Meet Me at the Lake

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER āˆ™ A random connection sends two strangers on a daylong adventure where they make a promise one keeps and the other breaks, with life-changing effects, in this breathtaking novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After.

Fern Brookbanks has wasted far too much of her adult life thinking about Will Baxter. She spent just twenty-four hours in her early twenties with the aggravatingly attractive, idealistic artist, a chance encounter that spiraled into a daylong adventure in the city. The timing was wrong, but their connection was undeniable: they shared every secret, every dream, and made a pact to meet one year later. Fern showed up. Will didn’t.

At thirty-two, Fern’s life doesn’t look at all how she once imagined it would. Instead of living in the city, Fern’s back home, running her mother’s lakeside resort—something she vowed never to do. The place is in disarray, her ex-boyfriend’s the manager, and Fern doesn’t know where to begin.

She needs a plan—a lifeline. To her surprise, it comes in the form of Will, who arrives nine years too late, with a suitcase in tow and an offer to help on his lips. Will may be the only person who understands what Fern’s going through. But how could she possibly trust this expensive-suit wearing mirage who seems nothing like the young man she met all those years ago. Will is hiding something, and Fern’s not sure she wants to know what it is.

But ten years ago, Will Baxter rescued Fern. Can she do the same for him?

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Published May 2, 2023

334 pages

Average rating: 6.89

572 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Prereads
May 07, 2025
7/10 stars
Really sweet story, although was annoyed at the ending how the guy acts like a damsel in distress. But the novel goes back and forward to past tense and present tense.
Brianna Berry
Aug 19, 2025
6/10 stars
DNF @ 39%. Just couldn’t get into the storyline/conflict. Beautiful writing though! Looking forward to Carley Fortune’s other books!
literarily_occupied
Aug 12, 2025
8/10 stars
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Mhoovs21
May 12, 2025
6/10 stars
This one took me a minute to get into, but felt like a warm hug at the end. ā™„ļø
Harrietaspy
May 04, 2025
4/10 stars
It was a cheesy but fun read in an amazing setting but then I got to the reveal of why he left both times and I just couldn't get over it. She just can't believably be with someone who can't say or even write a note "my niece is sick. I know this is an important day for you but I have to go " I could have *maybe* forgiven the first time when he was young and they didn't have as strong of a connection and we all do stupid things sometimes but .. Yeah, not good.

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