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jelkebooks's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
You know what, for most of this book I did quite like this book. It wasn't anything too special, but I did quite like the resort setting. I thought it was just a fun location radiating the summer vibes, and I loved the cast of side characters making up this place. On top of that I also really liked our main character's, Fern, personal journey throughout the book. Her difficult relationship with her mom was really interesting, because despite it being difficult it was full of love. Typically when books center a difficult relationship with a parent, love is typically hard to find. Add to that that her mom died a couple of months before the start of the novel, and now she has to decide to sell or take over the resort that was her mother's everything but she spend her entire life running away from, and you've got such an interesting and complex story. It legit made me tear up a few times.
The romance was fine enough as well for the most part. I just wanted a little more from it. I did like the switches between past and present, and despite them only spending one day together in the past, I do really feel like the author did a great job developing that deeper connection between them at the time. I just wish it didn't get this close to cheating though. However, in the present we are constantly told about how much the two of them have changed, but we barely get them getting to know each other again. Most of the time they hang out after they get together they are just having sex. I just missed that deeper connection from the past there. Especially on Will's side. He kept Fern at such a distance, in my opinion. It kept me from getting fully invested.
Then we get to the third act conflict though, and this book had my blood boiling. It just showcased how absolutely emotionally constipated Will is. His sister is the one to open up to Fern, not him. It just gave me such a massive ick. The way he also just runs feels like such a massive red flag, and I truly don't believe that man will stick around at the next small inconvience. I also feel like some parts about it are just really poorly handled. I won't go in depth about it to avoid spoilers, just know Will is a massive manbaby and I truly think these two are better of apart. It left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth towards the romance.
The romance was fine enough as well for the most part. I just wanted a little more from it. I did like the switches between past and present, and despite them only spending one day together in the past, I do really feel like the author did a great job developing that deeper connection between them at the time. I just wish it didn't get this close to cheating though. However, in the present we are constantly told about how much the two of them have changed, but we barely get them getting to know each other again. Most of the time they hang out after they get together they are just having sex. I just missed that deeper connection from the past there. Especially on Will's side. He kept Fern at such a distance, in my opinion. It kept me from getting fully invested.
Then we get to the third act conflict though, and this book had my blood boiling. It just showcased how absolutely emotionally constipated Will is. His sister is the one to open up to Fern, not him. It just gave me such a massive ick. The way he also just runs feels like such a massive red flag, and I truly don't believe that man will stick around at the next small inconvience. I also feel like some parts about it are just really poorly handled. I won't go in depth about it to avoid spoilers, just know Will is a massive manbaby and I truly think these two are better of apart. It left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth towards the romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Abandonment
sjexley's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Summer vibes, with a second chance romance and very sweet mother-daughter relationship. As young college kids, Fern and Will have a meet cute and end up spending one perfect day together...except each of them are in a relationship with someone else. They make a promise to meet up on the same day, one year later...but Will doesn't show. Now it's 9 years later and Fern has a lot of big decisions to make. This was a perfect beach read, and I didn't mind all the character's flaws bc it felt more realistic to me.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent and Grief
imds's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Abandonment, Car accident, Death of parent, Grief, and Pregnancy
rachelh92's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
theverycraftyvegan's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A very cute book! I loved learning more and more about Fern’s relationship with her mother, and learning more about her mother’s past, as the book went on. And even though Will finally opening up and letting Fern in only happened because of his sister, it was a wonderful way of resolving Fern and Will’s communication breakdown.
Just a little bit of spice but a lot of pining and love.
Just a little bit of spice but a lot of pining and love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Drug use, and Grief
Minor: Pregnancy
mariah_g's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Domestic abuse, Car accident, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
lilhappyhermit's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The emotions this book elicited from me caught me off guard in the best way possible. I went into this with the impression that it was going to be a second chance, right person/wrong time, romance but when I tell you I was in TEARS at certain points in this book I mean it. It pulls at your heart strings and leaves you with this tender-hearted love for these characters and their journeys and how, inevitability, they are once again brought back together (even if it was 10 years "too late"). I had such a great time listening to this book and loved every second of Fern and Will's story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Mental illness and Pregnancy
Minor: Drug use
claudiashelf's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
❝ There’s nothing less appetizing than a man’s bare foot, ❞ ..... excuse me— ???
Meet Me at the Lake is a book with a beautifully designed cover art that perfectly complements the storyline. The story follows the journey of a couple who get a second chance at love, with the plot alternating between their past and present day.
As a reader, I found that the alternating storylines between the past and the present day can be confusing if the details are not provided. However, this is a popular style in the second-chance romance genre, and readers who enjoy easy summer romances will likely find this book delightful.
Personally, I found it hard to connect with the characters and their relationships, which unfortunately led to me losing interest reasonably early on. Despite this, I think the book has the potential to be a hit with readers who are looking for a light and easy summer read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
anne_reader's review
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Alcohol, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Grief, Death of parent, and Death