The Lemonade Year
by Amy Willoughby-Burle
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Pages: 352
Format: book
Buy the Book: Amazon
Goodreads: Nina’s once-sweet life has unexpectedly turned sour. Her marriage is over, her job is in jeopardy, and her teenage daughter is slipping away from her. Then her father dies and issues with Nina’s mother come to a head; her estranged brother, Ray, comes home; and her sister, Lola, is tempted to blow a big family secret out of the water. They say the truth will set you free, but first it will make a huge mess of things.
All Nina’s got left is her final photography assignment shooting images for the book 32 Ways to Make Lemonade. Well, that and the attention of a younger man, but Oliver’s on-again-off-again romantic interest in her ebbs and flows so much she is seasick. And then Jack, her ex-husband, shows up, wanting to get back together.
As Nina struggles to find a way through her complicated relationships and to uncover her true path, she discovers just how valuable a second chance at life and happiness can be.
Kritters Thoughts: Nina had a life and she was on cruise control when a few parts of her life went a little off track. She was a mom of a teenager, a devoted wife and a full time photographer for a publisher of food books. Before the book starts, her marriage has crumbled and she is post divorce, her full time job doesn't look so secure and her daughter is definitely in the midst of full teenage angst! A death in the family sets a few things in motion.
I like a good family drama, but this one seemed way too full of the drama. I would have toned it down just a little. It just seemed like way too much and I couldn't get my head around all of this happening to her at the same moment. I liked the concept of trying to turn what could be a "sour year" into something with some "sweetness", but It just seemed too much.
Nina was a fine character, but for some reason, I just couldn't get connected with her. I don't mind reading a book when I can't connect, but I couldn't seem to find the care emotion to care what happened next to her and that kept my reading enjoyment level at a low level. There were many moments in the book where I would have loved to hear more about her sister Lola's story, both in the past and her present story. I wouldn't have minded reading a few chapters throughout this book from her perspective, it could have broken up Nina's story a bit and maybe given me a more appealing perspective of Nina.
I have not read Amy's previous book and I would still go back and read it. I wouldn't rule her out after this one read.
Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one copy of this book free of charge from Shadow Mountain Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
There seems to be a lot of upheavals going on. I know life is sometimes like that but I doubt Ill want to immerse myself in reading it!
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