Picture a Canadian storyteller who traded newsrooms for nostalgic lakeside romances—meet Carley Fortune! This award-winning journalist turned romance novelist captured hearts with her 2022 debut, Every Summer After, a tale of love, loss, and second chances that feels like a sun-soaked escape. From her roots in rural Ontario to her rise as a #1 New York Times bestselling author, Fortune’s journey is as compelling as her stories.
The Making of Carley Fortune
Born in Toronto, Carley Fortune spent her childhood split between the suburbs of Sydney, Australia, and Barry’s Bay, a tiny lakeside town in Ontario that later inspired her novels. Her early love for creative writing simmered beneath a 16-year journalism career, where she honed her craft as an editor at top Canadian publications like The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, and Toronto Life. As Executive Editor of Refinery29 Canada, she shaped stories for millennial women but grew frustrated with corporate life. A particularly awful 2020 work call became the catalyst for change—she quit, dove into her diaries, and began writing fiction, rediscovering her creative spark.
Carley Fortune’s Unforgettable Stories
Fortune’s novels are heartfelt contemporary romances that blend nostalgia, emotional depth, and vivid settings. Her debut, Every Summer After (2022), follows Persephone and Sam, childhood friends turned lovers, whose story unfolds over six summers in Barry’s Bay. Readers swooned over its evocative prose and second-chance romance, propelling it to bestseller status. Meet Me at the Lake (2023) explores Fern and Will’s fleeting connection at a Muskoka resort, tackling mental health and family ties; it caught the eye of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who optioned it for Netflix. This Summer Will Be Different (2024), set in Prince Edward Island, weaves lust, friendship, and steamy oyster-shucking scenes inspired by a real trip Fortune took. Her upcoming fourth novel, One Golden Summer (May 2025), returns to Barry’s Bay, promising more lakeside magic. Fortune’s journalistic precision shines in her concise, emotive style, while her focus on female relationships and personal growth elevates her romances beyond the genre’s tropes.
Why Carley Fortune Matters
Carley Fortune has redefined contemporary romance by infusing it with raw emotional honesty and relatable themes. Her books resonate with readers craving escapist yet grounded stories, earning her a devoted following on BookTok, where Every Summer After has over 81 million hashtag views. By championing women’s stories—romantic, platonic, and personal—she challenges the genre’s stereotypes, proving romance is both art and heart. Her transition from journalism to fiction inspires aspiring authors, showing that it’s never too late to chase creative dreams. With over two million copies sold worldwide, Fortune’s impact is undeniable, and her star continues to rise.
About Carley Fortune
- Born: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Key Works: Every Summer After (2022), Meet Me at the Lake (2023), This Summer Will Be Different (2024), One Golden Summer (2025)
- Awards: Former award-winning journalist
- Fun Fact: Lives in Toronto with her husband and two sons
Ready to fall in love with Carley Fortune’s world? Snag Every Summer After and dive into her nostalgic, heart-tugging romance!