Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my e-ARC of Meet Me at the Lake!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🛶 grew up on a lake
💕 believe in love at first sight
🌲 love the country
☕️ drink coffee like it’s going out of style

• 𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄

After a chance meeting with Will makes Fern question everything about her life, she gets another opportunity to make things right 10 years later.

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

Fern and Will met one summer day in mid June. Spending the entire day exploring the city of Toronto together, Fern finds herself falling hard and fast for Will. But she has Jamie at home, as well as her mother waiting for her to come take over the family business. 10 years later, Fern’s mother has passed in a tragic accident, and now Fern must decide if she wants to keep the family business or sell it to support her dreams of opening a coffee house. When Will shows up, she discovers she’ll get another chance to make things work between the two of them.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was my first Carley Fortune book, but I can’t wait to read her debut now. This was such a sweet and tender read. I enjoyed the back and forth with Fern in the present and the past. As someone also born in 1991, I really related to Fern. I totally believed the love at first sight thing, only because I experienced it, too, albeit in a different way. Overall, this was a cute read with lots of summer vibes!

Carley Fortune wrote such a wonderful summer romance that had me going through every emotion in the book. I am not a big fan of insta-love but it was clear that Fern and Will had an instant connection that I was actually really happy about. The time jump was unexpected as I was going in blind (best way to read a book in my opinion) but should have assumed a dual timeline POV which was so refreshing. I was touched to see Fern coming to terms with loss and running Brookbanks Resort. Will, oh gosh he was great. I loved seeing them reconnect after so many years and build up the trust that allowed them too forgive their past actions. I really enjoyed this story and cannot wait to read more by Carley Fortune.

Special thanks to Carley Fortune and Berkley for providing me an ARC copy to share my honest review.

kind of very upset i did not enjoy this one the way i loved every summer after.
this felt like a love letter to toronto in the flashbacks and as someone who has been studying in the city but living in another for five years, i do resonate with the love and adoration fern has for the city.
i found the pacing to be really off? the deeper dive into her mom's past came so much later into the book i was confused when we were experiencing that.

it felt like this book wanted to do more than it achieved - the second chance romance (which i really like will 10 years go, but not that much in the present, he was just kinda there), the mother-daughter strained relationship, the inheriting the resort.

the plot bit off more than it could chew and i am sad to say im disappointed. because i did really like aspects of the book (the flashbacks, peter and maggie's dynamic, peter and fern's dynamic, and fern and her mom's relationship - i will say, these latter three definitely deserved more time than will and fern)

anyway, as one of my highly anticipated books of the year, i'm disappointed. kinda glad i procrastinated reading the arc.

thank you to netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review

Carley’s writing has a way of pulling you in, grasping you at the heartstrings, and losing yourself to the story she is telling. I loved Every Summer After last year and I was so thrilled when I found out a new novel was being released this year. Fern and Will’s story was full of love, heartbreak, struggle, loss, and growth. They were so likable together and really found a way to make each other better. There were frustrations with some of the decision making along the way but I think accepting people for their thoughts and acknowledging what trauma can do to someone, really helps to see both characters in a different light and have some understanding about where they are coming from.

The romance was sweet and the span of their connection was cool to see. I loved that parts of Carley’s real life were interwoven into the story and you can feel that personal connection she had to these aspects throughout. At times, the story felt a bit choppy because of the dual timelines and the addition of the diary entries from Fern’s mother. I think it would have been a smoother read for me if the first meetup between Fern and Will was shared in its entirety at the beginning of the book and then we shifted to the ten years later timeline for the remainder of the book. That’s just my personal opinion, others may feel differently about that though!

Overall, I enjoyed this story and the romance. I liked that it was a bit messy but full of love and that we saw characters that were willing to grow and compromise. It lacked some of the magic and magnetic connection that Every Summer After had, but to me, it’s not fair to compare the two stories as this story is unique and emotional in a different way and I feel, definitely worth the read. Thank you Berkley for the free copy of this book. #berkleypartner

When I say I screamed when I was sent this e-book, I'm NOT lying. I absolutely loved *Every Summer After* and have been not so patiently waiting for Carley Fortune's follow-up. Plus, in the run up to summer I've been craving a lake-side romance and this was IT. Carley writes my favorites kind of romance - it's romantic and sexy but with an underlying sense of nostalgia and melancholia. I want my romance books to make me SAD and then hit me with the HEA. For a book to be a total win for me I need a story with some real meat to it, and Carley Fortune DELIVERS that.

I love multiple timelines and this had three if you count the diary entries that Fern is reading throughout. The jumps back and forth and fitting in little pieces of history as they're revealed is SO satisfying.

As a reader you could really sense the instant bond between Fern and Will. Every interaction big or small felt important in that first day they spent together. I immediately fell in love with them and was rooting for them as they pushed each other to be the versions of themselves they wanted to be.

No one will be surprised to know that I loved Will. He was somehow BOTH a Dandelion Boy and a Moody Boi (those are my categories, get with it) and I never knew how great the combination could be. Will Baxter alone would have been enough for me to love this book but the added element of Fern's relationship to her mom and her home pushed it up to a solid five-star read. There was a lot about grief and regret but also change and acceptance. I cried both sad and happy tears for about the last 20% of the book.

I'm barely resisting immediately reading it again. I will absolutely be purchasing a copy (hi the cover is GORGE) and most likely will re-read this summer.

I absolutely adored Every Summer After, so Meet Me At The Lake was my most highly anticipated book of the year. Carley Fortune is such a gem of an author that not only connects you to all of her characters, but makes you fall madly in love with the setting.

Read if you like:
Second Chance Romance
Love After Loss
Navigating Grief
Past/Present Timelines
Lakeside Settings
Found Family
Dirty Dancing References

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.