Review: One Night at the Lake by Bethany Chase

Synopsis from Goodreads:

A tragedy on a hot summer night at a lake house forever alters the lives of two best friends–and the man they both love. But the truth isn’t as simple as it appears in this intricate novel of love, friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness in the tradition of Miranda Beverly-Whittemore’s Bittersweet.

Leah Tessaro has been waiting for this moment for a long time: Her boyfriend, Ollie, is taking her to his family’s home on Seneca Lake for a week of lazy summer bliss, boating, and barbeque. The couple has been together for four years, and Leah is convinced that Ollie is finally going to pop the question. And Leah can’t wait to share the joyous news with her best friend, June Kang, who is joining them on their getaway, and whose presence will make everything feel more real.

Seven years later, the moment June has been dreading has finally arrived: Her fiance, Ollie, is taking her to his family’s lake house. But this is not an ordinary visit to an ordinary place; it is a house haunted by June’s long-buried memories of her lost friend, Leah–and the connection that appears to remain between Leah and the man for whom June’s love is as deep as her sense of foreboding.

Alternating between the two women’s vibrant voices, One Night at the Lake is a gripping novel that explores a complex tangle of friendship, loyalty, and betrayal, all driving toward one question: What exactly happened to Leah on that hot summer night?

I received a copy of this title via NetGalley. It does not impact my review.

One Night at the Lake will be available June 18, 2019. 

Well, this book was not for me. A small part of it might be that I have been in the mood lately for mystery and suspense. I knew this was not that type of book, but I feel like the synopsis suggests there is at least a hint of a mystery and there really wasn’t. It was more of a character-driven story about love and guilt and I found it repetitive and pretty boring.

I really hated almost every character in this book, especially the three main characters – Leah, June, and Ollie. The story is told through alternating first person POV by Leah and June. I found both of these women insufferable. I didn’t like or connect with either of them and it made the book very hard to get through. I liked Ollie until I didn’t. And once I didn’t, I really despised him. The great love story this book is supposed to have came off as a little scumbag-ish, to be honest, and I couldn’t get behind it.

Overall, One Night at the Lake just didn’t work for me. I find that if I’m going to find this type of story enjoyable, I either have to like the characters or love-to-hate them and neither are true here. I found them self-indulgent and annoying. However, I have read many great reviews on this one, so I’m obviously in the minority here. I am upping my rating from 1 star to 2 because there were occasionally some good banter.

Overall Rating (out of 5): 2 Stars