A review by molly_cahill
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

4.5

Definitely a summer page turner! I finished this in just a few days. It was heartwarming and charming. I liked the summer stock theatre setting that came through so well, and the peace and comfort of the family on the orchard was a nice vibe for this time of year.

The second to last chapter twist… idk how to feel. I was horrified by the scene at the hospital with Duke, and it was hard then to accept his later visit and his ultimate burial on the farm. It felt sort of thrown in? Even though the seriousness and shadowy-ness of this chapter felt more like Ann Patchett’s other writing, it was hard for me to reconcile with the rest of the book and especially the dreaminess and calm of the ending.

I would probably rank this this 3rd out of the 3 Ann Patchett books I’ve already read, but that being said, I still enjoyed it and felt it was the perfect book for me right now, at this time of year, and to help me make up some ground from some past months’ reading slump this year.