One Golden Summer

By: Carley Fortune

Narrated by: AJ Bridel, Carley Fortune

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER

A radiant, new escape to the lake from #1 New York Times bestselling author Carley Fortune

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.

Critic reviews

#1 GLOBE AND MAIL BESTSELLER
#1 TORONTO STAR BESTSELLER
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Rakuten Kobo's Best in Romance 2025
Nominated for the 2025 Goodreads Choice Award for Romance
An Indigo Best Book of the Year

One of:
- Audible's “Best Audiobooks of 2025”
- PEOPLE's “18 Books PEOPLE Staffers Are Reading This Summer”
- CBC’s “15 Canadian Romance Books To Swoon Over This Summer”
- Kobo's "Top 20 Books of 2025"

Praise for One Golden Summer:

“[Fans] have been begging her to give Charlie his happily ever after for years—and she’s fully delivered with a sweet, summer love story.”
—E! News

“Carley Fortune has a knack for making the lake the most romantic place on earth, and, as such, One Golden Summer is a delight.”
—ELLE

“The sparks between Alice and Charlie fly off the page and endearing Nan adds heart. This is a treat.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Readers will enjoy the steamy love story that develops but will also appreciate Alice's personal growth. Not only does she find love, she finds her purpose in her career. Fans of Annabel Monaghan will agree with Nan that 'good things happen at the lake.'”
—Booklist (starred review)

"The way that Carley Fortune can bottle up the feeling of summer and put it into a book needs to be studied. Her books are so transportive!"
—Glamour

"Fortune is now the reigning queen of sun-soaked romance novels."
—Bustle

"Carley Fortune is an expert at capturing the essence of a sparkling summer romance at the lake."
—Shelf Awareness

A heartfelt, nostalgic story with unforgettable characters

Carley Fortune’s writing pulls you in right away, and One Golden Summer is no exception. I loved her storytelling style and the way the setting came alive, especially the contrast between Barry’s Bay and Toronto. The sense of place added so much warmth and nostalgia to the story.

One of my favourite parts was Alice’s relationship with her Nan and the rest of the Everly family. Those connections felt genuine, layered, and deeply comforting. Charlie’s confidence and cockiness were fun from the start, but I loved that there was clearly more beneath the surface. The glimpses into Percy and Sam’s lives added richness and depth, making the world feel full and lived in.

Most of all, I appreciated Alice’s journey toward self-acceptance and learning how to truly love herself. It felt earned and honest, not rushed or forced.

The narrator was absolutely fantastic and elevated the story even further. The performance captured the emotion, humour, and tenderness perfectly. This was a beautiful, emotional listen and one I didn’t want to end. Let’s get Nan’s story next!

Beautiful

I love that I can smell and see the lake and cottage and feel the sweet butterfly feeling of the friendship and love.