2.5 stars ( )

2.5 stars ( )

As a young girl, it would have my teenage fantasy for my parents to buy a cabin located next to a home with two teenage boys and handsome to boot! This story touched many parts of heart. The mystery throughout the book makes the reader anxious to find out what made this sweet romance fail! ( )

Every Summer After by Carly Fortune is a 2022 Berkley publication.

Persephone ‘Percy’ Fraser meets Sam while summering at Barry’s Bay as a teenager. Each year their bond grows stronger as they grapple with the implications and possible consequences of acting on their developing feelings for each other that goes far beyond friendship. But something transpires that sends Percy scurrying away from Barry’s Bay, never to speak to Sam or his family again….

Until, Sam’s brother calls Percy out of the blue to deliver bad news and ask her to come back to Barry’s Bay. Despite her complicated feelings, Percy immediately packs a bag and heads toward to an uncertain reunion with Sam…

This book got a little buzz going this summer- and I thought it sounded pretty good. I went in with high hopes, but for me the story was kind of boring, fall short of the 'coming of age' drama I was hoping for.

I have no trouble reading about people falling in love, making big mistakes, then getting a second chance to get things right. In fact, it is one of my favorite romance tropes. I was just expecting something more profound with this one, because you know, I’ve been patronized for reading this exact storyline from Harlequin romance, but it’s perfectly fine when it is packaged as a ‘coming of age’ tale.

The author practically announces the big ‘secret’ well before the end of the book, but then makes the reader wait until the bitter end to find out the specifics- which of course, was the only thing that kept me from giving up on it. I was sorely tempted to just skip ahead and find out how it all went down, skip to the end and the HEA, and be done with it, but I kept hoping there was more to the story than what I was seeing on the surface, but it ended predictably, as I’d feared.

Overall, this one was a letdown.

2 stars ( )

Ok, I decided to read this because I wanted to know if I would enjoy it. I was seeing mixed reviews, but many times I think differently than others, so I didn't let those reviews keep me from trying out the book. I liked the idea that the two main characters meet when they are young and have a summer romance over the years up through high school. I enjoy friends to lovers' stories. The book goes back and forth from now to then. We learn at the beginning that something happened between the two of them when they were 18 and has not been resolved even after 12 years. I really loved the look back at how they met and how their relationship grew. I thought they were cute and the angst they experienced was realistic for the age they were and the circumstances. What I wished for as far as the "now" sections are concerned was more time. They basically reconnect over the course of a few days. Because of how their connection was described, I was able to believe that they were totally still in love with each other. What I found a little harder to believe was that they could hash it out so easily. Overall, I decided to give it 3.5 stars and will recommend it to friends who enjoy this type of romance. I can understand both the very positive and negative reviews. I was fine being in the middle. ( )