Meet Me at the Lake

Fern Brookbanks finds herself back at her family's resort in Muskoka after her mother's sudden death. The resort, once a cherished childhood haven, now feels like a burden as she grapples with her mother's legacy and the expectations it brings. Her ex-boyfriend Jamie , now the resort's general manager, is a constant reminder of her past. Fern is torn between her life in Toronto, where she manages a chain of coffee shops, and the responsibilities she now faces at the resort, feeling the weight of her mother's dedication and the resort's uncertain future. Fern's life takes an unexpected turn whe

Theme 1: Return to the Family Resort

Family and belonging sit at the heart of Meet Me at the Lake. Carley Fortune examines how the bonds we're born into — and the ones we choose — define us in ways we often don't recognize until they're tested.

Theme 2: Unexpected Reunion with the Past

At its core, Meet Me at the Lake is a meditation on loss — how grief reshapes us, and how we find ways to carry what we cannot leave behind. Carley Fortune handles these themes with sensitivity and grace, making the emotional journey feel universal.

Theme 3: Secrets and Unspoken Tensions

This thread running through Meet Me at the Lake gives the story its emotional weight. Carley Fortune weaves it into the narrative with skill, ensuring that the reader feels the stakes as deeply as the characters do.

What Readers Say About Meet Me at the Lake

Meet Me at the Lake has resonated with readers for its emotional honesty and vivid storytelling. Many describe finishing it in a single sitting — drawn forward by Carley Fortune's prose and an almost desperate need to know how it ends.

A Passage Worth Sitting With

"Return to the Family Resort" — Carley Fortune, Meet Me at the Lake

About the Author

Carley Fortune is the author of Meet Me at the Lake. Known for emotionally resonant storytelling, their work has found devoted readers across the globe.