5 Star Review: Every Summer After

Carley Fortune's Every Summer After will transport readers to a time when it was summertime and living was easy...until it wasn't. Fortune's novel depicts a childhood crush that struggles against the growing pains of life as it blossoms into an adult relationship.

Summary

There are moments in everyone's life when a choice is made either by us or someone else which alters the course of our lives. For Persephone (Percy) Fraser, it was her parents' purchase of a Lake House in Barry's Bay.

Percy, a social outcast and desperate for a real friendship is thrilled when she discovers two boys her age are living in the house next to hers, Charlie and Sam Florek. While she befriends both of them, Sam is her soulmate. Over the next six summers, the two are inseparable spending long afternoons swimming in the lake, warm summer nights watching horror movies (Percy's favorite), and working at Sue's (Sam and Charlie's mother) restaurant.

As Sam and Percy grow older, their childhood friendship blossoms into romance. However, with the long distance and college looming on the horizon the new couple begins to experience a relationship growing until Percy makes a decision that drastically ends the relationship and sends her into a new reality of delusion and seclusion.

Fast forward 12 years, and Percy receives an unexpected call from Charlie Florek informing her that Sue Florek, a woman who was like a second mother to her, has passed away. Memories she was kept locked away for years come flooding to the surface as she races back to Barry's Bay for Sue's funeral.

After years of hiding from the truth Percy is forced to come face to face with her past, and Sam. Will the truth set her free, or pull her father away?

Readers will be swept away in Fortune's intricate storytelling abilities and kept on the edge of their seats waiting for the truth to be revealed.

My Opinion

As I'm sure you've assumed from my 5-star rating, I'm a fan of Every Summer After. I thought Fortune did a wonderful job setting up the story and making the reader feel nostalgic for easier times while feeling the deep heartbreak that comes along with childhood ending and having to face the consequences of our choices.

A lot of time in romance novels like this I get frustrated with the characters. I think things like "Why wouldn't she just tell him that?" Or "There's no way they wouldn't talk about that." However, I think the estrangement between Sam and Percy makes sense. Percy was relatable and I could see myself making a similar decision.

I liked how Fortune wrote the reunion between Sam and Percy. I could feel the happiness, apprehension, anger, and hurt they were holding onto. Their reunion was nostalgic, pure, and electrifying. I could imagine the scene, the smells, the feelings, everything.

If you are a lover of nostalgic romances and the art of rekindling relationships, Every Summer After by Carley Fortune is the book for you.

If you read it, leave me a comment and let me know what you think! Thanks for reading!

Leah Lawrence

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