One Golden SummerOne Golden Summer
What it's about
When Alice was seventeen, she spent one summer at her grandmother's cottage on a lake in Ontario. There she took a photo of three teenagers in a yellow speedboat that launched her career as a photographer. Now, years later, she's stuck in a rut, and when her grandmother breaks her hip, Alice talks her into spending another summer at the lake. There she reconnects with one of the boys from that photo, and with the life she might have had.
Why it's worth reading
It spent more than twenty weeks on the New York Times lists and was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It's a nostalgic, sunny love story, the kind of book people read on the dock.
You'll love it if you liked
Just for the Summer
Funny Story
Me Before YouGood to know
It moves between Alice's teenage summer and the present. It includes some sexual content.
By the numbers
- Readers80 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller63 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz26 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
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Quick answers
Is One Golden Summer worth reading?
Yes. It spent more than twenty weeks on the New York Times lists and was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It ranks #436 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 79.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is One Golden Summer about?
When Alice was seventeen, she spent one summer at her grandmother's cottage on a lake in Ontario. There she took a photo of three teenagers in a yellow speedboat that launched her career as a photographer. Now, years later, she's stuck in a rut, and when her grandmother breaks her hip, Alice talks her into spending another summer at the lake. There she reconnects with one of the boys from that photo, and with the life she might have had.
How long does it take to read One Golden Summer?
About 8 hours (336 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after One Golden Summer?
If you liked it, try Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez, Funny Story by Emily Henry or Me Before You by Jojo Moyes.