Grumpy Sunshine

Tag: Carley Fortune

  • Book Review: Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

    Every Summer After is a mature YA romance that is sad, funny, intense, and maybe just a little dramatic… but in the best way.

    The story follows Persephone “Percy” Fraser and Sam Florek over six summers in Barry’s Bay. We watch their friendship grow from age 13 into something deeper, while the present timeline focuses on one very messy weekend when Percy returns for Sam’s mom’s funeral. Being back in Barry’s Bay — and back around Sam — kind of forces her to face the past she’s been avoiding.

    This book is honestly an emotional rollercoaster. I laughed. I cried. I dramatically vented to my friends (who had zero context but listened anyway). Watching Percy grow from a 13-year-old girl into an adult dealing with consequences was fascinating. Things change… but they also don’t? If that makes sense.

    And without spoiling anything: I will always be Team Sam. Always.

    Carley Fortune does such an amazing job describing the lake, the cottages, the small-town summer vibe — you can literally picture everything. The flashbacks every few chapters make it super engaging because you’re constantly piecing the past and present together.

    This is genuinely one of my favorite books ever. I’ve reread it four times (including the bonus chapters), and in my heart it’s not just a 5/5 — it’s a 100/5.

    🔞 Age rating thoughts: Common Sense Media says 17+, and they’re not totally wrong. There is spice. But a lot of the book takes place when they’re teens. I read it at 15 and personally think it’s best for 16+, or mature 15-year-olds who know what they’re getting into.

    📚 If you like: Second-chance romance, summer nostalgia, emotional growth, small-town lake vibes. Similar authors: Elle Kennedy (Avalon Bay series), K.L. Walther (The Summer of Broken Rules), Emily Henry (People We Meet on Vacation). Carley Fortune is a Candian author (:

    ⭐ Rating: 5/5 stars. No notes. Just feelings.

    Also by Carley Fortune:

    Meet me at the Lake

    Fern and Will

    This Summer Will Be Different

    Lucy and Felix

    One Golden Summer

    Alice and Charlie

  • Book Review: Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

    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: