Reviews with content warning for Cancer - This Summer Will Be Different

This book deserves to be read in the sun. The story sizzles in your hands. The pages are hot coals, doused in a quick spray of water to fill the room with steam. Its pages read like a steady stream of water, yet make you feel like luxurious honey and warm sand. I love LOVE Carley Fortune’s writing style because it’s so immersive. Never have I ever Googled flights faster than to Prince Edward Island after reading only the first few chapters of this book. The way she describes the island and its (fictional) people is so beautiful. I was completely absorbed by the pace and tradition of the island. The family ties, the community, the heritage, the geography.

While I adored Lucy and Felix’s romance and how they kept coming back to each other, it was Lucy and Bridget’s friendship that grabbed my heart and squeezed it the most. I always appreciate a romance book that features strong female relationships outside of the main romance arc, and “This Summer Will Be Different” definitely came through. I related so much to Lucy’s feelings of loneliness and frustration when she felt like her best friend was being stolen by a significant other. It’s something that is a part of life and adulthood, but it’s not always talked about so candidly. I very much felt the truth of what Bridget says at one point in the book: “… I learned that the families we make are as significant as the ones we're born into. It's how I learned that the greatest loves are not always romances.”

Content Warnings

hereiskyra's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Go ahead… ask me if I have a new favorite Carley Fortune book. Cause I definitely do.

I had a great time with this one. Don’t get me wrong, I liked the other two books and for different reasons but this one had all of the good stuff. Witty banter, likeable characters (and side characters), chemistry from the beginning and other than me getting my own hopes up that there wouldn’t be a 3rd act breakup (my bad), I wouldn’t have changed a thing about this book experience.

These two were a blast and just like his family, I was absolutely shipping them long before they figured it out. 🙂

Honestly, if you’d have told me one day I’d fall in love with a fictional man who’s hobby was competitively shucking oysters, I’d have called you a liar. But here we are.

Also… Calling someone “a potato” may be my new favorite insult - thank you Bridget. You were a gem and your humor was delightful.

Tropes:

FWB to Lovers

Best Friends Brother

Spice:

🌶️🌶️🌶️

Content Warnings

ihugparrish's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

taylersisk's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

readingwithmeredith's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

catsandmetaphors's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

Content Warnings

theyellowbrickreader's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

kelseyfontaine's review

Go to review page

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I’ve read all of Carley Fortune’s books, and once again, this is a great summer read! It was a bit of a struggle for me to get into at the beginning, especially since the time switches between chapters could be a bit confusing at times, but it turned a curve about halfway in. Once Lucy and Felix really started to grow into one another, I was hooked. While some storylines were forgettable, I fell in love with Lucy and Felix’s. Once I was able to get past the “fiction” of it all (AKA Felix and his whole situation seeming a bit unreal), their characters came to life for me. Also, as a quick mention, this book is SPICY! Overall, a solid feel-good summer novel.

Content Warnings

More...