Meet Me At The Lake By Carley Fortune

This one was so much better than her first book (in my opinion) – I felt like the book was better written, the characters were more likable and relatable and the writing style had improved for sure! I almost didn’t get this book because I didn’t care for the first one, but this one changed my mind about this author.

The story is a bit predictable, the reader figures out most of what is going to happen pretty quickly, but there are a few surprises thrown in for them throughout the book. The story does flow quickly and the reader can’t help but zoom through the pages as they don’t want the story to end, but they also need to know what is going to happen…it’s a hard decision to make for the reader to read it all in one sitting or to stop reading it and take their time.

This one is more “the book of summer” than her previous book – for me anyway – add this one to your TBR list and move it to the top, it’s worth the read!

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 😉 ).

I’m so glad I found this book , such a great storyline with lots of twists and turns. I will definitely be looking for more books by Carley.

I loved it, it looked so real.
The plot was si nice !
Thanks for this !
I need more I was hoping something and I found better

A great book to escape with a magical resort and city background. Two characters who are destined to be together but take a tough journey to get there. Enjoy!

I read Every Summer After in 2022 and loved it so much – counted down the days until meet me by the lake would come out – and Carley kept her promise to write an amazing 2nd novel! great love story! she was able to capture the little details and challenges that we encounter when we grow up and the humanness in her characters. Personally I love writing just as much as reading good novels – and Carley is one of my biggest inspirations. Thank you for this book, I can’t wait for the next one!