Few romance authors have risen as quickly in recent years as Carly Fortune. Her novels have become staples on bestseller lists, BookTok recommendation videos, and summer reading guides. Readers searching for emotional contemporary romance filled with nostalgia, second chances, beautiful settings, and unforgettable relationships often find themselves picking up one of her books—and then immediately looking for another.
Part of what makes Carly Fortune stand out is her ability to create stories that feel comforting while still delivering emotional depth. Her books often focus on relationships that evolve over years, unresolved feelings, complicated family dynamics, and characters trying to figure out who they are. Add gorgeous lakeside settings, summer memories, and heartfelt romance, and you have the formula that has attracted a huge audience.
If you’ve been hearing her name everywhere and are wondering where to begin, this guide covers the Carly Fortune books readers should absolutely add to their reading lists.
Who Is Carly Fortune?
Carly Fortune is a Canadian writer and former journalist who worked as an editor in the publishing industry before becoming a novelist. She quickly gained widespread attention with her debut novel Every Summer After, which became a major bestseller and established her as one of contemporary romance’s most talked-about voices.
Although her catalog is still growing, she has already built a reputation for writing emotionally engaging stories that resonate with readers looking for romance that feels realistic and deeply personal.
One reason her work appeals to such a broad audience is that her stories balance romance with themes of friendship, identity, grief, family, and personal growth. Even readers who do not typically gravitate toward romance novels often find themselves connecting with her characters.
Carly Fortune Books in Order
Every Summer After
If you’re only going to start with one Carly Fortune novel, this is usually the first recommendation.
Every Summer After follows Persephone Fraser and Sam Florek, whose friendship begins during childhood summers spent at a lake. Over the years, that friendship slowly develops into something more. But a devastating mistake changes everything and drives them apart.
Years later, Percy returns to the lake and must confront both her past and the feelings she thought she left behind.
This novel quickly became one of the most discussed romance books online, and for good reason.
Why readers love it
The dual timeline structure
The novel moves between the past and present, slowly revealing what happened between Percy and Sam. This keeps readers invested because there is a constant desire to uncover the mystery behind their separation.
Strong emotional impact
The story isn’t simply about falling in love. It explores guilt, regret, forgiveness, and growing up.
The summer atmosphere
Many readers mention that the setting feels almost like a character itself. The lake setting creates a nostalgic feeling that makes readers want to revisit their own summer memories.
Who should read it
This book is perfect if you enjoy:
- Friends-to-lovers romance
- Second-chance stories
- Emotional contemporary fiction
- Nostalgic summer settings
- Character-driven narratives
Many readers also compare its emotional tone to books by Emily Henry and Carley Fortune’s fellow contemporary romance writers.
Meet Me at the Lake
After the massive success of Every Summer After, readers were curious whether Carly Fortune could deliver another memorable romance.
She did.
Meet Me at the Lake follows Fern Brookbanks and Will Baxter. The two meet in Toronto and spend one unforgettable day together. During that day they make a promise to reconnect one year later.
Will never arrives.
Nearly a decade later, Fern unexpectedly encounters him again, and the reunion is far from simple.
Why readers love it
Complex adult characters
This novel focuses heavily on adulthood and the reality that people change over time. Readers often appreciate that the characters are not perfect.
Themes beyond romance
Grief, family responsibilities, and personal expectations play a significant role in the story.
Realistic emotional struggles
Many romance novels focus almost entirely on romantic tension, but this story spends time developing emotional challenges outside the relationship.
Who should read it
Pick this novel if you enjoy:
- Missed connection stories
- Emotional contemporary romance
- Character growth
- Small-town settings
- Mature relationships
Many readers consider Meet Me at the Lake slightly more emotional and reflective than Every Summer After.
This Summer Will Be Different
Another reason Carly Fortune continues attracting readers is her ability to create fresh relationship dynamics while keeping the emotional core that fans expect.
This Summer Will Be Different follows Lucy, who visits Prince Edward Island and meets Felix. The attraction between them is immediate, but there is one major problem:
Felix happens to be her best friend’s younger brother.
The two attempt to resist their feelings, but that becomes increasingly difficult.
Why readers love it
Excellent chemistry
Readers often highlight the romantic tension in this novel. Carly Fortune creates believable attraction without making it feel forced.
Beautiful location
Prince Edward Island provides another atmospheric setting that readers can easily imagine.
Strong friendship themes
The book isn’t solely focused on romance. Female friendship and loyalty also play important roles.
Who should read it
You may enjoy this book if you like:
- Forbidden romance
- Best friend’s sibling trope
- Summer settings
- Relationship tension
- Character-focused storytelling
What Makes Carly Fortune Books Different?
Contemporary romance is a crowded genre, so what exactly separates Carly Fortune from dozens of other authors?
Emotional realism
Her characters often make mistakes.
They misunderstand each other, avoid difficult conversations, and struggle with insecurities. That realism makes relationships feel authentic rather than idealized.
Nostalgia
Few modern romance authors use nostalgia as effectively.
Her books frequently revisit memories and past experiences, creating emotional connections between readers and characters.
Many people finish her novels feeling nostalgic about moments from their own lives rather than simply remembering the fictional story.
Atmosphere
Readers frequently talk about her settings.
Lakes, beaches, cottages, small towns, and summer landscapes create immersive worlds that feel warm and familiar.
This makes her novels especially popular during spring and summer reading seasons, though they work year-round.
Character development
The romance matters, but the characters also experience individual growth.
Readers see protagonists dealing with family issues, career choices, fears, and personal struggles.
This creates more layered stories rather than romance plots that exist in isolation.
Which Carly Fortune Book Should You Read First?
Different readers may connect with different stories.
Consider starting with these recommendations:
Start with Every Summer After if:
- You love emotional stories
- Friends-to-lovers is your favorite trope
- You enjoy nostalgic narratives
Start with Meet Me at the Lake if:
- You prefer mature characters
- You enjoy emotional depth
- You like second-chance romance
Start with This Summer Will Be Different if:
- You enjoy strong romantic tension
- You love beach settings
- You want a lighter summer read
Final Thoughts
Carly Fortune has quickly become one of the most recognizable names in contemporary romance, and it isn’t difficult to understand why. Her books combine heartfelt relationships, memorable settings, and emotional storytelling that keeps readers invested from beginning to end.
Whether you are looking for an emotional second-chance romance, a nostalgic friends-to-lovers story, or a summer read with strong chemistry, her novels offer something for many different types of readers.
One of the best things about Carly Fortune’s books is that they feel timeless. Even years after publication, readers continue discovering them because the themes of love, regret, friendship, and growth remain relatable.
If you haven’t read a Carly Fortune novel yet, now might be the perfect time to see what all the excitement is about. Chances are that after finishing one, you’ll immediately start searching for the next. Until next time, happy reading!
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook
Posts
Discover more from Books of Brilliance
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.