One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune (May 6, 2025) ☀️ Thank you to Berkley Romance and PRH Audio for the #gifted digital and audio copies of this emotional, sun-soaked stunner.
Seventeen years ago, Alice spent a life-changing summer in Barry’s Bay with her grandmother – a season that shaped her path as a photographer and gave her one unforgettable image: three friends on a yellow boat, gliding across the water. Now, she’s back in Barry’s Bay to care for her recovering grandmother and reconnect with the place that once held so much joy.
But the past collides with the present when she meets Charlie Florek – the man in the yellow boat. Confident, disarming, and somehow able to see right through her, Charlie and Alice begin a new kind of summer, one full of emotional discovery, longing, laughter (fueled by Alice’s summer bucket list) and the question of what comes after the sunset fades.
This is Charlie Florek’s redemption arc, and if you, like me, are an Every Summer After fan, it’s a beautiful companion piece. While he wasn’t a villain in ESA, he wasn’t the hero either – and this is the story of reckoning with lots of what we learned in ESA. Charlie is flirty, funny, and heartbreakingly vulnerable. Alice is complex, driven, and undergoing a transformation of her own. Their chemistry is magnetic, but what truly shines is their emotional honesty.
And yes—Sam and Percy make an appearance. 😊
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: AJ Bridel returns and crushes it. Her narration is so vivid and emotionally layered that I swore it was a dual performance. Her portrayal of Charlie – his swagger, his charm, and the tenderness underneath – made this my favorite Carley Fortune audiobook yet (and I LOVED This Summer will be Different). (Runtime: 9h+)
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Audiobook: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Book Smart Kate 