Meet Me at the Lake

Meet Me at the Lake (2023) is a modern romance novel by Carley Fortune. It is Fortune’s second book after her New York Times bestselling debut, Every Summer After (2022). Meet Me at the Lake quickly topped The New York Times bestseller list, duplicating the success of Every Summer After. Meet Me at the Lake follows the love story of Fern Brookbanks, a 32-year-old woman who inherits her family lake resort after her mother’s sudden death, and Will Baxter, whom Fern first fell in love with 10 years prior. This novel explores The Gap Between Plans and Reality, Grief and Sentimentality, and Making the Most of Second Chances.

This study guide follows the paperback, May 2023 Berkeley Romance first edition of the book.

Plot Summary

Fern Brookbanks, 32, finds herself in charge of her family’s lake resort after her mother’s sudden death. Fern chose long ago to not be a part of the family business, but her plans change with her mother’s passing. She is unsure whether she wants to keep the resort, and experiences grief related to her complicated relationship with her mother. While staffing the front desk, Fern encounters 32-year-old Will Baxter, dressed in an expensive suit.