Book Review: Reunion By the Lake

Reviewed by Elizabeth Reiser

A family is forced to face their longstanding issues in this emotionally fraught novel. 

Family tensions boil over when three sons return to their parents’ lake house at their father’s cryptic request in James Gilbert’s Reunion By the Lake. 

Family patriarch Richard Collins knows it is time for him to get his affairs in order, as his health is failing fast. He has summoned his sons Seth, Deck, and Nick to visit and plans on letting them know that not only is he nearing the end of his life, but he has made a decision that will impact all of them after he is gone. 

Richard directs a lot of anger toward his sons, as they have not lived up to his high expectations. The pressure they felt growing up has impacted their paths into adulthood. 

Seth, the adopted eldest (as no one has ever let him forget), has found a wife and religion, but his career is nonexistent. Deck is successful but has not been able to commit to a relationship. Lastly, the youngest Nick is a mediocre cellist with an open secret he cannot find the strength to confirm. Gilbert introduces all three individually and paints a realistic portrait of fractured sibling relationships born out of toxic family dynamics. 

As the story unfolds, more is revealed about the relationships within the family, and it is easy to see how they have become so fractured. Seth is an especially intriguing character; he first comes across as an unstable conspiracy theorist but develops much beyond that. His ability to look for the good in others gives him depth, while his brothers seem to fade into the background. It rings true that some characters grow throughout, while others stubbornly refuse. 

The overall toxicity stems from their father, a compelling and believable character who values success and wealth above all. His focus on his definition of achievement stands in his way, and the disconnect he and his wife Grace feel about their children is a heartbreaking one. Grace is a tragic figure, as she allows Richard to rule their house cruelly and loses her voice in the process, but there are glimmers of the stronger person she keeps tamped down. The tension between them is palpable and drives the story forward; their love has devolved into one of obligation, and Gilbert captures this well. 

Gilbert has done a lovely job weaving an intricate tale that showcases the complexity of family dynamics. While the plot moves forward deliberately, the book itself manages to be a quick read, and this is due to its smooth storytelling. Reunion by the Lake is a familiar and honest tale that rewards its audience. 

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