This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune: My Review

Carley Fortune is the queen of summer romance and she dazzles with her latest beach read, This Summer Will Be Different. Check out my book review below to see why I loved this book about summer romance.

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This Summer Will Be Different Summary:

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

Lucy is the tourist vacationing at a beach house on Prince Edward Island. Felix is the local who shows her a very good time. The only problem: Lucy doesn’t know he’s her best friend’s younger brother. Lucy and Felix’s chemistry is unreal, but the list of reasons why they need to stay away from each other is long, and they vow to never repeat that electric night again.

It’s easier said than done.

Each year, Lucy escapes to PEI for a big breath of coastal air, fresh oysters and crisp vinho verde with her best friend, Bridget. Every visit begins with a long walk on the beach, beneath soaring red cliffs and a golden sun. And every visit, Lucy promises herself she won’t wind up in Felix’s bed. Again.

If Lucy can’t help being drawn to Felix, at least she’s always kept her heart out of it.

When Bridget suddenly flees Toronto a week before her wedding, Lucy drops everything to follow her to the island. Her mission is to help Bridget through her crisis and resist the one man she’s never been able to. But Felix’s sparkling eyes and flirty quips have been replaced with something new, and Lucy’s beginning to wonder just how safe her heart truly is.

This Summer Will Be Different: My Review

Carley Fortune’s books have been popular summer romance books for the past two years but I didn’t pick up one of her books until now and I am sold.

This Summer Will Be Different made my list of most anticipated romance books of 2024 simply for the fact that the setting was Prince Edward Island, but it surpassed my expectations of a fantastic, sweet and swoony best friend’s brother romance that is the perfect beach read for the summer.

Canada should be sending Fortune ALL the gifts because their tourism rates are going to skyrocket with people clamoring to Prince Edward Island after reading this book. Traveling to PEI was already on my bucket list but it’s definitely moved up the list after reading this book.

Fortune makes you feel like you’re a native on the island from the oyster-sucking contests, to the beach walks, the lighthouse tours and of course the Anne of Green Gables sites. I loved her nods to this famed romance and some parallels that she drew in her own story.

Trust me when I say you’ll want to take a trip to Canada after reading this book as it’s definitely a romance book that inspires travel.

But while I loved the brilliant setting of this story, I also truly loved the friendship between Bridge and Bee. I myself have a best friend who I consider more like a sister and to come to understand the bond between these two was so wonderful.

Fortune completely hooks you from the beginning with Bridget’s sudden escape to PEI before her wedding and I found myself constantly guessing the reason behind it and needing to read on to finally get to that point when the impetus is revealed.

Of course I also loved the central, forbidden love story between Felix and Lucy. Their first meet cute was HOT (though very closed door) and it set the stage to understanding their instant chemistry that would ignite each summer or time they found themselves together again on the island.

Again, I found myself just wanting to speed read to get to the point where I could understand why are they not trying to make this work for real? It gave me similar angsty but in a good-way vibes as reading People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry- just trying to get to that moment when you understood all that was holding each character back.

From the setting to the story pacing to the characters and overall story arc I thought this book was a wonderful read and definitely a must-read book of the summer. It’s claimed a spot on my list of best romance books of 2024 and one I highly recommend.

Related Book Lists:

• Carley Fortune Books in Order
• Romance Books That Inspire Travel
• Best Friend’s Brother Romance Books Worth Reading
• Best Beach Reads
• 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards Nominees for Best Romance
• Most Anticipated New Romance Books of May 2024

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