Carley Fortune is an award-winning journalist and author. Most recently, she was the Executive Editor of Refinery29 Canada and has worked at some of Canada's top publications, including The Globe & Mail, Toronto Life and Chatelaine. She lives in Toronto with her husband and two sons. EVERY SUMMER AFTER is her first novel. Follow her on Instagram @carleyfortune.
My Person (2026) Téa Mutonji "In her searing debut novel, Tea Mutonji delivers an unflinching portrait of female friendship in all its ferocity and tenderness. Mutonji traces the bond between two young women whose relationship is as sustaining as it is suffocating, as loving as it is destructive. Visceral and impossible to shake, My Person announces an essential new voice in contemporary fiction."
The Good Parts (2026) Evann Normandin "I tore through The Good Parts until its last page rendered me speechless. This is a staggering portrait of the pain and glory of enduring love, and a story you won't soon forget."
Every Version of You (2026) Natalie Messier "If you like your love stories messy (and I really do), then you must read Natalie Messier's debut, Every Version of You. The characters are complicated, their decisions questionable, and their chemistry palpable. Natalie Messier is one of romance's rising stars."
The Jellyfish Problem (2026) Tessa Yang "Tessa Yang's The Jellyfish Problem is an utterly original debut. It's a gripping sea monster mystery, yet beneath the surface lies not only a terrifying jellyfish but a meditation on grief, community, and friendship."
Dolly All the Time (2026) Annabel Monaghan "Whenever I read Annabel Monaghan, I find myself basking in warmth, wit and wisdom. A luminous story of love, duty and the tension between the two, Dolly All the Time is so beautifully rendered that it's less like a novel and more like a place I never wanted to leave. This might be my new favorite!"
The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus (2025) Emma Knight "The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus is a spellbinding debut about friendship, motherhood, first love, and the choices that bind us. Emma Knight whisks us away to Scotland, where Penelope Winters navigates her first year at Edinburgh University while untangling a family mystery. I couldn't put it down!"
The Most Famous Girl in the World (2024) Iman Hariri-Kia "Reading The Most Famous Girl in the World is like riding a roller coaster through the dark. Iman Hariri-Kia takes readers on a thrilling, fast-paced adventure, where you know the twists are coming but you're not sure when they'll happen or what they'll entail. Iman's sophomore novel is incredibly fun and deliciously chaotic. I loved it and couldn't put it down!"
Six More Months of June (2024) Daisy Garrison "SIX MORE MONTHS OF JUNE is a spectacular debut from Daisy Garrison that perfectly captures the emotional highs and lows that come with the final days of high school. I was immediately pulled into Mina and Caplan's complex, beautifully rendered friendship, and I couldn't put it down. Gorgeous!"
How to End a Love Story (2024) Yulin Kuang "I was hooked on the very first page of How to End a Love Story, the absurdly delicious debut from Yulin Kuang. The chemistry between Helen and Grant is pure magic, as is Yulin's gorgeous writing. I need seven other books from her ASAP. Don't miss this one!"
Women of Good Fortune (2024) Sophie Wan "Sophie Wan's glittering debut, Women of Good Fortune, is a delightful romp inside an elite Shanghai wedding and the complicated women who are determined to stage a heist there."
The Other Side of Disappearing (2024) Kate Clayborn "You get everything with this book: the most tender of love stories, a complicated relationship between sisters, and an engrossing mystery you won't be able to put down."
Blank (2024) Zibby Owens "Zibby Owens is a tremendous champion for writers, and it's thrilling to see her own storytelling shine in this smart debut novel about marriage, motherhood, and finding your purpose. Blank is a romp through the publishing world and a delightful gift to book lovers."
Technically Yours (2023) Denise Williams "If, like me, you love second chances, banter that snaps, and steam that fogs up your windows, do yourself a favor and put Technically Yours on your TBR. You'll laugh, you'll swoon, and you'll root for Pearl and Cord's happy ending."
Seven Summers (2023) Paige Toon "With Seven Summers, Paige Toon breaks your heart then stitches it back together with expert hands. An emotional rollercoaster about second chances, grief and everlasting love, this book wrecked me in the best possible way."
The Wake-Up Call (2023) Beth O'Leary "Beth O'Leary can do no wrong! I've loved each and every one of her books, and The Wake-Up Call is yet another gorgeous, evocative romance. Beth has a gift for creating complicated, tender-hearted characters and dreamy, whimsical settings that you never want to leave behind. Put this on your TBR immediately."
Three Holidays and a Wedding (2023) Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley "Combines two budding romances, a massive snowstorm, unlikely friends, meddling family members, and one magical small-town for the most festive book you'll read this year."
Thank You for Sharing (2023) Rachel Runya Katz "Rachel Runya Katz's Thank You for Sharing is a magical love story. This is a poignant, sharp and sexy romance with the kind of complex, big-hearted characters and emotional honesty readers will adore. I loved it!"
Sunshine Nails (2023) Mai Nguyen "Sunshine Nails is a phenomenal debut from Mai Nguyen. This page-turning story about the Tran family's desperate attempts to keep their nail salon in business will have you rooting for them as often as you shake your head. It's a delightful romp, with keen social commentary and writing that simply sparkles. Put it on your summer reading list ASAP!"
Business or Pleasure (2023) Rachel Lynn Solomon "Rachel Lynn Solomon's Business or Pleasure is a total delight. It's sexy, smart, and so freaking fun - I couldn't stop smiling! As always, Rachel's characters are rendered with tremendous love and care. You will fall hard for Chandler and Finn."
The Whispers (2023) Ashley Audrain "No one understands the secret lives of women like Ashley Audrain. In her electrifying new novel, The Whispers, the unspoken fears, desires, and shame of four neighbours threaten the lives they've so carefully constructed. It's a razor-sharp page-turner. Masterful!"
Talking at Night (2023) Claire Daverley "I absolutely adored Talking at Night - it should be on everyone's must-read list. Beautiful, poignant and heart-wrenching."
Once More with Feeling (2023) Elissa Sussman "I'm a huge admirer of Elissa Sussman. Once More with Feeling delivers a pitch-perfect second chance romance with off-the-charts tension and chemistry. Elissa's deep love of pop culture and the arts makes every page sparkle."
On Fire Island (2023) (Fire Island Trilogy, book 1) Jane L Rosen "I can't stop thinking about On Fire Island, Jane L. Rosen's dazzling story of enduring love, gut-wrenching loss and unlikely friendships. I read it with an enormous smile on my face and tears in my eyes--it's as funny as it is poignant, nostalgic as it is sharp. A beautiful tribute to the summers of our past and to Fire Island. Unforgettable!"
Mrs. Nash's Ashes (2023) Sarah Adler "Sarah Adler nails the ultimate rom-com alchemy with her sparkling debut, Mrs. Nash's Ashes. Full of zippy banter, gorgeous prose and tender-hearted characters who give the novel a deep, emotional core, it's a complete delight."
The One That Got Away (2023) Charlotte Rixon "Charlotte Rixon's The One That Got Away is the kind of book I'm always searching for. It's a stunning love story that had my heart racing from the first chapter and tears streaming down my face by the end. An instant favorite."
