One of the things I genuinely love about My Drama is that they refuse to stay comfortable. They’re constantly experimenting with the vertical drama format, finding new ways to tell stories and proving that these bite-sized episodes can pack just as much emotional chaos, tension, and character depth as traditional series. I’m a little late watching The Summer In Between, but honestly? This is exactly the kind of drama that reminds me why I keep coming back. What looks like a familiar summer romance setup quickly reveals itself to be something much darker, messier, toxic and far more complicated.
At the center of the story is Emily, a scholarship student entering an elite summer camp where she immediately becomes the outsider. She’s surrounded by wealth, privilege, and people who have never had to question their place in the world — while she’s fighting to earn points and secure the scholarship that could change everything. And then comes the chaos: Kat and Kris, the camp’s golden siblings, pull Emily into their twisted competition where she becomes the subject of a bet. The prize? A car. The target? Emily.
And yes, the premise is absolutely wild. But what makes The Summer In Between interesting is that it doesn’t just use the bet as a source of drama — it explores what happens when someone who has always had everything meets someone who has had to fight for every opportunity. Emily isn’t just navigating attraction; she’s navigating power, identity, class differences, and the very real question of whether people are seeing her for who she is or what she represents.
WHY WATCH
The reason I pressed play was Bella Mraz, because if you’ve watched her work in microdramas like Stroke of Love, Gossip Godmother, or Off Limits, you already know she has a way of pulling you into a story. She brings a vulnerability to Emily that makes you root for her, even when the situation around her gets increasingly complicated. Emily could have easily become just “the outsider,” but Bella gives her layers — ambition, insecurity, strength, and a desire to belong without losing herself.
I was also pleasantly surprised by Nate Smith and Kaileigh Jenkins as Kat and Kris. These two fully commit to playing characters who are privileged, entitled, and honestly a little terrifying because they’ve never had to face consequences. Their dynamic is fascinating because there’s this constant question of whether there’s anything genuine underneath the games they play. They’re used to controlling the narrative, but Emily challenges that in a way they aren’t prepared for.
The biggest thing I kept thinking while watching was: why are Kat and Kris even at this camp? Their father owns the place, they’re surrounded by people from the same social circle, and they’ve never had to understand what it feels like to be on the outside looking in. Emily’s presence disrupts that bubble, and that’s where the story becomes much more interesting than a typical love triangle.
The Summer In Between delivers the drama, romance, and messy emotions we come for, but it also digs into privilege, manipulation, belonging, and the ways people can use power when they’ve never been challenged. It’s chaotic, frustrating, addictive, and exactly the kind of vertical drama that makes you say, “Okay, just one more episode”… and then suddenly you’ve watched ten.
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
At the heart of The Summer In Between is Emily, the scholarship kid who walks into a world that was never built for her. She’s the classic “good girl” — sweet, awkward, hardworking, and determined to win the scholarship that could change her life. When we first meet her, Emily is insecure and unsure of herself, constantly measuring her worth against everyone around her. But watching her slowly find her voice and realize her own strength is easily one of the best parts of the story. Her journey is the emotional core of the series — but it’s also a giant reminder that maybe, just maybe, getting involved with people at summer camp is a terrible life choice.
Then there’s Kat Calloway, and honestly? She is fascinating. She’s the kind of character who walks into a scene and immediately changes the entire energy. Kat is confident, dominant, and unapologetically herself, but underneath all that confidence is someone who is deeply guarded and desperately searching for where she belongs. Her chaotic sapphic energy is impossible to ignore. She pushes Emily in every possible way — emotionally, socially, and personally — forcing her to step outside the safe little box she’s created for herself. Kat is complicated, messy, and easily one of the biggest sources of tension in the story.
WE HATE HIM
And then we have Kris Calloway… yeah, we need to talk about Kris. Because the “nice guy” act only gets you so far. At first, Kris seems like the safer option — charming, protective, and approachable — but that image starts cracking pretty quickly. Beneath the surface is someone who is incredibly manipulative and obsessed with status. Kris sees the world through privilege, judging people by their bank accounts rather than their character, and he has no problem treating people as disposable when they no longer serve him.
What makes Kris such an interesting antagonist is that he doesn’t see himself as the villain. He believes he’s entitled to what he wants, and that makes him even more dangerous. He represents the kind of person who hides control behind charm, and The Summer In Between does a great job showing how damaging that can be.
What I loved most about The Summer In Between is the emotional push and pull between Emily and Kat. From the beginning, there’s an undeniable connection between them, but unfortunately, Emily spends much of the story convinced that Kat is the one trying to sabotage her. She’s hurt, angry, and lets that fear push Kat away — which is frustrating because, as viewers, we can see what Emily can’t. Kat is the one person who keeps showing up for her.
SHE’S INTERESTING
And that’s what makes Kat such an interesting character. No matter how many times Emily doubts her, Kat refuses to give up. Even when her own brother is actively working against Emily, Kat is determined to have her back. The best part is that, deep down, Emily knows Kat is being honest with her. There’s a part of her that recognizes the truth — she’s just afraid to trust her feelings and what that connection means.
Emily and Kat’s chemistry is obvious from the start, but it’s their fear of vulnerability that keeps them from fully embracing it. They’re both fighting against what they feel, and watching them navigate that tension becomes one of the strongest parts of the story. That emotional conflict really comes to a head when the Calloways’ father arrives and makes it clear that he sees Emily as less than them, questioning whether she deserves the scholarship at all.
And this is where the difference between Kat and Kris becomes impossible to ignore. Kris, who has spent so much time presenting himself as the “good guy,” refuses to stand up for Emily. Instead, he chooses to protect his own interests and goes along with the plan to sabotage her. Kat, on the other hand, makes her choice clear: she’s going to help Emily win, regardless of what her father or brother think. For Kat, doing the right thing matters more than keeping the peace.
STEALS THE SHOW
The person who truly steals the show in The Summer In Between is Kaileigh Jenkins. She carries the emotional weight of the drama with a performance that balances Kat’s confidence, sharp edges, vulnerability, and heart. Kat could have easily been reduced to the “bad girl,” but Jenkins makes her so much more — someone complicated, guarded, and ultimately one of the most compelling characters in the story.
While The Summer In Between does have some pacing issues, the emotional storytelling, messy relationships, and standout performances make it a vertical drama worth checking out. If you’re looking for romance with tension, complicated characters, and a little chaos? Add this one to your watchlist.
