behind.

Charlie Evans's Instagram: @charliebluejay

India Fowler as Grace Ivers

In the books, Logan uses Grace to help get over his crush on Hannah, but when he realizes that his hookup might be the real deal, he must earn the chance to date her.

We already know that rising British actress India Fowler, 22, will play Grace. You may recognize her from Netflix's teen horror flick Fear Street: Prom Queen, or Showtime's spy thriller series, The Agency.

India Fowler's Instagram: @_indiafowler

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's marriage was a cornerstone of the monarch's 70-year reign. After tying the knot in November 1947, Elizabeth and Philip remained together until the prince's death in April 2021. And according to one royal biographer, Queen Elizabeth believed she owed a huge "debt" to her husband.

In his book The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Queen Elizabeth II, author Ian Lloyd shared, "Neither of them was ever comfortable wearing their hearts on their sleeves but on the day they celebrated their Golden Wedding in November 1997, The Queen paid a rare public tribute to her husband."

Per Lloyd, Elizabeth said of her husband, "He is someone who doesn't take easily to compliments but he has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know."

Lloyd also noted that, when Prince Philip turned 90, Queen Elizabeth honored her husband in a more concrete way—by giving him "the title of Lord High Admiral, a position only ever held by the sovereign."

As the royal biographer explained, "For the man who had given up his own promising career to help support her for the rest of his life, it was a touching gesture and one that apparently moved him close to tears."

It's safe to say that Queen Elizabeth most definitely appreciated Prince Philip's support, particularly as he was by her side throughout her impressive reign.

Earlier this week, Taylor Swift skipped the Met Gala in favor of a trip to London with fiancé Travis Kelce. Instead, Swift was photographed at Indian restaurant Gymkhana wearing a corseted Zimmermann dress covered in watercolor roses.

On May 8, Swift and Kelce went out for another dinner date, this time spending hours at Gordon Ramsay's Lucky Cat in Bishopsgate, London. For the occasion, the "London Boy" singer opted for an all-black lace and leather look, via @taylorswiftstyled.

Swift paired Fleur Du Mal's $298 Juliet Lace Silk Skirt, which is partially sheer, with a matching lingerie-style Evangeline Silk Top by Staud. Over the top, the superstar wore Toteme's Slim Leather Coat in Black, which retails for $4,000.

Perfectly in keeping with her sleek black outfit, Swift wore a pair of Celine's Ava Sandals in Lambskin, which feature gold hardware and typically cost $1,050. Also matching the black and gold color scheme was Swift's Rabanne 1969 Leather Shoulder Bag.

For jewelry, the "Shake It Off" singer paired a vintage Chanel crystal necklace with her custom engagement ring.

As the couple's alleged wedding date approaches, Swift and Kelce appear to be enjoying a plethora of dinner dates around the world.

SHOP OUTFITS INSPIRED BY TAYLOR SWIFT

The Other Bennet Sister is the delightful comfort watch that took over the internet in the first half of 2026. Based on Janice Hadlow's novel of the same name, the BBC and BritBox's period drama is a retelling of Pride & Prejudice with the focus on Mary, the titular, oft-overlooked middle child of the Bennet family. While Jane Austen adaptations are nothing new, The Other Bennet Sister stands out with its charming focus on giving the late bloomer both the rom-com treatment and her own journey of self-discovery.

Though U.K. viewers were the first to fall in love with The Other Bennet Sister, the historical romance later arrived stateside, with the series finale landing on BritBox on June 24. Fans who are mourning the end of their new favorite show may be wondering whether Mary's story will continue. Read on for everything we know about the future of The Other Bennet Sister.

Is 'The Other Bennet Sister' renewed for season 2?

Unfortunately for fans, Mary Bennet's story has (mostly) come to an end. The Other Bennet Sister is billed as a limited series, and the 10-episode season is a complete adaptation of Janice Hadlow's novel, so it doesn't look like the series will return for future seasons.

Of course, limited series tend to find ways to live on if they're popular enough. According to The Radio Times, The Other Bennet Sister became the BBC's biggest drama launch of the last 12 months, with the first episode drawing 7.3 million viewers in its first 28 days on BBC One and iPlayer. With that kind of popularity, the network may be taking note and considering how the show could continue.

Will 'The Other Bennet Sister' return for more episodes?

The Other Bennet Sister fans are getting more episodes! On the day of the BritBox series' finale, the streamer announced that Mary Bennet and co. will return for a three-part Christmas special, answering fans' pleas for a bit more time with their favorite Bennet.

"We know how much audiences have fallen in love with Mary Bennet, and we’re thrilled that her story isn’t over yet," Jess O’Riordan, Executive Producer and Commissioning Executive for BritBox, said in a statement. "We are so pleased Mary’s story will continue for three more chapters and to welcome audiences back into the world of The Other Bennet Sister this holiday season."

When will 'The Other Bennet Sister' Christmas Special come out?

There isn't an official release date for the special episodes of The Other Bennet Sister yet, but the biggest clue lies in their unofficial title. In the tradition of other smash-hit British shows, the special will debut during the Christmas season. (It's still unclear whether the U.S. and the U.K. will get the episodes at the same time.)

The show will also be working on quite a quick turnaround. According to the announcement, production is set to film the three-part special in Wales later this summer.

Which cast members will return for 'The Other Bennet Sister' Christmas special?

So far, Ella Bruccoleri (Mary Bennet) is the only actor confirmed to reprise her role, but the rest of the main cast will likely join her. The surest bet is Dónal Finn, who plays Mary's now-husband Tom Hayward.

The Other Bennet Sister also stars Poppy Gilbert (Lizzie Bennet), Maddie Close (Jane Bennet), Molly Wright (Kitty Bennet), Grace Hogg (Lydia Bennet), Ruth Jones (Mrs. Bennet), Laurie Davidson (William Ryder), Aaron Gill (John Sparrow), Varada Sethu (Ann Baxter), Indira Varma (Mrs. Gardiner), Richard Coyle (Mr. Gardiner), and Tanya Reynolds (Caroline Bingley).

What will 'The Other Bennet Sister' Christmas special be about?

While the overall plot is under wraps, executive producer Jane Tranter teased some details on The Other Bennet Sister Christmas special to IndieWire. The special won't see Mary celebrating Christmas, as "the Regency era wasn’t so big on [the holiday]." Instead, it'll focus on newlyweds Mary and Tom Hayward and their life post-wedding, with Quintrell writing the episodes based on storylines from source author Janice Hadlow.

“The thing that Janice was interested in is, Jane Austen always pulls the camera away, in her novelistic way, at the point of marriage,” Tranter told the outlet. “And I think it’s really because Jane Austen’s novels are about longing and about love, and once marriage has been found, Jane Austen herself knew well enough that it could easily not be a choice between marriage or misery, but marriage and misery. [She] doesn’t tread down that path and doesn’t delve in [to that], Jane Austen herself was never married and she doesn’t delve into that…but we were interested in seeing, but what if we did go into the next step of what life was going to be like for the Haywards?”

Will 'The Other Bennet Sister' get a spinoff?

Even before the Christmas special was announced, the team behind The Other Bennet Sister hinted that they were interested in exploring more of the Jane Austen canon. In an interview with Variety, executive producer Jane Tranter expressed an interest in returning to the world of the show, teasing that they're "thinking about" doing another Austen-related series.

"I think that Mary Bennet and the Bennet family continues to live on in our minds, so potentially," Tranter said, when asked about the possibility of a new series starring the Bennets. "But Mary Bennet isn’t the only character in Jane Austen’s novels who Jane Austen gives a bit of a side eye to, and that is really what interests me."

What would 'The Other Bennet Sister' spinoff be about?

Avoiding any spoilers, The Other Bennet Sister ends with a true happily-ever-after for Mary, wrapping up her story as she finds true happiness. If the series goes the anthology route, it probably wouldn't center on a Bennet woman at all, since Mary's sisters were married off before the show's timeline. (Unless the series decides to pull a Francesca Bridgerton on Lydia or Kitty.)

However, there is a well-known Pride & Prejudice character who gets a redemption arc in the new series. Warning: Stop reading here if you want to stay spoiler-free. Caroline Bingley (Tanya Reynolds) arrives in London soon after Mary, and the sisters-in-law's paths cross once again around halfway through the season. However, Mary gets to see Caroline in a new light, as the Bingley sister pursues her own love story. As IndieWire points out, this new take on Caroline Bingley could be great fodder for a new installment.

Of course, there's also the chance that future spinoffs could go beyond Pride & Prejudice to explore another unsung Austen heroine. Could a character like Margaret Dashwood or Jane Fairfax step into the spotlight next? We'll have to wait and see.

How can I watch 'The Other Bennet Sister?'

The Other Bennet Sister is currently streaming on BritBox, with every episode out now. BritBox offers a seven-day free trial, after which a subscription starts at $10.99 per month.

As stated, it hasn't been announced when the Christmas specials drop, but there is a chance they could air in the U.K. on BBC iPlayer before BritBox in the U.S. If that's the case, you can use a VPN to watch. If you don't have a VPN, you can use one like Nord VPN.

The season of Carley Fortune is upon us. The romance author has been making us weak in the knees with her relatable tales of yearning, heartbreak, and passion since 2022, when she burst onto the literary scene with Every Summer After. Since then, she’s churned out four more hits, with each one successfully sweeping us away into her nostalgic, sunshine-filled worlds.

“I think that my storytelling style really lends itself to summer reading, whether you’re on vacation or not, when you want to curl up with a book and escape,” Fortune explained to TODAY in 2024. “That’s really what I want my books to be—an escape for the reader.”

Make that books and TV shows. This summer will see the writer's debut getting the Prime Video treatment, while Netflix has scooped up This Summer Will Be Different.

Whether you’re looking to spot the differences between the novels and the shows, or you want to visualize your own cast of characters before seeing who winds up playing your favorites, this is a good place to start: We've ranked every single one of Carley Fortune’s books below.

Every Carley Fortune Books, Ranked

How to read Carley Fortune's books in order

The order in which you read Fortune's books will depend on your personal preference. The only two we suggest you definitely read one after the other are Every Summer After and One Golden Summer, given the connections between the two.

However, to get a sense of Fortune's style, we suggest you start with Every Summer After, regardless, since it solidified her style of crafting the perfect beach read. From there, you can dive into any of novels—or you could also read them in chronological order of their release, as Every Summer After was her debut. To do so, you would read them as follows:

• Every Summer After (2022)
• Meet Me at the Lake (2023)
• This Summer Will Be Different (2024)
• One Golden Summer (2025)
• Our Perfect Storm (2026)

Which Carley Fortune books have adaptations are in the works?

Three out of Fortune’s five novels have been slated to receive the Hollywood treatment. At the rate she’s going, it's possible the other two won’t be far behind. (Shout out to authors like her and Emily Henry for keeping the rom-com alive!)

First up, Every Year After, the retitled TV series adaptation of Every Summer After. It premieres on Prime Video on June 10, 2026, starring fresh face Sadie Soverall, Matt Cornett (High School Musical: The Musical: The Series), Elisha Cuthbert (The Girl Next Door), and Michael Bradway (Chicago Fire).

"There are lots of changes and little characters get their own new storylines," Fortune, who executive-produced the series alongside showrunner Amy B. Harris (The Carrie Diaries, Gossip Girl), told PEOPLE. "I'm so happy with how it turned out…I'm a true fan of the show."

Fortune’s third book, This Summer Will Be Different, will also be adapted into a series by Netflix. “I’m thrilled to...transport audiences to the glittering shores and windswept beaches of [Prince Edward Island],” she said in a statement when the project was announced in March 2026.

Like Every Year After, the novelist will also serve as an executive producer on the project, with Canadian creators Dane Clark (One More Time, Suze) and Linsey Stewart (Working Moms, North of North, Suze) also on board.

Eventually, a Carley Fortune movie will also hit our screens. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Archewell Productions are at the helm of bringing Meet Me at the Lake to life. "That is moving along really nicely behind the scenes," Fortune assured Swooon in June 2025. "There’s a beautiful script."

Why Trust Us

New favorite author? There’s a good chance they’re already on our radar. From a writer’s first signs of success on #Booktok (and beyond), we’ve got our ears to the ground (and our noses in their books). Want sneak peeks of their soon-to-be best-sellers? Got ‘em. Full catalog rankings galore? Yep. All the scoop on the inevitable adaptations? Most definitely. In short? We’re the book people—reading’s kind of what we do.

Queen Elizabeth's love story with Prince Philip is one for the ages. The pair tied the knot on November 20, 1947, and remained married until Prince Philip's death on April 9, 2021. And according to those who knew the couple, there was heat between them throughout their long marriage.

According to royal author Ian Lloyd, in his book The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Queen Elizabeth II, "The Queen lit up when [Prince Philip] was around, when he walked into a room or when he paid her a compliment." Basically, the couple stayed very much in love through the decades.

Per Lloyd, "Once, her dress designer, the late Ian Thomas, was making some adjustments to the hemline of her dress when Philip happened to walk past the open door and he said, 'Hmm, nice dress.'"

The royal author continued, "Thomas said The Queen 'flushed scarlet’ at the compliment. They never completely softened with old age."

Lloyd also shared that Queen Elizabeth looked to her husband for advice throughout her life.

"Elizabeth was to rely on [Philip] even more as the touchstone for the values she grew up with: duty, self-sacrifice, service to Queen and country," the biographer explained. "They spoke every day on the telephone from wherever they happened to be."

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were thrown together for an extended period of time during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.

"Philip left Wood Farm and joined The Queen at Windsor and over the summer at Balmoral," Lloyd noted. "It was the longest the two had been together, apart from their early tours and their time in Malta as a young naval couple, and was no doubt a consolation to her following his death just 12 months later."

Although Elizabeth and Philip weren't big on PDA, they seemingly had a very flirty relationship in private, which is endearing.

King Charles is happily married to wife Queen Camilla, but according to one of the monarch's former classmates, life could have been very different for the royal. In fact, when King Charles was attending school, his underwear was reportedly known to get "lost" from time to time.

In the book My Mother and I, royal expert Ingrid Seward discussed King Charles's seemingly shy approach to romance when he attended Gordonstoun Boarding School in Scotland. In spite of his reticence when it came to dating, King Charles allegedly had no shortage of romantic prospects at the time.

"One thing Charles was suspicious of was social functions," Seward shared. "When a party of 25 girls were invited to a dance at Gordonstoun, Charles went off to spend the weekend with his grandmother [the Queen Mother] at Birkhall, her house on the Balmoral estate."

According to the royal expert, King Charles refused to return the next day, even though the girls were engaging in a game of tennis—a sport he was very passionate about. Per Seward, "[H]e didn't reappear until well after the girls had departed."

The King's former classmate, Ross Benson, told Seward, "Charles could have had as many girlfriends as he wanted, and even the school maids would stare and giggle amongst themselves if they saw him. They also had a penchant for purloining his underwear, and after the disappearance of some of his clothes sent for washing, there were special precautions taken to ensure that nothing marked with his name would ever get 'lost' again."

Basically, at one point in time, King Charles's underwear was hot property. And if he hadn't built a life with Queen Camilla, he'd reportedly have many romantic suitors.

Long before it arrived on Hulu, Perfect Crown was set to become the biggest K-drama of the year (so far). MBC and Disney+'s fantasy-romance series stars two of Korea's most famous stars—When Life Gives You Tangerines alum IU and Lovely Runner's Byeon Woo-seok—in a reimagining of the country as a 21st-century constitutional monarchy. (Think the British royals but with modern hanboks.)

Perfect Crown centers on two second children who defy societal expectations to make their own destiny. Seong Hui-ju (IU) is a successful businesswoman whose ambition is curtailed by her status as a commoner and an illegitimate child. Grand Prince I-AN (Byeon) is the most powerful man in the country, but he also lives under the most restrictions. When the pair strikes up a marriage of convenience, their growing romance challenges multiple hierarchies.

Since its April 10 premiere, Perfect Crown has become a smash hit across the globe, with the rom-com earning Disney+'s biggest K-drama premiere to date and trending in over 40 countries. This is thanks in large part to its talented cast, with rising stars like Gong Seung-yeon and Lee Yeon becoming quick fan favorites. With Perfect Crown airing on Fridays and Saturdays up to its May 16 finale, read on to learn more about the stars bringing the Disney+/Hulu hit to life.

IU as Seong Hui-ju

Seong Hui-ju is the CEO of Castle Beauty and the second child of Castle Group, the country's top conglomerate. Her ruthless and competitive nature comes from a lifetime on the margins: Though she's wealthy and successful, her status as a commoner and illegitimate child means nobles look down upon her. Since marriage is necessary for her standing, she decides to aim for the top.

IU (real name Lee Ji-eun), 32, is a singer-songwriter and actress who's one of the most popular stars in South Korea. She made her singing debut at the age of 15 and rose to fame with hit songs including 2010's "Good Day," 2017's "Palette," 2020's "Eight," and 2024's "Love Wins All." On the acting side, she has starred in award-winning dramas and films, including My Mister, Hotel del Luna, Broker, and When Life Gives You Tangerines. She also hosts the YouTube interview series IU's Palette.

Instagram: @dlwlrma

Byeon Woo-seok as Crown Prince I-AN

I-AN is the second son of the royal family and the younger brother of the late king. He was raised to be quiet and obedient, hiding his fiery temper and ignoring his ambitions. But everything changes when the king unexpectedly dies, leaving his toddler son as the only heir. Three years after becoming regent, I-AN must choose between supporting his young nephew and his hidden ambition for the throne.

Perfect Crown is Byeon Woo-seok's first K-drama since he rose to global fame with his role as Ryu Sun-jae in the time-travel romance Lovely Runner. The 34-year-old model made his acting debut in the 2016 drama Dear My Friends and went on to star in shows and movies like Search: WWW, Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency, Record of Youth, Strong Girl Nam Soon, 20th Century Girl, and Soulmate. He's also an award-winning singer; his contribution to the Lovely Runner soundtrack, "Sudden Shower," won multiple Best OST prizes.

Instagram: @byeonwooseok

Steve Sanghyun Noh as Min Jeong-u

Jeong-u is one of the country's most popular nobles; he followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather to become prime minister. Unpredictable and influential, the political heir is also I-an's closest friend and confidant. All that changes when I-an becomes interested in Hui-ju, Jeong-u's old friend.

Noh Sang-hyun (English name, Steve Noh) spent his childhood living in Vancouver, Canada, and attended college in Boston. He made his acting debut in Korea with small roles in films like Bad Man and Seoul Searching, before landing his breakout roles as Isak in Apple TV's adaptation of Pachinko, and Heung-soo in the 2024 LGBTQ+ movie Love in the Big City. Next up, he'll reunite with his Pachinko co-star Kim Min-ha for the Netflix rom-com Messily Ever After.

Instagram: @steveshnoh

Gong Seung-yeon as Yun I-rang

Yun I-rang was raised from childhood to be the perfect queen, valuing grace and decorum over her own desires. In the years since her husband's death, the now-Queen Dowager will do anything to guarantee her son's eventual place on the throne. Her tight control over the royal family is threatened when Hui-ju enters the picture.

Gong Seung-yeon, 33, spent seven years as an SM vocal trainee before pivoting to acting in 2012. (Her younger sister is TWICE's Jeongyeon.) She's best known for her roles in the dramas Six Flying Dragons, Introverted Boss, Bulgasal: Immortal Souls, The First Responders, and Karma. In 2021, she won Best New Actress at the Blue Dragon Film Awards. In Perfect Crown, she reunites with Byeon Woo-seok, her co-star in the 2019 period drama Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency.

Instagram: @0seungyeon

Yoo Su-bin as Choi Hyeon

Choi Hyeon, aide to the Crown Prince, is played by Yu Su-bin. Since his debut in 2016, the 33-year-old actor has starred in several hit K-dramas, including Crash Landing on You, Prison Playbook, Special Labor Inspector Jo, Start-Up, Lost, D.P., and Tastefully Yours. He also played Choi Hyo-man in Netflix's thriller K-drama Weak Hero Class 2.

Instagram: @subinyu1106

Lee Yeon as Do Hye-jeong

Lee Yeon plays Hui-ji's loyal assistant Hye-jeong. The 31-year-old actress rose to fame with roles in the 2020 LGBTQ+ movie Take Me Home and the 2022 drama Juvenile Justice; the latter earned her a Best New Actress nomination at that year's Baeksang Arts Awards. Since then, she has also appeared in shows and films like Weak Hero Class 1, Crash Course in Romance, Duty After School, D.P., and Kill Boksoon.

Instagram: @kiteleeflying

Lee Jae-won as Seong Tae-ju

Hui-ju's only competition in inheriting Castle Group is her half-brother Tae-ju. Though he's older, Tae-ju has come up second to Hui-ju in every way but two: He's a legitimate child, and he's married to a noblewoman.

Lee Jae-won, 39, has played supporting roles in dozens of K-dramas. Some of his notable credits include Doctor Stranger, The Legend of the Blue Sea, Stranger, Record of Youth, Mr. Queen, Dr. Brain, Welcome to Samdal-ri, and The Tale of Lady Ok.

Chae Seo-an as Han Da-yeong

Tae-ju's wife, Da-yeong, is the eldest daughter of the former Minister of Justice. Though many think their marriage was a strategic alliance, the couple actually married for love.

Chae Seo-an (birth name Byeon Seo-yun), 29, made her acting debut in 2020 and has since appeared in dramas like Police University, Hellbound, and Pro Bono. She also had scene-stealing roles in two Netflix K-dramas. She played scheming teacher Han Ji-soo in Hierarchy, and the young version of Bu Sang-gil’s long-suffering wife, Young-ran, in When Life Gives You Tangerines.

Instagram: @serenity__an

Jo Seung-yeon as Seong Hyeon-guk

Hui-ju and Tae-ju's domineering father, Seong Hyeon-guk, is determined to have his son take over Castle Group, no matter how much better Hui-ji is for the role. Hyeon-guk is played by Jo Seung-yeon, a prolific TV and film actor who's appeared in dozens of projects. Some of his most notable K-dramas include Six Flying Dragons, Suspicious Partner, Arthdal Chronicles, Hospital Playlist, Little Women, Blind, The First Responders, My Dearest, and Bon Appetit, Your Majesty.

Comedian Brooke Averick sees the humor in modern romance. But instead of being the butt of the joke about dating-app doldrums and messy relationship dynamics, she makes herself the punchline—and has developed a devout following doing so.

Much to the excitement of her 1 million TikTok fans, and the listeners who tune into "Brooke and Connor Make a Podcast" every week, Averick is bringing her signature wit to a new format. On May 26th, the rising star will publish her debut novel, Phoebe Berman's Gonna Lose It. Just as candid as her comedy, the romance novel follows a soon-to-be-30-year-old with crippling intimacy anxiety who is determined to find the right man to lose her virginity to. The charming read is sure to be on every rom-com fan's TBR list—and one of the most highly anticipated books of the spring.

Below, read an advanced excerpt of Phoebe Berman's Gonna Lose It, when Phoebe meets her crush, Finn.

Love at first sight.

I’ve read about it. I’ve dreamed about it. I’ve watched it happen in countless movies. I’ve always known it was out there, but I had started to give up on it ever happening to me.

Until now.

I stand so quickly that small spots begin to dance around the edges of my vision. My heart plummets to the base of my stomach as I shuffle toward the door, dropping so far down that I worry it’s going to fall out of my athletic skort and onto the alphabet-themed rug. I clench as a precaution.

“Hi,” I say, my voice sounding distant. I curl my fingers in a wave, though I’m not sure it does any good with my hand at my side.

According to the attendance sheet, we’re still waiting on one more kid to arrive, but there’s no way this is his dad. He’s too young and dressed too casually. The few dads that do morning drop-offs are always in suits and fall somewhere in the forty-to-sixty age range. The guy in front of me is wearing a checkered button-down over a white T-shirt, navy blue pants, and Vans. There’s no sign of gray in his sandy brown hair. He can’t be a day older than me. Maybe he’s a hot nanny?

He sticks out his hand.

I stare at the veins in his outstretched arm for a beat too long before I finally shake it.

“I’m Finn, the new fourth-grade teacher. You must be Phoebe?”

I nod.

“I was told this is the place to go for some colored pencils. Do you mind if I borrow some, for the day? I promise I’ll bring them back.” He smirks, and I feel my face warm.

“I’m Phoebe.”

I hear Cheryl’s footsteps coming up behind me just in time to save me from myself.

“Here you go.” She hands him a box labeled ext r a col or ed pencils, courtesy of my label maker.

“Thanks!” He reaches his arm out to shake Cheryl’s hand. I stay mesmerized by his veins while he introduces himself to her. “I just started over there.” He points out the window toward the Stone Building.

“Oh, that’s amazing!” Cheryl says, and while she talks to Finn, I will my gaze away from his arms and begin fixating on the small sliver of ankle that’s visible below his cuffed pant leg. I keep my eyes down while Cheryl introduces herself.

Get it together.

“Well, I’m Cheryl, and you’ve met Phoebe. We were all so sad when Becky retired, but I have to say, I’m glad we’ve got some more young blood around here. Poor Phoebe’s always been the youngest here by at least twenty years.” She chuckles and pats my back, which anyone watching would assume is an innocuous gesture. But I know Cheryl, and I know it’s her subtle way of encouraging me to say something.

“And if you need anything else, don’t be shy,” she adds while looking at me expectantly.

“I have a label maker if you need it,” I chime in.

He smiles. “I’m good with the colored pencils for now, thanks.”

I nod, knowing that at some point in the future, he’ll come back for the label maker. Everyone always comes back for the label maker.

“It was great meeting you both. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”

He ducks to avoid hitting his head on the doorframe on the way out, and I realize I’ve been holding my breath this entire time. Just as I’m about to exhale, he doubles back, peeking his head through the open door.

“By the way, Phoebe, I love your shirt,” he says with a wink.

I beam, my smile extending from ear to ear. “Thank you!”

I watch him leave through our windows, and only when he finally enters the Stone Building does my heart find its way back to its normal resting place. I finally unclench.

As if she can sense it, Cheryl shakes her head and lets out a laugh.

“You and that damn label maker.”

The kids line up behind the line leader of the day, a sweaty and smiling Charlie, yelling and pushing each other happily as they make their way outside for recess. Cheryl follows closely behind them, and I split off from the group to take my first, and probably only, bathroom break of the day.

The second I lock the bathroom door behind me, I reach into the depths of my skort for my phone and pull up the “no backing out” group chat. My hands are shaking with excitement.

I check my unread texts to see if he’s responded. Usually by this time of day, Matthew would have already sent me his Wordle score, but still, there’s nothing from him. This is good, I convince myself. This is a sign. What are the odds that I make a detailed plan on how to lose my virginity, and the very next day, a gorgeous fourth-grade teacher with perfect ankles and strong, healthy arm veins comes knocking at my classroom door? It feels too much like fate to ignore, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned from all my romance consumption over the years, it’s that when the universe gives you a sign, you take it. And this is my sign that Finn is the one.

Excerpted from PHOEBE BERMAN’S GONNA LOSE IT by Brooke Averick. Copyright © 2026 by Brooke Averick. Published in the United States by Crown, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

Carley Fortune is on a roll. The Canadian author’s last four novels have been smash hits on the New York Times Best Sellers list, and she has a highly anticipated new novel, Our Perfect Storm, on the way. So, it's no surprise that her beloved romance novels are starting to receive the adaptation treatment.

In June 2026, Prime Video released the on-screen adaptation of her debut, Every Summer After, as Every Year After. And her 2024 beach read, This Summer Will Be Different, won’t be far behind. Netflix announced in March 2026 that it's adapting the popular, sun-soaked rom-com into a 10-episode series, to be shot in Toronto and Prince Edward Island off the Eastern Coast of Canada.

“We couldn’t have found better partners to bring this love letter to both Toronto and Prince Edward Island to the screen,” directors of content for the streaming giant’s Canadian branch, Danielle Woodrow and Tara Woodbury, said in a statement.

While we’ll undoubtedly have to wait a while to see Fortune’s characters of Lucy, Felix, and Bridget come to life, we’ve done as much snooping as humanly possible to tide you over with all the information we could find. Read on for everything we know about the This Summer Will Be Different series.

What is 'This Summer Will Be Different' about?

This Summer Will Be Different is a "sweeping love story" that especially hits for anyone who's ever had a crush on their best friend's sibling.

But make no mistake: This is no vanilla romance. “If I had to rate This Summer Will Be Different on the chili scale, so, like, one chili being not so steamy, and five chilis being, ‘You need a cold shower,’ I think I would rate it a 3, although I think other people might rate it a 4,” Fortune has said. “It’s my steamiest book yet.”

The book follows two BFFs, Lucy and Bridget, who are headed on vacation to Canada’s picturesque Prince Edward Island together. Bridget has given Lucy three rules for their beach holiday: eat oysters, leave her cares behind in the city, and don’t fall in love with her hunky younger brother.

When Bridget misses her flight, Lucy falls in lust at first sight with Felix, a strapping young man with one heck of an oyster shuck, with whom she shacks up for the evening. But Felix is the one man she was supposed to stay away from, and now she’s got a secret she needs to keep from Bridget…for the next five years. It’s a task that gets harder and harder each summer that they return to the island, and Lucy returns to Felix’s charms.

Who is involved in Netflix's 'This Summer Will Be Different' series adaptation?

Have no fear that the show won't live up to fan expectations. Like Every Year After, Fortune will serve as a co-executive producer on the project.

“I see my role as being a voice for the readers—advocating for what they love about the worlds and characters,” she told Downtime about her involvement.

She's hardly the only name involved, though. This Summer Will Be Different is helmed by several Canadian TV veterans, including show creators Dane Clark (One More Time, Suze) and Linsey Stewart (Working Moms, North of North, Suze), as well as executive producers Jennifer Kawaja (Sort Of, Wayward) and Elise Cousineau (Cardinal, Small Achievable Goals).

Fortune has also sung the praises of the team at Netflix Canada. In a July 2026 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she said, "Danielle [Woodrow] and Tara [Woodbury], who [head] up Netflix Canada, we had had a drink together before they had even read it, and I loved them...Their view on TV and film just aligned so much with how I saw things." That being said, we should be in good hands!

What has Carley Fortune said about Netflix's 'This Summer Will Be Different' series adaptation?

Fortune opened up about the inspiration for her third romance novel in a statement to Netflix when news of the adaptation was announced. “I fell in love with Prince Edward Island first in the pages of L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables and again when I visited with my best friend in my early 20s,” she said. “That vacation, the beauty of the island, the warmth of its people, and the friendships that sustain us are the foundation of This Summer Will Be Different.”

When will Netflix's 'This Summer Will Be Different' series adaptation be released?

Netflix has not yet announced a release date for This Summer Will Be Different. But it's possible the series won't hit the small screen until 2028 at the earliest, considering it's still in pre-production. We got the biggest update from Fortune herself in early July 2026, when she told THR how things are coming along.

"I've read the first episode script, and it’s great. It’s all moving very, very quickly, but it felt like it was almost like matchmaking, where you can see that this is the perfect fit," Fortune told the outlet. "We’re casting now, which is very exciting."

It took roughly two years for Prime Video to deliver the series of Fortune’s first novel, Every Summer After. Deadline reported it was in the works in July 2024, and it premiered on June 10, 2026. While Prime Video is a different streamer from Netflix, that two-year timeline is a good indication of how long it may take for This Summer Will Be Different to get off the ground. With casting underway as of summer 2026, filming may begin in 2027 (likely in spring or summer, considering the summertime setting), and then episodes could debut in 2028.

It could be even longer, though. For example, Fortune’s novel Meet Me at the Lake, which was picked up by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Archewell Productions, is still in early development. The project was announced in 2023, and few updates have come out since.

“That is moving along really nicely behind the scenes,” Fortune assured Swooon of the project in June 2025. “There’s a beautiful script. It’s moving along.”

We'll have to wait and see. Hopefully Netflix can pick up the pace, and This Summer Will Be Different hits our screens sooner rather than later.

Who has been cast in Netflix's 'This Summer Will Be Different' series adaptation?

There is no word on who will be taking on the book’s leading roles: Lucy, Felix, and his protective older sister, Bridget. While Fortune told THR that casting is underway, it's unclear how involved she'll be. She previously told Lara Spencer on Good Morning America that it’s hard for her to visualize the characters she puts on the page. “For me, they’re very, very blurry,” she said while discussing her Every Year After adaptation. “I can see the places much better than I can see the characters.”

But one unconventional character who will be very much a part of This Summer Will Be Different’s storyline? Fortune’s beloved Prince Edward Island. She told Netflix: “I’m thrilled to…transport audiences to the glittering shores and windswept beaches of PEI.”

As we wait for more information to come out, you may as well start fantasizing about your ideal fan cast to deliver the summer romance of your dreams.

King Charles and Queen Camilla appear to have an extremely happy marriage, but the road to everlasting love was far from smooth. In fact, according to one royal expert, Camilla was initially "frightened" by the idea of becoming King Charles's wife.

In her book, My Mother and I, royal expert Ingrid Seward shared, "The full implication of what it would mean to be Prince Charles's wife frightened Camilla, and she was strident in her refusal to be sucked into the vortex of royal life."

Seward continued, "She persuaded Charles it would not be a good idea to consider marriage, telling friends the prospect was 'farcical' and that it would never happen as he would always put his duty first."

However, King Charles was reportedly keen to marry Camilla and wanted her to find her place within the Royal Family.

"Charles desperately wanted Camilla accepted by his family, especially The Queen, and refused to contemplate her hiding away," the royal author shared.

Prior to Princess Diana's unexpected and tragic death in August 1997, Camilla and Charles had been gradually making their romance public. However, the devastating news of Diana's death shifted the focus and caused Camilla to retreat from publicly embracing her relationship with Charles.

"She realized she was a long way from being accepted as [King Charles's] consort, but she had to make the effort for his sake," Seward explained.

The royal author continued, "If it hadn't been for the fickleness of public opinion and the restraining hand of his advisors, Charles would have gone public with Camilla a good deal earlier."

As for why The King was so steadfast in his belief he should be able to have a public relationship with Camilla, Seward shared, "He was used to getting his own way and it was Camilla who persuaded him that she was quite happy with how things were."

According to the royal biographer, Camilla's caution won, with Queen Elizabeth agreeing that the pair needed to take any sort of public romance slowly.

Eventually, Camilla and Charles would tie the knot—on April 9, 2005. But it appears as though Camilla wasn't in a rush to get married again.

Just like other married couples, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were known to argue. In fact, the former Duke of Edinburgh once threatened to leave his wife "stranded on the motorway." However, Elizabeth and Philip were also known to share a sense of humor, with one royal aide witnessing a particularly funny moment between the pair.

In the book The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Queen Elizabeth II, royal author Ian Lloyd revealed, "Chief Petty Officer William Evans recalled The Queen, then in her mid-thirties, screaming with laughter and shouting, 'Stop it! Philip, stop it, stop it, stop it!' as Philip ran after her, pinching her bottom repeatedly and growling, 'Get up there, girl, get up there!'"

As well as having a rather cheeky streak, Prince Philip seemingly wanted royal fans to know that he did, in fact, share a bed with his wife.

"Philip himself inadvertently gave a clue to their intimacy when he fact-checked a manuscript by biographer Tim Heald," Lloyd explained. "The author wrote, 'It was generally known that at the palace the royal couple had separate bedrooms.' In the margin the prince scrawled, 'wrongly.'"

Lloyd also reflected on Queen Elizabeth's growing confidence and why she seemed to appreciate Philip's candor.

"[T]he Queen was beginning to answer her husband back more," Lloyd shared.

The royal biographer continued, "Former private secretary Martin Charteris later commented, 'Prince Philip is the only man in the world who treats The Queen simply as another human being.'"

As Charteris noted, "And, of course, it's not unknown for The Queen to tell Prince Philip to shut up. Because she's The Queen, that's not something she can easily say to anybody else."

The normalcy with which Philip spoke to Queen Elizabeth apparently went both ways, and seems to have been what helped make their marriage so successful.

Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth were married for 73 years, making their marriage incredibly successful. While The Queen reportedly had to deal with Prince Philip's "awkward habit," she allegedly had a special way to annoy her husband when he "was in a mood."

In the royal biography, The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Queen Elizabeth II, royal author Ian Lloyd revealed, "As with many couples, they agreed on the big things but squabbled on the minor ones. One former courtier told biographer Graham Turner, 'He and The Queen have phenomenal rows' but they soon blow over, 'There's a terrific mutual tongue-lashing and then they end up the best of friends.'"

Over the course of their long marriage, Queen Elizabeth reportedly developed a special skill for dealing with her husband's alleged outbursts.

Per Lloyd, "[H]er technique was to throw up a smokescreen when he was in a mood. By changing the subject or talking in riddles, she confused him and threw him off guard, as he preferred straightforward arguing to such a cryptic approach."

The royal author continued, "Among those they trust, The Queen was often able to poke fun at her husband, whether he was there or not."

Another royal source suggested that The Queen would become exceedingly stubborn on occasion, too.

According to Lloyd, one source remembered a trip on the Royal Yacht Britannia, during which "The Queen declared, 'I'm not going to come out of my cabin until he's in a better temper. I'm going to sit here on my bed until he's better.'"

Judging by Lloyd's biography, Queen Elizabeth could hold her own with Prince Philip, regardless of whatever mood he was in.

When romance readers are in search of a good book about a summer fling, they know to pick up a novel by Carley Fortune. Ever since her debut, Every Summer After, shot to the top of The New York Times Best Seller list in 2022, she's been synonymous with the "perfect beach read." From Meet Me at the Lake to This Summer Will Be Different, her popular titles transport readers to idyllic vacation towns and make them swoon with the charming love stories at their center.

Fortune has sold over three million copies worldwide, and there are Prime Video and Netflix adaptations in the works for some of her most popular series, but she shows no signs of slowing down. On May 5, she releases an all-new novel, Our Perfect Storm. It follows lifelong friends Frankie and George as they take what would have been Frankie's honeymoon together when she's stood up before her wedding day. As they travel together, the two attempt to repair their friendship—and question whether there's more to their connection.

Below, read an advanced excerpt of Our Perfect Storm, when George suggests they go on Frankie's honeymoon.

I slip on my sunglasses and close my eyes, imagining I’m fourteen and that George is inside getting us Grape Crush. Summer stretches before us, glittering with possible adventures, and my biggest problem is squeezing them all in before it comes to an end.

I must dream it, too, because I hear the snap-hiss of a soda can being opened followed by a familiar low laugh.

I peel one eye open and tilt my head. A tall man looms over me, silhouetted by the sun. He takes a long drink then extends his soda towards me.

I’m dreaming. I was imagining being a kid again, hanging out with George. And now he’s in my sleep.

“You’re not fourteen,” I say.

“You sound disappointed.” A deep voice. A man’s voice to match the long, ink-stained fingers around the sweating purple can.

I hum, and shut my eyes, falling into a deeper sleep. Things were so much easier when we were fourteen.

“Frankie, wake up.”

I sit up, gasping. My sunglasses slide off my face as I blink up at this man. He isn’t dream George. He’s real-life George. With a squeal of delight, I leap to my feet, throwing my arms around him, squeezing so tight that his laugh sounds strangled. He’s as stiff as a pallbearer, and I don’t care.

“Succumb,” I say, and he relaxes a little.

Somewhere around the time I got boobs and he started hiding stuff from me in a locked wooden chest beneath his bed, we reached a silent agreement that most forms of touching were off the table. Dancing was an exception. A shove to the shoulder or a handshake were both acceptable; tackling each other to the grass and holding hands were not. We no longer played in the creek in our underwear, and George wasn’t allowed to sleep over in my room. Though there was nothing for my parents to worry about: George made it clear when were sixteen he had no dishonorable intentions where I was concerned.

I breathe him in, and he smells different. Not in a bad way, like in the ninth grade when I had to hide his toxic body spray. He smells leathery and smokey and far too elegant for someone who’s been living out of a carryon for the past two months.

“Frankie,” George says, prying my hands from his sides. “I can’t breathe.”

I reluctantly let go. “You’re my surprise,” I say, jumping a little.

“I’m your what?”

“Mimi said she had a surprise for me. You’re it!”

His eyes dance. “I feel like I should have jumped out of a cake.”

“Would you?”

“No.”

“But for me?”

“Never.”

I take a minute to give George a thorough once-over. There’s no visible new scars or wounds—he’s fearless in his pursuit of whatever story he’s covering. Right now, it’s a series about the restoration of mangroves in biosphere reserves throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. Since I last saw him, he’s spent time in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Cuba. He’s cut his hair, the sides now neatly trimmed, but it’s still swirling mayhem up top. He’s got on a pair of leather hiking boots, faded black jeans, and a gray T-shirt. But most importantly, he’s also wearing…

“New glasses?” I raise my brows.

They’re tortoiseshell horn rims, but the bottom of the lenses are frameless, and the arms have chic gold touches. These are far more sophisticated than the heavy black ones he always wears.

I hum, tapping my finger against my chin. “New haircut, new glasses, and new cologne.”

“Don’t start.” George glowers at me, but his eyes twinkle, ready to play. It’s the spark

I’ve been missing, and I grab for it.

“I could be wrong, but it seems like you’ve given yourself a makeover.” My smile is maniacal. “Some might say that’s a little… I don’t know… What’s the word?”

George tips his head back, looking to the sky. “I knew you’d give me shit.”

“Vain!” I clap my hands.

George once claimed that he gave no thought to his appearance. We were roommates, and he was watching me get ready to go out one night, baffled by the amount of time I was spending on my hair and outfit. “I never knew you were so vain,” he’d grumbled. In response, I not only chewed him out but listed every single time he’d shown concern for the way he looked. I reminded him how his life changed when he got hot. I reminded him of the exact moment he realized the power in being more attractive than anyone else in our school. (When he made out with Tish Torres in the hallway on our first day of grade ten. Tish was a senior.) George was full of crap, and I made sure he knew it.

Teasing George is a favorite pastime, and it’s been a long time since I had the opportunity. So I press on, rubbing my hands together with glee. “Now who was it who once said he was above vanity?”

George lets out a groan. “You’re the worst.”

“I’m the best.”

He meets my eyes, a hint of a grin flitting across his lips. “You’re a monster.”

“I’m an angel, and as proof of my benevolence, I’ll stop now.”

He replies with an amused arch of his brow. “Will you?”

“At least momentarily. But you smell expensive, and you do look very handsome, George.”

He gives me a bored expression.

“Are the glasses Prada? Are you a Prada man now? Is there someone new you’re trying to impress?”

I fold my arms under my chest, and his eyes quickly follow the movement. I glance down. I’m wearing a microscopic bikini to maximize the surface area of my tan—my breasts are smooshed together, and my top is indecently askew.

George grabs my T-shirt off the chair and chucks it at me, and I slip it on.

“You told me you didn’t take it.” He eyeballs the Parks Canada logo. “I knew you were lying.”

“I knew you knew.”

The corner of his mouth twitches. Pulling a full smile from George is one of my greatest pleasures.

I pinch the glasses from his face. Both lenses of his glasses are smudged, and I clean them on the hem of the shirt. An old habit George tolerates. After I set them back on his nose, a crease forms between his brows.

“Jesus, Frankie. You look terrible.”

I can imagine what he sees. My eyes will be red and puffy from the chlorine. My cheeks are hollower than they were two months ago. I haven’t bothered much with washing or brushing my hair lately.

“That’s weird,” I say, pretending that the horror on his face doesn’t bother me. “Because I feel amazing. Frankly, my self-esteem was far too high and my self-worth too healthy—but now both are well under control. Not only have the last two months been free of stress, they’ve also been extremely satisfying. I keep bumping into people we went to school with, and wow, are they jealous.”

“Frankie.” George’s voice has become gentle, as if he thinks I’m fragile. “Come on.”

“Despite how terrible I look, I’m actually doing pretty well. If you’d been here, you’d know that.” I prod his arm.

“Aurora messaged me a few times. She’s been worried about you.”

“I’m fine,” I say firmly. I don’t want George to see me as weak.

“I’m worried, too.” He dips down, bringing his nose a few inches from mine. His deep blue eyes, eyes that once felt like home, bore into me. “How are we going to fix this?”

“We don’t need to fix anything, and don’t talk to me like I’m a broken faucet.”

His gaze brims with sympathy.

“Please don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like you pity me.”

His patience snaps. “For fuck’s sake, Frankie. I don’t pity you. I pity your ex for missing out on a life with you. It matters to me if you’re not doing well. You’re my best friend.”

I have a bad habit of lashing out when I’m hurt, and I can’t stop myself from asking, “Am I?”

As if I’ve hit him, George rears back, blinking at me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I went through hell two months ago, and you abandoned me.”

“I had to work.”

“You could have taken me with you. I begged you to take me with you.”

Regret flashes in his eyes. “I couldn’t, Frankie. Not then.”

Not ever.

“Then when? When are you going to be there for me?”

“What are you talking about? I’m always there for you. And I’m here. I came as soon as I could figure things out.”

“Come on. You’ve basically been gone for the last three years.”

He looks away.

“I get that you have your own life,” I say. “But so do I, and I’d been trying to figure it out. Then, when I finally start to feel steady, you swoop in and shit all over it. How do you think that felt?”

“I’m sorry,” he says, taking a step closer. “I was out of line at Christmas.”

I can tell he means it, but I don’t know what to do with his apology. The truth is that I’ve felt George’s absence every day since he moved out of our apartment—more so over the last few years. Even though he’s standing a few feet away, it feels like we’re in different time zones. I think of what Mimi said earlier. Do George and I even know each other anymore?

I chew the inside of my cheek, rejecting the notion. George and I know each other in a way you only can when you’ve grown up with someone. He understands me better than anyone.

He not only accepts me for who I am but embraces all of me. George makes me feel like I’m home. But I’ve never had the language to tell him how much he means to me. I don’t know how to say I’m afraid I’m losing him, that I have already lost him.

“Forgive me?” he asks. A squiggle of hair falls over his brow.

But there’s nothing to forgive. George behaved exactly as I would have. “I’ll think about it,” I tell him. “For now you’re on probation.”

“That’s too bad,” he says, a glint of mischief in his eye. “Because I have a problem.”

“Is that so?” I try to fight the smile from stealing across my lips, but it’s no good.

“Yes.” He sighs deeply. “You see, I’m utterly desperate for an adventure.”

It’s been a long time since I’ve heard him say those words, but they hold no less power. My heart races. Because, god, so am I.

“Did you have something in mind?” I ask.

A smile spreads across his face. “We’re running away.”

George and I spent our childhood running away together—to the cupboard in the library at the Big House, to the top of the red oak tree, to the creek at the far end of the field. When we were older, we’d take Dad’s truck down to the end of an old dirt logging road, high up on a hillside. In the day, we’d rest on the tailgate, staring at the lakes and rivers that shone in the distance. On a clear summer night, we’d lay a blanket on the ground and talk to the stars. But we had dreams of going further afield, of traveling the world together. Only George followed through.

“Oh?” I ask. “Where are we escaping to this time?”

His eyes glimmer. “Tofino.”

I blink.

“It’s the perfect time for a honeymoon, don’t you think?”

“We’re what?”

“You. Me. Tofino.”

“You want,” I say slowly. “To go on my honeymoon together?”

“That’s right. You owe me one, Frankie. We never got to go on ours.”

I stare at him a moment longer, and then I realize what a gift this could be. How much I need a shake-up. I’ve been stuck in limbo for the last two months, and here is a chance to be released. An adventure. An opportunity to finally travel together. A week to get our friendship back on solid ground.

“Alright,” I say. “Let’s do it.”

“Really? Just like that?”

“Just like that,” I say.

“You’re not going to fight me on it?”

“Do you want me to?”

“Maybe a little. I had a whole speech prepared.”

Classic. “How many times did it involve saying, I told you so?”

George’s smile is gentle. “Not even once.”

From OUR PERECT STORM published by arrangement with Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright © 2026 by Carley Fortune.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were married for an incredible 73 years. Despite their enduring relationship, the late Queen and her husband rarely engaged in PDA. According to one royal biographer, there's a tragic reason why Elizabeth and Philip weren't overly affectionate with one another.

Writing in his book, The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Queen Elizabeth II, royal author Ian Lloyd shared, "When their relationship finally blossomed during the summer of 1946, the couple gave few clues away, even to those close to them."

Lloyd continued, "Peter Ashmore, [Elizabeth's father] The King's equerry, recalled Philip's three-week stay at Balmoral, when the couple came to what Philip called 'an understanding.'"

Per the royal author, Ashmore further revealed, "They certainly did not drool over each other...They scarcely held hands."

As for why Elizabeth and Philip's relationship lacked PDA, Lloyd shared, "It was hardly a surprise, since Philip had never been shown much affection from his parents."

The royal author explained, "[Royal courtier] Mike Parker recalled trying to encourage Philip to show some kind of public affection to his wife. 'He doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve,' Parker commented in a 1992 interview."

Per Lloyd's book, Parker shared, "I always wanted to see him put his arms around The Queen and show her how much he adored her. What you'd do for any wife. But he always sort of stood to attention. I mentioned it to him a couple of times. But he just gave me a hell of a look."

Luckily, the late Queen reportedly appreciated her husband's stoicism.

"Elizabeth was emotionally controlled and the fact he wasn't all over her was something she quite liked," Lloyd explained.

Basically, it sounds as though Elizabeth and Philip were a match made in heaven.

Prince William and Princess Kate tied the knot on April 29, 2011, in a fairytale wedding at Westminster Abbey in London. The unforgettable event was watched by royal fans worldwide, with onlookers delighted to celebrate the happy couple. But according to a new royal biography, Princess Kate caused "panic at the palace" with one particular decision during wedding planning.

In his new book, William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, royal expert Russell Myers discussed the huge undertaking palace staff faced in planning Kate and William's wedding.

"Courtiers were also surprised when Catherine announced her wish not to travel in the traditional horse-drawn Glass Coach, as used by Diana, Princess of Wales as well as Queen Elizabeth," Myers shared. "As much as tradition was at the forefront of her mind, Catherine wanted a modern slant on the proceedings and was of the view that she was not yet a 'princess' who would use such a mode of transport."

Princess Kate's choice to arrive at her wedding "in a 1977 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI that had been gifted by the manufacturer to The Queen on her Silver Jubilee" was apparently pretty unusual.

As palace courtiers hadn't anticipated Princess Kate's unexpected choice of transport, they were allegedly thrown into disarray.

"This prompted panic at the palace, who feared that an alternative vehicle might be necessary: in December 2010 vandals had splattered the car with white paint and smashed a rear window as [King] Charles and [Queen] Camilla were heading to the Royal Variety Performance," Myers shared.

According to the royal author, "An immediate review was undertaken by the Metropolitan Police, with extra briefings to all officers to remain vigilant for similar protests."

Looking back on Princess Kate's special day, it's clear she made the right choice by arriving at Westminster Abbey in a classic Rolls Royce. The photographs of Kate and her dad, Michael Middleton, traveling in the car remain iconic.

It's a truth universally acknowledged that a new Jane Austen adaptation must top the watchlist of any historical romance fan. Among the many projects making their way to screens this year—including Netflix's Pride & Prejudice and the Daisy Edgar-Jones-starring Sense and Sensibility film—I'm most excited for an entirely new take on an unexpected Austen heroine, courtesy of The Other Bennet Sister.

Based on Janice Hadlow's beloved novel of the same name, The Other Bennet Sister moves Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy to the background, instead focusing on Mary (Ella Bruccoleri), the plain-faced, book-loving middle child of the family. As her sisters focus on romance (and the events of the source novel), Mary leaves Longbourn for London to find her own purpose in the world. Of course, her journey of self-discovery could lead to an epic love story of her own.

Since its March debut on the BBC in the U.K., the 10-part period drama from creator Sarah Quintrell has gotten rave reviews from both critics and viewers. Thankfully, there are already plans to bring the series stateside. Read on for everything to know about tuning into The Other Bennet Sister.

How many episodes does 'The Other Bennet Sister' have?

The Other Bennet Sister is streaming in the U.S. on BritBox. According to TellyVisions, the Anglophile streamer will release three episodes on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, followed by one episode each Wednesday until the finale in mid-June.

Here's the full release schedule for The Other Bennet Sister:

• Episodes 1-3: May 6, 2026
• Episode 4: May 13, 2026
• Episode 5: May 20, 2026
• Episode 6: May 27, 2026
• Episode 7: June 3, 2026
• Episode 8: June 10, 2026
• Episode 9: June 17, 2026
• Episode 10 (finale): June 24, 2026

Where can you watch 'The Other Bennet Sister' in the U.S.?

If The Other Bennet Sister is your first introduction to BritBox, the streamer offers a seven-day free trial, after which a subscription starts at $11 a month. Viewers can also add BritBox as a channel on Prime Video for $10.99 per month after a seven-day trial. (In addition to The Other Bennet Sister, BritBox is adding essential Austen viewing like 2005's Pride & Prejudice, 1996's Emma, 2007's Becoming Jane, and 2001's Bridget Jones's Diary in April.)

Or, if all the clips on TikTok have made you impatient, all episodes of The Other Bennet Sister are currently streaming for free on BBC iPlayer. If you don't have a VPN, you can use one like Nord VPN.

Who is in the cast of 'The Other Bennet Sister?'

The Other Bennet Sister cast is led by Bridgerton season 3 alum Ella Bruccoleri as Mary Bennet. Joining her in the titular family are Poppy Gilbert as Lizzie, Maddie Close as Jane, Molly Wright as Kitty, and Grace Hogg as Lydia, as well as Ruth Jones as Mrs. Bennet and Richard E. Grant as Mr. Bennet.

Other actors appearing in the series include Richard Coyle as Mr. Gardiner, Mary's worldly uncle; Game of Thrones alum Indira Varma as Mrs. Gardiner; Sex Education's Tanya Reynolds as Caroline Bingley; Dónal Finn as Mary's romantic interest, Mr. Hayward; and Laurie Davidson as Mary's other romantic interest, Mr. Ryder.

Is there a 'The Other Bennet Sister' trailer?

In case you need an extra push, the full trailer for the series is out, as well as its spoiler-free logline:

"The new drama brings Mary Bennet—the oft-overlooked middle sister in Pride and Prejudice—into the spotlight. The Other Bennet Sister’s story begins at Longbourn, the Bennet family home, where Mr. and Mrs. Bennet preside over a lively household of five unmarried daughters: Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia. As society’s pressures mount, the Bennet sisters navigate the glittering yet precarious world of Regency England, where marriage is both aspiration and necessity. While her sisters pursue romance and social triumph, Mary embarks on a very different path. Leaving Longbourn behind, she travels to London to live with her aunt and uncle, Mr and Mrs Gardiner, in their elegant home on Gracechurch Street. There, Mary begins a journey of self-discovery, stepping out of the shadows and into her own story. Iconic settings from Pride and Prejudice, include the Meryton Assembly Ball and the Netherfield Ball, where fortunes and futures are decided under glittering chandeliers."

Prince William and Princess Kate have been happily married since April 29, 2011, but the couple encountered some issues early in their relationship. While William was initially "concerned" Kate would be "overawed" by his royal lifestyle, the Princess of Wales allegedly got "spooked" by one element of the romance.

In the new book, William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, royal expert Russell Myers shared, "Having grown up under the media glare his entire life, William was clearly aware of what lay on the horizon. For Catherine, however, it was entirely new territory."

Myers continued, "William had done his best to inform her about how the media operated, but now she was the subject of their pursuit things felt incredibly different."

Describing the Princess of Wales's reaction, a former royal courtier told Myers, "She was spooked by the attention." They continued, "No matter how much you're told about what can happen, you literally can't have any idea about it until you're on the other side, and now she was very much on the other side."

Unsurprisingly, interest in the couple's relationship continued to grow, which must have felt quite overwhelming at times. "William and Catherine found themselves at the centre of a media storm," Myers explained.

Defending the media's interest in William's romance, a former editor told Myers, "The world had been waiting for the news that William had a proper love interest and once it was all but confirmed by him or the palace, it marked a turning point for sure."

They continued, "The public were desperate to know if the future King had found his Queen and what that would mean for the future of the monarchy in an ever-changing world."

In 2026, Kate and William appear united in their confidence as a unit, and the world is seemingly ready for their future tenure on the throne. Still, dealing with such a huge amount of pressure early in their relationship can't have been easy.

This story contains extensive spoilers about The Drama and Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen, including their endings.

It's a really strange sensation to watch The Drama when you're planning your own wedding.

In the movie, Zendaya and Robert Pattinson play Emma Harwood and Charlie Thompson, a couple in the midst of prepping for their own nuptials. While doing a (way-too-late) tasting at their venue to finalize the menu just a few days before the wedding, a conversation with their friends turns into a party game of sorts: What is the worst thing you've ever done? Charlie can't think of anything all that significant. Emma's is a doozy.

Here's where spoilers kick in: When she was a teenager, she planned, but didn't execute, a school shooting. It's a horrifying revelation that acts as a comment on the pervasiveness of gun violence in American society. But more than that, it's a jumping-off point to explore the anxieties associated with commitment. The anti-rom-com, written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli, asks, if you found out your partner contemplated something genuinely monstrous, would you still tie the knot?

Now let's make this clear: I myself am remarkably chill about my upcoming event. Movies and TV shows are trying to make me less so.

In addition to The Drama, this spring has seen the arrival of the Netflix limited horror series Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen. The show follows Rachel Harkin (Camila Morrone), who travels with her fiancé, Nicky Cunningham (Adam DiMarco), to his brood's remote vacation house for what she thinks will be their intimate wedding. Immediately, she is struck by a strong sense of foreboding. At first, she suspects her partner's weird family is going to murder her in some satanic ritual, but her plight ends up being a lot more existential. She is cursed, and if the man she marries is not her one, true soulmate, she will die on her wedding day. If they don't walk down the aisle, the curse will spread to his bloodline. That means she's forced to question whether the guy she loves is truly the only person for her because both of their lives are at stake.

Tonally, The Drama and Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen are vastly different. The Drama is ultimately a relationship saga that's almost too real. Meanwhile, the longer you watch Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen, the more it leans into its supernatural flourishes before its Grand Guignol ending, where faces start oozing rivers of red liquid. But both, at their core, are about how choosing to say "I do" can be a recipe for disaster.

These days, marriage is looking less and less appealing. A recent report in The New York Times found that the U.S. marriage rate hit a 140-year low in 2019. It has risen a little since then, but not in a truly significant way. At the same time, the marriage industrial complex is still going strong—especially in the age of oversharing on social media, when bridal showers and bachelorette parties are more curated (and friendship-testing) than ever, and fashionable brides are desperate to get their ceremonies into Vogue. The Drama and Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen speak to those twin trends: As more people ask, "Why even get married?" the business of getting married can feel overwhelming.

Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen leans into this by centering the episodes on different traditions, such as the bachelorette party or the ceremony. Rachel only wants to deal with the whole curse thing, while her nattering to-be-sister-in-law Portia (Gus Birney) demands she have fun with the girls. Similarly, in The Drama, Charlie and Emma are overwhelmed by an instructor (Celia Rowlson-Hall) coaching them on their wedding dance, who takes everything way too seriously. Also, the very conversation that yields Emma's confession starts because Emma and Charlie think they walk by their wedding DJ doing heroin on the street and wonder whether it’s a momentary lapse in judgment or the kind of thing that could ruin their celebration. After Charlie learns what Emma nearly did, they still go around meeting with their vendors, like the cheery photographer (Zoë Winters) who can't understand why they suddenly look so uncomfortable around each other. In each piece of entertainment, the show must go on. After all, there's time and money invested in making sure everything is just right.

Through these sequences, we see how the pomp and circumstance of marriage is the enemy of honest discussion. That's especially evident in Something Very Bad's rehearsal dinner episode, where Rachel placates her nerves by repeating the cute story of how she and Nicky met until she learns that something about her telling doesn't add up. Charlie spirals in The Drama without truly listening to what Emma has to say or realizing the pain these memories have brought up for her. He makes her drama all about him.

The ultimate question in both cases, as it is in any wedding, is whether these two people are meant to be together. And this, again, is where they diverge. At the outset of the finale of Something Very Bad, Rachel decides she's committed to believing she and Nicky are soulmates, but after her heartfelt vows, he is the one who has trouble sealing the deal. He thinks the best solution is to call the whole thing off. Given the curse, that is not an option, and she realizes he never truly believed her very justified fears. In the end, through a magic twist of fate, she gets to leave him behind, and thank goodness for that. She just has to serve as witness to every Cunningham marriage, as the human manifestation of the curse they now have.

The Drama, on the other hand, ends with Charlie and Emma together. They get married, but the reception is a hot mess with an angry, drunken bridesmaid (Alana Haim, genius in the role) and an admission of infidelity on Charlie's part. But after blood has been spilled and her dress has been ruined, they both land at the same diner, where they tentatively start over. Maybe they are choosing to ignore each other's flaws. Or maybe they are just recognizing that nobody's perfect.

I think I weirdly find The Drama's version of romance more comforting. Yes, Something Very Bad has a you-go-girl ending where Rachel drives off, grinning, smoking, and looking like a badass. But she's also condemned to a life of bearing witness to other people's misery.

It's The Drama that has a bizarre optimism for its central pair. Sure, they may be deeply messed up, but they are now married, and they are going to try to make it work. They always thought they'd conclude their night at the diner. Now they are doing just that, a little worse for wear, but together nonetheless.

At this point, I think I know my partner pretty well. We've been together for over 10 years. He's my best friend. But you can never truly know another person. There will be thoughts that will always be mysterious. Moods that you can't interpret. You just have to hope that you can meet at your version of a diner, willing to forgive.

In the third season of the charming teen rom-com XO, Kitty, our titular protagonist, worries about the future. In the newly released season on Netflix, Kitty Song-Covey (Anna Cathcart) has returned for her senior year at the Korean Independent School of Seoul (a.k.a. KISS) and started a serious relationship with her crush, Min-ho (Sang Heon Lee). But, with the end of high school looming and a question mark about what might come next, Kitty begins to feel anxious about what the future might hold. Will she stay in Korea, return to the U.S., or chart a course somewhere else?

By the season’s end, Kitty seems poised to return to the U.S. after she finishes her senior year, having been accepted early admission to New York University. However, nothing is ever predictable in the romance series, spun off from the beloved To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before movies. Especially because, unlike To All the Boys, XO, Kitty doesn’t have books that it's based on. With lots up in the air, below we're breaking down everything we know about XO, Kitty season 4.

Has 'XO, Kitty' been renewed for season 4?

XO, Kitty has performed consistently well on Netflix. Its first season, released in 2023, snagged over 14 million views in its first week, finishing only behind the Bridgerton series Queen Charlotte in the rankings. According to the Netflix Engagement Report for the first half of 2025, when XO, Kitty season 2 premiered, the series racked up more than 35 million views, making it the 18th most-watched series on the streamer in that period. If viewership for the third season stays high, then there is no reason why Netflix shouldn’t renew the original series for a fourth season. Season 3 showrunner Valentina Garza told Deadline about the possibility: “I know that all of our fans would love to see that. We’re just gonna have to wait and see what happens. We’re very excited to continue to see our characters learn and grow.”

Note: We didn’t get a season 3 renewal until about a month after season 2 dropped on Netflix—though perhaps the streamer was waiting for Valentine’s Day to make the big announcement. Either way, look for streaming numbers, especially in that first week and month after release, to determine if XO, Kitty will continue.

When will 'XO, Kitty' season 4 come out?

Should XO, Kitty be renewed, a new season is likely in early 2027. While there was a two-year gap between seasons 1 and 2, which was most likely a result of the Writers Guild of America strike, there was only about a year between seasons 2 and 3. Season 2 was released on Netflix in January 2025, and season 3 came out in April 2026. If Netflix follows that same production and release pattern, we should be hanging with Kitty and friends again around springtime next year.

What would 'XO, Kitty' season 4 be about?

XO, Kitty season 3 unfolds as if there could be a fourth. While the season’s conclusion—which sees Min-ho accompanying Kitty home to Portland following their reconciliation—could act as a satisfying series conclusion, there is definitely more story to tell. What will Kitty’s dad (John Corbett) think of Min-ho? Will Kitty manage to lock in for the final semester of her high school career and graduate? Will she really plan to go to NYU and leave Seoul behind? Either way, will she and Min-ho stay together?

That's ample material to explore. As for Kitty herself, Cathcart weighed in on what she thinks fans can expect from the Kitty-Min-ho ship going forward. While speaking with Refinery29, she admitted that she thinks they're "endgame."

The star said, "I definitely think if you ask them on that airplane, they would both say they are endgame...In that moment, they feel closer than ever and more excited than ever about the future; so much of the theme of season 3 is embracing the unknown and not knowing what’s gonna happen next and finding the joy in that versus the fear in that. And I think that really applies to their relationship as well."

Her co-star, Lee, also told the outlet that "there will be an ending" to the couple's saga, though he remained tight-lipped about what might be next. "You get to see that they started this relationship, but sometimes all good things come to an end. And even if it’s something bad, there will be an ending," he said. "But also, I feel that the audience should realize it’s okay; this is how life works. But there’s always a better thing to look forward to as well. It’s not the end of the world."

Kitty and Min-ho are hardly the only characters with more to explore in season 4; there is also the vibrant ensemble cast to consider. Yuri (Gia Kim) and Juliana (Regan Aliyah) ended season 3 by tentatively turning back towards one another following Juliana’s breakup with Praveena (Sasha Bhasin). Where will Dae (Minyeong Choi) go to college now that his dream of going to Seoul National University is dead? And will Q (Anthony Keyvan) and Jin (Joshua Lee) survive graduation as a couple? How will Alex (Peter Thurnwald) and Jiwon (Hojo Shin) navigate their relationship once their baby is born?

A fourth season could also include a proper update on To All the Boys characters Lara Jean (Lana Condor) and Peter’s (Noah Centineo) relationship. While both Peter and Lara Jean have appeared on XO, Kitty, we have yet to see them both together on the show. A fourth season of XO, Kitty could be the perfect time to depict an engagement or even a wedding between the two fan-favorite characters. "Kitty and Lara Jean’s arcs are really interconnected,” Garza told Deadline. “They’re both able to give to each other and learn and grow through each other. Kitty gives Lara Jean the courage to take that step to turn in her book to her publisher. So it’s a very mutual relationship.”

Season 4 will also be an important one in terms of XO, Kitty’s long-term future. Will Netflix decide to wrap up the show at the end of Kitty’s high school experience, or will the story continue into her college years and beyond? Traditionally, high school-set shows don’t tend to make the transition to a post-graduation life so smoothly, but if anyone can do it, it’s Kitty Song-Covey.

Who in the 'XO, Kitty' cast will be back for season 4?

Other than the departure of Yunjim Kim, who plays Yuri’s mom, most of the main cast of XO, Kitty has stayed gloriously the same, with a few additions. No season of XO, Kitty would be complete without the main cast members Cathcart, Sang, Kim, Choi, and Keyvan, so we can certainly expect to roam the halls of KISS with them yet again.

As a queer woman, I was ecstatic to hear that Bridgerton season 5 will focus on the blossoming romance between Francesca Bridgerton and Michaela Sterling. Dearest reader, it's about time that WLW love stories got the chance to shine in the Netflix Regency-era franchise.

In Julia Quinn's popular Bridgerton books, however, Francesca is heterosexual, just like every other dalliance in the series. But there are plenty of other historical romance novels that deliver LGBTQ+ representation in the form of unlikely courtships, kismet connections, and, of course, forbidden love. We consider these period pieces certified page-turners because they transport the reader to centuries ago—meaning the historical accuracy will tap one interest, and the restraint that adds to their eroticism will intrigue another. Simply put: It’s fun to imagine secretly grazing fingertips in packed ballrooms and ripping open corsets by the firelight. (I’m more than happy to never deal with a chamber pot, though.)

From enemies-to-lovers to marriage of convenience and just about every other romance trope that fills your TBR stack, these are the best queer historical romance novels. They may take place in different locations and eras, but all of these books feature beautiful queer love stories.

The Best Enemies-to-Lovers Queer Historical Romance Books

The Best Fantasy Queer Historical Romance Books

The Best Forbidden Love Queer Historical Romance Books

The Best Forced Proximity Queer Historical Romance Books

The Best Friends-to-Lovers Queer Historical Romance Books

The Best Marriage of Convenience Queer Historical Romance Books

The Best Opposites Attract Historical Romance Books

The Best Slow Burn Queer Historical Romance Books

For the past few weeks, the ‘90s have been back in a big way as the world has become engrossed in Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.

The biographical drama delved into the couple’s political-dynasty scion (played by Paul Anthony Kelly) meets Calvin Klein cool-girl (Sarah Pidgeon) courtship, their subsequent marriage, and the intense media scrutiny the pair faced before their tragic deaths in a 1999 plane crash. After the series finale aired on March 26, many have been wondering if there will be a new season to come, chronicling another fairy-tale (or is it?) romance.

Love Story is part of executive producer Ryan Murphy’s American TV universe, in which each season focuses on a different standalone story—the other iterations include American Horror Story, American Crime Story, American Sports Story, and American Horror Stories. Murphy’s Feud, while not part of that wider franchise, also takes a similar track, using an anthology format to dive deep into real-life figures and events we think we know well, often prompting viewers to think about them in new ways.

What could this mean for another Love Story? Here’s everything we know so far, including which iconic couple a future installment could focus on. (Hint: Think Hollywood.)

Has ;Love Story' been renewed for season 2?

As of March 27, 2026, Love Story has not yet been renewed for a second season. But given that Variety reported that the show is FX’s most-watched limited series ever on Hulu and Disney+, with the first five episodes being streamed more than 25 million hours since the February 12 series premiere, it wouldn’t be surprising if the show comes back for more.

What would 'Love Story' season 2 be about?

Even if a renewal announcement hasn’t come down (yet…), series creator Connor Hines has already given some thought to which high-profile pairing he’d like to follow next. When asked by Vanity Fair who he’d be interested in taking on for his next project, Hines responded, “Maybe Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. They have the right intensity.”

Burton and Taylor, of course, had a famously passionate (and famously tumultuous) Hollywood love story. The couple met on the set of 1963’s Cleopatra, when Taylor was married to her fourth husband, Eddie Fisher (the ex-husband of Debbie Reynolds and father of Carrie Fisher), and Burton was married to Sybil Williams. They both left their spouses for each other and married in 1964, making 11 movies together while also drawing headlines for their lavish lifestyle and public arguments. They got divorced in 1974, only to remarry a year later, but that second union was much briefer; they divorced again in 1976.

"Even though there were rough times, I wouldn't give up one minute of my time with Richard Burton," Taylor wrote in her autobiography, per PEOPLE.

What other couples could be covered in 'Love Story' season 2?

Famous couples who’ve captured the public’s attention? We could spend all day coming up with ideas! It sounds like Hines is already toying with Burton and Taylor—and certainly, there’s plenty of drama to mine there—but fans of the series have also been speculating about potential Love Story subjects.

Names that have come up (again, all in speculation) have included a mix of rock stars, paparazzi fixtures, and Old Hollywood staples: Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain, David Bowie and Iman, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake, Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier, Sonny Bono and Cher, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Victoria and David Beckham, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck…the list goes on.

Which cast members would return for 'Love Story' season 2?

As an anthology, Love Story would start a new story with a new couple, if the series is indeed renewed. But, that said, Ryan Murphy loves to work with the same actors over and over again, so it wouldn’t be impossible to imagine that some of his regular players—like Sarah Paulson, Jessica Lange, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe, Emma Roberts, and Naomi Watts (who played Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in Love Story and Babe Paley in Feud: Capote and the Swans)—could appear in a new season in one way or another.

When would 'Love Story' season 2 come out?

Again, with no renewal news on the books, it’s hard to say when another season could arrive. But this season arrived just before Valentine’s Day, and it wouldn’t be out of line to think they’ll stick to that timing if (when?) the show comes back around again.

We’re all for a good classic novel. The literary canon has stood the test of time for a reason, after all. Undoubtedly, their prose and powerful stories have resonated with and influenced readers and writers alike for over a century. But beyond putting their stamp on the craft, some classics have inspired authors so much so that they've given contemporary updates to well-loved books.

The best books that reimagine iconic novels take a story from one of the all-time greats, from Jane Austen to the Brontës, and retell it in a modernized setting, from another character's perspective, or update the tale with a unique, inspired spin. Essentially, these recent hits and cult favorites scratch the itch for the traditional while stimulating your mind in a whole new way.

So, whether you wish the books you read in high school could be seen through a feminist lens, or you hoped you could spend more time with the subsidiary characters, these reimagined classics deserve a place on your bookshelf. Below, find the ones to read (after you've devoured the originals, of course).

As soon as Nicola Coughlan was cast in The Magic Faraway Tree film adaptation, I knew her press tour style would be straight out of a fairytale. At the March 22 premiere in London, Coughlan proved me right by fluttering onto the red carpet in a romantic couture gown.

Stylist Aimee Croysdill went full method-dressing mode for Coughlan's first Faraway Tree step-and-repeat. A semi-sheer gown from Georges Hobeika's Spring 2026 Couture show initially inspired Croysdill and Coughlan. Still, they took creative liberties by trading the frothy white shade for mint green. "We talked about maybe doing it in brown, but I have wanted to do a minty green for ages," Coughlan told Elle UK before the premiere.

Not only did the pastel shade look straight from a storybook, the bodice's off-the-shoulder ruffle trim and romantic puff sleeves evoked the romanticism of the Renaissance era. Symmetrical strands of rhinestones, pearls, and clear crystals swooped down from the corset's bust and around Coughlan's back. The same princess-y trio arched into two points where a typical drop-waist silhouette would peak. From there, the Bridgerton actor maximized the gown's whimsy with an elongated chiffon skirt-turned-train.

Unlike Margot Robbie or Anne Hathaway, Coughlan doesn't always method dress for her press tours. "When it comes to something like Bridgerton, because I spend so much time on that set, I feel I want to get away from the character," the actor shared with Elle UK. But for The Magic Faraway Tree, it "felt like the right time because it's a kids' movie," she added. "How often can you be a fairy?" Between the gown's botanical tint, light-as-air ruffles, and pearl trim, Coughlan brought her character back to life, minus the pointy ears.

Fairy-worthy fashion like Coughlan's look is just one sub-genre of the industry's current obsession with romance. Idyllic embellishments—think ruffles on ruffles, delicate drapery, and even puff sleeves—are awakening A-listers' romantic side on and off the red carpet.

Anything you'd want to wear while frolicking through the English moors is the type of Victorian-era romantasy inspiring your favorite fashion girls right now. Hannah Einbinder gave puff-sleeves a proper close-up at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards. The empire waistline of her Louis Vuitton column dress mirrored the volume of Cathy's Wuthering Heights costumes. Later, at the 2026 Grammys, Sabrina Carpenter looked every bit a literary heroine in a custom Valentino gown, featuring floral embroidery, polka-dot ruffles, and cute cap sleeves.

Pirate-y puff sleeves even made it to Louis Vuitton's Fall 2026 front row, thanks to Blackpink's Lisa. Leather pants and knee-high boots upped the cropped long-sleeve's costume-inspired feel. By the 2026 Oscars, Mia Goth picked up where Carpenter's ruffles left off in a custom, asymmetrical Dior gown.

Coughlan's latest look is proof childrens' movies—and their coordinating press tours—aren't to be sartorially underestimated. The film's leading lady paid homage to her character and endorsed a rising red carpet trend in a single gown.

Prior to joining the Royal Family, Princess Kate was a regular citizen who had a relatively normal upbringing. Of course, once Prince William proposed, the Princess of Wales's life changed dramatically, and she must have been forced to undergo a huge adjustment period. According to a new book, wedding planning left Princess Kate looking "like a rabbit in headlights."

In his new book, William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, royal expert Russell Myers explored what happened prior to, and directly following, the couple's engagement. "Naturally, William was accustomed to courtiers creating a hive of activity around the big state occasions," the royal author shared. "But this was an entirely new experience for Catherine."

Myers continued, "Having been prevented from seeing much of the inner workings of the palace machine until her engagement to William was announced, and having had the sparsest of contact from the palace communications team, even as she had struggled with life in the spotlight, she was now faced with the reality of the world she was entering."

Understandably, Prince William's team had a lot of work to do following the royal engagement news, particularly as the couple prepared for their wedding.

"A team of 20 aides was immediately assigned to the palace to help with the planning," Myers explained. He continued, "Catherine's nervousness was evident. The palace team took charge of facilitating everything from the venue to the reception, to Catherine's choice of dress designer and flowers, right through to liaising with the government and police to ensure the public would be able to join in the momentous national occasion."

Discussing Princess Kate's reaction to the huge response to her engagement news, one palace courtier told Myers, "It's fair to say she looked like a rabbit in headlights. We did our best not to bombard them with information, as much would be taken out of their hands anyway, but I think the speed at which the whole operation had to get off the ground was a surprise to both of them."

Luckily, Princess Kate embraced her new role within the Royal Family and quickly became a firm favorite with royal fans.