"Bravo fans have learned time and time again that no couple is safe in the world of reality TV. We’ve watched marriages we thought would last forever turn into insanely messy divorces and witnessed inter-cast affairs play out in real-time. There isn’t exactly a great track record for relationships surviving the chaos of a camera crew and salacious editing. That said, if there was one couple I had faith in, it was Paige DeSorbo and Craig Conover.
chronic fatigue, you better count your days
The Summer House and Southern Charm stars’ relationship felt like finding out Macaulay Culkin and Brenda Song are engaged. It’s a crossover event that shouldn’t be shocking since they exist in the same universe, but it somehow makes your parasocial bond with your favorite shows even stronger. Paige and Craig were that classic opposites-attract, black cat and golden retriever, grumpy and sunshine trope that we love to love. They cultivated a dedicated fleet of shippers with Paige’s sharp, loving banter and Craig’s seemingly complete adoration of her. If anyone was going to defy the reality TV relationship odds, fans were sure it would be them.
Of course, you only see so much of a relationship in a heavily edited TV show, but one issue defined theirs from the beginning: Craig was ready to start a family ASAP, and Paige was not ready to leave her NYC life and her budding podcast empire with Giggly Squad. Despite Paige’s honesty from the start, the internet still framed her as the villain, as if a woman prioritizing her own goals is inherently deceptive. As a Bravoholic, I’ve been tuned into every step of this drama, and it’s all boiling down to one big question: Can there really be a “right person, wrong time?” Let’s get into it.
Opposing timelines reveal incompatibilities
The idea of “right person, wrong time” has long plagued women everywhere, making them wonder if they unknowingly let their one shot at a soulmate slip away because of something as seemingly trivial as timing. You’re a perfect match with the same values, fiery chemistry, and complete compatibility… except for the tiny issue of not being on the same page for the future, or at least when you want that future to unfold.
But the thing is, timing isn’t some minor inconvenience. It’s just as important as all the “big things” in a relationship, like having the same morals or baseline attraction. Sure, relationships require compromise, and you inevitably make sacrifices for each other, but if you have to completely abandon the future you envision for yourself because it doesn’t align with your partner’s plans, they’re not the one.
“Right person, wrong time” minimizes how important timing actually is. It’s like saying right person, wrong values, or right person, wrong sense of humor—if your timelines don’t align, it’s a fundamental incompatibility.
There is a difference between compromise and sacrifice
While we don’t know the intimate details of their relationship, we do know that Paige never wavered in how she envisioned her future, making it clear what she was (and wasn’t) willing to compromise on. On a recent episode of Southern Charm, she even told Craig, “If you said to me right now we need to have a baby or I’m leaving, you’d have to leave.” That’s not to say Craig is wrong for wanting marriage and kids sooner than Paige, but the villainization of Paige online for not sacrificing her own goals and aspirations for a man (even one she loves) is completely unfounded. In Paige’s case, having children isn’t a compromise, it’s a complete sacrifice of her career.
“The likelihood of your relationship surviving such differences is low, and you may grow to resent your partner for holding you back from what you want in life.”
Many people stay in relationships hoping the other person will change their mind—whether it’s about their timeline, where they want to live, or if they’ll have kids, for example. Unfortunately, the likelihood of your relationship surviving such differences is low, and you may grow to resent your partner for holding you back from what you want in life, if not now, then ten years down the line, when starting over feels even harder. Anyone waiting for their partner to change their mind should ask themselves, “Am I asking them to compromise with me, or am I asking them to make sacrifices for me?”
So, is “Right Person, Wrong Time” real?
Ultimately, if you’re asking yourself if it’s the wrong time, it might just be the wrong person. That’s not to say that there isn’t a possibility for you to break up for a while and find your way back to each other—plenty of people do! Maybe Paige and Craig will. But if you’re waiting around and hoping your partner will eventually acquiesce to your plan, that’s not fair to them or yourself. Love isn’t about forcing someone to change their future for you. (And it’s definitely not demanding someone have a child before they’re ready—that’s quite literally The Handmaid’s Tale!)
The internet seems to have collectively decided that Paige somehow did Craig dirty, but why does everyone expect her to give up her dream or put her life on pause? They want different things, at different times, and that’s OK!
Naturally, social media wants someone to blame for this breakup, and, no surprise, it has chosen the woman. But instead of focusing on who’s “right” or “wrong” in this situation, the takeaway should be this: Timing matters. Communicating what you want matters. And a woman making choices for her own future isn’t selfish—it’s necessary.
Lauren Blue, Assistant Editor
As an Assistant Editor for The Everygirl, Lauren ideates and writes content for every facet of our readers’ lives. Her articles span the topics of must-read books, movies, home tours, travel itineraries—and everything in between. When she isn’t testing the latest TikTok trend, she can be found scouring Goodreads for new releases to feature on the site.