One Golden Summer

Carley Fortune is a best-selling Canadian author. Fortune began her career as a journalist, writing for publications including The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, and Toronto Life. She was also integral to launching the digital platform Refinery 29 Canada and worked as that site’s executive editor for many years.

In 2021, Fortune left journalism to write novels. She has since published four books: Every Summer After (2022), Meet Me at the Lake (2023), This Summer Will Be Different (2024), and One Golden Summer (2025). Meet Me at the Lake and This Summer Will Be Different are standalone novels. Every Summer After and One Golden Summer are companion titles that feature recurring characters and settings, but have independent narratives. Sam and Percy, who are minor characters in One Golden Summer, are the protagonists of Every Summer After.

All four books are works of contemporary romantic fiction. They lean on genre tropes and highlight the positive transformative effects of natural environments and loving relationships. Setting is particularly key to Fortune’s narratives. Each novel takes place in the same season, creating sensory continuity that underscores the healing effect of the light and warmth of summer.