One Golden Summer

1. Alice takes a big leap, returning to Barry's Bay to support her Nan. Do you think her motivations were more about family duty, escaping her routine, or reconnecting with something lost? What would you have done in her shoes?

2. Charlie shows up in that yellow speedboat, just like in her photo from years ago. Did that moment feel like fate or a coincidence to you? How did that scene affect your view of their relationship?

3. Alice's a photographer who prefers to stay behind the lens. What does her work say about how she approaches life and love? Did that perspective shift over the summer?

4. Charlie is charming and playful, but he also carries his grief and history. How did learning about his family losses and health concerns shape your sympathy for him?

5. Nan isn't just a background figure. She's living her history and surprises us along the way. How did her relationship with Alice deepen the themes of legacy, memory, and female friendship?

6. The lake, the cottage, the summer sun - Carley Fortune leans into the setting. Did Barry's Bay feel like another main character? How would the story change if it were set somewhere else?

7. There's a contrast between who Alice was at seventeen and who she's become. Did the novel make you reflect on any of your turning-point summers? How does one summer shape a life?

8. At the heart is this question: What does it mean to see someone truly, and let yourself be seen? How did Alice and Charlie manage or struggle to listen, share vulnerabilities, and show themselves?

9. Romance isn't the only story here. What role do the secondary characters (like Sam, Percy, or other locals) play in opening up Alice and Charlie's world?

10. If you could rewrite the ending, what would you amplify or change? Was the conclusion satisfying, or do you wish there was more follow-through on specific threads?