Ladies of the Lake by Cathy Gohlke landed as my first five-star read of 2024. This story gripped my attention from the start and the question of what happened between Dorothy and Adelaide urged me on. Gohlke’s smooth writing made the transitions between time periods easy to grasp. The expert plot pacing and clever prose kept me blind to an unanticipated plot twist. I actually reread sections trying to decipher how I was so hoodwinked!

The female friendships in Ladies of the Lake reminded me of the importance of connecting with others on a regular basis to maintain relationships. I loved how the characters’ friendships were presented in youth and adulthood, showing the way relationships can grow (or wither) over time. While the story emphasizes the power of friendship, quieter points about physical trauma, emotional brokenness, living with regrets, and speaking truth support the character journeys of Addie and Dot.

Ladies of the Lake by Cathy Gohlke has a permanent spot in my bookcase. I read this amazing novel with my church book club, and we had plenty of material to discuss plus a delightful chat with the author. Five stars for Ladies of the Lake!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own. ( )

Wow, wow, wow! This is my favorite book thar I've read this year! It's beyond fantastic! The story is unique, and it touched my heart. I connected with the characters so much. The theme of friendship resonated with me.

The characters are amazing! Addie deals with so much loss, and she perseveres. Dot harbors a secret that changed two people's lives. Stephen loses so much and remains true to his heart. Ruth and Susannah are true friends. Portia is my hero. She deals with tremendous loss and people looking down on her. She's loyal and not afraid to speak her mind!

The thing I love about Cathy Gohlke is how she thoroughly researches for her books. I never knew about the Halifax Explosion.

This is a definite must-read! You'll connect with the characters. You'll cry- guaranteed. But, you'll be grateful for your friends and your life. ( )

In Ladies of the Lake, Cathy Gohlke gives readers a story of friendships—from formation through fractures to restitution and reconnection—and loss and love.

I felt for Addie when she was a girl coming to Lakeside Academy and even more so when I learned of the next tragedy she endures. Yet, she finds meaning in her life—even though that life is a lonely one.

Dot, on the other hand, I had a hard time liking. At first, when she’s standing up for her friend, she is fine but as jealousy takes root and she becomes bitter toward Addie, I started to disapprove of her—and that lasted through the second half of this story. She became more of a mean girl than a lifelong friend.

That said, all is brought out into the light at the end of the book. And even though I had completely figured out what I think was supposed to be a twist to the reader very early on, Gohlke does an amazing job of drawing parallels to Anne of Green Gables and giving readers some history on the Halifax explosion (which, I have not read about before). ( )

I’m a great fan of Cathy Gohlke’s writing. I enjoy the way she combines a compelling inspirational story with a background of interesting slices of history. Ladies of the Lake is a fantastic example of this. Set mainly in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Connecticut in dual timelines of the early 1900s and 1935, this book follows the lives of four friends from the Lakeside Ladies Academy as they transition to adulthood and life takes them in different directions. Amid heartache, WWI, the Halifax explosion of 1917, and secrets kept, can their friendship mend and endure?

“And how can I hope to be forgiven if I don’t forgive?”

With themes of friendship, forgiveness, love, and family, this riveting tale kept me intrigued and turning pages to find out what was going to happen. I was impressed with the way the author seamlessly pulled the dual timelines together so it wasn’t jarring to switch back and forth. The historical and faith elements were organically and skillfully woven in. Beautifully written and poignant, this story illustrated again why Cathy Gohlke is one of my favorite authors of historical fiction. I would recommend this to those who enjoy exceptional inspirational historical fiction. ( )

Title: Ladies of the Lake
Author: Cathy Gohlke
Pages: 384
Year: 2023
Publisher: Tyndale
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
This is a must read as the story captivates from the beginning to end. More than that, Cathy sheds light on a moment in history when so many lives were irreversibly changed. Audiences are aware of WWI perhaps from many different aspects, but how many of us know of the Halifax explosion on December 6, 1917?
In her latest novel, Cathy Gohlke, brings to the front four women who attend an all-female academy called Lakeside Ladies Academy. All four girls room together. Each one has a unique past and an interesting future that is revealed as readers progress through the pages. Meet Adelaide Rose who had to leave her beloved home after the loss of her parents at a young age. Adelaide is lovingly referred to as “Addie” by the other girls she shares a room with: Dorothy, Rose, and Susannah. Together, they form a friendship that helps them endure their growing pains at the academy and prepares them to face an unknown future.
Using flashback in the novel, Cathy gives readers the current standing mainly of Addie and Dot as adults. However, as the story progresses, Rose and Susannah come back into the story in a very intriguing way. From the moment I opened the book until the very end, it was a very moving journey through time. I knew, of course, about WWI but nothing about the explosion that occurred in December 1917, nor of the aftermath of such a devastating explosion.
The writer did a fantastic job of weaving a story of mystery, intrigue, faith, heart, and history that readers should not miss! In the back of the book, there is “A Note from the Author” section. I read this before I read the book which helped me understand the tale and time period quite well. It is a tale of enduring friendship, the power of forgiveness, and hope. I highly recommend reading Ladies of the Lake and other Cathy Gohlke novels.
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. ( )