This Summer Will Be Different: Summary, Spice & Reviews
If you’ve scrolled past “This Summer Will Be Different” in your feed and wondered what the fuss is about, you’re not alone. Carley Fortune’s 2024 romance novel has logged over 41.3k reviews on Goodreads, sparked heated debates about its heat level, and just landed on Netflix’s development slate.
Author: Carley Fortune · Setting: Prince Edward Island · Key Characters: Lucy and Felix · Genre: Romance · Adaptation: TV series announced
Quick snapshot
- Published May 7, 2024 by Penguin Books (Pretty Little Memoirs)
- Spice level rated 4/5 on Romance.io (Romance.io)
- Netflix series in development (Pretty Little Memoirs)
- No official age rating from publisher
- Exact numerical breakdown across more review platforms
- Clear series status—standalone vs. planned sequels
- Book released May 7, 2024
- Reviews proliferated through summer 2024
- TV adaptation announced post-release
- Netflix development could reshape reader interest
- Potential for expanded universe if series performs
- Carley Fortune’s next project likely to draw crossover readers
Key publication and rating details for the book appear in the table below.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Carley Fortune |
| Publisher | Penguin Books |
| Goodreads Page | Goodreads |
| TV Adaptation | Netflix series in development |
| Review Source | Pretty Little Memoirs |
| Spice Level | 4/5 Explicit open door |
| Overall Rating | 4.1/5 (Romance.io) |
| Goodreads Reviews | 41.3k+ |
What is the book This Summer Will Be Different about?
The novel follows Lucy, a twentysomething from Toronto vacationing on Prince Edward Island, who reconnects with Felix—her best friend Bridget’s younger brother—during one of her recurring summer visits. What begins as a brief fling complicates into a recurring pattern: Lucy promises not to sleep with Felix again, then struggles against their intense chemistry. The book Tagged as “siblings-bff” and contemporary romance, it builds a vivid summer tableau with beach walks, red cliffs, fresh oysters, and vinho verde on Bossy Bookworm’s review.
Plot summary
Lucy has been visiting PEI summers since childhood, drawn to the island’s “green land” that holds both her happiest memories and biggest mistakes. When she reconnects with Felix, who has stayed behind while his sister Bridget moved away, the two navigate an attraction complicated by their friendship circle. The story explores personal growth, learning from differences, and figuring out what you really want in life—Book Club Chat notes.
Main characters
Lucy serves as the narrator and protagonist—a tourist from Toronto experiencing both the beauty and complications of PEI summers. Felix is the local love interest whose connection with Lucy challenges the “friendship boundary” their shared social circle creates. Bridget, Lucy’s best friend and Felix’s sister, sits at the center of the trope that makes their attraction forbidden.
The core tension isn’t just will-they-won’t-they—it’s whether Lucy can reconcile what she wants with the friendship she’s had for years.
Do I need to read Every Summer After before This Summer Will Be Different?
No. Carley Fortune has confirmed on Instagram that “Your reading order questions, answered” — the books function as standalones. While both feature Prince Edward Island settings and share Fortune’s signature summer-romance atmosphere, each tells a complete story with separate characters. A Flowering Pages reviewer notes the mystical, effervescent intimacy runs through both works, but you won’t be lost jumping into either one first.
Reading order explained
Fortune’s debut Every Summer After (2022) introduced readers to her style—summer settings, emotionally complex relationships, and coastal Canadian atmosphere. Readers who loved that book will recognize similar DNA in This Summer Will Be Different. However, the new novel does not spoil the first and vice versa. Start wherever your mood takes you.
Author’s guidance
The author has addressed reading order directly on social media, reinforcing that neither book requires knowledge of the other. This aligns with Fortune’s approach to standalone romances within a consistent thematic territory.
If you’ve been putting off This Summer Will Be Different while “waiting to read the first one,” you can clear your TBR pile now.
Is This Summer Will Be Different a Spicy book?
Yes—categorically. Romance.io rates the spice level 4 out of 5, classifying it as “Explicit open door.” The site’s overall reader rating sits at 4.1/5 stars. This places it firmly in the “high spice” category for contemporary romance, above the typical sweet romance but below dark or explicit-only titles.
Spice level details
Reviewers consistently mention “plenty of spice” alongside emotional depth. One Book Club Chat reviewer describes it as “much more than just a spicy book, which there is plenty of spice.” The explicit scenes contribute to the emotional narrative rather than replacing it—Fortune balances physical attraction with personal growth themes.
Comparison to other books
Compared to Fortune’s previous work, This Summer Will Be Different escalates the heat. The “siblings-bff” trope (forbidden by friendship circle rather than blood relation) combined with recurring summer visits creates natural tension that the explicit content amplifies. Readers seeking her previous sweet-romance style may find this a step hotter.
If explicit content is a dealbreaker for your book club or reading goal, this one needs a content warning. The 4/5 rating means on-page intimate scenes are frequent and descriptive.
Is This Summer Will Be Different a part of a series?
This Summer Will Be Different functions as a standalone novel. No sequels or companion books have been announced as of this writing. However, the Netflix adaptation news adds an interesting wrinkle: development deals sometimes spawn expanded content, so future books or a series adaptation could emerge.
Standalone or series
Currently, the book stands alone. The story wraps Lucy’s arc completely without obvious sequel bait. Fortune writes in the contemporary romance space where standalones are common, and this title follows that pattern.
Connections to other works
While not a sequel, the novel shares Fortune’s established territory: PEI settings, summer romance aesthetics, and emotionally complex protagonists. Readers familiar with Every Summer After will notice the atmospheric similarities and her characteristic blend of intimacy and personal growth.
A standalone means a complete story—satisfying if you’re not looking for commitment to a multi-book arc, but potentially disappointing if you finish wanting more Lucy and Felix.
Is This Summer Will Be Different worth reading?
For romance readers who enjoy the forbidden-attraction trope with substantial heat, the consensus is positive. Pretty Little Memoirs awarded it 5 stars, calling it “breathtakingly beautiful, a summer dream where romance blossoms on every page.” Read and Wright’s reviewer declared it “pure Summer Romance wonder” with specific praise for Lucy, Felix, and the PEI setting.
Pros and cons
Upsides
- Vivid PEI setting with sensory details (beach walks, oysters, wine)
- Strong chemistry between Lucy and Felix drives the narrative
- Emotional depth alongside physical attraction
- Standalone story with complete arc
- Popular enough for TV adaptation investment
- #1 New York Times bestselling author
Downsides
- Spice level too high for “sweet romance” readers
- Some readers find the “forbidden love” reasoning weak (Bossy Bookworm critique)
- Family crisis subplot frustration reported in reviews
- No sequel content if you want more of Lucy and Felix
Reader reviews
With 41.3k+ Goodreads reviews, the book has reached significant readership. Most praise centers on atmosphere, character chemistry, and Fortune’s writing style. Criticism clusters around plot logic in the friendship-boundary conflict and pacing in the second half. No book satisfies everyone, but the majority consensus skews positive.
“Some of my happiest memories are on this gorgeous crescent of green land. Some of my biggest mistakes too. But I won’t repeat them. Not this time. For once, this summer will be different.”
— Lucy (narrator), page 31, via Flowering Pages
“This book was pure Summer Romance wonder. I loved Lucy, I loved PEI, I LOVED Felix.”
— Book blogger review, via Read and Wright
Related reading: Love Island USA Season 7 Cast · Kafka on the Shore explained
Carley Fortune’s This Summer Will Be Different, starring Lucy’s forbidden PEI romance, gains further depth through this essential overview and analysis that echoes our spicy review highlights.
Frequently asked questions
What is the setting of This Summer Will Be Different?
Prince Edward Island, Canada. The novel features detailed depictions of PEI’s coastal landscapes—red cliffs, beach walks, and local cuisine like fresh oysters and vinho verde.
Who are the main characters in This Summer Will Be Different?
Lucy (narrator, a twentysomething Toronto tourist), Felix (her best friend Bridget’s younger brother and local PEI resident), and Bridget (Lucy’s best friend whose family connection makes the romance complicated).
Is there a TV adaptation of This Summer Will Be Different?
Yes, Netflix has announced the book is in development for a TV series. Specific release timeline and casting have not been confirmed.
What do Goodreads reviews say about This Summer Will Be Different?
With over 41.3k reviews on Goodreads, the book averages well above 4 stars. Praise focuses on atmosphere and character chemistry; criticism targets plot logic in the romance’s forbidden-element justification.
How does This Summer Will Be Different connect to Carley Fortune’s other books?
It shares Fortune’s signature PEI summer settings and emotionally intimate style but features entirely new characters. You don’t need to read Every Summer After first.
What is the 5 finger rule for deciding on books like this?
A common reader tool: flip to a random page and hold up fingers for each intimate scene you encounter. Five fingers means the book has significant spice content appropriate for those seeking it, while fewer fingers indicates a milder heat level.
What is the 50 page rule for reading This Summer Will Be Different?
The 50-page rule suggests that if a book’s style, pacing, or content hasn’t engaged you by page 50, it’s reasonable to set it down and try something else. Given the novel’s established fanbase and positive reviews, most readers find engagement well before this point.
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