I fell in love with Fern and Will. This was such a great love story. A "love at first sight" kind of story, or a "love at first day" that takes 10 years to actually become something. I am always a sucker for a tall, dark and handsome. I enjoyed this one a lot!!

*Thank you @berkleypub and @librofm for the egalley and audiobook. {#partner}*

Meet Me at the Lake is a stunning and emotionally charged love story that delves into the themes of secrets, lies, missed opportunities, and second chances. The novel is set against the picturesque backdrop of a family-owned hotel situated on a serene rural lake, which adds to the overall charm and warmth of the story. Fortune's writing style is exquisite, and she masterfully weaves together a tale that is both heartwarming and heart-wrenching. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and I found myself rooting for them throughout the novel.

[Absolutely LOVED it]

This was a perfect book to read outside in the sun. The writing was amazing as always, so easy to fall into the story. I loved the characters and how very real they felt while reading this book. The dual timeline was a highlight for me, I loved both so much. The ending left me wanting more but overall this book was very much enjoyable! Highly recommend.

Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for providing a free advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Meet Me at the Lake is a nostalgic summery romance full of second chances, leaps of faith, and new beginnings.

Fern was always torn between taking over the family business running their lakeside resort or venturing out into the city and making a name for herself. Then one day, she meets a charming artist and he changes her perspective on everything as they spend one memorable day together—exploring the city, sharing their deepest secrets, and baring their souls to one another. At the end of the day, they decide to meet again in one year at Fern’s family lake. But what happens when one year passes and he doesn’t show up, then nine years later he arrives on the docks of the lake?

From the Dirty Dancing summer resort vibes to the sweet romance to the touching story of growth, grief, and moving on, this book was so easy to read and get lost in. Second-chance romances always steal my heart, and this one was full of unexpected surprises and tender, heartfelt moments.

There were so many great aspects of this story that I wish were expanded on and given more time to flourish. From her rebellious childhood to her strained relationship with her mother to her romance with Will, Fern’s story is deeply layered, and some parts I felt were rushed and not given enough time for readers to connect as emotionally as they could with her journey.

If you want a read perfect for summer that’s similar to Every Summer After, definitely add this one to your lists.

3.25/5

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

3 ★

Es el segundo libro que leo de Carley y estoy un poquito decepcionada porque, por mala suerte, pensé que sería como Every Summer After.

Meet Me at the Lake es una historia que nos cuenta cómo Fern y Will se conocen en sus veintes, siendo personas totalmente diferentes, deslumbrados el uno por el otro, prometen volverse a encontrar luego de un año. ¿El problema? Will nunca llega. Luego de 9 años, con vidas muy diferentes a las que se habían proyectado, se vuelven a encontrar, ¿estará Fern dispuesta a darle una oportunidad?

Me ha gustado mucho la narrativa de la autora, sobre todo porque nos transporta a diferentes tiempos sin que el lector pierda el hilo. Sin embargo, mi principal problema fue la relación de Fern y Will, no sentí conexión y en mi opinión fue muy insta-love. También, sentí que hubo algunos cabos sueltos como personajes que se mencionan, pero terminan olvidados.

Aun así, lo recomendaría porque es una historia interesante y que te transporta a querer tener vacaciones o vivir en un resort.

Will and Fern met one day, 10 years ago. An unforgettable 24 hours, promising to meet up one year later. But Will didn’t show. Until 9 years later at Fern’s family resort that she just became owner of. As we flash back to get glimpses of what happened on the day they met, then forward to present time with them both at her resort trying to work together there are so many questions. Why didn’t Will show? What happened to him? What really happened on that day? This one is so enjoyable! I could not put it down, similar to her debut novel. Fortunes writing is so bingeable and the storytelling unique! She almost reminds me of Colleen Hoover in the way she weaves these intricate stories with heartbreak and imperfect situations. The way she creates this amazing setting gives her stories a nostalgic feel. I simply cannot get enough of Carley and cannot wait to read more of her books soon! Thank you to Berkley for the ARC!

Meet Me At The Lake is the story of Fern and Will who spend one fateful night together and make a plan to meet the following summer at her family’s lakeside resort. Will does not show and fast forward 10 years, they become reconnected when Will arrives at Fern’s family resort following her mom’s death. This is the ultimate second chance story full of summer vibes and all the charm of the hotel, Kellerman’s, from Dirty Dancing. Seeing how Fern and Will have grown and matured and how that has caused a shift in how they interact 10 years later is so realistic and engaging. As their stories unfold as to what transpired those 10 years, they become more likable, more relatable, more honest and the whole book takes a swoonworthy turn. I loved the summer romance vibes and the feeling that some things are just meant to be.

I really liked Meet Me at the Lake! I didn’t love Every Summer After because of spoilers (the reveal / plot twist 🙄) but there was none of that in Meet Me at the Lake. Fern and Will were fun! I loved the Mamma Mia mother’s diaries vibe that was included as well.

I listened to the audiobook on libro.fm while I read along with the ebook. The narrator was good for those that are interested!

CW: death of a parent, drug use (just weed)

(As posted on my Instagram account today)

⛱️ 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 ⛱️

Thank you @berkleyromance for the gifted widget.

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗠𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲
𝗕𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗲
𝗣𝘂𝗯: 𝟱/𝟮/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯

📖 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁: Fern and Will, both 22-year-old students, meet at a Toronto coffee shop where Fern works and Will is commissioned to paint a mural. Despite them both being in relationships, they have an instant connection and spend one unforgettable 24-hours together. They make plans to meet one year later at Fern's family resort on a lake. Fern is there, giddy and nervous, with a special playlist in tow, but Will doesn't show. Fern is destroyed.

A decade later, Fern still isn't completely over the heartbreak and betrayal of being stood up by Will. After the unexpected death of her mother, Fern is back at the resort, trying to figure out where to go from here. When in walks none other than Will... Is he nine years too late?

💭 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: First of all.... Can we take a moment to appreciate that the FMC's name is FERN!? I'm obsessed!

And second: I adored this book! Carley Fortune's writing feels so nostalgic to me. She's such gifted storyteller, with writing that flows so beautifully. She has a real knack for transporting her readers straight into the lives and settings of her characters. Fern and Will are such flawed, believable characters and I couldn't get enough!

There is some criticism about a couple of the tropes here (I'm not mentioning them to avoid spoilers) but I think it works. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Real love is messy and imperfect. Real people have flaws. And not every relationship is linear and clean. I understand this doesn't work for all readers - to each their own - but I found this to be a believable, swoony love story and I'm already eager for her next!

You probably already know this, but Meet Me at the Lake is out TOMORROW! 🎉 You don't want to miss this one, friends!
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Thank you to @netgalley @berkleypub and @berkleyromance for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @prhaudio for a free download of the audiobook.

Fern and Will spend an unplanned day together. One that will impact them for the rest of their lives. Especially when plans to meet in one year don’t go as you’d expect. Ten years later, Fern finds herself back home following the sudden death of her mother. So why does Will show up now?

Carley Fortune stole my heart again in her sophomore novel Meet Me at the Lake. I couldn’t put it down, and it left me with a huge book hangover. I really enjoyed how she developed the story of Fern and Will. The dual timelines were handled with expert timing to make me fully invested in where the characters are today. Highly recommend!

5 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #berkleypub #berkleyromance #berkleybuddyreads #prhaudio #ltbreaderteam #berkelywritesstrongwomen #meetmeatthelake #carleyfortune

For the last ten years Fern Brookbanks had simultaneously been furious and quietly in love with Will Baxter. She could not have predicted that at 32 years old she would find herself back at the resort and lake house that was never her destiny. After college in Toronto Fern was determined to make her own way in the world and not repeat her mother’s path. Although she often found herself lonely, she liked her job at the coffee shop chain and secretly dreamed of opening her own business someday. Unexpected events bring her back to lake with her childhood friends and ex-boyfriend Jamie manipulating her to stay. As she faces a life changing decision, Will Baxter - more handsome than she remembered - magically reappears bringing back all the disappointment and emotional baggage she tried to leave behind. While I absolutely loved this authors first novel (Every Summer After) this one didn’t flow as well. Filled with adorable characters and a lovely setting, it lacked any substance. Although a pleasant read, it was not the page turner I’d been hoping for.

this book was good. which is a testament to carley fortune's writing and ability to tell a compelling story because it has some of my least favorite things in romance books. you can tell that she has grown as a writer.
we follow fern as she returns home to reluctantly take over running the family business after her mom passes away suddenly fern is deep in the throws of her grief not only for her mom, but for the potential life she now must throw away. trying to figure out which way to steer her life, the man who broke her heart ten years ago returns as a consultant hired by her mom to help make the resort more profitable. will and fern met ten years ago for an epic day of adventure, deep conversation, and promises of meeting up the next summer to continue where they left off.
fern and will have to navigate working together while obviously having a lot of feelings about each other as well as where their lives ended up after making their ten year plans. fern, figuring out the life she wanted for herself ten years ago isn't necessarily what she wants now; will, shaping his life completely opposite from he person who hurt him most.
this is a story about loss, love, coming in to yourself as an adult, trust, and learning how to communicate. both fern and will are flawed. sometimes making things ten times harder for themselves, but that's how you feel sometimes about your friends. will and fern feel like people you care about and want to succeed, both in life and in love
if you love books that make you feel deeply while still giving you summer vibes, then I think you will really enjoy this book.
also, PLEASE read the behind the book essay it is really important

Last year I read Carley Fortune’s debut novel, Every Summer After, and I loved it so much! Her sophomore novel, Meet Me at the Lake is no exception, it’s the perfect summer read.

Fern and Will meet in Toronto. They spend an unforgettable day together and promise each other that in a year they will meet up at the lake. The day the are supposed to meet, Will never shows up.

This book captivated me from the very beginning. I loved how descriptive the writing is, it made me feel as though I was right there at the lake. The chemistry between Fern and Will is magical and really something so sweet and special. I also really enjoyed the past and present tense timelines. The reason for four stars is because it felt a little too similar to Every Summer After. Both books are about second chance love and deal with familial loss. I still thought it was an excellent story and would definitely recommend it!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved Every Summer After and I knew it was going to be a hard book for Carley Fortune to follow up. Whilst the majority of the reviews I've read for this one are glowing, unfortunately it fell a little flat for me. I found the back and forth between the dual timelines to be a little confusing and because we didn't know the full backstory early on, it was hard to feel the connection between the two main characters. Please don't let my review deter you from reading though as I know many people have loved this one.

Thank you @PRHAudio for the free audiobook and @BerkleyRomance for the digital ARC.
Fern's mom recently passed away and now she's back at her mom's lakeside resort, the place she never wanted to end up. It's not in good shape and Fern has to decide if she wants to change her life plans or sell the resort where she grew up so she can pursue her goal of owning her own coffee shop. Ten years ago, she spend 24 hours with Will Baxter. The timing wasn't right, they both were in relationships. They agreed to meet a year later, but Will didn't show up. Now he's showed up, nine years late.
Meet Me at the Lake is a dual timeline romance story, but honestly I feel like the central part of the story is really about Fern figuring out the next step in her life and reflecting on her relationship with her mom. As someone who doesn't have my mom here anymore, I really connected with this part of the story. The past timeline tells the details of the day Fern and Will spent together and how that day changed her future. In the present, there's a lot of back and forth with the two of them. There's a note from the author at the end of the book that explains part of Will's behavior. I think if I had known that explanation beforehand, I wouldn't have judged him so harshly as a love interest, but I also understand how his situation isn't something that Fern knew about until he shared it, so I get it. There are some tender moments between the two of them but their romance is hindered by hesitation and doubt. This is definitely a romance between two flawed characters who need to figure out their own paths first. Carley Fortune's debut novel, Every Summer After, was one of my top 10 books of 2022. Meet Me at the Lake didn't quite reach that status for me, but I would still recommend checking it out, especially if you like dual timeline romances with imperfect characters. The setting is beautiful and now I'm adding a lakeside cabin in Canada to my travel bucket list.

This woman has a cheating fetish I swear. This one had just as many feelings as the last one. Meet Me at the Lake was beautiful. These two characters had this incredible connection. Right person, wrong time. Fern is trying to figure out her path after her mom passed away. Will shows up with many secrets. These two felt the same way they did 10 years ago. I honestly wanted to shed a tear or two towards the end. Overall, I loved their story. Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read in exchange for a review.

Absolutely loved it.

4.5 STARS OVERALL.

Will and Fern meet one day in Toronto and spend the day exploring the city. When they agree to meet one year later, on the same day, at Fern’s family’s resort in the Muskokas, Will doesn’t show. In fact when he does show he’s 10 years too late…
Themes of loyalty, family expectations, forging your own path and friendship. I loved Fern’s desire to be her own woman and do things on her terms, even when it came to her romantic relationships. And I loved Will’s vulnerability, his desire to be a good guy at all times, even when he failed sometimes.

My only issue was that it leaned into the whole Dirty Dancing thing at times. Took me out of the story a couple of times.

Read if you like:
⏳ Past and Present Timelines
💔 Love after Loss
💕 Soulmates
💃🏼 Dirty Dancing References

“For so long, Will had been my what if guy.”

Have you ever had that “what if” person in your life? What if I was single? What if they were single? What if distance wasn’t a problem?

Whatever the what if, this book will likely take you back to those feelings and memories as you get to witness the what If guy come back into Fern’s life and see how the what if’s play out 10 years after their single life changing day together.

I love the backstory of Fern and Will spending a magical day together and the depth of how they instantly fit even though timing was not in their favor. It truly felt like soulmates meeting at the absolutely wrong time for both of them which gave it so much more depth of emotion.

I loved getting bits of their day throughout the book mixed with the present day. Seeing why that day would have left a lingering impact was so important as it brought the story together and showed how pivotal that day was for Fern taking control back of her life and deciding to live it.

I loved the journal entries from Fern’s mom as well as this added such a rich depth to the emotions of the book that without it, would have been missing something special. The one point I cried in this book was during the review of Maggie’s journal and getting a better understanding for Patrick’s place in Fern’s life.

Overall, this was such a well done book and I truly can’t wait for what Carley publishes next as I know I will be reading it! Thank you so much Berkley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Another atmospheric summer romance from Fortune. This one was really enjoyable and gave the ultimate summer vibes. I thought this main character was more likable than her last and I enjoyed the older, more mature characters. I loved the past timeline of Fern and Will.

I think the overall mental health theme could have been introduced earlier in the book, so that it could have had its proper moment. I also would've really liked to get to know Will more before the third act. I think some things just could've gone deeper, sooner.

Overall, I really enjoyed MMATL and am definitely going to recommend Fortune's sophomore novel!

Pub date: 5/2/23
Genre: contemporary fiction with romantic elements
Quick summary: Fern and Will spent a perfect 24 hours together 10 years ago - now, he's back and ready to help Fern sort out her mother's lakeside resort - whether Fran likes it or not.

This is not EVERY SUMMER AFTER part 2, and I think that's a good thing. Fortune mentions in her author's note how difficult it was to write this book, perhaps because ESA came so easily and was such a monster hit. This book is also a second chance romance, but it's also about Fran and Will's relationships with their family and how they balance those responsibilities with what they really want.

The book started a little slow for me, but the back half really spoke to me as I got to know Fern and Will better. The darkness both characters went through made this feel like a story more grounded in reality than many other romances I've read. I can see a place for it in your beach bag!

Thank you to Berkley and @letstalkbookspromo for my e-ARC and @PRHAudio for my complimentary audiobook in exchange for an honest review.