Latest news with #OneGoldenSummer
Hamilton Spectator
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Carley Fortune signs books in Etobicoke and other literary events this week
Indigo Yorkdale 3401 Dufferin St. Ardra Shephard (Sat., 12 p.m.) The author signs copies of her new memoir, 'Fallosophy: My Trip Through Life With MS.' Indigo Sherway Gardens 25 The West Mall Carley Fortune (Sun., 2 and 3 p.m.) The bestselling author of 'One Golden Summer' does a pair of in-store signings in Etobicoke. Ticket purchase is required for attendance. See website for details. International Palace of Joy 1347 Queen St. E. Sober Salon Series with Cathrin Bradbury (Sun., 7 p.m.) The journalist and author will be featured in conversation about her new memoir, 'This Way Up: Old Friends, New Love, and a Map for the Road Ahead,' at a non-alcoholic event featuring dance, music and magic. Flying Books at Neverland 371 Queen St. W. Authors of 'Dead Writers' (Mon., 6:30 p.m.) Michael Lapointe, Cassidy McFadzean, Naben Ruthnum and Toronto Star contributor Jean Marc Ah-Sen discuss their upcoming anthology of novellas. Type Junction 2887 Dundas St. W. Harrison and Rachel Browne (Tues., 6:30 p.m.) The trans athlete and investigative journalist launch their new book, 'Let Us Play: Winning the Battle for Gender Diverse Athletes.' A Different Booklist 779 Bathurst St. I. David Daniels (Weds, 6:30 p.m.) Meet the occupational health and safety professional and author of 'Psychosocial Hazards Are Real: A Guide to Understanding Non-Physical Safety Hazards.' Another Story 315 Roncesvalles Ave. Ehime Ora (Weds., 7 p.m.) The Nigerian scholar, artist and author of 'Spirits Come From Water' appears for an interactive book reading, including a Q&A and signing.
CBC
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
A fan-favourite character returns in Carley Fortune's One Golden Summer
Social Sharing Carley Fortune never imagined that one summer story would rewrite her entire life. After more than a decade in journalism, she took a leap of faith, leaving behind the newsroom to pursue her long-held dream of becoming a novelist. That leap of faith led to the breakout success of her debut romance, Every Summer After, a story that not only captured readers' hearts but also catapulted Fortune into literary stardom. Set over six years and one emotionally charged weekend, Every Summer After followed Percy and Sam, two childhood friends whose close bond was shattered by a fateful moment that forced them apart — and the complicated love story that unfolds when they're reunited years later at a funeral. But fans didn't just fall in love with Percy and Sam — they wanted more. Specifically, they wanted a happy ending for Charlie Florek, Sam's charismatic and fun-loving brother, who quickly became a fan-favourite side character. Fortune soon found herself inundated with messages online and requests at book events, all urging her to give Charlie his own story. "It's so flattering that people feel so connected to these characters," Fortune said on Bookends with Mattea Roach. Now, she's answering that call with her much-anticipated follow-up novel, One Golden Summer, giving Charlie his long-awaited chance at love. The story follows Alice, a photographer seeking a quiet, restorative summer at her childhood cottage with her grandmother. But her plans for peace are upended when Charlie — charming, flirtatious, and impossible to ignore — unexpectedly reappears. Soon, Alice finds herself feeling like she's 17 again, questioning whether this summer might hold something more than she ever expected. Fortune is a Toronto-based writer and journalist who has worked as an editor for Refinery29, The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine and Toronto Life. Her previous books are Every Summer After, This Summer Will Be Different and Meet Me at the Lake, which was a contender for Canada Reads 2024, championed by Mirian Njoh. She joined Roach on Bookends to discuss the process of crafting One Golden Summer and the unexpectedly far-reaching impact of her books — stories that have brought picturesque Canadian settings like Barry's Bay, Ont., and P.E.I. to the adornment of readers around the world. Mattea Roach: After writing Every Summer After, you felt that you wanted to say more about [Charlie]. What kind of a character is he? Why is he so fascinating? Carley Fortune: In Every Summer After, he is kind of an antagonist. He likes to provoke people. On the exterior, he's kind of arrogant. He's a flirt. He's a lot of fun. But the thing about people who can provoke you is that they really see you. They're great observers of other people. If you can get a rise out of somebody, it's because you know what makes them tick. I also felt that he has a really big heart. He lost his father when he was a young teenager, and that left him with some damage and some coping mechanisms. There's a hint of that in Every Summer After, but I thought about him a lot and how to go deeper with him and especially because a lot of people did not like Charlie after reading Every Summer After. Why did you craft Alice as this artistic person who is experiencing some difficulty in her relationship with her job as the person that Charlie was going to fall in love with? I ran The Bachelor for Charlie. I created, I think, 18 characters with different names, jobs, personality types, different ways that they may have encountered Charlie before or not, what their dynamic would be like. I thought about this photographer, and she had this photo that she took that summer that she was at the cottage when she was 17. It all started to fall into place because what I loved about that — she took this photo of three teenagers in a yellow boat who are Charlie, Sam and Percy from Every Summer After — [is that] she never spoke to those kids, but she wanted to, she was watching them from afar. That made Alice a stand-in for the readers of Every Summer After, who spent that book watching those three characters from afar. That's really how photography came into play. You've always set your books very specifically in Canada, from Ontario cottage country to P.E.I. I'm curious what it means for you to have people from around the world reading about this very specific Canadian summer experience, and in some cases, maybe wanting to visit. When I was in Brazil in the fall and I was speaking to a room of journalists and book influencers, it struck me sitting there just how far Barry's Bay had gone because Every Summer After, is so beloved there. People have travelled to Barry's Bay, which is so cool. I met a couple in New York who had driven nine hours to spend the weekend in Barry's Bay. I've seen a lot of people mentioned that they're going to, or they have gone to Prince Edward Island, where my third book is set. It means so much to me to bring this beautiful country to the world. What's your relationship like with cottaging and with the summer? My parents still live in Barry's Bay. I go back to Barry's Bay as much as I can. Every year, my husband and I, and our two boys, we rent a cottage very close by on the water. It's gorgeous. It is where I feel most connected to myself, like both my present self, but my past self as well. Every year at the lake, I lie down on the dock and I close my eyes and I think about where I am, like in life and where I want to be and I have this moment of reevaluating. That kind of experience of both literally and figuratively stepping back from my life in the city is so important to me, and it's a lot of what influenced One Golden Summer.
Buzz Feed
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
May Is Finally Here, And A New Month Means New Books I'm Dying To Tell You About
Along with the beautiful weather, spring is also a time to soak up all of the amazing new reads. And as your residential book lover, I'm here to bring you the novels that deserve to be on your radar! Here are a handful of recommendations I've picked just for you: 1. Nobody's Fool by Harlan Coben Grand Central Publishing Genre: Thriller, Mystery Synopsis: Sami Kierce's life was shattered the day he woke up in a blood-soaked panic beside the body of his girlfriend, Anna, while backpacking in Spain. With a knife in his hand and no memory of what happened, all he could do was run. Now, twenty-two years later, Kierce is a weary private investigator and new father trying to leave his past behind. But when he spots Anna—alive and unmistakably real — sitting at the back of his night class in New York City, everything changes. As she vanishes once more, Kierce is thrust into a desperate search for the truth. To solve the mystery that has haunted him for decades, he must confront long-buried secrets, dangerous enemies, and the possibility that nothing he believed about that night — or Anna — was ever true. 2. Can't Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan Grand Central Publishing Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Black Fiction Synopsis: Hendrix Barry has it all — success, style, and a life most only dream of. With a booming business in the entertainment world, devoted friends, and a tight-knit family, she's a woman on the rise. But behind the glitz, she's balancing a quiet struggle: caring for an aging parent while pushing her dreams forward. Love? It's never been worth the Maverick Bell. A tech mogul with undeniable magnetism, Maverick turns Hendrix's carefully curated world on its head. From the moment they meet, the chemistry is electric—and impossible to ignore. But he's off-limits for reasons Hendrix can't ignore if she wants to stay on track. Still, Maverick isn't one to back down, and as he breaks through her defenses, Hendrix must decide: will she stick to the path she planned, or risk it all for a love that might be everything she never knew she needed? 3. One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune Genre: Romance, Contemporary Synopsis: Alice has always believed good things happen at the lake, just like her grandmother Nan says. It was true the summer she was seventeen, when a single photo of three teenagers in a yellow speedboat quietly altered the course of her life. Now a professional photographer, Alice is more comfortable behind the camera, capturing joy without being part of it. But when Nan breaks her hip, Alice seizes the chance to return to Barry's Bay, hoping another lakeside summer will bring healing for them both. What she doesn't expect is Charlie Florek. The boy from the photo is now a grown man with a teasing smile and a yellow boat that stirs up old memories. As sunlit days blur into starlit nights, Charlie rekindles something Alice thought she'd left in the past: wonder, desire, and the courage to be seen. But falling for someone who truly sees her might be the riskiest shot she's ever taken. 4. The Women on Platform Two by Laura Anthony Gallery Books Genre: Historical Fiction, Feminism Synopsis: In 1969 Dublin, newlywed Maura Davenport begins to fear the future she dreamed of when her husband's violent nature shatters the illusion of a happy home. Her friend Bernie, already a devoted mother, faces a heartbreaking reality: another pregnancy could cost her life. Both women are forced to confront impossible choices in a world that offers them few. Fast forward to 2023, where Saoirse, after a terrifying experience, begins to question whether motherhood is right for her at all. What she doesn't realize is that women like Maura and Bernie fought quietly but fiercely for the freedoms she now has — and soon, their stories will collide. The Women on Platform Two is a stirring intergenerational tale of courage, sacrifice, and the enduring strength of women who dared to choose their own paths. 5. My Friends by Fredrik Backman Genre: Literary Fiction, Contemporary Synopsis: Most people overlook the three small figures on the pier in one of the world's most iconic paintings, assuming it's simply a seascape. But young artist Louisa sees more, and she's determined to uncover the story behind them. Twenty-five years earlier, four teenagers bonded on a weathered pier, escaping troubled homes with laughter, storytelling, and dreams of a better future. Joar, the fighter; Ted, the grieving bookworm; Ali, the restless wanderer's daughter; and the unnamed artist whose hidden pain was matched only by his talent. From their friendship, a masterpiece was born, one that will one day land in Louisa's hands. Now, tasked with deciding the fate of the painting, Louisa sets off on a journey to trace its origins. What she discovers is a moving story of resilience, love, and the invisible threads that bind people across time. 6. Immaculate Conception by Ling Ling Huang Dutton Genre: Horror, Science Fiction Synopsis: Struggling artist Enka becomes entangled in a consuming friendship with Mathilde, a brilliant but troubled rising star she meets in art school. As Mathilde's fame soars, Enka grows increasingly desperate to stay close to her, leading her to marry a billionaire whose family is funding a radical technology designed to absorb another person's trauma. Enka seizes the chance to literally inhabit Mathilde's mind, blurring the line between empathy and obsession. This dark and gripping novel explores the complexities of art, identity, and the dangerous extremes of intimacy, asking what it truly means to love someone and what we're willing to sacrifice to feel connected. 7. The Dark Maestro by Brendan Slocumb Doubleday Genre: Mystery, Thriller Synopsis: Curtis Wilson is a classical music prodigy who's risen from the streets of D.C. to perform with the New York Philharmonic, thanks to his unmatched talent and determination. His father, Zippy, a small-time drug dealer, and Larissa, Zippy's girlfriend and Curtis's devoted mother figure, have held their unconventional family together. But when Zippy crosses a dangerous drug kingpin—one who ironically helped support Curtis's rise — the family is forced into witness protection, leaving behind everything, including Curtis's promising music career. When it becomes clear the authorities can't stop the cartel, Curtis, Zippy, and Larissa decide to take matters into their own hands, risking everything to reclaim their lives and future. 8. The Devil Three Times by Rickey Fayne Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy Synopsis: In this sweeping, genre-blending tale, Yetunde wakes aboard a slave ship bound for America, haunted by her sister's spirit and facing unimaginable horror until the Devil appears, offering protection and a sliver of his power in exchange for a sacrifice. Hoping to redeem himself in God's eyes, the Devil strikes a bargain that will echo through generations. Over the next 175 years, he visits Yetunde's descendants during their most desperate moments, from a conjure woman and a man passing as white, to siblings torn apart by betrayal, a girl who speaks to the dead, and a father clinging to hope. Each encounter reveals a new facet of humanity's struggle and the Devil's own yearning for redemption. At its heart, this is a powerful story about survival, legacy, and the blurred line between damnation and grace. 9. The Memory Collectors by Dete Meserve Crooked Lane Books Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery Synopsis: In a quiet beach town in California, four strangers are offered a chance to do the impossible: revisit one hour from their past. Elizabeth longs to see her late son again. Andy is searching for the woman who disappeared after stealing his heart. Logan wants to relive a moment of freedom before the accident that changed everything. Brooke is desperate for a moment's peace from the guilt that haunts her. Thanks to Aeon Expeditions—a cutting-edge time travel technology created by Mark Saunders — they each get their wish. The rules are clear: the past can't be changed, and the visit lasts only sixty minutes. But when something goes wrong, and the hour stretches beyond its limit, the four become trapped in their pasts, on the same night, in the same place. As their stories collide, they uncover buried secrets and realize their lives were all altered by a single, devastating event. And someone else was there that night, someone dangerous, whose presence may hold the key to the truth. 10. Night Swimming by Aaron Starmer Genre: Young Adult, Romance Synopsis: In the summer of 1994, Trevor is stuck in the in-between. With high school behind him, college looming ahead, and a hopeless crush on his mysterious friend Sarah. Just when the days start to blur together, Sarah proposes a whimsical mission: break into and swim in every pool in their neighborhood. Their nightly adventures bring them closer, but Trevor's feelings grow heavier as Sarah keeps him at arm's length, haunted by her long-distance boyfriend and her fear of something deeper. Then they hear about a hidden, natural pool tucked away in the woods. What begins as another rebellious dip turns into something far stranger, as the pool reveals an eerie, magnetic power neither of them can explain. As their bond deepens, so does the mystery, and the summer takes a turn neither of them saw coming. 11. The Last Ferry Out by Andrea Bartz Genre: Thriller, Mystery Synopsis: When Abby travels to the remote island of Isla Colel, she's searching for answers about the mysterious death of her fiancée, Eszter. The once-vibrant island is now quiet and eerie, still recovering from a devastating hurricane, with only a handful of locals and expats left behind, and a ferry that rarely comes. Abby is drawn in by a seductive circle of expats, but her unease grows when one of them claims to know what really happened to Eszter, only to disappear before he can tell her. As the others shrug off his absence, Abby senses something sinister at play. Driven to uncover the truth, she begins unraveling secrets that suggest Eszter's death may not have been accidental. The deeper Abby digs, the more convinced she becomes that someone in their midst is a killer, and they'll do whatever it takes to keep the past buried. 12. Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory Genre: Romance, LGBT Synopsis: Avery Jensen is nearly thirty, newly single, and ready to break out of her good-girl routine by learning how to flirt, date women, and finally have some fun. The only problem? She has no idea where to start. Enter Taylor Cameron — Napa Valley's most charming heartbreaker, who, fresh off her own breakup, bets she can stay celibate until Labor Day and offers to teach Avery the art of flirting as a distraction. Their weekly lessons start off innocent, but as Avery finds her confidence and starts enjoying herself, both women begin to realize there's more than just friendly chemistry between them. Taylor insists it's nothing serious — she has a bet to win, after all, but soon, denying their growing connection becomes impossible. As their feelings deepen, Taylor must decide if she can risk vulnerability for the first time, or if she's already lost the one person who sees her for who she really is. 13. Broken Souls and Bones by L.J. Andrews Genre: Fantasy, Romance Synopsis: Lyra Bien has always kept a low profile to avoid drawing the attention of Stonegate's ruthless, magic-obsessed king. But when the prince's infamous guard, Roark Ashwood, storms her village and exposes the magical secret behind her silver-scarred eyes, Lyra is forced to reveal her powers to save her best friend, only to be claimed by the crown as the new royal melder. Becoming the king's melder means power, yes, but also fear, control, and certain doom. Desperate to escape her fate, Lyra begins seeking answers, starting with the man who captured her. Yet Roark, quiet and haunted by rumors of bloodshed, turns out to be far more than he seems, and possibly the only person she can trust. As forbidden feelings grow between them and long-buried truths come to light, Lyra and Roark must decide: defy the kingdom and fight for freedom, or surrender to the dark roles they were forced to play. 14. The Devils by Joe Abecrombie Macmillan Publishers Genre: Horror, Fantasy Synopsis: Brother Diaz expects praise and a noble assignment when he's called to the Sacred City, but instead, he's given a flock of killers, dark magic users, and creatures barely clinging to humanity. His holy mission? One that demands violence and bloodshed to fulfill its divine purpose. As elven hordes threaten from beyond the borders and corrupt princes scheme for power, Diaz must rely on his unlikely and monstrous allies to survive the brutal path ahead. Luckily for him, when heaven falls silent, the devils are more than willing to answer. 15. Zeal by Morgan Jenkins Harper Collins Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance Synopsis: In 2019, Harlem, Ardelia, and Oliver celebrate their engagement when he surprises her with an old love letter — one that unknowingly links their families to a love story over 150 years in the making. Back in 1865, Harrison, a newly freed Union soldier, searches for his beloved Tirzah in Mississippi, only to be manipulated into staying by a woman at the Freedmen's Bureau. Meanwhile, Tirzah, now a teacher in Louisiana, sees an ad she believes Harrison placed, but the dangers of chasing the past keep her rooted in a safer life. Spanning generations from Reconstruction through the Great Migration to the present day, this sweeping novel traces the heartbreak, resilience, and unfinished longing passed down through Harrison and Tirzah's bloodlines. As Ardelia and Oliver confront their shared histories, they must ask: Are they meant to heal old wounds, or are they repeating a pattern of love lost? 16. The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson Hachette Group Genre: Fantasy, Mystery Synopsis: In the empire of Orrun, peace is ending as Emperor Bersun the Brusque prepares to step down after 24 years. Seven elite contenders are chosen to compete for the throne, but when one is murdered, the stakes rise dramatically. Neema Kraa, the emperor's sharp and unconventional High Scholar, is tasked with solving the mystery before the trials conclude. As she investigates, she uncovers generations of hidden secrets and faces off against cunning rivals, each with their own buried pasts and ruthless ambitions. With danger closing in, Neema must rely not just on her intellect, but on a mysterious, unseen force offering help—if she chooses to trust it. The crown and her life hang in the balance. 17. The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers with Alex Kiester Penguin Random House Genre: Thriller, Mystery Synopsis: Nicole 'Nic' Monroe is stuck, drifting through life at 24, burdened by a DWI, a dead-end job, and the shadow of her sister Kasey's unsolved disappearance seven years ago. Kasey vanished mysteriously, her car found far from home with no signs of struggle, just like another young woman, Jules Connor, who disappeared weeks earlier. Both cases went cold. Nic has long tried to bury the pain until Jenna, Jules's sister, shows up with a spark of hope. Together, the two women dive into the dark mystery linking their sisters' fates, willing to risk everything to uncover the truth — even if it means tearing apart their own lives in the process. 18. The Names by Florence Knapp Penguin Random House Genre: Historical Fiction, Contemporary Synopsis: After a devastating storm, Cora takes her daughter to register the birth of her newborn son. Her domineering husband, Gordon, expects the baby to be named after him, but when asked for the name, Cora hesitates. That moment splits the story into three alternate paths, each shaped by the name she gives her son. Spanning 35 years, the novel follows how each choice leads to a different version of their lives, examining the long-term impact of domestic abuse, the complexities of family, and the power of reclaiming one's agency. Did any of these books interest you? Tell me about it in the comments! Also, let me know what you're currently reading so I can add it to my TBR list.
