Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

Ann Patchett probably needs no introduction. I have always loved how she fills her books with such relatable characters and a delightful sense of place and Tom Lake (2023) is no exception. This novel is told in the voice of Lara, a wife and mother to three daughters, all living back at home on their Michigan cherry farm to wait out the pandemic. To pass the time, her daughters ask her to relate the story of her youth, when she was a budding actress and fell in love with a soon-to-be famous fellow actor.  

I loved the nostalgic feeling of revisiting the past, recognizing the mistakes that were made, but having no regrets. And I think we can all empathize with that odd disconnect of finding out that our parents had lives before us and that sometimes our memories don’t match reality.