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).

Sunny and charming and nostalgic - and so exasperating. I loved this book, even though it's sloooooow, and Charlie is frustrating, and Alice is sad, and a bit lost. Author Carley takes us back to the setting of One Golden Summer (although this is a standalone) and we get to see what happens with flirty funny Charlie. Alice is a photographer and she returns to a holiday house on the lake with her grandma, who is recuperating from a hip replacement. Alice spent a summer there when she was seventeen and took a picture that turned out to be the start of her career. This time around she befriends golden boy Charlie from over the lake and they embark on a summer fling, full of sunsets and swimming and yearning and nostalgia. Their backstories unfold and I liked them more and more as their summer went on. Alice knows when she's on a good thing, but Charlie runs hot and cold, and keeps his secrets. It's not totally angsty, but neither is it lighthearted, rather it's a thoughtful take on finding yourself and being open to the possibility of love. The setting is wonderful!

Good things do indeed (eventually) happen at the lake. Thank you Carley Fortune and Penguin Random House Australia for the ARC.

"He makes me bolder, and I make him softer." 🥹

Rating: 4.5/5

- summer romance
- neighbours
- friends with benefits
- 🌶️🌶️/5
- single pov

POV: A city photographer decides to spend the summer with her grandma at her grandma's friend's lake cottage… and there's a cute boy next door 🤭.

One Golden Summer is as much a tender, heated summertime romance as it is a self-discovery journey for Alice. Carley's words flow so beautifully as we see the world through Alice's lens—such a unique perspective.

Now, the man of the hour – the flirtatious Charlie Florek. It's so fulfilling seeing him get his HEA. He's a kind, fun-loving, confident playboy with a heart of gold. I love how he brought out the best in Alice, pushing her out of her comfort zone through her bucket list and supporting her dreams.

As she says, she didn't have to be her perfectly edited self around him. From the beginning, she's authentic and honest with him, and he falls hard for that version of her. In return, Alice sees Charlie for who he truly is and doesn't give up on him when he pushes her away, adamant that he's not a relationship kind of guy.

"I'm just not built for a relationship."
"You are built for ME."

Every Summer After fans will love the Percy and Sam cameos – it's very full circle. Alice's family and her role within it are also prominent features.

Overall, this is another winner from Carley, and I'm grateful to Penguin Australia for providing me with an early copy.

Oh was this good!!! I felt so immersed in this book, the summer vibes?! I could basically smell the lake and the sunscreen while reading this.

I really enjoyed Alice as a character, she was so hard on herself but so selfless when it came to everyone around her especially with her grandmother, their relationship was so cute and Alice was willing to do anything for her but I’m glad she realised that she had to start doing things for herself.

Charlie needed therapy. I loved him at many points in the book especially when he was standing up for Alice when she felt like she couldn’t, but he had a lot of trauma that continued to affect him through the entire book which was a little frustrating when he then continually pushed Alice away because of it.

I do wish this was dual pov… I wanted Charlie’s point of view so bad, I just wanted to know what he was thinking and feeling so it made it a little difficult to connect with him.

Overall I throughly enjoyed this and I’m now convinced to read Every Summer After!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Australia for the ARC.

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune 📸

☆☆☆☆☆/☆☆☆☆☆

“I bet you’re not like anyone else, Alice Everly.”

Review:
I fell in love with Charlie Florek in Every Summer After. I was beyond excited to get the opportunity to read One Golden Summer and get to read his story. The entire time I was reading this book I had Invisible String playing throughout my head. Alice spent a summer at the lake when she was 17 and returned 15 years later with her Nan. This story was full of growth for all the characters involved. At times I was laughing out loud but then at times my heart hurt so much for the characters. Charlie and Alice were opposites in the best way, they brought the best out of eachother and the friendship that bloomed was beautiful. There was an element of family showing up for family that I thought was really beautiful as well. However, there were some really tough subjects that were dealt with in this book. A lot of grief. I’d recommend checking the trigger warnings before reading this one. Overall I was so hooked on this one I barely put it down and finished it in one day.


“You’re full of surprises, Charlie Florek”

4.9 Stars

Alice + Charlie

Alice is a photographer in Toronto. She's a bit burned out at the moment.
Her grandmother had to get a new hip and Nan is also not as happy as she usually is.
Enter Barry's Bay. Alice remembers being very happy at that lake house as a teenager many years ago. That place and the people in front of her lense made her want to be a photographer. So, she packs up Nan and off we go.

Charlie.
We remember him as Sam's big brother.
He's taking some time off from his trader job in the city.
And he's still the same super hot and fun flirty guy he used to be.
Alice and Charlie start an amazing friendship.
But it'll only be a summer lake friendship because Charlie can't/won't do anything long lasting.

Will there be a happy end for our darlings??

READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT!

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Adorable!

I loved this!
We already loved Charlie in the first book. He was such a flirty and fun guy. Of course we also hated him a bit by the end too.
But he can make up for it now.
And he did. He is so amazing. He's still super hot and flirty. But he's also so sweet and nice and sad and ugh. He's just perfect.
And Alice - she's finally finding herself again with Charlie and the lake and her camera and ... it's just so adorable to watch them spend this amazing summer at the lake.
But all summers come to an end ...
Will they make it?
Charlie is convinced he can't have a happily ever after.
Is Alice strong enough to fight for it? For him?

This was an amazing summer romance with so many funny and sweet and sparky and heartbreaking moments. I loved every word and I so want to see the TV show one day!

► ONE GOLDEN SUMMER was such a sweet and adorable and funny and summery and lakey love story .... just beautiful! Run to your nearest book dealer for your own Charlie - he'll be sold out in no time!