Lakeside Supper Club: A Novel

"People" praises Stradal for his new tale of food, family, hurt, and healing, filled with suspense that keeps readers turning the pages.

Written by bestselling author J. Ryan Stradal, the story unfolds in rustic Minnesota, following a couple from two distinct restaurant families. The narrative delves into the legacy of love and tragedy, hardship, and hope that both unites and divides them.

Mariel Prager is in desperate need of a break. Her husband, Ned, is grappling with his identity, their beloved Lakeside Supper Club is facing financial troubles, and Mariel's mother, Florence, refuses to leave the church where she's taken refuge. The restaurant, a family heirloom passed down through generations, was embraced by Mariel's grandmother but rejected by Florence. The decision for Mariel to inherit the business over her mother created a permanent rift between them.

Ned, on the other hand, is the heir to a chain of diners. Despite lacking business acumen, he sees his family's chain as a more promising future than his wife's struggling establishment. Following a devastating tragedy that results in the loss of their most cherished possessions, both families are left in a precarious position. Can they overcome their shattered dreams and rebuild, finding salvation in the Lakeside Supper Club?

Set against the backdrop of a disappearing world filled with relish trays and brandy Old Fashioneds, Stradal presents a story populated by authentic, flawed Midwestern characters grappling with themes of love, loss, and marriage, and the legacies we leave behind. As they navigate what to cling to and what to let go of, the question lingers: what will remain of us once we're gone?

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