One Golden Summer is honestly one of the best romance novels I've read to date, and it's definitely one of the best novels I've read so far this year.
It had all the feels. It made me laugh, and it made me cry.
I am absolutely obsessed with this book. It's definitely a keeper, one that I know I'm going to want to read again and again.

This is the first book I've read from Carley Fortune, but it definitely won't be the last, I'll be buying the rest of her books ASAP.
Carley is an exceptionally talented author. Her writing style is addictive, I honestly couldn't put it down. One Golden Summer is a beautifully written and deeply emotional story full of love, laughter, family, and fun.

I think Charlie and Alice would have to be my favourite couple from any romance I've read in a very long time. They are both charismatic, smart, funny, and warm. They also have sizzling chemistry.
I love the other characters too, especially Nan, Sam, and Percy.

I very highly recommend it.

5 well deserved stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you're a fan of Abby Jimenez, Beth O'Leary, or Christina Lauren, then trust me, you need to read One Golden Summer.

Thanks to Netgalley, Penguin Random House Australia, and Carley Fortune for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm happy to say I fell in love with this story at the very start. It is THE perfect summer romance. I felt like I was on a summer holiday vacation with salty hair while reading this which says a lot considering it is freezing in Australia right now.

Charlie and Alice had so much chemistry and banter. Their dynamic really showed me another side to Charlie and let me understand him more. He's definitely matured from where he was and there is more to the story. Charlie's grief was explored more closely which I loved. I heavily related to Alice and I loved the tender way Charlie treated her. To be listened to, is to be heard and Charlie definitely saw through Alice. It was empowering seeing Alice take back control of her life and put herself first, while also opening herself up to Charlie. I loved the concept of them meeting without really meeting while they were younger and being drawn back in. They are definitely invisible string coded.

This book is the perfect love letter for self discovery in your mid 20's - 30's and navigating parental grief. While it does touch on some heavier subjects, it is perfectly complimented with sweet moments.

If you were a fan of the first book, you'll appreciate some surprise appearances in this book, so pick it up!

Thanks Penguin Random House Australia for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was so so good! I absolutely devoured and loved this so much!! I knew Charlie would be my favourite and he didn’t disappoint!! This was everything and I’m obsessed

The nostalgia that I feel when reading Carleys books, I can’t explain it other than it feels like ‘home’. This was my favourite book in the series so far.

I love how fun, light hearted, real and raw this book was! The banter was EVERYTHING! Ready to reread all over again!

my favourite carley fortune book so far! such a great redemption arc for the mmc after every summer after

Ooh how I loved this book. I felt it so much. I do have a recommendation that you read her other books first to get a background. I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was. Highly recommend.

What makes One Golden Summer resonate isn’t just the romance — it’s the exploration of identity, time, and regret. Alice isn’t chasing a perfect summer; she’s trying to forgive the version of herself who thought she could escape heartbreak by turning life into art. That complexity elevates the story from a summer fling narrative into something more grounded and emotionally mature. There are moments where the pacing slows a bit too much, especially in the middle chapters, and a couple of side characters feel underdeveloped. But the emotional payoff is worth the wait, and Fortune proves again that she knows how to write the kind of love story that lingers like a sunset — soft, golden, and tinged with longing.

This was an emotionally rich escape that was equal parts nostalgic and romantic, and perfectly captured the magic of second chances.

The chemistry between Alice and Charlie was tender and real and it was so sweet to see their friendship blossom into something more. The found family aspect in this book was strong and I adored watching Charlie and Nan become the best of friends, as well as Percy and Alice. These characters and relationships all added so much depth to the book!

Set against the backdrop of a golden coastal summer where you can almost feel the salt air and hear the waves crash as the story unfolds, this was the type of book that leaves you a little softer, a little lighter and craving your own escape to the sea.

This was my first Carly Fortune book and let me tell you it did not disappoint. I will be reading all of her other work ASAP!

Despite being Winter here in Aus, this was a great Summer romance and I flew through it.

I loved Charlie & Alice’s relationship - good banter, their ability to talk through everything and especially their friendship. They are opposites but are perfect for each other.

I loved Alice’s nan and the story of family and her experience growing up. I look forward to going back to read the story of Sam and Percy!

4.5 stars!

This book was just so incredibly beautiful that I had tears pouring out of my fave for a good 2 hours as I read it.
Not only is it a great Summer read with the beautiful lake side setting, its helping me escape from cold Wintery days here in Aus right now. But there are so any layers to it - the romance between the FMC and MMC, the relationship with the FMC and her nan, The FMCs need to be helpful and thereby ignoring her own needs, the nan accepting her past is now longer than her future. Its so so beautiful and incredibly well done.
What to expect:
Summer in a small Lake side town
Possibly two golden retreiver main characters
Grief
Summer Bucket List

Thank you so much to Penguin and Netgalley for my EARC.

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Firstly, thankyou Carley Fortune and Penguin Random House Australia for this ARC opportunity! 🚤

Now, before reading One Golden Summer, I had to read Every Summer After, which I loved but I knew if done right, I would love Charlie’s story more! It is fair to say, I was obsessed with Charlie and Alice!! One Golden Summer is the perfect companion novel to Every Summer After, and better yet, we still get to enjoy where Sam and Percy are now.

Barry’s Bay? I want to live there. The setting described in detail between the two reads, allows you to truly envision the landscape, the lake, and the cottages. The return of Alice to the bay was nostalgic in the best way, and the recreation of the summer of their adolescence was top-tier, and for their own individual reasons. 🫶🏼

Can I just say, the dark room??!! Holy, Carley, you nailed this. 🎞️

The major twist was definitely predictable, but, for such a good overall read, I loved it anyway!

Now, could there be another romance on the cards? Perhaps between Heather and Harrison, who knows, but I do know I would eat up another story set in Barrys Bay happily!!

If you love:
Forced proximity
Friends to lovers
Bucket list
Summer nostalgic
Found family

4.5 ⭐️
HONEY I’M HOMEEEEE. Being back in Barry’s Bay truly felt like being back at home. I love how Carley’s writing can make us feel like we’re living the best summer ever with the Florek boys.
And Charlie florek, the man that you are!!!!! I’m so glad he got his happy ending.
I loved how this book felt similar to every summer after but still unique. It was nice reading a relationship of two people in their 30s — a lot of us will be able to connect with them. From understanding who you are, reconnecting with things that made you happy, finding love for your self and others, there’s just so much!

“His smile grows. It’s sunshine shimmering over the water. It’s permanent summer”

Thanks so much to @netgalley and Carley Fortune for this Arc! I did a reread of Every Summer After just before reading this so all the characters were fresh.

I was excited for Charlie’s love story and I think I enjoyed this even more than Every Summer After. I wasn’t a huge fan of the miscommunication in the first book but Charlie and Alice were a breath of fresh
air. I loved getting to know Alice in the first part of the book and I admired her passion for photography. The lake setting is so nostalgic and it took me right back to younger summers.

Alice and Charlie are so cute and I enjoyed the update with Sam and Percy. The first surprise I found a bit predictable but I enjoyed the next one more. I absolutely loved how Alice’s family comes to support her. The family relationships including Alice and Nan, her siblings and her mom were so great to read.

This was a feel good read that I enjoyed on vacation and it was a little bit steamy between the characters as well. I would highly recommend this read!

This novel was completely mesmerising and I loved it!!☀️⛵ I desperately needed this trip to the lake⛱️📷

Good things happen at the lake. That's what Alice's Nan always said.

The lake is where Alice took that photo that led to her becoming a serious photographer and it is her happy place.

After her Nan suffers a fall, Alice decides it is time they both took a trip back to the lake, to enjoy some time together. She can put her work on hold and in fact she needs to, as her life has taken a different turn to what she had expected. Back in Barry's Bay, they enjoy time together but their peace is disrupted by Charlie Florek, a neighbour, who seems intent on getting to know Alice.

As the days go on, we see a connection unfold and clearly I was cheering them on! I loved the pieces of backstory the author combined in this one and the setting with the lake and surroundings was divine.The complicated family relationships and the way you see the characters evolve was so enjoyable. While small elements of the story were predictable, there were plenty of surprises! I think this is now by favourite by the author. A brilliant novel✨

Thank you so much to Penguin and Netgalley for sending me an ARC of One Golden Summer in exchange for an honest review! I really enjoyed reading about Charlie and Alice, and this book left me with a warm, fuzzy feeling.

To summarise the story, Alice is a photographer who comes back down to Barry's Bay with her Nan for the first time since she was 17. I really enjoyed the idea of both characters having "one last teen summer" and loved watching their connection blossom over Alice's list and her Nan. The book went beyond romance in terms of its themes, and I found the author's inclusion of freedom, self-acceptance, forgiveness and individuality to weave its way into the story perfectly.

The book is told in Alice's point of view, and we definitely see her try to take back some control of her life, and try to find herself and her voice on this trip. I loved her relationship with Charlie, and how it started off as a friendship but they really found solace within one another and the lake, whilst trying to deal with their lives. I also liked how Alice's Nan wasn't put on the back-burner while the book focused on the romance, she was an active character throughout the book, and I loved seeing her character journey as well.

Now I will say that I wasn't especially connected to either Charlie nor Alice, and it becomes hard for me to fully immerse myself into a book when I don't feel connected to the characters. I also didn't love the complication that went down, and it definitely could have been executed a lot better if the book was dual-POV, but because it was only Alice's perspective, the complication fell a little flat.

Overall, it was definitely a good book, and it gave off complete summer vibes. Also saw someone say that Charlie and Alice give "The Secret of Us" energy and I fully agree!!!

Beautiful! Perfect! No notes!

This is the perfect ‘summer read down by the lake’ type of book!

You already know I love a blonde mmc! Charlieeee Florek you make me emotional 😭 but also you’re a hottie!! My heart breaks for Alice’s pov of her growing up! ILY turtle 🥹 Alice’s growth, her compassion and consideration for everyone but especially her Nan made my heart melt! The embarrassing parts also have my heart because HAHAHAHA SAME GIRL! Don’t even get me started on the list bc I love a list!!

I absolutely loved everything about this! The nostalgia, the banter, angst and tension buildup! I don’t like comparing but the vibes of this was giving EmHen and I. ATE. IT. UP!

Thank you so so much to Penguin Random House Australia and NetGalley for the eARC!

Firstly, thank you Netgalley and Penguin for my ARC!

I absolutely adored this book! I had not read anything else by the author prior to receiving this novel… and now i’m kicking myself I didn’t read Sam and Percy’s story first!… but clearly this book works as a standalone novel!

I was transported to Barry’s Bay and the lake house, I could picture Alice and Nan sipping their tea in the afternoon sun, i could almost feel the wind through my hair while zipping around in Charlie’s yellow boat…. And i wish i could taste those pierogis!

This book is a slow burn, spoiler- there is a 3rd act break up… but its worth it! I love how Carley developed and matured her characters in this book, Alice was truly a lost soul at the beginning but metamorphosed into a self assured woman.

I really really loved this! I would have devoured it in one sitting if i could have!!

One Golden Summer is out now!

Carley Fortune’s latest novel, One Golden Summer, is about Alice Everly and Charlie Floreck, who reconnect at the lake (Barry’s Bay), 14 years after Alice took Charlie’s photo as a shy 17-year-old.

While I loved their story, my favourite character was Nan, Alice’s 80-year-old grandmother, and the reason Alice is at the lake. Nan fell and broke her hip while dancing, fittingly, to Dancing Queen, and Alice decided to move them both to the lake for the summer, to cheer her up while recuperating.

While we met many of the characters in Fortune’s first book, Every Summer After, this book can easily be read as a stand alone.

It’s easily my favourite of her four books, and I’m looking returning to Barry’s Bay again sometime.

4 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Australia for providing me with an advance copy.

'I've been dreaming of spending a quiet summer on the water. I've pictured long walks and sunrises, mid-afternoon swims and cosy nights with a book. I've imagined peace and rest and catching up on work.

But I didn't anticipate Charlie Florek.'

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This has been my first Carley Fortune book and safe to say I'm a fan!

If you're looking for a book to sink into, perfect for a cosy weekend or to bring to the beach, this is it. The setting is so evocative, it made me feel all light and summery, and now I am longing for a lakeside holiday. Carley's writing is quite flowery, but it all serves a purpose. The story itself was quick and easy to read, and it really conjured up a nostalgic feeling for me, even though I can't quite put my finger on why.

It did take me a little while to warm to both Alice and Charlie, but they both won me over in the end. I thought their insecurities were portrayed well, and the way their romance built was beautiful.

I'll definitely be reading more of Carley's work in the future, and I am looking forward to going back and reading Sam and Persephone's story!

Thank you so much to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

this may just be my favourite carley fortune book yet! the friendship between charlie and alice was so cute to witness and seeing them find themselves again with each other was sweet. charlie was so caught up on believing he was still the person from his past and alice. needing to find her purpose again really made me fall for their chemistry, the slow burn was done in such a good pace.

When I realised this was Charlie’s book (but not from his POV). I requested this so quickly. I adored this book and all of its characters. This would be a perfect lazy day summer read. The only thing about this book that lost the spark for me was that it was a bit slow for me (but it could’ve been the arc format).