This Summer Will Be Different

Prince Edward Island will greatly benefit from an increase in tourism after reading this book which is a love letter to Canada's smallest province. 

But what in the oyster shuck did I just read?

This book had some solid pickin's for a good summery romance - forbidden love, gorgeous setting, sexual tension ... but, as Anne Shirly would say, I am in the depths of despair because this was just an okay read for me.

Fortune once again nails the location for her story! PEI is shown in all its glory with its red sand beaches, friendly islanders, abundant seafood and Green Gables. And I liked the premise of a friend falling for her BFF's younger brother! 

But I had a few issues with this book ...

The slowest of Slow Burns and Miscommunication: This slow-moving story gets stuck in a plot whirlpool with a lot of repetition in the second half. There's also miscommunication between BFFs Lucy and Bridget which was frustrating and made readers wait a long time to understand why Lucy had to hightail it to PEI on Bridget's cryptic request and when we finally get answers they were underwhelming. 

Felix and Lucy/Wolf and Bee?: There were a lot of nicknames in this book but whatever they were calling themselves, I struggled to become invested in their relationship. I enjoyed the delightful initial awkwardness and steamy scenes with a side of forbidden love, but I wanted more than insta-lust.

That said, I give the Highest of Fives for a Couple of Secondary Characters Who Rocked: I loved Lucy's aunt and Felix's BFF on the island and wish they had more page time.

I feel like grumpy Marilla Cuthbert with this review and I'm sad that this book and I are not kindred spirits. It was an okay read but my favourite book by this author remains the swoony Every Summer After. 

My Rating: 3 stars

Author: Carley Fortune

Genre: Romance, Canadian

Type and Source: Trade Paperback, personal copy

Publisher: Berkley

First Published: May 7, 2024

Read: August 26 - 28, 2024

Book Description from GoodReads: 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.