Chatelaine Summer 2025

I’m writing this letter on May 22, when summer seems so tantalizingly close, yet so far away. (Earlier this week I wore mitts on my morning run.) The mercury has hit 20C in Toronto a handful of times so far this year, and those first few warm days always seem like a miracle after a long winter. And—trust me!—I know that our winters are way milder than those in most other parts of Canada. I grew up in Thunder Bay, which received a light dusting of snow this past Victoria Day weekend. One of the warmest days we’ve had so far coincided, happily, with the second-annual Chatelaine Wellness Retreat. The full-day event, hosted in partnership with the incontinence brand TENA, was held at Vettä Nordic Spa in Oro-Medonte, Ont. It…

Gazpacho PREP 10 MIN; TOTAL 20 MIN PLUS CHILLING TIME SERVES 4 Too hot to cook dinner? A cool bowlful of gazpacho is the perfect solution. When laid out with a few snacks, such as almonds and serrano ham, it truly feels like a guest-worthy meal—one that tastes even better if made ahead and chilled. Play with the amounts of shallot and vinegar if you prefer less bite to your soup, just don’t skimp on the olive oil. 680 g very ripe tomatoes, cores removed and roughly chopped½ large cucumber, peeled and roughly chopped1 small cubanelle pepper, deseeded and roughly chopped1 medium shallot, root removed and quartered1 garlic clove, smashed2 tsp Worcestershire sauce1 to 2 tsp white wine vinegar1 tsp saltPinch of cumin6 to 8 tbsp olive oil For serving Sliced cucumber…

Carley Fortune carleyfortune 41, TORONTO Like her sizzling summer romances set in cottage country, Carley Fortune’s style is fun, romantic and a little nostalgic—cool caftans, breezy white dresses, sweet puff-sleeved pieces and bold prints with a retro flair are all part of her repertoire. “There’s ‘Writer Carley’, who is at home working diligently on her books, and that involves a lot of exercise clothing and loungewear sets,” she says. “And then there’s ‘Author Carley’, who is doing public events, and the goal is to make myself and others smile.” This summer, Fortune is hitting the road on a multi-stop promo tour for One Golden Summer, her newly released fourth novel. “I think about what I’m wearing as a way of expressing the energy of the books—each one has a colour…

Widows and Orphans by Kate Hilton and Elizabeth Renzetti The murder of an anti-vaxx wellness influencer at a woo-woo self-actualization summit kicks off the second smart whodunnit in the Quill & Packet series. Journalist Cat Conway chases the story as her small-town news-paper careens toward closure and her narcissistic mother harbours a life-changing secret. (Out now) The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs After Marlene’s husband dies following a gruesome run-in with a garage door—leaving her with a life-changing insurance payout—her long-time friends Pam, Nancy and Shalista start plotting similar fates for their own husbands. Set aside any doubts you might have about the far-fetched plot and enjoy the wild ride of this twisty, hilarious novel. (Out now) Palm Meridian by Grace Flahive It’s the year 2067. After a terminal…

* Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell The romance scammer at the heart of this propulsive pageturner will make you deeply suspicious of anyone you—or your friends—ever date again. (June 24) * Consider Yourself Kissed by Jessica Stanley A simultaneously heart-wrenching and heartwarming novel about what happens when you put your own career aspirations aside to support your partner’s and raise a family. (Out now) * What Will People Think? by Sara Hamdan Mia works in media by day and—unbeknownst to her Palestinian-American grandparents, who raised her—as a comedian by night in this funny dual timeline novel about identity and family secrets. (Out now) * The Names by Florence Knapp A Sliding Doors-like exploration of the three alternative versions of the lives a mother and son can…

CREATED FOR I wasn’t even 30 years old when it happened. It was just another day in my late 20s as a mom of three and recently postpartum. We were reading books and singing songs on the floor, but then I went to get up and there it was—an unexpected gush. Panicked and confused, I ran to the bathroom to relieve whatever was left in my bladder. Fortunately for the toilet, there wasn’t much to empty. Unfortunately for my underwear, I leaked enough that I had to change into a fresh pair. I was a young mom who had given birth to three babies in five years, and at that point, I realized my age didn’t matter. Despite feeling strong, healthy and capable, it felt like my body was failing…