Another amazing, cost, addictive, laugh out loud, wonderful book from Fortune!

She is definitely an auto buy author for me!

One Golden Summer is one of the best books I have ever read, and probably the best contemporary romance. I predict that this book will be a best seller because it is THAT good!

Do you ever feel that a book is meant for you and speaks to your soul? This is how I felt about One Golden Summer. Carly Fortune really outdoes herself here with a compelling plot, dynamic characters and touching, relevant themes. And the writing!!! Phenomenal.

What I loved:
- The female main character, Alice is softly spoken and so relatable! If you struggled to find yourself and maybe felt ‘invisible’ in your adolescence, you will connect with her. That said, watching her develop as a character and stand up for herself was so beautiful to read. She really came into her own, and I loved it!
- The male main character Charlie is from the first book in the series and this is almost like a ‘redemption arc’ (however, I never found that he needed a redemption but nevertheless). He is witty, confident, and charismatic. But he also has a deeper side which he reveals to Alice throughout the story.
- The banter between these two character is incredible and I was cackling (like Alice) throughout! It’s probably the best banter I’ve read, ever.
- The relationships the MCs have to others in the story is perfection! Alice in particular, had this beautiful relationship with her grandmother, whom she stays with for most of the story. Their relationship isn’t perfect, but it was so heart warming to read about.
- The themes in this story hit so bloody hard! For example, Alice’s grandmother is coming to terms with loss of her mobility as she gets older. This was such a relatable experience to watch unravel as I witnessed my grandmother experience the same thing as an adolescent. Additionally there are themes of loss, connection, identity, self-confidence and self-discovery.
- The pacing is perfect and there was not a single time where I lost interest in the story and the characters.

Things I didn’t love:
Absolutely nothing! One Golden Summer has my whole heart and will be one of my top recommendations for any reader. This book had me on tenterhooks and I laughed, giggled and cried multiple times throughout.

Just go read it and see for yourself.

I was so excited to read this—Carley Fortune never misses! This book had everything: a dreamy summer setting, perfect banter, and a romance that made my heart ache.

Charlie and Alice’s chemistry was electric, but the real standout was Alice’s bond with her grandmother—so heartfelt. Carley’s writing is pure magic, transporting me straight to Barry’s Bay.

If you love summer nostalgia and love stories that feel real, this is the book for you.

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC—this is the read of 2025! ☀️📖💛

4.5 stars. It’s 4am as I write this because I accidentally read this in one sitting (is there any better feeling). What a beautiful story about two perfectly imperfect people finding themselves and each other. Extra special being set in Canada while I’m currently living here! This will be the PERFECT summer read.

If you’re vibing for a summer love, this is the book for you.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

One Golden Summer is the PERFECT book to read this upcoming summer (for you guys in the northern hemisphere). I didn’t get the chance to read Every Summer After (and ideally I should’ve) but this book still makes sense on its own.

I love how Alice is portrayed - perpetually busy and stressed city girl escaping to the countryside to find solace and herself. She’s very relatable.

Charlie is the typical the summer playboy and I LOVE EVERYTHING about him.

The characters have good chemistry and I love their banter. The slow burn was excruciating!

The plot and conflict was predictable but I still enjoyed nonetheless.

You will love this if you love:
🌊 Forced proximity
🌊 Slow burn
🌊 Summer romance