Loved every bit of this story! What a great beach read! It made me laugh and cry. What a tender love story and coming of age journey!

Help this book has ruined me! 100% lived up to all the hype.

‘Every Summer After’ is one of those books that has that elusive “it” factor and deserves all the accolades! This heartfelt story has it all: the ache of first love, friends-to-lovers romance, and two very flawed characters who were messy, funny, sweet and just very relatable.

Percy and Sam grew up spending summers on a lake in the small town of Barry’s Bay, Canada. If you’ve ever been lucky enough to spend any time in the summer in Canada, this part of the book will inspire nostalgia for the peaceful beauty of summers in Canada.

The two timelines worked perfectly for me. “Before” takes place beginning when Percy and Sam first met 13 years ago. They way the author develops their first love reminded me of my early romance-reading days and could not have been sweeter or more emotional.

”The way I felt about you was always so clear to me—even when we were young I knew you and I were meant for each other. Two halves of a whole. I loved you so much that the word ‘love’ didn’t seem big enough for how I felt.”

Something happened and Percy and Sam stopped speaking. The “Now” chapters take place after an event brings Percy back to Barry’s Bay. All of her old feelings for Sam come flooding back. My heart ached for them! This book had me all up in my feels. It’s crystal clear they two still have powerful feelings for each other but something happened all those years ago to come between their love for each other.

”Betrayals don’t cancel each other out. They just hurt more.”

MY HEART! Carley Fortune has written a sweet, sexy and complicated romance that perfectly captures the emotions and nostalgia of first love. Kudos to the cover designer as well for the lovely book cover design. ‘Every Summer After’ is the perfect summer romance!

”I don't take things for granted anymore. I don't take people for granted. And I know time is not infinite.”

(I received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.)

Every Summer After is a spectacular debut from author Carley Fortune. This is one of my favorite romance novels, and I “felt” this book as opposed to just reading it. It is about the relationship between Sam and Persephone (Percy) who meet as teenagers at Percy’s family’s cottage on her vacation home in Barry’s Bay, Canada. The story spans 12 years and follows the endearing and sweet friendship of Sam and Percy from the time they meet until the present day. It alternates between the present and flashbacks of each of the six summers that Sam and Percy spent together, and chronicles how their friendship evolves into something much more. This story was an endearing “friends to lovers” story, while at the same time being a complex and emotional love story.

I immediately fell in love with Percy and Sam. Their connection and relationship was entirely believable. All of the characters were deeply developed, came to life and were relatable. The story was filled with authentic dialogue and realistic situations. The author absolutely captured the angst and vulnerability of young love, developing identity, guilt, regret, resentment, and second chances. Issues with anxiety and grief were also sensitively explored. I loved the well-plotted storytelling and could not put the book down, wanting to find out what had driven apart this couple who once seemed fated for each other. The story was heart rending, and I came away feeling like I intimately knew the characters, (including Sam’s brother Charlie).

The setting of the cottage by the water was vividly portrayed and would make any reader nostalgic for past summer days being spent by the lake or at camp. All of the chapters in the present took place over one weekend, and the majority of the book took place in flashbacks. There was a slow build-up to the end of the story, and I wished that more chapters had been devoted to the present day and focused on the characters as adults working through their conflicts. Although a lot of the book was spent on the characters as teenagers, I did not consider this YA (young adult) fiction. When the book ended, I wanted to start reading it again! I am still thinking about these characters and would love a sequel.

I can’t believe that this is the author’s first book. It is a beautiful and emotionally satisfying debut and is the perfect summer beach read. It is deserving of all the current hype. This is a book that I won’t ever forget. I can’t imagine anyone not loving it.

I loved this debut. I think it was absolutely delightful.

This had a lot going on with the flashbacks and I think that seeing the arc and development of Percy and Sam’s relationship was a pleasure. From middle school age through their teen years, their friendship and eventual love is really special to behold. The first love element that leads to a second chance romance is a unique trope that I have not often read.

The book follows Persephone Fraser after she returns back to the lakeside town that she spent summers in growing up and where she first fell in love. She is coming back but the boy she loved is going to be there too. With a series of flashbacks interspersed with real time we as the reader are able to see the growth and development of the relationship she has with Sam(the boy next door-literally), all while not knowing exactly what happened to get them to this place.

This book is romantic and sexy. I loved the second chance romance elements and I look forward to Carley Fortune’s next release. Thank you Berkeley and NetGalley for the opportunity to check this one out!

Ten years ago, Percy lost her best friend and true love. Since that day, she's been trying to fill the Sam-sized hole in her life. When Percy gets news that Sam's mother has passed away--someone Percy considered a second mother--she makes the journey back to Barry's Bay, where she spent several summers growing up, in more ways than one, with Sam at their neighboring lake houses. When Percy comes face-to-face with Sam, her past comes rushing back, along with the memories and the guilt that haunt her every day. The author alternates between present time and the past--from the first summer Percy and Sam met and each summer after until their dramatic breakup. It is a well-told story of lost love, growing up, and forgiveness. I enjoyed the story immensely and had a hard time putting it down!

Can you find your soulmate when you're 13? Persephone and Sam met when Percy's family moved into the lake house next door to Sam, for the summer. From then they were inseparable. Best friends growing up together, summer by summer. Until something broke them.

A decade later, Percy gets a call to come back to town for the funeral of Sam's mother. It brings all the old feelings to the surface, along with some secrets Percy would rather stay hidden.

The story moves between the current day and the past, and because we essentially get to see both characters grow up it really feels like you know them intimately. The main characters, but also the supporting characters, were written so wonderfully that you'll swear you do know them off the pages of the book. That also means you'll be heartbroken when you turn the last page and they are gone from your life.

I won't tell you too much about what happens in the story, because there is a bit of mystery as to why they're no longer friends and I don't want to spoil it. I'll just say that it's a beautiful, and moving story that you're going to want to pick up if you haven't already!

When it comes to summer, I am a sucker for books with the word summer in the title. I am also a sucker for books that have all the hype. Right now, Every Summer After by Carley Fortune seems to be hyped up on my FYP on tiktok. And so, I was a goner when it came to reading this book. Every Summer After follows Percy Fraser, whose parents have bought a cabin on Barry’s Bay when she was a preteen. Turns out the cabin is next door to two brothers — Charlie and Sam Florek. Their mother owns a restaurant in town that serves pierogies. Flash forward to the future and Percy has not been to Barry’s Bay in years. She’s living her life in Toronto with a swanky apartment and a string of boyfriends. She hasn’t spoken to Sam, her first love and former best friend, in years. That is, until Charlie calls her to let her know their mom has died. And so, Percy returns to Barry’s Bay for the funeral and to reunite with Sam — as well as face the mistake she made many years ago.

Every Summer After delivered exactly what I expected. I do have to say — I think the comparisons to The Summer I Turned Pretty are merited. While I prefered Han’s trilogy, Fortune’s debut was no slouch. Percy feels real. She’s far from perfect and has made some big mistakes. However, there’s a way through and I appreciate that. Also, I loved reading the different summers and progressions through her relationship with Sam. I did like the past summer parts better than present day. The pacing of this book was slightly slower than I anticipated, but I have no complaints. This was a superb summer read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Clearly I loved this one! I loved the characters and while I figured some things would occur, I enjoyed the way they played out. This is a great summer read, a pretty quick one too.

I’d be excited to see these characters again. While I loved the main characters, there were some smaller characters I’d love to see more of later on.

How do you properly write a review for a book that feels like it captured your whole heart and soul? This book hit just so close to home for so many reasons. I flipped between relating so much to Sam, then Percy, and back while I read Every Summer After. I can't believe this book is a debut, Carley Fortune clearly knows her way with words and how to create an incredibly gorgeous story full of all the emotions - betrayal, longing, secrets, deep rooted grief and pure love. I adore second chance love stories, then mix it with a first love second chance.. you've got me hooked.

Percy was such a relatable character in so many ways. Sam was such an old, lovable soul. Charlie was.. Charlie in the best way. These characters were just incredible and I dream of being their friend. While this book follows a typical romance novels path, it felt so much more real, even if it was fairly obvious what was coming, it still hit the mark and left me absolutely sobbing so many times.

I could spend my entire day telling you about this book and how gorgeous it is - I mean it's set in cottage country in Ontario - but I'll save my time and tell you to just go read this Book of the Summer. Go, now!

Fortune's debut has so much heart and nostalgia. This coming-of-age story set in a lake town in Canada is the perfect summer read that transports you back to what it feels like to be a teenager experiencing your first love and the heartbreak and lingering "what-if's" it can cause well beyond and even into adulthood. This was a beautiful novel.

I still can’t believe EVERY SUMMER AFTER by Carley Fortune is a debut! She broke my heart over and over again. Carley had me feeling like I was sitting on the dock, feet dangling in the water, and giggling at something silly that Sam has said. Percy and Sam connected right away and spent their childhood and tween years practically attached at the hip, until they didnt. Throughout the whole story the reader is trying to figure out what drove them apart and it is truly heart breaking.

Every reader needs to put EVERY SUMMER AFTER on their TBR pile right now if they haven’t read it already. This story made me an instant fan of Carley Fortune and I’m so excited to see what she writes next. Her words put you right there in the middle of all the action to the point where you can actually feel the pain and heartache that Percy and Sam are going through. Carley will also have the reader craving perogies like never before.

The bond that Percy and Sam share is innocent and so lovely, Carley Fortune’s words making the reader truly care about all they are going through. Even though they only see each other when Percy’s family goes to their summer cabin each summer, their bond is very tight. Their story is told in alternating chapters of past and present. The present has Percy back at the lake for Sam’s mother’s funeral. Keep the tissues close by when all of this is going down because there will be tears. Many tears!😥 EVERY SUMMER AFTER gave me all the feels, happy and sad, and I really loved every minute of it. Do yourself a favor and grab your copy now!


I received a complimentary copy of this book from Berkley through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Sometimes you don't realize you need a book to help you remember who you were when you were young.

For me, <i>Every Summer After</i> is that book.

This romance novel jumps back and forth between Persephone's past and present - the past, in which she meets a boy and has some very incredible summers, and the present, in which she and that boy have not spoke in so long, yet they come crashing back to each other.

I was drawn into this book for so many reasons, mostly because past Persephone feels so much like me. Like Persephone, I went through a hard time with friends when I was young, I loved scary movies and making friendship bracelets, stuck onto the knee of my jeans while I turned the embroidery floss into something beautiful. Like Persephone, I used to go to a cabin too, although there was no cute boy next door.

Nonetheless, this novel pulled me right back into that world. And I never wanted to leave.

It's incredibly hard to believe that this is Carley Fortune's first novel, because the way she wove this story had me drowning in it, never wanting to come up for breath. I read it so quickly, devouring the pages. And yet I wanted to slow down, because I really didn't want to say goodbye.

This coming of age story will pull at your heartstrings, and no matter your upbringing, it'll make you wish for simpler times.

I can only hope that Ms. Fortune writes fast, because I need more of her words. I need all of her words.

In a nutshell, Every Summer After is the story of young love. Percy and Sam meet in their teens at the lake where Percy’s family spends their summers and Sam lives year round. They become best friends and slowly their love for one another builds. Slowly as in summer after summer.

There’s also a present day storyline where Percy is visiting the lake because Sam’s mother has passed away. There’s a big secret about why she and Sam did not work out 10 years earlier, and only Percy knows why.

Just as their past relationship is relayed as becoming more intimate, the present storyline also progresses in the same way.

Every Summer After will have you remembering those butterflies of young, innocent first love. It also shows how just one decision can change the course of one’s life, but at the same time, time can heal.

My favorite aspect of the story other than its high readability is the way Carley Fortune has drawn these characters, especially Percy and Sam. They are fallible but with huge hearts. It was refreshing to have a male main character who is sensitive, loving, and steadfast. I bought into his best friendship with Percy. I also loved the way mental health was highlighted. I could relate to Percy’s anxiety and how it affected her decision-making.

Overall, this is a nostalgic, steamy story of summer love, family, and friendship, and I’m so grateful I read it.

I received a gifted ecopy from the publisher, but I also purchased a physical copy for my shelf.

I won't lie, this one didn't work for me like I thought it would. It was eerily similar to Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren (one of my all time favorite books) and I couldn't seem to stop comparing the two books while reading, which definitely impacted the reading experience. If someone hadn't read Love and Other Words before picking this one up, I could see them probably really enjoying it.

Take the vibes of the summer i turned pretty (summer, boys you grew up with, a Susannah type motherly figure) + the plot of love and other words (childhood best friends to strangers to lovers, past/present chapters, bought a house next door and would visit every so often) and you’ll get Every Summer After by Carley Fortune! We go back and forth between the past and present and follow Percy and pretty much lays out her entire relationship with Sam. We know they haven’t seen each other for 12 years and the more we read, the closer we are to finding out why they stopped talking. I felt like these characters were very likeable and the overall feeling of the book was a nice vibe. I’m always up for a summer romance, especially one that is friends to lovers. Something about friends to lovers just does it for me! The thing about childhood friends to strangers to lovers is that you can usually expect some sort of big miscommunication. Like “oh if they would’ve talked, they would’ve fixed this asap” but here’s where my thoughts get interesting. I feel like what happened justified WHY they didn’t talk for so long. I think it’s a huge thing and not something that would’ve been resolved with one conversation. That being said, I didn’t necessarily enjoyed what happened, but I felt like it made sense for the overall plot of the story. Some people will hate what happened but I personally felt like it fit with the flow of the story, so it didn’t negatively affect my feelings. On top of that, I loved a lot of the side characters and just the vibe of the book in general. It felt so comforting to read and I honestly just had a great time reading! I love the idea of first love and always finding your way back to ur person! I also found myself to really enjoy the friendship Percy had with Delilah! The ONLY thing I would change is the last sentence in the epilogue bc I hate when that happens, iykyk. overall I think this is something everyone should this summer! Also i would like to add: Justice for Mason lol he is the equivalent to cam from tsitp

I feel like this book was a very solid 3.5 stars for me. This has a premise that always works for me, two people meeting in childhood and sharing so many memories over the years as they meet again and again over summer vacations and then told in dual timeline between flashbacks and present-day. I can think of quite a few books that do this trope/set-up as well. While I always feel kinda meh or a certain way about what keeps them apart in the past, I do always come back for this trope because it does have two of my favorite things: childhood friends to lovers and second chance!

Ok so onto this story, Persephone first meets Sam and his brother Charlie when she’s 13. From Toronto, Persephone and her parents are vacationing at their new summer house. Sam is 13 too and his brother Charlie 15, they actually live there year-round with their single mom who runs a restaurant/tavern in town. Over the years we get lots and lots of flashbacks between Sam, Charlie and Persephone. In present day, it’s 17-years later and Persephone hasn’t seen the brothers in years. Now 30 and a magazine editor, Persephone gets a call one day from Charlie letting her know his and Sam’s mom passed away and they want her at the funeral/wake.

Most of the story is told in the flashbacks, with barely a weekend of time spent in present-day. I did feel like what kept Persephone and Sam apart wasn’t my favorite. I did want more from the romance as well, for the most part they just felt like best friends growing up…which I get, they didn’t start to feel those feels for one another until they start maturing. But even then Sam was kinda meh to me of why he kept her away from him and kinda of just always assumed they were end game so it didn’t matter how he acted/what he did before that. But again this premise of the story just always pulls me in so I liked it too.

This is a must-read for the summer. I think this might be the perfect summer novel, with how I felt I was living in Canada and swimming at Barry's Bay. I loved the story that Percy had with the Florek boys and wanted to know more about Sam and Charlie with each turning page.

I've found that it doesn't have to be summer to recommend the perfect beach read -- readers love them all year round, and this is a great one. Persephone returns home for a funeral, and gets swept up in the past she left behind. I look forward to recommending this title.

Thank you Berkley for my gifted review copy of Every Summer After by Carley Fortune.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the summer. A friends to lovers type of romance. Time jumps from the past to the present. Grief. We know I love a love story with a grief element. It had all the elements that usually work for me.

It started off strong. There's a hook. Something happened between Sam & Percy. They haven't spoken in years, but they're brought back together by a tragic event. Percy heads back to Barry's Bay - to face Sam and face her past.

I liked Percy fine. She's complicated, and somewhat detached from emotion. We see her face the emotional return to where she spent her summers and spent so much time with Sam.

BUT...the TWIST! The author teases it from the get go. What happened between these lovers that has kept them apart for all these years.

The setting is idyllic, cute and I can picture it even now. The author's writing is easy to follow and I breezed through the pages.

BUT,,,the TWIST. I guessed it very early on I dreaded it. I hoped it wasn't true, and it was. It left me angry and frustrated. For me, the ending wrapped up and kind of mashed things together rather than really processing them. It just didn't work for me.

I am Kind of Into This book. I enjoyed it enough that I would pick up Carley's next book in a heartbeat.

Told in alternating present and past timelines, Every Summer After is the story of Percy and Sam.
We first meet Percy (or Persephone, as she is now known), at age 30. While she outwardly seems to have it all together, internally she is still dealing with the after effects of the implosion of her relationship with Sam, the love of her life, 12 years ago. Sam Florek was 'the boy next door' in the small, sleepy town where Percy and her parents spent their summers. Over the course of 6 summers, we see Percy and Sam's relationship evolve from friendship at age 13 to love. Unfortunately Percy makes an awful mistake (the details of which are not revealed to the reader until about 80% in) that ends the relationship and causes Sam to to cut her out of his life completely. When Sam's brother, Charlie reaches out to Percy with some sad news, she decides she needs to return to Barry's Bay, and hopefully make things right with Sam.

With this book you get two for the price of one: a YA novel within a sexy adult romance. Since I love both genres, this was a hit for me. The story takes place over the course of several summers, which makes it a perfect summer/beach read. Honestly, I was captivated for the first half of the book, even staying up until 2 AM because I just didn't want to stop reading. Unfortunately it lost a bit of steam in the second half. The pacing seemed to be a bit off, dragging out the events of some of the 'past" chapters and skimming over the events of some of the "now" chapters. Also, I reached a point where I began to question if I even liked Percy. It's important to want to see your heroine get her happy ending, but I found myself thinking (after finally finding out what the big 'mistake' was) that I didn't necessarily think that she deserved her HEA. I also had a hard time wrapping my head around some of her actions (particularly with regards to the mistake) they just seemed out of character to me.

Overall, despite the flaws, this was still a good summer read, and I would definitely read more by this author.