An interview with Carley Fortune on writing romance that feels real

The NYT bestselling author shares her process for "One Golden Summer," plus her perfect reading day and favorite book recs.

May 20, 2025

This is Bookmarked, a Downtime column where I speak with writers whose work I return to — about reading, craft, and the quieter mechanics of creative life.

Today’s conversation is with Carley Fortune, whose novels have become shorthand for a particular kind of contemporary romance: emotionally precise, rooted in place, and deeply attuned to memory. Her lake settings aren’t just backdrops; they’re engines for longing, regret, and transformation.

Her newest novel, One Golden Summer, was published earlier this month and has already landed on the New York Times bestseller list. We spoke during a brief pause in her book tour — about writing through motherhood, adapting her work for the screen, the difference between nostalgia and sentimentality, and what she’s reading when she has the time.

— Alisha

For readers new to your work, how would you describe the premise of One Golden Summer?

Alice Everly spent one magical summer on a lake in Barry’s Bay when she was seventeen. It’s where she took her first great photo—of three teenagers in a yellow speedboat—the photo that launched her career as a photographer. Now in her thirties and in a creative rut, she decides to go back to the lake with her grandmother, who she’s helping after a hip replacement surgery.
Her plan is to relax and unwind—but her peace is disrupted by the roar of a familiar yellow speedboat and the man driving it, Charlie Florek. Charlie first appeared in my debut novel, Every Summer After, and readers have been asking me for a story about him since that book was published.

Your second novel, Meet Me at the Lake is currently being adapted for the screen. What has that process been like so far, and how do you decide how involved to be as an author?

My first three books are all at different stages of development. Every Summer After is being adapted into a series with Amazon MGM Studios, and the first season will begin shooting soon. Meet Me at the Lake is in development with Archewell Productions for Netflix, and things are moving along nicely behind the scenes.
I’m an executive producer on both projects, which doesn’t have an official job description. I see my role as being a voice for the readers—advocating for what they love about the worlds and characters.

What part of the adaptation are you most excited to see come to life on screen?

Meet Me at the Lake is set in Toronto and at a resort in Muskoka. A lot of film and TV is shot in Toronto—we Torontonians are accustomed to seeing our city dressed up as New York, Boston, or Chicago. So I’m really looking forward to seeing Toronto play itself and to seeing Brookbanks Resort come to life.
There’s a scene in Every Summer After that I refer to as the “You came home” scene—it’s one of fans’ favourite moments in the book. I can’t wait to see that on screen.

What was it like transitioning from a highly structured, managerial environment [Note: Carley was the head of Refinery29 Canada] to one that’s highly unstructured, creative, with no managers at all? That must have been a massive shift for you.

In some ways, it’s very similar, as there was very little structure in my role at Refinery29, except for what I implemented. I oversaw the editorial, design, and social, so it was also an extremely creative role—but there was a lot of agonizing corporate BS that I am happy to be done with. I miss my colleagues tremendously, and sometimes, like during the recent Canadian federal election, I’m nostalgic for when I had a journalistic outlet to tackle subjects that I’m passionate about. We had started working from home during the pandemic, so I was already accustomed to the live-work situation when I switched to writing full-time. Being an author is lonelier work, but it’s also so much fun and deeply rewarding. I love it.

You’ve spoken vulnerably in the past about your motherhood journey—the demands of your job, your experience with postpartum anxiety and OCD, and being a creative and a mother. As a new-ish mom who also works in the creative field, I’d love your best advice on how to make it all work without burning out. It’s so hard.

It is so hard! I’m not sure I’m the best source for advice on this since I often find myself on the edge of burnout. And sometimes it doesn’t all work! My son sobbed for two hours when he found out I was going to miss something at his school while I was on book tour. On the other hand, I have readers who are upset that I’m not getting out to the West Coast this year on my tour.
You just can’t do all the things. But I do think it’s important to claw out time for yourself—with your nails and teeth and whatever strength you have—to do what makes you smile.

A snap of Carley rereading *Every Summer After* in preparation for writing *One Golden Summer*—at the lake that inspired it. (Photo courtesy of Carley Fortune)

What do you do in moments of self-doubt, or when you’re feeling stuck?

If I’m able to, I go for a walk or a run. I find getting exercise—and ideally fresh air—is the best way to handle pretty much everything.

Who/what are your biggest literary influences? I’ve read that Anne of Green Gables is one. Any others?

I love L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables so very much. Anne Shirley is one of literature’s greatest heroines, and the DNA of that story is part of who I am as a person as well as an author.
I was also a huge V.C. Andrews reader as a young teenager, and I think the twisting, turning messiness of her books, as well as her ability to bring her settings to life, left a lasting impression on me.

What, to you, makes a really good romance novel vs. a just-okay one?

It all comes down to emotion and characters. I need to understand why these two people are falling in love, why they’re attracted to each other, why this is the right moment for them to come together, and what they need to overcome to find happiness with another person.
Basically, I want to feel like I’m snooping on real people. I want to laugh, cry, gasp, and feel my chest ache. I’m also a sucker for gorgeous writing and a sense of place.

Is there anything you’ve been enjoying lately that you’d recommend?

Camellia Rehab Oil from Canadian natural skincare brand Pure + Simple. This has saved my dry, sensitive skin.

About Carley’s Reading Rituals

What does your reading routine look like?

I have two young children, and there’s nothing routine or ritualistic in how I read. I squeeze in books in the gaps of time when they are occupied or when I have enough energy after they’ve gone to bed.

What's your ideal/dream reading setup?

Summer. Late afternoon. By the lake. Wine. Children occupied. Husband preparing something delicious for dinner.

What’s your favorite indie bookstore?

Munro’s in Victoria, BC has a special place in my heart. I lived in Victoria for a year following university and used to wander around the store, imagining that I had a book on its shelves. It feels both grand and warm.

How and where do you discover new books to read?

I often get recommendations through social media—looking at what other readers and authors are loving. But my favourite way to learn about a new book is at dinner with friends, when the conversation naturally turns to books we love. I would love to bottle the energy of someone desperately trying to convince you to read a book they love.

Carley’s Book Recommendations

A book you’d recommend to all your friends: Sandwich by Catherine Newman
A book that impacted you during your childhood: Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden
A book that would make a great book club pick: This Is It by Matthew Fox
A book that recently made you think or stayed with you: The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins
A book that gave you all the feelings: Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
A book you’d pack on vacation: The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
A go-to comfort read: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

Lightning-round questions

Favorite food spots in Toronto?

Le Swan, Bar Vendetta, Rol San.

If you could invite any of your three characters to dinner, who would they be?

Sue Florek (Every Summer After), Aunt Stacy (This Summer Will Be Different), and Nan (One Golden Summer). All wise women with a ton of personality and stories to tell.

What’s something that’s on your wishlist?

Writing the screenplay for one of my book adaptations.

Bonus Round: Questions from Downtime Readers

When working through your writing, do you normally start with the love story, the setting, or maybe even a specific scene? —Melissa K.

The setting is what comes first for me. The protagonist follows, and her love interest grows out of who she is and what her journey is. But that all got upended with One Golden Summer, because I already had the setting and Charlie as the hero. It took a very long time figuring out who the protagonist would be, why she and Charlie were a good match, and her larger character arc outside of the romantic relationship.

Is there a romance trope you haven’t written yet but really want to try next? —Jess T.

I’m not really motivated by tropes—the trope itself isn’t at all what I think about when I’m thinking about a new story and a new romance. Tropes can be a tool in your kit, but they are also these broad archetypes that can be applied to narratives, and that’s how I think of them. I develop a romantic story, and it naturally falls into certain tropes.

Your love stories always feel like they’re about more than just the central couple—do you remember a turning point when you decided to build richer worlds with family and community at the heart? —Claire F.

I guess it’s always been there. I set out writing my debut novel, Every Summer After, as a project for myself. I love love stories and, since I was writing in 2020, I needed it to have a happy ending.
And while that book is a romance—as are my other books—it was also a way for me to grapple with all these other things girls and women face in terms of our relationships with our friends, family, money, work, ourselves, mental health, grief. I love that I can tackle big life questions while also delivering a happy ending to readers. You are safe with me.