If you’re a fan of romance books and you’re looking for a great new book to read then keep reading my One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune book review to see if this summer romance book is something you’d like to read next.
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Author
Carley Fortune is a #1 New York Times and #1 Globe And Mail bestselling author of Every Summer After, Meet Me At The Lake, This Summer Will Be Different, and One Golden Summer.
Carley is also an award winning journalist and has worked as an editor for 15 years before writing her first book Every Summer After. Writing a book had been a long ambition for Carley and she finally decided to start writing this book in July 2020. This book takes place in Barry’s Bay which is where Carley moved to at eight years old and grew up there. Carley now lives in Toronto with her husband and two sons.
Plot
Good things happen at the lake. That’s what Alice’s grandmother told her and she was right. Alice spent the summer at the lake when she was seventeen. She took a picture of three teenagers in a yellow boat and it changed her life.
Now Alice is a photographer. She’s her most comfortable behind the lens and letting others shine. But lately she’s been looking for something more. When her grandmother breaks her hip, Alice decides what they both need is a magical summer at the lake. But as soon as she arrives, she sees a man in a yellow speed boat, the same one from the picture all those years ago.
Charlie Florek was nineteen when Alice took the photo and is now all grown up. He’s a shameless flirt, gets along well with Alice’s grandmother, and makes Alice long to be seventeen again, when life was simpler and she could just take pictures for fun. Charlie and Alice spend their days and nights together on the lake living the life of teenagers. Alice see’s Charlie’s gaze directly on her, and begins to worry for her heart. Alice sees people because of her work. But no one sees her right back.
Quotes
“I’m lucky to have so much past, so many memories. It’s a gift to age.”
“Just see where the sun takes you. And don’t forget: Good things happen at the lake.”
“That’s why you should grab onto whatever makes you happy now and hold on for as long as you can. Life’s short.”
“When you aren’t staring at him, he’s staring at you. It’s like watching a tennis match.”
My Review
I fell in love with Carley Fortune after reading her first book Every Summer After so I had high hopes for this book and it didn’t disappoint. I was so excited to read more about Charlie and to really see who he is and why he does the things he does. Alice was such a great surprise for a female main character. She’s not the girl Charlie was used to in the past but she’s everything he needed and vice versa. I can relate to Alice with always giving everything she has to everyone without hesitation and never wanted to ask for help in return. It was nice to see Charlie finally be a person to be there for Alice in every way she didn’t know she needed. This friends to lovers romance was exactly what Alice and Charlie needed to be their best selves together. This book is an easy 5/5 stars for me and another new favourite book.
And that’s the end of my One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune book review. If you read this book let me know in the comments and if you loved it as much as I did. If you’re looking for other books to read check out these reviews: First Time Caller, People We Meet On Vacation, and This Summer Will Be Different.
