Enter my new favourite romcom - I LOVED this book so much! So much that I was up two hours after I usually go to sleep because I just couldn’t put it down.

First of all, I adored the lake setting and bucket list idea, but mostly it was all about Charlie, aka the perfect hot book boyfriend. The chemistry and romance between Alice and Charlie was just perfection, and I could honestly have read another 200 pages of their story! Perfect summer reading.

Thank you to the publisher for giving me an e-arc to review on Netgalley.

This was my first book of Carley’s and wow it did not disappoint. This story honestly had me reading it in 24 hours. The character’s are so loveable and the plot was just perfect.

Alice heads to Barrys Bay with her Nan for some well deserved time away from life to find herself again and on the way she meets the dazzling Charlie.

Both characters experience quite literally one golden summer, reliving their former years through a checklist that helps them reminisce on their younger years and realise how precious life is all whilst experiencing a whirlwind love for the books.

I honestly loved reading this and felt it was so well paced, it had such a great structure and kept me wanting more after every chapter. I’m usually a person who hates the whole ‘third act breakup’ if it’s not done right but Carley did it so well and wrapped it up pretty quickly too and used that time to develop her characters further rather than moping around.

Overall, this is a must read romance for the summer and one so many will love!

This book felt like nostolgia as I was reading it. It made me long for summers spent with friends as a teenager where everything felt possible. I loved seeing Alice and Charlie get to live out their summer together and grow from who they once were. You could really see the character development of Alice from the start of the book, and of Charlie from both this book and Every Summer After.

I enjoyed so much about this book - the lake setting, the characters, the story and development. It was also great to go back to Barry's Bay and see more of Percy and Sam's story. I really liked how there were elements and characters from both the first book, as well as a new cast of characters in this one, especially Nan who was a wonderful character.

I do feel like it was a bit insta-love, so it was somewhat annoying how long the whole 'just friends' argument went on when all of their actions were saying otherwise. The third act conflict was also annoying and predictable, but I did appreciate how it all wrapped up.

First of all, I was VERY nervous to read this book because I didn’t like Charlie’s character after what he did in Every Summer After. But I think he is growing on me. I have forgotten how big of a flirt he is that I am chuckling on every single thing he says. I do think that Alice Everly play a HUGE part in making me love this book more, I feel like I can relate to how she’s feeling. I love Nan, she makes me miss my grandma so much <3, we used to be so close too. I also lowkey love Alice’s family. I feel like I understand their family dynamic so much. The amount of lines that I have highlighted in this books are so many lol. It’s been a while since I’ve felt this giddy reading a romance book and this book has done it! The banter is unmatched. As always, the vibes of the feelings and places, the way Carley Fortune wrote them never misses. One thing about Carley Fortune is it is going to be descriptive so that I can vividly picture what’s going on in the book in my head as clear as day. I also think I like this one more than Every Summer After :)

I’ve been a bit hit and miss with Fortune’s book, but I’m so happy to confirm I loved this one. Since reading Every summer after, I know that Charlie needed his own story and I’m so glad we got it.

We see Alice and her Nan returning to Barry Bay after an incident to escape and rest for the summer. Then in comes Charlie in all his glory ready to whisk Alice away on the summer she wishes she has when she was seventeen (and she unknowingly took her most famous picture of him).

You get to see a beautiful relationship build between the two of them, as well as being joined by a beautiful cast of supporting characters and Percy and Sam pop in too. I loved Nan so much and she made me miss my own who sadly passed.

This was everything I wanted and more. Despite the incident that happened in the first book with Charlie and Percy, I wanted him to get his own HEA. And Carley did well for our boy.

This book really came into itself in the last 30%. It was so gorgeously sweet and endearing. It was a coming of age story to inspire all of us who have come of age and need to know that there is still more to come.

Carley Fortune does romance in such a truly romantic way, something I think can be rare at the moment. And this book didn't miss. We got to witness multiple beautiful characters find their happiness and peace again.

One issue was that there were lots of spelling mistakes which at times could make this kind of hard to read but I'm sure they'll be fixed.

Perfect summer vacation book and the strongest one yet from this author IMO. Alice and Charlie set out to have a fun friends-with-benefits summer and catch feelings along the way.

Where to start? This book was perfection. I absolutely loved it. I will admit that, after Every Summer After, I was a little apprehensive about getting Charlie’s story, but it surpassed my highest expectations! I ended up falling in love with Charlie, and quite early on!

Their connection was so strong, so natural and really beautiful to watch unfold. Alice is such a relatable character to me, being someone who is the supporter, the yes person, the pleaser. Charlie is jovial, arrogant and confident. They complement each other perfectly.

The development of both characters really stands out in this for me. Getting to know Charlie and his background more, and how this is affecting his future, really made him such a strong MMC. He’s so considerate and caring, he feels so deeply. I really fell in love with him. Alice’s love of photography and the expression of emotion it brought out was so good. The descriptions of the photographs, both past and present, gave this story such a unique edge to it. It can tell you things that people can’t, and it can move your life in directions you didn’t think possible. Stand back and enjoy the moment. Click

Carleys writing was as beautiful as ever. She tells a story in a way that just absorbs me completely. There is nothing I would change about this book, at all.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read & review this book. I truly loved it.

“Good things happen at the lake”

This book was everything I wanted it to be and more! I’m calling it now. This is going to be the Summer romance read of 2025! I feel like it was written to be consumed poolside with some sort of fruity cocktail.

If you love summer nostalgia, witty banter, slow burn with serious sexual tension and foundry family vibes that will pull on your heartstrings then you need to read One Golden Summer!

Firstly I LOVED everything about Alice’s character. When she was describing her teenage self so many parts felt so reminiscent of younger me and how I felt than I couldn’t help but relate to her.
The relationship that developed between her and Charlie felt so organic and their BANTER?! I wasn’t expecting it to be so good! Also the sexual tension and chemistry between the pairing was EVERYTHING!

It was so nice to see snippets of Percy and Adam from ‘Every Summer After’ but I feel like this book could have easily been read and enjoyed as a standalone!

I genuinely have no notes! This book was romance PERFECTION!

Carley is once again proving why she is an auto-buy author for me!
I didn’t know how much I needed Charlie’s story. The chemistry with him and Alice was instant and I loved the slow burn romance mixed in with their banter.

Carley is an expert at writing summer locations, what I wouldn’t give to be sitting by the lake at Barry’s Bay reading this book..
I was really in need of a book that pulled me in instantly, this delivered on that and also had a sweet side story with the relationship between Alice and her Nan.

Only rating four stars because I guessed what would happen in the final act!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an E-ARC.

This one wasn't my favourite unfortunately. I didn't really connect with Alice, which is a shame, because I loved Charlie in Every Summer After and I was really looking forward to reading his story.
The romance felt very insta-lovey and the whole "we're only friends" thing started to get on my nerves, especially when they got cross with people saying otherwise. They weren't just friends at all. I also didn't buy into how obsessive Alice was over the kids in a photo she took when she was 17 years old. That was a little flimsy.
I could've done with a lot less angst and a slower unfolding of the end of the book instead. It felt very rushed and it was resolved too quickly in comparison to how long winded everything else was.

One Golden Summer is Charlie's book who we first meet in Carley Fortunes first book Every Summer After. Whilst that one was not my favourite book by this author I was so excited to get Charlies story and his happily ever after and this book did not disappoint. The book is set back in Barry's Bay and is the perfect setting for this summer romance. Alice is visiting for the summer with her nan who used to visit with friends here every summer many years ago. She meets Charlie and they decide to compete a bucket list of items that Alice wishes she had done when she visited when she was seventeen. I loved the easy and fun relationship Charlie and Alice build. This is a great, easy to read summer romance that is perfect for an escapist read this summer!

If, like me, you loved Carley’s first book Every Summer After then this is the book we have been waiting for! This is Charlie’s story and we do get a little catch up with Sam and Percy too!

We return to Barry’s Bay with Alice who is taking time out this summer to help her Nan recuperate after a fall. The familiar lake house and town seem like the perfect place for relaxation they both need. Although their peace is disturbed by one of their lake neighbours on a familiar boat Alice recognises from her childhood memories of the lake.

Charlie Florek is a charming, handsome and completely self assured man and he teases Alice like he was born to do it. He is also very sweet with Alice’s nan. Alice and Charlie agree to a summer fling to tick an item off Alice’s to do list but as always nothing ever stays just for the summer!

The chemistry between Charlie and Alice is so palpable. They’re so obviously meant to be and whatever reason Charlie has for holding back is kept close to his chest throughout the story. The setting and the sentiment both Charlie and Alice have for Barry’s Bay just adds to the story and of course the cameo from Sam and Percy is perfect.

This was my first five star of the year. It’s an emotional but really enjoyable read that you’ll fly through this summer. I already want to re-read it!

4.5 ⭐️

I loved this book so much!!! Carley did such a good job with her story telling in this novel. The characters, the setting, the emotion, it was so perfect!

This is going to be THE book this summer! I can’t wait for everyone to fall in love with Charlie and Alice 💛. Sadly I don’t have a Nan so this book really made me miss mine. I loved Alice’s connection with her Nan, it bought me so much comfort 😭!

Some quotes I loved:

“He’s one of those flame-like people who we all gravitate towards like moths, soaking in their warmth.”

“It’s one of the most terrifying things we all do: allowing people to see us without all our protective layers.”

Thank you to @netgalley & @michaeljbooks for the early e-arc !!!

Thank you to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House + NetGalley for the opportunity to read One Golden Summer before it’s published. I do love a redemption arc and this was Charlie Florek’s. The question I need an answer to though is - Nan + John’s second chance at love story, when?!

Definitely read Every Summer After before picking this up, as there are mucho spoilers, an easy lighthearted read that I managed to read in one sitting. A lovely bit of escapism from 2025 reality! One Golden Summer is out on 8th May 2025 🧡

The only way to describe this book was

"A summer of love in a hug"

A heartfelt story of Alice and Charlie, two characters whose connection transcends the typical romantic narrative. Their story unfolds during a summer that acts as a backdrop.

One Golden Summer is more than a love story, a story of meaningful connections, personal growth, and the blending of past and present that beautifully intertwines romance with deeper themes of rediscovery and healing.

One of the key aspects of the story is how it brings together the old with the new, emphasising the importance of accepting one's history while moving forward. The setting, with its nostalgic and heartwarming atmosphere, plays a crucial role in evoking

Carley Fortune's writing is engaging and thoughtful, ensuring that the romance feels authentic and meaningful. The relationship that unfolds is not simply about the excitement of new love but about how two people connect on a deeper level, understanding one another in ways that are both emotional and transformative.
What I appreciated is that there were also some serious issues addressed like grief, regrets, aging and health conditions without the story going heavy.
I loved this! The nostalgia after only a few pages took me right back to the sights, sounds, smells and places of Barry's Bay and Kamaniskeg Lake.
Fortune captured the atmosphere so vividly.

Beautifully written. A portrayal of escapism, the difficulties of feeling stuck in life and retreating to the last place that made you happy.

“Here I am, days away from my thirty-third birthday, in the same spot I swam as a teenager, when my eyes began to open to a vastness of the world beyond my own.”

Alice Everly, a photographer, retreats with her grandmother to the place that brought her joy when she was seventeen. A cottage on a lake in the middle of the summer. She may be feeling stuck after a brutal break-up and lack of inspiration for her work, but it’s nothing that a few weeks of recentering by the water can’t fix.

Enter, Charlie Florek. A local, who makes Alice laugh like never before. After Alice writes what she believes is a childish bucket list of things to do whilst at the lake, Charlie comes along for the journey.

Fortune’s writing has the ability to transport you into the book. I felt like I could have been the one swimming in the lake and having cozy evenings as the sun sets. One Golden Summer is the epitome of finding yourself amongst the unexpected.

Every aspect of this book, the growing relationship, the families' dynamics and Alice’s determination to once again fall in love with the art of photography had me hooked. I drifted quickly from Team Charlie to very much Not Team Charlie so often throughout, it had me confused. But, as the plot comes to light, everything else makes sense.

It felt a little strung out. I feel as if the book could have been shorter, and that Alice and Charlie could have resolved a lot of things earlier on without impacting the initial plot.

Other than that, Charlie Florek is everything. Initially an unknown subject of what became a well-known photograph taken years and years prior, he helps Alice to put herself first. Living the summer that 17-year-old her dreamt of.

If you’re looking for a slow burn that makes you feel like you could be bathing by a lake directly under the sun, this one’s for you.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I had hoped that this book would be the one that would make me love Carley Fortune's books. Unfortunately it didn't go well. Tbh I was bored - the storyline is something that's been done over and over, and nothing about it is refreshing. I mean, nostalgic summer, woman who questions her career, and wants to relive her teenage years for a bit? Done before, and formulaic.
People who want to read about a nostalgic summer might love this. It just wasn't for me.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Almost a year to the day, and here I am again raving about Carley Fortune’s new story! Wow!

We return to Barry’s Bay lake in a kind of sequel but kind of standalone story. This time we get to hear Charlie’s story from ESA.
It was so worth the wait.

We are introduced to the main character Alice, and she is wonderful. Set at Barry’s Bay on a summer break of recovery with her Nan (who is the most adorable character), this story centres around a picture taken the summer Alice was 17 at the lake and a bucket list of things she always wanted to do.

Alice and Charlie are a match made in literary heaven, with charm and humour but also a man struggling with loss and the thoughts he doesn’t deserve his own HEA. However, putting these two together for one imperfectly perfect summer was absolutely golden.

I definitely recommend this story. It was a 4.5⭐️ for me, not quite perfection like the other novels. But I would not hesitate to read Carley’s next novel or recommend this one to anyone!

2.5/5

I love romance books but I don't think this one was for me. The main characters are in their thirties and although they've said they want a "summer spent like seventeen year olds again" it felt like the characters were fifteen. I couldn't get on board with the insta-love, the repetitive conversations that lacked any depth until right at the end and the fast paced romance. I didn't feel as though the characters had anything in common, or any emotional connection whatsoever.

I did enjoy the setting and the storyline of Alice and Nan in the summer house but after a while that started to fade and I feel like everything just became rushed to try and force the MCs to have sex and get together officially. I would've loved this if it had more descriptions, more depth and better, more adult conversations (that don't include the Charlie calling Alice by her full name or "Trouble" every two seconds... sorry, but they're in their thirties, it doesn't work for me)

Take this with a pinch of salt though. These are my opinions and I read an ARC, some of these things may change in the publishing process (possibly not) but we can't all like the same books!