Meet Me at the Lake

I genuinely disliked so much about this book.
I would have rathered Fern get together with Jamie, because he was really was a nice guy and knew her really well. Like Will heard all of her life story in one day, saw her on the dock and was like Oh no! Mental illness!! And then, he shows up again a decade later, talks to her mom behind her back, but because they want to sleep together, they can make it work.
And the one day they hung out and told each other so so much, she pretended to not have a boyfriend and was emotionally cheating, if not ready to physically cheat!! If someone were ready to cheat on their SO of multiple years with you, what makes you think they won't cheat on you?
Women are not rehabs for broken men. Her grief is so show more much lower key, but he's so broken, mentally ill, so depressed, hard knock life artist, and she's just gonna support him?? This isn't a mutually supportive relationship.
And most of their interest in each other is just about sleeping with each other.
And that's another thing, why do books act like because you enjoy sleeping together and you have no common interests except banging therefore you're a perfect couple?? You really think you're gonna be happily married at 63 because sex is fun??
And Will spends most of the book barely telling her anything! It takes his sister telling her most of his backstory and setting things up so Fern can make him tell her the rest of it, like Will and Fern weren't about to fight for each other.

They can go die in a hole. Give me back my time. show less

I am a terrible person because I did not gel with this book. I gave it three stars, but in the end the plot holes and flow were too much for me. Also, no offense, Will was like a blackhole of charisma. And the emotional cheating is never something I am ever a fan of.

I thought the character of Fern and even her best friend Whitney read way younger than they are (both are 32...). I also think that Fortune wrote Fern inconsistently. I really wish the real struggle had been with what she wanted to do next, instead of that all being done/dusted pretty early and then it's just about Will.

I will honestly say most of the men were underdeveloped.

The flow was awful. That's honestly what really did it for me plus the above. The present and 10 show more years ago stuff just sucked the air our of the room. Also it was not "magical" or even "meet cute" ready especially since both Fern/Will had people they were dating at the time. I was just booing them both.

The ending is cute, but once again, I think if this was a young adult or new adult novel I would have let some stuff go. But this was angsty stuff that didn't reflect the ages of the people in the story. show less

I gave it 5 stars because it was soft, emotional, and just so easy to fall into. Carley really knows how to write a love story that feels real and hits you right in the heart. It had that perfect mix of romance, reflection, and a little bit of ache. I seriously didn’t want to put it down.

The setting was dreamy, I could picture the lake, the quiet moments, the little details that made it feel like summer and nostalgia all wrapped into one. The chemistry between the characters felt natural and deep, and I loved how the story gave them space to be messy and honest. It’s not just a romanc, it’s also about timing, choices, and healing. This book made me feel cozy, emotional, and hopeful in the best way. A perfect read when you’re in show more the mood for a love story with heart. show less

A second-chance love story between Fern and Will who spent one day together exploring Toronto and vowed to meet one year later. I'm a sucker for a single-day wandering story (The Sun Is Also a Star, Nick & Norah, etc.). We flip back and forth between that first day together and their reunion ten years later. I love the subplot of figuring out what you want vs. what your family expects from you. Very readable, though there were a few plot points that felt out-of-character or a bit too jarring.

TW Mental Illness

✅ For Fans of:
- second chance
- dual timeline
- single POV
- grief

✏️ Spoiler-Free Review
3.5 True Rating
Lets start at the beginning where boy meets girl and after having a whole day of life-changing conversations, they plan to meet one year later. Except he never shows. So why is he here, at the resort Fer just inherited after her mother’s sudden accident and death?

Second chance romance, that’s why.

But it’s also so much more than that. It was about growing up, changing, how to come to terms with those changes, and allowing ourselves to grow. It was about family and expectations - both those we place on ourselves and others do. It was about being honest with yourself, even if it’s only after someone else forces you to do it. show more

Was it my favorite romance book? No, but I enjoyed it enough. It’s a bit heavy and would be a great movie but just didn’t hit the spot. I’ll still read more by the author, but this story line just didn’t have the same romantic spark I was looking for. show less

I fell in love with Will and Fern, and felt both heartache at parts of their story and joy at others.
This book examines the pair and the day they met in a coffee shop 10 years earlier, and then again in the present, when they meet again.
Fern is dealing with a tragedy, and the pressure of running a resort, when Will appears at the resort. Fern doesn't know how to react to seeing Will again. What will happen between them?
As you learn more about their story, you find yourself rooting for them to make it work, until it comes crashing down around them. But why? Will they be able to find their way back?
Unwanted pregnancies, depression, death-possible triggers, but I loved this story.

I'm afraid I didn't click with this one much at all. Fern has just come back home to the family resort after the unexpected death of her mother and she's trying desperately to put everything in line. Within a few days of being home, her one true love comes strolling in 9 years late for their date.

They spent 24 hours with each other 10 years ago and knew that the other was their person. But neither managed to look the other up in the meantime or do any personal growth work on themselves in the meantime. Fern felt flighty and ungrateful for the future her mother was desperate to give her and Will took on responsibilities that were not his. They both made choices that made sense for their character but also, I'm just looking at them as show more 32-ish year olds and going, ...ok?

I didn't really feel their relationship had good foundations. Started out with emotional cheating on their respective partners and ended with one of them cutting communication and fleeing - twice.

Thank you to Libro FM for a copy in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own. show less