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Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune

A second-chance romance set in Ontario cottage country.

A second-chance romance set in Ontario cottage country

CBC Books Posted: Feb 06, 2023 8:59 PM EST | Last Updated: July 8

A pink and purple book cover featuring an illustration of a lakeside dock.

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? (From Viking)

Meet Me at the Lakewaschampioned by Mirian Njoh on Canada Reads 2024.

Carley Fortuneis a Toronto-based journalist who has worked as an editor for Refinery29, The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine and Toronto Life.Meet Me at the Lakeis her second novel following her debut,Every Summer After.

Why Carley Fortune loves writing romance

"What I love as a romance reader is watching two people who can feel very real going through real problems and trying to figure themselves out, trying to figure another person out and ultimately there is this happy ending."

Ultimately, I want to give people hope.- Carley Fortune

"So you go on this very emotional journey but you feel safe. I needed that when I was reading in 2020, and I needed that as a writer. I think my books do look at tough subjects.Meet Me at the Lakedeals with mental health, with grief and loss. But ultimately, I want to give people hope. I want people to feel like they've snooped on a real relationship and I want to give people an escape."

Interviews with Carley Fortune

Canada Reads6:49Carley Fortune on Here and Now

Carley Fortune's novel Meet Me at the Lake is the first romance novel to be a finalist for Canada Reads. Fortune spoke to CBC host Mary Ito on Here and Now about the pressure of following up a #1 New York Times bestselling debut.

The Next Chapter17:47Canada Reads panellist Mirian Njoh and Meet Me At The Lake author Carley Fortune meet for the first time

The designer and fashion influencer talks about why she wants to champion Carley Fortunes novel, the first ever romance title to grace the Canada Reads round table. Carley Fortune weighs in on the power of love and why stories about love are stories about living.

The Next Chapter18:20Blockbuster Canadian romance writer Carley Fortune dives into summer love at the lake.

Ryan B. Patrick interviews bestselling author Carley Fortune about her hit novels, Meet Me At the Lake and Every Summer After and what inspired her to write them.

Other books by Carley Fortune

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