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The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie
"An uplifting novel about a heartbroken young pie maker who is granted a magical second chance to live the life she didn't choose. . . . from the bestselling author of The Enlightenment of Bees. Lolly Blanchard's life only seems to give her lemons. Ten years ago, after her mother's tragic death, she broke up with her first love and abandoned her dream of opening a restaurant in order to keep her family's struggling Seattle diner afloat and care for her younger sister and grieving father. Now, a decade later, she dutifully whips up the diner's famous lemon meringue pies each morning while still pining for all she's lost. As Lolly's thirty-third birthday approaches, her quirky great-aunt gives her a mysterious gift-three lemon drops, each of which allows her to live a single day in a life that might have been hers. What if her mom hadn't passed away? What if she had opened her own restaurant in England? What if she hadn't broken up with the only man she's ever loved? Surprising and empowering, each experience helps Lolly let go of her regrets and realize the key to transforming her life lies not in redoing her past but in having the courage to embrace her present"--
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 2, 2022
743 people are currently reading
25.2k people want to read
About the author
Rachel Linden
81 books752 followersRachel Linden is a novelist and international aid worker whose adventures in over fifty countries around the world provide excellent grist for her writing. She is the author of The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie, The Enlightenment of Bees, Becoming the Talbot Sisters, and Ascension of Larks. Currently Rachel lives with her family on a sweet little island near Seattle, WA where she enjoys creating stories about strong women facing big challenges, travel, food, and second chances at love. She promises her readers a happy, or at least very hopeful, ending and infuses each of her stories with a touch of magical realism.
To learn more about Rachel Linden, visit her at www.rachellinden.com or connect with her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authorRachellinden/ or Instagram at www.instagram.com/rachellinden_writer
To learn more about Rachel Linden, visit her at www.rachellinden.com or connect with her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authorRachellinden/ or Instagram at www.instagram.com/rachellinden_writer
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,153 reviews
August 9, 2022
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"Trying to change the past is pointless. We can only change our future by the choices we make today.”
I loved this book so much. I am really getting into magical realism this year and I am so here for it. I loved the way Rachel Linden was able to write about a strong, independent woman, even though she has doubts about some of her choices in life. The author was also able to blend magical realism with romance seamlessly. I am not a huge romance fan so I really enjoyed how the story just touched on the romantic angle enough to give me some heart feels without going overboard.
The book deals with loss, grief, finding one's self, and what-ifs. It also points out that we should be careful what we wish for...and Lolly goes through every single one. Don't we all wish we could have a chance to see "what would have happened if I took a different road"?
Lolly was an excellent protagonist and I cheered her on throughout, while she made some tough decisions about her future. She was a very complex, well-rounded character and her story was heartfelt, magical, and not to be missed. The fact that lemon meringue is my favourite pie had no bearing on this review. All. The. Stars.
I borrowed this one from my local library, thanks Toronto Public Library!
"Trying to change the past is pointless. We can only change our future by the choices we make today.”
I loved this book so much. I am really getting into magical realism this year and I am so here for it. I loved the way Rachel Linden was able to write about a strong, independent woman, even though she has doubts about some of her choices in life. The author was also able to blend magical realism with romance seamlessly. I am not a huge romance fan so I really enjoyed how the story just touched on the romantic angle enough to give me some heart feels without going overboard.
The book deals with loss, grief, finding one's self, and what-ifs. It also points out that we should be careful what we wish for...and Lolly goes through every single one. Don't we all wish we could have a chance to see "what would have happened if I took a different road"?
Lolly was an excellent protagonist and I cheered her on throughout, while she made some tough decisions about her future. She was a very complex, well-rounded character and her story was heartfelt, magical, and not to be missed. The fact that lemon meringue is my favourite pie had no bearing on this review. All. The. Stars.
I borrowed this one from my local library, thanks Toronto Public Library!
August 3, 2022
3.5 stars, rounded up
"'You can't keep holding on to the vision of the future you imagined you'd have, the way you thought things would turn out. You have to let the present be what it is--broken, flawed, painful, but real.'"
This latest book by Linden is filled with magical realism and has a lot to say about regrets and learning how to let go of dreams that don't fit anymore.
Lolly Blanchard is about to turn thirty-three and she has many regrets about how her life has progressed so far. As she looks back at a list of life goals she wrote when she was thirteen, she realizes that she hasn't accomplished any of them. She hasn't opened up her own restaurant in England, she hasn't kept her family together, and she doesn't have romantic love in her life. Many things were upset for her when her mother unexpectedly died, and Lolly has spent her adult life helping her father keep their struggling family restaurant open. When her great aunt gives her some magical lemon drops, Lolly has the opportunity to go live three different days of lives that "might have been."
This novel moves between the past and the present, with the reader learning what happened in the past that has led to Lolly being so stuck in the present. I didn't really connect with Lolly at first, I felt like she was living in the past in her head, like she was trying to achieve someone else's dreams rather than her own. When I finally got to the sections that showed the why of all of those things, it made me like her and identify with her struggles more. I wishes those reveals could have been a bit sooner.
There's a great deal of food for thought here, and when Lolly goes to visit her mom, the wisdom she imparts is universal and I connected deeply with it as a reader. "'If you cling so tight to something that's already broken, to a life and dream that can never come true, you don't have space in your life for anything else, for the good and real plan Bs.'"
This is a meaningful tale that readers will connect with, especially if you have wondered what would happen if you had taken another path in life.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
"'You can't keep holding on to the vision of the future you imagined you'd have, the way you thought things would turn out. You have to let the present be what it is--broken, flawed, painful, but real.'"
This latest book by Linden is filled with magical realism and has a lot to say about regrets and learning how to let go of dreams that don't fit anymore.
Lolly Blanchard is about to turn thirty-three and she has many regrets about how her life has progressed so far. As she looks back at a list of life goals she wrote when she was thirteen, she realizes that she hasn't accomplished any of them. She hasn't opened up her own restaurant in England, she hasn't kept her family together, and she doesn't have romantic love in her life. Many things were upset for her when her mother unexpectedly died, and Lolly has spent her adult life helping her father keep their struggling family restaurant open. When her great aunt gives her some magical lemon drops, Lolly has the opportunity to go live three different days of lives that "might have been."
This novel moves between the past and the present, with the reader learning what happened in the past that has led to Lolly being so stuck in the present. I didn't really connect with Lolly at first, I felt like she was living in the past in her head, like she was trying to achieve someone else's dreams rather than her own. When I finally got to the sections that showed the why of all of those things, it made me like her and identify with her struggles more. I wishes those reveals could have been a bit sooner.
There's a great deal of food for thought here, and when Lolly goes to visit her mom, the wisdom she imparts is universal and I connected deeply with it as a reader. "'If you cling so tight to something that's already broken, to a life and dream that can never come true, you don't have space in your life for anything else, for the good and real plan Bs.'"
This is a meaningful tale that readers will connect with, especially if you have wondered what would happen if you had taken another path in life.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
November 10, 2024
✩ 3.45 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Magical Realism
➼ “What If?”
➼ Second Chance
➼ Magic Lemon Drops
➼ Familial Duty & Sacrifice
➼ Life After Loss
➼ Finding Closure
➼ Letting Go of Unfulfilled Dreams
➼ “Grass isn’t always greener”themes
➼ First Person POV
After her mother’s tragic passing, Lolly put her dreams on hold to stay close to home and support her family. Believing it was the right thing for him, she also broke up with the love of her life so she would not hold him back as he pursued his doctorate. Now ten years later, Lolly looks back on her life and wonders, “what if?” How different would her life be if she had taken more chances and done things differently?
Magical Realism is a pretty hit or miss genre for me, and it’s even more rare that I’m truly satisfied by a plot that includes time travel. I often feel conflicted by the concept of the butterfly effect and the fact that the changes the characters make impact so many other people in that reality. The author did a great job of including this concept, but making it more of a cautionary tale. The lemon drops only allowed her to glimpse that possible life for 1 day and her actions did not have an impact on her own reality. A lot of her experiences supported the idea that “the grass isn’t always greener,” and helped her to see that no life is perfect. There was also a slight twist at the end that made for an extremely satisfying ending. 👌🏻
I don’t want to give too much away, but this story was very well crafted and equally well written. I think it’s important to note that this is really Lolly’s story and the romance aspect of the plot was a very minimal. It was a great book, but if you’re reading this for the romance, you might be a bit disappointed since it wasn’t the main focus.
“Continue to look for the light in your life - it is always present somewhere, some small thing to be grateful for, something to celebrate, a way to give joy to others, a new way to grow.”
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: This doesn’t quite match my fall vibe, but Libby calls the shots. 🍋✨
What to Expect:
➼ Magical Realism
➼ “What If?”
➼ Second Chance
➼ Magic Lemon Drops
➼ Familial Duty & Sacrifice
➼ Life After Loss
➼ Finding Closure
➼ Letting Go of Unfulfilled Dreams
➼ “Grass isn’t always greener”themes
➼ First Person POV
After her mother’s tragic passing, Lolly put her dreams on hold to stay close to home and support her family. Believing it was the right thing for him, she also broke up with the love of her life so she would not hold him back as he pursued his doctorate. Now ten years later, Lolly looks back on her life and wonders, “what if?” How different would her life be if she had taken more chances and done things differently?
Magical Realism is a pretty hit or miss genre for me, and it’s even more rare that I’m truly satisfied by a plot that includes time travel. I often feel conflicted by the concept of the butterfly effect and the fact that the changes the characters make impact so many other people in that reality. The author did a great job of including this concept, but making it more of a cautionary tale. The lemon drops only allowed her to glimpse that possible life for 1 day and her actions did not have an impact on her own reality. A lot of her experiences supported the idea that “the grass isn’t always greener,” and helped her to see that no life is perfect. There was also a slight twist at the end that made for an extremely satisfying ending. 👌🏻
I don’t want to give too much away, but this story was very well crafted and equally well written. I think it’s important to note that this is really Lolly’s story and the romance aspect of the plot was a very minimal. It was a great book, but if you’re reading this for the romance, you might be a bit disappointed since it wasn’t the main focus.
“Continue to look for the light in your life - it is always present somewhere, some small thing to be grateful for, something to celebrate, a way to give joy to others, a new way to grow.”
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: This doesn’t quite match my fall vibe, but Libby calls the shots. 🍋✨
December 12, 2023
This is a Women's Fiction with Magical Realism. I did not love this book, but I did not hate it. I found that I did not connect to the characters in this book. I think the main character did not know where her life was going, so I did not know what to want for the character. I also feel we did not get a lot of feelings from the characters until closer to the end of the book. I just wanted to get more of the characters feelings or a connection to the characters. I did like the storyline/plot. The ending was good, but I saw it ending like that way before the ending. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Berkley Books) or author (Rachel Linden) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
July 31, 2022
Be honest. Pay attention. Seek joy.
Lolly Blanchard is in a rut. The family restaurant is barely breaking even and takes up all of her time. A diary from her junior high days reminds her of the goals her early teen self had:
1. Live in another country.
2. Own my own restaurant somewhere amazing.
3. Fall in love.
4. Help my family be happy together 4 ever.
5. Get my own horse.
Her life is a lemon. Not one completed. She is determined to cross at least one item off the list in the next month. Where to start? Then Aunt Gert shares three magical lemon drops with Lolly. Each piece of candy has the power to transport her to a place where a wrong is made right. The spell lasts for one day. What will she choose? How will she feel when she comes back to her everyday life? I loved the "What if" component of this book. Also, the ways Lolly takes bits and pieces from each magical day to make her life better in the present. A lovely read that was a homerun for me. Even includes a recipe for Lemon Drop Pie. I can just taste and smooth sweet-tart filling and see that mile high meringue.
Thank you to Berkley and Edelweiss+ for DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Lolly Blanchard is in a rut. The family restaurant is barely breaking even and takes up all of her time. A diary from her junior high days reminds her of the goals her early teen self had:
1. Live in another country.
2. Own my own restaurant somewhere amazing.
3. Fall in love.
4. Help my family be happy together 4 ever.
5. Get my own horse.
Her life is a lemon. Not one completed. She is determined to cross at least one item off the list in the next month. Where to start? Then Aunt Gert shares three magical lemon drops with Lolly. Each piece of candy has the power to transport her to a place where a wrong is made right. The spell lasts for one day. What will she choose? How will she feel when she comes back to her everyday life? I loved the "What if" component of this book. Also, the ways Lolly takes bits and pieces from each magical day to make her life better in the present. A lovely read that was a homerun for me. Even includes a recipe for Lemon Drop Pie. I can just taste and smooth sweet-tart filling and see that mile high meringue.
Thank you to Berkley and Edelweiss+ for DRC in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2022
A wonderful mix of One Italian Summer and In a Holidaze. This book was the feel good read I didn’t realize I needed. Although I’m not a huge fan of magical realism, Rachel Linden’s use of it here is just that, “magical”.
Although the first few chapters felt a bit slow, as soon as it I began to connect to Lolly and Rory, I was all in. Before I knew it, I was completely invested in Lolly finding her happily ever after and devastated at the thought that in the end, that may not be with Rory.
A heartwarming read that soothes the soul, this is the perfect end of summer read.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing and @prhaudio for an ALC of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Although the first few chapters felt a bit slow, as soon as it I began to connect to Lolly and Rory, I was all in. Before I knew it, I was completely invested in Lolly finding her happily ever after and devastated at the thought that in the end, that may not be with Rory.
A heartwarming read that soothes the soul, this is the perfect end of summer read.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing and @prhaudio for an ALC of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
August 16, 2022
This is a beautiful story of magical realism. I did struggle to connect with the main character for the first half, but I felt like it all came together pretty well. Lolly is going to be 33 soon and she is saddened to realize she hasn’t achieved any of her big dreams for herself. when her mother died 10 years before she gave up her engagement to the man she loved and her dreams of opening her own restaurant to take care of her little sister, grieving father, and their struggling diner in Seattle. Lolly is given a chance to see what she might have have had if she’d made different choices when her great aunt gives her some magical lemon drops. The story was sweet and a fun read even though it dealt with some pretty serious topics.
March 17, 2024
"The reality of the universe far transcends the paltry boundaries of your own understanding. As the great Saint Augustine once said, ‘Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature.’”
It's really good and seemed like that kind of a book that comes into your life at just the right moment!
Art by Charles (ectleticartwork)
"Be honest. Pay attention. Seek joy."
P.S.I rarely listen to music while reading but this sunshiny song Ta vedette (Your Star) by Iliona seems fitting for the Lolly and Rory story, I discovered it after already finishing this beautiful book. It also brings summer back every time I listen to this song :)
It's really good and seemed like that kind of a book that comes into your life at just the right moment!
Art by Charles (ectleticartwork)
"Be honest. Pay attention. Seek joy."
P.S.I rarely listen to music while reading but this sunshiny song Ta vedette (Your Star) by Iliona seems fitting for the Lolly and Rory story, I discovered it after already finishing this beautiful book. It also brings summer back every time I listen to this song :)
June 7, 2022
The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie is a delightful story of lost love and second chances. It asks the question, “What if I go could back and make a different decision?” The characters are endearing and the “road not taken” plot is one of my favorites. In this book, Lolly gets to explore some roads not taken. Will she choose one of them? Can she? The book transitions well between the past, the present, and possible futures. It is a fun dream–magic lemon drops that can change your life. Mix together a sweet romance with a few “what ifs” and some fairy dust in the form of lemon drops, and you have an entertaining read. I really enjoyed all of it, from the captivating cover to the lemon meringue pie.
I received a free copy of this book from Berkley Publishing via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
I received a free copy of this book from Berkley Publishing via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
August 26, 2022
This is a sweet read about the choices we make, the regrets we have, and finding the courage to pursue our own happiness. Likable characters, scrumptious food descriptions, and believable life hurdles give this a depth above and beyond a Hallmark movie plot. It's predictable and heartwarming—the perfect uplifting read in between heavier books or when you're feeling blue. I made the pie from the recipe listed at the end, and it was delicious!
July 22, 2022
If you love a touch of magical realism in your books, you might love Lemon Drop Pie! This is a sweet wholesome story that came together in the end so beautifully. I don’t typically do well with magical realism, but this was subtle enough for me and it worked out! I loved it.
January 6, 2023
As sweet as “Lemon Drop Pie”, with a dash of magic, this little story is a version of the popular trope on missed opportunities, the chance to revisit oneself in time and whether to consider taking a chance on altering personal history for elusive “happiness”.
At the age of thirty-three, Lolly is feeling frazzled and lost in a life of dead ends. Her frustration and sorrow hits its peak when her younger sister finds the diary which spelled out in her life goals, and Lolly believes that she hasn’t reached any of them. On the brink of an exciting life in her early twenties, a major tragedy changed her life path and she is still struggling as a caregiver for her family. At this crossroads, her eccentric aunt offers her those lemon drops- a unique moment to arrive at another moment in time where she is connected to something or someone - and perhaps find a resolution.
At its heart, The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie is a love story. Although it attempts to urge the reader to follow their “bliss”, rather than shaping their lives around others perpetually, the hopeful message is that if you ride everything out, you will find and shape your own version of happily ever after. Dear Aunt Gert and Eve stake their claims on bliss independently; the bliss we are following for the remaining characters definitely is tightly intertwined with finding, finding again or hanging out with that love interest.
It’s a light, quick story- optimistic and refreshing. Great food and flavour references and a tasty pie recipe, which I won’t bake (gluten free pastry just isn’t wonderful).
Love and lemon pie- if you’re in the mood for a taste of either, this is the book for you. But really- take the wisdom offered with a grain of salt! :)
At the age of thirty-three, Lolly is feeling frazzled and lost in a life of dead ends. Her frustration and sorrow hits its peak when her younger sister finds the diary which spelled out in her life goals, and Lolly believes that she hasn’t reached any of them. On the brink of an exciting life in her early twenties, a major tragedy changed her life path and she is still struggling as a caregiver for her family. At this crossroads, her eccentric aunt offers her those lemon drops- a unique moment to arrive at another moment in time where she is connected to something or someone - and perhaps find a resolution.
At its heart, The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie is a love story. Although it attempts to urge the reader to follow their “bliss”, rather than shaping their lives around others perpetually, the hopeful message is that if you ride everything out, you will find and shape your own version of happily ever after. Dear Aunt Gert and Eve stake their claims on bliss independently; the bliss we are following for the remaining characters definitely is tightly intertwined with finding, finding again or hanging out with that love interest.
It’s a light, quick story- optimistic and refreshing. Great food and flavour references and a tasty pie recipe, which I won’t bake (gluten free pastry just isn’t wonderful).
Love and lemon pie- if you’re in the mood for a taste of either, this is the book for you. But really- take the wisdom offered with a grain of salt! :)
October 4, 2024
I kept waiting for this to get better, but it didn't, at least for me. Forced, saccharine, mopey, and weirdly structured, this would be ok to suggest to Women's Fiction readers, but not a standout.
The lemon drop magic will appeal to reader who like books like What Alice Forgot, but the story gets more and more predictable as it progresses.
eARC from NetGalley.
The lemon drop magic will appeal to reader who like books like What Alice Forgot, but the story gets more and more predictable as it progresses.
eARC from NetGalley.
August 20, 2022
Could goals you made in seventh grade affect your life when you are in your thirties?
Lolly works at the family diner and feels like her life is a lemon.
One day her sister came across her diary and the goals she had written in seventh grade. She looked at those goals and wondered if she still wanted them. She definitely didn’t want a horse.
Aunt Gert summoned Lolly to her cottage after seeing the diary and gave her three lemon drops.
She told Lolly to wish for something she would like to happen, take one of the lemon drops at bedtime, and she would dream about that and live for a day in her wish.
How did that turn out?
Lolly wasn't sure she wanted to live in some of these dreams, but the one where she got to be with her mother would have been one she would love to live in.
The other two dreams were ones about owning her own restaurant somewhere amazing and visiting the man she always loved and never got to be with.
THE MAGIC OF LEMON DROP PIE is a sweet, heartwarming, uplifting read with a character you will fall in love with.
A truly enjoyable read that gives some great advice but also a few heartaches. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
Lolly works at the family diner and feels like her life is a lemon.
One day her sister came across her diary and the goals she had written in seventh grade. She looked at those goals and wondered if she still wanted them. She definitely didn’t want a horse.
Aunt Gert summoned Lolly to her cottage after seeing the diary and gave her three lemon drops.
She told Lolly to wish for something she would like to happen, take one of the lemon drops at bedtime, and she would dream about that and live for a day in her wish.
How did that turn out?
Lolly wasn't sure she wanted to live in some of these dreams, but the one where she got to be with her mother would have been one she would love to live in.
The other two dreams were ones about owning her own restaurant somewhere amazing and visiting the man she always loved and never got to be with.
THE MAGIC OF LEMON DROP PIE is a sweet, heartwarming, uplifting read with a character you will fall in love with.
A truly enjoyable read that gives some great advice but also a few heartaches. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
September 1, 2023
Four and a half stars
Lolly Blanchard and Rory Shaw met and became friends as children. Then friendship turned into something more. Lolly and Rory envisioned a future together but life had other plans it seemed. Her mothers death propels Lolly into taking over her role in the family diner, supporting her grieving father and caring for her much younger sister Daphne. The romance between Lolly and Rory implodes. Ten years later regrets for all she has lost linger.
After Lolly, just about to turn thirty three, finds an old journal written when she was thirteen with her dreams for the future, her Aunt Gert gives her a surprising gift. the gift is three lemon drops. Each one has the capacity to transport her for a day to a life that might have been hers.But sometimes as Lolly discovers one choice affects so many more things. Will she find the solution to shelving those regrets and forging a future?
Lolly is a likeable character, hardworking, caring, and so often putting the needs of others before her own. Aunt Gert is a rather flamboyant character who adds interest and Lolly’s friend Eve is a supportive friend. All the characters come across well.
I did wonder about the name Lolly but towards the ending the significance of the name emerges..
Women’s fiction with a touch of magic realism I thoroughly enjoyed this story of family, friendship, love, grief , regrets and choices. Maybe a tad predictable but just a sweet and tangy read. Lemon meringue pie features heavily. You may even find a recipe to enjoy making as well.
Lolly Blanchard and Rory Shaw met and became friends as children. Then friendship turned into something more. Lolly and Rory envisioned a future together but life had other plans it seemed. Her mothers death propels Lolly into taking over her role in the family diner, supporting her grieving father and caring for her much younger sister Daphne. The romance between Lolly and Rory implodes. Ten years later regrets for all she has lost linger.
After Lolly, just about to turn thirty three, finds an old journal written when she was thirteen with her dreams for the future, her Aunt Gert gives her a surprising gift. the gift is three lemon drops. Each one has the capacity to transport her for a day to a life that might have been hers.But sometimes as Lolly discovers one choice affects so many more things. Will she find the solution to shelving those regrets and forging a future?
Lolly is a likeable character, hardworking, caring, and so often putting the needs of others before her own. Aunt Gert is a rather flamboyant character who adds interest and Lolly’s friend Eve is a supportive friend. All the characters come across well.
I did wonder about the name Lolly but towards the ending the significance of the name emerges..
Women’s fiction with a touch of magic realism I thoroughly enjoyed this story of family, friendship, love, grief , regrets and choices. Maybe a tad predictable but just a sweet and tangy read. Lemon meringue pie features heavily. You may even find a recipe to enjoy making as well.
May 1, 2022
Lolly is about to turn 33 when her younger sister reminds her of her life goals from an old Lisa Frank notebook she used in middle school. And Lolly has accomplished none of them. So she makes it her new mission to complete at least one before her birthday next month. Should be easy, right? But Lolly is carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, running her family's diner and keeping her family together after her mom died. But when her great aunt offers her a way to see what her life would have been like had she made different decisions, she's torn on what to do.
Y'all. I have so many things to say. Where to start? This book started off okay, but kind of tepid. It just got more boring after that. We jump back in forth both in time and between these "what if" scenarios and it was hard to keep track, especially with what the timeline of Lolly and Rory's relationship. At one point, during a "what if" day, Lolly says something about how she must have actually been in a relationship with Rory in that reality and she wonders what happened, making it sound like they never got together in the original timeline...but later we find out they were together. Then, she has this "never call me again!" moment, but they just kind of skim over that and hook back up later.
Then there's the diner. First, have you ever known a diner that serves breakfast, but doesn't open until 8am? Then, they don't even make their own food for breakfast! It's just pastries they buy from a bakery. THEN, Lolly wanted to open a restaurant of her own, but the only thing she makes for the diner is pie...she never does any regular cooking. Then, there's the ending. It's made to look like the diner has this huge following of loyal customers, but we never meet any of the customers in the actual story. It just felt super forced.
Y'all. I have so many things to say. Where to start? This book started off okay, but kind of tepid. It just got more boring after that. We jump back in forth both in time and between these "what if" scenarios and it was hard to keep track, especially with what the timeline of Lolly and Rory's relationship. At one point, during a "what if" day, Lolly says something about how she must have actually been in a relationship with Rory in that reality and she wonders what happened, making it sound like they never got together in the original timeline...but later we find out they were together. Then, she has this "never call me again!" moment, but they just kind of skim over that and hook back up later.
Then there's the diner. First, have you ever known a diner that serves breakfast, but doesn't open until 8am? Then, they don't even make their own food for breakfast! It's just pastries they buy from a bakery. THEN, Lolly wanted to open a restaurant of her own, but the only thing she makes for the diner is pie...she never does any regular cooking. Then, there's the ending. It's made to look like the diner has this huge following of loyal customers, but we never meet any of the customers in the actual story. It just felt super forced.
September 2, 2022
4/4.5 stars!
This was a deliciously sweet story with a side of magical realism perfect to cleanse the reading palate.
I’ve really been enjoying books with a time travel/change the past storyline this year, and was so excited to read
THE MAGIC OF LEMON DROP PIE.
Lolly is a woman in her thirties trying to keep her family diner afloat, and living out her Mother’s dream before she died, realizing that she wishes things turned out differently for herself. When Lolly’s Great Aunt gives her magical lemon drops and the opportunity to revisit her life and what could have been, she jumps at the chance.
Overall it was a lighthearted story, and I really enjoyed it!
*many thanks to Berkley/Netgalley and Uplit Reads campaign for the gifted copy for review
This was a deliciously sweet story with a side of magical realism perfect to cleanse the reading palate.
I’ve really been enjoying books with a time travel/change the past storyline this year, and was so excited to read
THE MAGIC OF LEMON DROP PIE.
Lolly is a woman in her thirties trying to keep her family diner afloat, and living out her Mother’s dream before she died, realizing that she wishes things turned out differently for herself. When Lolly’s Great Aunt gives her magical lemon drops and the opportunity to revisit her life and what could have been, she jumps at the chance.
Overall it was a lighthearted story, and I really enjoyed it!
*many thanks to Berkley/Netgalley and Uplit Reads campaign for the gifted copy for review
August 7, 2022
Review coming soon.
April 21, 2024
Oh, this one was so sweet. Had some elements that reminded me of The Good Part. I don’t know what it is about magical realism, but I just love it so much. 🥹
September 21, 2022
4.5 stars. Absolutely adorable and heartfelt. Was always excited to come back and read it after putting it down. Audio was well done. Thank you @prhaudio for my ALC
This book was an absolute delight. I was told it was like a hallmark movie and in my humble opinion I can see the parallels only this was way better.
I loved the message of following what drives you, and of now getting so fixated in the past that you forget the place you are now…with the people who love you.
I loved seeing Lolly decide what mattered most in her life. There is a romance in this book (friends to lovers - my favorite) but it is not the focused upon element to the story. It was killing me to find out if Lollys happiness in this area would be with who she wanted or something else entirely.
This made me want to make, hug my mom, and soak in every moment that makes life worth while. I loved it. If you are looking for a feel good book going into fall, this would be the one I would recommend.
Once I started, I listened every chance I could but I was so caught up in this sweet story. Thank you @prhaudio for my ALC.
This book was an absolute delight. I was told it was like a hallmark movie and in my humble opinion I can see the parallels only this was way better.
I loved the message of following what drives you, and of now getting so fixated in the past that you forget the place you are now…with the people who love you.
I loved seeing Lolly decide what mattered most in her life. There is a romance in this book (friends to lovers - my favorite) but it is not the focused upon element to the story. It was killing me to find out if Lollys happiness in this area would be with who she wanted or something else entirely.
This made me want to make, hug my mom, and soak in every moment that makes life worth while. I loved it. If you are looking for a feel good book going into fall, this would be the one I would recommend.
Once I started, I listened every chance I could but I was so caught up in this sweet story. Thank you @prhaudio for my ALC.
August 2, 2022
The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie
by Rachel Linden
Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley
Pub Date: Aug 2
What a compelling novel about second and third chances, granted to Lolly on her 33rd birthday. She still grieves her Mom who died 10 years ago. Rues the missed opportunity to start her own restaurant, foiled by coming home to Seattle to care for her grieving family and to help keep their diner going.
As she makes lemon meringue pies every morning à la Groundhog Day, she still longs for the man she loved but lost and wishes she could recover everything that's passed her by.
Only the gift from her great-aunt of three lemon drops, each granting her a day to live what she still yearns for, does Lolly receive the greatest gift of all: Knowledge that to realize her dreams, she must let go of the past and open her heart to what's possible now.
Highly recommended for lovers of second chances and compelling romance.
Thanks to the author, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the ARC; opinions are mine.
#TheMagicofLemonDropPie #RachelLinden #berkleypublishinggroup #NetGalley #romancefiction #restaurantfiction #secondchancenovels #grieffiction #lostlovenovels #bookstagramcommunity
by Rachel Linden
Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley
Pub Date: Aug 2
What a compelling novel about second and third chances, granted to Lolly on her 33rd birthday. She still grieves her Mom who died 10 years ago. Rues the missed opportunity to start her own restaurant, foiled by coming home to Seattle to care for her grieving family and to help keep their diner going.
As she makes lemon meringue pies every morning à la Groundhog Day, she still longs for the man she loved but lost and wishes she could recover everything that's passed her by.
Only the gift from her great-aunt of three lemon drops, each granting her a day to live what she still yearns for, does Lolly receive the greatest gift of all: Knowledge that to realize her dreams, she must let go of the past and open her heart to what's possible now.
Highly recommended for lovers of second chances and compelling romance.
Thanks to the author, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the ARC; opinions are mine.
#TheMagicofLemonDropPie #RachelLinden #berkleypublishinggroup #NetGalley #romancefiction #restaurantfiction #secondchancenovels #grieffiction #lostlovenovels #bookstagramcommunity
July 28, 2022
The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie reminded me of Sliding Doors with a touch of metaphysics. As Lolly Blanchard's thirty-third birthday approaches, she realizes she hasn't achieved any of her childhood dreams and goals. Lolly is stuck running her family's struggling diner, her family hasn't recovered from her mother's untimely death, and the man she has been in love with for years is married to another woman. She also had to give up her dream of living in another country and running her own restaurant. Unexpectedly, Lolly gets a chance to explore what-ifs when her great aunt gives her three magical lemon drops that can show Lolly three different versions of her life.
The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie is a well-written and heartwarming story about second chances, learning to let go of regrets, and embracing the life you have. I am a fan of the "Sliding Doors" trope, and I enjoyed this book very much.
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley
The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie is a well-written and heartwarming story about second chances, learning to let go of regrets, and embracing the life you have. I am a fan of the "Sliding Doors" trope, and I enjoyed this book very much.
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley
September 15, 2022
TITLE: THE MAGIC OF LEMON DROP PIE
AUTHOR: Rachel Linden
PUB DATE: 08.02.2022 Now Available
Heartwarming
Hopeful
Heavenly
Lolly is almost thirty three, and full of regrets on the what-ifs of life, and with the help of her quirky aunt and three lemon drops, Lolly is able to take a glimpse of the what-ifs and rediscover her courage to move past her grief.
Reading THE MAGIC OF LEMON DROP PIE by Rachel Linden is like drinking warm tea that soothes your soul. Every time I picked up the book, I see my face with a huge smile and ready to escape once again to a Danish diner in Seattle, at a quaint village in England, or wherever Linden happens to take her readers, we are sure to find the magic of comforting foods and the love of family.
I highly recommend this book if you love reading about uplifting stories with a magical touch.
AUTHOR: Rachel Linden
PUB DATE: 08.02.2022 Now Available
Heartwarming
Hopeful
Heavenly
Lolly is almost thirty three, and full of regrets on the what-ifs of life, and with the help of her quirky aunt and three lemon drops, Lolly is able to take a glimpse of the what-ifs and rediscover her courage to move past her grief.
Reading THE MAGIC OF LEMON DROP PIE by Rachel Linden is like drinking warm tea that soothes your soul. Every time I picked up the book, I see my face with a huge smile and ready to escape once again to a Danish diner in Seattle, at a quaint village in England, or wherever Linden happens to take her readers, we are sure to find the magic of comforting foods and the love of family.
I highly recommend this book if you love reading about uplifting stories with a magical touch.
August 23, 2022
I really really enjoyed this book. The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie is a nice break from all the thrillers I’ve been reading. Lolly is running her family’s restaurant with her dad. She’s turning 33 and realizes none of her dreams have come true. A great-aunt gives her 3 lemon drops and says before she eats one, she can live for a single day that she would want to re-live but do it differently. This had me asking would I want to do that??? See what could’ve been and what I might have missed? My answer is no. I’ve lived a great life and have no regrets. What a treasure this book was. Highly recommend!!!
August 12, 2022
Thank you, Berkley Publishing and Uplit Reads, for the gifted copy of The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie. {partner}
Genre: Romance/Magical Realism
Trope: Second Chase
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 8.2.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5
"Life doesn't work that way. If you cling so tight to something that's already broken, to a life and a dream that can never come true, you don't have space in your life for anything else."
I started my reading month with the Magic of Lemon Drop pie by Rachel Linden, and it was just what I needed to set August off on the right foot. It took me about 100 pages to get into the story, but then I didn't want to put it down.
You all know that I love magical realism, but I also love second-chance life stories. At some point in time, we have all been in Lolly's shoes, and reading Magic of Lemon Drop Pie had me thinking about the pieces of my life I would like to do over. This book looked at our decisions, where they lead us, and the repercussions our choices can have on our future selves.
I'm so pleased with how the ending of The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie turned out. It was a charming story that made me happy and left me smiling as I closed the book.
⏰ Past & Present
✌🏼Dual Timeline - glimpses at young romance
📖 Slow to start, but I was fully invested by page 100
💗 Second chance at love
🥰 Story of self-discovery
I recommend you read The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie if you enjoyed reading One Italian Summer.
______
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Genre: Romance/Magical Realism
Trope: Second Chase
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 8.2.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5
"Life doesn't work that way. If you cling so tight to something that's already broken, to a life and a dream that can never come true, you don't have space in your life for anything else."
I started my reading month with the Magic of Lemon Drop pie by Rachel Linden, and it was just what I needed to set August off on the right foot. It took me about 100 pages to get into the story, but then I didn't want to put it down.
You all know that I love magical realism, but I also love second-chance life stories. At some point in time, we have all been in Lolly's shoes, and reading Magic of Lemon Drop Pie had me thinking about the pieces of my life I would like to do over. This book looked at our decisions, where they lead us, and the repercussions our choices can have on our future selves.
I'm so pleased with how the ending of The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie turned out. It was a charming story that made me happy and left me smiling as I closed the book.
⏰ Past & Present
✌🏼Dual Timeline - glimpses at young romance
📖 Slow to start, but I was fully invested by page 100
💗 Second chance at love
🥰 Story of self-discovery
I recommend you read The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie if you enjoyed reading One Italian Summer.
______
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebookend....
Follow my blog: https://thebookenddiner.com/
Follow me on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/thebookendd...
Follow me on StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile...
October 31, 2023
What if there really was a second chance in life to find exactly what it was you wanted and needed to have what it was you wanted in life?
Perhaps...
A dream lost, a dream regained, “there was just this – my life as it was now. Be honest. Pay attention. Seek joy…And to try my best to follow my bliss every moment of every day for the rest of my life.”
Is it possible?
Perhaps, following this little tale, we could learn from Lolly and just Be blissful, too.
And...
Enjoy some lemon drop pie, too. Recipe included.
Perhaps...
A dream lost, a dream regained, “there was just this – my life as it was now. Be honest. Pay attention. Seek joy…And to try my best to follow my bliss every moment of every day for the rest of my life.”
Is it possible?
Perhaps, following this little tale, we could learn from Lolly and just Be blissful, too.
And...
Enjoy some lemon drop pie, too. Recipe included.
August 1, 2022
Charming, hopeful, and tender!
The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie is a touching, uplifting tale that takes you into the life of Lolly Blanchard, a young woman who gave up her own dreams ten years ago to come home and run the family diner and help take care of her younger sister after her mother died, as she embarks on a journey to complete at least one of her teenage goals before her upcoming thirty-third birthday of living in another country, owning her own restaurant, falling in love, helping her family be happy forever, or owning her own horse with a little help from three magic lemon drops courtesy of her Aunt Gert which will transport her to another time and place and allow her to live another life for one day.
The prose is heartfelt and smooth. The characters are multilayered, genuine, and conflicted. And the plot is an absorbing tale about life, loss, love, grief, family, friendship, relationship dynamics, introspection, heartbreak, and hope, all interwoven with a thread of magical realism.
Overall, The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie is a beautifully written, must-read book that tugs at the heartstrings, makes you think of all those what ifs, and reminds you that life is complicated, love is powerful and everlasting, and things often happen for a reason.
Thank you to Uplit Reads for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie is a touching, uplifting tale that takes you into the life of Lolly Blanchard, a young woman who gave up her own dreams ten years ago to come home and run the family diner and help take care of her younger sister after her mother died, as she embarks on a journey to complete at least one of her teenage goals before her upcoming thirty-third birthday of living in another country, owning her own restaurant, falling in love, helping her family be happy forever, or owning her own horse with a little help from three magic lemon drops courtesy of her Aunt Gert which will transport her to another time and place and allow her to live another life for one day.
The prose is heartfelt and smooth. The characters are multilayered, genuine, and conflicted. And the plot is an absorbing tale about life, loss, love, grief, family, friendship, relationship dynamics, introspection, heartbreak, and hope, all interwoven with a thread of magical realism.
Overall, The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie is a beautifully written, must-read book that tugs at the heartstrings, makes you think of all those what ifs, and reminds you that life is complicated, love is powerful and everlasting, and things often happen for a reason.
Thank you to Uplit Reads for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2022
Heartfelt,heartwarming, this is one of those books that when you're finished with it it won't just quickly leave your mind.
Lolly Blanchard is the stability in her family. After her mother passed away she is sticking to the promise she made to her mother shortly before her passing, take care of your sister and father.
She's been raising her younger sister and also is the lemon pie maker in her family's restaurant baking her delicacies daily from her mother's secret pie recipe.
Her great-Aunt has come to help run the restaurant as well. Into her eighties she is strict and no nonsense but at times Lolly does see a milder side to her.
Coulda,shoulda,woulda we all have thoughts of what we could have done differently in the past including Lolly especially when her sister finds and old notebook of Lolly's with a list she made in middle school of what she wanted to accomplish as an adult. Looking at the list she can laugh at some of the items but some she still wants to accomplish.
The book has magical realism as Lolly is able to experience the things she had wished for for only one day for each item. Not all is fine and dandy though there are the positives and negatives of each of the days she's experiencing. She comes to realize what she has is so much better than she thought and all she thought she really wanted is not better than what she already has.
Beautifully written and definitely worth a reread in the future.
Pub Date 02 Aug 2022 |
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
Lolly Blanchard is the stability in her family. After her mother passed away she is sticking to the promise she made to her mother shortly before her passing, take care of your sister and father.
She's been raising her younger sister and also is the lemon pie maker in her family's restaurant baking her delicacies daily from her mother's secret pie recipe.
Her great-Aunt has come to help run the restaurant as well. Into her eighties she is strict and no nonsense but at times Lolly does see a milder side to her.
Coulda,shoulda,woulda we all have thoughts of what we could have done differently in the past including Lolly especially when her sister finds and old notebook of Lolly's with a list she made in middle school of what she wanted to accomplish as an adult. Looking at the list she can laugh at some of the items but some she still wants to accomplish.
The book has magical realism as Lolly is able to experience the things she had wished for for only one day for each item. Not all is fine and dandy though there are the positives and negatives of each of the days she's experiencing. She comes to realize what she has is so much better than she thought and all she thought she really wanted is not better than what she already has.
Beautifully written and definitely worth a reread in the future.
Pub Date 02 Aug 2022 |
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
August 21, 2023
This sort of felt like a wonderful mashup of Every Summer After and The Seven Year Slip. Two books I adore!
Lolly Blanchard is stuck in a bit of a dilemma between choosing family duty over personal ambitions. With her list of unmet life goals, Lolly is gifted three magical lemon drops from her aunt—each lemon drop allowing her to spend one day experiencing a different version of her life.
But of course, each alternate version comes with its own complications. It's an absolutely cozy, captivating story of following your bliss and finding the silver lining in every obstacle.
Within all this is a precious second chance romance with dual timelines! The buildup, eventual destruction, and reconnection between Rory and Lolly made my heart flutter. I wanted just a tad more moments between them in the present timeline, but it is nothing to deter you from reading this! It was truly great.
(heat level: kissing only)
Lolly Blanchard is stuck in a bit of a dilemma between choosing family duty over personal ambitions. With her list of unmet life goals, Lolly is gifted three magical lemon drops from her aunt—each lemon drop allowing her to spend one day experiencing a different version of her life.
But of course, each alternate version comes with its own complications. It's an absolutely cozy, captivating story of following your bliss and finding the silver lining in every obstacle.
Within all this is a precious second chance romance with dual timelines! The buildup, eventual destruction, and reconnection between Rory and Lolly made my heart flutter. I wanted just a tad more moments between them in the present timeline, but it is nothing to deter you from reading this! It was truly great.
(heat level: kissing only)
September 21, 2022
The start of the book made me think this story might have potential, but then it never lived up to it. Overall, I found the book to be cliché, saccharine, and shallow.
All the characters were kept at a distance throughout the story. Lolly's family is clearly struggling heavily with the grief and changed family dynamics brought on by her mother's death, but the story just glosses over it. There is a part where Lolly fights with her sister and I thought we were finally going to get some emotion and instead Lolly is like, "Yeah, okay" and the story moves onto the next scene.
Additionally, we didn't get nearly enough scenes of adult Rory and Lolly together to make me understand why they were so hung up on each other. This lack of relationship development had me rolling my eyes at their antics.
Cute in theory, but not in execution.
All the characters were kept at a distance throughout the story. Lolly's family is clearly struggling heavily with the grief and changed family dynamics brought on by her mother's death, but the story just glosses over it. There is a part where Lolly fights with her sister and I thought we were finally going to get some emotion and instead Lolly is like, "Yeah, okay" and the story moves onto the next scene.
Additionally, we didn't get nearly enough scenes of adult Rory and Lolly together to make me understand why they were so hung up on each other. This lack of relationship development had me rolling my eyes at their antics.
Cute in theory, but not in execution.
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