3.5 stars for Bethany Chase’s One Night at the Lake!

Having read and enjoyed The One That Got Away by Chase a few years back, which I would said falls most solidly into the women’s fiction category, I was a bit surprised to see this one being billed as more of a thriller. But then again, authors change genres so I went in with an open mind - being a fan of both genres, I braced myself for either outcome. I will say, despite the marketing, I did feel this one was definitely more in the WF category - and I enjoyed it as such.

**semi related rant - One thing I’d love to see in the future from marketing departments is moving away from trying to hop on the thriller wagon because it’s a popular genre right now. There are TONS of fans of women’s fiction out there and they will love these books. Those who don’t read WF and expect a thriller are going to be disappointed, those who love women’s fiction but maybe are in the mood to be on the edge of their seat with tension will be frustrated and would maybe have chosen the book at a different time of mind**

Back to the book, while there were no big surprises here, Chase writes a wonderful story of friendship, love and multiple forms of heartbreak and heartache. Her characters are well fleshed out and jumped off the page - at times I wished I could be boating with them on Seneca Lake or cruising around on a jet ski. For fans of both women’s and domestic fiction, i think this one will be a hit. It’s a quick read that held my attention with dual POVs and was solid and enjoyable!

Thank you to Random House Ballantine for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

One Night at the Lake gives us alternating chapters told by Leah and June. Leah’s chapters take place seven years ago and tell us about a week spent at her boyfriend Ollie’s lake house with his family and her best friend June. ⁣
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June’s chapters take place in present day - when she’s back at the same lake house with her fiancé Ollie (yep, same guy) - returning for the first time since that trip 7 years ago when Leah died. We know this but don’t know what happened. ⁣
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I enjoyed most of the book - I was very drawn in and kept wanting to see what would happen and get back to it. However - I was disappointed with the ending. I think the structure of the story and the buildup had me expecting something different - something more perhaps. There was also a major subplot that was left unresolved.⁣
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Thank you very much to netgalley and the publisher for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest review.

Overall I enjoyed this book. My issue with it is that it appears to be a mystery/thriller and its really not. Its more of a women’s fiction story with a tragedy in it. There’s a little aspect of mystery and it feels a little thrilling at parts but overall, its not. I liked the way the book was written, alternating timelines and POV’s between two best friends. However, I was disappointed in the ending. I was expecting something more and it felt like a let down. I’m still giving it four stars because it was well written and I will definitely be looking for more from this author.

Well, this book was not for me. A small part of it might be that I have been in the mood lately for mystery and suspense. I knew this was not that type of book, but I feel like the synopsis suggests there is at least a hint of a mystery and there really wasn’t. It was more of a character-driven story about love and guilt and I found it repetitive and pretty boring.

I really hated almost every character in this book, especially the three main characters – Leah, June, and Ollie. The story is told through alternating first person POV by Leah and June. I found both of these women insufferable. I didn’t like or connect with either of them and it made the book very hard to get through. I liked Ollie until I didn’t. And once I didn’t, I really despised him. The great love story this book is supposed to have came off as a little scumbag-ish, to be honest, and I couldn’t get behind it.

Overall, One Night at the Lake just didn’t work for me. I find that if I’m going to find this type of story enjoyable, I either have to like the characters or love-to-hate them and neither are true here. I found them self-indulgent and annoying. However, I have read many great reviews on this one, so I’m obviously in the minority here. I am upping my rating from 1 star to 2 because there were occasionally some good banter.

Overall Rating (out of 5): 2 Stars

this was my first bethany chase book and i really liked it! i loved her writing style, the story and the character development. the build up was suspenseful and overall i just really enjoyed myself.

My Thoughts: Without giving anything away One Night at the Lake is about two women in love with the same man, but seven years apart in their relationships with him. The women also happen to be best friends, and one, Leah, died at the lake seven years ago. She tells the story from that time, and Lucy tells the story of what’s happening now. The dual timelines and dual narrators are both favorites of mine, so that worked well for me.

As for the rest, I don’t know exactly what I expected from One Night at the Lake, but what I didn’t expect was quite so much romance. I should have seen it coming from the rest of the publisher’s blurb, but it slipped by me. I found it a little annoying how perfect the man in question was and how thoroughly devoted each of the women was to him. Still, I let that go as I focused on the mystery of exactly how Leah died on that night at the lake. As with most mysteries, I had to suspend a little disbelief, mostly at the inability of characters to demand answers, but the writing was strong and easily kept me interested. If you’re looking for light summer reads and don’t mind a little bit of sappiness, One Night at the Lake would make a good addition to your beach bag.

Note: I received a copy of this book from Ballantine Books (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review.

Both Leah and June love Ollie. They were best friends. Until Leah died. She died just as she thought Ollie was going to be her husband. Told in the voices of Leah and June, this is the story of two women, set seven years apart, who have more in common than just Ollie. It's not the thriller you might think from the blurb but more an exploration of female friendship, grief, and guilt. And love. It's an interesting concept and Chase has done well with it. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This one caught me sideways and I liked it more than I thought I would. A good read.

While this book was well written, it read like a YA novel to me. Filled with guilt and angst, the plot wore thin by the time the ending was finally reached. Not being a fan of so much drama or any of the characters also didn’t help. While not a bad book, it just didn’t hold my interest the way I hoped it would.

One Night at the Lake is the third novel by bestselling author Bethany Chase. In a most unusual love triangle, we find bubbly, unfiltered neurobiology doctoral candidate Leah Tessaro, her best friend since childhood, quiet jewelry designer June Kang, and her longtime boyfriend, Oliver Bierman. The story is told in the voice of both women seven years apart.

Leah’s story pivots on the July 4th holiday week in which she, Oliver, and June drive from their New York City homes to the Seneca Lake vacation home of Oliver’s parents. Her story reflects their history as well as relating what is occurring at that time. June’s story also reflects their history, including the events of seven years ago at Seneca Lake, as well as what is happening currently. Both June and Oliver love Leah dearly, and events of that week at the lake will have lasting impacts that are difficult to foretell.

This is a very different type of story that will capture the reader and lead them on an unexpected journey. There are rich characters, dramatic settings, and so many secrets to unveil. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!

This book was a heart breaking story that has a underlining message of hope. You will need a box of tissues to get through this book. Bethany writes good characters hence getting emotional drawn into their issues and heartache.

I got about half way through with this book and I just couldn’t get into it, it was taking too long to get to what really happened to Leah, that I couldn’t finish the book. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Wow just wow. It was such an amazing love story tinged with a tragedy But I love how the story was told and how much love was in it. I cried I laughed and I loved this book. I hope that anybody that reads it loves it just as much. I give it 5 stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I started this book with very high hopes. I really like the author’s writing style. Check out “The One That Got Way”. It’s a fun listen (audiobook with enjoyable narration). Based on the description of this book I knew the subject matter was going to be emotional and was fully ready to dig in. The writing is terrific and I really like the style of toggling of POV and time from chapter to chapter. What I didn’t like was most every person in the book. I could not connect to anyone or find the characters even remotely likable except Leah. Ollie is well, kind of a jerk. Knowing he is not in love with Leah and in his words hasn’t been for a while invites her away for a holiday weekend to visit his family and still is being intimate with her. When she asks to bring her best friend he says yes knowing he is in love with her and not his actual girlfriend. Seriously? I think it was at that point I started to check out, but when he constantly protected Caleb, lied, omitted truths I was done. He was a total man-child and wanted it all his way. That his mother called June to plead his case was ugh just gross. I honestly found him to be a spineless, detestable ego driven classless chicken excuse of a human. Spoiled to the very core and willing to do anything to get what he wants.

The only person (Leah) who showed any form of honesty is the one who was only around in flashback form. June tried and was innocent and thoughtful in this, but how she could still want to marry someone who lied about his part of her best friends tragic death and the reason why it happened made any positive connection or respect for her to her disappear immediately. Lies by omission are still lies. I feel as if she knew the truth from the beginning their relationship would not have occurred.

I am in the minority about this book. I am not sure why, but I just found myself irked while reading it. It even took multiple times of restarting to get into it. Had I purchased this book I would have given up after the 3 or 4th time! Only because I committed to reviewing it did I force myself to finish it. From my perspective read at your own risk, but I am just one

*I received this ARC from NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

Wow. What a beautiful story this was. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect when I first read the synopsis...but I was so pleasantly surprised to stumble upon this beautiful, moving story about the ripple effects that occur when someone we love is lost. This is a story of grief and healing, and if learning to forge a beautiful future even amidst painful memories.

I loved the dual distinct voices of Leah and June as the narrators. All of the characters in this book were well fleshed-out and so realistic, I really felt as if I knew them. The plot is well-paced and compelling...I didn’t want to put this book down until I had reached the beautiful, yet poignant conclusion.

Losing someone we love (especially in a tragic accident) is always unbearable and this book takes an honest look at the different ways people manifest that grief. What does it look like to face our fears and enjoy our lives in the midst of survivor’s guilt? How do people move forward after the most traumatic moment of their lives? Bethany Chase addresses all this and more with her compelling prose, and this captivating story of two friends, one man, and the night at the lake that changed everything.

One Night at the Lake is a moving story of friendship and love, a compelling narrative about life after loss, and a gentle, yet powerful reminder to live each day to its absolute fullest. Even in the midst of terrible grief, we have the opportunity to live...and what a gift that is. Thank you, Bethany Chase for this beautiful story. I enjoyed it very much!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House-Ballantine Books for a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

Leah and June are best friends. Their story is told by each of them. Leah's POV is seven years ago when she was dating Ollie. June's POV is seven years later when Leah is dead and June is engaged to Ollie. We know that Leah died while on vacation at Ollie's family's lake house, but we don't know what happened.

This is not a thriller at all, which is what I thought from reading the blurb about it. There is some mystery as we don't know what happened to Leah, but I was just a little bored. It picked up at the end a little. The writing was very strong, but Leah and June's POV were both a little similar in tone. Very little distinction in voices. It didn't hold my interest very well.

This is a very good, actually amazing domestic drama, but not a thriller at all in my opinion. It was written so well, it absolutely had me glued to the pages and yearning to learn more. I thought it was very beautifully written, and while it has a few shocks, I still would place it more in the domestic drama genre than the thrills in chills. The author developed the characters so flawlessly, I absolutely felt everything they endured! A must read for those who love domestic dramas, with a bit of mystery clouded in them, and are okay with lots of heartbreaking themes!
I will make sure I highly recommend to the members of Chapter Chatter Pub!!

While the story took awhile for me to get invested In I did enjoy reading from the different pov of Leah and June. It’s not full of thrills but it’s definitely a good story of friendship and relationships.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the ARC of One Night at the Lake by Bethany Chase in exchange for an honest review. Where do I start? I really enjoyed this book. That tells the story of Leah and June, best friends since they were children. Leah’s chapters are from seven years ago and June’s are 7 years later. In each character’s story, they are both in love with Ollie. Leah has been dating him for four years and hoping to get engaged. In June’s story they are engaged and planning to get married. Leah’s story starts with a trip to the lake house of Ollie’s parents. She begs him to let her invite June because June just had a bad break up. We learn that Leah was killed during that very lake trip from June’s chapters. What happened? How did June end up with Ollie? This story is heartbreaking and I read it so fast because I kept wanting to figure out what in the world happened to Leah! I will definitely read the authors books again.

This story starts out from Leah's perspective when Leah and June, two best friends go on vacation to the lake home of Ollie, Leah's boyfriend. While there, Leah dies. You do not know the whole story of how Leah died, but it slowly unfolds as the it picks up from June's perspective seven years later.

Fluctuating back and forth from the perspective of Leah and June, we learn what happened in the past and how the story continues.

The character development is very good and strong. I had never read any books by Bethany Chase, but she is a very strong writer.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Heartbreaking and hopeful novel about love after a tragedy. My heart broke for all who lost Leah. June is amazing--I love her character.