Book Review—Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett is the best book I have read so far this year. Set in Northern Michigan, it is the story of two summers. Lara is spending the summer of 2020 with her husband, Joe, and her three daughters, all at home because of COVID. They own a cherry orchard and because there is no summer help due to the pandemic, Lara and her daughters are harvesting the cherry crop. While spending hours in the cherry orchard, the daughters ask their mom to tell them the story of Peter Duke, a very famous actor that their mother had a summer romance with back in 1988, hence the two summer dual timeline. As Lara begins the story, she has to go back to her high school play, in which she played the character of Emily in Our Town. It is there that it is discovered that she has a real talent for acting. Lara’s acting career takes her north of Traverse City, Michigan to do summer stock at Tom Lake, a theater company, before she is to return to California to act in the fall.

It is hard to put into words just what a beautiful story Tom Lake is. It contains writing that flows from page to page. The beauty of Northern Michigan with cherry trees as a backdrop adds so much character to the novel. It is a story that will resonate with mothers and daughters. It is a story of young passionate love, choices we make, and married life, all told during a time of uncertainty.

Of course, the play Our Town is mentioned in the book, but it is not necessary to read it before Tom Lake. However, I did purchase a copy of Our Town by Thornton Wilder that I am going to read now. There is also a movie of the play available on Prime Video. It was made in 1940 and stars William Holden.

I was lucky enough to visit Door County, Wisconsin with my sister and my late mother and nephew years ago for a family reunion. It is a beautiful part of the country with traditional fish boils, apples, and of course, all things cherries. Escanaba, Michigan, where my mother was from, is right across the lake (Lake Michigan), from Door County. It was a special time for our family, so I thought about that trip quite a bit while reading Tom Lake. I think that’s what good writers, like Ann Patchett, do. They immerse you in a heartfelt story and then you, as a reader, relate it to your own experience.

Go grab a copy now! It is also narrated beautifully by Meryl Streep if you enjoy audiobooks.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5