Robin’s Rave Reviews 2025
Readers, get ready for a one-two punch with ONE GOLDEN SUMMER by Carley Fortune, the sequel to EVERY SUMMER AFTER! Put these at the top of your summer romance reading list!
This spring I read EVERY SUMMER AFTER (link to my review) and LOVED it! Carley didn’t disappoint with the follow-up story, her new release, ONE GOLDEN SUMMER.
Although these novels could be read as stand-alones, I would highly suggest reading EVERY SUMMER AFTER first to get the background of the characters. EVERY SUMMER AFTER is the romance between Percy (Persephone) and Sam set at their lake cottages at Barry’s Bay. Carley’s new book, ONE GOLDEN SUMMER, returns to the same location, but we get the romance between Alice and Charlie, Sam’s brother.
One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune – Book Summary
“Good things happen at the lake.” – Nan
Alice spent the summer with her grandmother at the lake when she was seventeen. She watched three teens, two boys and one girl, from a distance, wishing she could be part of their group but being too shy to introduce herself.
That summer, Alice got her first camera. One shot, capturing a carefree moment of the three teens speeding across the lake in a yellow boat, started Alice’s path to a photography career. Now in her thirties and unhappy with following someone else’s vision in her commercial photography business, she takes time off to care for Nan after a hip replacement. She also hopes to recapture her joy of photography during her time away from work. Alice arranges for them to spend the summer in the same lake cottage to cheer up her grandma while she recuperates.
Amazingly, the person preparing the cabin for their visit is the neighbor Charlie, one of the boys from the boat photo. Although readers may remember Charlie as the “bad boy” from the first book, he’s now in his thirties. Readers want to see if Charlie can redeem himself.
Adult Alice decides to live this summer doing all the things she was too scared to do when she was seventeen. She creates a summer bucket list to break out of her introverted shell. Charlie seems to have a photogenic memory from the quick glance he sneaks of her list. Throughout the summer, he helps Alice check off the activities.
Alice tries to keep her distance from flirtatious Charlie. They have great banter, and conversation is easy, but she’s getting over a recent break-up. Charlie says he just wants to be friends, even though their chemistry is on fire when they’re around each other.
For the first time, Alice feels like she can totally be herself around a guy and likes that Charlie sees her for who she is. Even though she has always played it safe, and he continues to give her mixed signals, several times she tries to take their relationship to the next level and gets shot down.
With the baggage of deep personal loss, his past actions and a secret he holds, he doesn’t feel he deserves a HEA. He pushes her away, knowing he desires to do the opposite.
My Thoughts
Alice and Nan have a sweet, caring relationship. I like many things about their connection, but especially that they were doing sewing projects together at the cabin. (If my mother-in-law were still with us, that would be her, doing projects with her grandkids!)
The romance is a slow burn, since Alice isn’t sure she’s ready for a new relationship and Charlie insists he wants to just be friends. The push/pull of ‘will they/won’t they’ chemistry makes for great reading. They can fool themselves, but the reader knows where it’s heading! Take note: this book is not a “sweet” romance. It has some heat to it. The build is wonderful with the one step forward, two steps back approach.
Charlie tells Alice she’s trouble, recognizing he has met his match, IF he lets her in. Although Charlie is still a flirt with a huge ego in this book, we get to see the real Charlie that hides behind the mask. Gorgeous Charlie is smart, quick-witted, humorous, charming, and caring. He goes out of his way to help Alice and Nan, even becoming friends with Nan without ulterior motives. Charlie even makes opportunities for Alice to complete her bucket list while he also completes a sweet project for Sam and Percy.
I’ve heard people in the reading community ask, “Who’s your book boyfriend?” I never had an answer. No one stood out. Now I do-Charlie Florek, the same character I didn’t overly like in the first book! I appreciated seeing him mature into an adult. Like most people, he hid his insecurities behind a mask, until he meets Alice who sees right through him.
Even in EVERY SUMMER AFTER, we see hints that adult Charlie has changed. I like that Carley let the “bad boy” mature. He becomes a better person who doesn’t have to suffer his whole life for teenage mistakes.
Consider purchasing EVERY SUMMER AFTER and/or ONE GOLDEN SUMMER by Carley Fortune through these links on Bookshop.org to help support independent mom and pop bookstores. I like to support MacIntosh Books on Sanibel Island with their recovery after Hurricane Ian. (I don’t receive any commission from this. I simply want to help independent bookstores.)
About the Author
Carley Fortune is an award-winning journalist, having worked as an editor at some of Canada’s top publications. Now, she’s a #1 New York Times and #1 Globe and Mail bestselling author, as well.
Carley was born in Toronto but lived in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia until age 8. That’s when her family permanently moved to Barry’s Bay, a tiny lakeside town in Ontario, Canada, the setting for EVERY SUMMER AFTER and ONE GOLDEN SUMMER. She currently lives in Toronto with her husband and two sons.
If You Like…
After devouring EVERY SUMMER AFTER and ONE GOLDEN SUMMER by Carley Fortune, you may like these books:Â THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY by Jenny Han and LOVE AND OTHER WORDS by Christina Lauren. I’ve included a link to Bookshop.org for both of them as well. Happy reading!
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Carley Fortune is an award-winning journalist, having worked as an editor at some of Canada’s top publications. Now, she’s a #1 New York Times and #1 Globe and Mail bestselling author, as well.