A lovely summer read, I found it a bit predictable and fully expected every plot twist but I enjoyed it all the same.

I will always pick up a Carley Fortune book, I adore her writing. Such a fun, summer read and I couldn’t put it down!

I was really interested in Charlie during Every Summer After, so it was fun to finally read more about him! Alice felt like a very realistic and relatable main character. This book is just great to read by the pool/ocean, with it's summery setting and sweet slow-burn romance.

well... i was actually entertained by this book (not like every summer after [which i hated imo]). also, i love to see more of charlie after 3 years after sam and percy's story

love the banter between him and alice.i love the bonding between charlie, nanette (alice's grandmother), and alice. these scenes touches my heart. and also, i still can't move on that one scene that made me giggle

but the conflict got me disappointed which also leads to miscommunication. but the ending got a little better which leads to an almost 3 star rating

It was so wonderful to be back in the world of Barry's Bay. I loved catching up again with Sam and Percy, especially at such an exciting time in their lives.

I really enjoyed Alice as a main character. I felt, and sympathised, with a lot of her insecurities and worries. I felt her a very realistic and relatable main character. Her family was also wonderful to follow, and I particularly loved the relationship between Alice and her sister Heather.

I loved the summer bucket list, intended to take Alice out of her comfort zone. I love things like this, little bucket lists or challenges. It was such a fun summer activity to read, and I loved watching Charlie get involved.

I enjoyed the chemistry between Charlie and Alice. They had a great friendship to build a relationship on, and also a really good understanding of one another.

I did, however, have some small issues with the ending. The "twist" felt a little out of place, and the ending itself felt rushed.

🌞 REVIEW 🌞

Title: one golden summer
Author: Carley fortune
Genre: romance
Pages: 381
Rating: 4.5 🌟

After diving into this book, I realised I should have explored the other Barry’s Bay novels first! Yet, it stands alone perfectly, so no worries if you haven’t read the others.

This was the ideal summer read, leaving me with a smile. It goes beyond just a summer tale; I feel it’s one of those books that will linger with me forever.

The author’s vivid portrayal of the setting made me yearn to be there. It felt so serene and picturesque.

Alice’s summer bucket list, which she embarks on with Charlie, made a delightful read.

Charlie is a complex character, with his traits skillfully balanced to avoid crossing from cocky to unpleasant. Alice is more introverted, often using her camera and photography as a shield, which was fascinating to explore.

I must admit, I anticipated the “twist” early on, but it didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the book at all.

I now can’t wait to try her other books!

Great book! Loved the dynamics of the relationship between Charlie and Alice. Was captivated by Carley's style of writing. A perfect summer read

I hadn’t read a Carley Fortune before but I absolutely loved this. A perfect summer read. So happy I read this when it was warm weather beside the beach because it was the perfect setting for this romance book. The pacing was great, the characters were fantastic & the plot was brilliant. Especially loved the grandmother

☀️🌊One Golden Summer 🌊☀️

- Carley Fortune

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was my first of Carley Fortune’s work, so I haven’t read the first in this series, Every Summer After. This was my first venture to the world of Barry’s Bay.

We follow photographer Alice, who, after seventeen years, is returning to the spot where she fell in love with photography. That one photo, of three teenagers in a yellow speedboat, changed the direction of her life. I loved that premise - I like reading about main characters who have interesting, creative jobs and passions.

When Alice’s grandmother wants to return to Barry’s Bay for the summer, Alice has no choice but to accompany her as her carer. The place holds a lot of memories for the both of them, but Alice is hoping that the change of scenery will spark something creative in her burnt-out brain. When she meets Charlie Florek, the boy who she photographed on his boat all those years ago, they embark on a summer of fun, completing Alice’s bucket list one by one.

There was nothing outrightly wrong with it, and I can’t pinpoint exactly what didn’t float my boat about it, besides the fact that I wasn’t very invested in their characters and their romance. I know a lot of people disliked Carley Fortune’s first book in this series because it involved cheating, and this definitely didn’t have any such controversial themes. Still, sadly I don’t think I will be reaching for any of Carley Fortune’s other books any time soon.

One Golden Summer released on May 6th (I’m a bit late with this review 🫣) Thank you to @michaeljbooks for the digital ARC!

#bookstagram #bookreview #arcreview #onegoldensummer #carleyfortune #romancebooks #beachreads #summeromances

This is the perfect summer read. I was so excited to dive into another of Carley Fortune's books, and I loved this one just as much as the others (a lot). The summery vibes were lovely and the romance was nicely paced, heart-warming and so fun. Great emotional-depth too, which always draws me back to Carley Fortune's stories.

This was the perfect summer read, with a beautiful setting and a romance that will keep you reading to the end, this story really did have it all.
I loved the characters in the book, especially Charlie, he was just perfect 😍. The slow burn romance between him & Alice offered tension and chemistry throughout and kept me reading, wanting to know what happened between them. The little twist towards the end of the book I was definitely not expecting, but the way in which it brought them closer was perfect and it set the story up for an ending that was worthy 🥰. They each brought a side out of one another that was nice to see, such as Charlie's softer side and Alice's thirst for adventure and I really liked the dynamic between Charlie & Nan.
The setting of the book was idyllic at the lake and I could almost picture myself watching the sunsets on the cliff, enjoying a jet ski ride or just chilling on the unicorn inflatable.
This was a summer romance that left my heart happy and had me wishing I could have stayed at the lake.

Of course. Here’s the revised version of your review without the reference to *The Summer I Turned Pretty* and with the same clear, professional tone:

---

Carley Fortune’s *Every Golden Summer* is a well-crafted novel that held my interest from beginning to end. It’s a strong example of contemporary romance with a thoughtful coming-of-age element woven in.

What stood out most wasn’t just the romantic storyline, but the relationship between Charlie, Alice and Nan, which added emotional depth and authenticity. The reason behind Charlie’s reluctance to commit was a genuine surprise, and it’s not often a romance novel manages to do that.

This is the second book I’ve read by Fortune, and it’s clear I need to move her other titles up my reading list. I do wish I’d read *Every Summer After* first, since the stories are connected, but discovering that now only increases my interest in going back and exploring the earlier novel.

Overall, *Every Golden Summer* is an engaging, emotionally layered read — an easy five stars.

Carley Fortune does it again!! I absolutely loved this one, and was so happy to be back at Barry's Bay. I was so excited for Charlie's story and this was everything I wanted. Full of nostalgia, friends to lovers, forced proximity, it has it all! Also the banter... chefs kiss!

Highly reccomend this one.

Alice spent one summer at the lake when she was younger and it changed her life forever. But being back as an adult has brought back some of her insecurities and uncertainties. Charlie doesn’t know that a photo that Alice took of him changed her life, and how she always watched on desperate to be part of his in crowd.

I loved the Every Summer After series so I already expected to enjoy this but it was really lovely. Makes me want to go and spend a summer by a lake in Canada or USA where it’s nice and hot and full of scary bugs and creepers 🤣. Beautifully written and really heart warming, exactly what you want to read on a sunny day

“I’m lucky to have so much past, so many memories. It’s a gift to age.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Carley Fortune did it again with this one! I was expecting it to be good, but this one blew me out of the water!

“That’s why you should grab onto whatever makes you happy now and hold on for as long as you can. Life’s short.”

Alice spent one summer at the lake with Nan when she was 17. That one summer where she took a photo of three smiling teens, and now she lives behind her camera. But when Nan falls and breaks her hip, Alice decides that they will spend one last summer at Barry’s Bay.

What she doesn’t realise is that Charlie Florek, one of the smiling teens, is still there. Threatening to disrupt their peaceful summer with his loud yellow boat, Charlie can’t help but get Alice to have a bit of fun without being attached to her camera.

“I’m turning thirty-three tomorrow. You’d think I’d be a little braver.”

I loved this so much, it’s such a heart warming, fun read, I just couldn’t put it down!

Definitely giving friends to lovers, redemption, family themes and forced proximity tropes. This is one book you really need to add to your list!

Thank you Carley Fortune, Netgalley and Berkley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. One Golden Summer is out now and you really need to get your hands on a copy!

This book felt like a warm hug on a chilly day—Carley Fortune’s writing transported me straight to late-night conversations by the lake, where fireflies danced and the scent of pine filled the air . Alice, with her fear of truly being seen, and Charlie, with his easy charm masking deeper insecurities, became so real to me that I found myself invested in every glance, every laugh, every “Good things happen at the lake” moment . I laughed out loud with their banter, swooned when Charlie quietly revealed his heart, and felt that gentle pang in the third act when life reminded them that love isn’t always simple—but, like so many readers, I felt it was earned, not forced . Bottom line: this isn’t just a summer romance—it’s a story about remembering who you are, daring to be seen, and risking your heart on the person who sees all of you—and that, to me, felt deeply personal and unforgettable.

'"And why are you smiling like that?" he says. Because for once in my life, I don't feel like I'm on the sidelines. For once, I'm in the photo.'

I didn't know it was possible, but I think I loved One Golden Summer even more than Every Summer After! I was sceptical at first that I wouldn't connect with a new protagonist and how she could possibly fit in with the characters I got so attached to in the first book, but I related to Alice on another level, the way she fits into her family and how being a shy teenager prevented her from seizing those bucket list moments. As always with Carley Fortune's books, there is this depth to them that makes me fall in love with all of the characters and their dynamics, not just the main character and love interest, but the wider cast as well.

The writing felt like summer itself, every time I dove back in I felt transported back to my happy place and that nostalgic summer feeling. It was also so clever and thoughtful, the way photography was weaved into the entire plot and played a huge part in the romance itself - all the little, wholesome, quiet and joyous moments that culminate in an epic love.

Carley Fortune has just claimed a spot in my heart as my favourite romance author. I cannot wait to read This Summer Will Be Different next !!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and to Michael Joseph for the ARC

No notes whatsoever. I will be recommending this to everyone this summer. A perfect summer romance. My favourite Carley Fortune to date!’

Just finished this book and it was pure escapism! I loved the characters and summery setting. I wanted to be at the lake! The slow burn romance was cute and I was rooting for them from the start. I enjoyed the overall storyline and it had a satisfactory ending. A great summer read!

I wasn’t a fan, I the setting was beautiful and the extra characters seemed to have more depth than the main characters. I think the book would have probably been better being duel or even multiple pov. Being in the FMCs head 24/7 felt so tedious I’m not her biggest fan! I would have loved a grandma chapter or two! Miscommunication is such a cop out trope, we’re all adults lets just actually have the conversation.
I think if you’re a Carley Fortune fan then you will probably love it, if you can take or leave her books I’d pick something else.

🌟🌟🌟