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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
anne_reader's review against another edition
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
markedwithanm's review
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Pregnancy and Fire/Fire injury
lsmith725's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'm happy to say that I enjoyed this a great deal. As for the romance, it was steamy but well developed and believable. The dual timeline was done well and definitely necessary for the story. The connections between past and present were revealed at a good pace. This has Dirty Dancing references due to the lake resort setting, which I thought was lovely and nostalgic. There are really no complaints here except for the 3rd act relationship drama was a bit underwhelming. It was fitting, though, because it wasn't a major rift; that wouldn't have been believable because the characters were already so invested in each other. Similar vibes to Every Summer After with just a touch less suspense, so if you enjoyed that, I'd recommend this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Grief
Minor: Car accident, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
velsbooknook's review
emotional
lighthearted
5.0
I loved this one! The perfect summer read, following Fern in past and present. 10 years ago she spent a day with Will, taking a whole day adventuring through Toronto. Now 10 years later their paths finally cross again and both have some feelings to sort through.
I enjoyed both characters of Fern and Will and the way they met and how they meet again. I loved to follow their story in past and present and meeting all the side characters along the way. I also always love to see a mental health representation and I could definitely feel with the characters.
The setting of the family-run resort at a lake in Canada + Dirty Dancing vibes was so beautiful it makes me want to plan a lake trip asap!
I know that every romance book needs a little drama but I'm glad this one was not too full of it. Besides being a romance, family also played a big role. I loved Fern's mother's letters and getting to know about their relationship but also about her mother's romantical life.
The aspects of motherhood were very beautiful and the author's note at the end made me a little emotional. It made me appreciate the book even more.
After finishing the book I read some mixed reviews but the story worked very well for me and it is one of my favourite summer reads of 2023.
I enjoyed both characters of Fern and Will and the way they met and how they meet again. I loved to follow their story in past and present and meeting all the side characters along the way. I also always love to see a mental health representation and I could definitely feel with the characters.
The setting of the family-run resort at a lake in Canada + Dirty Dancing vibes was so beautiful it makes me want to plan a lake trip asap!
I know that every romance book needs a little drama but I'm glad this one was not too full of it. Besides being a romance, family also played a big role. I loved Fern's mother's letters and getting to know about their relationship but also about her mother's romantical life.
The aspects of motherhood were very beautiful and the author's note at the end made me a little emotional. It made me appreciate the book even more.
After finishing the book I read some mixed reviews but the story worked very well for me and it is one of my favourite summer reads of 2023.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Mental illness, and Death of parent
jessk4's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
machenn's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
hannahmichele5's review
emotional
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Mental illness
nikimorr's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I liked the storyline of this book most of all. One special day turning into something so much bigger. I also loved the setting of this book - both the resort on a lake and the bustling city. However, something felt like it was missing. I didn’t adore the characters. To keep the mystery, not much was known about the characters’ pasts until the end, which left me with a lack of connection with and understanding of the characters. The ending was a bit rushed feeling of finding out about each character and concluding.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Abandonment and Fire/Fire injury
kelly_e's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Title: Meet Me at the Lake
Author: Carley Fortune
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: May 2, 2023
T H R E E • W O R D S
Warm • Wistful • Pleasant
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Fern Brookbanks has wasted far too much of her adult life thinking about Will Baxter. She spent just twenty-four hours 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.
💭 T H O U G H T S
After reading (and absolutely adoring) Every Summer After last year, Meet Me at the Lake easily became one of my 2023 most anticipated releases. Carley's quintessential Canadian summer settings are unlike anything else, and I could easily read her books all day long.
Carley Fortune has a unique gift of transporting me into her rustic settings and into her characters lives. Well-written in a dual timeline format, it follows Fern and Will in both Toronto and Canadian cottage country known as Muskoka. Throughout the narrative there are some comical quips about Toronto that felt like inside jokes, and the many Canadian references made this book feel like home. The resort setting came across so welcoming and idyllic, possibly because I could envision it so well.
While I didn't necessarily enjoy the lack of communication and thought there was going to be more of a love-triangle angle, I connected with Fern is a variety of ways. Will and Fern's second chance love story was riddled with past traumas and at times it detracted from the narrative. Yes, I loved the inclusion of Will's journey with post-partum OCD/anxiety and depression and Carley's explanation as to why she included it. But there were other aspects that felt overly drawn out.
And then there was the supporting cast - Jamie, Maggie, Peter, Whitney- I loved them all (more than the main characters)! I'd love for any of them to get their own book sometime down the road. The underlying theme of love between mother and daughter held my interest, as did reading about Peter and Maggie's unique love story. And parts of me were secretly hoping Fern and Jamie would end up together.
While I didn't love this one as much as this author's debut, mainly due to personal preferences, I am still glad to have read it, and will continue to pick up everything Carley Fortune writes in the future. This is sure to be a summer hit!
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers looking for a summer read
• fans of the second-chance romance trope
• anyone needing an escape
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Let me tell you something about me: I am extremely picky about people. Most of them, I don't particularly like. I have very high standards for the ones I let into my life these days. And you, Will Baxter, are my favorite of all of them."
Author: Carley Fortune
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: May 2, 2023
T H R E E • W O R D S
Warm • Wistful • Pleasant
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Fern Brookbanks has wasted far too much of her adult life thinking about Will Baxter. She spent just twenty-four hours 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.
💭 T H O U G H T S
After reading (and absolutely adoring) Every Summer After last year, Meet Me at the Lake easily became one of my 2023 most anticipated releases. Carley's quintessential Canadian summer settings are unlike anything else, and I could easily read her books all day long.
Carley Fortune has a unique gift of transporting me into her rustic settings and into her characters lives. Well-written in a dual timeline format, it follows Fern and Will in both Toronto and Canadian cottage country known as Muskoka. Throughout the narrative there are some comical quips about Toronto that felt like inside jokes, and the many Canadian references made this book feel like home. The resort setting came across so welcoming and idyllic, possibly because I could envision it so well.
While I didn't necessarily enjoy the lack of communication and thought there was going to be more of a love-triangle angle, I connected with Fern is a variety of ways. Will and Fern's second chance love story was riddled with past traumas and at times it detracted from the narrative. Yes, I loved the inclusion of Will's journey with post-partum OCD/anxiety and depression and Carley's explanation as to why she included it. But there were other aspects that felt overly drawn out.
And then there was the supporting cast - Jamie, Maggie, Peter, Whitney- I loved them all (more than the main characters)! I'd love for any of them to get their own book sometime down the road. The underlying theme of love between mother and daughter held my interest, as did reading about Peter and Maggie's unique love story. And parts of me were secretly hoping Fern and Jamie would end up together.
While I didn't love this one as much as this author's debut, mainly due to personal preferences, I am still glad to have read it, and will continue to pick up everything Carley Fortune writes in the future. This is sure to be a summer hit!
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers looking for a summer read
• fans of the second-chance romance trope
• anyone needing an escape
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Let me tell you something about me: I am extremely picky about people. Most of them, I don't particularly like. I have very high standards for the ones I let into my life these days. And you, Will Baxter, are my favorite of all of them."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Sexual content, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Car accident
Minor: Drug use, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Alcohol, Grief, and Cursing
OCD, depression, divorce