This is now my current favourite book of the year. A few open door scenes but mostly about the love between friends. This will be a great summer read.

Carley Fortune has done it again! Truly one of my very favourite writers, I was over the moon to receive an ARC of This Summer Will Be Different.

Carley has a uniquely mesmerising way of writing novels that are a love letter to so many elements - to the locations in which they are set, to the love stories she explores, and to the rich characters that extend well beyond the romance.

I particularly adored the celebration of female friendship and sisterhood developed in this book - Lucy and Bridget's friendship is so heartwarming and nostalgia inducing for all of us lucky enough to have beautiful female friendships. I was also totally besotted with Aunt Stacy and her firecracker spirit.

Meanwhile - you couldn't hope for better character chemistry or a beautiful journey to love for Lucy and Felix. Carley is a master of writing the 'forbidden' romance - and the electric chemistry practically danced off the pages in this book. If I could give it 10 stars I would.

I also really enjoyed that whilst they face their trials and tribulations along the way, the story is ultimately uplifting and fun - and had me smiling throughout.

The only downside is I devoured it in a day and am now left longing for Carley's next magical read!

A truly special thank you to Penguin Random House, Carley Fortune & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my review.

Lucy and Felix met by chance and spent time together by chance, but when such sparks are hovering around, it's hard not to fall in love, but to pretend that everything that happens is an accident. But Felix turned out to be the brother of her friend, who forbade her to fall in love with her brother, as a joke, of course.
I was amused by the situation and Bridget's reaction when Lucy had to tell the whole story.
As always, Carley's books made me nervous. Here I was worried about the minor characters, Bridget and Miles, I was so worried about what happened to them. Thank God, there was no global drama!
I'm glad everything went well.
This book is not only about love, but also about friendship, about how important and valuable friendship is in life. And if you have such a friend for whom you are ready to spontaneously part (and this is mutual), then take care and appreciate this person.
I liked this book, this atmosphere and these characters.
References to Anne of Green Gables, my God! What amazing emotions.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for giving me a copy to review.

I think This Summer Will Be Different is Carley's best book so far. At first I didn't like that Felix and Lucy's relationship was purely based on sex once a year but Lucy was almost obsessed with him. I found it hard to understand why they had such deep feelings for each other when they only spent a maximum of a couple of weeks in the same place each year. But as the book went on, their relationship got better and by the end I was rooting for them to have a happy ending. I also loved Lucy's friendship with Felix's sister Bridget. The setting of Prince Edward Island sounded so beautiful and it made me wish I could go there on holiday.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for an ARC of This Summer Will Be Different!

I loved this book so much!
I read Every Summer After last summer and also gave it five stars so when I was accepted for the ARC of this book I was so excited.
I am always a little bit nervous with the 'brothers best friend' trope but this book did it so well. Lucy and Bridget were the best friends and Felix was such a great MMC. I felt like this book showed a part of real life and it was more than just a cute romance.

"I am here now, and everything is okay."

This Summer Will Be Different follows Lucy and Felix, all the way from when they met for the first time 5 years ago, catapulting us into the current state of their relationship in the here and now. The electric chemistry in this book does not disappoint. And whilst this book does provide you with such an all-consuming romantic relationship, such a key part of this book surrounded the pure friendship between Bridget and Lucy. And what are female friendships if not everything?

I have to say my favourite part of this book was the communication between characters. Through flower seeds and books, to knowing what someone's thinking just from the look on their face, this book truly exemplifies what it is like to be wholly and fully known.

This Summer Will Be Different was impossible to put down! I flew through the pages, treasuring my time spent in Prince Edward Island. Why not spend your summer chasing dreams with Lucy and Felix?

I absolutely loved Lucy & Felix’s story and this should be bumped straight to the top of your summer tbr!

𝙢𝙮 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ★★★★.✫

𝙨𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨...
Lucy & Bridget have been best friends for years - and when Bridget suggests a trip back to her home in PEI, Lucy jumps at the chance. When Bridget misses her flight and has to follow a day late, Lucy falls into bed with an attractive oyster shucker... only to later realise he is Bridget’s very off-limits younger brother, Felix. The story unfolds over the following five summers, as Lucy & Felix try to stay away from each other.

𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙...

The setting 🌊 Carley made me fall in love with Prince Edward Island! And I think this is the reason this is such a perfect summer read - I felt like I was there, enjoying walks along the beaches and freshly shucked oysters! (and I don’t even like oysters that much 🙃)

Felix 🫶🏼 Felix definitely joins the line up of book boyfriends! Seeing him grow up from a heartbroken to 23 year old to a steady and caring 28 year old with his own business made me swoon, he really was the perfect man in this book.

The chemistry between Lucy & Felix 🔥 This was definitely there from the off, and I loved watching it develop into something more, as they are drawn back to each other every summer. The present day vs flashbacks of previous summers worked so well, and definitely added to the tension and angst!

The only reason this wasn’t quite a 5★ read for me was that - whilst I loved the strong female friendship - a bit too much of the storyline hinged on Lucy’s dependency on Bridget (and the plot twist which all felt a bit blown out of proportion 😅).

I’ll start by saying I was already a huge fan of Carley Fortune’s; I read Every Summer After when it first came out and it remains one of my favourite books, equally I adored Meet Me At The Lake. But this one, This Summer Will Be Different, it blew me away. What is this absolute magic that Fortune weaves into her stories, I just couldn’t get enough of it.

In her author’s note Fortune describes how she wanted this book to be fun, both in writing it and in our experience of reading it and it really is. It’s such a joyous read, but one that also has great depth and heart to it. This is a story of love but not a singular type, yes we have a wonderful love story but there is also the love between best friends, of family (however that may look) and of community. It’s simply brilliant.

This Summer Will Be Different begins five years ago when Lucy meets Felix by chance whilst on vacation on Prince Edward Island. But when she realises that he is her best friend, Bridget’s brother, their electric night should become a distant memory. Each year with Lucy and Bridget’s return for a summer escape, she promises herself she won’t end up in Felix’s arms, but it’s easier said than done. Not this year though. This year it will be different. With Bridget facing the biggest crisis of her life, Lucy must join her for one last trip to the island. But how safe will her heart ever really be when faced with Felix once again?

Fortune always writes the most wonderful characters and I absolutely love Lucy, Felix and Bridget, equally good are her supporting cast. Each of her characters are written with such depth they leap from the page. The connection between Lucy and Felix was so apparent I was rooting for them throughout, this is a soulmate love story.

I really liked the duel timeline that flipped between the past leading to the present and the here and now counting down to Bridget’s wedding, it worked so well to showcase the evolution of the relationships in the book. I’ll also add that this was a very well done third act break, it allowed for Lucy to really figure herself out and get herself in the best position to make the right choice for both her and Felix.

Another thing that Fortune does so very well is in creating the most incredible sense of place. Here PEI really comes alive and is as significant as the characters are to the story. You feel as though you are there with them, with the sand between your toes and the wind blowing through your hair.

I cannot get enough of Fortune’s books and cannot wait for what she writes next.

Lucy was given one rule to stick to from her best friend, Bridget: don't fall in love with her brother. Perhaps not as easy as we might think, especially when Felix is introduced to the story.
The setting was absolutely dreamy; I wanted to be on Prince Edward Island (also birthplace of Anne of Green Gables), soaking it all up, and equally, I loved finding out more about Lucy's flower farm.
The chemistry between Lucy and Felix was brilliant, I loved seeing how their relationship had developed over the years, and how they navigated it. All of the side characters were just so wholesome- Lucy's aunt Stacey, and Lucy's best friend Bridget in particular.

I was really curious to know what Bridget's secret was, as well as what the aftermath of it all would be and how each of the characters' stories would fit together.
Carley Fortune is a firm auto-read author for me. After her past two books being perfect summer reads, she's only gone and done it again - I read this one in a day.

I love Carley Fortune, and I just eat up her summer romances.

I must say this is my fave Carley Fortune, I loved the setting of this book. It felt cozy but still had that summertime energy.

The character development was gorgeous and the MMC loves to read... like come on. I devoured the romance and the spice was spicy, however it is still sweet which i loved.

Thank you for the ARC!

Caley Fortune demonstrates her mastery in crafting captivating love stories once again with her third book. From the moment I picked it up, I found myself completely immersed, unable to tear myself away. The dynamic friendship between Lucy and Bridget, intertwined with the warmth of chosen family bonds, immediately drew me in. The familiar trope of the best friend's brother crush was skillfully woven into the narrative, adding an extra layer of excitement.

While the suspense surrounding Bridget's secret may have felt slightly prolonged, it certainly didn't detract from the overall experience. Instead, it served to deepen the intrigue and keep me eagerly turning the pages.

What truly stole my heart were the multiple timelines showcasing the evolving relationship between Lucy and Felix. Their journey was nothing short of enchanting, and I found myself rooting for them from their very first encounter.

Fortune's vivid descriptions of Prince Edward Island were simply breathtaking. I lost count of how many times I found myself Googling images of this picturesque destination while reading. Her evocative prose transported me to a world filled with sandy beaches, majestic lighthouses, and delectable seafood delights, leaving me yearning for a summer getaway.

I extend my gratitude to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. "This Summer Will Be Different" has undoubtedly earned its place on my list of must-reads, and I eagerly anticipate whatever enchanting tale Caley Fortune weaves next.

A romance book that is GREAT chemistry between the characters!!!!! The forbidden romance element to this book contributed so well to the angst and chemistry that builds throughout the book 😊 In all honestly, I’ve read better third act conflicts, however I still enjoyed it as it felt as though it was resolved quite quickly. I’ve really enjoyed Carley’s other books to date so knew that I’d enjoy this one just as much - her writing style is very me! Best friends brother, found family, once night stand, flashbacks, super steamy 🌶️ what more could we ask for?!

✨2.5 stars✨

This the first Carley Fortune book and the premise sounded interesting.

I was enjoying the book and I really liked the setting… up until the 50% mark but then the multiple timeline just became too muddled as nothing was distinct enough about them.

This has best friend’s brother so if you like that trope you might like this book! However, we’re told that our protagonist Lucy “bee” cannot be with Felix because that was one of Bridget’s rules… don’t fall in love with her brother.

Yet when the reveal happened it turns out she already figured it out and was then fine with it… what was the point? The third Act break-up felt pointless as well.

It might work for you if your looking for a light summery read… or you enjoy this author’s writing

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

'His eyes meet mine. But they don't twinkle, they burn.

I've never wanted to go somewhere as much as I want to go to Prince Edwards Island.

This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune, is a dual timeline romance book, but not always in the way you expect. When Lucy first visited Prince Edward Island 5 years ago, her best friend Bridget gave her 3 rules; Eat your weight in oysters, leave the city behind, and don't fall in love with my brother. Unfortunatley that first summer she didn't know that Felix was BRidget's brother until after they spent the night together. Every summer after however... that's a different story. When Bridget call Lucy to drop everything and see her on Prince Edward Island, Lucy doesn't hesitate. She can be there for Bridget without wanting Felix can't she? This summer has to be different, for all of them.

This book has been on my TBR/Want to Read list for a really long time, so when I got this arc, I was so excited, and thankfully it didn't disappoint.

'You're a goddamn wonder.'
Lucy and Felix's immediate chemistry was a massive bonus for me. Insta-love isn't something I'm usually interested in, but it felt so natural for their story, that I didn't mind it so much. The easy back and forth between the two of them was really enjoyable. Their flaws made them so much more relatable. I know that like Lucy, I tend to get caught up in things too easily, and often end up burning myself out. I would have like to see more of Felix's flaws, however as he 'ceases to exsist' when Lucy is off the island, I find it really interesting that as it's told from Lucy's perspective, it's like to her, Felix doesn't have any flaws.

'Its how I learned that the greatest loves are not always romances.'
Lucy and Bridget's relationship was everything! I love a good romance story, it's my favourite genre, but a love between best friends is something I genuinely didn't know I needed so badly, until I read about how Lucy feels about Bridget. A best friend who is willing to drop everything, rearrange everything in her life, to go and be there for her friend, without any idea why or what's happened? Just everything. The fear and anxiety about loosing your best friend as you grow up and grow apart, and it really pulled at my heartstrings, and felt like I have felt as I've got older.

My absolute favourite thing about this book was the descriptions of the island. A lot of the time if theres too much information going on I find myself skimming the pages, and feel like its a bit rough to get through. Without a doubt, the best thing though was the description of being on Prince Edward Island. In the 'behind the book' at the end, Carley Fortune says 'Each of my books is a love letter to a place', and it's so obvious in the way the island is portrayed. I've never wanted to visit a place so much based on the auhtors words as much as I do after finishing this book, (I loked up flight prices and everything). It was so perfectly done, that despite never being seeing the place, I felt like I was there.

Another thing that seems small that I loved was that despite Joy breaking Felix's heart, there's never any unnecessary cattiness towards her. It's refreshing to not have any dumping on the ex, just to prove the point that they aren't the right one for the romantic lead. Lucy thinking 'Blech, she's wonderful' was just so much funnier and honest to me.

The only thing I really wasn't keen on was the flashback lengths. I really love dual timeline books, I find them so interesting, and I loved learning about Lucy and Felix's history in bits and pieces, but spending multiple chapters in the past just made it feel a little bit disjointed to me. It took a couple of pages for me to get back into what was happening in the present time, which took me out of the story a little bit.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book, and its 4 stars for me.

Thanks to NetGalley, Carley Fortune, and Penguin Random House, for the opportunity to read this early copy. All thoughts are my own

Perfection!

Lucy holidays with her best friend Bridget on Prince Edward Island and meets Bridget's brother Felix (or Wolf as he's affectionately known) for the first time. From the off, their attraction is explosive and carries throughout the years. The tension between the two is palpable and I couldn't help but hope for their happy ever after.
Is has to be noted that there are two love stories in this book, which I enjoyed equally; Lucy and Felix, and the love Bridget and Lucy have for each other as best friends. I loved how important their friendship was and how beautifully it was written. As always, Carley Fortune paints a picture perfect setting with this book, which is such a delight.

This book reeled me in and left me swooning.

With huge thanks to Netgalley and Penguin for this advance copy.

A massive thank you to NetGalley and Penguin books for the ARC! I loved Carley Fortunes ‘Every Summer After’ and couldn’t wait to read this!!

I loved the friendship within this book between Lucy and Bridget! And I was so invested in Lucy and Felix’s relationship.

Fab summer read!! Ideal for reading whilst lying in the sun! I’ll be buying for friends as gifts this year!!

Blurb:
This summer they’ll keep their promise. This summer they won't give into temptation. This summer will be different.

The first time Lucy and Felix met she was on vacation on Prince Edward Island. And a tour of the beaches wasn’t the only thing he showed her. But when she discovered his true identity as her best friend, Bridget’s brother, their electric night should have become a distant memory…

Each year with Lucy and Bridget’s return for a summer escape, she promises herself she won’t end up in Felix’s arms, but it’s easier said than done.

Not this year though. This year it will be different. With Bridget facing the biggest crisis of her life, Lucy must join her for one last trip to the island.

But Felix’s sparkling eyes and flirty quips have been replaced with something new, something more and Lucy’s beginning to wonder just how safe her heart truly is.

First things first, I loved that friendship and romantic love were given equal prominence here. It's clear that for our main character Lucy, her friendship with Bridget is a true love of her life. That's what makes it so complicated when she finds herself unable to stay away from Bridget's brother, Felix. Despite their trysts, this still feels like a slow burn.

Mixed with the secrets and stresses of our larger cast of characters, there's much to love here. I really enjoyed it, it has romance of the summer potential.

This Summer Will Be Different is a fun, cute, cosy book about a girl falling in love with her best friends brother over the course of several summers. The setting was gorgeous and I did fall in love with the main male Felix. There wasn't too much depth to the plot but it was an easy, enjoyable read.

3.5/5

Lucy, the protagonist, is a strong and independent woman who finds herself on vacation in Prince Edward Island, where she unexpectedly reconnects with Felix, her best friend’s younger brother. The chemistry between them is undeniable, but Lucy is determined to keep things strictly platonic. However, as they spend more time together, Lucy can’t help but be drawn to Felix, despite the long list of reasons why they shouldn’t be together. Fortune’s writing beautifully captures the scenic beauty of PEI and the emotions of the characters, making for a captivating read.I just finished reading this book and I have to say, it was a great light read. While it didn’t have me constantly reaching for the book, it was still very entertaining. I would definitely recommend adding it to your TBR pile and saving it for a rainy day. It’s the perfect book to curl up with and enjoy without feeling overwhelmed by heavy subject matter. I enjoyed it and I’m sure you will too.

Such a beautiful story of love; not just romantic, but the importance of supportive family and true friends. Finding your soulmate in a friend and their family. I loved this so much and I found the plot got stronger and stronger throughout. I love Felix so much and I'm so glad that Lucy could find her own feet before rushing into something else. I now want a house full of books and a field full of flowers.