Every Summer After: Bangs, Breakups, and Bittersweet News | The Romantic - Bestseller Book

In today's episode, we delved into the opening chapter of Carly Forshung's romantic novel, "Every Summer After." Our protagonist, Persephone, also known as Percy, finds herself grappling with the aftermath of a breakup and the impulsive decision to get bangs. As she stumbles home from a party, she reflects on her past relationship with Sebastian, an up-and-coming corporate lawyer whose pretentiousness ultimately led to their split.
Percy's narrative takes us through her history of casual relationships and her struggle to connect deeply with others, including Sebastian. She admits to never having been in love with any of her partners, except for one from her past.The episode takes a dramatic turn when Percy receives an unexpected late-night phone call from Charlie, the brother of her long-lost love, Sam. Charlie informs her of their mother Sue's passing due to cancer, a woman who was like a second mother to Percy during her formative years.
Despite the shock and the years of distance, Charlie invites Percy to attend Sue's funeral. This invitation forces Percy to confront her past and the memories of Sam, the one who got away. After 12 years of avoiding the place that once felt like home, Percy decides to return, setting the stage for a poignant journey back to the lake where it all began.Join us next time as we continue to explore the depths of love, loss, and the paths we take to find our way back home in "Every Summer After."

Timestamp:

• 00:00:03 - Post-Breakup Reflections
• 00:01:10 - Sebastian's Pretentiousness
• 00:02:20 - Persephone's Relationship Philosophy
• 00:03:35 - Late Night Call and Memories
• 00:04:50 - The Unexpected News
• 00:06:10 - Remembering Sue
• 00:07:25 - The Funeral Invitation
• 00:08:40 - Decision to Return

Quotes:

1. "The fourth cocktail had seemed like a good idea. So did the bangs come to think of it." - 00:00:03
2. "June told me breakup bangs were almost always a very bad choice when I sat in her chair for a cut today." - 00:00:03
3. "Sebastian is kind of snob and up-and-coming corporate lawyer." - 00:00:03
4. "He just buys expensive stuff to give the impression of being discerning." - 00:00:03
5. "I've had long ago learned to tamp down on my tendencies to let random thoughts spew unfiltered from my mouth." - 00:00:03
6. "I like making men laugh, I like having company, I like taking a break from my vibrator once in a while, but I don't get attached and I don't go deep." - 00:00:03
7. "Percy is the name nobody calls me anymore. These days I am Persephone, to almost everyone." - 00:00:03
8. "I'm suddenly 13 years old and slathered in SPF 45 reading paper bags on the dock." - 00:00:03
9. "It's been 12 years since I've seen Charlie. 12 years since that catastrophic Thanksgiving weekend when everything between Sam and me fell apart." - 00:00:03
10. "Sue, who made the best pierogies in the universe? Sue, who treated me like a daughter?" - 00:00:03