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Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune @CarleyFortune @AJBridel @librofm @PRHAudio
May 15, 2023 6:00 am
the setup…
Fern Brookbanks was at a crossroad ten years ago when she was finishing her studies in Toronto. She loved the city, wanted to stay there but knew her mother Maggie was counting on her to return home and help run their lakeside resort. But a chance encounter with Will Baxter, a handsome, talented artist with whom she spends the next 24 hours, gives her the courage to follow her own heart. Though it breaks her mother’s heart, Fern stays in Toronto, agreeing to meet Will one year later at the lake. She showed up…he didn’t. Now, ten years later, Fern has to return to the lake and run the resort, which is in sad shape. In walks Will who her mother had hired to help turn this around.
the heart of the story…
The story is told from Fern’s point of view, transitioning between the present and ten years earlier with segments from her mother’s journal from the year before Fern was born. Sometimes it could be confusing but for the most part, the transitions were woven nicely. Fern’s relationship with Will was more than complicated, primarily because he wasn’t an open book. It took quite a bit of time to learn why he didn’t meet Fern at the lake nine years earlier as agreed, which I found frustrating but later made absolute sense. Both were intriguing characters, she with lots of flaws and a rocky history during her teens and he an enigma with lots of shadows.
the narration…
I enjoyed the narrator as she managed a large cast effectively and with distinctive voices. Though Fern sounded younger than I’d imagined, she captured her personality nicely.
the bottom line…
Fern and Will were extremely complex characters and I enjoyed learning of their journey to the present day. Her’s seemed to be a delayed coming of age as she came to terms with her past. His was a bit more fuzzy because of his penchant for compartmentalizing his life and feelings. I had a vested interest in learning where they would land, which kept me in the story. It was original and nothing about it felt predictable.
Book Info
- Release Date: May 2, 2023
- Narrator: A. J. Bridel
- Audio Length: 9 hours, 56 minutes
- Publisher: Penguin Audio
(Thanks to Libro.fm and the publisher for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Posted by Jonetta | Blue Mood Café
Categories: Audiobook, Contemporary Fiction, Contemporary Romance
Tags: 2023 Audiobook Challenge, Reviews
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[…] Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune […]
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By 2023 Audiobook Challenge @kimbacaffeinate @twimom227 #2023AudiobookChallenge – Blue Mood Café on May 15, 2023 at 6:58 am
I can see why you liked the narrator, she’s got a lovely voice! Fab review Jo!
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By nickimags @ Secret Library Book Blog on May 15, 2023 at 8:07 am
Thanks, Nicki💜 These listening samples are getting harder to find and they make such a difference.
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By Jonetta | Blue Mood Café on May 15, 2023 at 9:09 am
I also got this one from Libro.fm and will be listening to it next week! I’m glad that you enjoyed it!
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By Jodie | That Happy Reader on May 15, 2023 at 8:52 am
Oh, Jodie, I think you’re going to enjoy it, too. At least I hope you do💜
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By Jonetta | Blue Mood Café on May 15, 2023 at 9:10 am
I’ve added this one to my TBR. Great review!
Anne – Books of My Heart
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By Northwoman on May 15, 2023 at 12:55 pm
Thank you, Anne💜
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By Jonetta | Blue Mood Café on May 15, 2023 at 12:56 pm
Great review – adding to my tbr.
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By radiosarahc on May 15, 2023 at 4:18 pm
Hope you enjoy, Sarah💜
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By Jonetta | Blue Mood Café on May 18, 2023 at 11:14 am
This sounds like a lovely read even though the male lead was so frustrating. And I love the setting! Excellent review!
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By Tessa Pulyer on May 16, 2023 at 7:39 am
Thank you, Tessa💜 It was lovely and felt “real.”
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By Jonetta | Blue Mood Café on May 18, 2023 at 11:14 am
Fab review! I like the sound of this one, although the male lead does sound frustrating.
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By Yvonne (It's All About Books) on May 17, 2023 at 5:42 pm
Thanks, Yvo💜 Will was confounding but there was so much to like about him to compensate.
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By Jonetta | Blue Mood Café on May 18, 2023 at 11:13 am
I heard so many good things about this author’s previous book, that I added this one to my TBR awhile ago. I enjoy coming of age stories as well as reunions/second chance stories. Nice review, Jo. I hope to read this as part of my 20 books of Summer challenge.
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By Carla on May 20, 2023 at 4:28 pm
Thank you, Carla💜 I still have that earlier book to listen to. Good luck getting to this one!
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By Jonetta | Blue Mood Café on May 21, 2023 at 12:33 pm