Sam Learns the Devastating Truth About Percy and Charlie
Throughout the book and series, Percy and Charlie are wracked with guilt over an incident that led Percy to leave Barry’s Bay for good.
As for why it happened? After Charlie decided not to spend their last summer at Barry’s Bay since he was going off to college early, Percy spent her time with Charlie. In a vulnerable moment, Charlie—who harbored feelings for his little brother’s girlfriend—and Percy have sex.
After Sam decides against proposing to Taylor in episode five, he meets with Percy to confirm that he is now single and wants to be together. Burdened with guilt, Percy admits that she and Charlie had sex a decade earlier after their breakup.
Sam, learning this news for the first time, is devastated and walks away as Percy pleads for him to understand how much she regrets it.
Meanwhile, Percy continues to call Charlie and eventually texts him to say that his younger brother knows about their ill-fated move. Charlie confronts Sam, who chooses to cut off contact after their mom’s memorial.
In the book, however, by the time Percy comes clean to Sam, he’s already had years to digest the information. After all, it was Charlie who first told Sam—and Sue—just months after it happened.
Every Year After: Breaking Down the Differences Between Book and TV Adaptation
