Read an Excerpt of Carley Fortune’s Sparkling New Novel ‘One Golden Summer’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Bestselling author Carley Fortune is revered for her emotional love stories—which have sold more than 2 million books worldwide—and her latest takes readers back to beautiful Barry’s Bay. In 2022, Fortune published her first novel, Every Summer After, and romance enthusiasts were smitten with its charming cast of characters and dreamy lakeside backdrop. “One Golden Summer takes us back to Barry’s Bay and the world of Every Summer After for Charlie Florek’s love story,” Fortune said.

The story reunites readers with favorite characters from her first novel but this time, the romance focuses on photographer Alice Everly and a green-eyed flirt named Charlie Florek, whom readers will remember from Every Summer After (no worries if you haven’t read that yet—this is a standalone novel. Though after you finish it, you’ll likely want to go back and read it so you can spend more time with these amazing characters). Here, we have an excerpt of One Golden Summer just for Woman’s World readers!

Keep scrolling to find out more plot details, then sit back and enjoy the lakeside moment between Charlie and Alice.

What is ‘One Golden Summer’ about?

Alice Everly is a photographer based out of Toronto. She owes her career to a photo she took when she was 17 during a visit to her grandmother’s cottage on Barry’s Bay. The photo of three teenagers in a yellow speedboat changed her life. Many years later, when Nan breaks her hip, Alice heads to Barry’s Bay to spend the summer with her. But their R&R is interrupted by the roar of a familiar yellow speedboat—and the man driving it. Soon, Alice and Charlie strike up a friendship, but there’s something more between them. A radiant summer story featuring heartfelt themes of found family, grief, hope and love in all forms.

Excerpt of Carley Fortune’s ‘One Golden Summer’

Charlie glances at me over his shoulder. Beads of water garnish his lashes like dewdrops. His eyes are an impossible shade of green, almost golden in the afternoon sun. He’s freshly shaved. His profile is stunning.

Click.

I wish I had my camera.

“Alice?”

“Sorry. I was just…”

“Ogling my remarkable face.” Charlie’s mouth curves into that smug setting I’m already familiar with. It’s a hint of a smile, knowing and teasing, higher on one side than the other. Charlie’s features speak for him. Nothing fools us, they say.

“Your eyelashes,” I say, deciding to tell him the truth. It’s not like his head can grow any larger. “The way the water clings to them is really pretty in this light.”

Charlie faces me more fully, the cocksure expression evaporating. He frowns, searching my eyes. A thrill courses through me. I feel it in my ears, my fingers, my toes. It’s spiked with fear, like I’ve accepted a dare.

“You’re different,” Charlie says.

I will my voice to stay steady. “I’m not sure that’s a compliment.”

“It’s not an insult. Just a fact. I’ve never met anyone quite like you.”

I don’t have time to figure how I feel about that before he starts the engine. “You ready?”

I white-knuckle the handgrips. “Go slow.”

Charlie’s laugh rumbles between my legs, and that courses through me, too. “Not a chance.”

He lifts his eyes to my grandmother, who watches us from the deck, a giant smile on her lips. “I’ll have her back in one piece in about an hour, Nan.”

That’s the only warning I get before we’re racing across the water. I hold in my breath, squeezing my knees tight to Charlie’s hips.

“You okay back there?” he calls over his shoulder.

I turn my head, watching the cottages rush by. “I think so.”

It doesn’t take long for me to unclamp. I like the wind in my face, the water splashing on my calves. The view of Charlie’s arms and bronzed neck isn’t terrible, either.

I don’t notice that I’ve sighed until Charlie calls back to me, “Enjoying yourself?”

“I am. It’s weirdly relaxing.”

He shows me the best passage around the bay, slows when we reach the larger island, and glances at me. “You’ve never been on a Jet Ski?”

“First time.”

A corner of Charlie’s mouth inches up. “Is that why it’s on that list of yours?”

Ride a Jet Ski. Number 12.

I make a point of finding the buckle on my life jacket fascinating. But he ducks down so I’m forced meet his laughing eyes. “Any other firsts on there?”

There are tiny flecks of yellow surrounding his irises, and I glare at them. “That’s none of your business,” I say primly. “What you read was private.”

“I’m only curious.”

“Well, don’t be.”

Any trace of humor fades. “I’m sorry. I’m only teasing.”

“Okay.”

“My family was big into teasing,” he says. “It’s basically the Florek love language.”

I mellow. “I don’t speak Florek, so you’ll need to translate.”

“The only thing you really need to know is that we only make fun of people we like.”

“What happens when you fall in love? Stage a roast? Gift wrap a rubber chicken?”

He chuckles. “There’s that Alice Everly sense of humor. You’d fit right in.”

As soon as the words leave his lips, his grin flattens. “Hold on,” he says. “I’ll show you the safest route around the island.”

As he points out the areas that are hazardous for the blades of a motor, there’s not a sliver of a smirk in sight. He glances at me over his shoulder to make sure I’m following, his gaze narrowed in concentration, and I wonder if there’s a more serious person under the swagger. I’m usually quick to figure people out, but Charlie keeps surprising me.

Before we set off again, I point to the cliff across from the island. “I’m going to jump from that.”

“I know.”

“How do—” I cut myself off. The list. Number one. “Never mind.”

Charlie studies me. “Want to do it now? I’ll go with you.”

My stomach knots.

“Are you scared of heights?” An earnest question.

“No.”

We look at the rock face.

“So you’re afraid of…?”

“Dying.”

“I won’t let you die. Or get hurt.”

I stare into his eyes and somehow know he means it.

“Whenever you’re ready, let me know. I’ll make sure you’re safe.”

“Good,” I say, heart pounding. “Let’s do it now.”

I peer over the edge. “It’s higher than it looks.”

Charlie steps beside me. “All you have to do is jump. I’ll go first. I’ll be down there if anything happens.”

My head snaps in his direction. “I thought you said this was safe.”

“It is safe. But I’ll still be there.”

Staring back at the water, I take a deep breath, in and out. “I’m turning 33 tomorrow. You’d think I’d be a little braver.”

“I think the older we get, the scarier shit becomes.”

It’s kind of profound. I narrow my eyes. “How old are you?”

“Thirty-five.” Charlie’s voice is so grim I laugh, but it dies in my throat at his expression.

“Is it really so bad?”

“Nah.” He sounds light, but there’s a trace of something like sorrow in his eyes. “Every year we get is precious.”

There’s more to the story—
I feel it in my gut.

I don’t know Charlie well enough to pry, but every bone in my body softens with the need to place a grin back upon his lips. I take a few large steps back from the edge.

“What are you doing?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Charlie’s mouth opens, but he doesn’t try to stop me. I stare down the granite ledge, fill my lungs and then I run, launching myself off the cliff with as much force as I can. I hurtle through the air, arms circling.

It’s over quickly. My smile breaks through the surface, and I plunge into the cool depths of the lake. When the downward pull eases, I flutter my legs, returning to daylight and oxygen. I spin in the water just in time to see Charlie jump. I’m laughing, pushing my hair out of my eyes, when he bobs up beside me. His grin shines like morning sun over the bay. The dimples. The creases hugging the corners of his eyes. The water running down his nose.

Click.

Want to read the whole story? Order your copy of One Golden Summer here or wherever books are sold!

From ONE GOLDEN SUMMER published by arrangement with Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright © 2025 by Carley Fortune.