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Tom Lake: A Novel Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Ann Patchett (Author), Meryl Streep (Narrator), HarperAudio (Publisher)
4.2 out of 5 stars 46,603 ratings
Editors' pick Best Literature & Fiction

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK READ BY MERYL STREEP

In this beautiful and moving novel about family, love, and growing up, Ann Patchett once again proves herself one of America’s finest writers.

“Patchett leads us to a truth that feels like life rather than literature.” —The Guardian

In the spring of 2020, Lara’s three daughters return to the family's orchard in Northern Michigan. While picking cherries, they beg their mother to tell them the story of Peter Duke, a famous actor with whom she shared both a stage and a romance years before at a theater company called Tom Lake. As Lara recalls the past, her daughters examine their own lives and relationship with their mother, and are forced to reconsider the world and everything they thought they knew.

Tom Lake is a meditation on youthful love, married love, and the lives parents have led before their children were born. Both hopeful and elegiac, it explores what it means to be happy even when the world is falling apart. As in all of her novels, Ann Patchett combines compelling narrative artistry with piercing insights into family dynamics. The result is a rich and luminous story, told with profound intelligence and emotional subtlety, that demonstrates once again why she is one of the most revered and acclaimed literary talents working today.

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  1. Listening Length
    11 hours and 22 minutes
  2. Author
    Ann Patchett
  3. Narrator
    Meryl Streep
  4. Audible release date
    August 1, 2023
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    HarperAudio
  7. ASIN
    B0BPZYH97W
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length 11 hours and 22 minutes
Author Ann Patchett
Narrator Meryl Streep
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date August 01, 2023
Publisher HarperAudio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B0BPZYH97W
Best Sellers Rank #385 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#8 in Coming of Age Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)
#9 in Literary Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)
#14 in Coming of Age Fiction (Books)

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
46,603 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's narrative engaging and thought-provoking, with lovely descriptions of northern Michigan cherry orchard life. The writing is praised for its lyrical prose and effective storytelling device, while the characters are rich and relatable, with one customer noting how they make readers feel what the main character experiences. Customers appreciate how the book makes readers reevaluate their hopes and dreams of life, though some find the story itself unengaging. The read pace receives mixed feedback, with several customers noting it starts slowly.

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385 customers mention "Readability"361 positive24 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, praising its satisfying narrative without interruption and ability to make readers think and reflect.

"...Tom Lake is thoughtful, deft, and life-affirming. (It isn’t a pandemic novel, even though it takes place during that time)...." Read more

"...The writing flows beautifully and the imagery is incandescent. I could see Lara and feel her emotions...." Read more

"...That is what makes this story special. It does feel good to read about a place I think about with my own fond memories...." Read more

"...I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and Laura's journey to become Emily and then to become Laura again...." Read more

205 customers mention "Writing quality"165 positive40 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting its effortless style and lyrical prose.

"...She also quotes Chekhov at pique (and even peak) intervals; she shares the Russian writer’s work with spare but specific devotion...." Read more

"So many foibles in one story but beautifully told and unveiled in a saga that brings you into each characters heart" Read more

"...The writing flows beautifully and the imagery is incandescent. I could see Lara and feel her emotions...." Read more

"...Her tone is the right balance of emotion and wry commentary, and her own life experience parallels Lara's life enough to lend an authenticity and..." Read more

201 customers mention "Heartwarming story"196 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the heartwarming story of family and love, with one customer noting how it captures the journey from youth to older years, while another highlights its profound depiction of human relationships.

"...Tom Lake is thoughtful, deft, and life-affirming. (It isn’t a pandemic novel, even though it takes place during that time)...." Read more

"...I could see Lara and feel her emotions. Ann Patchett knows people and her empathic writing exudes from every page...." Read more

"...I loved the many full circle moments that so often mirror our own lives...." Read more

"...between the glamorous and superficial world of the actors and the very earthy, tenuous and sensual world of the farmers as the novel moves between..." Read more

141 customers mention "Character development"115 positive26 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting that the characters are richly developed and very human, with customers keeping them rooting for the narrator throughout the story.

"...The gorgeous cherry farm backdrop is like a staid but vivid character, with Lara, husband Joe, and the three girls all together for the first time..." Read more

"...how the author provided each of her daughters with a distinct and inimitable personality, all beloved to her and each other...." Read more

"...This is not an action-based book, but rather a character-based narrative which unfolds slowly, so it may not appeal to all readers...." Read more

"...The characters in this story are all so complex, each with their own set of issues to overcome..." Read more

91 customers mention "Interest"73 positive18 negative

Customers find the book engaging and thought-provoking, making them reevaluate their hopes and dreams of life. One customer notes how it gently guides readers with surprises, while another mentions it serves as a reminder to savor the present moment.

"Appreciating the little things in life, the joy of day-to-day existence, and the love for your family and your work is what Tom Lake meant to me...." Read more

"...That is what makes this story special. It does feel good to read about a place I think about with my own fond memories...." Read more

"...It is a story that could be about real people and real lives, although it is not...." Read more

"...I recommend Tom Lake because it makes you think of and reexamine your own life." Read more

32 customers mention "Setting"32 positive0 negative

Customers love the setting of the book, particularly the northern Michigan and cherry farm locations, with one customer noting the beautiful descriptions of Michigan cherry orchard life.

"...It truly is a magical place!" Read more

"...I love about Ann Patchett's books are they have a lovely slow, simplicity to them...." Read more

"...The characters are richly developed and the scenes set in such a way that you feel transported to Tom Lake." Read more

"...Her characters (people and dogs) are well developed with minimal descriptions, just enough to allow the reader’s imagination to understand the..." Read more

50 customers mention "Read pace"20 positive30 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with several noting that it starts slowly and takes longer to finish than expected.

"...The books starts off very slow and becomes boring at times. I pushed through and I will say it gets better about half way through...." Read more

"...nails it every time, her characters are complex and her graceful pace is measured even when events are brutal...." Read more

"I found the story slow to start but was glad I stuck with it as I ultimately enjoyed the book...." Read more

"...☀️ quiet, sweet, soft, slow homage to Our Town..." Read more

123 customers mention "Story quality"21 positive102 negative

Customers find the story quality of the book unsatisfactory, describing it as unengaging, boring, and difficult to follow.

"...There are no extraordinary events. It is a story that could be about real people and real lives, although it is not...." Read more

"...It just seemed so done before. The story was obvious and the characters were all meh...." Read more

"...The books starts off very slow and becomes boring at times. I pushed through and I will say it gets better about half way through...." Read more

"...It in my humble opinion could have been tightened up. My interest at times was fading before the story picked back up...." Read more

A Beautifully Written Story
4 out of 5 stars
A Beautifully Written Story
📖 𝐓𝐨𝐦 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞 was a pick for my IRL book club this spring. It was well-received by all members! 1. 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 - A testament to how easy it is to perceive things incorrectly if the truth is not shared. It is ironic that the Nelson family’s forced togetherness is what finally moved Lara to share her beautiful story. 2. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 - Both Tom Lake and the Nelson’s orchard are just idyllic environments. I felt like I was immersed in the beauty of both as the poetic words flowed off the pages. 3. 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 - The strength of family is ever-present in this story. The Nelson family in the present, the Nelson family in the past, and Lara and her grandmother in the past…the bonds 4. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧-𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐝 - This story is one that doesn’t really have any highs or lows. It is simply a smooth ride through the story of Lara’s past. Even though there are some sad parts of the past, the reader knows how happy she is in the present, so that sense of despair just doesn’t hit the same. 5. 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐥𝐞 - Such an interesting twist of events at the end! I love how it truly made the story come together and it gave the characters a sense of acceptance.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • switterbug/Betsey Van Horn
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Buddhist blend of Grovers Corners and northern Michigan
    Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Appreciating the little things in life, the joy of day-to-day existence, and the love for your family and your work is what Tom Lake meant to me. Tom Lake refers to a (fictional) summer stock theater in northern Michigan in the 1980s, close to the locale of the current 2020 timeline--- a cherry farm (and pears, and apples). The late eighties marked a luminous period for protagonist/narrator Lara, a time that she walked the fine line between adulting and adulthood, coming of age amid a torrent of drama that swept her up in its fury. And then there was Our Town, the play within the novel that portrayed Lara’s life on the stage (and backstage).

    Lara is telling her three twenty-something daughters about her short stint as an actress in her twenties, and the brief romantic affair with Peter Duke, a famous movie star before he was a famous movie star. The gorgeous cherry farm backdrop is like a staid but vivid character, with Lara, husband Joe, and the three girls all together for the first time in a while. Due to the pandemic, they don’t have the usual crew to help pick the fruit, so the storytelling unfolds as the family works the orchard during harvest time. Like the cherries, some parts are sweet, some tart, and all of it is juicy.

    I felt the air, inhaled the scents, the cherries, the land and the whole layout of the farm while reading. And there is the kindness, too, of this family, whose flaws are also part of their strengths. The chaos of Lara’s life as a young woman is juxtaposed with the serenity of her life now, and the two timelines fluidly alternate, sometimes gently, at other times with piercing intensity. And every storyline has at least two. So, when you read about Lara in the past, or present, you just can’t help sniffing around to see the connections, of what surprise is crouched in the corner or hidden behind the door. I verily slipped into Lara’s character and imagined what decisions I would make as her, given so many pressing options and dilemmas.

    Ann Patchett nails it every time, her characters are complex and her graceful pace is measured even when events are brutal. Lara is a radiant work-in-progress during her young years, many readers will see themselves in her. I was a local stage actor in Austin during my twenties, so I immersed myself in Tom Lake, pretending to be Lara acting as Emily Gibbs and then back to Lara again. The two timelines showed the difference between the fiery summer love of youth and the deep, tender, and mature love of family that you helped to create. The high points were explosive, even when they were pin-drop quiet. Lara’s low points stirred me almost to tears; I could feel her pulse against mine.

    If you’ve never seen a production or haven’t read Our Town, you’re about to get a spoiler’s worth in the novel. But I think Ms. Patchett has surmised that most of her readers are already familiar with Thornton Wilder’s play. She coalesced Our Town and Tom Lake together in a way that reveals her refined skill of integration. Tom Lake and Our Town were separate but conjoined. I know that doesn’t make sense, but it will when you read the book. She also quotes Chekhov at pique (and even peak) intervals; she shares the Russian writer’s work with spare but specific devotion.

    I recently learned that Patchett has never owned a smart phone, and doesn’t herself do social media (she talks to the camera and her staff completes the rest). She has never used Google, or researched on Wiki—she does it the old-fashioned way. And perhaps she’s that slightly eccentric but lovely gentlewoman you see carrying paper road maps!

    Tom Lake is thoughtful, deft, and life-affirming. (It isn’t a pandemic novel, even though it takes place during that time). There’s comedy, tragedy, drama—a look-back-at-your- own-life kind of book. It’s classic Ann Patchett.

    There’s this passage that really tickled me from the book. It’s toward the end but not a spoiler, it’s thematic with the rest of the narrative. Lara was so busy recounting the past for her daughters that she forgot to make lunch, which she said she should have been working on while talking. “The past need not be so all-encompassing that it renders us incapable of making egg salad.” Priorities!
    357 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars eerily hauntingly sad and beautiful
    Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    So many foibles in one story but beautifully told and unveiled in a saga that brings you into each characters heart
    One person found this helpful
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  • Bonnie Brody
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Book to Savor and Reflect On
    Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Ann Patchett is one of my favorite writers and she has once again written a novel I love.

    The novel takes place at the beginning of the Covid epidemic. Lara, her husband, and her three young adult daughters are residing on the family orchard in Northern Michigan. The narrative is told from Lara's viewpoint and consists primarily of her daughters' wanting to know about her past life - especially her romantic involvement with the now famous actor, Peter Duke.

    Much of the story is about a summer stock stage production of 'Our Town' located in Michigan on Tom Lake. Lara is in her twenties and has been called upon to take the lead role after the original actress has decided to quit. On Lara's first day, she is greeted by a charismatic young man named Peter Duke. From their first meeting evolves a drawn-out romance and affair that leaves Lara much beholden to Peter's narcissistic view of himself. Lara is quite aware that her daughters want to know all the intimacies that she and Peter shared, but she is not ready to give out these details freely.

    It is understood that Lara once had a promising future in acting but she chose to give it up for what she considers her idyllic life as a mother and wife. Her daughters find this all hard to absorb and want to know every last bit about Laura's time with Peter and her involvement with the stage.

    The writing flows beautifully and the imagery is incandescent. I could see Lara and feel her emotions. Ann Patchett knows people and her empathic writing exudes from every page. There isn't one false note.

    I have never read Our Town but that didn't stop me from loving this novel, nor did it prevent me from understanding what was transpiring. I learned a lot about stage production, acting, and actors.

    I especially loved how the author provided each of her daughters with a distinct and inimitable personality, all beloved to her and each other. This is a book to savor and reflect on. It is as sweet as the smell of cherries in Lara's Michigan orchard.
    52 people found this helpful
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  • Vicky
    3.0 out of 5 stars Fictional Memoir of a Life Before Family During Seclusion of the Pandemic
    Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Enjoyed the warm feeling of family sitting out Covid 19 on their cherry farm near Traverse City Michigan. How often do we have time to listen to our parents when the world beckons the young for adventure. That is what makes this story special. It does feel good to read about a place I think about with my own fond memories. The three adult children react differently to hearing about the adventure of their Mom, Lara, who unexpectedly became a star in high-school playing Emily in Thornton Widler’s Our Town. It takes her places she never expected and her summer stock job at Tom’s Lake becomes the focus of the main story. She dated a famous actor before his time in the limelight but eventually chose a different life. The three sisters, Emily, Maine, and Nell, want to know this history of their mother and we the reader do as well.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • 3341
    5.0 out of 5 stars The perspective of a life well lived
    Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    As we grow older we gain perspective that only time can bring to our younger selves. we can see the small choices we have made that have brought us to the place we find ourselves today. One different choice along the way would have been a totally different journey. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and Laura's journey to become Emily and then to become Laura again. I loved the many full circle moments that so often mirror our own lives. I would recommend this book to the young just starting out for all the excitement youth brings and to the old that will enjoy reflecting upon their younger selves with the grace and love that only age brings.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Paula Lambertson Rabello
    4.0 out of 5 stars Muito bom
    Reviewed in Brazil on November 7, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Livro bom de ler ainda assim não tão bom quanto outros livros da mesma autora.
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  • avid learner
    5.0 out of 5 stars A splendid book that requires careful reading
    Reviewed in Australia on September 6, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This book received a very positive review in The New Yorker and I bought it on that basis -- and I am happy that I did. I've since bought two more books by the same author, and so far The Dutch House is as good as Tom Lake. The Tom Lake story is complicated, and it is revealed slowly, requiring patience and (at least for me) occasional backtracking to be sure that I've understood the story accurately.

    The author does a great job of bringing in real-world events (for example the pandemic) and their impact on the characters (for example being confined with a few people in a small geographic area due to lockdowns). The characters are developed as the story unfolds, and the more I learned the more I wanted to know.

    I do have what may be a concern for some readers. The main character is born and starts university in New Hampshire, works for a time in California, and at the time of the book is working on a cherry farm in northeastern Michigan. I was born in Michigan and I lived for quite a while in New Hampshire, so the many geographic references made sense to me -- I knew the geography well enough to understand the distances and the landscapes. I'm not sure that a person without that local knowledge would be as happy with the story. (The author does the same thing in The Dutch House, apparently assuming that readers will either know Philadelphia and its environs, will find that information, or will just ignore it, at the cost of some understanding.)

    Overall this was the best book I have read in a while, very much worth the effort.
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  • Regina Gutiérrez Durán
    3.0 out of 5 stars Muy bonito pero llegó maltratado
    Reviewed in Mexico on January 19, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Está muy bonito. Llegó a tiempo pero algo golpeado y maltratado.
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    Regina Gutiérrez Durán
    3.0 out of 5 stars
    Muy bonito pero llegó maltratado

    Reviewed in Mexico on January 19, 2024
    Está muy bonito. Llegó a tiempo pero algo golpeado y maltratado.
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  • art educator exploring write ideas
    5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent read!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 31, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this story for lots of reasons: the writing is excellent, the story full of nostalgia and longing and intrigue, and the characters are drawn so skilfully, each rich and wonderful in their own way. Highly recommend!
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  • Punita B.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Buen libro
    Reviewed in Spain on December 28, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Interesante libro y esta escritora tiene una manera muy elegante de escribir
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