Every Summer After

This was one of those books that had me hooked from the very first page. The story beautifully alternates between past and present, slowly revealing the history between Percy and Sam. Their connection felt authentic, heartfelt, and deeply emotional. I loved how the novel explored themes of first love, friendship, family, regret, and second chances. The summer lake setting was so vividly described that I felt like I was right there with them, making the book the perfect escapist read. What really stood out was her ability to capture the intensity and nostalgia of young love while balancing it with the complexities of adulthood. The chemistry between the characters was undeniable, and the emotional moments hit hard without ever feeling forced. This book made me smile, ache, and root for the characters every step of the way. If you enjoy emotional romances, dual timelines, and stories that transport you to a beautiful summer setting, Every Summer After is a must-read.

Every Summer After is a perfect summer read and although it had been in my TBR for so long, I really enjoyed it. I’m a sucker for second chance romance and childhood friends to lovers and I was captivated immediately. Their friendship blossomed into a cute young love romance until one impulsive decision during a vulnerable moment lead to the downfall of Sam & Percy’s relationship. Now over a decade later, Percy makes the trip back to the lake to attend a funeral and memories flood back of her summers with Sam. But does time heal all wounds? Read to find out. I really love young love romances because they are innocent with heighten emotions, personal growths and can be extremely messy. Not to mention the angst that keeps me wanting to read more and this book definitely kept me engaged.

This isn't the deepest book I've ever read, but it was absolutely a 5-star read for me. What I loved most was that this wasn't just a romance. Yes, I was completely invested in Sam and Percy's love story, but I was equally invested in the relationships surrounding them. The brotherly love between Sam and Charlie was beautiful, and even the complicated relationship between Percy and Charlie added so much depth to the story. There were moments when I was frustrated with Percy. At times she seemed to be playing the victim, but by the end I saw her differently. I don't think she ever doubted that she loved Sam. I think she doubted herself. Her fear of not being enough made it easier to believe the worst and that made her mistakes feel human rather than manipulative. Carley Fortune has a writing style that pulled me in from the very beginning. Some authors tell you a story. Others invite you to become part of it. This felt like the latter. I didn't feel like I was reading about these characters; I felt like I was spending summers with them. The story is messy, emotional, frustrating, sweet, and full of love in all its forms. Not perfect love, but real love. The kind that survives misunderstandings, mistakes, time, and distance. When I finished, I wasn't thinking about the plot. I was thinking about the characters and how much I'm going to miss them. And for me, that's one of the highest compliments I can give a book.

Great summer book you dont think you can read 300+pages in a week during a family vacation. This book is so easy and fun loved the story line.

This was a sweet romance that spans many years. A bit predictable but still really well written. Finished in 1 day. Can’t wait to watch the series based on this book.

Wow, I didn’t know how much I needed this and I inhaled it. I needed to feel a bit of summer. I needed a small town. What I didn’t know I needed was a big love story. This was perfect and escapist. A perfect read to make you feel good and characters to swoon over. Can’t wait for the show now.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 Stars) I listened to Every Summer After on audio, and at first, it really felt like it had the potential to be a solid 4-star read for me. The beginning is charming, easy to sink into, and definitely has that cozy, nostalgic summer atmosphere that so many readers love. It’s a cute, pleasant story with a smooth flow, and the type of book you can listen to without needing to focus too deeply. However, as the story went on, the pacing became a real issue. At around ten hours, this audiobook felt unnecessarily long. The plot didn’t have enough depth or twists to justify that length, and I honestly think it would have been a much stronger book if it wrapped up closer to the seven-hour mark. Around the midpoint, I found myself losing interest at times simply because the narrative stretched itself thin. When it comes to the writing itself, Carley Fortune keeps things very simple. There’s nothing particularly inspiring, profound, or memorable about the prose. It’s straightforward and easy to follow, but it doesn’t stand out, and I wouldn’t say it’s developed enough to be considered a distinct “writing style.” It does the job, but it never elevates the story or adds emotional depth the way some authors can. I also didn’t fall deeply in love with the characters. They were fine, but not the type that stay with you after the book is over. Because the character connection never fully clicked for me, the slower pacing felt even more noticeable, and some of the emotional beats didn’t land as strongly as they were intended to. Overall, Every Summer After is an easy, pleasant listen — perfect if you’re looking for something light, summery, and uncomplicated. While the overly long runtime, very simple writing, and limited emotional connection kept it at 3.5 stars for me, it’s still a sweet story that delivers exactly what many readers look for in a nostalgic summer romance. I’m still open to exploring more of Carley Fortune’s books, and I’m curious to see how her other stories compare!

What can I say to effectively capture the beauty, sweetness, and depth of this story? Sam and Percy’s story is sweet and nostalgic, and it made me feel like I was a teenager again right along with them. It brought back memories of my own teenage years spent camping at various lakes with family and friends; memories I hadn’t thought about in awhile. Barry’s Bay is a character in its own right as well, and I had such a vivid picture in my mind of what it must have looked like. There were moments when I laughed out loud, and moments that made me cry. The exploration of guilt and what it does to a person and the ones they love was so emotional and real. And the sweetness and love between Percy and Sam, despite all their mistakes and miscommunications, is something that will stick with me for a long time. There is so much heart in this story. I love a good friends-to-lovers romance, and have read quite a few, but this is easily one of the best.

The book came with an almost perfect condition without any breakage found. The quality of the pages was really impressive . The printing of the cover was fine and not so dull. The book was an impressive add to my collective at a pretty condition Review of the novel: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 If you're looking for a small town romance with a glimpse of innocence, this book is the one. I bought it without having much knowledge of the storyline, and was pretty impressed afterwards. I had originally expected it to be a city romance with busy lives, but with the nature of the characters, Sam Percy and Charlie, small town fitted them so well and i wouldn't want it any other way. The character building as they grew older was so strong and inspiring. It's a second chance romance (my first one) and portrayed a very true and realistic friendship even after they've drifted apart. It's nostalgic, intense, and an escape fro the busy lives of big cities, even in the book! The lake and the nature is portrayed very nicely in the book and the entire novel is from the perspective of Percy. It's the kind of writing style that makes you feel and highly aware that you're reading a book rather than reading someone's personal diary; which was kind of difficult at first. So if that works just fine for you, go for it! You'd feel alot - deep effection for the characters and their choices - when you finish the book!

I loved loved loved this! Such a brilliant way to portray real people messing up and loving each other! Would recommend :)

Loved every second of this one! 5+ stars! Really made me want to rent a cottage at a lake lol.

Quite expected reading.. typical story.. it reminded me another story from different author.. i stopped reading it cause it kind annoys me that the man.. was waiting for her and she was too sad to try what they had.. lies.. this is not even a bit realistic..😂

This book took me on a lovely nostalgic journey. It was an escape I desperately needed. Easy to read and totally engaging. Just simply enjoyable. Leaving me with that warm and fuzzy book hangover. The characters feel like friends I'm going to struggle to let go of. I miss them already.