Cover Image: One Night at the Lake

One Night at the Lake

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Member Reviews

This story starts out from Leah's perspective when Leah and June, two best friends go on vacation to the lake home of Ollie, Leah's boyfriend. While there, Leah dies. You do not know the whole story of how Leah died, but it slowly unfolds as the it picks up from June's perspective seven years later.

Fluctuating back and forth from the perspective of Leah and June, we learn what happened in the past and how the story continues.

The character development is very good and strong. I had never read any books by Bethany Chase, but she is a very strong writer.

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I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Heartbreaking and hopeful novel about love after a tragedy. My heart broke for all who lost Leah. June is amazing--I love her character.

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One Night at the Lake is a plot twisting, murder, love story that will keep you interested and questioning, right up until the end. I became invested in the characters, to the point that they seemed like real life friends, haha. There are a lot of twists that you don’t see coming and the relationships throughout the story will sometimes have you scratching your head, asking what could possibly happen next.
I think this book did a really wonderful job of exploring the complicated and intricate relationships that happen among friends and lovers, with a dose of reality added in for good measure.
I’m giving this book 3 out of 5 stars because I was engaged, intrigued and hopeful, that these specific relationships could weather the storm that were their lives. It portrayed the havoc a tragedy can invoke on people’s lives and how loving, strong, persistent relationships, can sustain anything.
Mystery, love, relationships and betrayal are all wrapped up into this story, you won’t be disappointed.

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Chase's book is about one man involved with two friends, told in split narrative. Leah was Ollie's girlfriend first and part of the story is from her perspective. June is Leah's best friend, who becomes engaged to Ollie after Leah leaves, and the other perspective is from her angle. Eventually, the truth is fleshed out about the horrible night at the lake. The question is can the couple mend and endure?
A good story about complicated relationships and family dynamics.

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This is the story of best friends, their relationship with each other, with a guy, and how one of those friends and the guy deal with the other friend's death. It's definitely one of those slow burning reads with a focus on friendships and conversations rather than actions and events. For me, the characters were good, but not good enough to sustain an entire novel without more "stuff" going on. I needed more of a spark of energy to move the plot forward. In the end, I'd say this is for someone who enjoys reading dramas over thrillers.

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I received an ARC of #OneNightAtTheLake from NetGalley and Random House Books in exchange for my honest review.

The best books leave the reader in a story-induced stupor, a book hangover of sorts. You become so immersed in the writer’s world, it becomes part of you. This is one of those books.

The story is told from the perspective of two different narrators, June and Leah, who are best friends. The story takes place at a family lake house in Seneca, and unfolds over two different timelines, each narrated by a single voice. The author effortlessly intertwined the narration between the past and present, until the story meets seamlessly at the end.

Without giving too much away, June and Leah both fall in love with the perfect guy. Sadly, it’s the same guy. Chapter one sets the stage, but chapter two is where the story really takes off. At the end of each chapter, I found myself switching sides and rooting for a different ending.

This is not your typical love story. It’s told from a unique perspective, and it was really hard to decide who I was fighting for at the end. The dialogue was engaging, with Leah’s sarcastic wit making me laugh out loud throughout the book. June’s quieter personality is emphasized by her genuine need to do the right thing. They are unlikely best friends, but their love for each other in unquestionable.

Ultimately this story is about love and loss, fate and choices, and in the ripple effect we have on those around us. It grips you from the beginning and takes you through an incredible journey.

I read this book in one sitting and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

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Compelling writing; could not stop thinking about these characters. The build-up was suspenseful, and it made me think how this is such a tough book to categorize. I've read all of Bethany's books and I love her writing. It was cool to see her go in a different direction here. I do wish the wrap-up had felt more earned, and there were a few other loose-ends that I didn't feel right about.

Bethany's writing style is always wonderful, her characters are incredibly nuanced and I appreciate that so much, but this actual story wasn't one of my favorites. That being said, this would be a great book club pick because I can only imagine it would inspire some interesting conversation between people.

I also want to take this opportunity to remind other readers to get Bethany's backlist on their TBRs. Her books are so wonderful, and I won't stop pushing them.

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Leah and June are best friends and about to spend the 4th of July holiday at the lake house of Leah's boyfriend. Leah and Ollie have been dating for 4 years and she's suspecting this might be the week he's finally going to propose. The three of them are having the time of their lives when tragedy strikes and everyone's lives are altered forever.

Fast forward 7 years when Ollie and his fiancee June (yes, same June) are returning to his family's lake house. June hasn't been back since they lost Leah and she's dreading all the memories that will come with the trip back.

Told in alternating chapters between Leah and June this story goes back and forth from past to present and we get to know each woman through their experiences, and eventually learn what happened to Leah on that fateful night.

I really enjoyed this book! This was my second book by Bethany Chase and I instantly knew I would like it. Her writing style flows so well and she is a natural storyteller. All the characters are well developed and I felt like I knew each and every one. I found Leah to be slightly annoying at times, but I think that was just her outgoing firecracker personality. I would definitely recommend this book!

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This is a women’s fiction novel with romantic elements and some mystery. The book is told from the alternating points of view of two women who became best friends when they were twelve. When Leah tells her part of the story, it is seven years earlier, before she died. We know it happened at the lake where her boyfriend’s parents had a place, but we don’t know the exact circumstances of how she died. When June tells her story, she’s now engaged to Ollie, the man Leah thought she was going to marry before her untimely death.

The writing is strong. The only thing that wasn’t great about this is that when I put the book down in the middle of the chapter, when I came back to it, it took a while to figure out if I was reading from Leah’s POV or from June’s. Both narrators were first person, and their voices weren’t distinct, so I had to wait to read how they referenced the other one to figure out whose perspective I was in.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to review this book, which RELEASES JUNE 18, 2019.

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I finished this in one evening! Even though I went into it thinking it was a going to be a thriller, it really wasn't, but I didn't care. This story was so well written, powerful, emotional, and poignant. The author did a superb job at setting up the most perfect Lake House getaway scenes. I could feel the hot sun and smell the grill and the scent of the sunscreen on the beach towels. I could literally hear the water lapping on the dock. I give her 5 stars for just the imagery! Amazing!
I loved how this was written using 2 narratives. One from the past and one in the present. It brought the story and the characters to life. I am not going to copy down the entire synopsis of the book, as thats been done already.
I will say this book is highly emotional and worth every minute reading it.
4.5 stars from me.
Thank you #NetGalley, the author and the Publisher for my free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

5 stars for the absolutely beautiful cover.

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First things first, I definitely went into this thinking it was more along the lines of a "thriller" read - but it is not. I think not knowing that led for me to be rather confused and then disappointed as I continued to read. This isn't really the fault of the book itself - I just think it should be known that this is not what I would consider a thriller.

The writing was rather well done! This is my first Bethany Chase book and I think I might end up picking up another book by her eventually because I rather enjoyed how she crafted her story even if I found the ending to be extremely disappointing. Maybe it was me - maybe I just was more in the mood for some high thrills - but I just felt this was an okay story rather than a great one that will stick with me for a long time.

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This book switches back and forth between two different summer holiday weekends, years apart. This makes keeping track of the story a bit challenging at first, but once one gets to know the characters it becomes easier. The early story relates to Leah's apparent death, though we don't know how that happened until the end of the book. Her best friend June has traveled with her to Leah's boyfriend's family lake home for the July 4th weekend. The second storyline (years later) has June engaged to Leah's old boyfriend and they are also at the lake for the weekend, often reliving that earlier time.
This book was an interesting read, though I'm not sure I find the final outcome believable. The cause of Leah's death was a bit surprising, as well.

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I had never heard of Bethany Chase. After reading this, I feel very lucky that now I have! I loved the story line and the author made me feel as if I were there and actually knew the characters. I am big on stories with water settings and different POV's. This is perfect for both suspense fans (me) and fans of friendship/betrayal/secrets stories! I look forward to catching up on Bethany Chase!! Thank you to NetGalley, Ms. Chase and Random House/Ballentine Books!

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This was such a good read!! “One Night at the Lake” tells the story of two best friends, Leah Tessaro and June Kang, and the man they both love, Ollie. The story is told from the point of view of both girls - Leah from 7 years in the past and June from present day. This novel has everything I love about a good romance, with complex character relationships and hardships the couples must overcome, plus it has a serious mystery vibe to it. The whole time you’re reading you’re wondering what happened to Leah? Why is June afraid to return to the lake? I had to keep reading and couldn’t put it down until I found out the truth!! This was such an interesting storyline and I loved the diverse characters and u inquest storytelling. This is a must read for sure!

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Leah and her boyfriend, Ollie, plan to spend a blissful, relaxing week at his family's lakehouse on Seneca Lake, NY. It's a family tradition to spend the week of July 4th at the lake, where the fireworks and parties promise to be epic. This year Leah has asked her best friend June to join them, even though she suspects Ollie will pop the question while they are there. After all, she wouldn't want to celebrate such a momentous occasion without her best friend. However, events unfold that change everything, including the lives of everyone involved. Now, seven years later June and Ollie are headed back to Lake Seneca, but Leah will not be joining them.

Told in alternating views from both Leah and June's perspective, the reader learns the friends' secrets and yearnings and the guilt that can literally eat someone alive.

VERDICT: Chase (The One That Got Away) has written a compelling, suspenseful novel that will have readers turning pages till the wee hours. Perfect for fans of women's fiction with a hefty does of supense thrown in for good measure. Highly recommended!

(Starred review pending for Library Journal)

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A little mystery, a little romance= a very interesting story. Told from 2 peoples points of view. Leah from 7 years ago and her friend June from present day. It is a story of romance, friendship and heartache as we learn about the tragedy that happened one night at the lake. Thanks to Net Galley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read the advance copy.

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This book has a very interesting structure, switching between two best friends (one seven years ago, one in present day) and the man they both love. There is a lot of mystery around what happened the last time they all went to Seneca Lake, and the events of the plot quickly bring those in present day back to the scene of the trauma. The two points of view are well written and have very engaging, distinct voices, and the plot keeps you guessing until the end.

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I really enjoyed this story. The plot was captivating and the characters really drew me in. I don’t think this author can do any wrong. I love all of her work.

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I was captivated by this book almost immediately. I could not put it down!
This story is told through 2 perspectives and combines them seamlessly. Leah tells her story from 7 years ago while June tells her in present day. The characters were realistic and relatable. It is about romance, friendship and heartache.
I am grateful that I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review so that I didn't have to wait for this to be released in June 2019. I highly recommend this book!

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This is my first book by Bethany Chase. I enjoyed her writing, she brought everything to life and her characters and surroundings were very vivid. This story is about two best friends told in alternating characters seven years apart, one of them tragically dies on the lake at her boyfriend's parents house.

The first part of the book started off slow. This could have been to build and grow an understanding of the characters. I was kept interested to find out how she dies, which was kind of anticlimactic.

The rest of the story I just wasn't a fan of. I didn't care for the two remaining main characters. At the end of the story I just found myself feeling sad and kind of mad at the same time. I will definitely give this authors other books a read though

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