THE PLOT: ‘Tom Lake’ by Ann Patchett is a heart-warming novel about a family who own a cherry farm. Lara’s three daughters have all returned home for the first time in years. As the pandemic worsens, they must work together to pick all the cherries on the farm without their usual seasonal labourers. In their early twenties, Lara’s daughters beg to know the story of their mother’s whirlwind relationship with a famous movie-star when she was their age. As they pick cherries, Lara narrates her youthful summer of love; the summer she spent acting at Tom Lake. But it wasn’t all perfect and the parts Lara leaves out are the parts her children are most desperate to know.

SUMMARY: It’s hard to explain this plot without spoilers so forgive my terrible summary. However, I hope I’ve at least captured the atmosphere of this sweet, tender novel. This book feels like a summer’s day. It’s a country walk over rolling hills to your favourite pub. Though you may baulk at a novel set in the pandemic – I certainly did – it’s the COVID novel we need. It’s a book about youthful infatuations, steady marital love and family. Don’t get me wrong, there’s tons of conflict and tension and I cried constantly. Happy tears, sad tears, tears because I didn’t want it to end. But throughout reading, you know the characters will be safe. You know each of the daughters are clever and strong. You know the ending will be happy because they are all at the farm together. The cherry farm is an impossible idyll, but sometimes we need that in fiction. So I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a hug of a book.

GOOD BITS: This book feels like a master-class in writing. Just reading it made me invent solutions to some of my plotting problems. The structure is ingenious and the plot is very neat. Just like a cleverly woven tapestry, I loved how all the pieces fit together in the end. The writing is beautiful yet accessible, with some shrewd metaphors and similes that I wanted to underline. It’s impossible to have a favourite character because they’re all so well-rounded. Emily, Maisie and Nell are my daydream daughters, and I love them equally.

NOT SO GOOD BITS: I wouldn’t change a thing about this book. It’s so well-crafted, you know Ann Patchett is an expert in story-telling. However, I’ve seen a few criticisms that the pace is a bit slow and I agree this is a book to read in a few sittings. Because it’s not a high-stakes book, reading a couple pages a night might make it feel stilted. This is one you want to curl up in the park with for a solid couple of hours to really soak it in. Additionally, the first mentions of Pallace’s race were a tad clunky, but I think the overall consideration of her race as a Black actress and dancer is very effective.

OVERALL: I’d recommend this book to fans of ‘Malibu Rising’ by Taylor Jenkins-Reed, ‘Cider with Rosie’ by Laurie Lee, and Gilmore Girls. If you want an uplifting book that feels like summer, I urge you to buy this now.

Thank you to Bloomsbury UK for my #gifted copy as part of Bloomsbury’s Creator Circle. This book is now out in paperback and available to purchase with a discount via my bookshop.org profile.