Every Summer After by Canadian author Carley Fortune is a beautifully written summer romance with a mix of youthful memories and grown-up feelings. It’s a book about first love, second chances, and the people who shape who we become.
The main character, Persephone “Percy” Fraser, spends her summers in Barry’s Bay, where her parents bought a cottage when she was 13. Right next door lives Sam Florek, a boy her age who quickly becomes her best friend—and more. For six summers, Percy and Sam are inseparable. But after one summer ends everything, Percy stays away for over a decade… until she’s called back to Barry’s Bay when Sam’s mother passes away.
What makes this book so special is the way it’s written. Half the story takes place in the past, when Percy and Sam are teens falling in love, and the other half is in the present, where they’re 30 and dealing with everything that happened between them. The time jumps are super well done—you really feel like you’re growing up with them.
Carley Fortune’s writing is emotional and vivid. You can picture the lake, the cottage, and the hot summer days. While there were a few slower parts, the story picks back up and holds your attention the whole way through.
🔞 Recommended for ages 14+ due to mild mature themes and emotional depth. Even though the characters are 30 in the present, most of the story is about their teen years and the drama that follows them into adulthood.
⭐ My rating: 5/5. I loved the Canadian setting, the realistic characters, and the mix of summer nostalgia and emotional healing. If you like FMC stories and second-chance summer romances, this one is perfect.
📚 If you liked Mr. Wrong Number or Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter, or The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy (another Canadian!), you’ll probably love this.
Also by Carley Fortune:
