4.0 (1 rating)
One Golden Summer
a novel
THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! ∙ A radiant escape to the lake from #1 New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After and This Summer Will Be Different
As featured in The New York Times ∙ People ∙ Good Morning America ∙ The Washington Post ∙ Cosmopolitan ∙ TODAY ∙ USA Today ∙ Harper's Bazaar ∙ Glamour ∙ E! News ∙ Buzzfeed ∙ ELLE ∙ Us Weekly ∙ The New York Post ∙ FIRST for Women ∙ Woman's World ∙ Katie Couric Media ∙ SheReads ∙ and more!
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 there 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.
As featured in The New York Times ∙ People ∙ Good Morning America ∙ The Washington Post ∙ Cosmopolitan ∙ TODAY ∙ USA Today ∙ Harper's Bazaar ∙ Glamour ∙ E! News ∙ Buzzfeed ∙ ELLE ∙ Us Weekly ∙ The New York Post ∙ FIRST for Women ∙ Woman's World ∙ Katie Couric Media ∙ SheReads ∙ and more!
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 there 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.
Published: May 6, 2025
Pages: 401
ISBN: 9780593638910
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Available in: Paperback, Ebook, Hardcover, Library Binding
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4.0
1 rating
Chelsey H.
Sep 27, 2026
Set against the golden glow of a lakeside summer, One Golden Summer follows Alice, who returns to Barry’s Bay seeking comfort, clarity, and perhaps a bit of closure. But what she doesn’t expect is to reunite with Charlie, a boy from her past whose presence stirs up old memories and unexpected feelings. As the days stretch long and warm, their connection deepens—bringing healing, laughter, and the kind of summer magic that only Barry’s Bay can offer.
This was an easy 4-star read for me! I absolutely adored Charlie and Alice—their chemistry, their slow-burn friendship-to-something-more dynamic, and the way they navigated their emotional histories felt both heartfelt and believable. Nan was a standout character for me—her warmth and wisdom were the glue holding everything together, and I loved that she played such a central role in the story.
Carley Fortune has a gift for writing atmospheric, heartwarming romance, and this book delivered all the summer vibes I was craving. I wanted to dive into the pages and spend my own summer at the lake cottage in Barry’s Bay. One Golden Summer is everything a feel-good romance should be—nostalgic, emotionally rich, and brimming with warmth.
This was an easy 4-star read for me! I absolutely adored Charlie and Alice—their chemistry, their slow-burn friendship-to-something-more dynamic, and the way they navigated their emotional histories felt both heartfelt and believable. Nan was a standout character for me—her warmth and wisdom were the glue holding everything together, and I loved that she played such a central role in the story.
Carley Fortune has a gift for writing atmospheric, heartwarming romance, and this book delivered all the summer vibes I was craving. I wanted to dive into the pages and spend my own summer at the lake cottage in Barry’s Bay. One Golden Summer is everything a feel-good romance should be—nostalgic, emotionally rich, and brimming with warmth.