★★★★☆
It’s nearly winter, yet I’m still reviewing my summer 2024 beach reads. Better late than never, right? Besides, a good beach read is a great way to beat the chilly weather blues.
“I smile to myself—I haven’t daydreamed about stories in a long time.”
I kept seeing Carley Fortune books, with their dreamy pastel watercolor covers, on the front table of my local bookstore. After the cover and the blurb on the back caught my eye several times, I decided to give the Canadian author’s debut novel, Every Summer After, a try.
In the novel, Persephone “Percy” Fraser returns to her childhood summer haven after the death of her childhood best friend’s mother. The events surrounding the funeral reignite her connection with her first love, Sam Florek, but the lingering pain from the past may still be too potent to overcome.
Fortune alternates between their teenage years and the present to illustrate the depth of their bond and reveal the circumstances that led to their separation. I found the characters to be relatable and likable. I also appreciated that the novel uses my favorite romance novel trope—best friends to lovers. The writing feels nostalgic, particularly in the scenes around the place and from their childhood years. The writing in the steamy scenes isn’t as daring as Ali Hazelwood’s, so if that’s important to you in a romance novel, you may not find this one enjoyable.
Overall, I appreciated the second-chance theme in this one, and the story was interesting enough that I picked up and read another of Fortune’s novels. Stay tuned for a review with my thoughts on This Summer Will be Different!
What summer beach read are you still thinking about?