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Ladies of the Lake Paperback – July 11, 2023

by Cathy Gohlke (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 245 ratings
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After the deep bond of friendship between two young women is torn apart, what will it take to bring them together again? In Ladies of the Lake, the beloved author of Saving Amelie and Night Bird Calling returns with a transformative new historical novel about the wonder and complexities of friendship, love, and belonging.

When she is forced to leave her beloved Prince Edward Island to attend Lakeside Ladies Academy after the death of her parents, the last thing Adelaide Rose MacNeill expects to find is three kindred spirits. The “Ladies of the Lake,” as the four girls call themselves, quickly bond like sisters, vowing that wherever life takes them, they will always be there for each other. But that is before: Before love and jealousy come between Adelaide and Dorothy, the closest of the friends. Before the dawn of World War I upends their world and casts baseless suspicion onto the German American man they both love. Before a terrible explosion in Halifax Harbor rips the sisterhood irrevocably apart.

Seventeen years later, Rosaline Murray receives an unsuspecting telephone call from Dorothy, now headmistress of Lakeside, inviting her to attend the graduation of a new generation of girls, including Rosaline’s beloved daughter. With that call, Rosaline is drawn into a past she’d determined to put behind her. To memories of a man she once loved . . . of a sisterhood she abandoned . . . and of the day she stopped being Adelaide MacNeill.
  • Written by a four-time Christy award–winning author!
  • Ideal for book clubs―contains helpful discussion questions at the end!
  • Perfect for fans of L. M. Montgomery, Louisa May Alcott, and Lauren Willig’s Band of Sisters.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    384 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Tyndale House Publishers
  4. Publication date
    July 11, 2023
  5. Dimensions
    5.7 x 1.4 x 7.9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1496453549
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1496453549
  8. See all details
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From the Publisher

This historical fiction novel explores the themes of friendship, love, and belonging.
Lynn Austin (Long Way Home) endorses Ladies of the Lake.
Melanie Dobson (The Winter Rose) endorses Ladies of the Lake.
Christy-award winning Cathy Goelke has written Medallion and Night Bird Calling also.

Editorial Reviews

Review

With a youthful passion reminiscent of their literary hero, Anne of Green Gables, four girls at Lakeside Ladies Academy sign a pact to always be true to their friendship, calling themselves the Ladies of the Lake. Twenty-five years later, during the Great Depression, all four harbor secrets and scars. As the women pour into the lives of the next generation of Ladies of the Lake, they realize all have made mistakes and must find their own ways back. From the fear and anti-immigrant sentiment of World War I to the deadly Halifax explosion of 1917, this novel uncovers how the tides of history impact ordinary families and drive their choices into the next generation. Gohlke (A Hundred Crickets Singing) examines the power and peril of female friendship in this novel, which looks at the pull of the past and how women can rewrite the future. VERDICT History buffs looking for deep writing and character development will want to add Gohlke to their lists. Recommend to fans of Lisa Wingate, Amanda Dykes, and Valerie Fraser Luesse. Library Journal

Review

Ladies of the Lake touched my heart as it chronicled the enduring power of lifelong friendships. Gohlke’s characters came alive on the pages, sharing joys and sorrows, war and tragedy, betrayal, love, and forgiveness. Their deeply forged bonds were beautifully portrayed, reminding me to treasure my own dear friends. Lynn Austin, bestselling author of Long Way Home

Reading Ladies of the Lake is like unwrapping a beautiful present. I savored every page until, with sweet tears, I discovered the most wonderful surprise near the end. Thank you, Cathy Gohlke, for this treasured gift―another redemption story crafted from your heart. Melanie Dobson, award-winning author of The Winter Rose

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tyndale House Publishers (July 11, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496453549
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496453549
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.7 x 1.4 x 7.9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 245 ratings

About the author

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Cathy Gohlke

Cathy Gohlke

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Bestselling, Christy Hall of Fame, and Carol and INSPY Award-winning author, Cathy Gohlke writes novels steeped with inspirational lessons, speaking of world and life events through the lens of history. She champions the battle against oppression, celebrating the freedom found only in Christ. Her critically acclaimed novels include A Hundred Crickets Singing, Night Bird Calling, The Medallion (winner of the 2020 Christy Award), Until We Find Home, Secrets She Kept (winner of the 2016 Christy, Carol and INSPY Awards), Saving Amelie (winner of the 2015 INSPY Award), Band of Sisters, Promise Me This (listed by Library Journal as one of the best books of 2012), I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires (listed by Library Journal as one of the best books of 2008 and winner of the 2008 Christy and American Christian Fiction Writers Award) and William Henry is a Fine Name (winner of the 2007 Christy Award).

When not traveling to historic sites for research, she and her husband, Dan, divide their time between Northern Virginia and the Jersey Shore, enjoying time with their grown children and grandchildren. Visit her website at www.cathygohlke.com, and find her on Facebook at CathyGohlkeBooks; on Bookbub (@ CathyGohlke); and on YouTube, where you can subscribe to Book Gems with Cathy Gohlke for short videos of book recommendations.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
245 global ratings
Amazing novel of friendship from a seasoned author!
5 Stars
Amazing novel of friendship from a seasoned author!
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.
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Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2024
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This was a wonderful read. There were many twists and turns. Lots of fun mixed with sadness. Great strength and perseverance are shown throughout this book. You will not be disappointed.
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Graceful One
5.0 out of 5 stars Rich and engaging
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2024
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I have enjoyed all Cathy’s books, but this one especially touched my heart. The characters were so real and deep and I could relate to their failures and their mistakes as well as the terrible cost of keeping secrets and allowing unforgiveness to fester for so long in someone’s heart. I especially appreciated the life lesson of not allowing our scars, whether visible or invisible, to define our lives. Rather, like Addie/Rosaline and Ruth, we can face life with joy and confidence by God’s grace. I definitely recommend this book!
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Jeanne C
5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional!! What a heartfelt and captivating story!
Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2023
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Exceptional!! What a heartfelt and captivating story of Adelaide Rose MacNeill, who upon losing her parents at sea on their way back to Prince Edward Island is sent by her half brother to a girls boarding school in Connecticut at the tender age of 12. This beautiful historical novel finds Adelaide meeting a sweet grandmotherly friend for life on the trip to Connecticut and meeting three kindred spirits at school. They quickly become the "Ladies of the Lake" and vow to be friends for life. This story is a beautiful tale of the value of friendship, bonds that are broken and hopes that remain. I was hooked from the very beginning, loved the unexpected twist later on, and was crying by the end!

I love the settings of Prince Edward Island, the connection to the author of Anne of Green Gables, Halifax and the terrible explosion in 1917 (which I knew nothing about), and Connecticut where the girls attend school. The story begins in 1910 thought 1917, includes the hardship and attitudes during the Great War (WWI), and switches to the present in 1935, as well as an update during WWII.

I highly recommend this beautiful story by Cathy Gohlke, I loved this redemptive and uplifting story despite the difficulties they encountered along the way.

"All for one and one for all!" "We are the Ladies of the Lake!"

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own. I also plan to get my own paperback copy for my keeper shelf!
4 people found this helpful
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Karen B. Zagor
4.0 out of 5 stars Enduring Friendships
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2023
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A wonderful story about the power of friendship and the harm of lies we tell ourselves and others. The values and attitudes of WW1 along with tragic facts presented with detailed historic accuracy. Deep felt emotions of characters and lovely writing style makes Cathy Gohlke a favorite of mine. The Christian values and scripture are woven in a very authentic manner without trying proselytizing. Forgiveness is a universal theme that resonates in all friendships.
3 people found this helpful
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Mary m
5.0 out of 5 stars A moving story
Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2024
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It took me a while to get to this book but I am sure glad I did.
An amazing story of women, girls who grew to be best friends.
A story of loss and love, of faith and courage.
Set in Canada and Connecticut it met a couple of my challenges. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
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Carmen M. Rumbaut
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully Crafted
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2024
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Wonderful characters with full emotional lives growing together in difficult times. Tragedy borne by love, mature and ethical but very real people.
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Stephanie McCall
3.0 out of 5 stars A Feminine "Knights of the Round Table" Tale--With Tarnish on Excalibur
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2023
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I looked forward to Ladies of the Lake. I love a good friendship novel, and am always drawn to a stalwart group of friends, especially a sisterhood. In Cathy Gohlke's hands, I expected this sisterhood would be a powerful one. What actually happened was...well, she didn't let me down, but the reality of Ladies of the Lake turned out to be a mixed bag.

First, as always, the good stuff. Ladies of the Lake does start off with a strong friendship between Addie, Dorothy, Ruth, and Susannah. Especially in the boarding school environment, I believed these four would not only find each other quickly, but form indelible bonds and create a family of their own. Those bonds work precisely because the girls form a core around the member who is orphaned, which doesn't always work for found family but comes off great here. Plus, I think Cathy did a good job of focusing more on what the Ladies had in common than their differences, whereas similar books often go too far out of their way to make the friendship members overtly incongruous.

I enjoyed Cathy's attention to detail during Addie's chapters. She did plenty of homework, but I could also tell the Canadian setting was a setting of her heart. Thus, Addie's love for and ties to Canada pop off the page even when she's in Connecticut, and you can "feel" Canada within Dorothy's chapters, too. Ladies of the Lake also carries a distinct Anne of Green Gables "flavor" I loved (like Addie, I was a kindred spirit of Anne's growing up. My mom used to say if our local theater ever did Anne of Green Gables, I was a shoo-in, brown hair or not).

Lakeside Ladies' Academy almost functions as a character, as the best settings always do. I cared about what would happen to it, especially toward the end of the book. Even before that, throughout the novel, I always loved coming back and seeing the girls return. More than their homes and families, the school felt like their home, and a literary home for me. It warmed me in a way, perhaps because I was always a diligent student who enjoyed reading and school and worked to please her teachers, even those in whose subjects I struggled. In fact, I used to fantasize about being a boarding school student--yes, even with a Mean Mildred or mean teachers--but only if I had my own Lake Ladies to help me defeat them! Seeing Bernadette thrive there, and watching her class graduate, knowing she had done such good things for them, made me feel as if I was "inside" the story for a moment.

Cathy's pacing kept my pages turning in spite of some weak elements I'll discuss momentarily. I always wanted to know what would happen and how conflicts would be resolved--or if they would. Ladies of the Lake isn't a classically suspenseful book, but it kept me questioning in terms of people's hearts and relationships. These questions have always drawn me in more than whodunits, and I was never disappointed. I rooted for resolution, if not perfect happiness, for every character, especially Bernadette and Portia--no mean feat, since they're fairly minor characters. If anything, Cathy eventually made me care about them than the protagonists.

That's probably a good segue into Ladies of the Lake's weak points. As much as I enjoyed some parts and character arcs and scenes, I can't give Ladies of the Lake a higher rating, for many reasons. One, and the most persistent, is the writing style. It's not telling over showing exactly, but throughout the book, I found myself "detached" from the characters and plot. The Ladies felt two-dimensional much of the time. In fact, for about three quarters of the story, Susannah and Ruth basically disappear, to make room for Addie and Dot's conflict. We go from a square to a pair, with basically no explanation, just so Addie and Dot can fight over a boy.

Okay, I know the conflict is a lot deeper than that. I'm not trying to be mean. But that is the next weak point. Addie and Dorothy's mutual love for Stephen drives the plot, their anger and jealousy, their life-changing decisions. And some of those decisions had the potential to be absolutely wrenching, earth-shattering, the kind of decisions that can make or break someone, or break them and remake them with God's help. Yet, because of the lack of dimensionality in character and plot, it feels as if all this angst happens because...two schoolgirls grew up still fighting over the same guy. And when I juxtaposed that with Addie's post-Halifax Explosion decisions in particular--I got jarred out of the story in a way. That is, her decisions still made sense if I paired them with the fact, she was also a traumatized, essentially abandoned orphan. But at the time, she was in her twenties. At the time, she was an established adult. She'd had time to make a life separate from Stephen and had arguably begun to do that. So...again, I couldn't justify what I was seeing happen.

The book's last quarter in particular is riddled with such jarring moments. Without spoiling anything, Dorothy and Addie in particular make choices in how they are going to live their lives and with whom, that make absolutely no sense if you pair them with all the angst that led up to those choices (constant lying, crying fits, refusing to attend a beloved child's graduation, breaking objects, missing work deadlines, on and on). Susannah and Ruth reappear only if and when it's convenient. Matters of forgiveness, faith, and compassion toward self and others are brought up if and when they are convenient. You get the idea. I found myself weary of the angst, and frustrated with the characters and their author.

The icing--or sticky fondant--on the cake for me, was some thoughtless or downright cruel actions from the Ladies of the Lake sprinkled throughout the book. For instance, Ruth and Susannah basically dump the other two because they choose to stand by the Meyers at the beginning of World War I, rather than forming their own opinions, standing up for what's right, or at the very least, stating their case in a meaningful way. Again, it's less about the Meyers being good people than, "But we both love this guy." Later on, Dorothy has an opportunity to stand up for a cognitively disabled man of enlistment age who girls under her care are tormenting. She's basically fired from her post, but doesn't try to speak up for him before she leaves, as she knows she should've. Similarly, Addie never thinks to question the racial prejudice aimed at Portia, even while acknowledging she should, or thinks to clarify, for seventeen years, that she did not name Bernadette for her burns.

Overall then, is Ladies of the Lake a bad book? Well, I'd say it's not Cathy Gohlke's best work. It's badly *written,* in terms of style and plot choices. It does, however, have good roots. If you're a big fan of the time period, or if you don't mind a friendship story that focuses extremely closely on one character, go ahead and check it out. Otherwise, may I recommend The Best Summer of Our Lives for a better take on this type of story? Or, may I recommend Night Bird Calling and Hundred Crickets Singing for WWI stories that Cathy handled much better?
10 people found this helpful
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Heidi
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2024
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Cleverly written. If I say more it would be a spoiler. Cathy Goehlke always writes good stories.
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Top reviews from other countries

KerstinKards
5.0 out of 5 stars Superior Storytelling
Reviewed in Canada on January 9, 2024
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So happy the author diverted from her usual formula (which I have attempted to embrace several times but abandoned) My favourite part was that the storyline was very much driven by the Halifax Explosion in Nova Scotia, Canada December 6, 1917. At its heart it is a tale of friendship interwoven with secrets, heartbreak, and loyalty. A wonderful and very well executed twist made this my favourite read of 2023.
I once her it said that every great story begins with a birthing scene, I would add that a newly & tragically orphaned girl holds the same power. Adelaide's journey from heartbreak to joy, and back again, is well written, believable, relatable, and overall unpredictable. Even the friendship with L.M. Montgomery is superbly executed. The past and present are well mixed, and, thankfully no one "finds a diary of a long lost relative" which is still the subject manner of too many novels. I hope Cathy Gohlke writes more like Ladies of the Lake.
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