After drink, read novel that's flimsy fiction? (7)
I believe the answer is:
charade
'flimsy fiction?' is the definition.
(charade can mean a show or pretence)
'after drink read novel' is the wordplay.
'after' says to put letters next to each other.
'drink' becomes 'cha' (cha can mean tea).
'novel' indicates anagramming the letters (letters in a new or novel order).
'read' with letters rearranged gives 'rade'.
'cha'+'rade' is 'CHARADE'.
'that's' is the link.
(Other definitions for charade that I've seen before include "Pretence; parlour game" , "Travesty, mockery" , "Film with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn" , "Game in which the puzzle is acted out" , "Total pretence (as in game)" .)