During the pandemic, Lara's three grown daughters are all living at the family's orchard in Michigan. To pass the time, they beg Lara to tell them about the summer she dated current movie star Peter Duke while they performed at the Tom Lake Theater Company. Slowly, Lara tells them about her earlier life as an actress, pondering on the joys and folly of youth and making her daughters consider their own choices.

Everyone should listen to audiobook version of Tom Lake narrated by Meryl Streep. Streep perfectly embodied Lara, delivering an outstanding performance where you can hear the wistful reflection and the amused nostalgia in every line. Tom Lake's beautiful narrative proceeded slowly by steadily through Lara's life, reminding you that the most exciting parts, at least to Lara's daughters, ended up mattering very little to Lara in the long run.