Carley Fortune’s books are some of the most popular summer romances out there. Since you may have questions along the way, below I share the book list and my reviews for all of this bestselling romance author‘s books to guide your reading experience. You’ll be glad you got the scoop from someone who’s read all of her books ahead of time, so let’s get literary!
All Carley Fortune Books in Order
In Order of Publication
- Every Summer After (2022)
- Meet Me at the Lake (2023)
- This Summer Will Be Different (2024)
- One Golden Summer (May 6, 2025; Carley Fortune’s New Book)
Every Summer After Series: Every Summer After (2022) and One Golden Summer (2025), which returns to Barry’s Bay and follows the beloved character, Charlie.
Ranked
Below is how I rank her books, beginning with my favorite (though I rated ALL of them ★★★★☆).
- This Summer Will Be Different: forbidden romance best for book lovers
- Every Summer After: (most popular) friends-to-lovers romance best for nostalgia and vintage lake vibes
- Meet Me at the Lake: second chance romance best for fans of Dirty Dancing
Tips for Reading Carley Fortune’s Summer Romance Novels
READING TIPS
- Genre: Carley Fortune is known for modern adult romance novels set at summery Canadian locations.
- Where to Start: You can start reading by reading any of her books since they are all unrelated standalone novels. However, Carley Fortune’s new novel, One Golden Summer (to be published in 2025) returns to Every Summer After‘s Barry’s Bay and follows a different character, Charlie.
- Age Rating: Carley Fortune books are best for adults, as they contain spicy romance and adult language and situations.
- Top Pick: I liked This Summer Will Be Different the best because it has lots of Anne of Green Gables and book references, as well as a picturesque Prince Edward Island setting.
- Most Popular: Every Summer After
- Recommended Format: I found myself more immersed in her books when I read the ebook versus the audio version.
- Recommended For: These books are perfect for a summer reading challenge for adults and tantalizing beach reads in general.
Summaries and Reviews of Carley Fortune’s Books
Every Summer After (2022)
Every Summer After has become one of the most widely beloved summer romance books because it so emotionally captures the nostalgia of first love and the hope of second chances with likable characters.
This small-town romance novel is set during six Summers in Barry’s Bay. There, teenagers Persephone and Sam fall madly in love. Then, one Thanksgiving, something happens that tears them apart—seemingly for good.
Years later, though, when Persephone returns for Sam’s mother’s funeral, she must determine how she feels about him now, after so much time has passed.
This insanely popular book balances many elements of a great book just right, from friendship to love, angst, and family drama. It totally lived up to the hype. And I definitely think you will love it as much as everyone else does!
Read this book if you want a summer read that’s almost guaranteed to please.
Related Post: Every Summer After Summary
Meet Me at the Lake (2023)
Meet Me at the Lake is Carley Fortune’s second book. However, it is a standalone novel with no connection to her first novel, Every Summer After.
It’s a beautiful story of love, loss, and difficult life decisions.
Years earlier, Fern and Will had a memorable one-day adventure in the city that really left its mark on Fern. But one year later, Will never showed up to their meeting.
Years later, Fern is back at home, running her mother’s run-down lakeside resort. Think Dirty Dancing. My freelance writer also felt nods to The Notebook, from the passionate love connection to even the canoeing.
Will appears to help, but he’s a completely different person now. Only Fern may rescue him and determine exactly what lies beneath the surface.
Fern and Will are both likable characters dealing with very real-life issues: where to settle permanently, how to deal with past partners, and how to navigate nontraditional family relationships.
It’s another magical mix of nostalgia and second chances. It also has its fair share of family drama and another lake setting the reader can clearly envision.
Meet Me at the Lake was not quite as impactful as Every Summer After, but it still lived up to my expectations for a sizzling summer story about love and family.
This Summer Will Be Different (2024)
This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune is a standalone contemporary romance novel that is not part of a series and can be read in any order.
It transports the reader to Prince Edward Island for a picturesque love story with countless nods to Anne of Green Gables. Beyond that, there’s a swoon-worthy male main character who is an avid book reader. Carley Fortune knows how to hook us with a good beach read!
Years ago, while visiting her best friend Bridget’s beach house, Lucy had an electrifying rendezvous with Bridget’s brother, Felix. The problem? Bridget specifically forbade Lucy from falling in love with him. Over the years, their chemistry remains both palpable and secret.
Now, Bridget is getting married, and she frantically calls Lucy and Felix to the beach house just days before the wedding to help her cope with her own secret. Lucy and Felix must confront their feelings again as they deal with everyone’s secrets.
This book made me want to jump on a plane to Prince Edward Island! It’s a love letter to bookworms in addition to being a tantalizing summer romance.
Bridget guards her secret for most of the book, which both keeps you engaged and makes you want to scream at her! Likewise, Lucy really needs to come clean with the truth. They aren’t perfect, but they sure are entertaining.
There is also a good deal of spice for the steamy romance readers out there. It’s an excellent summer read and my favorite Carley Fortune book to date.
One Golden Summer (Carley Fortune’s New Book; May 6, 2025)
Carley Fortune’s new novel, One Golden Summer (to be published in 2025) returns to Every Summer After‘s Barry’s Bay and follows a different character, Charlie.
About One Golden Summer from the publisher:
I never anticipated Charlie Florek.
Good things happen at the lake. That’s what Alice’s grandmother says, and it’s true. Alice spent just one summer at a cottage with Nan when she was seventeen—it’s where she took that photo, the one of three grinning teenagers in a yellow speedboat, the image that changed her life.
Now Alice lives behind a lens. As a photographer, she’s most comfortable on the sidelines, letting other people shine. Lately though, she’s been itching for something more, and when Nan falls and breaks her hip, Alice comes up with a plan for them both: another summer in that magical place, Barry’s Bay. But as soon as they settle in, their peace is disrupted by the roar of a familiar yellow boat, and the man driving it.
Charlie Florek was nineteen when Alice took his photo from afar. Now he’s all grown up—a shameless flirt, who manages to make Nan laugh and Alice long to be seventeen again, when life was simpler, when taking pictures was just for fun. Sun-slanted days and warm nights out on the lake with Charlie are a balm for Alice’s soul, but when she looks up and sees his piercing green gaze directly on her, she begins to worry for her heart.
Because Alice sees people—that’s why she is so good at what she does—but she’s never met someone who looks and sees her right back.
About Carley Fortune and Her Romance Novels
about
Prior to fiction writing, Carley Fortune was an award-winning journalist and worked as an editor at some of Canada’s top publications. Recently, she also worked as the Executive Editor of Refinery29 Canada.
Read The Everygirl’s exclusive interview with Carley Fortune for more.
Authors Like Carley Fortune
If you love books by Carley Fortune, try books by these popular romance authors next:
Recap
Carley Fortune’s books are great for adult readers who like modern, emotional, and/or immersive summer love stories with a bit of spice.
SHOP THE POST
- Every Summer After (2022; popular pick)
- Meet Me at the Lake (2023)
- This Summer Will Be Different (2024)
- One Golden Summer (2025)
