First Published : August 2023

Genre : Fiction, Contemporary, Romance

My Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Plot Summary

A mother relates her past to her daughters where she reminisces about her life experiences, her romantic past with a very famous actor and the choices that led her to where she is right now.

My Thoughts

The author beautifully intertwines the story of Lara’s present and her past. Lara auditions for a community theatre play on a whim which kickstarts her career in acting. She keeps going with the flow until she decides to give it all up. Everyone else but her think that she could have lived a different life. It’s not a dramatic turn of events or a big reveal. We move back and forth along with her daughters as she narrates her share of happiness, misery and pain. Her daughters (Emily, Maisie and Nell) did not understand her choices before, as they never got the details from their mother and fill up the gaps as they see fit. Emily is most influenced because of these gaps but she also becomes the reason why the past was never discussed in their house. There is also Nell who yearns to have what her mother threw away.

The story moves between timelines and yet feels so seamless. We can notice when Lara switches from narrating her story to her children to her self-reflection on the parts she does not wish to share.

We see love in its many forms as we move through Lara’s story – the fiery, the gentle, the patient, the protective and even the selfish kind of self-love.

There is also a very subtle theme underneath to remind us that happiness can mean different things to different people and to not let social pressure make you choose a path that you are not interested to walk in.

Everything about Tom Lake is beautiful and serene, from the cover, to the writing, to the story. It’s a simple slice of life tale yet the pacing was precise and not a single sentence wasted. This is my first Ann Patchett book and I am in love with her writing style. You will definity see me reading her other books in the future. 

Absolutely recommend it, five thumbs up from me.

(A side note: The play ‘Our Town’ by Thornton Wilder is heavily referenced throughout the book but it’s not necessary to have any pre-knowledge about it. I didn’t and it did not affect my reading experience)