From the publisher:
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.NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2026 BY THE NEW YORK TIMES, TODAY, WOMAN’S WORLD, TOWN & COUNTRY, BRITT & CO., AND MORE!
“A powerfully strong romance for readers who like their love stories full of torment and passion.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“A tender tale about childhood friendship blooming into more…readers will be charmed.” ―Publishers Weekly
https://bookshop.org/a/123058/9780593953242
Frankie and George have been best friends since childhood, but over the years they’ve slowly drifted apart—so much so that Frankie isn’t even sure George will show up to her wedding as her best man.
What always impresses me about Carley Fortune’s writing is how vividly she brings her settings to life. Her locations never feel like simple backdrops; they feel like characters in their own right. This book is no exception. Tofino is rendered so beautifully that it immediately made me want to book a trip there myself. The misty beaches, lush rainforest, moody weather, and endless ocean views give the story a calming, romantic atmosphere while also reflecting Frankie’s grief and emotional uncertainty. The setting becomes a place of healing, reckoning, and quiet transformation.
I also loved the friendship at the heart of this story. The friends-to-lovers romance worked so well for me, even with the heavy dose of miscommunication along the way. When Frankie’s fiancé leaves her with nothing but a goodbye note, everything in her life suddenly unravels. Lost and unsure of what comes next, she returns to her parents’ house with no plan and a broken heart.
But George refuses to let her go through it alone. Instead, he convinces her to take the honeymoon trip to Tofino with him, hoping the getaway will help her heal while also repairing their fractured friendship. Of course, spending a week alone together in one of the most beautiful places on earth forces all the feelings they’ve avoided for years to finally surface.
The pacing worked beautifully for me, and the quieter details—the whales, the family dynamics, the therapy thread, and the introspective tone—added so much richness. What makes this romance especially compelling is how grounded and emotionally honest it feels. Frankie and George are deeply flawed people carrying years of grief, hurt, and unresolved trauma. Their connection feels intimate in the way only lifelong friendships can: built on shared history, inside jokes, and an understanding that doesn’t need to be explained. The chemistry between them is rooted in familiarity and longing rather than fantasy, and the yearning absolutely wrecked me.
I also appreciated how thoughtfully the book explores the messiness of adulthood. It dives into complicated family dynamics, grief, burnout, career disappointments, and the uncertainty of reaching your 30s without the life you once imagined. Frankie and George are far from perfect, and that’s exactly what makes them feel so real—and why it’s impossible not to root for them.
The overall plot may feel somewhat predictable, but the emotional journey is what truly makes the story shine. We slowly learn how Frankie and George first met as children, both carrying their own sadness because of difficult family circumstances. George had recently lost his mother, and his grieving father sent him away to live with his grandmother. Watching Frankie and George reconnect through memories, heartbreak, and healing was incredibly satisfying. From the very first dance they share, there’s an undeniable sense that these two people belong together.
And thankfully, despite the setup, there’s no cheating involved. This romance feels comforting, heartfelt, and emotionally satisfying from beginning to end. I flew through it—the pacing worked perfectly for me. A beautifully atmospheric friends-to-lovers story filled with emotional honesty, slow-burn yearning, and the magic of a setting that feels alive. Another terrific read from one of my favorite authors.
Bonus: Read this article about Ms. Fortune’s writing journey
5/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
OUR PERFECT STORM by Carley Fortune. Berkley (May 5, 2026). ISBN: 978-0593953242. 432p.
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