Every Summer After is a romance that takes place in duel timelines. Percy and Sam first meet the summer when they are 13 and the story jumps back and forth between their first meeting, and their most recent encounter when they are 30. As the story moves along, the gaps between when they met and present-day are filled in. Percy's family buys the lake cottage next to Sam's family and they spend each summer together, developing a relationship in the process.

I thought that the storyline here was sweet. It tackles first love and the sweetness that is love when you are so young. Sam and Percy are both delightful characters that are well-written. And the setting on the lake in the wilderness of Canada in the summer is primed for a perfect beach read.

What didn't work for me personally was the youth of the characters. I wanted more from the in-between, a large portion of the story takes place when they are 13-18 which, to me, made the novel feel more like a young adult novel. This one reminded me a lot of Christina Lauren's Love and Other Words and I think readers who enjoyed that one will enjoy this one!

Every Summer After will for sure end up as one of my favorite books of the year. I’ve been hesitating on writing this review because I don’t think my words will do it justice. This book is emotional, beautiful, passionate…I mean, you just get all the feels with this one. It’s a dual timeline story, which I love. The timeline in the past progresses, leading up to the big reveal. It’s got vibes of The Summer I Turned Pretty (Jenny Han) and Say You Still Love Me (K.A. Tucker), yet it’s unique as it’s own wonderful story. I had the opportunity to hear Carley Fortune talk about her book and read from her childhood journals during the “Booked with Berkley” summer sneak peek event. I knew after hearing her talk that I would enjoy this story and ended up reading it all in one night because I couldn’t put it down. I only got 4 hours of sleep that night, but it was worth it. I was captivated by the story of Percy and Sam. I highly recommend adding Every Summer After to your summer TBR list!
Thank you to @berkleyromance for a free digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
*Open door romance
*CW: cancer, grief, excessive drinking

I will be completely honest: When I was contacted about reviewing Every Summer After, I almost passed on the book. On the one hand, I thought I wouldn’t fully enjoy it (I’m not generally into small town settings or childhood sweetheart stories). On the other – and this was the bigger issue for me – I feared it would be too emotional; I was worried I’d cry my way through the whole book. For whatever reason, I decided to say yes to the book, and I’m so glad I did: I ended up absolutely loving it!

From the first chapter, Every Summer After is engrossing. It’s beautifully written, with characters that feel real and relatable. The story is already emotional and hinting at deeper waters, but it’s also gentle and reflective. The chapters go back and forth between present time, when Percy is 30, and the past, each one of the summers of her teenage years spent at her lakeside cottage. Whereas the present chapters feel contemplative and broken, the past chapters are a nostalgic glimpse of freer times.

This is not a young adult novel, yet half of the book does focus on Percy and Sam as teenagers, and those chapters reflect their age. They could be read as YA meant for older readers, but they work equally well as an adult looking back on life during those tumultuous years. The present chapters, with 30-year-old Percy, fit easily with the past chapters. It’s interesting how much Percy and Sam have changed, but also how much they’ve stayed the same.

During their first summers together, Percy and Sam develop a sweet friendship. I loved watching them grow such a strong bond and seeing how much they trusted each other. For example, Percy likes to write horror stories, and she only shows them to her two closest friends: Sam and Delilah. But Sam and Percy also push each other to grow, too, like with Percy getting so good at swimming. Their friendship feels genuine and completely real, and its limitation to summer and winter breaks gives it an insular quality.

Side note, but one of my favorite details here is Percy’s love of horror. Watching horror movies, writing scary stories – she’s all about spooky vibes. As a horror fan myself, I loved finally reading a book where the girl is into horror. I wish I could read Percy’s stories! Alas, I’ll have to follow her and Sam’s lead and watch some classic films instead.

Percy and Sam eventually developing crushes on each other also felt realistic – especially with how they went about communicating their secret feelings with each other. This romantic relationship is one between two naive teenagers, and it the storytelling perfectly captures that innocence.

Throughout the book, I felt for the characters, especially our leading couple. They feel like people I could have known when I was in middle school and high school. Even as adults, they seem broken but kind. I particularly liked the discussions around mental health, panic attacks, and grief.

There is a mystery surrounding why Sam and Percy broke up, and at a certain point, I guessed what the issue would turn out to be. I’d hoped I would be wrong, but alas, I was finally proven right about 85% of the way into the book. Up until this point, Every Summer After was a 5-star book. But I wasn’t a big fan of the issue and its quick resolution.

Beyond that, though, I did love nearly everything else about the novel. Despite myself, I enjoyed getting to know this small town north of Toronto. (I grew up in a small town and, like Sam, I always wanted to escape to somewhere more cosmopolitan. Small towns don’t usually hold the kind of romantic appeal for me that they might for others.) The summers by the lake truly sound idilic and innocent, and I’d love to spend some time in a place like that.

Every Summer After is a quick, sweet, and emotional read. It’s not utterly heart-wrenching, but it does feel nostalgic and may inspire a few tears. It’s a gentle but moving novel and a delightful debut. I already look forward to reading more from Carley Fortune.

If you like books like Love & Other Words and Say You Still Love Me, then you will adore EVERY SUMMER AFTER by @carleyfortune !!

This incredible debut was my latest five star read and I just can’t say enough great things about it!! I laughed, I cried, I swooned!

•dual timelines
•second chance romance
•summer on the lake vibes
•the absolute sweetest man ever - Sam 😍

When Persephone Fraser’s parents buy a cottage in Barry’s Bay, Ontario Canada - she is a scrawny, insecure typical 13 year old girl. Next door to this quaint new summer home are the Florek’s - two noisy boys and their sweet mom, Sue. While Sue runs the small town tavern, Charlie (15) and Sam (13), tend to run wild and quickly take Percy under their brotherly wings. Jumping off rocky cliffs, swimming across the lake and getting into all sorts of mischief becomes the norm and Percy’s summers become what dreams are made of. Secretly in love with Sam from the day they met the two become best friends, often reading each others minds along with Percy’s horror stories and blushing at Charlie’s unending stream of girlfriends. Every summer the balance tips a little bit more and they grow up in every way possible. Finally seeing each other in a new light Percy and Sam explore first love. Narrated alternately with the past and present, we find Percy at 30 years old returning to Barry’s Bay after 12 long years of complete silence. The guilt she carries along with intense loneliness for the years gone-by, Percy is terrified to see Sam but knows it is time for the complicated truth to finally be revealed. Beneath the nuanced past is an exquisite peek at the often painful, exciting, confusing and memorable years of adolescence. Truly cherished this extraordinary debut novel of friendship, family and the young summers we never forget.

EVERY SUMMER AFTER

RATING: 4

QUICK THOUGHTS:
· SECOND CHANCE romance
· Quintessential SUMMER READ

I don't think I've ever been so influenced to read a book. This one has been ALL OVER the place and for good reason, IT'S SO GOOD.

This book SCREAMS summer, young love, innocence, growing up, the best group of friends, and I soaked it ALL in. Percy, Sam, Charlie, you all have my heart. This was also my first second-chance romance and I'm so mad I didn't discover my love for this trope sooner.

Only reason it's not a 5 star for me? The big "what happened that summer" revelation felt a bit off putting to me after all the easiness and innocence of the rest of the book. The ending also wrapped up way to quickly and would have wished for more of Percy and Sam.

This was a fantastic summer read and it immediately gave me Sarah Dessen vibes (who is one of my all time fav authors). It flowed really well. I actually really liked her and Charlie together and thought that would be a cool ending as well but I still liked it regardless.

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune was the perfect summer romance read to start the summer season. I absolutely loved this book and it definitely pulled on my heartstrings.

This book is encapsulated by the theme of “It’s you. It’s always been you. It will always be you.”

When Percy is 13, her family buys a cottage to spend their summers at the lake. As soon as they move in, Percy meets brothers Sam and Charlie, her next door neighbors at the lake. Percy and Sam are the same age and quickly become best friends. Over the next 6 summers they fall in love, but one mistake ruins everything for them. Years later, Percy returns to the lake for Sam’s mother’s funeral. It is apparent that Percy and Sam still have a connection, but will the past and 12 years of silence get in the way?

Overall, I loved this book. It was an emotional ride and I enjoyed every second of it. While Sam and Percy both made mistakes, I still thought their love story was beautiful.

Needless to say this is a summer read that you won’t want to miss. Definitely a book I’ll be thinking about for a long time. Just so much love for this book.

This book. Oh how my teenage self DREAMT of this.

A few thoughts:
‣ the book has alternating chapters! the best way to tell second chance romances, I think.

‣ my feelings were heightened because of how it was told — I could see them getting closer from the past and then next I’m getting the contrast with how distant they are in the present.

‣ the chapters from the past summers makes my heart so soft. loved seeing Percy and Sam go from their awkward first meeting to slowly becoming friends and developing feelings for each other.

‣ as for the present chapters, I just couldn’t help but wonder what made them stray apart. as for the reason... I wish it hadn’t happened that way tbh.

💫 AMAZING DEBUT!!!!

stunning cover and an even more stunning story. percy and sam made me YEARN for a friendship like theirs; two people who from the very moment they met knew they were it for each other. honestly thought the book being set in toronto would give me an ick (idk why but most stories like that do) but i was blown away from how much i enjoyed this book! 100% this is the *best* friends to lovers book i’ve read in a while

“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.”

Happy pub day to Every Summer After ☀️ Oooh, this one was an emotional punch to my gut but in a good way. I felt like I was watching a film unfold that I couldn’t look away from?! Just constantly turning the pages watching Sam and Percy grow up. Fans of childhood friends, friends to lovers, it’s always been you, and second chance romance with emotional depth 🤚🏾 seek no more, this book is yours.

There truly is NOTHING like the emotions of teenage love and in Every Summer After, Carley Fortune develops it well. The vulnerability, the messy feelings, the angst! Can you believe this is her debut?! This story alternates between past and present and I kept jumping back and forth with wanting to keep reading about the past and their developing relationship but was loving the present so wholeheartedly, to see where it would go. The characters breathed so much life and love. Basically, I could not put this book down and could not recommend it enough. And Sam, my man, *heart eyes exploding*!! I loved HIM. Also there’s definitely Love & Other Words energy in this book.

Haunting mistakes, growth, forgiveness, and a summer setting in Canada? Loved, loved. IT JUST FELT SO SUMMER. “Swear it”

Thank you @berkleyromance @berkleypub for the e-arc!

If you're looking for the perfect summer read - I have it here for you! This is the story of a summer romance that I am sure I won't ever forget!

Every Summer After follows Percy and Sam after Percy's family buys the lakeside cottage next to Sam in Barry's Bay one summer when they are both in middle school. What starts as a quiet friendship, slowly blossoms into more over the course of 6 summers. As they get older, Percy and Sam both make mistakes, but after one last mistake is made, Percy ultimately leaves Sam and the lake behind. After the death of Sam's mom brings her back to Barry's Bay, and to Sam, Percy finds herself wondering if it's possible for them to get it right this time.

This story stole my breath away and made me yearn for the lakeside cottage life. Percy and Sam's romance felt so pure and I loved the juxtaposition of then and now, seeing each summer unfold alternating with scenes from their reunion 10 years later. The story buildup to learning what broke them apart was so well executed and their adult interactions showed such realistic character growth. I also really liked their friends and their families, and thought the attention to detail was fantastic. I am in awe of this one and amazed that it is Fortune's debut! I cannot wait to read her future books!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Romance for the advance copy of this one in exchange for my honest review. All opinion are my own.

Every Summer After
Release Date: May 10, 2022
Review Copy Provided by the Publisher

Rarely does a book leave me thinking about the characters for days after. I have fond thoughts of characters, sure, but this is different. I find myself thinking of what the future holds for them. The characters in this book are living rent free in my brain.

Persephone ( Percy ) and Sam are my new favourite fictional friends.

This is a beautifully written coming of age story about a boy and girl who become fast friends, and later more, who move through all the excitement and angst of the early teens years. I loved watching these two grow up, and to the see the change in their friendship. So much of it was relatable if I think back to my own early teen years. I met the man I would eventually marry when I was 12. I grew up with him and discovered what love was with him. And like the heroine in this book, I too have an obsession with 80’s horror films.

One of the things that I loved most about this book was that it takes place in Canada, more specifically in Barry’s Bay, Ontario. There’s mention of Queen’s University in Kingston, and the campus. My husband ( boyfriend at the time ) went to Queen’s, and I went to St. Lawrence, which is also in Kingston. As I was reading this book I could vividly picture some of the places, and the memories that go with them. While we didn’t spend time in Barry’s Bay, we often travelled to Calabogie, and Charleston Lake, which are both in northeastern Ontario. Gah…I’m so in love with the way this book makes me feel!

There’s everything I love about a good romance in this book…friendship, young love, romance, angst, and above all, an absolutely amazing plot. How is this the author’s debut novel?! I can’t wait to see what she puts out next!

Say hello to the book of the summer!!

You know when you love a book so much you don’t even know how to write a review for it? Because that’s how I’m feeling right now …

Persephone (Percy) finds herself back in Barry's Bay, a place she never thought she would visit again. This is where she spent six glorious summers growing up, and a place where she left her heart. Told in dual timelines, we watch as Percy's biggest love and biggest regret unfold.

I couldn’t fly through the pages fast enough, but at the same time I wanted to read as slow as possible to savor every single word of this story. The characters were heartbreakingly relatable and to watch them grow into themselves and their relationships with each other was breathtaking. It had the right amount of tension, steam, and a bit of angst, all while balancing a story that would resonate with most readers.

Fortune does an incredible job making her characters come off the page and making her readers feel like they are sitting on a dock in Barry's Bay. It is an atmospheric love story that will break your heart and put it back together again. Cannot recommend this book enough!!

Stop everything you are doing and get this book. I was up way too late reading last night and then reading it at 7am this morning trying not to cry since it was reading it before work. I hate trying to explain that everything is okay to my coworkers, I just read a book that made me cry this morning...

This will probably be one of my favorite books of the year. Carley's writing drew me in and especially in the teen years I felt like I was right there with Percy. Told over six summers and one weekend this is a book about love, friendship and the choices we make.

It was a 5 stars from me and while the ending was a bit rushed I still absolutely loved this book. I can't believe it's her debut novel!

I hope you love this book as much as I do!

This is a best friends to lovers book told in two timelines. We get the present day, where we are immediately told that something happened 12 years ago to keep our two lovebirds apart. And then we get the past starting with the summer they met, leading up to the summer it all fell apart.
And honestly I was loving the first half of the book. The writing was good, the summer setting was fun, the characters were endearing. But the older they got in the summer flashbacks, the cringier it got. The teen angst, jealousy, selfishness, and all around terrible decisions made me feel very annoyed and uncomfortable. The ending didn’t feel believable or realistic to me. I mean is this girl Persephone some sort of wizard or something? How can she treat everyone in her life like utter garbage and yet they are still falling over themselves to be at her beck and call?

Such a fantastic second-chance love story! I am a sucker for "first love" trope and this one did not disappoint. I flew through this and highly recommend to romance fans!

I finished Every Summer After by @carleyfortune last night and it made me feel a lot of feels! 🥺

This book really captured the anticipation of the summers to come, as well as the nostalgia of summers past. This was a timely read as it definitely reflected the hopeful feelings I'm currently having about this upcoming summer. ☀️ ⛱️ 🏊‍♀️

I also loved that the book was set in Canada, and made me reminisce fondly of my time living in Ontario. 🌲

Overall, I'd give it 🌟 🌟🌟🌟.5

THIS book is making it on my list of favorite romances. Gahh! It felt like Dawson’s Creek meets Love and Other Words (another favorite). It is a second chance romance and coming-of-age story. An easy book to read that will have you forcing your kids to bed early so you can finish it. 😆

Percy spends six summers at her family’s lakeshore house and there develops a deep friendship with her neighbor Sam. I relish a love story that takes you through those first love big feelings. You see how their relationship evolves over the years—more intimate and complicated over time. After a decision causes a rift in their relationship, they cut ties for over a decade. At Sam’s mother’s funeral they are forced to not only face one another but confront a painful past and unresolved feelings.

There was something so nostalgic about this book. It felt like revisiting those carefree summer days as a teenager. Also the fickleness of youth is captured so well. There was definitely substance in the romance and just the right amount of steam. The alternating timelines worked well. I was equally interested in both the younger years and present day. And seeing how they mature into adults had me that much more invested. Such a refreshing romance that will definitely get you in the mood for summer!!

So did it live up to the hype? Absolutely!

Highly recommend for those looking for a fast and all consuming summer read!

If you’ve been around a while, you know my track record with hyped books lately (aka it’s not good). Well this one was completely worth it. And the fact that it’s a debut book for Carley is pretty incredible.

I need a trip to Barry’s Bay like right now.

I loved the dual timelines. I loved the second chance romance. And i loved the angst between Sam and Persephone both in the past and in the present.

Make sure you grab this one for your vacation this summer. You won’t regret it.