One Golden Summer

One Golden Summer creates an enchanting escape where love conquers life's toughest challenges. Carly Fortune has crafted another winner with Charlie Florek - a character so compelling he'll set impossibly high standards for future book boyfriends. This novel masterfully balances heartbreak and hope, creating that bittersweet reading experience where even the painful moments feel beautifully crafted. It's the perfect summer read for anyone seeking emotional depth alongside romantic escapism. While it stands alone perfectly, readers familiar with Fortune's "Every Summer After" will appreciate the shared setting and character connections that add extra richness to the story. The lakeside backdrop provides a gorgeous, nostalgic atmosphere throughout both books. Fortune continues to demonstrate her talent for creating immersive romantic fiction that lingers long after the final page. Her writing style draws you in completely, making it impossible to put down. Book arrived in excellent condition. Highly recommend for fans of contemporary romance seeking their next emotional journey.

This is the first book that I have read and listen to by this author. I did not realize that there were a few books previously that I could have read before reading this book that had these characters in them. I'm not sure if it took away from my experience by not having read the previous books however, I find that I really loved this book! When I started the book I wasn't 100% sure what I was going to think, however, as I continued on I was definitely drawn into the story. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters. I was hoping that the main characters would have a happily ever after even though there were a few times that I was worried that would not happen. And I'm not going to say if it did or didn't but the ending was definitely satisfying. I just felt the entire book was very well written, the storyline was engaging and drew the reader in, I definitely had a lot of emotions and feelings that I experienced with the book, and I'm glad that I read and listened to the book. I ended up getting the ebook and audible version. The narrator did a great job and I like how the audible version had the extra information that was in the back of the e-book because sometimes the audible doesn't include that and this time it did. I'm thinking I may go back and check out more of this author's books.

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune was a really enjoyable read, even for someone who doesn’t always gravitate toward contemporary romance. The Ontario cottage setting is vivid and warm, and the story focuses on emotional growth, belonging, and revisiting places that shaped you. Alice’s arc, from outsider to finally feeling like she fits, was especially well done. This book can be read as a standalone, but some characters appear in Every Summer After, and I think reading that first would enhance the experience. That said, I still found this story engaging and satisfying. A great choice for readers looking for a nostalgic, character-driven summer romance.

I discovered Carley Fortune last year, when I read This Summer Will Be Different for my book club. I fell in love with Sam and Percy's story when I read Every Summer After last month. I'd heard about One Golden Summer for a while, and after reading Every Summer After, I was even more curious to read Charlie's narrative. I can see why so many people fell in love with Charie and Alice’s story. There was something about the two of them, a connection that they shared, that made you cheer for both. Even their families knew they were in love before they did. I like Sam and Percy's story, but I preferred Charlie and Alice's; I felt more connected to them. The book had no dull moments; I couldn't put it down because I needed to find out what happened next to Alice and Charlie. In Every Summer After, I had conflicting thoughts about Charlie, but I was still interested in his story and wondered if there might have been reasons for his actions. Now, Charlie is one of my favorite characters. I couldn't help but smile at the way he treated Alice; it was obvious right away how much he loved her. All I want is for the two of them to finally acknowledge their feelings for one other and quit being stubborn. In addition, I loved Charlie's connection with Nan and his dedication to her needs. While reading this book, I experienced a wide range of emotions, including laughter, tears, and even a few eye rolls due to Alice and Charlie's banter. There is no way that you will be able to put One Golden Summer down. I adored the book's setting and the opportunity to visit Barry's Bay again. I felt as though I had transformed there because of the descriptions. I wished I had been at the Lake after finishing the book. There were few scenes between Alice and Charlie that had me smiling nonstop. I finished it last night and I still can’t get the story out of my mind, and I even recommended it to few of my friends. It’s the perfect book for the summer, and I can’t wait to see what adventure Carley Fortune will take us on next!

This book was chosen as a book club read. I have never read a Carley Fortune book before this one but I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by her writing style. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Alice and Charlie are truly end game. I enjoyed their banter from the first phone conversation. It was cute and gave you time to watch their chemistry and personalities evolve together. I also loved how Alice is written—she thinks she is this shy woman who doesn’t know how to speak up for herself but she’s actually very strong willed and knows who she is. Charlie just gives her more confidence in herself. Her relationships with her family are also fun and heartwarming. This is definitely a slow-burn book but it does have a little spice about halfway in. It’s also important to note that this book is about a 33 year old woman and a 35 year old man. So it was refreshing to read about adults. This can be read as a standalone but Charlie’s brother Sam, his story is another book that can be read before this called “Every Summer After”.

This book was such a fantastic and easy read! The heartfelt story and yearning had my emotions all over the place. I definitely recommend and really enjoyed this book. I will be reading more from this author.

To be quite honest, I’m not sure about how to feel about this novel, which is Fortune’s fourth foray into the literary world and a follow-up to her debut, Every Summer After. Despite Charlie being an exquisite character (physical and personality traits alike) and Alice’s perspective giving depth to their relationship, I felt as though something were missing. I ordinarily would feel tickled by their banter and utterly charmed by Charlie’s suave-like and self-assured attitude. I wasn’t though. I liked the book and believe it’s a good read, but the spark of connection was missing on my end re: wholly immersing myself in their world. Perhaps this was a result of the expectations I held after re-reading Every Summer After mere hours before starting One Golden Summer. Maybe it was because This Summer Will Be Different raised the bar even higher. Let me be even more honest… it was probably the hype that social media and early readers compelled me to feel. Others apparently consider this an absolute tearjerker. However, I didn’t cry at all (I am considered a bawl baby and can make myself cry pretty quickly and easily). Overall, it’s a worthwhile read. One major point in its favor, which caught me off guard— a side character shares the unique name of one of my relatives.

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune 5 stars Spice: 🔥🔥/5 If I could give this book 10 stars, I would. My god – I loved this book so much! I am mad at myself that I waited a whole year before reading it AND I’m mad that Charlie is a fictional character. I read this right after getting to meet Carley Fortune on her book tour for Our Perfect Storm and listen to her speak. She is so sweet, and it was so cool to hear how her stories come to life. Alice’s character might as well have been me. I’m pretty much Alice to a T. I don’t want to burden people, I’m afraid to speak up, and I am terribly shy (until you get to know me). Charlie’s character was TOP NOTCH book boyfriend material despite not being in the running for being anyone’s boyfriend LOL I thought I loved Sam and Percy’s book, but Charlie may be my new favorite brother now. The relationship that developed between Alice and Charlie was filled with witty banter, sexual tension, and a friendship that blossomed off the pages. I couldn’t read it fast enough. “Don’t let wounds fester. It only gets harder to repair them.” “I think of all the times in my life when I’ve stayed quiet because it was more comfortable than speaking up.” This story was unbelievably good. The relationship that Alice had with her grandmother was sweet. Another aspect I could relate to since I was very close to my grandfather. There is something special with having a bond with a grandparent. And I do love how Charlie explained why he enjoyed being around Nan. Both grew in different ways. It was beautifully written which I was not surprised about one bit. Carley Fortune knows how to weave words into magic. #avidreaderbookblog #readingislife #bookblogger #bookworm #bookreview #bookstagrammer #bookblogger #booklover #carleyfortune #romance #romancebookblogger #sexualtension #wittybanter #carleyfortuneauthor

It was better than i expected

Beste boek van Carley Fortune, een must read!

Si te gustó “Every Summer After”, “One Golden Summer” te encantará. Es un libro perfecto para la época veraniega. Fácil de leer y muy entretenido. Te enamorarás de cada uno de los personajes.

I was completely engrossed in this book and loved Alice and Charlie's story. All the experiences in nature by the water: I felt like I was right there with them. Sensitively told. Wonderful!

Lovely vacation read.