Every Summer After

Percy Fraser and Sam Florek meet as teenagers when Percy's family buys a lakeside cottage next to Sam's house in Barry's Bay, Ontario. Over six summers, they develop an intense friendship that evolves into first love, until a pivotal event drives them apart. Thirteen years later, Percy returns to Barry's Bay for a funeral, coming face-to-face with Sam for the first time since their falling out. The story moves between past and present as Percy navigates her complicated feelings and unresolved history with Sam. The novel explores the bonds formed during adolescence and how they shape who we become. Through Percy and Sam's relationship, it examines themes of forgiveness, second chances, and whether it's possible to recapture what was lost to time and circumstance.

Readers consistently highlight the emotional depth and nostalgic summer romance elements. Many connect with the dual timeline structure, comparing it to "Love & Other Words" by Christina Lauren. What readers liked: - Authentic portrayal of teenage first love - Canadian lakeside setting details - Chemistry between main characters - Realistic dialogue - Fast-paced reading experience What readers disliked: - Predictable plot points - Rushed ending - Too many flashbacks - Communication issues between characters seem contrived - Some found the main character's actions frustrating Review Stats: Goodreads: 4.12/5 (217,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (32,000+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.4/5 (2,800+ ratings) Common reader comment: "Couldn't put it down but wanted more from the ending" Notable criticism: "The conflict could have been resolved with one conversation" appears in multiple top reviews Frequent comparison: "Perfect beach read" mentioned in thousands of reviews

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren Two childhood best friends reunite after a decade apart and confront their unresolved feelings while piecing together what led to their separation.

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry Best friends who take yearly summer vacations together navigate their changing relationship during a final trip to repair their fractured bond.

Beach Read by Emily Henry Two writers with opposite approaches to romance spend a summer as neighbors, challenging each other to write in the other's genre while confronting their personal histories.

The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen A teenager spends the summer at her late mother's lakeside hometown, uncovering family secrets and falling for a boy who bridges her two worlds.

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle A woman's perfectly planned life shifts when she experiences a vision of herself in a different future, leading her to question her choices and relationships.

🌟 Carley Fortune wrote Every Summer After while juggling her day job as a journalist and caring for her young children during the COVID-19 lockdown. 🌊 The book's setting, Barry's Bay, Ontario, is a real lakeside town where the author spent her own childhood summers, lending authenticity to the story's descriptions. 📚 The novel was an instant success, debuting at #3 on the Toronto Star Canadian fiction bestsellers list and becoming a BookTok sensation with over 100 million views. 💝 The narrative structure alternates between past and present, spanning six summers and one weekend—a technique that creates parallel love stories of teenage romance and adult reconciliation. 🎯 Though Every Summer After was Fortune's debut novel, she had extensive experience in storytelling as the former Executive Editor of Refinery29 Canada and chief content officer at Rogers Sports & Media.