Lake Life
Tanya Boteju
Quill Tree Books
Published May 26, 2026
Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads
About Lake Life
Perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli, this charming, chaotic romance follows two teens who agree to fake-date when stuck together one summer in a quirky, scenic lake town.
This is definitely not how Maya wanted to spend the summer—depressed at her once-beloved cabin in Spruce Lake, and unable to avoid seeing her lifelong best friend, Rashida, after confessing her woefully unrequited love to her last year. Maya can’t decide if she wants to escape, or convince Rashida they’re still meant to be.
Gabe is sent to Spruce Lake by her mom in hopes she stays out of trouble. Gabe is NOT excited to be here. She does NOT like nature. She does NOT want to spend her summer in a tiny town with outdoorsy environmentalist types.
Gabe is pretty sure she’ll be spending this entire summer bored and alone…until she meets Maya. Together, they hatch a fake-dating scheme to make Rashida jealous and convince Gabe’s mom that Gabe has turned a wholesome new leaf.
But as the plan plays out, and Gabe and Maya contend with protests, a relentlessly concerned community, and romantic twists, they start to realize that their assumptions about friendship and love might have led them completely astray. Can they find their way through this mess without hurting each other in the process?
My Review
There are so many fun summer themes in this book. I love the vacation setting and all the outdoor activities. The romance blossoms at just the right moment.
Far from simply being a summer romance, this book explores the impact of gentrification on natural spaces and the power of activism and allyship in support of an Indigenous group. Gabe, a girl thrust into a tiny lakeside community as punishment for causing trouble at home, finally finds her feet when an older Indigenous woman mentors her. Their relationship happens haltingly. It’s not something either of them necessarily looked for. But it’s clear they sense some kind of resonance in each other. And Gabe begins exploring new ways of seeing the small town and the potential for her to make a difference there.
The fake dating trope plays out in some charming and funny ways. Maya and Gabe aren’t an obvious fit, so they have to figure out how to enjoy activities together convincingly. I liked how each of them brings strengths to the relationship. For instance, Gabe’s zero tolerance for teasing Maya about things she finds painful helps give Maya a reprieve and space to heal from her heartache.
Maya’s passion for her community and her knowledge of the area help Gabe discover new outdoor activities that are surprisingly fun. The two of them ultimately make a great team, and it’s a lot of fun watching them discover that.
All in all, I enjoyed this book. I could see fans of Jennifer Dugan’s Summer Girls finding plenty to love in this summer romance.
Content Notes
Recommended for Ages 16 up.
Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used somewhat frequently.
Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.
Spiritual Content
References to Indigenous spirituality and beliefs.
Violent Content
None.
Drug Content
Teens drink alcohol in a few scenes.
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