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Tom Lake

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Tom Lake

By: Ann Patchett
Narrated by: Meryl Streep
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About this listen

Bloomsbury presents Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, read by Meryl Streep.

The breathtaking new novel from Ann Patchett – a Sunday Times and No. 1 New York Times bestseller

‘Filled with the moments I live for in a story’
BONNIE GARMUS, author of Lessons in Chemistry

‘[Tom Lake] has it all ... Young love, sibling rivalry and deep mother-daughter relationships’
REESE WITHERSPOON

‘One of the most beloved authors of her generation’
SUNDAY TIMES

There's more to every love story than what we choose to tell...

It’s spring and Lara’s three grown daughters have returned to the family orchard. While picking cherries, they beg their mother to tell them the one story they’ve always longed to hear – of the film star with whom she shared a stage, and a romance, years before.

Tom Lake is a meditation on youthful love, married love, and the lives parents lead before their children are born. Both hopeful and elegiac, it explores what it means to be happy even when the world is falling apart.

‘One of our greatest living chroniclers of love and marriage … Expect wonder; Patchett always delivers’ ELLE

* SHORTLISTED FOR WATERSTONES BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2023 *
* A REESE WITHERSPOON AND BBC RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB PICK *
* A 2023 BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR THE TIMES *

©2023 Ann Patchett (P)2023 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Romance Heartfelt

Critic Reviews

Filled with the moments I live for in a story – careful, compelling insights into human nature, the most effortless humour, and the kind of vivid descriptions that reveal exactly how something is (Bonnie Garmus, bestselling author of LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY)
All stars
Most relevant  
I came here just to listen to Meryl Streep. The story was well written but simply meandered along. I liked it, but I don't think I would have persevered in reading it. I found it boring. If it had been my mother telling the story to me, sure, I'd be all in with interest. But it was like learning the story of a friend of a friend's mother; I wasn't invested. Listening to Meryl's narration, however, was the winner.

Meryl Streep is Wonderful

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I absolutely loved this story. And no one could have bought it to life better than Meryl Streep. I enjoyed every exquisite moment I would highly recommend this book.

Amazing story and sensational narration

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Ann Patchett read by Merryl Streep: who could ask for more? A beautiful experience. Very hard to follow. Waiting for the next one already…!

Divine

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Loved the narration by Meryl Streep, it really made the whole book. beautiful heart warming story.

Meryl Streep, what a dream

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Breathtaking narration of a very beautiful book. I literally felt that I was there amongst the cherry trees. Just delightful

Outstanding

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A beautifully narrated gentle story. Bringing a world to life. Such a joy to experience.

Just wonderful

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Such a beautiful novel, excellent narration, I like the gentleness of the characters and the peaceful dialogue.

A complete joy

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How will I ever find a better story narrated a fraction as good as Meryl has? I loved every moment of this story. I wished I knew Lara personally. I look forward already to re-listening to see if I can extract more from it.

Spectacularly narrated slow burn story telling

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Someone I know who read it said you wouldn’t have treated Duke like that when he turned up at the farm. I said it depends what kind of a relationship you have been in the hold the person has over you.

Loved the story. The way it unfolded through the daughters being home due to Covid and the mother telling about her life

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A beautifully written, well narrated story spanning three people’s lifetimes. I loved this book. #AnnPatchett

Beautiful narration terrific story

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