cservat129's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first time that I have read anything from this author. I am a huge fan of culinary novels and loved the food interwoven with the family drama in this book. The characters are all well written and the story line was intriguing. I hope to read more books by this author in the future. I recommend this book.This review was originally posted on
readingactually's review
4.0
This is the first time that I have read anything from this author. I am a huge fan of culinary novels and loved the food interwoven with the family drama in this book. The characters are all well written and the story line was intriguing. I hope to read more books by this author in the future. I recommend this book.This review was originally posted on
devon's review against another edition
5.0
Please don't whimsically cast off 'LUSCIOUS LEMON' into that "dreaded" chick-lit category, because this is certainly not your typical chick-lit. Don't let the cutesy name, cover or Downtown Press imprint fool you, Heather Swain has delivered a fresh, smart, funny and emotional novel that is a great read for everyone, not just chick-lit lovers like myself!
Ellie "Lemon" Manelli is on top of the world. She has a wonderful boyfriend, a great large Italian family who dotes on her and best of all her restaurant, aptly named Lemon is a hit with the Manhattan set. But just as she begins to feel that she is on top of her game and more importantly escaping the trappings of her family, all the balls she has been juggling seem to come falling down around her when she finds out that she is pregnant. Her boyfriend Eddie is thrilled and more than ready to take the next step and become a real family but Lemon is not so ready to give up her old lifestyle (or her East Village apartment) just yet. But when the worst happens Lemon has to figure out how to deal with the guilt, loss and regret that threaten to smother her.
'LUSCIOUS LEMON' tackels a serious subject and does not make light or skirt around it, it hits it head on with all of the raw emotion it deserves. Swain created characters that are multi-dimentional and real who you will equally love and loathe at some point in the book. You will go from hating one character to understanding and maybe even sympathizing with them or from rooting for one to rallying against them and back to rooting for them in one fell swoop. This is true of the book as it is true in real life. And once you are finished with the book take the time to read the exceptionally well written "interview with the author" the combination of the two will have you wanting to run out and read more of Heather Swain, I know I do!
Absolutely 5 big stars!
Ellie "Lemon" Manelli is on top of the world. She has a wonderful boyfriend, a great large Italian family who dotes on her and best of all her restaurant, aptly named Lemon is a hit with the Manhattan set. But just as she begins to feel that she is on top of her game and more importantly escaping the trappings of her family, all the balls she has been juggling seem to come falling down around her when she finds out that she is pregnant. Her boyfriend Eddie is thrilled and more than ready to take the next step and become a real family but Lemon is not so ready to give up her old lifestyle (or her East Village apartment) just yet. But when the worst happens Lemon has to figure out how to deal with the guilt, loss and regret that threaten to smother her.
'LUSCIOUS LEMON' tackels a serious subject and does not make light or skirt around it, it hits it head on with all of the raw emotion it deserves. Swain created characters that are multi-dimentional and real who you will equally love and loathe at some point in the book. You will go from hating one character to understanding and maybe even sympathizing with them or from rooting for one to rallying against them and back to rooting for them in one fell swoop. This is true of the book as it is true in real life. And once you are finished with the book take the time to read the exceptionally well written "interview with the author" the combination of the two will have you wanting to run out and read more of Heather Swain, I know I do!
Absolutely 5 big stars!
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