Characters This Summer Will Be Different Carley Fortune

Felix Clark: A Complete Character Analysis

Overview

Felix Clark, known to his family as “Wolf,” is Bridget Clark’s younger brother and an oyster shucker at Shack Malpeque on Prince Edward Island. In Carley Fortune’s This Summer Will Be Different, Felix becomes Lucy Ashby’s secret lover, caught between his deep feelings for her and his loyalty to his sister. The story traces five years of hidden encounters, emotional retreats, and eventual honesty, positioning Felix as a romantic lead who must confront his own fears of vulnerability and commitment.

Plot Role

Felix enters the narrative in the prologue when Lucy arrives alone on PEI and meets him at the oyster bar. Their immediate chemistry leads to a sexual encounter, after which Felix reveals he is Bridget’s brother—a revelation that binds them in secrecy for years. Throughout the novel, Felix serves as both the object of Lucy’s desire and the source of her guilt. He reappears at key moments: during a Thanksgiving visit three years ago (Chapter 18), after Lucy’s aunt Stacy’s death (Chapter 26), and during the week before Bridget’s wedding. Each encounter deepens their connection and complicates their original rules. Felix’s presence drives the central conflict: maintaining the secret from Bridget while pursuing an undeniable bond. By the wedding (Chapter 33), Felix is fully integrated into Lucy’s life, though a post-wedding confrontation (Chapter 34) forces both to reassess their future.

Motivations and Personality Traits

Felix is motivated by a desire for genuine connection, yet he fears emotional pain. The text shows this through his initial willingness to follow Lucy’s rules—he agrees not to tell Bridget, not to have more sex, and not to fall in love—but his actions betray deeper feelings. For example, during their Thanksgiving encounter, he whispers, “I didn’t” when Lucy says she forgot how good it felt, revealing that the memory has stayed with him. After Lucy leaves abruptly following their intimate week at Salt Cottages, Felix sends his friend Zach to drive her to the airport and says “I had a good time” (Chapter 27). This defensive reaction suggests he protects himself by minimizing the relationship’s significance.

Felix’s traits include warmth, affection, and hands-on care. He gives Lucy ibuprofen for her hangover, picks flowers from his mother’s garden for her to arrange (Chapter 30), and holds her on the beach after Bridget’s announcement about moving to Australia. He is also practical—he owns Salt Cottages with Zach and handles maintenance himself. Yet he admits he sometimes shuts down emotions and avoids risks (Chapter 30), a trait that creates obstacles between him and Lucy. His protective side shows in his careful handling of his sister Bridget, though he initially struggles to set boundaries with her.

Chronological Arc

Felix’s arc spans five years, starting with the explosive first meeting in the prologue. Over the following years, he and Lucy maintain a pattern of secret reunions punctuated by long separations. A year after the prologue, Felix is more confident and charming, engaging in casual hookups (Chapter 11). But when Lucy visits for Thanksgiving three years before the wedding, their tension reignites and they break the “no sex” rule (Chapter 18). Felix then spends a year trying to move on after Lucy leaves abruptly, as he confesses in Chapter 28. The turning point comes after Stacy’s death, when Felix cares for Lucy at Salt Cottages; he is gentle and patient, and he gives her a piece of sea glass—a symbol of their fragile connection. During a storm later that week, Felix admits he has been hurt by her departure and wants more than one night. The final phase shows Felix fully committed: he tells Lucy about his painful breakup with Joy, supports her during Bridget’s wedding, and proposes a slow, exclusive relationship. However, when Lucy impulsively suggests moving to PEI, Felix rejects the idea, arguing that she is using him to escape burnout. This confrontation reveals his growth—he refuses to be a temporary solution—and ends the novel with an open question about their future.

Relationships

  • With Lucy: The central relationship is defined by secrecy, electric chemistry, and mutual avoidance of commitment for years. Felix shows physical affection openly (hand-holding, kissing her knuckles) but struggles to articulate his feelings. He shifts from casual hookup to reluctant caretaker to devoted partner. The final break—when he leaves her apartment—marks a mature boundary.

  • With Bridget: Felix is a devoted younger brother who feels obligated to her. He tries to set boundaries (e.g., not staying at Summer Wind when Lucy is there), but he also respects his sister’s emotions. When Bridget reveals she already knew about their relationship (Chapter 31), Felix is relieved rather than angry, suggesting he values her approval.

  • With Zach: His best friend and business partner. Zach acts as a confidant and occasional intermediary, as when he drives Lucy to the airport. Zach’s comment that Felix has been “looking for someone he could see a future with” (Chapter 25) indicates Felix’s underlying desire for a stable relationship.

  • With Joy: His ex-fiancée, whose betrayal left him guarded. The painful breakup informs his reluctance to trust love. In Chapter 29, Felix recounts the breakup to Lucy, showing his willingness to be vulnerable.

Key Decisions and Consequences

  1. Agreeing to the three rules (prologue): This decision allows the secret to continue for years, creating tension and preventing honest communication with Bridget. The consequence is prolonged guilt and missed opportunities for a real relationship.

  2. Sending Zach to pick up Lucy instead of going himself (Chapter 27): By choosing emotional distance after Lucy leaves, Felix reinforces the pattern of retreat. This decision hurts Lucy and delays their reconciliation.

  3. Confessing his hurt during the storm (Chapter 28): By admitting he has been trying to get over her, Felix breaks their cycle of avoidance. This leads to their reunion and a commitment to try again.

  4. Rejecting Lucy’s proposal to move to PEI (Chapter 34): Felix prioritizes long-term stability over immediate gratification, insisting she address her burnout rather than use him as an escape. The consequence is a painful parting, but it sets the stage for a healthier future if Lucy can heal.

Theme and Symbol Connections

  • Secrets and Honesty: Felix’s entire story is shaped by the secret he and Lucy keep from Bridget. The secrets and honesty theme is explored through his growing discomfort with deception and his eventual relief when the truth comes out.

  • Forbidden Love and Loyalty: Felix is the embodiment of forbidden love, as his sister’s rule makes their relationship taboo. His loyalty to Bridget clashes with his love for Lucy, forcing him to choose between the two.

  • Belonging and Home: For Felix, PEI is his home, and he worries Lucy sees herself only as a temporary guest. His rejection of her impulsive move stems from a desire for her to belong on her own terms. The belonging and home theme runs through his guardedness.

  • Self-Discovery and Growth: Felix learns to confront his fear of being hurt. His growth involves moving from casual relationships to vulnerability, as seen when he tells Lucy, “I’m relishing you.” The self-discovery and growth theme is central to his arc.

  • Friendship vs. Romance: Felix’s relationship with Lucy blurs the line between friendship and romance, especially as Bridget is both Lucy’s best friend and his sister. The friendship vs. romance theme is embodied in his struggle.

  • Symbols: Oysters represent Felix’s skill and his connection to PEI. Sea glass, given to Lucy, symbolizes something worn smooth by time and pressure—much like their relationship. The Mustang he restores with his father represents the Clark family’s warmth and the shared history that Felix offers Lucy.

Questions and Answers

1. Why does Felix agree to keep the relationship a secret from Bridget?

Felix agrees to the rules because he respects the original commandment Bridget gave Lucy—don’t fall in love with her brother. He also wants to avoid hurting his sister, whom he loves. The text shows that Felix avoids conflict with Bridget, as when he reluctantly agrees to stay at Summer Wind despite wanting distance. He likely hopes the secret will protect both Lucy and Bridget.

2. What is the significance of Felix kissing Lucy’s knuckles at the oyster competition?

The kiss is a public display of affection that breaks their unspoken rule of secrecy. It signals Felix’s desire to claim Lucy openly, even as he is intoxicated. Bridget’s shocked reaction underscores the intimacy of the gesture. Felix’s action suggests he is willing to risk exposure for her, contradicting his earlier guardedness.

3. Why does Felix send Zach to pick Lucy up instead of going himself after their week together?

After Lucy leaves abruptly, Felix is hurt and returns to his defense mechanism of emotional retreat. By sending Zach, he avoids a painful goodbye and preserves his pride. His casual “I had a good time” line reinforces this protective wall. The choice delays their reconciliation by a full year.

4. How does Felix change by the end of the novel?

Felix grows from a guarded, casual dater into a man who can articulate his feelings and set healthy boundaries. He admits his fear of being broken, says he wants more than one night, and rejects Lucy’s impulsive proposal not out of fear but out of concern for her wellbeing. His final “I relish you” shows he loves her but will not enable her escape.

5. What does Felix’s reaction to Bridget’s move to Australia reveal about his character?

Felix apologizes to Lucy for not telling her about Bridget’s news, explaining it wasn’t his to share. This shows his respect for his sister’s privacy and his desire to be truthful with Lucy now. He immediately reassures Lucy they will face the separation together, demonstrating his commitment to partnership.