Every Summer After (by Carley Fortune)
In 2023, I attended a Zoom author event hosted by Joseph-Beth, a local independent bookstore, where Emily Henry and Carley Fortune engaged in a captivating conversation. Emily discussed her book, ‘Happy Place,’ while Carley mentioned her book, ‘Meet Me at the Lake.’ Although I hadn’t read either author before, their conversation piqued my interest. The intriguing storylines and the likable personalities of both authors left a lasting impression on me.
I subsequently read Emily’s first book, ‘Book Lovers,’ and thoroughly enjoyed it. You can find my review here. The Goodreads Community Challenges this year motivated me to finally read Carley’s first book, ‘Every Summer After.’ Despite the eight-month wait for my turn on Libby, it was an incredibly rewarding experience.
‘Every Summer After’ follows Persephone Fraser (Percy) as she returns to her childhood summer home in Barry’s Bay, Ontario, after a 12-year absence. Forced to confront her past, Percy’s life takes an unexpected turn when her first love, Sam Florek, reenters her life. The novel weaves together a dual timeline—present-day and six transformative summers from their youth—exploring their deep connection, the mistakes that tore them apart, and the lingering question of whether they can mend what was broken.
Carley Fortune’s storytelling talent shines through in this book. I genuinely adored the characters and the nostalgic lakeside setting. The emotional, character-driven narrative captivated me, leaving me with a heartfelt story that delves into themes of love, regret, and second chances.
I must admit that I’m becoming a romance reader now that I’ve devoured three books in the genre this year. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the books I’ve read and will likely stick with a select few authors in this genre. Carley Fortune is an author I’m eager to explore further. In fact, she’s written a second book, ‘One Golden Summer,’ which takes readers back to Barry’s Bay. I’ve already placed a hold on Libby for this second installment.
I borrowed the audiobook of ‘Every Summer After’ from Libby. Narrator A.J. Bridel did an excellent job bringing the characters and their story to life.
You’re welcome to read about the author event featuring Emily Henry and Carley Fortune on my blog. The link is provided below.
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