Barnes & Noble Presents Tom Lake by Ann Patchett as Their August 2023 National Book Club Selection

The bookseller invites readers to join the free virtual event
on Tuesday, September 12^th at 3:00 PM ET 

New York, NY – July 26, 2023 – Barnes & Noble announces Tom Lake as their August National Book Club pick and welcomes readers to join author Ann Patchett at a free live virtual event. The author will be in conversation with Shannon DeVito, Senior Director of Books at Barnes & Noble, and Miwa Messer, Executive Producer of Poured Over, the B&N Podcast to discuss the title as well as answer questions from audience members. Attendees must register via Eventbrite to access the livestream on Zoom.

“A beautifully constructed paean to Thornton Wilder’s Our Town and summer stock theater, Tom Lake is a timely, cherry-rich family drama,” said Lexie Smyth, Category Manager for Fiction, Barnes & Noble. “Set in an orchard, it spins the tale of a marriage and the gamut of choices that lead to its necessary evolution. I appreciated this not-so-subtle reminder to children that mothers and fathers have entire lives of their own before becoming parents; it was likewise an apt reminder that when it feels like the world is falling down around you, you can find threads of joy within the life you’ve built. Our Book Club readers will enjoy the rich layers that make up this fresh novel from award-winning author Ann Patchett."

Set between bright green New Hampshire days and summer stock theater nights, Tom Lake effortlessly interweaves past and present, choice and fate, and passion and practicality into a veritable matryoshka doll of storytelling. In her youth, Lara — wife, mother, cherry-orchardist — lived a life of her own. Now, in early 2020 as her daughters seek refuge on the family farm, the ghosts from her past are resurrected as Lara’s story of young love is slowly revealed.

The Barnes & Noble Book Club selects a newly published work of fiction each month, chosen by their booksellers to provoke, engage and enthrall book lovers. The Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition of Tom Lake features bonus acknowledgements from the author. Leading up to the event, readers can share their thoughts and engage in conversation on social media using the hashtag #BNBookClub. During the livestream, readers are encouraged to participate in the discussion and submit questions to be answered throughout.

“I'm thrilled that Barnes & Noble has chosen Tom Lake as its book club pick in August,” said author Ann Patchett. “This novel, which was good looking to begin with, has been made into something truly gorgeous. And while I never write acknowledgement sections (because I'm always afraid of forgetting someone) I took the leap and wrote one for this very special edition. Barnes & Noble is the bookstore for so many people in this country, so as a bookstore owner myself I just want to say thank you, Barnes & Noble."

The enthusiasm and word-of-mouth recommendations of Barnes & Noble booksellers across the country have sparked ardent praise from readers nationwide, turning great novels into bestsellers. Previous Barnes & Noble Book Club selections have included: The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller, The Night Ship by Jess Kidd, The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead, The Testaments by Margaret Atwood, The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett, One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle, Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin and The Cloisters by Katy Hays.