Every Summer After is the perfect, high quality beach read. From the lake front setting, to the beautiful writing, to the flawed but lovable characters, this book satisfies every summer reading desire.

This is the adult answer to The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han. Percy (short for Persephone) heads to her family’s new cabin for the summer when she is thirteen years old. There, she becomes fast friends with Sam and Charlie, the two handsome boys next door. Told in alternating timelines over the next two decades, the story of how Sam and Percy fall in love and then don’t speak for 12 years is a slow unfolding.

A summer romance perfect for fans of Jennifer Weiner, Josie Silver, or Kristan Higgins. I can’t wait to see what Fortune puts out next!

If this is not the perfect summer read, then I don’t know what is. First of all, the cover gave me all the summer vibes that come with spending your days at the lake. I really enjoyed how the story began as kids through teenagers and finding their way in life.

Percy and Sam meet as kids and for 6 summers they are inseparable going from best friends to falling in love. I truly saw the authenticity in the blossoming of this friends to lovers story since I have a little sister that coincidently went through this. The story also follows them to adulthood and the different paths life takes them on. This is a complete binge-worthy story for the summer. ☀️

Every Summer After is the book of the summer ☀️⁣
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Childhood friends to lovers is a supreme trope! I loved the summer lake house aspect and how things changed over the years!⁣
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This one was a little heartbreaking at times but totally worth it in the end.
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It’s been compared to Love and Other Words and I totally agree!⁣
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Don’t miss out and read this before summer ends.

Omg??????

Believe the hype with this one. I can't even count the times that I screamed out loud while reading this book simply because I loved Percy and Sam and Charlie and all the characters in this novel so much. This debut novel has already cemented Carley Fortune as an author who I know I'll be reading for as long as she's writing.

Persephone gets an unexpected call from Charlie, her childhood friend after a decade asking to go to his mother's funeral. Percy agrees to go but has to face the ghosts from her past. Percy hasn't seen the love of her life, Charlie's brother Sam for over twelve years. Percy and Sam were best of friends but one summer's events broke them apart. Will going back for Sue's funeral help Percy and Sam resolve their differences and past trauma? 
Every Summer After is a deep and very heart breaking emotional read. If I don't judge the choices Sam and Percy make in their teens this is an amazing read. Adults make poor choices so it's hard to blame Sam and Percy for taking each other for granted or making dumb mistakes. But their choices also make them who they are, so I'm not sure I really like the way they handled themselves. I really liked Charlie but for this one moment which made me change my opinion of him. Coming to Delilah, I loved the fact that she wasn't typecast and the author addressed an important aspect of judging someone. The nostalgia this book brings is amazing and a perfect summer read.
Please check trigger warnings before you read the book. Thank you @berkleyromance for sharing the eARC.

While as a rule I generally don’t love second chance romances, the way this one was written drew me into the story and made me believe in and love the characters. As kids, Percy and Sam were best friends. They grew into more as they got older, but now haven’t seen each other in many years. When Sam’s mother dies, Percy returns to the lakeside town where they spent their summers and reunites with both Sam and his older brother Charlie. Many people mention that this book is similar to Christina Lauren’s Love and Other Words, which happens to be a favorite of mine as well. This book also flashes back to the past and lets us get to know the characters as they get to know each other. I predicted why Percy and Sam broke up and I was able to believe in their reunion in the present. This book takes place in Canada, which was fun, having just visited there myself!

It's a summer read with dual timelines. For fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty and Love and Other Words because it's a messy amalgamation of both and not really in a good way, in my opinion. I can see how popular it'll be already but the "twist" at the end was a no go for me. I could barely stand Percy as a character before and that just about did it for me. But in reality, I couldn't stand Sam either. He was okay at best. It'll be popular because it'll check all the right boxes but it's a no from me.

I just finished EVERY SUMMER AFTER, and I absolutely loved it. I wanted to scream at Pers, and Sam, and I freaking loved Charlie. I could. It put thus book down. I snuck in pages every chance I could get. Thank you @berkleypub for my E-GALLEY! @carleyfortune I am your newest forever fan. Thank you for writing a book that will be a forever favorite.

There were a lot of things I loved about Every Summer After, but there were also a few things that really bothered me.

Things that worked:
- Carley Fortune nailed the confusion and magic of first love. The past chapters built such a beautiful story of friendship and then more. I loved how things developed between Sam and Percy and that uncertainty and vulnerability was so relatable. Yes, they made mistakes and didn't have the best communication, but what teenagers do?
- Revealing the story through past and present chapters. This really worked to build up the story, but I do wish there had been more present day chapters (see below).
-The grief. Percy returns to Barry's Bay after more than a decade away because of the death of Sam and Charlie's mother. I thought the depiction of how the different characters processed grief and the funeral/celebration of life were beautifully done. I also loved that Sue made pierogis ahead of time for guests to enjoy.
- The setting. I have never been to Canada, but I'm ready to pack my bags and get my own cabin.
- The audiobook narration. I both read the ebook and listened to the audiobook and AJ Bridel was amazing! Her performance was heartfelt and captivating. She voiced all the different characters regardless of age so well and I had no problem figuring out who was speaking. I look forward to listening to more of her work.

Things that didn't quite work:
- Sam and Percy's actions once Sam left for college seemed very out of character. Sam came across as callous and Percy as needy and very immature.


SPOILERS


I understand that Percy felt unwanted and had grown closer to Charlie that summer, but it still didn't add up for them to sleep together. And then after pushing Percy away repeatedly, Sam returning and asking her to (eventually) marry him? It was all too much. Also, Charlie's feelings were never discussed (did he actually have romantic feelings towards Percy??) and so readers are left to assume he did it without any consideration to Sam, which doesn't ring true to me. He teased and annoyed his brother, but he loved him and knew how much Sam loved Percy. I understand that people make mistakes, but this was a HUGE one by Percy and Charlie that I'm not sure I can get past.

END SPOILER

- I wish there had been more present day chapters. All the "now" chapters take place over a weekend and this left me feeling unsatisfied with the resolution. I know they had already forgiven each other and wanted to leave the past in the past, but the big reveal and their reactions were a let down after soooooo much build up. There was no final reckoning and things felt unresolved and rushed.
- I felt the book read overall very young, even the present day chapters when they're 30 years old. This is probably because there were more chapters in the past, but sometimes I would forget this was an adult contemporary romance.
- Taylor and Delilah's characters. Both were the stereotypical mean girls and Taylor especially felt like such a throw away character. I understand why she was in the novel, but honestly she only made Percy seem petty and judgmental. Delilah's character made more sense when they were younger and I actually liked that bullying was addressed in the story, but even her storyline was magically resolved with a sentence.

Fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy by Jenny Han and Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren will love this one, but it ended up being a case of like and not love for me.

Audiobook Review
Overall 4
Performance 5 stars
Story 3

CW: death of parent, grief, panic attacks (on page), cheating, underage drinking, bullying (past)

*I voluntarily read and listened to a review copy of this book*

Perfect summer read! Romance that goes back and forth between summers when Persephone spent time on the lake and fell in love with her neighbor and present day when they meet again.

A fab debut - this perfect summer read - a romance about a past love and a second chance in a beautiful setting - this takes place over six summers which allows the reader to watch the characters grow

Every Summer After reads like a hybrid of young adult and contemporary fiction, which is not an easy thing to do. Persephone, known mainly as Percy, made a mistake years ago, but doesn't know if she can ever fix it. Going back and forth between present day and each summer following her parents' purchase of a vacation cottage, we get to know Percy and her best friend, Sam. At first, I was a little annoyed by the back and forth, but I quickly got drawn in by the characters and the setting. I really, really want to visit Barry's Bay now. This is a great summer read! Thanks, Lynette, for recommending it to me!

I’m wiping away tears as I write this review, this book was so beautifully written. I cannot believe this is a debut!! The author did an amazing job portraying young love and heartbreak.
When Percy’s parents buy a cottage on the lake, she’s only thirteen when she meets the boys next door Sam whose the same age as her, and his older brother Charlie. Every summer they would swim and take the boat out and soak up all that summer has to offer. Percy becomes close to Sam and they share secrets and even friendship bracelets, and slowly she finds herself falling in love with him. We soon see that something happened when they were eighteen and they stopped speaking. Now adults Percy receives a phone call from Charlie informing her , that his and Sams mother has died and will she please attend the funeral. Percy loved their mother and agrees to go , and she is immediately taken back to the summers of her and Sam. She knows she has to face the guilt and apologize to Sam on walking away from him the only person she has ever loved or opened to. This book is told in dual timelines now and the summers of Percy and Sam when they were thirteen and the fateful summer when it all changed with the big secret. I fell in love with all the characters especially Sam! This book is going to be in my top books of the year I cannot stop thinking about it!

I loved how nostalgic this was. I loved how Canadian this was. I loved the setting (the lake), the unloveable-loveable characters, the dual time line. Just overall so so good… how is this a debut novel?! Mind boggling.

I would have read this one in 1-2 sittings if I weren’t so busy right now. I was in a book slump before this… and then found myself GETTING MAD at my obligations, because I had to put the book down and attend to real life 😂.

I was gifted an eARC of this book for review, and like an idiot, didn’t read it until after my preorder came in and I’m really kicking myself for not reading it sooner!! Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for granting me a copy regardless.

This WILL BE my staff pick at work the next time I’m in!!

I devoured this book in three days—could not put it down. This beautifully written love story has all the heart, witty banter and even heartbreak that make a great romance.

LIKES:
📝 bingeable, emotional, immersive writing
⏳ dual timelines (teen years & present)
🇨🇦 set in Canada!
🏡 …in a small lake town
🌊 + PERFECT summer lake energy!
✍️ writer vibes
👩🏻 Percy is messy, relatable, & creative
👱🏼‍♂️ Sam is kind, thoughtful, & deep
👫 explores friendship
🖤 + grief, loss, & betrayal
💖 first love/childhood romance (CHEFS KISS)
💞 + second chance romance (steam level 3/5)
🌱 THE BEST coming of age vibes
📺 ALLLLL the nostalgia
🥹 heart wrenching & heartwarming
🎢 a emotional roller coaster!!!!!
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DISCLAIMERS:
⚠️ dm me for TW!
🤩 none for me!
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VERDICT: ESA is PERFECTION in a book! IMPECCABLE first love/childhood romance with a dual second chance timeline serving ALL the nostalgia & coming-of-age vibes while exploring grief, loss & betrayal & giving immaculate summer energy! A MUST READ!

4.5 stars rounded up

What makes this book 5⭐️ for me is that it engaged me from the first page, and there wasn’t a part I didn’t like. So many books take me 50-100 pages before I am invested, but this book had me from the first page or two. It’s just such an enjoyable summer read… the feeling of amazing summers growing up with a friend/boyfriend nextdoor.

Every Summer After alternates chapters between present day-ish and then going back to summers 17 years ago and then deducting a year until you get to year 12. These are the summers when the main character Persephone (Percy) and her family summered at Barry’s Bay, a little town by a lake in Canada, north of Toronto. It is here, she meets brothers Sam and Charlie Florek and their mother Sue (who owns the Tavern and makes the best pierogies). When Percy gets a call from Charlie that Sue has died (from cancer), she goes back for the funeral.

Spicy 🌶🌶🌶🌶
Definite summer vibes ☀️
Best friend / coming of age story 👭

I also loved the cover for this book. I read this book with Kellyhook.readsbooks on instagram and we got to chat with Carley Fortune last night. It was so fun; and one of my favorite parts was hearing about the cover. She liked the idea of the Group of Seven artists in Canada and their landscapes (https://www.artexpertswebsite.com/pages/group_of_7.php). This one was done by Toronto Artist Elizabeth Lennie https://www.elizabethlennie.com

I also loved posts for this book by @bookish.chels (she posts a movie cast that is 🙌🏻) and @_readwithanneliese (who visits Barry’s Bay and made a reel with footage from there which is amazing). Also, Carley Fortune’s page has her own playlist. So much to check out!

I thought it was perfect for a summer read, especially a debut novel. The only thing I got a little tired of, was hearing how gorgeous and perfect Sam (and Charlie) were and how gorgeous and amazing Percy’s body was. I am grateful for authors who have people who have great stories without perfect or amazing bodies.

This was my first selection from The Book Drop and I was thrilled!

BOOK REVIEW

BOOK: Every Summer After
AUTHOR: Carley Fortune
FORMAT: eBook
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
PUB DATE: 5/10/22
RATING: 10/10
5 stars

Thank you so much @berkleypub @berkleyromance @netgalley for my #gifted advanced copy of EVERY SUMMER AFTER, out now!

MY THOUGHTS

This book…rufkm… i can’t. Giving major LOVE AND OTHER WORDS vibes, this will be the book of the summer!! This IS the book of the summer. I’m making the announcement.

This book, this story, these CHARACTERS truly all took me in and wrapped me in one long big hug from start to finish. Every character was likable, but not in a mundane way. Each had their faults and flaws, but I was so whole-heartedly rooting for them all throughout the entire book. The setting really made this book what it was. Small town on a lake in Canada that’s a vacation destination for some, and a permanent residence for others. I feel like that piece of the book made me able to connect with the story, too. Second-chance romance AND friends-to-lovers is LITERALLY my dreamboat of a romance novel so it was bound to be a love for me, but I was absolutely blown away. The love story was so perfect, the timeline making so much sense & although the conflict hurt my soul and broke my heart, the execution was absolutely phenomenal!! I loved the little pieces of wisdom sprinkled throughout the dialogue towards the end of the book. It really added another layer to the relatability of the story. And that ending. it was perfect. I was weeping. It’s fine.

I do think I would have liked more regarding the twelve years that had passed and what each of our MC’s lives looked like in that time. But that also may be me being so obsessed with these characters and wanting to know absolutely everything about them. So @carleyfortune , if you want to chat through those 12 years, my dms are open and I am ready.

Could not recommend this book more!! Especially if you enjoyed LOVE AND OTHER WORDS by Christina Lauren. Perfect read for summer.

I liked this book so much more than I was anticipating! I love any story about young summer love through the years. It just feels so nostalgic, even if you didn't experience it yourself. Just reflecting back on all the firsts you go through when growing up and how they affect you as an adult is always something I love to read.
Fortune shows how love can be messy and somehow easy at the same time. I was rooting for the characters the whole time but also understood how they were developing and growing and being cautious and scared, even though I just want to yell at them! Communication is key in any relationship so while it was frustrating to realize that if they had just made more of an effort to talk to each other instead of be in their heads, they could have been together the whole time, I like how it all worked out in the end.
I look forward to what's next from this author!

This has the exact same plot as Love and Other Words - another young/second chance romance. Literally everything the same happens. And that one was done better. This was “fine” but had nothing new and none of it blew my mind. The hype is way overdone on this one.