Last week it was really really hot overhere. I mean, the week started with 25 degrees but ended with 32 degrees on Sunday. You might understand that I was not in the mood for a super complicated fantasy story. I was looking for a lighthearted read where I didn’t have to use many brain cells for. Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune has been on my radar for a while now, but after my quite disappointing reading experience with Every Summer after, I was not sure whether I would like it. However, it sounded like the perfect book for that certain moment, so I decided to give it a go.

About the book

• Title: Meet Me at the Lake
• Author: Carley Fortune
• Publish date: May 2, 2023
• Publisher: Viking
• ISBN: 9780735243781
• Number of pages: 336
• Genre: Contemporary, Romance

In this breathtaking new novel from the #1 bestselling author of Every Summer After, a random connection sends two strangers on a daylong adventure where they make a promise one keeps and the other breaks, with life-changing effects.

Fern Brookbanks has wasted far too much of her adult life thinking about Will Baxter. She spent just twenty-four hours in her early twenties with the aggravatingly attractive, idealistic artist, a chance encounter that spiraled into a daylong adventure in Toronto. The timing was wrong, but their connection was undeniable: they shared every secret, every dream, and made a pact to meet one year later. Fern showed up. Will didn’t.

At thirty-two, Fern’s life doesn’t look at all how she once imagined it would. Instead of living in the city, Fern’s back home, running her mother’s Muskoka lakeside resort—something she vowed never to do. The place is in disarray, her ex-boyfriend’s the manager, and Fern doesn’t know where to begin.

She needs a plan—a lifeline. To her surprise, it comes in the form of Will, who arrives nine years too late, with a suitcase in tow and an offer to help on his lips. Will may be the only person who understands what Fern’s going through. But how could she possibly trust this expensive-suit wearing mirage who seems nothing like the young man she met all those years ago. Will is hiding something, and Fern’s not sure she wants to know what it is. 

But ten years ago, Will Baxter rescued Fern. Can she do the same for him?

My review

In all honesty, I really didn’t know what to expect from this book. I knew now that Fortune’s books don’t fit into the YA category, Something I’d expected it to be by the way it was put on the Dutch market. That’s probably what made me so disappointed. This time I was prepared, although Meet Me at the lake was again published by a YA publisher overhere. However, i was clever enough to read the English edition now. I expected this book to be a perfect summer read that was rippling along in quite a steady pace: not too fast, not too slow. I also expected to feel some emotional connection as to know the answer why Will has left Fern. Well, my expectations were kind of met.

This story is about Fern and Will who unexpectedly spent one day together ten years ago. Upon seperation, they promised to reunite the following year at Ferns family resort. Well, Fern was there while Will was not. Now, 10 years after their first encounter, Will all of a sudden stands in front of Fern at the reception desk. But why now? After Fern just lost her mom and has to decide what to do with the resort and her life in Torronto? And more important, why didn’t will appear on that June 14, 9 years ago? Fern really wants to know answers. However, fate decides that she and Will have to see eachother a lot during the summer. They couldn’t deny their attraction towards one another, could they?

We read this story from Ferns point of view. This way, we really get to know her. She’s a griefing woman who also needs to make some big live decisions. Will she run the resort that has been in the family for decades or will she stay in Torronto to chase her dreams of owning a coffee shop and sell the resort? There’s no denial in the fact that the resort needs major help since it’s financially struggling. In fact, it’s getting close to bankrupsy. That’s where Will comes in. He happens to be the consultant Ferns mom hired not long before she passed away. During their time together, Fern tries to stay away from Will as much as possible as he really broke her heart 9 years ago. However, their attraction is undeniable. In my opinion, they lacked chemistry though. I wasn’t quite on board with them being love interests. I wasn’t on board with Ferns speedy character growth either. She suddenly makes these big decisions and they all seem to happen in a split second. Fortunately, this has been excecuted better for Will’s character. He has had his fair share of problems as well in life, and contradictory to Fern, he needs much more time to grow and heal. However, the author excecuted both characters in such a way that you get to know them both properly for their story, although it’s just out of Ferns point of view.

Fortune’s writing style is accessible. It’s okay and easy to follow and therfore fits the contemporary romance genre perfectly. However, if you’re looking for a book with exquisite writing, this is not for you. It’s just how an easy summer read should be. I enjoyed the flashbacks till 10 and 9 years ago. This way we get to know the whole story. It also makes the book intriguing as you want to know what happened back then. Because, let’s be honest, the book needs this as the plot itsself is paper thin. This book feels more of a character driven book to me and that shows. The plot is just there for the characters, to let them have their moment of growth.

Looking back, Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune was an enjoyable read which i was able to finish quite quickly despite the heat. I didn’t have to think whilst reading and let’s face it, that was what I was seeking. For me, this book feels character driven. I think you get to know them properly, but Ferns character development feels a bit rushed to me. Will’s growth feels more natural as it’s happening more slowly. The plot was rippling along wit the vibe this book gives off, just like a slow summer day. Was that bad? No, absolutely not. I’m glad I knew what to expect now from books by this author as I was able to enjoy it more than her previous book. So, if you want to stay in the summer haze for a bit longer, this is the book you need.