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The Other Side of Forestlands Lake
As kids, best friends Willa Dunn and Lee Chandler spend every summer together at the idyllic Upstate New York community of Forestlands Lake, nestled in the foothills of the Taconic Mountains. During the summer before they turn sixteen―just as the two are discovering that there might be something more to their friendship―a tragic accident befalls Willa’s family and without warning, Willa and Lee's world is torn apart.
Twenty-five years later Willa is a successful author of the young adult ghost stories she loved to read as a child. She returns to the lake looking for a writer’s retreat and an opportunity to connect with her troubled teenage sister, Nicole.
Lee, now a single mother to her wise-beyond-her-years teenage daughter Maggie, is the director of the summer camp on the other side of Forestlands Lake.
Before Willa and Nicole even have the chance to unpack, their plans are upset by a mysterious young girl, a near drowning, and a surprise reunion. Soon Willa and Lee are working to protect the girls, reconcile their past and unearth the secrets surrounding Forestlands Lake―putting old ghosts to rest once and for all.
Genre: Romance, Paranormal
Editor: Ann Roberts
Cover Designer: Judith Fellows
Twenty-five years later Willa is a successful author of the young adult ghost stories she loved to read as a child. She returns to the lake looking for a writer’s retreat and an opportunity to connect with her troubled teenage sister, Nicole.
Lee, now a single mother to her wise-beyond-her-years teenage daughter Maggie, is the director of the summer camp on the other side of Forestlands Lake.
Before Willa and Nicole even have the chance to unpack, their plans are upset by a mysterious young girl, a near drowning, and a surprise reunion. Soon Willa and Lee are working to protect the girls, reconcile their past and unearth the secrets surrounding Forestlands Lake―putting old ghosts to rest once and for all.
Genre: Romance, Paranormal
Editor: Ann Roberts
Cover Designer: Judith Fellows
304 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 2020
16 people are currently reading
449 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Elizabeth
9 books168 followersCarolyn Elizabeth is an author of Sapphic stories where serious camp meets upbeat macabre. Her sarcasm and love of pop culture are sprinkled throughout her stories and she would love to publish at least one novel in every sub-genre.
Carolyn once bungee jumped in the parking lot of a bar in Rosarito Beach, Mexico. She’s been a bridesmaid five times and a bride once. She’s sailed a tall ship, spent a night in jail, gotten many tattoos, been scuba diving twice, and fired a handgun.
For fun, she used to play winter rugby 7’s in an indoor horse arena in New Hampshire. She’s been to Savannah, Georgia for Saint Patrick’s Day, and been on a medical mission to northern Argentina.
Carolyn is a mom of two rambunctious boys, living in London, Ontario and working in cancer research. She enjoys weaving elements of her colorful and diverse life experiences, including her education in pathology, into her romantic blend fiction.
Carolyn once bungee jumped in the parking lot of a bar in Rosarito Beach, Mexico. She’s been a bridesmaid five times and a bride once. She’s sailed a tall ship, spent a night in jail, gotten many tattoos, been scuba diving twice, and fired a handgun.
For fun, she used to play winter rugby 7’s in an indoor horse arena in New Hampshire. She’s been to Savannah, Georgia for Saint Patrick’s Day, and been on a medical mission to northern Argentina.
Carolyn is a mom of two rambunctious boys, living in London, Ontario and working in cancer research. She enjoys weaving elements of her colorful and diverse life experiences, including her education in pathology, into her romantic blend fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
October 12, 2020
4.50 Stars. This was everything I was hoping for and a really good read. I love Elizabeth’s Curtis and Reynolds mystery series so when I heard she was writing another mystery book, but with a paranormal twist, let’s just say that this was on the list of most anticipated reads for the second half of 2020. It’s such a nice feeling when a book you are highly anticipating doesn’t let you down and you just love it. This is the kind of book I always hope to read in October.
Since there are different types of paranormal books I want to mention that this is the kind that if you believe in ghosts, it is not so far-fetched. This takes place at a lake that just might be haunted but you have to read the book to figure that out. This is not what I would call heavy paranormal. I think someone who is not big on this genre could easily read this with no problem. The book is not scary but it is a little spooky and when I say spooky, I mean about other creepy characters and not potential ghosts. And this is just creepy enough to make a perfect October read that anyone, especially mystery fans, would enjoy.
Besides the mysteries and the possible paranormal aspects, this is also a second chance romance too. And because it is a second chance romance, we get too see the main characters as teenagers and then 25 years later. Not only that but this book also stars two teenagers in current times so this book has a cool YA and middle-aged adult feel. I really liked the mix and was happy that I easily connected with all 4 main characters. The actual romance itself is on the sweeter side. It’s not very explicit, I would say moderately with a much sweeter vibe, but the characters have some nice chemistry. I really felt the attraction between them so I didn’t miss out on not having steamy sex scenes.
The mysteries were well written and very interesting to see how the clues unfolded. This charming lake town sure has some sketchy people, yikes. There are plenty of suspects and while I was checking them off one by one, I did not solve the crime on my own. Elizabeth got one past me and I like when that happens.
This is a book that I would absolutely recommend. If you are a fan of Elizabeth, don’t hesitate for a second to read this. If you want a good read for Halloween, get this. Elizabeth knows how to write and her stories are clever with good characters. This book was really gripping and I loved every minute of it.
A copy was given to me for a honest review.
Since there are different types of paranormal books I want to mention that this is the kind that if you believe in ghosts, it is not so far-fetched. This takes place at a lake that just might be haunted but you have to read the book to figure that out. This is not what I would call heavy paranormal. I think someone who is not big on this genre could easily read this with no problem. The book is not scary but it is a little spooky and when I say spooky, I mean about other creepy characters and not potential ghosts. And this is just creepy enough to make a perfect October read that anyone, especially mystery fans, would enjoy.
Besides the mysteries and the possible paranormal aspects, this is also a second chance romance too. And because it is a second chance romance, we get too see the main characters as teenagers and then 25 years later. Not only that but this book also stars two teenagers in current times so this book has a cool YA and middle-aged adult feel. I really liked the mix and was happy that I easily connected with all 4 main characters. The actual romance itself is on the sweeter side. It’s not very explicit, I would say moderately with a much sweeter vibe, but the characters have some nice chemistry. I really felt the attraction between them so I didn’t miss out on not having steamy sex scenes.
The mysteries were well written and very interesting to see how the clues unfolded. This charming lake town sure has some sketchy people, yikes. There are plenty of suspects and while I was checking them off one by one, I did not solve the crime on my own. Elizabeth got one past me and I like when that happens.
This is a book that I would absolutely recommend. If you are a fan of Elizabeth, don’t hesitate for a second to read this. If you want a good read for Halloween, get this. Elizabeth knows how to write and her stories are clever with good characters. This book was really gripping and I loved every minute of it.
A copy was given to me for a honest review.
June 22, 2022
Edit: June 22nd 2022, audiobook review, 5 ⭐️
That awesome feeling of anticipation I often mention when writing about audio versions of books I’ve loved? It turns to dread when I know something tragic is about to happen.
The Other Side of Forestlands Lake is my favourite book by Carolyn Elizabeth so far (I haven’t read her latest one, The Raven and the Banshee, yet) and I was looking forward to the audio experience. Those first chapters though… I had a lump in my throat for a long time. Then the characters took over, as they had when I first read this book in 2020. I love them all, Elizabeth writes very relatable characters even when what they go through is very far from anything I’ve experienced.
It was only my second book narrated by Amy Deuchler and the first one was years ago, when I first started listening to audiobooks. She’s a good fit for the story, and I enjoyed the different voices. With two important characters being seventeen-year-olds and the MCs being adult women, she had to come up with four female voices that would be distinct enough and reflect the characters’ age and life experiences. Add to that quite a few secondary characters and I am once again in awe of what a good narrator brings to a story.
------------------------------------------------
It took only one book by Carolyn Elizabeth for me to decide that she was a must-read author. This is her third (I also read a very short story) and it proves true again.
Twenty-six years ago, stuff happened and a child disappeared. Twenty-five years ago, more stuff happened, Willa and Lee had their first kiss and a child died. When Willa comes back for the first time in twenty-five years, a pretty successful YA paranormal writer, with her half-sister Nicole, a sullen seventeen-year-old, all that stuff and more still hovers over Forestlands Lake and its community. I’m aware this sounds vague but there are so many layers that going deeper would get spoilery really fast.
Willa and Lee have huge chemistry at fifteen, when they don’t really yet know what to do with it. It only gets huger when they meet again as adults, and the way the author wrote them as teenagers makes their reunion feel organic. They don’t know who the other has become but what they had as teens was so deep that it’s the perfect foundation for their relationship to build on.
This book made me feel so many things… One of them was sad, not only because of all the untimely deaths, but for lost opportunities, lost time, all Willa and Lee were robbed of, and Nicole too in a different way. And you know, I don’t do regrets. Regrets hold you back. They don’t help with anything. I’m a carpe diem and look ahead kind of person. Yet halfway through this book, my heart was full of regrets and unshed tears. Huge and cold. Ugh. I blame Elizabeth for how lovable she writes her characters. Lee’s longing and regret seeped into me. I felt Nicole’s anger and sorrow too, a lot.
None of what I just wrote is bad. It’s painful but it’s not bad. That’s what I read books for, why I read books. To feel. To root for characters. To want them to be happy or, at least, safe. To believe things get better. Because, you know, they do.
So yeah, I love the stories Elizabeth comes up with, but it’s the characters who make me look forward to each new book. So how lucky am I that this one counts four MCs? Or rather, two main and two almost main. And a whole slew of secondary characters, all substantial. And even more layers. Nothing stays only on the surface. Like for example, there’s not one but two mysteries in this novel. Well-thought, complex and thrilling mysteries. Everything came as a surprise yet still made complete sense (in a paranormal way). The atmosphere is wonderful too, both spooky and real, dark and warm.
And though there are elements of sadness or melancholy, The Other Side of Forestlands Lake is not the kind of book that will bring you down, however. The stories it tells are of closure on one side and of a brighter future on the other. What remains after reading isn’t the sensation of lost time. Watching relatable characters open themselves to love and forgiveness, take responsibility while shedding unfounded guilt, allow themselves to have a life, any life, after tragedy or a bad start, is energizing, it’s powerful and it brings hope and the possibility of growth.
With each new story, Carolyn Elizabeth shows that she could write any genre and I’d want to read it.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog: Jude in the Stars
That awesome feeling of anticipation I often mention when writing about audio versions of books I’ve loved? It turns to dread when I know something tragic is about to happen.
The Other Side of Forestlands Lake is my favourite book by Carolyn Elizabeth so far (I haven’t read her latest one, The Raven and the Banshee, yet) and I was looking forward to the audio experience. Those first chapters though… I had a lump in my throat for a long time. Then the characters took over, as they had when I first read this book in 2020. I love them all, Elizabeth writes very relatable characters even when what they go through is very far from anything I’ve experienced.
It was only my second book narrated by Amy Deuchler and the first one was years ago, when I first started listening to audiobooks. She’s a good fit for the story, and I enjoyed the different voices. With two important characters being seventeen-year-olds and the MCs being adult women, she had to come up with four female voices that would be distinct enough and reflect the characters’ age and life experiences. Add to that quite a few secondary characters and I am once again in awe of what a good narrator brings to a story.
------------------------------------------------
It took only one book by Carolyn Elizabeth for me to decide that she was a must-read author. This is her third (I also read a very short story) and it proves true again.
Twenty-six years ago, stuff happened and a child disappeared. Twenty-five years ago, more stuff happened, Willa and Lee had their first kiss and a child died. When Willa comes back for the first time in twenty-five years, a pretty successful YA paranormal writer, with her half-sister Nicole, a sullen seventeen-year-old, all that stuff and more still hovers over Forestlands Lake and its community. I’m aware this sounds vague but there are so many layers that going deeper would get spoilery really fast.
Willa and Lee have huge chemistry at fifteen, when they don’t really yet know what to do with it. It only gets huger when they meet again as adults, and the way the author wrote them as teenagers makes their reunion feel organic. They don’t know who the other has become but what they had as teens was so deep that it’s the perfect foundation for their relationship to build on.
This book made me feel so many things… One of them was sad, not only because of all the untimely deaths, but for lost opportunities, lost time, all Willa and Lee were robbed of, and Nicole too in a different way. And you know, I don’t do regrets. Regrets hold you back. They don’t help with anything. I’m a carpe diem and look ahead kind of person. Yet halfway through this book, my heart was full of regrets and unshed tears. Huge and cold. Ugh. I blame Elizabeth for how lovable she writes her characters. Lee’s longing and regret seeped into me. I felt Nicole’s anger and sorrow too, a lot.
None of what I just wrote is bad. It’s painful but it’s not bad. That’s what I read books for, why I read books. To feel. To root for characters. To want them to be happy or, at least, safe. To believe things get better. Because, you know, they do.
So yeah, I love the stories Elizabeth comes up with, but it’s the characters who make me look forward to each new book. So how lucky am I that this one counts four MCs? Or rather, two main and two almost main. And a whole slew of secondary characters, all substantial. And even more layers. Nothing stays only on the surface. Like for example, there’s not one but two mysteries in this novel. Well-thought, complex and thrilling mysteries. Everything came as a surprise yet still made complete sense (in a paranormal way). The atmosphere is wonderful too, both spooky and real, dark and warm.
And though there are elements of sadness or melancholy, The Other Side of Forestlands Lake is not the kind of book that will bring you down, however. The stories it tells are of closure on one side and of a brighter future on the other. What remains after reading isn’t the sensation of lost time. Watching relatable characters open themselves to love and forgiveness, take responsibility while shedding unfounded guilt, allow themselves to have a life, any life, after tragedy or a bad start, is energizing, it’s powerful and it brings hope and the possibility of growth.
With each new story, Carolyn Elizabeth shows that she could write any genre and I’d want to read it.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog: Jude in the Stars
October 17, 2020
The Other Side of Forestlands Lake is a romance cum paranormal mystery, and the third novel by Carolyn Elizabeth. Paranormal mysteries are not my usual choice, but I have a few of them among my favorite books especially those with ghosts. The Other Side of Forestlands Lake stays shoulder to shoulder with the best of them like River Walker and A Question of Ghosts by Cate Culpepper or As the Crow Flies by Karen F. Williams.
The plot is solid, very interesting and exciting. The pacing is flawless, making the book a page-turner. The protagonists are very likable and I really found myself caring about them. And not only that, I find myself strongly rooting for them to fix things and start a life as it was supposed to be for them. The younger pair of characters are great too, with a very important role in the narrative. The author did a very good job with them, as well as with numerous secondary characters.
All in all, a really enjoyable story which I will read again. I highly recommend it, and am looking forward to other books by Carolyn Elizabeth.
4.75 stars
October 17, 2020
*A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.*
The plot is solid, very interesting and exciting. The pacing is flawless, making the book a page-turner. The protagonists are very likable and I really found myself caring about them. And not only that, I find myself strongly rooting for them to fix things and start a life as it was supposed to be for them. The younger pair of characters are great too, with a very important role in the narrative. The author did a very good job with them, as well as with numerous secondary characters.
All in all, a really enjoyable story which I will read again. I highly recommend it, and am looking forward to other books by Carolyn Elizabeth.
4.75 stars
October 17, 2020
*A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.*
October 21, 2020
“The Other Side of Forestlands Lake” is a paranormal mystery with a dash of romance. There was also a bit of humor thrown in that helped balance some of the spooky.
Willa Dunn and Lee Chandler are childhood best friends that spend their summers together at a lake house community. The community happens to be across the lake from a summer camp where a girl has gone missing. A year later, when they’re 15, their relationship is just starting to move into a romantic one when a tragedy occurs and they are forced to go their separate ways.
25 years later, Willa, a YA author of paranormal books, is looking for a writer’s retreat with her angsty teenage sister, Nicole. She heads back to the lake house thinking it would be a good place to bond with her sister and to finish her fifth novel.
Lee now lives on the campgrounds year-round with her 17-year-old daughter, Maggie. She’s never forgotten Willa, or the tragedy that forced them to never see each other again.
However, almost as soon as Willa and Nicole arrive in town weird things start happening. This is when the paranormal/mystery part of the book starts happening. There is a ghost on the lake that’s been around for 25 years. And while Willa writes about paranormal activity, she’s not prepared to see and deal with it on her own. Willa and Lee are reunited and along with Nicole and Maggie they must figure out what is happening with the ghost. Willa and Lee are also dealing with their feelings from long ago that have never gone away.
I am a bona fide scaredy cat and as someone who is not into paranormal stories, I have to say this was well done. It was just spooky enough that I kept the lights on while reading but not scary enough that I couldn’t get through it or had to stop. I was on the edge of my seat and couldn’t put my kindle down while reading. The mystery kept me guessing until the very end.
I really enjoyed the entire cast of characters Elizabeth uses. There is a whole town of colorful individuals and everyone has an important part to the story.
This is my first book by Carolyn Elizabeth but it definitely won’t be my last. This is also the second book I’ve read that has a paranormal twist to it. I’m usually more into the contemporary romance but this in no way disappointed me. There was enough of the romance that I was satisfied as a romance reader.
I highly recommend this to anyone who is a fan of well written paranormal mysteries.
Willa Dunn and Lee Chandler are childhood best friends that spend their summers together at a lake house community. The community happens to be across the lake from a summer camp where a girl has gone missing. A year later, when they’re 15, their relationship is just starting to move into a romantic one when a tragedy occurs and they are forced to go their separate ways.
25 years later, Willa, a YA author of paranormal books, is looking for a writer’s retreat with her angsty teenage sister, Nicole. She heads back to the lake house thinking it would be a good place to bond with her sister and to finish her fifth novel.
Lee now lives on the campgrounds year-round with her 17-year-old daughter, Maggie. She’s never forgotten Willa, or the tragedy that forced them to never see each other again.
However, almost as soon as Willa and Nicole arrive in town weird things start happening. This is when the paranormal/mystery part of the book starts happening. There is a ghost on the lake that’s been around for 25 years. And while Willa writes about paranormal activity, she’s not prepared to see and deal with it on her own. Willa and Lee are reunited and along with Nicole and Maggie they must figure out what is happening with the ghost. Willa and Lee are also dealing with their feelings from long ago that have never gone away.
I am a bona fide scaredy cat and as someone who is not into paranormal stories, I have to say this was well done. It was just spooky enough that I kept the lights on while reading but not scary enough that I couldn’t get through it or had to stop. I was on the edge of my seat and couldn’t put my kindle down while reading. The mystery kept me guessing until the very end.
I really enjoyed the entire cast of characters Elizabeth uses. There is a whole town of colorful individuals and everyone has an important part to the story.
This is my first book by Carolyn Elizabeth but it definitely won’t be my last. This is also the second book I’ve read that has a paranormal twist to it. I’m usually more into the contemporary romance but this in no way disappointed me. There was enough of the romance that I was satisfied as a romance reader.
I highly recommend this to anyone who is a fan of well written paranormal mysteries.
October 11, 2020
Lee Chandler and Willa Dunn spend their summers together as neighbors at a campground of family owned cabins. They’re teenagers and every year, they hang out with the same young people hiking, swimming, and sneaking a few beers. But Willa and Lee are the kind of best friends who know deep down that their relationship is meant for a lifetime. But then tragedy strikes and it’s 25 years before they see each other again.
Present day, Lee runs a LGBTQ camp for youth on the old grounds and Willa, a well known author of paranormal books, decides to return to her family’s old cabin at the same site. She’s here at Forestlands Lake to find out the truth about what really happened on that long ago night and also desperately wants to know if Lee might still have feelings for her.
This is indeed a perfect October read. All of it’s here, the ambience of dark woods and campfires crackling, lonely paths, old ghost lore permeating every incident plus a fantastic mix of bizarre acting locals and wispy figures hiding in every shadow. There’s just the right amount of spookies, mystery, and romance. Lee and Willa fire up the pages every time they are in the same space and I appreciate the way these two 40 year old women are very sexy in every possible way. I also liked the bits involving the past teens as well as Lee’s daughter and Willa’s sister. These passages are genuinely engaging and if the author ever decides to do it, I think she could write some excellent YA.
For the scaredy-cats, this is not too heavy but there’s just enough to have you wondering what was that funny noise you just heard in your attic.
Received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Present day, Lee runs a LGBTQ camp for youth on the old grounds and Willa, a well known author of paranormal books, decides to return to her family’s old cabin at the same site. She’s here at Forestlands Lake to find out the truth about what really happened on that long ago night and also desperately wants to know if Lee might still have feelings for her.
This is indeed a perfect October read. All of it’s here, the ambience of dark woods and campfires crackling, lonely paths, old ghost lore permeating every incident plus a fantastic mix of bizarre acting locals and wispy figures hiding in every shadow. There’s just the right amount of spookies, mystery, and romance. Lee and Willa fire up the pages every time they are in the same space and I appreciate the way these two 40 year old women are very sexy in every possible way. I also liked the bits involving the past teens as well as Lee’s daughter and Willa’s sister. These passages are genuinely engaging and if the author ever decides to do it, I think she could write some excellent YA.
For the scaredy-cats, this is not too heavy but there’s just enough to have you wondering what was that funny noise you just heard in your attic.
Received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2020
Ok, I’m not the bravest person out there. And by that I mean, my courage can be measured in grams or milliliters, not kilos or liters. In fact, why was I ever a devoted X-Files fan is sometimes surprising to me. And for those lingering X-Philes out there, this one is a treat with even a reference to my beloved series in it!
Willa Dunn and Lee Chandler spent the summers at the Forestlands Lake community in Upstate New York. Inseparable, and just about to explore more than friendship, their lives are separated by tragedy the summer before their sixteen birthday. A quarter of a century later, now famous author Willa returns to the community looking for a writer’s retreat and time with her estranged sister, Nicole. Once there, she reconnects with Lee, who is the director of a summer camp on the other side of the lake and lives there with daughter Maggie. Together they must unearth the community’s secrets and lay old tragedies to rest.
I really enjoyed this book. The descriptions are great and suck you right into a ghostly atmosphere. Now, this is not horror, but was enough for my brave self to talk to the book. You know, ‘don’t go there’, ‘that’s not a good idea’ kind of talking. The community’s setup around the forest and lake and the disjointed cabin owners offer an abundance of immediate suspects and frightening places.
Elizabeth’s best skill as an author, besides dropping the word maggots nonchalantly, is her ability to write great chemistry. We all fell in love with Thayer and Corey, and although this is more in the mystery category, Willa and Lee’s chemistry was palpable from the beginning. The adolescent version was sweet and full of promise, paving the way to an adult version that picked up where they had left off seamlessly, yet with a bit of reality at missing the past 25 years of their lives. Maggie was a smart, sensible and sweet adolescent. Nicole’s character is complex and at times not personable, but her journey is vital to the story and the author did a fantastic job at balancing it so the end result is a likable teenager...or you know, a teenager.
The mystery and paranormal aspect of the story was also well done. I don’t want to
get into it as to not add spoilers since the book’s blurb was pretty circumspect. There is a mysterious disappearance and a death, and then some paranormal events as the story unfolds. It was suspenseful at times when I wasn’t gasping or cringing.
Overall, an excellent mystery/paranormal story with a sweet romance in the background. This one was a page turner for me at a time not many stories have kept me engaged. 5 stars
ARC generously provided to me by the author and BB via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Willa Dunn and Lee Chandler spent the summers at the Forestlands Lake community in Upstate New York. Inseparable, and just about to explore more than friendship, their lives are separated by tragedy the summer before their sixteen birthday. A quarter of a century later, now famous author Willa returns to the community looking for a writer’s retreat and time with her estranged sister, Nicole. Once there, she reconnects with Lee, who is the director of a summer camp on the other side of the lake and lives there with daughter Maggie. Together they must unearth the community’s secrets and lay old tragedies to rest.
I really enjoyed this book. The descriptions are great and suck you right into a ghostly atmosphere. Now, this is not horror, but was enough for my brave self to talk to the book. You know, ‘don’t go there’, ‘that’s not a good idea’ kind of talking. The community’s setup around the forest and lake and the disjointed cabin owners offer an abundance of immediate suspects and frightening places.
Elizabeth’s best skill as an author, besides dropping the word maggots nonchalantly, is her ability to write great chemistry. We all fell in love with Thayer and Corey, and although this is more in the mystery category, Willa and Lee’s chemistry was palpable from the beginning. The adolescent version was sweet and full of promise, paving the way to an adult version that picked up where they had left off seamlessly, yet with a bit of reality at missing the past 25 years of their lives. Maggie was a smart, sensible and sweet adolescent. Nicole’s character is complex and at times not personable, but her journey is vital to the story and the author did a fantastic job at balancing it so the end result is a likable teenager...or you know, a teenager.
The mystery and paranormal aspect of the story was also well done. I don’t want to
get into it as to not add spoilers since the book’s blurb was pretty circumspect. There is a mysterious disappearance and a death, and then some paranormal events as the story unfolds. It was suspenseful at times when I wasn’t gasping or cringing.
Overall, an excellent mystery/paranormal story with a sweet romance in the background. This one was a page turner for me at a time not many stories have kept me engaged. 5 stars
ARC generously provided to me by the author and BB via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 30, 2020
To be perfectly honest, I didn’t want to read this novel. Lesfic paranormal books aren’t my cup of tea and they have to come highly recommended for me to read them. However, this author is one of my favourites so I decided to read it anyway. And I’m glad I did.
Teenagers Willa Dunn and Lee Chandler used to spend every summer together in Forestlands Lake in upstate NY, until one day a tragic event for Willa’s family separated them. Twenty-five years later, Willa returns to Forestlands Lake as a famous YA author of ghost stories in search of a writing retreat and a chance of a reconnection with her sister Nicole. There she meets Lee again and together they will have to deal with ghosts – metaphorical and literal – from their past and present…
I was fearing that this book would creep me out with the story about ghosts but, luckily for me, this is not a horror book. As a matter of fact, it’s quite light on the paranormal side and as it favours more suspense/intrigue/mystery which will keep you turning pages and trying to guess the direction it’s going.
Forestlands Lake is a small town but a few of its inhabitants are important to the story and part of the mystery to be solved. I loved the way the author weaves the web of relationships among them and how she slowly brings connections between past and present. The mystery and intrigue parts were very well done and the great reveal unexpected.
Even though this isn’t a romance book, there are two types of love stories, YA and adult. Ms. Elizabeth writes both of them very well. I was especially surprised by the YA romance as it sounded authentic by highlighting the characters’ insecurities and innocence. The adult romance is also well written with lots of chemistry between the mains. However, as I said before, this is not a romance book so don’t expect much in that department because the mystery / intrigue steals the show.
The setting of this novel, exclusively in the small town of Forestlands Lake, creates a perfect background for the story. The small town with its history of old conflicts and feuds between their inhabitants bring the perfect opportunity to highlight the intrigue part of the plot. The woods surrounding it, and the lake dividing it from ‘the other side’ provides the story with a mysterious and even claustrophobic landscape in which the truth can be hidden in plain sight or in the deep dark of the night.
Overall, a superb paranormal / mystery book that won’t disappoint the fans of the genre. 5 stars.
ARC provided by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Teenagers Willa Dunn and Lee Chandler used to spend every summer together in Forestlands Lake in upstate NY, until one day a tragic event for Willa’s family separated them. Twenty-five years later, Willa returns to Forestlands Lake as a famous YA author of ghost stories in search of a writing retreat and a chance of a reconnection with her sister Nicole. There she meets Lee again and together they will have to deal with ghosts – metaphorical and literal – from their past and present…
I was fearing that this book would creep me out with the story about ghosts but, luckily for me, this is not a horror book. As a matter of fact, it’s quite light on the paranormal side and as it favours more suspense/intrigue/mystery which will keep you turning pages and trying to guess the direction it’s going.
Forestlands Lake is a small town but a few of its inhabitants are important to the story and part of the mystery to be solved. I loved the way the author weaves the web of relationships among them and how she slowly brings connections between past and present. The mystery and intrigue parts were very well done and the great reveal unexpected.
Even though this isn’t a romance book, there are two types of love stories, YA and adult. Ms. Elizabeth writes both of them very well. I was especially surprised by the YA romance as it sounded authentic by highlighting the characters’ insecurities and innocence. The adult romance is also well written with lots of chemistry between the mains. However, as I said before, this is not a romance book so don’t expect much in that department because the mystery / intrigue steals the show.
The setting of this novel, exclusively in the small town of Forestlands Lake, creates a perfect background for the story. The small town with its history of old conflicts and feuds between their inhabitants bring the perfect opportunity to highlight the intrigue part of the plot. The woods surrounding it, and the lake dividing it from ‘the other side’ provides the story with a mysterious and even claustrophobic landscape in which the truth can be hidden in plain sight or in the deep dark of the night.
Overall, a superb paranormal / mystery book that won’t disappoint the fans of the genre. 5 stars.
ARC provided by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 4, 2020
Willa and Lee was the best of friends as kids they spent summer together at Forestlands Lake. Their world change when Willa sister Emily drown and no one knows what made Emily go out into the lake after Lee took her home and her mother put her to bed people was already concern about the lake because a young girl Sasha disappeared.
Years later Willa has become a famous author with a hit series she always was into paranormal activities now she coming back to Forestlands Lake to look for writers retreat and to connect with her sister Nicole who thinks she is accident and that she annoy the she a split image of a sister that she never met.
Lee is single mom to a teenager daughter Maggie who seems wise beyond her years. She now director of summer camp on the opposite side of Forestlands Lake that deal with LGBTQ kids.
Willa and Lee heard a lot about each other throughout the years but never got into contact. Lee thought Willa hated her because she was the only other person to see Emily alive. Willa who was trying to live each day and wondering why Emily went out into the lake causes her to never reach out because she didn’t want to think of it. They both surprise to see each other and Willa even surprise that Lee has a daughter and that she her biggest fan. As they get to know each other again strange things start happening and it seems to affect Nicole more then others as we learn the reason Emily left her room that night and we might learn what happen to Sasha in the process. I love all the characters some not but their your typical characters especially I loves Maggie because she calls Nicole out on her attitude.
This was a good read. I love the premise of the supernatural because I always wonder do spriits stay or do they crossover and why some can hear them and why some can’t.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
Years later Willa has become a famous author with a hit series she always was into paranormal activities now she coming back to Forestlands Lake to look for writers retreat and to connect with her sister Nicole who thinks she is accident and that she annoy the she a split image of a sister that she never met.
Lee is single mom to a teenager daughter Maggie who seems wise beyond her years. She now director of summer camp on the opposite side of Forestlands Lake that deal with LGBTQ kids.
Willa and Lee heard a lot about each other throughout the years but never got into contact. Lee thought Willa hated her because she was the only other person to see Emily alive. Willa who was trying to live each day and wondering why Emily went out into the lake causes her to never reach out because she didn’t want to think of it. They both surprise to see each other and Willa even surprise that Lee has a daughter and that she her biggest fan. As they get to know each other again strange things start happening and it seems to affect Nicole more then others as we learn the reason Emily left her room that night and we might learn what happen to Sasha in the process. I love all the characters some not but their your typical characters especially I loves Maggie because she calls Nicole out on her attitude.
This was a good read. I love the premise of the supernatural because I always wonder do spriits stay or do they crossover and why some can hear them and why some can’t.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
October 31, 2020
With The Other Side of Forestlands Lake author Carolyn Elizabeth takes us away from the putrefied corpses and the morgue and gives us a solid paranormal mystery/romance.
I like the genre in all its forms but it’s a real treat when the author throws in some ghosties.
Carolyn Elizabeth certainly did not disappoint. What I liked about her main characters was that they kept a healthy dose of skepticism, even when the real weirdness set in. Willa Dunn and Lee Chandler are very likeable protagonists and as a reader you really are invested in them to get a second chance. The author makes us care because we start off with a solid piece of back story on what happened 26 years ago, as teenage Willa and Lee spend their summer at Forestlands Lake in Upstate New York and the tragedy that rips them apart.
The story is well paced and plotted, you will not find it easy to put the book down. We are introduced to a big cast of interesting secondary characters with a bigger (and important) role for Willa’s surly half-sister Nicole and Lee’s daughter Maggie. We get a sweet romance between two adult women in their 40s and some nice young adult chemistry as well. Don’t miss this book because you really want to find out what happened at the lake all those years ago and if Willa, Nicole and Maggie are able to put some of those ghosts to rest.
f/f
Themes: Camp Prism, Forrestland Lake, the disappearance of young Sasha Mathers, fooling around with the Ouija board, ghostly footsteps in the water, a family tragedy.
4.5 Stars
I like the genre in all its forms but it’s a real treat when the author throws in some ghosties.
Carolyn Elizabeth certainly did not disappoint. What I liked about her main characters was that they kept a healthy dose of skepticism, even when the real weirdness set in. Willa Dunn and Lee Chandler are very likeable protagonists and as a reader you really are invested in them to get a second chance. The author makes us care because we start off with a solid piece of back story on what happened 26 years ago, as teenage Willa and Lee spend their summer at Forestlands Lake in Upstate New York and the tragedy that rips them apart.
The story is well paced and plotted, you will not find it easy to put the book down. We are introduced to a big cast of interesting secondary characters with a bigger (and important) role for Willa’s surly half-sister Nicole and Lee’s daughter Maggie. We get a sweet romance between two adult women in their 40s and some nice young adult chemistry as well. Don’t miss this book because you really want to find out what happened at the lake all those years ago and if Willa, Nicole and Maggie are able to put some of those ghosts to rest.
f/f
Themes: Camp Prism, Forrestland Lake, the disappearance of young Sasha Mathers, fooling around with the Ouija board, ghostly footsteps in the water, a family tragedy.
4.5 Stars
October 21, 2020
With every book I’ve read by Carolyn Elizabeth, I’ve fallen more in love with her writing, and that continues to be true after reading The Other Side of Forestlands Lake.
This is a rather dark tale; perfect for this time of year, since it is not only a second chance at love/reunion romance, but has elements of the paranormal as well. The book begins twenty-five years ago when the main characters, Willa Dunn and Lee Chandler were teenagers. This is necessary so the reader will know the trauma that happened to these two and their families. Then the story returns to the present as the two meet again in Forestlands Lake, the site of that earlier trauma.
Ms. Elizabeth did a wonderful job with the setting and the eerie mood of this tale. The characters, both main and secondary, are well developed and fit their roles in the story perfectly. Some of the secondary characters really add to the gloomy darkness of the setting. The story itself and the mystery of the tale is intriguing and spine-tingling in all the right places.
I thoroughly enjoyed this paranormal/mystery/romance and have added it to my favorites list. I can see myself reading this one over and over. It has my highest recommendation.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
This is a rather dark tale; perfect for this time of year, since it is not only a second chance at love/reunion romance, but has elements of the paranormal as well. The book begins twenty-five years ago when the main characters, Willa Dunn and Lee Chandler were teenagers. This is necessary so the reader will know the trauma that happened to these two and their families. Then the story returns to the present as the two meet again in Forestlands Lake, the site of that earlier trauma.
Ms. Elizabeth did a wonderful job with the setting and the eerie mood of this tale. The characters, both main and secondary, are well developed and fit their roles in the story perfectly. Some of the secondary characters really add to the gloomy darkness of the setting. The story itself and the mystery of the tale is intriguing and spine-tingling in all the right places.
I thoroughly enjoyed this paranormal/mystery/romance and have added it to my favorites list. I can see myself reading this one over and over. It has my highest recommendation.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
December 27, 2020
This was the perfect book for me to read during the Christmas holidays. I know, it’s not very Christmassy, but this is one of the genres I like best and I’m a big fan of the Curtis and Reynolds series, so I was saving this book for a good moment. And yes, it was as good as I hoped it would be. This book has a bit of everything; a paranormal mystery with a little bit of action, romance, some emotional moments (grief) and even a bit of YA as the books starts with the mains in their teens.
The first part of the book describes the summer holiday at Forrestlands Lake of the 15-year-old Willa and Lee. They are best friends and are discovering that they may be more than best friends, but then they are ripped apart by a tragedy and lose contact until 25 years later. Lee now lives and works at a camp at Forrestlands Lake with her teenage daughter Maggie and Willa, a successful YA ghost story author, decides to visit the old cabin of her parents at the lake with her troubled teenage sister in the hope to write and to bond with her sister. Lee and Willa meet again, and the old attraction is still there, but soon strange things start happening and before they know it, they are in over their heads in trying to figure out what is happening.
I liked that the book started with Lee and Willa as teenagers. It gives a good feeling of who they are, what they mean to each other, and what their dreams are. It also forms the basis for the mystery. Twenty-five years later when they meet again it is as if no time has passed and they pick up where they stopped all those years ago. Without the teenage intro I might have found the romance to be fast, but now it felt perfectly natural, in fact, it almost felt as if they had been together all along. The teenage flashback also helps understand the relationships between the people living in the small town, which is important for the mystery.
The main storyline is the paranormal mystery in which some smaller storylines very nicely come together. I’m not going to say anything about it, you’ll have to experience it, but it kept me thinking and wondering what would happen. Both Lee and Willa are great characters with good depth, but I also enjoyed the secondary characters Nicole and Maggie, and the various townspeople.
As I said I’m a big fan of the Curtis and Reynolds series, this book has the same excellent dialogues and mystery and it is really hard to put it down once you start. Besides that, it also deals with some rather heavy topics resulting in some emotional moments. The book has an obvious paranormal touch, but it still feels rather realistic, so I think that people that are not into heavy paranormal books, but enjoy a mystery, could still enjoy it.
All in all, this is one of those books that has something for everybody, so I would recommend it to about everyone. Ow, and before I forget, I like the double meaning of the title, which you’ll understand if you get to reading the book ;)
The first part of the book describes the summer holiday at Forrestlands Lake of the 15-year-old Willa and Lee. They are best friends and are discovering that they may be more than best friends, but then they are ripped apart by a tragedy and lose contact until 25 years later. Lee now lives and works at a camp at Forrestlands Lake with her teenage daughter Maggie and Willa, a successful YA ghost story author, decides to visit the old cabin of her parents at the lake with her troubled teenage sister in the hope to write and to bond with her sister. Lee and Willa meet again, and the old attraction is still there, but soon strange things start happening and before they know it, they are in over their heads in trying to figure out what is happening.
I liked that the book started with Lee and Willa as teenagers. It gives a good feeling of who they are, what they mean to each other, and what their dreams are. It also forms the basis for the mystery. Twenty-five years later when they meet again it is as if no time has passed and they pick up where they stopped all those years ago. Without the teenage intro I might have found the romance to be fast, but now it felt perfectly natural, in fact, it almost felt as if they had been together all along. The teenage flashback also helps understand the relationships between the people living in the small town, which is important for the mystery.
The main storyline is the paranormal mystery in which some smaller storylines very nicely come together. I’m not going to say anything about it, you’ll have to experience it, but it kept me thinking and wondering what would happen. Both Lee and Willa are great characters with good depth, but I also enjoyed the secondary characters Nicole and Maggie, and the various townspeople.
As I said I’m a big fan of the Curtis and Reynolds series, this book has the same excellent dialogues and mystery and it is really hard to put it down once you start. Besides that, it also deals with some rather heavy topics resulting in some emotional moments. The book has an obvious paranormal touch, but it still feels rather realistic, so I think that people that are not into heavy paranormal books, but enjoy a mystery, could still enjoy it.
All in all, this is one of those books that has something for everybody, so I would recommend it to about everyone. Ow, and before I forget, I like the double meaning of the title, which you’ll understand if you get to reading the book ;)
May 28, 2021
Interesting paranormal tale, and a second chance at a romance that never really quite came to two women as teens.
I'm kind of a sucker for a teen crush becoming a proper romance later in life. But I felt the work wasn't really put in at the adult stage. No sooner do the two women reconnect, they are kissing and talking about how they felt as teens, how it hasn't changed and then quickly wanting to go to bed together. It felt like a bit too much, too fast.. I just felt skeptical and I was like "You have 25 years of life and change to catch up on!"
Both women still have issues from a tragedy that happened those 25 years ago. There's paranormal things happening that may be related to that event, and other events. But again I felt the work wasn't really put in. It's just presented as "Yep, there's paranormal stuff happening, everyone knows it, now you know it! Let's investigate!" It came a bit too easy.
Also the premise for the original woman, Willa, even coming back to that place with her half-sister - when you consider the underlying issues presented - seemed stretched.
The same with her lack of knowledge at what had happened there since, like her not knowing about her former best friends daughter and other community gossip... I come from a small town, and left at 17 there's not many people I'm still in contact with - but 17+ years later I still get the gossip about certain things. For instance, the latest was whose little kids were fighting at the local McDonalds playland, and their mothers from our former school-days that escalated it. lmao. I digress.
It also ended up in that trope of where one gets hurt physically, then they proceed to have sex while technically still healing over an injury that would generally make being intimate difficult and painful.
I just failed to connect really, it felt like a bit too much happening and none of it being fully fleshed out. The mystery and secrets was interesting, as was the paranormal, but yeah not a favourite.
I'm kind of a sucker for a teen crush becoming a proper romance later in life. But I felt the work wasn't really put in at the adult stage. No sooner do the two women reconnect, they are kissing and talking about how they felt as teens, how it hasn't changed and then quickly wanting to go to bed together. It felt like a bit too much, too fast.. I just felt skeptical and I was like "You have 25 years of life and change to catch up on!"
Both women still have issues from a tragedy that happened those 25 years ago. There's paranormal things happening that may be related to that event, and other events. But again I felt the work wasn't really put in. It's just presented as "Yep, there's paranormal stuff happening, everyone knows it, now you know it! Let's investigate!" It came a bit too easy.
Also the premise for the original woman, Willa, even coming back to that place with her half-sister - when you consider the underlying issues presented - seemed stretched.
The same with her lack of knowledge at what had happened there since, like her not knowing about her former best friends daughter and other community gossip... I come from a small town, and left at 17 there's not many people I'm still in contact with - but 17+ years later I still get the gossip about certain things. For instance, the latest was whose little kids were fighting at the local McDonalds playland, and their mothers from our former school-days that escalated it. lmao. I digress.
It also ended up in that trope of where one gets hurt physically, then they proceed to have sex while technically still healing over an injury that would generally make being intimate difficult and painful.
I just failed to connect really, it felt like a bit too much happening and none of it being fully fleshed out. The mystery and secrets was interesting, as was the paranormal, but yeah not a favourite.
October 23, 2020
I have to say this wasn’t what I was expecting. I really enjoy Carolyn Elizabeth’s Curtis and Reynolds series - but I enjoyed this in a completely different way. Whilst the book is a little bit spooky - and I really shouldn’t have insisted on reading it past midnight - it’s essentially at heart quite a sweet book.
Starting with a prologue and approximately 25% of the book set 25 years ago, we meet Lee and Willa as teenagers, where they are staying at Forestlands Lake for the summer with their parents. They get up to the usual things teenagers do, but it’s the sweet exploration of what their friendship means to each other, and whether it is possibly anything more that really stands out at this point. Tragedy strikes and they are split apart.
25 years later we meet the two again, back at Forestlands Lake in very different circumstances. Lee now runs the summer camp - though it’s a very different one to the one they encountered in the past. She also has a daughter, Maggie. Willa has a her half-sister Nicole in tow and is returning to the lake for the first time since the tragedy.
This part of the book deals with Lee and Willa picking up where they left off - which might feel a little instant love to some - but I actually liked. It also deals with the difficulties of Willa’s return. Nicole and Maggie really shine as characters here as well.
I found I actually enjoyed the paranormal aspects of the story, which I thought would be a sticking point for me. I love the way it’s discussed through Willa’s books, Maggie and Nicole, rather than it all being about some phantom camp gossip and whispers. It made it more real and understandable to me.
Early death and how it impacts those left behind is never an easy topic, but I thought Elizabeth did a great job of covering the thoughts and feelings of all of the characters, whilst still giving both the paranormal aspects and romance parts equal footing.
I’d recommend this to romance fans and paranormal fans. It’s convinced me to read a paranormal book by one of my favourite authors that I’ve left to one side as I was convinced I’d hate it because of the paranormal - so I’d say Elizabeth is definitely onto a winner.
I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Starting with a prologue and approximately 25% of the book set 25 years ago, we meet Lee and Willa as teenagers, where they are staying at Forestlands Lake for the summer with their parents. They get up to the usual things teenagers do, but it’s the sweet exploration of what their friendship means to each other, and whether it is possibly anything more that really stands out at this point. Tragedy strikes and they are split apart.
25 years later we meet the two again, back at Forestlands Lake in very different circumstances. Lee now runs the summer camp - though it’s a very different one to the one they encountered in the past. She also has a daughter, Maggie. Willa has a her half-sister Nicole in tow and is returning to the lake for the first time since the tragedy.
This part of the book deals with Lee and Willa picking up where they left off - which might feel a little instant love to some - but I actually liked. It also deals with the difficulties of Willa’s return. Nicole and Maggie really shine as characters here as well.
I found I actually enjoyed the paranormal aspects of the story, which I thought would be a sticking point for me. I love the way it’s discussed through Willa’s books, Maggie and Nicole, rather than it all being about some phantom camp gossip and whispers. It made it more real and understandable to me.
Early death and how it impacts those left behind is never an easy topic, but I thought Elizabeth did a great job of covering the thoughts and feelings of all of the characters, whilst still giving both the paranormal aspects and romance parts equal footing.
I’d recommend this to romance fans and paranormal fans. It’s convinced me to read a paranormal book by one of my favourite authors that I’ve left to one side as I was convinced I’d hate it because of the paranormal - so I’d say Elizabeth is definitely onto a winner.
I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 26, 2021
4,5 stars
Well, it was good, really really good, but...
I'm a coward and the book was chilling at times, so I got a bit scared. And I generally don't really like being scared...
(And yes, I should just stop reading ghost stories, shouldn't I? But they tend to be so well written...)
Well, it was good, really really good, but...
I'm a coward and the book was chilling at times, so I got a bit scared. And I generally don't really like being scared...
(And yes, I should just stop reading ghost stories, shouldn't I? But they tend to be so well written...)
April 24, 2022
Very very good!
October 15, 2021
Happy spooky season!
I'm a year late to this book so I won't belabor the point with an overly long review but I really enjoyed this book. It was the perfect level of spookiness to not scare me, and admitted wimp, over while having a really nice romance as well.
I liked this a lot. It's my first by Elizabeth and I'll have to look into others by her! 4/5
I'm a year late to this book so I won't belabor the point with an overly long review but I really enjoyed this book. It was the perfect level of spookiness to not scare me, and admitted wimp, over while having a really nice romance as well.
I liked this a lot. It's my first by Elizabeth and I'll have to look into others by her! 4/5
February 5, 2021
This was a decent ghost story. I liked everything about this book except for the romance. It had a good premise, for sure. But the chemistry wasn't there for me like it was for Elizabeth's Gallow's Humor/Dirt Nap. I guess they can't all be Corey and Thayer.
April 5, 2024
This is an honest to goodness ghost story. Toss in some lesbian longing, small town secrets, mix it all together in Carolyn Elizabeth's brain and out comes a fantastic story. I recommend this for something different, something haunting, something a little spicy. Don't sleep on this one good people.
May 21, 2022
I found myself holding my breath when reading this book, trying to guess what is happening. I always enjoyed works by this author, and will continue to support her future works.
October 21, 2020
As with the other novels by this talented author, I knew I would likely enjoy this book. And I most certainly did!
The main characters were as endearing as teenagers trying to figure life out, as they were adults a little beat-up by life. I loved almost all the characters, except for a couple of memorable secondary characters that had LOTS of eyebrow-raising qualities. (I don't want to say too much about them and ruin the surprise). The cover is just as engaging as the story within, and I could almost hear that little girl step-splashing in the water. Lee, Willa, Nicole and Maggie all had complete arcs, which really boosts my enjoyment of a story. There is a sub-plot as well, and a couple of surprises.
All in all, a little spooky with just a hint of complexity to make things interesting. Great characters, wonderful writing, terrific editing and an attention-grabbing cover.
Another winner from Carolyn Elizabeth and Bella Books!
The main characters were as endearing as teenagers trying to figure life out, as they were adults a little beat-up by life. I loved almost all the characters, except for a couple of memorable secondary characters that had LOTS of eyebrow-raising qualities. (I don't want to say too much about them and ruin the surprise). The cover is just as engaging as the story within, and I could almost hear that little girl step-splashing in the water. Lee, Willa, Nicole and Maggie all had complete arcs, which really boosts my enjoyment of a story. There is a sub-plot as well, and a couple of surprises.
All in all, a little spooky with just a hint of complexity to make things interesting. Great characters, wonderful writing, terrific editing and an attention-grabbing cover.
Another winner from Carolyn Elizabeth and Bella Books!
August 7, 2022
Maybe 2.5 stars. Listened to the audio. This was not the book for me. Couldn’t connect with either mc. And the story was just to weird for me, also too slow to unfold.
October 19, 2020
A paranormal lesbian romance wouldn't normally be my first choice of book (yes, I'm a scaredy cat), but I had read a lot of good things about The Other Side of Forestlands Lake and I knew I had to check it out for myself. And I'm really glad I did. Yes, the paranormal features heavily throughout the book, but it's not overwhelming and features a second-chance romance trope that I'm a sucker for.
Main characters, Willa and Lee, spend summers together at Forestlands Lake and we immediately start to see there's something more than friendship between them as Lee starts to question her sexuality and attraction to Willa. Before any of those feelings can really start to be explored, the Forestlands Lake community experiences another tragedy - a missing girl having already rocked the residents the year before - and so the girls' summer together (and frendship) ends prematurely.
The story picks up 25 years later with Willa, now a famous author of YA ghost stories, returning to the lake to finish her next book. She reconnects with Lee, a director at the summer camp across the other side of the lake, and the story that follows is spookily good.
I was riveted for the first half of the book and just wanted answers to everything! The secondary characters, Willa's sister Nicole and Lee's daughter Maggie, were really well developed and played an integral part in uncovering the murky truths of the lake. While I feel that the romance took a backseat to the overall drama of the book, I didn't feel too cheated and enjoyed finishing the story.
I'll certainly check out other books by Elizabeth as she definitely knows how to tell a story!
An ARC was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
Main characters, Willa and Lee, spend summers together at Forestlands Lake and we immediately start to see there's something more than friendship between them as Lee starts to question her sexuality and attraction to Willa. Before any of those feelings can really start to be explored, the Forestlands Lake community experiences another tragedy - a missing girl having already rocked the residents the year before - and so the girls' summer together (and frendship) ends prematurely.
The story picks up 25 years later with Willa, now a famous author of YA ghost stories, returning to the lake to finish her next book. She reconnects with Lee, a director at the summer camp across the other side of the lake, and the story that follows is spookily good.
I was riveted for the first half of the book and just wanted answers to everything! The secondary characters, Willa's sister Nicole and Lee's daughter Maggie, were really well developed and played an integral part in uncovering the murky truths of the lake. While I feel that the romance took a backseat to the overall drama of the book, I didn't feel too cheated and enjoyed finishing the story.
I'll certainly check out other books by Elizabeth as she definitely knows how to tell a story!
An ARC was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
August 7, 2022
Overall it felt like a YA mystery book for me, it probably would work out well as Netflix series.
I have enjoyed previous books by Carolyn Elizabeth though this fell flat for me.
The foundation was there for an spectacular romance but there was no spark or heat.
The mystery element is what pushed me through to the end.
I have enjoyed previous books by Carolyn Elizabeth though this fell flat for me.
The foundation was there for an spectacular romance but there was no spark or heat.
The mystery element is what pushed me through to the end.
November 23, 2020
I finally bought this book when it became available, and it was totally worth the wait 'cause it was fcuking amazing... and spooky. I loved it!
October 9, 2020
I enjoy watching a movie with some light paranormal things going on, I usually struggle with books in the genre, but not this time.
Willa and Lee are childhood summer friends. They see each other every summer while their families vacation on the lake. The last summer they are together there is a tragic accident, an accident that has a huge impact on the lake community. Willa never returns to the lake again, until she inherits the cabin from her dad 25 years later. Willa takes her sister Nicole to the lake. Nicole is struggling to find herself and Willa is in need of writer's retreat and bonding with her much younger sibling. When Willa sees Lee again after a couple of decades they realise they have been waiting for each other. Over the past 25 years lots have changed in their lives, Lee became a parent, Willa a successful YA-author, break-ups, illnesses, and deaths. What bonds them again is the connection they shared all those years ago and Maggie, Lee's daughter, being a massive fan of Willa's. The foursome has to deal with old ghosts and new bigots.
I like how the author pulls every character into this story, sure Lee and Willa are the mains, but Nicole and Maggie have a pretty big part as well and all characters go through some development. Even the ones you didn't see coming. Ghost stories aren't really my preferred reading genre, but I enjoyed this one. It feels like a "natural" part of the story instead of an overly fabricated ghost/ haunting story. I feel like this book has a two-part ending and it suits it well, one is the resolution to the ghost story and the other the HEA for Lee and Willa and what a sweet ending it is. I enjoyed this read more than I thought up front!
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
Willa and Lee are childhood summer friends. They see each other every summer while their families vacation on the lake. The last summer they are together there is a tragic accident, an accident that has a huge impact on the lake community. Willa never returns to the lake again, until she inherits the cabin from her dad 25 years later. Willa takes her sister Nicole to the lake. Nicole is struggling to find herself and Willa is in need of writer's retreat and bonding with her much younger sibling. When Willa sees Lee again after a couple of decades they realise they have been waiting for each other. Over the past 25 years lots have changed in their lives, Lee became a parent, Willa a successful YA-author, break-ups, illnesses, and deaths. What bonds them again is the connection they shared all those years ago and Maggie, Lee's daughter, being a massive fan of Willa's. The foursome has to deal with old ghosts and new bigots.
I like how the author pulls every character into this story, sure Lee and Willa are the mains, but Nicole and Maggie have a pretty big part as well and all characters go through some development. Even the ones you didn't see coming. Ghost stories aren't really my preferred reading genre, but I enjoyed this one. It feels like a "natural" part of the story instead of an overly fabricated ghost/ haunting story. I feel like this book has a two-part ending and it suits it well, one is the resolution to the ghost story and the other the HEA for Lee and Willa and what a sweet ending it is. I enjoyed this read more than I thought up front!
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
March 7, 2021
The Other Side of Forestlands Lake has a little bit of everything: romance, family drama, ghosts, and intrigue. These elements are balanced well and keep things interesting, whether the reader is following Willa and Lee’s relationship, Willa and Nicole’s reconciliation, or all the spooky things around the lake. That said, while the bulk of the story takes place in the present day, it’s important to know that almost a quarter of the story takes place when Willa and Lee are teenagers, first falling in love.
Full review: https://www.lambdaliterary.org/2021/0...
Full review: https://www.lambdaliterary.org/2021/0...
May 30, 2022
4.5 stars
That was fun. This story has that whole scary campfire stories as a kid vibe and I really enjoyed the read. Solid storytelling and memorable characters.
Well done.
That was fun. This story has that whole scary campfire stories as a kid vibe and I really enjoyed the read. Solid storytelling and memorable characters.
Well done.
June 14, 2022
Unpredictable and very interesting. A well written story that was enjoyable. I highly recommend this book.
September 4, 2022
“Believe me when I tell you, I have always intended for you to be the hero of my story.”
3.5 stars. Childhood friends to lovers, second chance romance, with a paranormal twist. Willa and Lee are best friends whose families spend the summers at a peaceful lakeside community, and there's a little romance brewing between them. After tragedy falls, they don't see each other for 25 years, but then they reunite, reconnect, and hopefully solve a mystery. Second chance romance is one of those hit or miss tropes for me, and I luckily found myself really liking these two and their rekindled flame. There's a tertiary POV, and for once, I do think it was absolutely needed, and it really did add a lot to the story. It's hard not to feel for Nicole, as bratty and temperamental as she was. It was completely understandable. I really liked all the side relationships, and the mysteries were actually pretty good. I wasn't as obsessed with the main romance as I was with my first book by this author, but, on a whole, it was so well plotted and executed, I still really enjoyed it. And I do really enjoy reading about women in their 40s.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Amy Deuchler; not my favourite, but still really good. This was a nice palette cleanser, and it's always cool to discover an author who dabbles in different genres.
Content warnings:
March 18, 2021
This was so good!!! I'm already a big fan of Elizabeth's works. The Curtis and Reynolds series is one of my all time favorites, and this book does not disappoint! It actually exceeded my already high expectations.
I really enjoyed all of the characters. I enjoyed seeing Lee and Willa reconnect and work to heal the past. Maggie and Nicole made great additions to the story. Teens can be a determent to the story but they really added to it.
What really hit it out of the park for me was the paranormal and mystery aspect. I particularly liked how the story unfolded. I don't want to spoil anything, so I am going to keep it simple and say that I really liked it! It kept the story very character driven.
I highly recommend this book and I can't wait what else Elizabeth releases!
I really enjoyed all of the characters. I enjoyed seeing Lee and Willa reconnect and work to heal the past. Maggie and Nicole made great additions to the story. Teens can be a determent to the story but they really added to it.
What really hit it out of the park for me was the paranormal and mystery aspect. I particularly liked how the story unfolded. I don't want to spoil anything, so I am going to keep it simple and say that I really liked it! It kept the story very character driven.
I highly recommend this book and I can't wait what else Elizabeth releases!
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