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meredith_williams_'s review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This is by far my favorite of Carley Fortune’s books. I love the Canadian, summertime settings of all her stories, as well as the dual timelines and flashbacks that she tends to use in order to develop the relationships between her main love interests. Even though I felt that the main character, Lucy, was characterized in a way that was sometimes inconsistent, I enjoyed her journey to becoming a more self actualized adult both in her romantic and platonic relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Death, Cursing, and Alcohol
Minor: Pregnancy and Vomit
readingisfun14's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-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
4.5
I loved this book and absolutely flew through it. I loved Lucy and Felix but I loved Bridget and Lucy even better. Their friendship was beautiful, reminiscent of my own bff, and had me laughing and crying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
readwithkb's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Pregnancy, Death, and Sexual content
Minor: Miscarriage and Infertility
cassiealexandra's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
4.25
I had such mixed feelings about Carley Fortune’s debut a couple of years ago. There were some parts of the storyline that might have squarely put it in the “no-go” category for me, except, except, I have yet to find a character that so encapsulates my insecurities as a teen as Percy did in that book.
I meant to read Fortune’s second book for the last year, but kept putting it off and instead picked up this one just as it released.
I loved the friendship between Bridget and Lucy, the way that they provided a sense of home for one another in new spaces. I appreciated that Lucy was the disorganized and slightly disheveled one and that both Bridget and her brother, Felix, are driven and steady and motivated, as if it is a Clark family trait. Speaking of the Clarks, the picture of each of them was so clear to me in this one and was a positive contrast to Lucy’s family. I can see why Lucy wanted to spend all her summers with them, aside from the fact that they live in the vividly picturesque and famous setting of Prince Edward Island. The references to Anne of Green Gables and so many other literary works had me itching to pick up some classics after this. While I can’t say the comparison is perfect, Felix gave me distinct “Jess” from Gilmore Girls vibes–crooked mouth, paperback in his back pocket, etc.
This sounds like a 5-star review, and maybe it should be. I found myself a bit irked by some repeated phrases and sentences and Lucy’s cluelessness to Felix’s feelings; I was also surprised by how many open-door scenes there were (I’m not sure if there were actually more than in the author’s other work or if I misremembered). Admittedly this was my final romance read before a self-declared “break” because I’m burnt out on them. (Sorry, romance, you and I are just not working out right now. Let’s try again soon.) I try not to punish books for my own moods, so I’ll give this the benefit of the doubt and revisit at a later date.
The bottom line: I can’t say I absolutely loved this book, but I keep thinking about these characters and this setting. Carley Fortune’s books seem to be ones that linger in my mind. I still liked it enough to choose it for a book box subscription, hardcover’s in the mail, and will definitely reread it at some point.
— NOTES —
Genres: romance
POV: first-person, single
Content: brief mention miscarriage, grief, loss of loved one
Romance: multiple open door scenes - chapters 12, 18, 28, 39
— MY RATING CONSIDERATIONS —
(all out of 5)
Pace: 4.5
Enjoyment: 4.5
Craft: 4
Gut: 4.5
Total: 4.375
I meant to read Fortune’s second book for the last year, but kept putting it off and instead picked up this one just as it released.
I loved the friendship between Bridget and Lucy, the way that they provided a sense of home for one another in new spaces. I appreciated that Lucy was the disorganized and slightly disheveled one and that both Bridget and her brother, Felix, are driven and steady and motivated, as if it is a Clark family trait. Speaking of the Clarks, the picture of each of them was so clear to me in this one and was a positive contrast to Lucy’s family. I can see why Lucy wanted to spend all her summers with them, aside from the fact that they live in the vividly picturesque and famous setting of Prince Edward Island. The references to Anne of Green Gables and so many other literary works had me itching to pick up some classics after this. While I can’t say the comparison is perfect, Felix gave me distinct “Jess” from Gilmore Girls vibes–crooked mouth, paperback in his back pocket, etc.
This sounds like a 5-star review, and maybe it should be. I found myself a bit irked by some repeated phrases and sentences and Lucy’s cluelessness to Felix’s feelings; I was also surprised by how many open-door scenes there were (I’m not sure if there were actually more than in the author’s other work or if I misremembered). Admittedly this was my final romance read before a self-declared “break” because I’m burnt out on them. (Sorry, romance, you and I are just not working out right now. Let’s try again soon.) I try not to punish books for my own moods, so I’ll give this the benefit of the doubt and revisit at a later date.
The bottom line: I can’t say I absolutely loved this book, but I keep thinking about these characters and this setting. Carley Fortune’s books seem to be ones that linger in my mind. I still liked it enough to choose it for a book box subscription, hardcover’s in the mail, and will definitely reread it at some point.
— NOTES —
Genres: romance
POV: first-person, single
Content: brief mention miscarriage, grief, loss of loved one
Romance: multiple open door scenes - chapters 12, 18, 28, 39
— MY RATING CONSIDERATIONS —
(all out of 5)
Pace: 4.5
Enjoyment: 4.5
Craft: 4
Gut: 4.5
Total: 4.375
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
lavdisy's review
lighthearted
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Wow, another 2 stars (and I'm being generous here). This book is so bad I want to pull my hair out every time I open a chapter. I think the moment I stopped enjoying this book was when I realized the characters keep doing the same thing each year they meet, and Bridget's breakdown is caused by a not-so-emergency reason. Lucy and Felix have no chemistry, they are only driven by lust towards each other. The story is slow and repetitive. One of the most annoying repetitions is: "more, Felix."
once and for all, thank you for the boring reading experience.
once and for all, thank you for the boring reading experience.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
thatswhatshanread's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
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.”
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
Graphic: Cursing, Death, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Pregnancy
Minor: Vomit, Blood, Medical content, and Mental illness
weconomou's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
gwenswoons's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This one made me weep. I loved it so beyond much. I’ve loved both of Carley Fortune’s previous books, too — I pre-ordered this one and made it almost a month before I caved, trying to wait so I could savor it and have it to look forward to. But devoured it in just a few days once I gave in. It is so beautiful - I think my favorite one of hers yet. The setting is so deeply gorgeous, and her writing is so sensuous — not just the sex writing (which is, yes, incredibly gorgeous too), but the descriptions of all there is to love in the world: of the flowers, the water, the smell of places and people we love, the things we eat. So much just deep and beautiful sensory pleasure in this book - it’s heady and just overwhelmingly beautiful. I loved the dual timelines throughout and was actually stunned when the HEA seemed to arrive and then got pulled out from under me (this is not a spoiler!! It was in the third act but I was listening on audio and didn’t see the time thought we’d been through a lot already!!!!!)! But Fortune uses that extra time at the end of the book to do some of the most deliberate and hopeful and special character growth I’ve ever read in a romance (I say this as someone who loves and reads A LOT of gorgeously written romance - this was just truly exceptional). Anyway: I loved, I loved. I love the depth of the friendships here, I love both main characters intensely much, I love these people who are so deep and feelingful and involved about their work. I love this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Sexual content
ihugparrish's review against another edition
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
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage
Minor: Blood, Addiction, Alcohol, Cursing, Infertility, and Vomit
bringmybooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Thank you to Edelweiss, Berkley, & Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
Review: Look. I don't know if anything will ever hit the magic that was Every Summer After (gah I LOVED), but I liked this one a lot more than Meet Me at the Lake and I know I'll want to read Carley Fortune's next book, so I'm taking that as a win.
The chemistry between Lucy and Felix was 🔥🔥 and I particularly loved the parts of the book that dealt specifically with them, and I think the thing that was missing (for me) was more of an emphasis on their relationship. I did appreciate the attempt to also highlight the importance of Lucy's friendship with Bridget (Felix's sister, hello best friend's brother trope), but it was almost like trying to place the importance on both of these relationships ensured that neither one took center stage. (Maybe that was the point?)
Overall it's still recommended, and can we just get a shoutout for whoever is designing these covers because they are SO BEAUTIFUL together?!?!?
Overall Rating: ★★★ / 3.38
Rating each element of the book out of 5★
Characters ★★★
Atmosphere ★★★
Writing ★★★
Plot ★★★
Intrigue ★★★
Logic ★★★
Enjoyment ★★★
Pacing ★★★
Dialogue ★★★
★ did not like / ★★ it was okay / ★★★ liked it / ★★★★ really liked it / ★★★★★ loved it
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death, Alcohol, Sexual content, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Cursing