Could not recommend a better summer romance <3 this EXCEEDED my high expectations, and I want to live in this world forever!!!

In regards to the book on its own (separate from ESA), I was so engrossed in this story and just fell in love with these characters. I identify so much with Alice that it felt like reading my own journal sometimes. And reading about her and Charlie felt so RIGHT - as a reader, I could truly feel that they are perfect for each other. Given how their relationship evolves because of the plot, I feel like both their arcs successfully walked the fine line in making their actions feel realistic and agreeable (because I very much value a third act breakup that actually makes sense - thank you Carley Fortune!!!). And NAN!!! I loved the role she played throughout their story, and I found her arc surprisingly sweet.

I'm a sucker for a full circle ending (the epilogue was perfect) and probably the most nostalgic person to exist, so this book just feels tailored to me and all my favorite things. This book is for the girls who believe that to love someone is to know them, always feel like they need to take everything on their shoulders, never ask because they never feel like they can, and desperately want to carve out their own place in the world.

You don't have to read Every Summer After to read this, but I highly recommend doing so. Percy and Sam were weaved into this story so flawlessly through some glimpses, and the continuation of Charlie's story feels authentic - sometimes a hard feat when writing an unforeseen follow-up, but Carley Fortune nailed it.

5 Stars!! Thank you SO much to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review. For publisher - full post on my instagram @recsbyallisonpaige coming soon (follower count 39k, linked along with Goodreads review).

Carly Fortune has done it again— the perfect summer read! Reading this book makes you feel seventeen again— full of hope and young love. It is swoon worthy and makes me want to find my way to the nearest body of water!

I don’t think I’ve swooned over a book this hard in a while! Charlie Florek the man that you are!! This one is a summer dream wrapped in the most perfect bow. This one is full of a+++ banter, returning characters you love, and so much emotion (good bad and ugly). But it’s a beautiful love letter to making the most of a summer with no regrets!!

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for the complimentary copy of this book!

Holy moly! I don't know what Carley does when she writes her books but I think she sprinkles something extra in it!! I was immediately pulled into this story when it started. My memory of Every Summer After was foggy and I knew that this book was connected but I hadn't looked too much into the description as I wanted to be surprised.

"I don't want to mislead you. This is lal I can give you. I don't want you to regret me."

I absolutely love our FMC Alice. I thought she was such a fun FMC and seeing her grow during this summer in Barry's Bay was so lovely. In another life I would love to be a photographer so having that be profession was a win for me. And I love how she is always thinking as a photographer and there would be these moments that she would wish to capture and the text would read "Click." You know I love a female character who is trying to figure out who they are and in this case she knows she wants to be a photographer but wants to start doing shoots that feel right for her and not just to do it for the financial aspect.

Charlie Charlie Charlie. SWOOOOOOOON. I was smitty from the start. He was a smart ass, kind, handyman and based off Alice's description so hot. The banter between him and Alice was *chef's kiss*. As I mentioned earlier my memory of Every Summer After is foggy so I cannot remember what Charlie was like in that but in this he really shined. Even if he didn't think it, he was such a good man. And even when he was being cocky or smart, Alice always came first. As the reader, from his actions he was just so smitten with her.

Alice recounts the last time she was at Barry's Bay with her grandmother and how she was 17 and wanted to be apart of Charlie, Percy and Sam's group. She creates a bucket list of things she wished she had done when she was 17 and I love how Charlie decides to tag along and help her knock off the items on her list. I love how bold the list made Alice and made her go outside her comfort zone. Perhaps it was being around Charlie that brought that side out of her. They just complimented each other so well and even with them saying they were "just friends" as the reader you couldn't help but yell at them (just like all the side characters did - okay maybe not yell yell).

"Even though I can't stop thinking about all the ways I could make you scream my name."

This book just made me happy on every page. I was fist pumping and felt so many swoons while reading which every romance reader should have that while reading. Even with all the swoon and the moments between Alice and Charlie, there was some serious stuff that happens that I don't want to give away.

If you are a fan of Every Summer After, you do get to see Sam and Percy and where they are today. I thought the amount of time they were in the book was just the right amount.

Carley was already an autobuy/autoread author and with every book it just keeps solidifying it. And one day I am going to get to visit Canada and see how beautiful it really is!

I love every Carley Fortune book, and I think this might be my favorite one yet. The building romance between Charlie and Alice was both sweet and heartfelt and full of adventurous chemistry—the voice, setting, and character arcs were so moving and effective. New fans and old will love this installment, and I already can't wait to reread it!

⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Romance)
🌶️🌶️ (1-2)

✨The Highlights✨
. Bucket List 🪣
. Lake Cottage 🚤
. Friends to Lovers
. Summer Vibes ☀️
. Mutual Pining
. Single POV

*This can be read standalone but does give spoilers for “Every Summer After”

✨The Feels✨

“Woah.” I couldn’t sum up this book any better than Alice herself (iykyk). But seriously—One Golden Summer was everything I wanted and more. I FREAKING LOVED it!

Charlie. So. Damn. Sexy. The charm, the flirting, the cockiness—ugh. But underneath it all? A secret cinnamon roll with so much heart. Alice was the perfect match—grounded, vulnerable, and so incredibly real. Their tension nearly broke me (in the best way). And Nan!! The sassiest, sweetest grandma I’ve ever read. I want to sit on a lakeside porch with her, sipping tea and swapping stories. You just KNOW she has some good stories.😉

The setting was pure summer magic. This is hands down the best summer read I’ve picked up all year. The moment I opened the book, I was transported straight to Barry’s Bay. I could hear the lake rippling, see the yellow speedboat streaking by, taste the homemade pierogies, and feel the sun on my skin. It was like being 17 again—living in my bathing suit, slathered in sunscreen, floating in the water without a single care. Pure, nostalgic bliss.

P.S. For fans of Every Summer After, Percy and Sam’s cameos absolutely melted my heart.

✨The Spoiler-Free Details✨

Alice Everly lives behind the lens. But when Nan breaks her hip, she plans one last golden summer in Barry’s Bay—until the roar of a familiar yellow speedboat flips everything.

I have been waiting for Charlie's story. I always knew that there was more to him than they let on. And boy was I right.

Charlie, oh Charlie. There is so much more to you than what people think, aka us readers. Alice always knew that Charlie was much more than what people think. She may have noticed it at first since Alice has been struggling within herself. Alice doesn’t know what’s going on personally, so she starts a summer list when she rents out a lake cabin with her grandmother. It’s the best way to start the summer and to figure out what’s missing.

Alice didn’t know that she was missing Charlie in her life. Or maybe it’s the way that Charlie always supports her no matter what with no judgment. Or maybe it’s when Charlie joins her endless bucket list without any complaints. Or maybe it’s when Charlie keeps on saying that she matters in any space. Or maybe it’s when Charlie effortlessly is there no matter what time or place. All of these combinations make it undeniable for Alice to fall in love with Charlie. There is just one problem: Charlie is hiding a big secret. It’s a bit devastating to read, but I know Alice is going through Charlie’s walls and will be there always.

This book was such an amazing and cute summer read! I loved it so much! As much as I loved reading about Percy and Sam's relationship in Every Summer After, I definitely fell in love with Alice and Charlie's story. I laughed and cried and I smiled way too much because Charlie is such a thoughtful, funny, charming flirt and I loved the banter. I liked getting to know Charlie more and I liked how he helped Alice become a better and stronger version of herself. Wish I could read this book again for the first time. Definitely 10/10 recommend!

This is the perfect book for any romance lover looking for a fun yet heartfelt beach read that brings all the summer vibes!

Because I’ll read anything Carley Fortune writes, I went into this one totally blind and had no idea this was Charlie’s book! If you’ve read Every Summer After, you’ll remember Charlie Florek; he played a small yet pivotal role in the larger story of that book. He left an impression and I was SO happy to read his story!

Alice and Charlie together were pure magic. This book and their relationship were everything a joyful summer should be made of: flirting, laughs, stolen kisses, and that summer camp feeling of connection, confessions, and soul searching. All set against the dreamy backdrop of boat rides, swimming, and photography, at the lake.

This one was so much fun but did have its serious moments. Fortune has such a knack for writing a subdued scene when necessary, followed by the chaos and levity that comes from real life. I really enjoyed the boisterous moments and the quieter ones. No person is just one thing, and I love how Fortune drew out the different elements of her characters’ personalities.

I really loved this one and it just might be my new favorite by this author! If you’re new to Fortune's books, this can absolutely be read as a standalone BUT you will get a few pretty big spoilers for Every Summer After. Just do yourself a favor and pick both books up this week! 😉🤣

4.75 stars - I absolutely loved this. Reading it immediately after Ever Summer After was a lot of fun and it was such a treat watching Charlie get his happy ending. Once again, the writing is absolutely beautiful - I wish I could be transported to a lake and go swimming every morning after reading this and it felt like a delicious treat.

Alice and Charlie together was absolute perfection. Every one of their interactions was so sweet and filled with delicious tension. I loved watching Alice really find herself again through this perfect summer escape. The support that they showed one another was so tender and romantic, and I was so happy that Charlie finally had someone unequivocally in his corner and remind him that he is so much more than the mistakes of his youth. Truly adored this one and would absolutely recommend.

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the eARC - all opinions are my own!

This is an excellent read for summer. If you are looking for a quick, easy beach read, this is it.
This book is not a sequel, but has some reoccurring characters from her book Every Summer After, which I also really enjoyed. This one can be read as a stand alone. I loved how the author brought together the past and the present. The lake setting was perfect and Fortune was able to capture is beautifully. I thought the characters were well done and getting to know Charlie (one of the reoccurring characters) better was fun. Nan, the grandmother was also a delightful character and her small story arc was also interesting. A recommended read for people looking to recapture that summertime feeling!

This book delivered all my favorite Fortune hallmarks: a nostalgic, sun-soaked setting, flirty on-page texts, a smart FMC who doesn’t want to be a burden, flirty banter, and characters that feel *real*.

From the start, I was completely swept up in Alice, Nan, and Charlie’s world. So wholesome, so heartfelt!

Alice is the kind of FMC I could read about forever. She's thoughtful, strong, quietly struggling, and endlessly relatable. Her relationship with her fierce grandma Nan was adorable, and her reconnection with Charlie (the charming, cheeky heartbreaker across the lake) had me *melting*. He’s pure golden retriever energy: funny, confident, and so full of love for Alice despite his restraint.

The summer bucket list, flirty texts, complex family dynamics, and honest emotional moments made this feel like the ultimate nostalgic summer read. Carley Fortune does it again—this one’s going on my favorites shelf. ☀️💛

Charlie f-ing Florek! Honestly this man. My new fav book bf who has my whole heart. He's so charming, thoughtful, SEXY and just perfect. A man that takes your grandma out to choir practice? I mean COME ON, it's just not fair to all the other book bfs out there! Alice was relatable - that imposter syndrome most women experience, that self-doubt and putting others first. I liked watching her grow through that. This book has that trademark Carley Fortune slooooow burn, angsty romance that we all love. I also enjoyed being back at Barry's Bay. This might be my fav of hers yet!

Thank you thank you to Berkley Romance & Penguin Canada for my free copy!

CHARLIE FLOREK I LOVE YOU!!!! I won’t lie, I was nervous about this book, but I feel silly for doubting Carly for even a second. This was romantic and emotional and the perfect follow up to Every Summer After.

Thank you, Carley Fortune & Berkley Publishing Group, for this ARC of One Golden Summer.

Review:

Not to be cheesy, but this book was definitely GOLDEN. It had me hooked from the beginning and wouldn't let me go. 🥰 I stayed up all night reading this.

Alice and Charlie were such fun characters. Their "friendship" was wonderful, and I love how they looked out for each other all summer.

This book had a great plot, and I love that Alice returned to Barry’s Bay, a place that she had felt so connected to when she was a teenager.

If you're looking for a great summer read, this is it! It's available on Kindle, Amazon, Audible, and other major retailers.

This book was so good! I really enjoyed her first book and then the next two were just ok, but this one might be my favourite one! The characters were likeable, plot was really fun and I kept wanting to pick up the book. I will be recommending this book to friends!

As good as Every Summer after for me! This was reminiscent of what put me on to Carley Fortune from the jump. I loved that she pulled in some content from her debut, but I appreciated how she switched it up and made the story its own. Loved the character development. Loved Nana! The setting was perfection and such a good kick off for summer. I couldn’t put it down and I haven’t been able to say that about a book in a long time.

Thank you @berkleypub for my gifted advanced copies. I have to give props to the narrator, I loved the audio of this one! I just found my new favorite Carley Fortune book! I couldn’t have loved this one more! I have loved all of her books, but this one just resonated with me so much! I think because of the unique relationships and the Easter eggs from her previous book. I can’t name anything else without giving away twists! This book made me laugh, cry and be so hopeful! You can’t help but love the characters! This is the book to have in your beach bag this summer!!

Thank you so much Berkley Romance Publishing and Penguin Random House Audio for my ARC read and listen!

I loved this one! I enjoyed the stranger grumpyXsunshine love for Charlie and Alice. Charlie is so goofy and forward, I love it! We even get a glimpse of Sam and Percy too. Very well balanced between some spice and serious scenarios, but loved the story the whole way through; beginning to end.

OH MY GOD..... Fortune can do no wrong!!!

I am a HUGE fan of this author. She is back with another unforgettable summer romance that you will definitely be wanting to pack in that beach bag. What a beautiful and emotional story about two characters that are afraid to let that guard down and truly be seen. The regrets we have in life and the fears that hold us back in finding true happiness. This book was so beautiful in so many ways.... so relatable... we all have fears and regrets that hold us back in truly becoming who we want to be and know we are!!

GUSH... I'm obsessed with her storytelling and wish that I could gobble up another one of her books right now. I've included some of my favorite quotes in this one. That love story is definitely my favorite for 2025. Fortune you will always steal my heart with your beautiful books!!

"I want you to have a great summer, too. Let your hair down. Do something stupid. Do something selfish."
"Falling in love is terrifying"

5/5 stars