A review by meredith_williams_
Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Carley Fortune’s books tend to get a lot of hype as the blueprint for summer romance reads. Both of her books, while enjoyable, have fallen flat for me. Her second book, Meet Me at the Lake, is told through a dual timeline in which adult Fern reconnects with Will, a boy she spent 24 hours with 10 years prior. This is an incredibly romantic set up, but insanely unbelievable in the digital age. Fern and Will’s romantic connection and subsequent decade of pining might have been more believable if they’d spent at least a weekend together! I enjoyed Fern reconnecting with her family’s past and thought the author did a good job representing the change in dreams and ambitions that come with growing up. However, it bugged me that Will’s character seemed to have very little growth in regards to his communication. I didn’t like that everything fell on Fern when it came to their relationship. Overall, this is a nice summer read, but wouldn’t make a favorites list for me personally. 
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