Summer House Recap: Bros Before Shows

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It’s good news that we don’t have to discuss the breakup of Kymanda. Aside from a quick apology from Kyle and a few pointed comments from Amanda about their “perfect relationship” at a singles event, things have been surprisingly calm. Kyle being away at a family reunion in New Hampshire likely helped – you might have seen the “Live Free or Die” merchandise! They spent a week apart, which seemed to give them both some space. When the group got back together the following weekend to celebrate DJ Kyle Cooke’s performance in the Hamptons, things were much better. Amanda stayed home feeling unwell, and she actually seemed disappointed about missing it, but…

Let’s take a quick break from the recap for our first-ever “Newbie Report,” focusing on how the new contestants are doing. First up is Levi, who hasn’t really been featured since the very first episode. While she wore a memorable corn costume to the first party, she hasn’t quite made a strong impression yet. KJ is also keeping a low profile, especially in group situations. However, he really connects with people in one-on-one conversations – he’s opened up to West about his anxiety, shared his background with Ciara, and talked about his father with Bailey. KJ seems to fit in well with the guys, but he’ll need to build stronger relationships, whether romantic or friendly, if he wants to return next season.

Mia hasn’t been shown much yet, but I’m already really enjoying her personality. She’s charming, like when she playfully comments on West’s cooking, and she’s not afraid to stir things up, as seen at the singles mixer where she encouraged everyone to meet each other. She’s fitting in perfectly and bringing the drama – no complaints! However, she’s dating a chef, which is a bit of a red flag considering past seasons’ reactions to chef romances. We also meet West’s ex, Dara, at the mixer. I don’t know much about her, but she’s attractive and gives off a vibe I like. It looks like she won’t really become involved until the next episode, as Carl Radke would say, she’s about to jump into the action.

We’re left with two newcomers, Bailey and Ben. I believe they both have the potential to stick around for a while, though they’re quite different from each other. Bailey is charming, funny, and enthusiastic, and her emotional reaction during the first dinner suggests she’d be a great fit for the show. Her close friend Levi might be hindering her, and she hasn’t quite integrated with the existing group. However, she consistently understands Kyle and Amanda’s relationship dynamics, demonstrating a strong emotional awareness – a valuable quality for someone in reality TV. I see promise in Bailey, but I need to observe her a little more before I can be sure.

And then there’s Ben. Honestly, as someone who watches a lot of reality TV, I just don’t see the spark with him. Compare him to Lindsay – she came to the singles mixer ready to work, and then showed up at the house fully committed. She’s immediately getting all the gossip, meeting everyone, and digging into what’s happening with West and Ciara. She’s actively trying to make the show interesting, creating drama, because she has a kid to provide for and needs that paycheck. She’s even flirting with Ben – he is incredibly good-looking, but I also think she knows it’s great TV and will get her more attention for sponsorships, like that Hellman’s mayo deal. I also love that she’s embracing being single now that she has a child! She said she’s not worried about finding ‘the one’ anymore and can just have fun like she used to. It’s so good to have the old, confident Lindsay back – she definitely knows how to stir things up!

Honestly, everyone is obsessed with Ben, and I get why! Lindsay was saying he’s incredibly attractive, but she’s always confused about whether he’s actually interested or just naturally friendly. Bailey and Levi pointed out the same thing a few episodes back – they can’t figure out if he’s engaging with them or if he’s just a really good-looking, nice guy. I think that’s what’s holding him back on the show. Is he just a bit…safe? Is he keeping a secret? He even admitted that when he was on The Bachelor (the Australian version, which he jokes doesn’t really count!), the producers had to work hard to get a reaction out of him. Come on, Ben, don’t make these producers work so hard too!

Let’s be real, Ben’s main appeal is his appearance. I may or may not have obsessively reviewed security footage of him. Bailey claims Ben’s morning routine – a quick swim followed by a towel wrap – is incredibly attractive, even more so than West doing the same. Honestly, Bailey needs to calm down. I think West has the ideal male physique. (Dr. Wilson, if you’re reading this, please skip ahead.) Yes, West isn’t ripped with abs, and he’s not as lean as marathon-runner Carl, but I’d much prefer cuddling with West. He’s powerfully built – seriously, Pete Hegseth tried to hire him based on that alone! He has a broad, comfortable chest perfect for relaxing against, and a little bit of a belly that shows he enjoys life and stays active. Plus, he doesn’t waste pizza crusts, which is a huge win in my book – I’ll gladly take them off his hands!

While Ben doesn’t have the same appeal as West, I was glad when he finally spoke up. After a night out, Ben told West – with KJ and Kyle listening – that Jesse asking for permission to kiss Ciara was completely ridiculous. It was a good point, considering earlier West, Jesse, Ben, and KJ were hanging out, and Jesse actually asked West if it was okay to kiss Ciara.

West replies, “Is that in the works?”

Jesse says, “I don’t know. If anything, I think it would be drunken for fun.”

West reacted to the question with a completely unhinged look – so much so that he was briefly put under psychiatric evaluation. KJ thought the question was crazy, and West just dismissed it. It didn’t seem to fully register with him until Ben mentioned it later that night while drunk. Everyone except Jesse and Carl, who weren’t present, agreed it was a ridiculous question. Seriously, Jesse wants to kiss West’s ex – someone West clearly still cares about? Jesse’s reasoning is that he wants a serious relationship, unlike West, so West should step aside and let him pursue her. That’s just… a lot. Is there really a shortage of women in the house, the Hamptons, New York, or even the world? Why go after your best friend’s ex?

It’s hard to believe Ciara would ever actually get involved with Jesse. While they’ve been getting close – sharing a prom-style pose, cuddling, and playfully joking – it feels more like a sibling connection than a romantic one. He’s practically an honorary member of her close friend group, not a potential boyfriend. She seems to avoid drama, and even if she were attracted to Jesse, she probably wouldn’t pursue anything because of the attention it would bring, and to avoid upsetting West, with whom she clearly has a connection. West himself even thinks Jesse couldn’t handle Ciara’s personality. And judging by the preview for the next episode, that seems like a very likely outcome.

Lindsay, doing what she does best, got West to share what Jesse asked, and then suggested Jesse was likely trying to assert dominance by asking in front of the other men. While I don’t see Jesse as calculating as that, Lindsay’s interpretation was certainly interesting. After talking to Lindsay, West felt compelled to discuss it with Jesse. While relaxing on a pool float, West – who clearly enjoys drama – brought it up as subtly and passively aggressively as possible. He started by asking Jesse if she was serious about the question. Jesse explained they were just having fun, they’ve always been good friends, and she finds him attractive. West then told her everyone else thought the question was strange. Jesse pointed out it had been a long time since they dated, and West reiterated that everyone – except himself, of course – considered the question inappropriate. He finally said, “Basically, you asked your friend if you could kiss his ex… most guys in my shoes would think that’s really weird.”

You know, it’s so true what everyone’s saying. It’s like West is always playing a role, thinking about how others will see him. And Jesse? He’s doing the same thing, but with humor. He’ll throw out a line like, “Wouldn’t it be crazy if they kissed?” but it’s clearly something he’s genuinely wondering about. In his private moments, he admitted he wrote a song about falling for a close friend – feelings he’s apparently had for ages, and that are now getting harder to ignore. The producers pressed him about Ciara, and he brushed it off with a laugh. But it got me thinking… what if it’s not about her at all? What if it’s about another friend – someone he feels completely comfortable around, someone he constantly jokes with, someone he just clicked with right away? They’ve shared a bed, cuddled, even talked about the future. And this guy… well, he’s got a great body, but he’s also down to earth – loves pizza crusts, which is awesome. Could Jesse’s song actually be about… someone else entirely?

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2026-02-25 06:56