One Golden Summer: Memory, Love and Self-Discovery-Book Review.

Hello friends, today I am going to share with you a novel I recently read, One Golden Summer. I have heard the name of the author Carley Fortune before, but this book really gave me a different feeling. The story is very cool, warm, nostalgic and gives a feeling of looking inside myself. The kind of books I usually like, personal stories, relationships, memories, nature, everything is mixed together here.

The central character of the story is Alice Everly, whom we see as a quiet, introverted, but deeply observant person. Alice's life has been completely involved with pictures, light, moments and scenes from the beginning. Her childhood love for photography has made her the Alice she is today. But there came a turning point in her life when she began to doubt her dreams. That's when her grandmother Nan broke her hip, and Alice was forced to return to the small cottage near the lake of her childhood, Barry's Bay.

One Golden Summer‎

‎This return is not just a trip, it is a journey of recovery. Finding the light, dreams, desires, and that lost self again. Carley Fortune writes these parts in such a way that it feels like the reader is also walking in the lakeside breeze, the light is shining in the cottage window, someone is taking a boat in the distance.

‎Here comes another important character in the story, Charlie Florek. Charlie was one of the three teenagers Alice caught on camera for a moment as a child. Years have passed, many changes have occurred in life, but the light of that moment still remains a little bit inside both of them.

‎The gradual change in Alice and Charlie's relationship, the strange attraction drawn from friendship, and the security and distance in the relationship, all felt very real. The slow-build chemistry that the author has created is beautifully expressed. Their conversations are very simple, but strangely leave a mark on the reader's mind.

‎Alice's big dilemma is whether she lives only to see others? Or is there someone who will really see her? Charlie may or may not be that person. And this is where the story deepens.

‎Grandma Nan is also one of the book's strengths. The cottage, the veranda, the lake are not just places, but Nan's memories, strength, warmth, and family stories are hidden in them. Alice's relationship with Nan makes the book more emotional.

‎A special aspect of Carley Fortune's writing is that she writes very simple feelings very tenderly. The reader never feels pressured, and the story does not seem cliché. For those who like books written in a combination of nature, memories, childhood, and love, One Golden Summer is a truly enjoyable read.

‎What I liked most was Alice's change in herself. She not only finds love, understands her mistakes, overcomes her fears, and regains control of her life. The book is not only a love story, but also gently hints at how your relationship with yourself should be.

‎The pace of the story is very smooth. The language is simple, clear, and comfortable to read. There are many lines that I have read two or three times and felt that they really touched my heart. Carley Fortune writes in a way that sheds light on the very familiar emotions of our lives.

‎The ending is especially beautiful. There is no forced happy ending here, but rather a very realistic and yet hopeful ending. After finishing the book, I felt like yes, life is like that. Not everything may be perfect, but it is also beautiful.

‎Finally, One Golden Summer is a book that you want to read in a quiet moment. It is perfect for those who like soft, emotional, summer-like love stories. And from my own experience, I really enjoyed reading the book. The simple language, realistic feelings, and the dreamy touch of summer all make this a book worth reading.