One Golden Summer

One Golden Summer isn’t my usual type of book since I typically gravitate toward mysteries, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The story was sweet, heartfelt, and easy to get lost in, with characters I found myself rooting for from the beginning. The romance felt genuine, and the summer setting added a fun, nostalgic feel. Overall, it was a charming, feel-good read that left me smiling.

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.

This was my first introduction to Carley Fortune last summer, I kinda worked my way backwards in her book log and fell in love with her story writing. This is such a beautiful book and love story. One Golden Summer is perhaps my all time favorite contemporary romance. I loved all the characters. I think Alice was the perfect love interest for Charlie and I’m so happy Charlie got to have his love story and happy ending. A slow burn but beautifully told, I enjoyed their friendship even though as the reader you always knew they would turn out to be more. I love the glimpses we got of Sam & Percy. Loved Alice’s relationship with her grandmother and that she got that summer to spent with her something that she can cherish for forever. I can’t recommend this book enough to everyone who’s looking for all the emotions, fun, and truly feeling like you’re on the lake with these characters. “Good things happen at the lake.” And although I’ve never spent a summer at a lake I felt transported into Barry’s Bay and can just picture the sun setting upon the water while taking a boat ride with Charlie & Alice.

Talk about a redemption arc! I LOVED this book! Charlie and Alice’s story was so beautiful and so genuinely sweet! It was truly the perfect beach read with a little bit of everything, banter, tension, longing, comedy, grief.. this one really pulled the heart strings. I honestly liked it more than Every Summer After 🥹 I think the only thing I would have liked to see was Charlie’s POV. I really wanted to know his thoughts and feelings especially after the events in ESA. This is definitely a top favorite on my summer reading list so far! 🌶️.5 💙 Strangers to lovers ☀️ Forced proximity 💙 Bucket lists ☀️ Summer Romance 🚤 Redemption story

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”.

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

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.

Book Title: One Golden Summer Author: Carley Fortune Tropes: Second Chance, Forced Proximity, Opposites Attract, Friends to Lovers, Found Family, Small Town Summer Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Open door – heartfelt and romantic) 🤩 The Vibe: One Golden Summer is a golden-hour daydream—sun-drenched, nostalgic, and emotionally rich. Carley Fortune returns to Barry’s Bay with a story that perfectly captures the bittersweet magic of summer: long days on the lake, laughter echoing across the dock, and a romance that simmers with tension and heart. With moments both swoony and sincere, this is Fortune at her best. 👩‍❤️‍👨 Main Characters: Alice: A reserved, introspective photographer who prefers to stay behind the lens. She’s searching for something more, and a return to the lake—and to herself—might be the answer. Charlie Florek: Once the charming “bad brother” from Every Summer After, now a flirty, grown-up golden retriever of a man with a serious side and a heart of gold. He’s here to change the narrative—and maybe win a heart along the way. 💕 What I Loved: • Charlie. Freaking. Florek. Flirty, magnetic, and so much deeper than expected • Nan’s hilarity and heart—truly the MVP side character • Cameos from Sam and Percy added layers of warmth and continuity • The lake setting felt immersive and cinematic • The tension. Was. PALPABLE. Every look, every touch—perfection • Alice and Charlie’s dynamic: opposites on the surface, but so in sync underneath • The nostalgia of being 17 again—and learning how to move forward 🚫 What Didn’t Work For Me: • A few predictable beats toward the end, but the emotional payoff still landed • I wouldn’t have minded a bit more from Alice’s internal journey near the resolution 💭 Final Thoughts: After being let down by several highly anticipated books this year, One Golden Summer was exactly the read I needed. Warm, wistful, and wildly romantic, this is Carley Fortune’s strongest novel yet. I adored being back in Barry’s Bay and watching Charlie’s redemption arc unfold alongside a love story that felt both exhilarating and emotionally grounded. Pure sunshine in book form.

Maravilhoso, melhor que o primeiro livro da “série”. Bem escrito, leve. Eu sou muito team Charlie!

It was better than i expected

No se como empezar esta reseña sin dejar que el desprecio y enojo que siento por Charlie salga a flote. La verdad es que creo que no se merecía un libro, no después de lo que le hizo a Sam, por que es como darle a un nobel de la paz a alguien que promueve la guerra, quizas estoy exagerando, pero sinceramente no se como la gente quiere justificar sus acciones y tener una historia de el y su final feliz. No entiendo como Sam pudo perdonar lo que pasó, yo sigo en el restaurante sin olvidar el libro anterior 🤣🤣. Pero bueno, volviendo mi enfoque a este libro, la verdad es que me gusto mucho, me gusto como llevo la historia, me enamore de Alice completamente, de su proceso de transformación, de el grado de madurez e introspección que requeire el darte cuenta que la persona que has sido no es quien realmente eres y el resetearse y empezar de nuevo requiere valor y ese el tipo de crecimiento que quieres ver en un personaje que no sabe que es ella es el main character y que realmente tiene que empezar a vivir su vida como tal. Charlie no se la merecía ni un poco y de el no quiero hablar me cae mal, para mi es uno de los peores personajes que hay, y no merecía un final feliz, punto lo dije y no me arrepiento.

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.