The Lake
Emily is trying to rebuild her life after a traumatic year, relying on her sister, Lucy, as her emotional anchor. But her grip on reality begins to slip when the details stop adding up—unsettling conversations, missing time, and memories that just feel wrong. As her birthday approaches, the psychological tension builds toward a massive, reality-shattering twist she’s been too terrified to confront.
- Emily - Lucy’s sister
- Lucy - Emily’s sister
- Kate - Emily’s friend and coworker
- Monica - Emily’s boss
- Emily daydreams about when she and Lucy went out to play on a frozen lake but her mother interrupts her thoughts.
- Emily finds Lucy’s necklace in her car and gives it back to Lucy.
- Emily keeps texting Lucy, but Lucy doesn’t text her back; it doesn’t bother Emily because Lucy still spends time with Emily at her apartment.
- Emily is surprised when Lucy doesn’t join her and her parents for Christmas dinner.
- Emily gets an e-mail from Monica saying she needs to turn in her hospital paperwork from the previous year.
- Emily’s mother gives her the hospital paperwork.
- Emily remembers being in the hospital last year but none of the details.
- The paperwork states Emily was admitted on January 12th for injuries sustained after falling in a frozen lake and then discharged the next day.
- She was readmitted on January 14th after an incident of self harm brought on by a traumatic event.
- She was readmitted several times over a five month period for the same reason.
- Emily has no idea why she would have been trying to self harm or what traumatic event the papers refer to.
- Emily looks for articles about the lake incident and sees that Lucy died at the scene due to hypothermia.
- Emily remembers what happened at the lake: she and Lucy were playing on the frozen lake when the ice cracked and Lucy fell in; Emily called 999 as she tried to save her.
- Emily woke up in the hospital to be told Lucy was gone.
- Emily realizes now that for the past year she had believed Lucy was there with her because she wanted her to be.
- Emily puts all of Lucy’s things from around her apartment into a cupboard so they are hidden but not completely gone.
- Six months later: Emily is at a grief support group telling her story.
Thank to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Lake by S.K. Swaby is a haunting, tragic, and utterly beautiful read. Swaby’s writing style is captivating, elevating a story that essentially offers two unique reading experiences.
The impact of the narrative shifts entirely depending on whether the ending comes as a complete shock, or if you figure out what is actually going on before it is revealved. I guessed the twist right away, but rather than taking away from the suspense, it made the book incredibly enjoyable in a different way. Knowing the truth simply allowed me to see every scene and interaction in a completely different light as the story unfolded. Whether you are completely blindsided by the ending or piecing it together from the very first chapter, this is a wonderfully crafted story that stays with you.
- Self-harm
- Grief
- Psychological distress
Publisher: Independently Published
ASIN: B0GP6L3WYQ
Publication Date: April 4, 2026
Note: Details are for the original edition. Other formats, editions, and audiobook versions may be available.
