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