The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Patchett, Ann. Tom Lake. HarperCollins Publishers, 2023.

Ann Patchett's novel Tom Lake is written from the protagonist Lara Nelson's first person point of view. Set in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the narrative takes place over the course of Lara's, her husband Joe's, and their three daughters' lockdown together. Although the narrative toggles between past and present throughout, the following summary abides by a more linear mode of explanation for the sake of clarity.

After the lockdown is enforced, Lara and Joe's three grown daughters Emily, Maisie, and Nell find themselves back home on their family farm in Traverse City, Michigan. Emily always wanted to take over the farm and even received a degree in horticulture. Maisie and Nell, however, have different plans for their future. Maisie is in veterinary school and did not intend to return to Michigan. An aspiring actor, Nell was on the verge of moving to New York City when COVID-19 broke out in the States.

When the girls learn that the famous movie star and their mother's former lover Peter Duke has died, they beg their mother to tell them about the time when she knew him. In order to relay her account, Lara must start at the beginning.

When Lara was in high school, she auditioned for the part of Emily in her school's production of Our Town. She did not dream of becoming an actor, but this foray into the theater would change her life. After high school, she attended the University of New Hampshire where she became involved with the theater once more. After another Our Town performance, Lara met a scout named Ripley. Ripley invited Lara to come to Los Angeles and audition for the lead in his movie. Lara wanted to get out of New Hampshire and so accepted the offer.

After relocating to Los Angeles, Lara felt as if her real life was just beginning. She worked on the movie for three years. However, when its release date was repeatedly stalled, Lara was unsure what to do in the meantime. She eventually signed a contract with a summer stock theater company in Michigan. She relocated to Tom Lake for the summer.

Shortly after arriving at Tom Lake, Lara met Peter Duke. Duke was not yet a famous actor, but Lara was immediately taken by him. She and Duke soon started sleeping together. The longer they were together, the more consumed by Duke Lara became. Meanwhile, she made friends with her understudy Pallace and Duke's brother Sebastian.

One day, the director Joe Nelson invited Lara to visit his aunt and uncle's nearby cherry farm. Lara accepted, arriving at the farm the next day with Duke, Pallace, and Sebastian. The place was beautiful and moved all of the friends.

Not long later, Lara injured her Achilles and had to abandon both of her roles to Pallace. Because of her accident, she returned to L.A. to promote her movie and then quit acting for good. She later returned to New Hampshire to stay with her grandmother until her death. Eventually she relocated to New York and began working as a seamstress for a costumer. During her time in New York, Lara received a call from Duke. She agreed to visit him at the facility where he was institutionalized. While there, they had sex. Not long later, Lara discovered she was pregnant and had an abortion.

Lara and Joe reconnected by chance in New York. Once they began seeing each other, they fell in love. After Joe inherited his aunt and uncle's farm, they decided to leave New York and move back to Michigan together.

Shortly after Lara finishes telling her daughters her story, Duke's brother Sebastian visits the farm unannounced. He tells Lara and Joe that Duke bought a plot in their family cemetery from Joe's aunt and uncle. Together, Sebastian and the family bury Duke's ashes.