Katie's Reviews > Tom Lake

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫(4.5/5)

Oh, this book was exquisite. The writing was so lovely, and I found myself fully immersed in this story. It’s not a love story in the conventional sense, but it is a love story between a woman and her daughters, her life, her husband, and her past. I feel like saying a book is slow has such negative connotations, but I really mean it in the best way possible. This book is to be savored and read slowly. Sometimes, when reading, in my excitement, my eyes can’t help but hop around. This book forced me to be present and alert. Much better paired with a cup of coffee than a cocktail (although I am pairing it with a cocktail!).

Our book is set in the spring of 2020. We meet Lara, who owns a cherry farm in Northern Michigan with her husband. Due to COVID, her 3 adult daughters have returned home to help with the harvesting. As a way to pass the time and due to the relentless curiosity of her daughters, Lara is sharing the story of her first love, who now happens to be one of the most famous actors in the world. While this is set at the peak of the pandemic, COVID is merely a footnote, and I didn’t find it terribly distracting.

This story has the intimacy of a kitchen table shared with your mom and aunts. Sharing stories over glasses of wine and getting a peak into their past. It’s brimming with love and contains so much honesty when it comes to mother-daughter relationships. It made me want to call my mom and yearn for a daughter one day. I thought it was just such an excellent portrayal of family and love.

I love the tone of this story. I only hope that in 30 years, I find myself at peace with myself and my decisions as Lara is.

Audiobook fans - the audiobook is narrated by Meryl Streep! What a treat!