Meet Me at the Lake

4.75 stars Meet Me at the Lake is the latest release from Carley Fortune, and an absolute winner for me! I was immediately drawn into this story and could hardly put it down. I found it utterly engaging and what I wanted. Fern and Will meet early in their twenties when they are both trying to find their own path in life. Both are tasked with a heavy sense of obligation to family, but have aspirations of their own. They spend 24 hours together touring the town and there is a click of recognition, a spark that ignites unlike any before. But life takes them in different directions and they promise to meet up in one year. Fast-forward ten years, life has not been easy for either one, as is often the case, and they are thrust back into one another’s lives. After the unexpected death of Fern’s mother, she comes back home to take over the family resort, not her first choice, and in walks Will…a decade late. He’s there with the purpose of helping the resort thrive and get back on it’s financial feet, and though the two resurrect their relationship, Will is still battling his own demons. The two have a lot to sort through, but Will is slow to open up. In a way, this is a coming of age story. It’s about discovering what you really want and how to balance your own needs with those of others. The romance felt authentic and fraught with real life struggles. There is a weightiness to this story, and layers that make it feel realistic and believable. It’s a thoughtful, feel-good story, and though it’s steamier than I’d prefer, it’s beautifully heart-warming. I’ve loved both of this author’s books and look forward to whatever she writes next. (And you can’t beat her gorgeous covers!)

It took me awhile to get into this book, but it was a decent read, It just didn't have great content to keep me interested to keep wanting to pick it up and read so it took me awhile to finish this one.

3 stars Do you ever feel bad for the author when writing a less than perfect review? Because that’s how I feel right now especially after having read the author’s notes in which Carley explains that she really struggled to write this one. But I swore to always be honest in my reviews so here we go, no matter what. Is that book bad? No. There are plenty of things that I loved like: -The set of side characters. From Fern’s best friend looking like an overenthusiastic puppy to the Roses, the old eccentric guests making cocktails, to Peter’s solid and discreet presence, they all helped me see that world, make it real. -The setting. A resort alongside a Canadian lake. I could see myself swimming or hiring a canoe. I heard the birds in the trees, saw the dining room with guests etc. It felt like being on holiday. -The pacing. It was just right for the story. We switch between past, when Fern met Will and now, ten years later. It was steady, not too fast nor too slow and fitting to have the story unfurl slowly, recounting past events and present traumas. -The meet cute. Fern and Will’s day in the city ten years ago was the perfect romantic meet. It felt like a bubble in time where everything is ripe with possibilities. Will was the promising and handsome artist, Fern was prickly and undecided yet about her future. Both on the brink of a new life. -Fern. I think Carley Fortune wrote Fern very realistically. She is full of doubts, is looking for her path in life. Past Fern had her demons, understandably so and went through a wild phase. New Fern is more mature but still struggling after her mother’s death. She will grow a lot in the story. -The ending. Thank god we had these last 10 percent! That helped explain a lot about Will’s decision and had me feeling a smidge better. But I am a reader and reviewer very much driven by my emotions and feelings. And what I felt very often was extremely frustrated! I was angry with Will. He never showed up nine years ago and now that he is back, he gives no explanation, no excuses. And Fern chooses to go with it??? Sorry but if you don’t show up and you make a mistake, you GROVEL! You explain and hope it’s a fantastic explanation to beg for forgiveness. Not knowing what happened had me keeping Will at arm’s length. I didn’t trust him and didn’t warm up to him, even if he was kind of a baby whisperer. And I didn’t understand Fern in her decision to take a risk, knowing that her heart could be crushed again. Even if at the same time I admired her bravery. As a character driven reader, not liking Will really dampened my enjoyment and is the main reason for my low rating alongside the lack of groveling. What I would have liked to see more of was grief. Fern just lost her mom. We get passing mentions that she misses her mom and see her reading her diary but I think the story would have gained even more depth if we focused more on the grief stages. I don’t mean to make it a sob story or the core of the book but it was nearly brushed under the rug. Or at least, that’s how I experienced it. As you can see, that book has a lot of assets but also missed the mark for me. Does that mean that Carley Fortune is a “one book” author like she feared? Certainly not as she has proven that she can write. I just hope for her that her next story will “spill out” of her like Every Summer After did. Also, I haven’t looked at any review yet so I might be in the minority here. So go check other opinions (like I’ll do now 😉 ).

Read if you like: ⏳ Past and Present Timelines 💔 Love after Loss 💕 Soulmates 💃🏼 Dirty Dancing References “For so long, Will had been my what if guy.” Have you ever had that “what if” person in your life? What if I was single? What if they were single? What if distance wasn’t a problem? Whatever the what if, this book will likely take you back to those feelings and memories as you get to witness the what If guy come back into Fern’s life and see how the what if’s play out 10 years after their single life changing day together. I love the backstory of Fern and Will spending a magical day together and the depth of how they instantly fit even though timing was not in their favor. It truly felt like soulmates meeting at the absolutely wrong time for both of them which gave it so much more depth of emotion. I loved getting bits of their day throughout the book mixed with the present day. Seeing why that day would have left a lingering impact was so important as it brought the story together and showed how pivotal that day was for Fern taking control back of her life and deciding to live it. I loved the journal entries from Fern’s mom as well as this added such a rich depth to the emotions of the book that without it, would have been missing something special. The one point I cried in this book was during the review of Maggie’s journal and getting a better understanding for Patrick’s place in Fern’s life. Overall, this was such a well done book and I truly can’t wait for what Carley publishes next as I know I will be reading it! Thank you so much Berkley Romance!

This was a really cute, well thought out story. I loved the dual timeslines and the diary entries. I loved how their were two newfound families that merged into one. I really love the authors writing style and I think its so cool how the author narrates her own books

When I love a book (or anything, really) I cannot shut up about it. Enter: Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune. In her sophomore release, two characters meet by chance in Toronto and spend the day together, making plans to see each other again one year later. When Fern shows up and Will doesn't, she's left heartbroken and wondering what could have been — until he shows up 9 years later at the resort she's taken over from her mom. Meet Me at the Lake is equal parts funny and tender. I loved the way Fortune brought the characters to life, giving each of them quirks that complicated their relationship and, ironically, drew them together in the end. Both characters are loyal and committed to the things and people they love, and it's these characteristics that almost threaten their HEA. (Don't worry! You'll get one!) Fortune's descriptions are also worth mentioning, as she has some truly great one-liners that made me giggle alone in an empty room: "I don't know why I find his ankles so compelling. I'm like a Regency Era viscount hoping for a flash of flesh." (As a historical romance reader, I CACKLED) "'You are officially cut off,' I say, trying to act like it doesn't bother me that Will's ex is as hot as a Jonas brother wife.'" So far, I've posted all about this book on my socials, texted my friends about it and bought it as a birthday gift. I loved it so much that I'll probably read it again before the year is over. I bet if you give it a shot, you will too. This book is for anyone who loves: 👙 Vacation reads 🔥 Steamy open-door scenes ⛺ Summer camp resort / Dirty Dancing vibes 🗣️ Dual timelines, including a day-long, love-at-first-sight meet-cute 🎨 "A business dude with the soul of an artist" 💕 Mutual pining, second chance romance, and men in aprons (IYKYK) 💊 Mental health visibility 👑 A satisfying happily-ever-after Note: As a trigger warning, please be aware that this text has a storyline that includes grief, anxiety and an off-page death of a parent. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for allowing me the chance to read and provide an honest review of this book! I've posted this review on GoodReads and across my social platforms, as well as Amazon and B&N listings.

The joy, the hope. The death of dreams, desires, and the life you thought you’d lead. This read will linger long after the last page. You’ll be pondering not just Will and Fern or Peter and Maggie… but every relationship that means something to you (spoken, unspoken, denied, or buried).

I wanted to love this book. I so enjoyed One Golden Summer and Every Summer After. Truly loved them. But this book, the characters, I simply couldn't relate to. Graffiti, tattoos, chipped blue nail polish, bad attitudes of indifference and punk haircuts. Perhaps it's because I grew up in the 60's, but these characters were waste cases. And Annabelle used her brother badly. If you're going to get pregnant and have the baby, grow up and take responsibility. To make a brother take her in as a pseudo wife and raise his niece like his own child and brother feel responsible and guilty all the time is a crime. I didn't like any of the characters. You have to be invested in a character to get through a book. Out of respect for enjoying the books I mentioned at the start of this review , I stuck with it, but halfway through, skipped past the annoying diary entries. I gave the book three stars. I read a lot of books. This didn't cut it. For me.