Netflix orders its own The Summer I Turned Pretty-style romance series

Netflix Canada has officially announced its latest addition to its growing slate of original Canadian programming. Titled This Summer Will Be Different, it's a 10-episode romance series based on the bestselling romance novel by Canadian author Carley Fortune.

Fans of heartwarming, beachside love stories now have something new to look forward to. In fact, it's perfect for those who are missing the sun-soaked romance and coming-of-age charm of The Summer I Turned Pretty. While it might not be the same exact show, it promises a similarly heartfelt story full of first loves, summer adventures, and friendships that shape a young woman’s life.

This Summer Will Be Different takes place across multiple summers on Prince Edward Island. We follow Lucy, a young woman navigating her twenties and experiencing her first real love. But she's not just falling for anyone. She finds herself drawn to her best friend’s brother, Felix, the one person she knows she shouldn’t want.

What begins as a single, impulsive connection quickly turns into something much deeper. Each time Lucy returns to Prince Edward Island, she finds herself drawn back to him, despite knowing the complications it could cause. The series will explore friendship, self-discovery, and the trials of young adulthood, all wrapped in the warmth of a sun-soaked summer setting.

Filming for This Summer Will Be Different will take place on the picturesque shores of Prince Edward Island (PEI), which is a setting central to the story. In addition, the cast and crew will be shooting in Toronto. This gives the show a perfect mix of scenic coastal beauty and urban energy. However, it's unknown at the moment when exactly the cameras will start rolling. It's also worth noting that no actors have been cast yet.

The romance series is being brought to life by an experienced team of creators and producers. Dane Clark (Suze, One More Time) and Linsey Stewart (Workin’ Moms, North of North) serve as creators and showrunners, while executive producers include Clark, Stewart, Jennifer Kawaja, and Elise Cousineau. Fortune herself is even involved as an executive producer, ensuring that the adaptation stays faithful to the novel’s spirit.

Sphere Media is signed on as the production company. Most recently, the company produced the Netflix mystery thriller series, Wayward. That said, we'd say This Summer Will Be Different is in good hands. With a strong creative team, a beloved source material, and a setting that practically begs to be brought to life on screen, the series already has all the ingredients of a standout romantic drama. If executed well, it could easily become the platform’s next binge-worthy hit.

However, this is all that we know about This Summer Will Be Different for now. We'll come back and share more information as it is released. So, stay tuned to Netflix Life!