One Golden Summer by Carley FortuneMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I first discovered Carley Fortune through This Summer Will Be Different, and then fell hard for Sam and Percy’s emotional journey in Every Summer After. But it was One Golden Summer that truly captured me. After getting a glimpse of Charlie in her earlier novel, I was eager to see his story unfold—and I’m so glad I did. Charlie and Alice’s connection is electric from the start, filled with tenderness, slow-burning tension, and the kind of chemistry that makes your heart ache.
I actually found myself preferring Charlie and Alice to Sam and Percy. Their story felt more grounded, more intimate. I loved how even their families seemed to know they were meant to be before they realized it themselves. From the playful banter to the quiet moments of vulnerability, every scene between them shimmered with feeling. And Charlie—he absolutely won me over. His warmth, the way he cared for Nan, and the deep, unspoken affection he had for Alice made him impossible not to root for.
The setting in Barry’s Bay is so vivid, it felt like I was right there on the dock, camera in hand, watching the lake sparkle in the summer sun. Fortune has a way of writing that pulls you in completely, like you're living the summer with her characters. Alice, in particular, felt incredibly real to me—a woman who’s always hidden behind the lens, learning to live in front of it for the first time.
This story is more than a summer romance—it’s about grief, hope, and rediscovery. It had me laughing, tearing up, and swooning, often in the same chapter. And when the final twist revealed why Charlie had been holding back, it hit hard, but in the best way. I closed this book feeling full of longing, joy, and admiration for a love that felt truly earned. One Golden Summer is exactly what its title promises: golden.
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