This is going to be one of the books of the summer. Alice and Charlie were so lovable and captivating from the start. Carley Fortune has an amazing talent to draw you in to the setting of her stories and feel like you are completely immersed. I kept feeling like I could pop down to the lake and watch Charlie and Alice fall in love. Highly recommend.

Thank you to PRH Audio for the free audiobook and thank you to the publisher for the free eARC!

Rating: 5/5 stars

Alice Everly returns to Barry’s Bay to spend time with her grandmother and relive the summer she was seventeen, and gets some help checking off her summer bucket list from local Charlie Florek.

I was a Charlie Florek girl from EVERY SUMMER AFTER, but this book cemented him as one of my top book boyfriends ever. The way he knew what Alice needed and stepped up to take care of her without being asked???? Perfection. I also loved Alice, and thought she was the perfect other half for Charlie—their flirting and banter was absolutely perfect.

Barry’s Bay was already one of my favorite novel settings ever, and this book made me want to visit SO badly. I truly hope we get to visit in books again (Carley, if you see this…Harrison’s story?!?! Please????)

Also, my review could not possibly be complete without a mention of Nan, who was iconic and wonderful. I ADORE the “older loved one can see how down bad the MCs are for each other before they realize themselves” trope, and the entire relationship dynamic here gave me all the warm fuzzies.

And, on top of ALL of this, the audio production was SO good—I absolute love Carley’s books in that format and AJ Bridel did SUCH a good job. I have no doubt this one will be one of my favorite reads of the summer!

CW: Medical content; mentions of past infidelity; mentions of past toxic relationship

I loved this book. I loved how the relationship between the 2 leads grew and developed into something more.

“Good things happen at the lake.” 🛶

🚤 I’ve been saving this book to read at my lake cabin, and there couldn’t have been a more perfect place to get lost in this story!

ONE GOLDEN SUMMER gives us Charlie’s story—Sam’s brother in EVERY SUMMER AFTER. Getting to revisit Sam + Percy and Barry’s Bay was good for the soul 🫶

Alice Everly spent one summer at Barry’s Bay when she was seventeen, where she shot a photo that changed her life. Three teenagers in a yellow boat.

When Nan breaks her hip, Alice knows that a summer at the lake is the perfect place for her to recoup. What she couldn’t have predicted is meeting Charlie Florek, one of the boys from her photo.

🚤 I loved how Alice’s summer at the lake with Nan and Charlie healed her. Everything she wanted at age seventeen turned out to be everything she needed now.

Alice is one of my new favorite female main characters. She loves BIG and shows up for the people she cares about. Watching her learn to stand up for herself and go after what she wants made me so proud of her.

Charlie and Alice complemented each other SO well. It was so much fun following their journey of falling in love. They had great banter 🥰

When it mentioned that being at the lake makes you feel lighter, I felt this deeply. My family’s cabin in northern Wisconsin is my favorite place. Being here immediately makes me feel lighter and helps me refocus on what matters most. 💙

Carley Fortune knows how to set the most perfect Summer scene. I have loved each of her books, and 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘎𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 is no exception! Carley is all about the nostalgic vibes with some angst thrown in, and so am I. Revisiting Barry’s Bay with Charlie, Sam, and Percy made my heart so happy. And I love Alice! She was a great FMC, I was rooting for her to find her happiness, and find what she was craving out of life. She and Charlie were both guarded in their own ways, and I loved following along as they went from strangers to friends to letting those guards down. There was a perfect balance between humor and the best banter, and heartfelt, emotional moments. And I can’t forget Nan, she was the best!

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 ⇣
•Summer romance
•Lake life
•Strangers to friends to lovers
•Found family
•Mutual pining
•Forced proximity
•Slow burn
•Single first person POV
•Light spice

Thank you Berkley Romance for the ARC!

Another lovely summer escape with Carley Fortune! This book revisits the setting of the author's first novel, where we catch up with a beloved character and see a new romance grow. The storytelling is superb, the characters are a delight, and the sense of summer joy is lovely.

Oh, Carley Fortune. Just when I thought my heart couldn't swell any more for your stories, you gift us with One Golden Summer, and it's not just a book – it's an experience, a memory, a feeling of pure, unadulterated romance that I never want to end. This is not merely a five-star review; it's a declaration of love for a novel that has utterly captivated my soul and cemented Carley Fortune's place as my absolute favorite romance author. Prepare to be swept away, because One Golden Summer is everything you dream of in a love story and so much more.
From the moment I turned the first page, I was transported. Fortune has this unparalleled ability to paint a setting so vividly, you can practically feel the golden sun on your skin. This book doesn't just tell a story; it immerses you in a vibrant, unforgettable summer, ripe with possibility and nostalgia.

At its heart, One Golden Summer is a testament to the enduring power of family, and the bond between Alice and her grandmother is the shimmering anchor of this narrative. Their relationship is depicted with such tender honesty and profound love that it brought tears to my eyes more than once. It's a beautiful, intricate dance of shared history, quiet understanding, and unwavering support. Their connection adds such a rich, heartwarming layer to the story, reminding us that love, in all its forms, is the greatest treasure. It’s a family component that feels deeply real, a gentle hand guiding Alice through her own journey.

And now, for the main event: Alice and Charlie. Good heavens, prepare your swoon meters, because their love story is a masterpiece of slow-burn intensity and breathtaking passion. The chemistry between them crackles from their very first interaction, a magnetic pull that is both irresistible and entirely believable. Fortune masterfully crafts their journey, building anticipation with every stolen glance, every witty exchange, and every vulnerable moment shared under that golden summer sky. Charlie is the kind of hero who makes your heart ache in the best possible way – charming, complex, and utterly devoted. Their path to happiness is paved with genuine emotion, realistic hurdles, and a deep-seated understanding that makes their eventual coming together feel like destiny. It’s the kind of love story that leaves you believing in soulmates, in grand gestures, and in the magic of finding your person. Every interaction between them is charged with an almost tangible electricity, a testament to Fortune's unparalleled skill in crafting truly unforgettable romantic connections.

Carley Fortune's writing is, as always, pure poetry. Her prose is evocative, drawing you into every scene with effortless grace. She delves into the intricacies of human emotion with such precision and empathy, making every character's joy and pain feel profoundly real. One Golden Summer is a beautifully layered narrative, balancing the thrill of new romance with the deep roots of family love and the bittersweet ache of memories.

This book is a triumphant celebration of summer, of second chances, and of finding where you truly belong. It's romantic, it's heartfelt, it's captivating, and it's undeniably exciting. One Golden Summer isn't just my favorite Carley Fortune book; it's quite possibly my favorite romance of all time. Do yourself a favor and get lost in its pages. You won't regret it.

Thank you Carley Fortune, Berkley and NetGalley for allowing me the honor of reading and reviewing One Golden Summer in exchange for an honest review !

what a perfect book by fortune! i have read all of her previous titles and can confidently say this is my favorite. the banter, yearning, and chemistry between the two main characters is everything i look for in a romance book. i love the focus on alice’s passion for photography and how much charlie supports her. great spin off from every summer after and fills in the hopes readers had from percy and sam’s future. i loved it sooo much the ending was a tear jerker!

Just like Alice never anticipated Charlie Florek, I never anticipated One Golden Summer. You know those special books that transport you to a specific time and place, speak to all your emotions, evoke memories of times gone by, and hold you spellbound from start to finish? One Golden Summer, for me, is that book. I read it in one day and once I finished all I wanted to do was go back to page one and read it again, only slowly this time, savoring every perfectly placed word designed to elicit laughter, tears, and swoony sighs.

Before we get to the story, let's talk setting. Carley Fortune does a superb job of immersing the reader into the unique beauty of Barry's Bay. And well she should, as it's her hometown! Her love of this Ontario lake community shines through loud and clear and made me love it too. I could smell the pine-scented air, hear the loons cry under a star-studded sky, feel the wind in my face as she and Charlie raced across the lake in his yellow boat, and feel the cool water sluice over my body every time Alice dove off the dock or inelegantly fell off her Pegasus-Unicorn floatie (which would so be me).

The story itself is poignant, funny, endearing, frustrating, and romantic, centering on a variety of relationships including friendship, family, and romance. I loved Alice's bucket list and how Charlie jumped right in to help her check off items. I loved the friendship that grew between them, the flirty banter, the respect and understanding, before the deepening of feelings. The relationship between Alice and her grandmother brought so many wonderful memories and feelings to the surface. I liked that each of them grew during their summer at the lake. The family relationships for both Charlie and Alice are complicated but in each circumstance there is love at the center that helps them resolve their differences.

Note: I should point out that Charlie's (now settled) differences with his family are explored in Fortune's debut book, Every Summer After along with one major spoiler that's referenced in One Golden Summer. I haven't read Every Summer After yet (though I have bought and will be reading it soon) so I can't say if reading it first would have enhanced my love of One Golden Summer (I can't imagine loving it more) but I'm guessing it may have deepened my understanding of Charlie's character.

One Golden Summer is beautifully paced, poignantly nostalgic, deeply emotional, fun, humorous, endearing, and all the other adjectives I can think of to describe a golden summer of friendship, family, and romance at the lake. It's a summer of growth, of challenge, of discovering who you are as a person, of opening yourself to vulnerability, to love, of discovering your personal path forward, and perhaps, finding that one special person to walk that path with you.

One Golden Summer has my highest recommendation. It is my book of the summer.

TOP DISH Review

ARC received from publisher via NetGalley
Fair and unbiased review

i've loved everything carley fortune has ever written but i think this may be my favourite.

i related to alice in so many ways i might just have to add her to the list of soul characters.

and charlie charlie charlie i love this man so much

thank you berkley for the eArc in exchange for my honest review 🤍 infinite stars all around!

WE’RE BACK IN BARRY’S BAY!!!! I loved Every Summer After but wasn’t the biggest fan of Meet Me at the Lake. If this was you too, don’t worry, OGS feels like a true return to form and it was so good to back in this setting with these characters.

Charlie had me hooked from the jump — flirty, funny, and a hot hot hottie. I didn’t know what to expect from him after the drama from ESA but he turned out to be such a golden retriever. I also really loved Alice’s character and the chemistry between them was *chefs kiss* 💋

There’s a bit of a twist that had me nervous for the HEA 😬 and a “secret” trope that I’m not personally a fan of (give me good communication always!) but it didn’t ruin the vibe.

This book is nostalgic, romantic, and totally soaked in summer feelings 🚤☀️ A perfect beach or poolside read. Highly recommend picking it up this season!

As my most anticipated read of 2025, I'm thrilled to say that this book more than lived up to my expectations. Carley Fortune knows how to write the most magnificent, emotional, beautiful summer love stories, and this one was phenomenal.

Charlie Florek is an absolutely perfect man. Is he flawed? 100%. But his goodness is so prevalent, and this was the perfect redemption story for him after his role in Every Summer After. I wasn't sure exactly what kind of woman would be the perfect match for him, but it turns out it was Alice Everly. I related to her so strongly, and seeing the way she cared for everyone in her life was special, especially her Nan, whose character added so much to the story. But I especially loved seeing how Alice's summer at the lake changed her into the best version of herself. She and Charlie fit so well together, and their friendship was so sweet. Watching them slowly fall in love made me smile and swoon.

One of my favorite parts of this book was that there was zero other woman/other man drama. It was simply a pure story of two struggling people who find each other at just the right time, and although there was a third act conflict, it was written and resolved in such a way that I can't imagine the story unfolding any other way.

I can't recommend this one highly enough, but I do suggest reading Every Summer After first. The sweet cameos of Percy and Sam from that book made me so happy. And getting to hear about the events in that book from Charlie's perspective brought tears to my eyes.

It's only May, so it's too early to officially call it, but I know this book will be a contender for my favorite book of 2025

Thank you to the publisher for early access to another beautiful summer romance from this lovely Canadian author. Fortune’s favored setting is back for another summer on the lake, with Alice, her grandmother and Charlie Florek. This perfect spicy beach read is quick, with a lovable main protagonist and charming side characters.

CARLEY HAS DONE IT AGAIN!! I can't express the joy of getting to dive back into Barry's Bay. There was something so special about seeing Charlie (who I never considered the villain in Every Summer After) getting his book and getting to know him a little deeper while having Sam and Percy interact with Alice. Overall, I will truly read anything that Carley writes and I can wait to see waht she comes up with next.

5 Golden Stars for this book! I will admit to not being Charlie Florek's number one fan, so when I saw this book was about him, I did get nervous. However, Carley Fortune has pulled it off, and honestly, he beat himself up about things enough that I can find it in my heart to forgive him. I also loved Alice and how much she was able to grow and find herself over the summer. Shoutout to the Percy and Sam cameos as well.

good things happen at the lake and carley fortune is the best at writing them.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

Carley Fortune has OUT DONE herself with this one! Out of all her books, for far One Golden Summer felt the most like summer. I was transported to Barry's Bay alongside our FMC Alice, and also fell in love with Charlie. Having read ESA I was already interested in Charlie and wanted him to get his happy ending. I like that Carley Fortune didn't shy away from Charlie's past and gave him other obstacles to overcome. While I do hope this is Carley's last "lake" book, she has proven that she knows how to write a brilliant Summer Romance and if the lake is her drug of choice I will be seated each and every time no matter what!!

I really wish I loved this more. I was SO excited for Charlie’s story and overall, I do think this is a great summer book. A really feel good time. However, I found myself incredibly bored for the majority of the story. I think the first 25% felt strong and I was into it, but that quickly diminished.

The book felt a bit forced in my opinion. I think the author wanted to give the fans a Charlie book and this is what she delivered. Alice could have been any girl to make the story happen. Nothing about her felt special. I actually found her to be pretty dull. Certainly didn’t connect with her. Also, the back story didn’t really make me buy into this romance. I didn’t feel the chemistry between Charlie and Alice. She was there. He was there. The end.

It just felt average for me.

Thank you to Berkeley and NetGalley for the arc!

Carley Fortune’s writing is amazing! I loved her latest, One Golden Summer. The location of her books is one of my favorite parts of her writing. As a reader, it’s almost as if I you can picture the setting perfectly in your mind. Alice and Charlie are characters that were both so likable and easy to relate to. I was a fan of Charlie’s from when we first met him in Carley’s first novel, Every Summer After. I love that you can pick this book up and read it as a stand alone, or enjoy the cameo appearances from Percey. What I loved most about this was the nostalgia it brought to me. The writing was great and so was the execution of the story. 5 solid stars!! Loved it! Can’t wait to see what next Summer brings from one of my favorite authors!

This book was the healing my heart didn’t know it needed. I never wanted charlie and Alice’s story to end. Though I loved Sam and Percy, Charlie stole my heart. I’ve learned how much of a deep soul he has. I am so happy Charlie finally has his HEA. He truly deserves it. This book shows true human emotion no matter your age. Mistakes are made and it’s never too late to come back from them. Every book by Carly Fortune gets better and better and I will continue to read every single one.

One Golden Summer by @carleyfortune!

Oh. My. God. I don’t know if a more perfect summer romance exists! I did not think anything could top This Summer Will Be Different for me (I absolutely adored that book!) but One Golden Summer has officially taken the top spot for favourite Carley Fortune book!

Although I have never been to Barry’s Bay, as an Ontarian who grew up with a family cottage in Muskoka that we would spend our summers at, this book was filled with nostalgia for me! Although Alice and Charlie are in their 30s (same here!), reading about their care-free summer at the lake brought me right back to being a teenager at Wood Lake.

I have a feeling this will be a yearly reread for me at the beginning of every summer season! Also finishing it heading into May 2/4 weekend also felt like it was meant to be as the May long weekend is usually the weekend that you go open up the cottage for the season!

If you love
🚤friends to lovers
☀️forced proximity
📷kind of sort of a slow burn
🦝small town (or small lake shall we say)

Then this is one you’re going to love! If you’re craving a summer read, I couldn’t recommend One Golden Summer more!