What Happens at the Lake: A Grumpy Sunshine Novel

A standalone grumpy-sunshine novel from Vi Keeland. After an unexpected life change, the narrator leaves New York for Laurel Lake, a small town her father had spoken fondly of during her childhood. The town holds the title of America's Friendliest Town for seventeen years running. Upon arrival, however, the narrator encounters Fox Cassidy, her tall, dark, and burly neighbor, who greets her with grumbling rather than warmth. Their first meeting is awkward: the narrator has his mailbox in her hands after it gets crushed under her tire. She later needs his help breaking into her rental when her key breaks in the lock. Despite these circumstances, Fox remains grumpy. Over time, the narrator notices other qualities in Fox—the way he watches her, the fire in his eyes during their arguments. Though she came to Laurel Lake to escape her problems, becoming involved with Fox feels like creating new ones. Yet as the summer progresses, she decides to enjoy herself anyway, knowing she will eventually return home. The story explores what happens when a summer romance threatens to leave more behind than intended.