Upcoming Romance Series Gives Prime Video Its Own Heated Rivalry

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Canada has become known for its captivating romance series, starting with the hit show Heated Rivalry. Now, Prime Video’s new series, Every Year After, aims to keep that momentum going. Heated Rivalry initially launched on the Canadian streaming service Crave before becoming a global success on HBO Max.

The television show was inspired by the Game Changers book series by Canadian author Rachel Reid, and really launched the careers of Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, the stars of Heated Rivalry. This is a good sign for Every Year After, which is also based on a popular Canadian romance novel.

What Is Every Year After About?

Inspired by Carley Fortune’s popular 2022 novel, Every Summer After, Every Year After unfolds over six years and a single weekend. The story follows Percy (played by Sadie Soverall) and Sam (Matt Cornett), who quickly become friends after Percy’s family purchases a summer home in Sam’s picturesque hometown of Barry’s Bay, Ontario.

It breaks my heart that Percy and Sam had such a falling out and lost their friendship. But when Percy goes back to Barry’s Bay for Sam’s mom’s funeral after all these years, I’m really hoping it gives them a chance to reconnect. Maybe, just maybe, something good could come of it, even something more than just being friends again.

The new romance series features Michael Bradway as Charlie, the male lead in the 2025 novel One Golden Summer, along with Aurora Perrineau and Abigail Cowen as Percy’s friends, Chantal and Delilah. Joseph Chiu plays Jordie, and Elisha Cuthbert, known for Girl Next Door, stars as Sam and Charlie’s mother, Sue.

Why Every Year After Is The Perfect Heated Rivalry Replacement

HBO

Similar to Heated Rivalry and based on a Canadian romance novel, Every Year After has all the makings of the next big TV hit. The story will be set at the cottage.

The season finale of Heated Rivalry is famous for a deeply emotional moment between Shane and Ilya that happens at Shane’s cozy cottage in Ontario. The cottage isn’t just a pretty and peaceful location; being away from everyday life allows Shane and Ilya to truly open up and connect with each other. That mix of a romantic atmosphere and intense feelings is exactly what fans of the show love.

Similar to the long timeframe in Heated Rivalry, Every Year After unfolds over multiple years, giving the story time to develop tension and, crucially, feelings of longing. While Percy and Sam don’t have the same forbidden connection as Shane and Ilya, they’re teenagers whose close friendship is on the line – and that naturally includes yearning. Just like Heated Rivalry, this longing could easily become a viral sensation.

When Is Every Year After Coming Out?

Although we don’t have an official release date for Every Year After yet, we can make a good guess. Since filming in Vancouver wrapped up in October 2025, it’s likely the series will be available on Prime Video later this year.

As a total romance movie and series buff, I’m guessing a summer 2026 release makes the most sense for this new show, considering it’s set during the summer months. It’s a smart move, especially since Prime Video just finished airing The Summer I Turned Pretty – another big hit based on a popular book. Honestly, Every Year After is perfectly positioned to not only take over where Heated Rivalry left off, but also to become Prime Video’s next big romance obsession. It’s a fantastic time to be someone who loves a good romance!

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2026-02-10 20:58