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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
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
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
rbkwg's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Very enjoyable, as all of Carley’s books are. I appreciated the happy ending, although it did feel like the book could have ended after Bridget’s wedding. But I guess the last round of challenges made the happy ending even more satisfactory, and showed more growth on Lucy’s part as she finally realized her dream!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Pregnancy
enzopudge's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Death
Moderate: Pregnancy
carly_the_librarian's review
lighthearted
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy
hereiskyra's review against another edition
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
Moderate: Death and Cancer
Minor: Pregnancy
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
kshertz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-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? No
5.0
I think I’ve given all three of this author’s books 5 stars. It makes me lose sleep. I fall so deeply in love with the characters that I have to mourn them after I finish reading. The beauty of the second chance romance and about finding each other when you’re finally ready is super sweet. It does have smut and it is so beautifully written about how people come together. I love that everyone handles things thoughtfully and with care. I love the side characters as much as I love the main characters. The whole island was an entire character ended up itself and I loved that as well. The following of one dreams and happily ever after was amazing. Highly recommend this book especially to read over the summers.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Pregnancy, Grief, and Sexual content