One Golden Summer

by Carley Fortune

Good things happen at the lake. That’s what Alice’s grandmother says, and it’s true. Alice spent just one summer there at a cottage with Nan when she was seventeen—it’s where she took that photo, the one of three grinning teenagers in a yellow speedboat, the image that changed her life.

Now Alice lives behind a lens. As a photographer, she’s most comfortable on the sidelines, letting other people shine. Lately though, she’s been itching for something more, and when Nan falls and breaks her hip, Alice comes up with a plan for them both: another summer in that magical place, Barry’s Bay. But as soon as they settle in, their peace is disrupted by the roar of a familiar yellow boat, and the man driving it.

Charlie Florek was nineteen when Alice took his photo from afar. Now he’s all grown up—a shameless flirt, who manages to make Nan laugh and Alice long to be seventeen again, when life was simpler, when taking pictures was just for fun. Sun-slanted days and warm nights out on the lake with Charlie are a balm for Alice’s soul, but when she looks up and sees his piercing green gaze directly on her, she begins to worry for her heart.

Because Alice sees people—that’s why she is so good at what she does—but she’s never met someone who looks and sees her right back.

Genres: Romance, Summer, Summer Reads, Fiction, Audiobook, Book Club, Contemporary

400 pages, Paperback

First published May 6, 2025

About the author

Carley Fortune is the #1 New York Times and #1 Globe and Mail bestselling author of Every Summer After, Meet Me at the Lake, This Summer Will Be Different, and One Golden Summer. Her next book, Our Perfect Storm, comes out May 5, 2026.

Carley's books have sold more than three-million copies and have been translated into thirty languages. Every Summer After is in production as a TV series with Amazon Prime Video.

Carley spent her young life in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia, and in Barry’s Bay, a tiny lakeside town in rural Ontario. She lives in Toronto with her husband and two sons. Follow her on Instagram @carleyfortune.

Reviews

[emilybookedup · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO. GOOD. 👏🏼👏🏼 dare i say this is her best yet???? bc it is for me!!!!

look no further bc your perfect summer romcom has arrived!!! 📖🐚🌊😩💘🙌🏼🔥

this is the companion novel to EVERY SUMMER AFTER and we get Charlie’s story (the bad bro… iykyk) but also get cameos of Sam & Percy and go back to the iconic setting of Barry’s Bay.

read if you like: lake settings, forced proximity tropes, good banter, teenage nostalgia, bucket lists, friends to lovers, family themes

Carley’s novels have been quite hit or miss for me over the years but i’m happy to report she is SO back with this. despite enjoying it, i had quite mixed feelings with EVERY SUMMER AFTER (her debut) bc it was so similar to LOVE & OTHER WORDS. but, i was excited to go back to the Barry’s Bay setting and check it out.

i couldn’t put this down and finished in 24 hours—it was the most perfect beach binge for my trip. it was SO GOOD. reminded me so much of the classic EmHen banter we all know and love. i was eager to see how Charlie’s story would unfold and see if he’d redeem himself and i getttt it 👀 he was a major flirt and i loved “watching” him & Alice have a fun summer in Barry’s Bay (love a lake setting so much). one or two things prevented this from being perfect for me but overall, i HIGHLY recommend it!

idk how to explain but it gave me THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY vibes? not w the brothers or anything but the setting and teenage nostalgia on the lake was everything. i truly felt a part of this story and her writing talent w that is unreal.

this is also prob one of the most well done executions of the forced proximity plot i’ve seen.

and this cover??!!?! rufkm! perfection!!!!

a few things:
📖 yes i think it’s important to read EVERY SUMMER AFTER before this or else spoilers galore
🌊 we are back at Barry’s Bay and the author once again does such a good job of making you truly feel like you’re there
🐚 the summertime, young adult, feelin like you’re 17 again nostalgia in this was done SO well
🥹 i was actually loling as i read. when i say romcom, heavy on the comedy! their banter is everything
🙃 the major twist was predictable for me but i can see it being a shock to readers if you aren’t paying close attention!
🎬 EVERY SUMMER AFTER is being adapted via Prime Video right now and if it’s a hit, i’d be shocked if we don’t get a spinoff of this one. and now i NEEEEED to see who they cast as Charlie… 🔥

[Ali Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carley Fortune truly is the queen of summer!! I don't know if I can name an author who creates better summer vibes. And I LOVED Charlie's personality. He truly is my type of book boyfriend 😮‍💨 he's charming and flirty and funny and confident. And I LOVED the chemistry between him and Alice. I also reallyyyy related to Alice's personality. It's always so cool to see yourself reflected in parts of a character.

My only complaint is the conflict started to get a little frustrating to me at points towards the end 😭 but other than that, I really enjoyed it!

[Sara Carrolli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexa play Golden by Harry styles

THIS WAS SUCH AN UNEXPECTED 5 ⭐️!!!!!! I went in for the summer vibes and a fun romance, but left obsessed with Charlie Florek. (I did read every summer after a few years ago, but I VAGUELY remember Charlie/his personality. He’s now 35 in this book so he’s grown a lot) ANYWAY he had the best golden retriever, flirty, confident energy CONSISTENTLY. Like to the very last page.

Carley fortune knows how to transport you to the most wonderful summer setting with beautiful sunsets and jet ski rides and cliff jumping and yellow boat riding. I felt like I was there spending the summer with Alice and Charlie. The tension was so incredibly THICK I couldn’t put the book down. Even in the smallest of moments you could cut the tension with a knife. It kept the story moving!!!!

I loved the soft side Alice brought out of Charlie, and the fun that Charlie brought out of Alice. They may be opposites in some cases, but they have more in common than you’d think! I loved their dynamic, I loved Charlie’s relationship with Nan & I loved this book!!!!

[Brady Lockerby · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5!! such a fun summer read, loved Alice & Charlie’s story! and as a HUGE fan of Every Summer After, i personally would recommend reading that one first since One Golden Summer is kind of a continuation of that story. there is no better feeling than reading a book while also simultaneously experiencing the same months you’re reading about, but also IRL?! something about it is holding me back from a perfect 5 star rating, but still loved loved loved it!

[Destiny Sidwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ this was a TREAT.

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (New House-Hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Undecided. It wasn’t terrible but idk it didn’t wow me. 3 stars for now.

Time to jump in! 🪂🪂

Carley's stories have progressively gotten worse with each one I read - why do her covers always have to be so damn gorgeous ... always pulling me in.

Also - Charlie's story?? Might have some time for that. 🤭

Oh damn, this one's out - gotta get to it soon!

[chan ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book feels like spending all day under an umbrella at the beach, coming back to take a shower & a nap before dinner with your nose a little pink and your hair a little frizzy. sleepy, a little slow moving, but really charming and contented.

[jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

i still think sam (from “every summer after”) is the superior florek brother, but charlie sure gives him a run for his money! hes such a good match for alice. i wasnt too impressed with alices family, so i was beyond satisfied with how perfectly charlie fits into her life. they are exactly what each other needs, which makes for a really rewarding story.

and CF not only knows how to write spectacular love interests and compelling female leads, but she really has a knack at perfectly capturing the spirit of summer. this book is the equivalent to unhurried mornings relaxing in bed, feeling the warmth of the sun while going for a refreshing swim, and spending time with those you care most about.

so a great addition for CFs bibliography and a must-read for this summer!

↠ 4.5 stars

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alice Everly decides to live the summer of a lifetime when she and her grandmother return to the lake house where she spent the summer she turned 17. Fresh off a breakup and feeling burned out from work as a commercial photographer, Alice decides to cheer up her recently injured grandmother Nan with a trip back to the lake. What she doesn’t expect is Charlie Florek, the man featured in her now famous photograph of three teens in a brilliant yellow boat taken during her first summer there.

As handsome and flirtatious as ever, Alice tries to keep Charlie at a distance. But as she gets to know him, and as he helps her recreate the summer of youth she has always wanted, Alice begins to worry she won’t be able to say goodbye. Because for the first time in her life, when Alice sees someone, he sees her right back.

Be still my heart. As much as I loved Percy and Sam’s story in Every Summer After, I think I may have liked Charlie’s even more. After not getting his happy ending in ESA, I was desperate for Charlie to get the love story he deserved, and boy oh boy has Carley Fortune done just that.

Alice + Charlie are a match made in literary heaven. For all his charm and humor, he is a man struggling to overcome his losses and the feeling that he doesn’t deserve his HEA. Alice, having always played it safe, is worried about a reckless kind of love. Putting these two together for one perfectly imperfect summer was absolute dynamite.

While slower to connect with the story at first, by the time I was 25% in, I was fully connected. By the time I reached the third act, I was so anxious that these two wouldn’t get the happy ending they both deserved (Robinne Lee’s The Idea of You has completely traumatized me to the point of never knowing if an HEA is really coming our way).

And for those who loved Every Summer After as much as I did, well we get a whole lot more of Percy and Sam’s story in this book too. The found family aspect is strong. I adored watching Charlie and Nan become the best of friends, as well as Percy and Alice. These characters and their relationships all added so much to the book and never took away from the love story at its core. And as for that love story…well, let’s just say this book will easily make my 2025 favorite romances list.

Read if you like:
▪️summer nostalgia
▪️friends to lovers
▪️forced proximity
▪️found family
▪️text messages
▪️bucket lists
▪️fantastic banter


Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥

Thank you Berkley for the advanced copy!

[Jolie McAdoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was everythinggg definitely my favorite by Fortune so far. The romance was so sweet and I just wanted to give Charlie and Alice a hug the whole time. I need to go back and reread and annotate it again😭❤️

[ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ charlie is the blueprint🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

(also just a PSA as it wasn’t mentioned at the start of this book and i haven’t seen anyone mention it in reviews - this includes a pretty strong TW if you are a health anxiety girlie like me!! a lot of discussion about cardiac health issues)

[Eden Yonas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the last 300 pages of this in one sitting. I literally could not put it down! I didn’t realize just how much I needed Charlie and Alice’s story until I started this book and was like “…this is quite necessary. thank you mrs. fortune.” But all jokes aside, I loved this one so much it was so tender so sweet so stunning! Her books make me want a lake house. 4.5⭐️

edit: Crucial info alert! I cried! My head hurts!

[Maddy ✨ ~The Verse Vixen · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Some photographs capture a moment. Others capture a life you forgot you were living.”[◉°]

One Golden Summer is a shimmering love letter to memory, grief, healing, and the kind of summer that changes everything. Through the camera lens of Alice Everly—a burnt-out Toronto photographer nursing a bruised heart—we're pulled into a gentle, golden swirl of lake water, longing, and rediscovery. Together, they navigate a season of bucket lists, laughter, late-night confessions, and unexpected kisses beneath the stars. But love is never simple, especially when secrets lie beneath the surface. Told with warmth, wit, and deep emotional clarity, One Golden Summer is a tender portrait of second chances, the art of being truly seen, and the shimmering, fleeting magic of a summer that changes everything.

🩵ིྀSoulful wanderers..

🤽🏻‍♀️Alice Everly
Sensitive soul. Burnt-out lens. Big summer of brave.
Alice is a quiet force—an artist, a perfectionist, a people-pleaser with a heart full of longing. Burnt out and lost, she returns to Barry’s Bay to care for her Nan… and accidentally stumbles into rediscovering herself. With every photo, every dare, and every messy moment, Alice begins to believe she deserves to be seen—and loved. Cue: swoony stares with Charlie and a bucket list full of bold.

“I used to think the photo changed my life. But maybe it just captured the moment it started.”

🏊Charlie Florek
The charming golden boy. Hiding a hurricane.
On the surface? He's the life of the lake—flirty, funny, a walking wink. But inside? Charlie’s scared: of love, of loss, of not having enough time. His heart is literally fragile, and so is the armor he hides behind. Alice breaks through it. Slowly, sweetly. And he has to decide if he’s brave enough to love her back .

"You see the world so clearly, Alice. But do you ever let anyone see you?”

✮Plot Recap
📸 Through the Frame of Nostalgia
A single photograph—three teens, one yellow boat, and a moment suspended in time—anchors the entire novel. That image becomes Alice’s compass, guiding her back to Barry's Bay after her grandmother Nan’s fall. But what starts as a caretaking mission blooms into a reckoning with who Alice has become—and who she’s still scared to be.

💔 Burnout, Breakups, and Big Feelings
Alice’s life in Toronto is peak millennial chaos: corporate burnout, a dead-end relationship, and family dysfunction served with a side of guilt. But her retreat to Barry’s Bay is no passive escape—it’s a slow, brave return to self. And Nan? She’s the kind of wise, whiskey-witted grandmother we all deserve.

🚤 Enter: Charlie Florek
Oh, Charlie. The boy in the boat. The adult version? Still golden, still infuriatingly charming, but bruised in places you don’t see until the light hits just right. Their chemistry is instant, their banter electric, and their emotional push-pull? Deliciously agonizing. He cooks, he banters, he emotionally self-sabotages—it’s giving sad hot handyman with layers.

🎨 A Bucket List to Live Again
Alice’s summer bucket list—complete with reckless swims and bad art—brings levity and agency to her arc. Each item she checks off is less about romance and more about resurrection. Charlie is the spark, but the fire? That’s all Alice.

🖤 Love, Loss, and the Darkroom
What really lands is the novel’s emotional honesty. Love here isn’t a fairy tale—it’s terrifying, tentative, and tethered to mortality. When Charlie’s heart condition becomes a metaphor for emotional risk, the novel dares to ask: would you love someone even if you knew it might hurt? Alice says yes. And that yes feels earned.

🩵ིྀScene stealers
⟢Nan (Nanette Everly)
Alice’s badass granny. Wise, stubborn, and artsy. After a fall shakes her world, Nan teaches everyone around her that strength looks a lot like letting people in.

⟢Heather Everly
Loud, proud, and always right (mostly). Alice’s sister and hype woman. Behind the boldness? A soft heart navigating single motherhood and her own second chance at happiness.

⟢Sam Florek
Charlie’s younger brother, doctor, and rock. The kind of guy who listens, fixes broken hearts—literally and emotionally—and holds his family together with quiet love.

⟢Percy Florek
The calm in every storm. Pregnant, patient, and full of wisdom. She’s the friend you call at 2 a.m.—and the reason the Florek brothers find their way home.

⟢Nan’s Family
Chaotic, loud, loving. Twins causing trouble, a sweet teen niece, and parents who mean well. They test Alice’s patience—and prove love is always messy and worth it.

⟢John Kalinski
Nan’s old flame and friend. His cottage holds secrets, regrets, and second chances. His story with Nan mirrors Alice and Charlie’s: love that dares to come back.

⟢Harrison Singh
Charlie’s childhood buddy, Alice’s maybe-romance. Sweet, creative, safe. He’s the guy who makes sense… but does he make sparks?

⟢Elyse Cho
Alice’s tough-love mentor. Art first, always. She dares Alice to stop pleasing and start creating for herself.

𓇼Tone: Warm, thoughtful, a little cheeky at times. Balances emotional depth with light humor.

𓇼Voice: Engaging, modern, slightly literary but still casual enough to feel personal.

𓇼Structure:—easy to read-friendly.

𓇼Strengths: Poetic turns of phrase, emotional clarity, sharp character insight, and layered analysis.

🏖️Plot Devices

~The Photograph
One picture. Three teens. A yellow boat. It’s memory, longing, and the reason Alice picks up her camera again.

~The Summer Bucket List
Jump off the rock. Kiss a guy. Make bad art. A silly list turns serious—and life-changing.

~Flashbacks
Past summers meet present choices. Old wounds, first love, and everything in between come rushing back.

~Dialogue & Banter
Alice and Charlie’s flirt-fights? Electric. Their words cut, heal, and pull them closer.

~The Lake & Cottage
More than a setting—it’s a character. A place where hearts crack open and healing begins.

~Foreshadowing & Secrets
Charlie’s hiding something. Nan too. Bit by bit, the truth surfaces, raising the stakes.

ᯓ★Highlights for Me..
- The lake, summer vibes, and a mix of nostalgia with fresh experiences made the setting perfect. I totally Love the charm of lake life.

- Alice and Charlie were fantastic. I loved the glimpses of Sam, Percy, Nan, and Alice’s extended family—such an engaging cast.

- I devoured the book in under 24 hours. Carley’s writing flowed so well, keeping me hooked and away from my phone the entire time!

~Best for readers who love:

➤Found photographs and found selves
➤Intergenerational storytelling
➤Soft boys with emotional walls and secret tenderness
➤Women reclaiming joy, creativity, and desire
➤Lake cottages, pierogi-making, and treehouse kisses

⊹ ࣪ ﹏﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
♡⃛📷 Final Shot: A Story Worth Capturing...
By the final frame, One Golden Summer isn’t just a romance—it’s a portrait of legacy, memory, and becoming visible in your own life. Alice and Charlie’s love is beautiful, but it’s Alice’s transformation—from invisible to incandescent—that lingers.It's the kind of novel you finish with a sigh and a smile, the kind you want to press into the hands of your best friend while whispering, “This one. This is the one.”A warm, tender summer read with just enough ache to keep you up past midnight. For fans of Every Summer After, Beach Read, and that one photo you can’t delete.It’s about risking softness, daring to love when it’s scary, and choosing joy over perfection. And by the end? You’ll want to jump in that lake too.

🌊-3.5 : "Not every summer glows golden — but this one shimmered just enough."

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I’m a little mad at Carley Fortune for making us wait so long for Charlie Florek’s story after Every Summer After—which was quite a fascinating read for me… until it wasn’t (yes, I’m talking about that big twist in the last quarter that made me hate the book). But even that didn’t stop me from rooting for Charlie—an incorrigible flirt, a human beam of sunshine with his smart-ass comments, huge ego, and Greek-god-level looks, including those green eyes you could get drunk on with just a quick glance!

Thankfully, the wait is over, and this book turned out to be my favorite of Fortune’s works. Maybe I’m biased, maybe reading about Charlie and seeing his character evolve made me extra giddy, but I couldn’t help feeling pure joy as I followed Alice and Charlie’s slow-burn, opposites-attract, steamy romance that had me grinning from ear to ear until my face hurt. It was an absolute pleasure to return to Barry’s Bay, with its spectacular views that make you want to dive into the pages and never return to reality.

In this novel, Alice Everly returns to this magical place after 15 years to lift her grandmother’s spirits as she recovers from hip surgery. This town holds special meaning for Alice—it’s where she first found her purpose as a photographer. She even once photographed three familiar faces—young Sam, Charlie, and Percy (yes, the main characters from Every Summer After), though she was too shy to introduce herself. Instead, she submitted the photo to a contest that won her an award and kick-started her career.

But now, Alice feels lost. With her sisters moving on with their lives, her divorced parents in their own worlds, and a fresh heartbreak from the long-term boyfriend she planned to build a life with (who, by the way, had the audacity to get engaged to someone else immediately after their breakup), she buries herself in work. Needing a reset, she heads to Barry’s Bay to recharge. The one thing she didn’t count on? The absolute flirt, walking sex magnet that is Charlie Florek—who, in addition to taking care of the place she’s staying in, is adamant about taking care of both her nan and her. Charlie never takes no for an answer, easily getting under Alice’s skin despite her best efforts to resist. But the sparks don’t just fly—they’re about to set the whole town on fire. The only way to survive? Giving her heart a second chance, even though Charlie insists he’s not the kind of guy she can build a future with. But with him, she feels alive again—like she’s 17, refreshed, reborn, laughing more, finding her path, and falling hard. Will they take a chance on love, despite Charlie’s hesitations?

I loved this book with my whole heart. Alice’s journey of self-discovery was beautiful to witness, like watching a butterfly emerge from its cocoon. And Charlie? He completely melted me with his charm, witty banter, and undeniable presence. I only docked half a point because I rolled my eyes at the final twist revealing the biggest obstacle between them—it was hinted at the beginning, but still made me groan. That said, I adored their intense friends-to-lovers romance so much that I’m rounding my 4.5 stars up to a full 5. Carley Fortune, thank you for finally giving us Charlie Florek’s story—it was absolutely worth the wait!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with an ARC of one of my most anticipated romances in exchange for my honest thoughts. Special thanks to Carley Fortune for finally delivering Charlie Florek’s story!

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[Jessica Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think my pupils are permanently dilated from Charlie Florek

(highly recommend reading via audiobook)

[ivy || v. busy · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars
i really wanted to enjoy this because of all the four and five star ratings, but unfortunately another book has failed to hit the mark for me again. i didn’t have any huge glaring red flags with this book, but it was just so bland. the characters had no personality and the storyline had no magical touch that kept me interested. i don’t feel like writing much because i’m just really disappointed. the book was far too long and so many unnecessary details were added. there was also SO. MUCH. MISCOMMUNICATION!! please charlie, she’s an adult - you could’ve told her beforehand and just let her decide what she wanted to do with her ADULT life 😊 .

however, i can see how some people like it. the summer vibes in here were some of the best i’ve ever read. the cottage, the lake, and the bucket list were just so 😩 i yearn for this life 🙏

⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆

ꕥ pre-read . ݁₊ ⊹ . 🌊
time to finally pick this up as i'm in the height of summer rn 🙂‍↕️.

[cherie ^_-★ (ia—will be back on 8 sep) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75 stars ⭐
⤷ minor spoilers ahead!! ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪

“Just see where the sun takes you. And don’t forget: Good things happen at the lake.” 🌊

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ my thoughts
this book was actually so good! i genuinely didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as i did and i’m so glad i gave it a chance. like many others have said, the summer vibes were immaculate 🤌🏻 i felt like i was right there in barry’s bay with the characters, soaking up the sun and drifting in the water.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ characters
♡.ᐟ charlie
⤿ “He’s different from me—more outgoing, more confident, not shy at all. But we’re similar, too. He’s really attuned to people and takes care of them in his own way. We can spend hours and hours together, talking or not talking, and we don’t get sick of each other. He’s funny, but he’s also incredibly thoughtful. I can be myself when I’m with him. And I’ve never had so much fun. With anyone. Ever.”

charlie really grew on me in this one—i was surprised by how much i ended up loving him. he was still the cocky, shameless flirt we met in Every Summer After, but there was more depth to him here (i mean obviously... it is his book 😂) underneath all that charm, he had a big heart and carried deep regret. there’s this one scene where alice tells him he’s not the same person he once was, and that shifted something in me—it made it easier to overlook what he did in the past.

♡.ᐟ alice
alice was shy and a people pleaser at first, but i loved how returning to barry’s bay allowed her to rediscover her purpose in photography, find her voice, and grow into a more confident version of herself. she was also unintentionally funny at times and i found myself laughing out loud at some of the things she said or did.

“This is exactly where I wanted to be when I was seventeen, but it’s also exactly where I want to be now.”
⤿ can we also talk about how she crossed paths with charlie, sam, and percy again sixteen years later and actually became part of their lives this time around? it was such a beautiful full-circle moment 🥹

♡.ᐟ charlie + alice
⤿ “When I see you and Charlie together, it reminds me of myself and your grandfather.”
“Because we laugh?”
“You laugh, Alice. You laugh that big, beautiful laugh of yours. And you’re more like yourself when you’re together. You’re always so busy taking care of everyone and making people happy, but you’re different around Charlie. There’s a lightness to you I haven’t seen in a long time—like you have the freedom to just be when you’re with him.”
“That’s just because I’m on vacation.”
“No, it’s because when you speak, he listens. When you smile, he smiles. When you need something, he offers help. When you give him something, he thanks you. You’re peas and carrots—I think you’ve found yourself a lifelong friend.”

the chemistry was chemistry-ing. the tension was tension-ing. i was giggling and kicking my feet. charlie and alice were so cute together 🥺 alice always gave more than she received, so it warmed my heart to see charlie finally give her the love and care she truly deserved (she gave that same love and care right back of course). he understood her so well, and there was no need for filters or pretense.

that said, how did she only realize he was in love with her the whole time at the end?! it was so obvious! (perfect example of denial at it’s finest 😭) and while i get why charlie did what he did, it was frustrating hearing him constantly say he wasn’t built for relationships or how things between them wouldn’t work out. i could literally feel my heart ache during those moments.

the ending also felt a little rushed—their conflict was resolved within a few chapters—but honestly? it’s whatever. i was just happy they got their happy ending.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ overall
this book was super bingeable (ashlyn and i read it in like two sittings) and i had a great time! it was the perfect summer read and i definitely think it deserves a spot in your summer tbr ~ if you didn’t like charlie in Every Summer After (like me), i say give him another chance—he might just win you over in this one too 🤭

────────── ⋆⋅end⋅⋆ ──────────

pre-read 🚤
it’s finally time for a summer read! i was hesitant to pick this one up at first because i didn’t like charlie in Every Summer After, but i figured i’d give it a chance since i’ve heard good things ~

first br with ashlyn babes 🩷

[Jayme · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHOA!

That’s what Alice Everly said when she first met the gorgeous Charlie Florek.

And, it’s what I said when I finished this book!

It’s the kind of Summer Romance that makes you feel DESPERATE to finally reach the HAPPILY EVER AFTER that we are all reading this genre for!

“Good things happen at the lake”.-That’s what Alice’s grandmother Nan has always said.

So when her Octogenarian grandmother falls and breaks a hip while dancing to the Abba song “Dancing Queen”, the now 33 year old Alice comes up with a plan to cheer her up-return to Barry’s Bay for a Summer of rest and rehabilitation.

Alice spent just one summer at a cottage in Barry’s Bay with Nan when she was a shy seventeen year old-hiding behind the lens of her camera. But it happens to be where she took the photo, that started her career as a photographer-the one of three teenagers speeding across the lake in a yellow boat.

Charlie Florek was nineteen when Alice took his photo from afar, though she never knew his name. He is still driving the restored yellow speedboat, but he’s all grown up now and against all odds-he happens to be the person who prepared the cottage for their arrival and stay.

The story counts down from Friday, June 27th-their first day at the lake-through their last day there, and we get to see a beautiful friendship unfold between Alice and Charlie.

And, eventually-a deeply emotional love story, though of course it isn’t always smooth sailing.

We first met Charlie Florek in the author’s DEBUT novel, “Every Summer After” which was his brother Sam’s love story-and quite frankly-I didn’t think this character was one we would ever see getting his own book-but I am so glad that we did.

Not only was it fun to catch up with Sam and Percy (yes, SHE is still rocking her break-up bangs!) But, I loved meeting the sometimes “goody two shoes” Alice and her wonderful grandmother Nan.

I MUCH PREFERRED this story to “Every Summer After” which felt too YA for my personal taste.

In fact this is MY FAVORITE book by Carley Fortune to date!

NOW AVAILABLE-just in time for Summer beach bags!

Thank You to Berkley for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!

[kim ౨ৎ [semi-ia]]

₊˚⊹⋆ 🌿 soft dnf at 85%
⤿ started july 8 · stopped at july 15

i was really enjoying this one until i wasn’t. not that the book was bad (it was really good) but i’m too obsessed with divine rivals right now to focus on anything else and i think it would be unfair to rate this one anything less than it truly deserves. charlie’s still the loml and i can’t wait to reread this next summer where i know im going to love it more. xx

[⋆˚୨ৎ˚⋆ Kim ⋆˚୨ৎ˚⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

જ⁀➴ 4 stars

"I know that he’s worth so much more than he thinks he is. I will give him everything I have—my time and my devotion and my heart. And I know he’ll give it right back to me. Because I know Charlie. The incorrigible flirt. The human beam of sunlight. The man I love.

He’s my best friend. And he’s remarkable."

˙✧˖°📷 ༘ ⋆｡˚𓇼🫧 ˙✧˖°📷 ༘ ⋆｡˚𓇼🫧 ˙✧˖°📷 ༘ ⋆｡˚𓇼🫧 ˙✧˖°📷 ༘ ⋆｡˚𓇼🫧 ˙✧˖°📷 ༘ ⋆｡˚𓇼🫧 ˙✧˖°
This was my very first Carley Fortune book, and I must say I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this! I heard a lot of things about what happened in Every Summer After in terms of the tropes, and I wasn't a huge fan of them. As a result, I've stayed away from her books for years. I picked this up because of my book club and went in with no expectations and no standards, and I came out so happy that I took a chance and read this.

Alice Everly is on the brink of work fatigue and burnout. As a photographer, she loves what she does, but she longs to do something solely for HER and not what others ask of her. When her grandmother breaks her hip and goes through rehab for it, they decide to pack up their things and move to Barry's Bay for the summer for some much-needed rest and relaxation. Alice hasn't been back in over a decade, but the last time she was here, she took a picture of 3 teenagers in a yellow boat out on the water, submitted it, and called it One Golden Summer. Fast forward to now, and Charlie Florek, one of the teenagers in that photo, and Alice cross paths. They spend the summer knocking out Alice's bucket list and maybe, just maybe, fall in love.

This was the perfect summertime read! If you want the full, immersive experience of reading this book, I highly suggest reading it on a bright, sunny day by the beach. If you don't live by the beach, then read it by a lake or a river, or just any naturally occurring body of water. (Don't forget sunscreen!) If you can't do any of those...maybe light a summery-themed candle instead lol. The writing was addictive, pulled me in, and made me lose track of time as I kept flipping the pages. It also helps that with its short chapters, you can't help but keep on reading to find out what happens next. It almost felt like I was actually at Barry's Bay watching all of this happen!

I know this is technically a sequel to Every Summer After, but the good news is that you don't have to read it to understand what's going on in One Golden Summer! Yes, Sam and Percy, the two main characters from Every Summer After, make appearances in this book, and there are mentions of the plot of Every Summer After in the book that I would argue are minor spoilers, but the plot primarily focuses on Charlie and Alice so it's not that much of a concern. I can see how some people may view these references to the Every Summer After plot as a bigger spoiler than I did if they have plans on reading it, but as someone who was turned off by the tropes that were in Every Summer After and has zero plans of reading it in the future, I didn't mind the brief recaps and references to the book to bring everyone up to speed.

Getting into the actual story and characters, I LOVED the banter between Charlie and Alice. Charlie was so charismatic and naturally funny and got Alice out of her shell, and I love how they complemented each other. Even Charlie had me cackling at some of his one-liners, and I don't think he had any business being as funny as he was. He just has that standard white boy humor, and it's not supposed to be THAT funny, but he had me laughing anyway. On the other hand, I liked how Alice helped Charlie open up, and he became more comfortable about his past and accepting it for what it was.

(As an aside: I love how close-knit the Everly family is. Their loyalty to each other and the love they have for each other made my ice-cold heart melt ever so slightly.)

This book had so many powerful messages that I think all of us can take away for our own lives:

⟢ Life is short. Enjoy it. Live your life for YOURSELF and no one else.
⟢ Your past doesn’t—and shouldn’t—define who you are as a person today. People are allowed to learn and grow from their mistakes and move on knowing that they're now a better and stronger person because of what they've been through.
⟢ Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself and what you want, and forge your own path. I love how Alice learned to speak up for herself and find her voice to stand up for what she wanted to do for her career.
⟢ Good things happen at the lake. Thanks, Nan.

There were two things I took of one star for in my rating:

⟢ Alice herself: There were times when I felt Alice was super pushy with Charlie when it was crystal clear he didn't want to do something in that moment. He has boundaries set (which I'll get to in my next point) and at least to me, he brought them up, and Alice would agree to said boundaries. Then, she'd want to ignore them and try to cross them when he wasn't comfortable with it and that gave me the massive ick.

⟢ Charlie: I wish we got Charlie's POV. Even if it was only a few chapters, I think having Charlie's POV was the one thing that would've tied everything up nicely and we could see things from his perspective. Considering what he was going through in the story with his past and the issues at hand in the present, it would've been nice to know what he was thinking in these moments with Alice, especially when it felt like Alice was trying to cross a line that he drew with his boundaries. I feel like I would’ve been able to empathize with him a little more than I already was while reading the book if we knew that was what was going on behind the scenes. I'm not sure if any of those things would've been or have been brought up in Every Summer After but regardless of whether it was or not, Charlie was still funny and interesting enough of a character that it would've been nice to get a POV from him.

Overall, this was a fun, quick, refreshing read from Carley Fortune, and I was surprised as to how much I liked it! If you're looking for the perfect summer read, this might be the book for you.☀️

(And I have to mention the Bookish Babes Book Club: thank y'all always for picking books that I either had on my TBR for years so I could finally read them, or books that I would never have picked up if it wasn't for you wonderful ladies💕)
˙✧˖°📷 ༘ ⋆｡˚𓇼🫧 ˙✧˖°📷 ༘ ⋆｡˚𓇼🫧 ˙✧˖°📷 ༘ ⋆｡˚𓇼🫧 ˙✧˖°📷 ༘ ⋆｡˚𓇼🫧 ˙✧˖°📷 ༘ ⋆｡˚𓇼🫧 ˙✧˖°
Trigger/content warnings: recounted death of family members, alcohol consumption, drug use, sexual themes/content (probably like a 1.5/5 on the spice scale, although this will be different for everyone based on their own preferences)

⋆˙⟡ 𝑅𝑒𝒶𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓊𝓅𝒹𝒶𝓉𝑒 (6/10/2025, 8:42 AM): I started reading this a couple of days ago...I blinked, and I'm suddenly over 100 pages in? What kind of magic is laced in this book? All of my other friends in my book club rated this 5 stars, so I'm hoping I feel the same way by the time I finish🤞🏼

⋆˙⟡ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: time for me to see what the hype is all about with Carley Fortune's books!💙🌅⛵️ (Yes, this is my first book from her, don't come for me😭)

I'm reading this for the Bookish Babes Book Club with a bunch of the lovely girlies from the hot girls read books Goodreads group!✨I'll be buddy/group reading this with Ayra, Anggi, Anzhelika, Bina, Breña, Cealie, Charisse, Clarissa, Crystalle, Desya, Elle, Eva, Evelin, Francesca, Freja, Hannah, Hanna, Helena, Iasmina, Ilanna, Kaitlynn, Kamila, Lara, Lis, Mayu, Mencía, Nada, Naiomi-Arrianna, Nikki, Pranjal, Sabrina, Sahara, Shannon, Shruti, Suhanii, Sydney, Tina, and Zoe!

[Christiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book pissed. me. off. it had some really cute 'giggling and kicking my feet' moments, but as soon as I started figuring out bro 'wanted to protect her' by not being with her, I was out. I truly truly hate that trope. You're adults, have a conversation.

[Katie Witruk · Rating 5 out of 5]

easily one of the best romances i’ve read

[Karla Espinosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't even begin to express how much I loved this story!! Favorite book of the year so far... so so so so good!!

[aislinn ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⤷ 4.5 stars - spoiler-free review below

(yes i lowered the rating a bit because B13 and K13 made me realize this is not worth 5 stars HAHA)

⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖𓂃 ོ𓂃⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖𓂃 ོ𓂃
🐚 oh my gosh, where do i even start? i went into this book expecting to enjoy it but i never would have thought i'd like it as much as i did. the vibes are perfection. when i say I want the perfect summer book, the perfect beach read, a book that reminds me of all the fun things that this beautiful season has to offer, this is what i meant. i honestly don't see a summer romance book being any better than this one.
⛱️ this book really hit so close to home in so many aspects. between the city i grew up in being Alice's city, Alice's close relationship with her grandma, the hospital i was born at being mentioned???? it was so easy and wonderful to visualize everything being described.
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖𓂃 ོ𓂃⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖𓂃 ོ𓂃
🌊 summary, in my own words
our FMC, Alice works as a freelance photographer and has a burning passion for it but she's used to always doing what other people want, worried about speaking up or inconveniencing others. she feels she never gets to truly showcase the beauty behind her shots. Alice begins to feel incredibly burnt out around the beginning of the book and decides to take 2 months off of working to visit the lake in a tiny town called Barry's Bay, the lake where she took one of her first ever photos at 17 years old. the one that started her career and changed everything. she brings her grandma, Nanette, along with her in hopes of getting some much-needed bonding time with her. at the lake, she meets our MMC. Charlie is this sarcastic, outgoing and completely selfless man who also happens to be vacationing at the lake. two people who refuse to fall in love for two different reasons, spending a summer together where good things happen, no biggie.
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖𓂃 ོ𓂃⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖𓂃 ོ𓂃
🌺characters

🌅 Alice Everly
"best believe i'm still bejewelled, when i walk in the room, i can still make the whole place shimmer"
i honestly loved her so much. i was worried at first that i wouldn't feel very connected to her but as time went on i realized how similar she actually is to me? in the beginning she is afraid to come out of her shell, her family literally calls her "turtle" but, by the end of the book you see how she flourished and became a brand new person. i adore the fact that once she pushed herself out of her comfort zone, she wasn't afraid to speak her mind and let people know what she really wants.

🌅 Charles Florek
"in a world of boys he's a gentleman"
okay soooo new book boyfriend unlocked AF, this man had me melting at everything he did. honestly, he could breathe and I'd melt but anyways the heart that this man has is truly only found in books likeeee, Carley Fortune WHY do this to me??? I'm out here yearning for someone that doesn't exist. i love a sarcastic man if it's not overly excessive and irritating so i loved him right away. I would compile a list of all the sweet things he did throughout the book but then i'd be here forever and would feel like i'm spoiling too many things.

🌅 Charlie+Alice
their song: enchanted - taylor swift
honestly this is probably one of my favourite couples i have ever read about. they go together like mf peanut butter and jelly I CANTTTT. they are everything together, I feel like Charlie is exactly what Alice needs and Alice is exactly what Charlie needs in life. they literally bring out that inner child in each other and i felt so giddy watching them fall in love. the tension was so thick i could not breathe. something i absolutely love about them is their maturity. they dealt with conflicts so well and communicated pretty well the entire time.
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖𓂃 ོ𓂃⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖𓂃 ོ𓂃

☀️one golden summer playlist
enchanted - taylor swift
"this night is sparkling, don't you let it go. I'm wonderstruck blushing all the way home"
invisible string - taylor swift
"all along there was some invisible string, tying you to me?"
can I call you tonight? - dayglow
"so can I call you tonight? I'm tryna make up my mind. just how I feel"
white mustang - lana del ray
"you're gonna hit me like lightning"
radio - lana del rey
"now my life is sweet like cinnamon, like a fucking dream I'm living in"
golden - harry styles
"you're so golden"
new person, same old mistakes - tame impala
"feel like a brand new person. well I don't care, I'm in love"
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖𓂃 ོ𓂃⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖𓂃 ོ𓂃

🥥 if you want to read about summer bucket lists, late-night talks on the dock, jet-ski and boating outings, top-tier banter, personal growth, teenage nostalgia, lazy beachside towns, countless pierogi dinners & unicorn pegasus floaties, then this book is calling your name.
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖𓂃 ོ𓂃⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖𓂃 ོ𓂃
🍦my favourite quotes
𓇼 ⋆.˚⋆.˚ 𓇼𓇼 ⋆.˚⋆.˚ 𓇼𓇼 ⋆.˚⋆.˚ 𓇼𓇼 ⋆.˚⋆.˚
☼︎"he stares into my eyes and it's the look from the photos. the look artists write songs and poems about"
𓇼 ⋆.˚⋆.˚ 𓇼
☼︎"there it is," he says to himself. "my Alice has the best laugh"
𓇼 ⋆.˚⋆.˚ 𓇼
☼︎"his smile grows. it's sunshine shimmering over the water. it's permanent summer"
𓇼 ⋆.˚⋆.˚ 𓇼
☼︎"that's why you should grab onto whatever makes you happy now and hold on for as long as you can. life's short."
𓇼 ⋆.˚⋆.˚ 𓇼
☼︎"when you aren't staring at him, he's staring at you. it's like watching a tennis match"
𓇼 ⋆.˚⋆.˚ 𓇼
☼︎”good things happen at the lake”
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖𓂃 ོ𓂃⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖𓂃 ོ𓂃



🥥˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧🌺 --pre-read

it's TIIIIIIIME. i have genuinely not seen any of my friends rate this one below 4 stars so i am sat and ready. also, it's kinda crazy i haven't ever read a carley fortune book considering her books are based in my hometown💙 ོ

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

💙🌊GOOD THINGS HAPPEN AT THE LAKE💙🌊 !!!!!!! One Golden Summer is the second book in the Barry's Bay series written by Carley Fortune and yes, IT'S ✨CHARLIE FLOREK'S✨ BOOK!!!!!!! I highly recommend reading Every Summer After first before this one just so you know the backstory and meet the characters. Honestly, I feel like this one is my favorite and it was the most relatable, the characters resonate with you on a deep level which feels like a warm comforting hug. I absolutely loved this book more than my words will ever tell you, if I could give this book a billion stars I totally would because it had me captivated the entire time. One Golden Summer is an emotional love story about two people who are afraid of letting themselves truly be seen, it's about perfectionism and regrets. This book better be in every beach girls book bag and or on your kindle because One Golden Summer is the perfect summer beach read that you won't want to miss out on. I had so many emotions while reading this beautiful story, I cried, I smiled, I was swooning, and I was kicking my feet in the air and giggling non-stop. It truly felt like Carley was right there holding my hand while I was reading this book, it felt like she was talking to my younger self through this beautiful and emotional summer love story. I can't recommend this book enough, please please do yourselves a favor and pick up this beautiful story immediately. 👑QUEEN CARLEY IS BACK WITH A UNFORGETTABLE AND BEAUTIFUL SUMMER READ👑!!!!!! Let me just take another minute and say how freaking beautiful this cover is, it's so aesthetic and beautifully detailed. ⏳🍉🧴Get ready to dip your toes in the sand at Barry's Bay with some watermelon slices and a messy bun⏳🍉🧴.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!

"🎀☀️I want you to have a great summer, too. Let your hair down. Do something stupid. Do something selfish🎀☀️".

"💅I think of all the beautiful, intelligent women in my life I have heard complain about everything from their thighs to their eyelashes💅".

"💔Things can change when you lose people💔".

Alice: "🖤🧸Today I am seventeen, but sometimes I wonder if I even exist🖤🧸".

"♾️❤️The thing about love languages, it's not just about how we express love, but how we receive love♾️❤️".

Grandma Nan: "❤️‍🩹💯Don't let wounds fester. It only gets harder to repair them❤️‍🩹💯".

"❣️🥺Falling in love is terrifying❣️🥺".

"💋🫶🏻🫂It feels like all the greatest kisses in one. Like kissing your high school crush, and the best friend you have fallen in love with, and the person you want to stand beside for as long as time will let you💋🫶🏻🫂".

💛🏝️Alice Everly's Barry's Bay Summer Bucket List💛🏝️
🪨1. Jump off the rock🪨.
💅👙2. Wear a skimpy bathing suit💅👙.
📚3. Read a smutty book📚.
🎂🎊4. Throw myself a birthday party🎂🎊.
💋5. Kiss a cute guy💋.
📸6. Take one good photo📸.
🎨7. Make a bunch of bad art🎨.
🧜‍♀️8. Learn how to do a back flip off the dock??? Front flip? A more elegant dive🧜‍♀️?
🌊9. Take up a water sport. Paddle boarding? Wake boarding? Water skiing🌊?
🏊‍♀️10. Go skinny dipping🏊‍♀️.
👯‍♀️11. Make a new friend👯‍♀️.
🌈12. Do something reckless🌈.
🌊13. Ride a jet ski🌊.
✨💄14. Glittery make up like Heather used to wear✨💄.
👗15. Put on a green dress👗.
😏16. Low-key drugs😏????
💤⭐️17. Sleep under the stars💤⭐️.

📸🎀Alice Everly feels like a certified badass behind the camera📸🎀. Alice is such a relatable character, she's such a people pleaser, she wants everyone to like her but she hates asking for help or being a inconvenience. Alice is a freelance photographer, she always feels in command with a camera in her hands. Nanette Everly, Alice's grandma, gave Alice her first camera when she was in high school. Alice has been a professional photographer for more than ten years. Alice's love language is acts of service, y'all this woman is literally the sweetest ever. Nanette Everly has always been Alice's biggest champion, but when Nan falls in dance class and breaks her hip, Alice wants to do something nice for Nan so she can heal. Alice and Nan return to Barry's Bay so Alice can cure Nan's happiness. Barry's Bay means coconut sunscreen, watermelon slices, and an unforgettable summer. Alice first went to this cottage when she was seventeen, now she's thirty-two and back again. When Alice was seventeen, she took a photograph of three teenagers and a yellow speedboat, seventeen summers later, the yellow boat shows up again. Alice and Nan are going to spend two months at the cottage from June through August because Alice wants Nan to have the best summer. This summer for Alice is all about taking risks and stepping outside of her comfort zone. This second golden summer is where memories are made for Alice and Charlie and soon after they will hold and cherish these golden memories forever.

👼🔥🥵Charlie Florek is a guardian angel and a ripped cottage hottie👼🔥🥵. Charlie is so very sweet and so thoughtful, he's the one that got the cottage all set up for Alice and Nan before they arrived. Charlie is known as the heart breaker across the bay, he has dimples, celery green eyes, and the most perfect jawline. Charlie is an unapologetic flirt, his love language is teasing/joking and physical touch. Charlie is very full of himself, but he's so charming and such a cutie patootie. Charlie is the type of guy who wears his emotions on his sleeves, us women love a man that's not afraid to cry. Charlie has had a rough childhood, he was only fourteen years old when his father passed away from a heart attack and then he was thirty-two years old when his mom died, but she was sick for two years before she lost her life. Charlie is now thirty-five years old and he's about to have the best summer of his life with Alice and Nan. Charlie doesn't believe the soulmate thing is in the cards for him because all he's ever had was failed relationships. I absolutely adore Charlie, he's vulnerable, he's unapologetically himself. Did I also mention that Charlie has a hidden talent? This man can sing, Charlie Florek has the voice of an angel. As Charlie was talking about losing his parents, I just wanted to reach into my kindle and give him the biggest hug ever. Charlie, I will forever love you and hold you close to my heart.

💛🏝️☀️Alice Everly and Charlie Florek are about to have the best golden summer of their lives💛🏝️☀️. Alice and Charlie were the absolute cutest book characters, they made me laugh and swoon so much. Charlie and Alice are going to have the best one golden summer fling with no strings attached. Their banter was top tier absolutely hilarious, they made me laugh and cry all on the same page. Charlie calls Alice City Girl which was just adorable. Okay Charlie is officially my book boyfriend, he baked a chocolate layered cake for Alice's birthday which happens to fall on Canada Day. Charlie even paints Nan's nails for her which just made me swoon for this man. I was so happy to see mentions of Percy and Sam in this book, it was so wholesome to catch up with their lives even though we only see a little bit of them. During their summer, Charlie and Alice are going to complete seventeen year old Alice's bucket list. Charlie sees Alice like no one ever has before. "You are a bad influence", Alice says, "but I can be a bad influence too". Together Alice and Charlie laugh until tears are pouring down their faces, which of course made me laugh too. This summer, Alice and Charlie will float on the lake, race around in the boat, jump off cliffs, and stroll around on jet ski's. I absolutely loved and adored watching the two form a strong friendship and soon later become the cutest love birds. "I love you, Alice Everly". "Because, I love you too, Charlie Florek". It's official, Nan and Alice have given Charlie the summer he has always wanted. Alice and Charlie will forever remain my favorite summer book couple of 2025.

[Uswah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️
“Good things happen at the lake.” 🥹💙🫠

Ok sooo One Golden Summer was my first Carley Fortune book and honestly?? I get the hype. It gave me everything I was craving in a summer read—lake days, emotional healing, slow romance, just all the vibes. I really wasn’t expecting to feel this soft after reading it but 😭 here we are. It’s not a flawless book by any means, but it was exactly what I needed. Cutesy, cozy, and surprisingly emotional. 🫠

Let’s talk about Alice Everly—the main girl. I loved her. She’s a photographer (aka ✨artsy queen✨) and just such a gentle soul. She puts everyone before herself, which was both sweet and so sad to watch. Like babe please stand up 😭🤧😢 but also I get it. Her character growth felt so real though—when she started prioritizing herself, making her lil summer list, doing things that brought her joy?? That made me so emotional for no reason 🥹 I was just so proud of her.

AND THEN. Charlie Florek. THE man. The myth. The emotionally wrecked golden retriever of a love interest 🫠 I finally understand why y’all are out here saying “I need a Charlie Florek in my life” because YES. SAME. He’s sweet, soft, supportive, and he’s been through it. And that one hospital scene (reveal. PAIN.) fully broke me and Alice at the same time. Like 😭 my heart actually shattered. He deserves the world and then some.

Their romance? Slow-burn perfection. When they first met/talked I was legit giggling and kicking my feet. Charlie has RIZZ, okay don’t even argue with me 🤭 Their chemistry felt natural and warm, not forced. It wasn’t all fluff either—they really saw each other, held space for each other’s hurt, and grew together. Ugh. Soulmate behavior. 🫂

Also?? The side characters?? Carley Fortune really said “you’re gonna care about the whole town” and I did. The sibling reunion made me cry, Nan is iconic in her own right, Sam and Percy were so sweet and real, and Susie & Bennett?? Ahhhh my cuties.

Overall, this was just a really cozy, heartfelt book about second chances, self-discovery, and soft, quiet love. Not a life-changing read, but it did hug my heart a little. If you’re looking for something tender, summer-y, and a lil emotional but not too heavy—this is the one 🥹💛

Read it, cry a little, fall in love, then come back so we can all scream about Charlie together 🤝🫶🤭

——————————————————
☀︎༄.°pre-read ☀︎༄.°

It’s time for a summer read🤭💙💙 I’m sooo excited about this one

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever been truly surprised in the best way possible by something? That was me with the HUGEST grin on my face after reading the third paragraph of the prologue to Carley Fortune’s newest book and realizing that it was a spin-off sequel to one of my all-time favorite books Every Summer After! (I didn't read the blurb). Giddy doesn’t even begin to describe it!

Thirty-two-year-old Alice Everly is the ‘good girl’ in her family and a talented Toronto-based photographer. She takes care of everyone else and does what her clients ask without making waves. A photo she took during a vacation to Barry’s Bay sixteen years ago of three young teenagers in a yellow speedboat inspired her career, but she's been in a rut lately.

Then comes the call that her beloved Nan fell and is recovering from hip replacement surgery. Alice drops everything and makes arrangements to rent the Barry’s Bay cottage of Nan’s old friend John for the summer. He’s not there, but he’s left these ladies in good hands with the handsome guy across the lake who drives a familiar yellow speedboat: Charlie Florek.

Sam’s big brother is back! Charlie may no longer be the teen boy across the lake who Alice secretly crushed on when she was a shy seventeen year old, but if you read Every Summer After my review you’ll know that Charlie is not lacking confidence when it comes to members of the female persuasion. Now thirty-five, he’s still cocky, extremely flirtatious and not shy about self-expression! I love him. Seriously, he could charm the fur off a cat. He wasn’t expecting to find his match in Alice, though. Her family calls her “Turtle”, but she’s starting to come out of her shell!

A grocery store run-in involving cucumbers (no innuendo there, I’m sure 😏) begins a very fun, fast-moving friendship between Alice and Charlie who have both convinced themselves that it won’t be any problem to stay friends. They both claim to not want a relationship, but who says they can’t enjoy a lot of few "perks" before summer ends? What’s that about best laid plans … ?

As Alice and Charlie’s lives and families become more intertwined, will they be able to deny how close they’ve become and go their separate ways at the end of the summer as planned? Fate may have its own unexpected hand to play.

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. I was thrilled to catch up with Sam and Percy and chef Julien from the first book and meet many new and wonderful characters like Alice’s spunky grandmother Nan, wild-card sister Heather and eclectic twin siblings Lavinia and Luca. They were all so fun!

Yes, this is romance and certain things are expected. What I appreciated is that there were also some serious issues addressed like grief, regrets, aging and health conditions without the story going heavy. This is fairly spicy at times but didn’t go crass as some in the genre have tended to lately. The chemistry between Alice and Charlie was sizzling, but their friendship was also a beautiful thing, and I loved them both! You can read this as a standalone, but it will spoil major aspects of the first book. I highly recommend you read them in order for the best experience.

As Nan tells Alice: “Good things happen at the lake.”

You bet they do! I’ll go back to Barry’s Bay ANY time Fortune wants to take me there!


★★★★★❤️

Huge thanks to Berkley Publishing, NetGalley and author Carley Fortune for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s publishing on May 6th, 2025.

[Paige 💫 · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Because for once in my life, I don’t feel like I’m on the sidelines. For once, I’m in the photo.”

WOW I was not expecting this to be so good!!

Full disclosure, I was not a big fan of the first book in the series (Every Summer After), so I was apprehensive starting this given what unfolded with Charlie's character. I'm happy to say I fell in love with this story at the very start. It is THE perfect summer romance. I felt like I was on a summer holiday vacation with salty hair while reading this which says a lot considering it is freezing in Australia right now.

Charlie and Alice had so much chemistry and banter. Their dynamic really showed me another side to Charlie and let me understand him more. He's definitely matured from where he was and there is more to the story. Charlie's grief was explored more closely which I loved. I heavily related to Alice and I loved the tender way Charlie treated her. To be listened to, is to be heard and Charlie definitely saw through Alice. It was empowering seeing Alice take back control of her life and put herself first, while also opening herself up to Charlie.

“But the thing about love languages,” Charlie says, “is it’s not just about how we express love, but how we receive love. You need someone to do something for you that makes you feel loved. Someone to help you.” I shake my head. “I hate asking for help.” “That’s because deep down, you want someone to see what you need before you have to ask.” This is me waving the green flag at you Charlie, you've been redeemed!!

I loved the concept of them meeting without really meeting while they were younger and being drawn back in. They are definitely invisible string coded.

This book is the perfect love letter for self discovery in your mid 20's - 30's and navigating parental grief. While it does touch on some heavier subjects, it is perfectly complimented with sweet moments.

If you were a fan of the first book, you'll appreciate some surprise appearances in this book, so pick it up!

Thanks Penguin Random House Australia for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Abbie Konnick · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 🌟

[Kennedy Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As far as romance books go, this was a recipe for success for me. It follows our FMC Alice who is grappling with a breakup and stuck in the rat race of being a photographer/losing her passion for her work. Add in a MMC who shows his love via acts of service and I WAS DONE FOR.

Alice is me. I loved Charlie’s cocky sense of humor.

The only thing I didn’t particularly love was the ‘third act breakup,’ but I’m honestly not a fan of most of them.

“It's been the busiest season of my career, but far from the most fulfilling…… I told myself if I worked hard enough, I'd reach the end of the rainbow and be rewarded with a windfall of artistic freedom. But the rainbow never ends. I'm stuck.”

“That's because deep down, you want someone to see what you need before you have to ask."

Catch me bringing my camera everywhere with me for the foreseeable future.

The most perfect summer read imo!!