I think that it is fair to say that Carley Fortune has done it again. This is quintessential summer reading. It has all the aspects of a great beach read; slow burn, gorgeous lake setting, summer bucket list, hot funny man, quality time with family, and on and on. The whole book just made me want to book a lake vacation immediately.

It was a bit of a slow build for me, and it wasn’t until about 40% that I got into it, but from that point I was invested. Alice is likable and her banter with Charlie was fun to read. I liked the 33 year old perspective that she brought to the table, and it made it feel more real in my
opinion. The characters coming in to the relationships with life experiences already (otherwise known as baggage) gave it more depth.

I think it should be more widespread that this is technically the second of the “series”, with Every Summer After coming first. I had several friends read One Golden Summer first without realizing, and I think it matters a little bit. The Sam/Percy cameos in this book hit a lot harder if you have the back story and I wouldn’t want to have to go back in time after reading this one.

I received this book as an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you Carley Fortune and Penguin Random House Canada!

Ahhhh, I loved this book! One Golden Summer is the perfect beach read! The vibes were immaculate, and it was so addictive. The setting, Barry's Bay, was magical and idyllic.

Charlie and Alice were adorable, and I loved the character development they both went through. The invisible string theory was strong with this one. Everything happens for a reason, and these two were meant to find each other.

Also, Nan? The sweetest, funniest, wisest woman! Loved her and how she helped both Alice and Charlie understand their feelings.

I laughed, I cried, I swooned. This book is everything you could want in a romance—pairs perfectly with warm weather, a body of water, and a cold drink. One Golden Summer is a must-read!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada, and Carley Fortune for the free book! Cannot wait for everyone to fall in love with Charlie and Alice!

I don't give out five star reviews often, but Carley Fortune gets one here! I have been anxiously awaiting Charlie's story since reading Every Summer After years ago, and One Golden Summer absolutely lived up to my expectations (and surpassed them). Flirty Charlie and tender Alice make such a perfect pairing. I was thrilled to be back on the lake and lived vicariously through all their summer experiences there. The peeks at Sam and Percy's happily ever after were icing on the cake. Canadian romance is where it's at for me and Carley is my queen.

I looked forward to Carley Fortune’s latest book. Although I don’t read much romance, I do occasionally like it for a different read. I liked all the Toronto references and cottage country talk. The story was OK, but not my favourite. Overall I found it well written even though it wasn’t my favourite read.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for this ARC!
3/5

• alice, a photographer who is itching for something more in her life, returns to the lake where she spent one summer when she was 17 with her ailing grandmother. as they get settled in, alice is caught off guard by a familiar yellow boat & the man driving it. charlie manages to fit right into alice & nan’s summer at the lake, and steals a piece of alice’s heart while she’s at it. but alice knows the summer can’t last forever, even if she’s starting to believe she might want it to.
• alice & charlie had so much heart, and the love story paired alongside the story of alice spending time with her grandmother worked well for me. plus, the banter between everyone was really fun!
• extra bonus points for the toronto & local cottage country setting. something brings me so much joy about hearing neighbourhoods i’m intimately familiar with mentioned in books like this.
• while i ultimately enjoyed this, i didn’t love alice & charlie’s romance as much as percy & sam’s in ‘every summer after.’

Carley Fortune does it again!! I absolutely loved this one, and was so happy to be back at Barry's Bay. I was so excited for Charlie's story and this was everything I wanted. Full of nostalgia, friends to lovers, forced proximity, it has it all!

Highly reccomend this one.

There is no other author that can make you feel, smell, taste, see and hear summer the way that Carley Fortune does. When you open a book by her, you are not just reading, you are actually at the lake, in the forest and experiencing it all in the best way possible.

I absolutely adore Charlie and Alice and the nostalgia you experience right alongside them. And y’all, I had my doubts of this “live like you’re 17 again” plotline. I don’t usually love YA books, but this was not YA at all, despite the premise. It was relatable and fun and oh so flirty!

I love Charlie and his damaged soul. I love that he was hiding himself and trying to cover up his heart by laying on the charm and holding everyone at arms length. And I love that Alice was able to see through it all and help him heal.

I was expecting to enjoy this book, but I didn't expect to fall in love with it so much. Definitely a must-read and even better if you listen to the audio!

I need someone to dunk me in a lake now. By someone, I mean Charlie Florek, but I'll settle for the love of my life.

I so dearly love Carley Fortune's summer books. Every time she's released one I think to myself "okay, this is my favourite" and then the next one hits a home run and I have to change allegiance. One Golden Summer has taken the top spot and is perfect in every way. I love the Barry's Bay so much and all these characters I've come to love from there - Sam, Percy, Charlie and now Alice. It's the way I screamed when I realized Charlie was going to get a book and get a story worthy of him. Carley Fortune delivered on that and then some.

Charlie Florek the man that you are! I adore him. His character development in this book is magnificent. He goes from this shallow, playboy who commits one of the gravest sins a friend and brother can do to a fully realized, wonderful character and ocean's worth of depth. To complement him perfectly is one Alice Everly. Oh, how much I adore Alice Everly. Seeing her flourish over the summer in her professional and personal life was such a joy. Seeing her bloom to accept and reach out to others for care and love was so healing. I am so glad Carley brought these two characters together who so desperately needed each other. I cried multiple times. I also can't wait to reread.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! One Golden Summer by Carly Fortune is a story about heartbreak, love and hope. When Alice’s grandmother has an accident and needs to feast for a while, she takes it as the perfect opportunity to head to the lake to clear her head. Having broken it off with her fiancé, she just can’t seem to find her groove that is until she meets Charlie. Charlie’s easy going ways help Alice to move on from her heartbreak and hope for a brighter future. I love the story setting. The Muskoka’s have been my family’s happy place for many years. Summers are definitely relaxing at our Ontario lakes. Overall a cute, though predictable, storyline that I would recommend to others.

The queen of Canadian cottage romance books is back! I can't say I was one of the people begging for a Charlie book but boy am I glad we got one. There's so many things to love in this book from the Every Summer After character cameos to the beautiful friends-to-lovers romance between Alice and Charlie. One Golden Summer might be tied with my ultimate favourite Carley Fortune book, Meet Me at the Lake. Highly recommend if you want a romance with some Canadian summer escapism vibes.

inject this book into my veins!!! when i read the arc for one golden summer three years ago, i told all my bookish friends that it would be the book of the summer. here we are now, with a perfect summer romance sequel where we get to see charlie fall in love.

one golden summer took me back to the magical time i had reading every summer after. it was like chasing that nostalgic feeling, reliving the perfect summer by returning to barry’s bay. carley fortune writing is incredible, the way she transport you to the lake and it’s like you get to experience life again as a seventeen year old.

charlie and alice are the loml <3 i love their sweet friendship and romance. charlie had me swooning with his charm, mischief, and flirting. i love him so so much! alice was so relatable and it was lovely to see her rediscover herself and open up to new life experiences. i loved the depth of these characters, they felt so real and so pure. the yearning, chemistry and nostalgia were everything. i want to stay at the lake with charlie and alice forever <3

thank you to penguin random house and netgalley for the arc!

I know I’m not alone when I say that it just doesn’t feel like summer until Carley Fortune publishes a new book. I know it’s only May but between the release of One Golden Summer, the Victoria Day long weekend, and my birthday at the end of the month, well, it all signals the start of summer to me. Whether you read Fortune’s latest now or in the height of summer, just make sure you read it. One Golden Summer was wonderful.

Here’s the book’s description:

I never anticipated Charlie Florek.

Good things happen at the lake. That’s what Alice’s grandmother says, and it’s true. Alice spent just one summer at a cottage with Nan when she was seventeen—it’s where she took that photo, the one of three grinning teenagers in a yellow speedboat, the image that changed her life.

Now Alice lives behind a lens. As a photographer, she’s most comfortable on the sidelines, letting other people shine. Lately though, she’s been itching for something more, and when Nan falls and breaks her hip, Alice comes up with a plan for them both: another summer in that magical place, Barry’s Bay. But as soon as they settle in, their peace is disrupted by the roar of a familiar yellow boat, and the man driving it.

Charlie Florek was nineteen when Alice took his photo from afar. Now he’s all grown up—a shameless flirt, who manages to make Nan laugh and Alice long to be seventeen again, when life was simpler, when taking pictures was just for fun. Sun-slanted days and warm nights out on the lake with Charlie are a balm for Alice’s soul, but when she looks up and sees his piercing green gaze directly on her, she begins to worry for her heart.

Because Alice sees people—that’s why she is so good at what she does—but she’s never met someone who looks and sees her right back.

What makes Fortune’s books so magical is how she perfectly captures the settings of her novels. Of course, Fortune did grow up in Barry’s Bay, where One Golden Summer and her debut, Every Summer After, are set, so she know that area well. Even though I’ve never been there, I now feel like I have. That’s a rarer talent than you’d expect. It’s also rare to find romance novels set in Canada (though it’s getting better) and I’m so glad no one made Fortune change the locations of her books. Publishers, take note. Readers in Canada want to see Canada and readers elsewhere in the world are also clearly on board!

While Charlie, the male main character in One Golden Summer, is also in Every Summer After, this is not a sequel. You don’t have to read ESA before OGS - though I do recommend it simply because I think every romance reader should read Fortune’s books. I, like many, many others, liked Charlie in ESA. I understood how and why everything went down the way it did so being able to really get to know him as an adult and read as he got his own love story was wonderful.

Alice was such an interesting - and great - heroine. She was a little bit flawed, like all of us are, and we meet her just as she’s finally being forced to take a break from her go-go-go life. Her situation could also be a bit of a reminder to take those breaks when they’re presented before it’s too late. Burnout is real and I don’t think any of us know how to deal with it. Or maybe I’m projecting. ANYWAY. I loved Alice. I loved seeing her let go of the day to day and really get back in touch with what matters to her. I was rooting for her to find that balance she desperately needed and deserved.

The idea of a summer bucket list is so sweet and fun and I love that Fortune included one for Alice. And I especially love that Alice made a list that her 17 year old self would have wanted to complete. There’s something about those late teen summers that are so impactful and Fortune was able to nail both the nostalgia and the emotions perfectly. (Perhaps too perfectly at times…oof. So many emotions.) I spent my teen years reading (and loving) Sarah Dessen’s novels and Fortune’s are exactly what my adult self needs now. Summers, love, finding yourself. Just perfection.

One Golden Summer is the perfect summer read for romance fans. In her latest novel, Carley Fortune has given us just the right setting and couple for us to fall head over heels in love - in love with Barry’s Bay, with Charlie, with Alice, and maybe, with ourselves, too.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Penguin Random House Canada, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

I knew this would easily be a favourite book of the year because I love every one of Carley's books but I did not expect the chokehold that Charlie would have me in.

I meant to savour this and of course flew threw it in two sittings. I adored Alice. She came out of her shell so much throughout the book. Her grandma reminded me of my grandma - absolutely loving life.

But Charlie Florek 🥹 of course was my fave in the story. So full of himself, free and fun, but there was so much more to him than meets the eye. His bond with Nan was the freakin sweetest

A readable, obvious plot, love story. I could likely find enough wrong with it to drop my score, but I am giving it marks, rating it for what it is…..a beach read.
I did make a few notes:

It has all the makings for a vomit-inducing, predictable story. Although not my usual choice, I don’t hate them as much as some.

Knight in shining armour is introduced before she even meets him. The person with so much goodness in him, he is getting the cottage ready for Alice’s arrival.
We are introduced to her astrological sign. I am not sure if that is an important hallmark of a beach read, but I feel like it should be.

She arrives at the cottage and needs food. She runs into a hunky kind of guy. Could it possibly be her knight?? Of course it is.

Why is Charlie so selfless? His answer:
I owe the universe a few good deeds. Foreshadowing……

And, before Alice decides she likes him, of course her Nan loves him.

I stopped taking notes, giving anyone could predict the next parts of the book.

Summer is coming, head to the beach, read this if you need a predictable love story, otherwise, in the world of finer literature, this one doesn’t measure anywhere near the top.

I finished this book last week and I loved it! One Golden Summer is a follow up to Carley’s smashing debut book - Every Summer After. While it can be read on its own, I highly recommend checking out ESA if you haven’t yet already!

This book follows Alice who is spending the summer at a cottage with her Nan. She hopes to lift Nans spirits through some health issues Nan has been having. Alice has fond memories of her summer at the lake as a teen, but often wishes she had done more “exciting” things. She makes a list and vows to try and get some of the activities done this summer.

Enter the older Florek brother - Charlie. He spends all his summers at the cottage across the lake, and is well known around the lake for his wild side and big yellow boat. When he disturbs Alice and Nans peaceful summer at the cottage, he finds out about Alice’s list and teams up with her to help get it done.

This book put me right back into Barry’s Bay and made me crave a trip to the cottage. Alice was super relatable and I felt like she was very similar to me - wanting to be apart of the fun kids across the lake but experiencing too much anxiety and shy-ness to go be apart of it.

I also really enjoyed Charlie getting a redemption story. His parts in ESA always made me a little sad and so it was really nice to see his growth in this book. Of course getting glimpses at the ESA crew was a huge bonus too!!

If you loved ESA, spending summers at the lake, or are just looking for a summer read to take you away - maybe to Canadian cottage country?, then this book is for you.

I think it is one of my favorite books so far this year, and is certainly going to be at the top of my recommendations for summer reading!!

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that captures the love and joy of summer so perfectly!

Carley Fortune’s writing is absolutely stunning. I could envision the setting so well that it made me start to feel nostalgic about being young and free during summer vacation. I would love to be plopped into one of her books, she makes the world and characters so inviting!

I absolutely loved Charlie and Alice’s story. It was so complex, yet felt so easy and I enjoyed seeing everything unfold. The romance was such a slow burn, and I liked how we were able to slow down and learn about both Alice and Charlie individually throughout the book. I already knew I would love Charlie, considering Every Summer After was one of my favourite books of 2023 - but this book took it to a whole new level.

Alice’s relationship with Nan was also so heartfelt and adorable! There were so many times where they would make me emotional because their connection was so special. All of the different family dynamics in this one made me teary in certain moments, honestly. 🥹

Carley - The Queen of Summer Novels - Fortune has done it again. One Golden Summer is a perfectly atmospheric story set in Barry's Bay. You feel like you're there for the thick humidity and sounds of laughter across the water. Fortune is an incredible weaver of words and it really shows in this one. There is the perfect balance of serious to just lighthearted fun.

It all starts with a change of pace for our FMC photographer Alice and her grandmother Nan after a nasty breakup and a broken hip (respectively). Alice finds herself feeling 17 again as she rediscovers a part of herself relaxing on the lake from her past. A photo she took years ago had a smiling boy in a yellow boat, that same boy is in town spending the summer with his brother and sister in law. Of course fate brings them together in the perfect slow burn.

A huge thank-you to Penguin Random House Canada and Netgalley for sending this ARC my way just in time to kick off the first week of warm weather!

The way I got an ARC from one of my favourite authors and I’ll forever be so thankful. 🥹🥹🥹

5 stars for this masterpiece. The banter, the flirting, the emotion, the story of Charlie & Alice… THIS was everything I expected it to be and more. If this is not on your summer tbr, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!?

Thank you so much to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Carley Fortune is magical to me. I'm not a regular romance reader, but ever since her first book, I eagerly await her new release and eat it up every time. Her settings are always perfection.
Being back in Barry's Bay felt so incredibly fun and nostalgic. Following Alice's journey and finally seeing Charlie's POV was a gift.

To me, Carley Fortune simply can't miss.

HUGE thank you for this amazing ARC @penguincanada @penguinrandomca @carleyfortune 🤍

I CANNOT explain the way I feel every time I jump into a Carley Fortune book, I still remember the first time I received an early ARC of Every Summer After and the way I felt reading it. She has this way of making you feel like you’re right there, right at the cabin, with the sun hitting your face, and the lake water tickling your toes. PURELY MAGICAL. SHE is my summer QUEEN! We LOVE Percy and Sam and INSANELY giddy to know that we got a taste of Percy and Sam again in One Golden Summer! But now we dive into getting to read Charlie Florek and Alice Everly’s beautiful love story unfold. You are able to read this as a stand alone but I would recommend reading Every Summer After to get a better experience!

- Friends to lovers
- Summer Romance
- Small town romance
- Found Family

But.. Not only we get a love story, we also get spicy Nan! We love an involved spicy grandmother; I adored her and Alice’s close knit relationship. I felt a ton of emotions reading this book, one being because of Nan. Made me miss my late grandma who passed years ago. I felt so young and alive reading One Golden Summer, Alice Everly and her teenage bucket list... Charlie making her feel so alive with the remaining last days at the cabin = SWOON WORTHY. This book screamed grief, fate, tight knit family, nostalgia, and self discovery! BUT Without having to spoil every inch of this book, 5 star all around. I am glad we got to revisit Barry’s Bay.

I also need a physical copy of Every Summer After?! To my surprise I just have it on my kindle 😭