Carley Fortune – Meet Me at the Lake Audiobook

Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune — A Deep Dive

Carley Fortune’s Meet Me at the Lake is a contemporary romance novel released in 2023, following the breakout success of her debut Every Summer After. Set against the serene backdrop of a lakeside resort in Ontario, Canada, the book blends themes of love, grief, identity, and second chances.

Premise and Plot Overview

The story centers on Fern Brookbanks, a woman in her early thirties who has spent much of her life trying to avoid the expectations and responsibilities tied to her family’s lakeside resort. When Fern’s mother unexpectedly passes away, she returns home to manage the business temporarily—only to discover that running the place is far more complicated than she imagined.

Complicating matters is the return of Will Baxter, a man she met a decade earlier during one transformative day in Toronto. Fern and Will spent just twenty-four hours together, but their unexpected connection left a lasting impression on both of them. However, Will never showed up at the lakeside meeting spot they had agreed upon afterward—an absence Fern still feels deeply.

Now, Will reappears at the resort, offering business help but carrying emotional baggage of his own. The novel alternates between the past (their intense single day together) and the present, slowly unraveling the reasons behind his disappearance and exploring whether their bond can survive the wounds of time.