Not all love stories have a fairytale beginning… some start with a horror movie and a knock on the window.

When twelve-year-old Matt Leonard moves to Chicago, he doesn’t expect to find a home—until he meets Cary Kruger, his next-door neighbor with a sharp wit and a love for all things spooky. Over the years, their friendship is built on late-night conversations, horror marathons, and an undeniable pull that neither of them fully understands.

But growing up means growing apart, and as high school brings new relationships, heartbreak, and missed chances, Matt finds himself trapped in a cycle of almosts and what-ifs. By the time he realizes he’s in love with his best friend, it might already be too late.

Before the Storm is The Summer I Turned Pretty meets 13 Going on 30—a nostalgic coming-of-age story about love, friendship, and the messy, unforgettable moments that define growing up.wing up.