'One Golden Summer' Book Review - No Spoilers
This summer romance told across two timelines follows a woman returning to the lakeside town where she spent one transformative summer years ago. In the past, we watch her teenage self slowly fall for a local boy during long, golden days by the water. In the present, she confronts what happened and faces the man she never stopped thinking about. Carley Fortune masterfully captures the bittersweetness of first love and the complexity of second chances as past and present intertwine.
Why I Love This Book
Fortune's gift for capturing the weight of longing is extraordinary. The dual timeline structure perfectly showcases the slow burn—in the past, we watch them fall with aching slowness, and in the present, we feel the years of unresolved feelings. The lakeside setting is evocative and romantic, making the emotional payoff absolutely worth the wait. I was completely invested and couldn't put this down.
Who Will Like This Book
Perfect for readers who love dual timeline narratives, summer romances, and second chances. If you enjoy friends-to-lovers tension, water-based settings, and stories about confronting the past to embrace the future, this will sweep you away.
🌶️🌶️🌶️ | Moderate spice - The book features some intimate scenes that serve the emotional journey.
Tagged As: dual timeline, summer romance, second chance, slow burn, lakeside setting, friends-to-lovers, contemporary romance, emotional depth, HEA
