Meet Me at the Lake
Ten years ago, Fern Brookbanks spent one unforgettable day in Toronto with a stranger named Will Baxter, and they promised to meet again a year later. He never showed. Now 32, Fern has been pulled back to run her family's struggling lakeside resort in Ontario after her mother's sudden death, the life she always meant to escape. Then Will turns up as the polished consultant her mother hired to help save it. Kirkus calls it upbeat and often witty, while also exploring grief for a beloved parent.
About This Book
Meet Me at the Lake is a contemporary romance novel by Carley Fortune, first published in 2023 by Berkley. It runs 336 pages. Readers can expect second chance.
At a glance
- Genre
- Contemporary
- Trope
- Second Chance
- Length
- 336 pages
- Format
- Paperback
Where to read or listen
Get Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Why You May Love This Book
You may love this if…
- Ten years after a missed connection, two people are reunited at a lakeside resort to confront the past and save a legacy.
- Fans of second-chance romance
- Readers who enjoy emotional contemporary fiction
- Reflective
- Features Second Chance
This may not be ideal if…
- Limited information on the romantic development
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Tropes
Relationship Dynamics
Details
Type: unknown
Pairing: unknown
Power balance: Professional collaboration involving a business consultant and a resort owner.
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
Moderate angst, moderate humor.
Heat Level
Based on available metadata and editorial review.
Who Is This Book For?
Best for
Reading mood
Recommended audience: Adult contemporary romance readers
Content Guidance
The Story
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
Fern Brookbanks once spent a life-altering day with a stranger named Will Baxter, marked by a promise to meet again—a promise Will failed to keep. Now 32 and grieving her mother, Fern returns to the lakeside resort she desperately tried to outrun. When Will reappears as the professional consultant tasked with helping her manage the failing resort, the two must navigate their unresolved history and the pressures of the present.
Central Conflict
The tension between Fern's desire to escape her family's failing resort and the necessity of working with the man who abandoned their plan to reconnect a decade ago.
Setting
A struggling lakeside resort in Ontario, Canada.
Strengths
- Clear emotional stakes involving loss
- Well-defined central trope
Consider before reading
- Limited information on the romantic development
Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 3
How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?
- 4
Who would you most want to recommend this book to?
- 5
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
- 6
Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?
How This Profile Was Created
Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.
- Editor reviewed:
- Yes
- Last reviewed:
- October 4, 2026
- Confidence:
- Moderate confidence
- Profile version:
- eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
About the Author
Carley Fortune
What Readers Say
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Publication Details
- Publisher
- Berkley
- Format
- Paperback
- Length
- 336 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN-13
- 9780593438558
Meet Me at the Lake: quick answers
- Who wrote Meet Me at the Lake?
- Meet Me at the Lake was written by Carley Fortune.
- When was Meet Me at the Lake published?
- Meet Me at the Lake was first published in 2023 by Berkley.
- What genre is Meet Me at the Lake?
- Meet Me at the Lake is a contemporary romance novel, with second chance.
- How many pages is Meet Me at the Lake?
- Meet Me at the Lake is 336 pages long (Paperback).
Are you the author? Verify your author profile to manage this book.
This is my book — sign inWhere to read or listen
Get Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
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