Book Review: Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune

 

Pages: 432

Genre: Romance

Pub. Date: May 5, 2026

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: Every Summer After, 

Meet Me at the Lake, One Golden Summer, 

and This Summer Will Be Different 

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Best friends have one week in paradise to fix their friendship or fall apart in this heart-stopping, utterly romantic new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After and One Golden Summer.

Frankie and George have been best friends since they were eight years old. Both passionate, impulsive, and headstrong—they’ve always clashed . . . and come back together. Until now. It’s the eve of Frankie’s wedding weekend, and she doesn’t know where they stand or even if George will show up as her best man.

Then, at the start of the festivities, in walks George. For one glorious evening, surrounded by her loved ones, Frankie’s life is finally perfect. But it all comes crashing down when her fiancé dumps her the next morning, leaving only a note as an explanation.

Crushed and confused, Frankie returns to her family’s home to wallow. But George has a different idea and a plan for healing Frankie’s broken heart. He wants her to go on her honeymoon. With him. For one week, to the lush rainforests and misty beaches of Tofino.

Frankie agrees, seeing the trip for what it really is: one last chance to repair their friendship. Even if it means unearthing secrets and long buried feelings neither knows how to handle. Even if it means falling apart for good."

 

 

Frankie Gardiner and George St. James have been best friends ever since George moved into the creepy house next door to the Gardiners. George came to live with his eccentric grandmother, and once Frankie and George met, they have been inseparable ever since. As they grew up together, survived childhood, the awkward young adult years, and then even lived together platonically in their twenties, they shared all the ups and downs that come with life and never really crossed the line into something more. As the years go by and George pursues his dream as a journalist, their paths cross less and less due to the demands of life and careers that require travel. Frankie gets engaged to Nate, an older professor, but this irritates George as he doesn't think it's a good fit, and a big fight ensues. Things never were the same for them after this, but George has promised to be Frankie's best man, so when the time comes, he shows up for the wedding. However, the wedding doesn't go as planned. Out of the blue, Nate leaves Frankie and cancels the wedding after delivering a letter, which offers her little to no closure. Frankie is obviously gutted, and as time goes by, her friends convince her to take the honeymoon anyway to Torfino, in British Columbia, and take George along. Hopefully, this time together will not only repair their friendship but also her heart. Plus, who wants to waste an amazing vacation? The more time Frankie and George spend together connecting, the more time Frankie realizes that maybe there is something more there with them than just a strong friendship. Do they really want to cross the line? Carley Fortune's Our Perfect Storm is an emotional beach read with a gorgeous setting; fans of Fortune won't be disappointed.
 
I adored Frankie from the start of Our Perfect Storm; she is feisty, headstrong, and relatable. George is everything readers could want in a leading man and a best friend. I adored their friendship, and Fortune really develops it by taking readers back through the use of flashbacks to their childhood, teen years, and more. It really painted a picture of their friendship and how it evolved, so when the story came back to the present, their relationship was even more clear. I also really appreciated all the allusions and references to Little Women, as Frankie and George both love the classic story.
 
The transition from friends to a romantic relationship in Our Perfect Storm was executed beautifully, filled with intense emotions. I found myself questioning whether they would end up together and rooting for them all along, as their chemistry was evident from the beginning. Additionally, the stunning setting of Tofino on Vancouver Island made me want to book a trip there immediately. The coastal backdrop definitely contributed to the novel's summery feel, making Our Perfect Storm a perfect choice for a beach read.
 
So, in the comments below, let me know if you are a fan of Carley Fortune and if you'll be adding Our Perfect Storm to your summer TBR list.