What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedTom Lake
Ann Patchett · Book · 2023
If you loved Tom Lake, start with Remarkably Bright Creatures (Olivia Newman, 2026) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Tom Lake across media.
If you loved Tom Lake, you will be drawn to these stories that examine how past secrets shape our present lives.
Films on the same thread
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Olivia Newman · Film · 2026
Explores: Grief and healing, Intergenerational friendship, Hidden secrets.
Like the gentle revelations in Tom Lake, this story uses an unlikely discovery to bridge generations and offer a quiet, profound sense of healing to its protagonist.
The Lost Daughter
Maggie Gyllenhaal · Film · 2021
Explores: Regret, Motherhood, Female Guilt.
This film mirrors the complex, often difficult reflection on motherhood found in Tom Lake, forcing a confrontation with the lingering weight of secrets and past personal choices.
The Life of Chuck
Mike Flanagan · Film · 2025
Explores: Interconnectedness, The Meaning of Life, Mortality.
Much like Tom Lake, this narrative explores the multitudes within an ordinary life, capturing the bittersweet intersection of love, loss, and the stories that define our existence.
The Life List
Adam Brooks · Film · 2025
Explores: Self-Discovery, Family Secrets, Bucket List.
This story echoes the coming-of-age journey in Tom Lake, using a mother’s guidance to push the protagonist toward self-discovery and the untangling of long-held family secrets.
Series on the same thread
The Way Home
Alexandra Clarke · Series · 2023
Shares a thread with Tom Lake: Mother-Daughter Relationships.
Fans of the mother-daughter dynamics in Tom Lake will appreciate this multi-generational story, which navigates estranged relationships and the healing power of uncovering buried family history.
Tales of the City
Armistead Maupin · Series · 1993
Shares a thread with Tom Lake: Coming-of-age.
The vibrant, character-driven storytelling here captures the same essence of youthful transition and finding one's place in the world that drives the early chapters of Tom Lake.
Little Fires Everywhere
Liz Tigelaar · Series · 2020
Shares a thread with Tom Lake: Mother-Daughter Relationships.
This drama delves into the same intense, complicated mother-daughter relationships and the burden of secrets that anchor the emotional core of Ann Patchett's Tom Lake.
The Summer I Turned Pretty
Jenny Han · Series · 2022
Shares a thread with Tom Lake: Summer Romance.
If the summer romance and nostalgic family atmosphere of Tom Lake resonated with you, this story offers a similar exploration of teenage growth and transformative summer truths.
Podcasts on the same thread
This American Life
This American Life · Podcast · 2026
Explores: The human condition, Personal narrative, Social observation.
These personal narratives mirror the storytelling style of Tom Lake, turning the mundane details of the human condition into profound, evocative moments that linger in your mind.
the memory palace
Nate DiMeo · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with Tom Lake: nostalgia.
This podcast captures the same sense of nostalgia and the weight of ephemeral moments that define the reflective and beautifully atmospheric world of Tom Lake.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Tom Lake the most recent novel by Ann Patchett?
Yes, Tom Lake is the 2023 novel from Ann Patchett. It follows her previous internationally bestselling works, including The Dutch House and Commonwealth.
Who is the author of Tom Lake?
Tom Lake was written by Ann Patchett. She is the internationally bestselling author known for other acclaimed novels such as The Dutch House and Commonwealth.
Should I read The Dutch House or Commonwealth before Tom Lake?
There is no required reading order for these titles. Tom Lake is a standalone novel by Ann Patchett, and it is not narratively connected to the events or characters found in her previous books like The Dutch House or Commonwealth.
Is Tom Lake a standalone book by Ann Patchett?
Yes, Tom Lake is a standalone novel published in 2023. It is a distinct work by Ann Patchett, separate from her other internationally bestselling books such as The Dutch House and Commonwealth.