Lemons and Lies

by Alexis Castellanos

A sweet meet-cute or a scheme destined to turn sour? Fake dating, family drama, and foodie fun combine in this YA paperback original.

Valeria Morales' senior year is not off to a great start. Her twin brother Adrian isn't talking to her, she's realizing all of her friends were actually his friends, and now she's failing math. Enter Gage Magnussen. Gage isn't looking to take on any tutoring gigs now that his standing as valedictorian is at risk after letting a catastrophic breakup distract him--not to mention his demanding parents expect Gage to coordinate their yearly charity auction alongside his cheating ex. So Valeria offers him a If he helps her pass, she'll take over event planning AND pretend to be his girlfriend. A win-win-win!

But as their study sessions move to deep conversations and their fake dates begin feeling realer and realer, is it possible the lemons they've been dealt will turn to lemonade? Or will this arrangement only sting?

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Audiobook, Young Adult Romance, Fake Dating, Realistic Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

Published September 16, 2025

About the author

Alexis Castellanos was born and raised in Florida where she enjoyed sunny days, dramatic thunderstorms, and delicious Cuban food. After graduating from college, she moved to New York City and worked as a scenic artist, bringing theatrical sets to life with a little bit of paint and a whole lot of ingenuity. She currently works as a graphic designer by day and spends her nights dreaming up stories. She lives on the West Coast with her partner and her cat. Isla to Island is her first graphic novel.

Reviews

[ari [gin’s vrsn 🩵] [semi ia] · Rating 1 out of 5]

what the trash was this...?
i don't think i've ever cringed this hard in my life. usually i'm all for a cheesy romance, but this just did not hit. it was like a macaroni hotdish with extra cheese. a lot of cheese.
but the noodles were soggy 🫠

this book doesn't deserve any more of my energy 😔💔

pre-read
i-i don’t remember requesting this one?!
somebody help me my feedback ratio is in the trenches

[Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned about this release from the author‘s Instagram. I saw her promoting it, and because I am very easily convinced, especially when it comes to books I decided to pick it up. I’m so glad I did! L and L ended up being not only a really cute and entertaining romance, but also a really emotional exploration into family and how the people that you love have a huge part in shaping you into who you are for better or for worse. I was really impressed with the authors ability to tackle these hard hitting topics, while also managing to keep a pretty lighthearted and humorous tone for most of the novel. As someone who comes from a really close extended family I also appreciated that the family members for the most part were fully realized characters that had an impact on the story, because you don’t see that a lot in this kind of book.

The Romance wasn’t perfect, but this can mainly be attributed to obligatory third act drama that is unfortunately nearly unavoidable in this genre. I still found it very charming if a little cliché. I would also just like to mention that this is also an undercover perfect Fall read. The majority of the book takes place in the autumn months. The characters even go to an adorable festival to celebrate the season.

Overall, I think this is a really underrated new release that may be a touch on the cheesy side, but much like its main character contains multiple layers. I definitely recommend it to fans of young adult contemporaries, and will definitely be checking out more of the authors work in the future!

[Maria Xue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I found the book surprisingly deep. It starts off cute and calm—almost a bit too cutesy and slow at first, with a lengthy donation scene I found tedious. But as the story unfolds, it reveals a lot of action and drama, tackling heavy topics like divorce, family, trauma, and friendship that left me feeling quite melancholy.

The characters are a highlight. Everyone has flaws, and not all are purely evil—except maybe Ginger (whose blonde hair is confusing for a character with that name!). Valria is okay, but Gage is absolutely adorable. I love how thoughtful and considerate he is 🫶🏻☺️. He even feeds stray cats—the cutest thing! And he murmured a Latin poem to comfort someone 🙂‍↕️🩷🩷—That’s true love, honestly.

Best of all, I LOVE THE DIALOGS! They sound incredibly realistic, with characters pausing, stuttering, and humming while thinking. A definite bonus!

I quite enjoyed it!

[Crystal W | Coleys.Table.Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Thank you Bloomsbury books for the gifted copy** This is such a cute book and really focuses on issues that any high schooler might be experiencing but also some more difficult situations. I enjoyed the self discover that the FMC undergoes. There is definitely a complicated family dynamic which I liked. I also loved the diversity represented within this book. The MMC is sweet and their budding romance together is sweet. Good read!

[Analilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lemons & Lies by Alexis Castellanos
✰ ✰ ✰ ✰.5

📌 Fake Dating
📌 Nerdy Boy who speaks Latin
📌 Family Drama
📌 Food References 🍴
📌 Family Business
📌 Cute & Easy Read
📌 Fun Banter
📌 Family Support

An adorable YA romance. 💘
Filled with food references that will keep you hungry through every chapter. Everything from sibling drama, school rivals, and superficial ex’s.

If you already read Guava and Grudges then you will be excited to jump back to the Morales Bakery alongside Ana Maria and Miguel. This time though, the book is set in the perspective of Valeria Morales (Miguel’s Cousin) and the aftermath after the scandal that took place in the first book. I highly recommend reading G&G first but this book can also be read alone.

Valeria Morales, a senior in high school, is struggling with failing Algebra and the potential to not graduate. She must find a tutor to help her and the only one that can is her twin brother’s arch school nemesis. Currently in a fallout with her brother she proceeds to ask Gage Magnussen to please tutor her. While asking him, his ex girlfriend approaches and tries to talk to him thus giving Valeria the idea to begin a fake dating scheme that might just be her only way to convince him to help her. This book was cute, charming and contained all my favorite aspects of a good YA book. I loved the way the author included several other characters from the family. The Tia (Aunt) representation in the book was lovely to see. 💕
& not to spoil anything but when the grand gesture happened, I was so awestruck with not just how he made her feel but how she felt about herself in that moment. ✨

💭 Question to author, will we ever find out who nominated Sofia for homecoming court??

Lemons & Lies is now out! Go check it out 🍋🍋‍🟩

Thank you to NetGalley, publisher, and author for the advance reader copy.

[Madeleine Berges · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a super cute YA romance!!!

Perfect for fans of Lynn Painter’s YA books in my opinion!

The relationship was sweet and the book was a quick read!

I really loved the family aspect of the book too for our FMC! It definitely made the book relatable to even adults (who doesn’t have some FUN family dynamics!

I thought the book explored some great topics (true to yourself, finding yourself not just what your parents want you to be, etc) that is valuable to teens!

Thank you to Bloomsbury for the gifted arc! All opinions are my own!

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lemons and Lies is the cutest YA romance I’ve read in a long time. I connected with the characters and the story and didn’t find this too young or boring. This was the perfect level of sweet to be an enjoyable, refreshing read and not cringey. I really appreciated how the plot of this story wasn’t just focused on the romance but also highlighted all the other life factors that can impact young adults as they try to figure their lives out, too. And, of course, the fake dating trope was adorable and I was always rooting for Valeria and Gage! Loved this so much!

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

So sweet and fun. While this continues the adventures of the Morales and Ybarras, after Guavas and Grudges, this is also a standalone. Here, Valeria, has to find her own way, while being estranged from her twin, dealing with an absent mother and failing algebra 2. Loved her fake dating setup with the math and marine bio whiz and of course, all the food. I'm hoping there will be more from this high school world.

[ting · Rating 3 out of 5]

a cute lil read to wrap up the year ꣑ৎ didn’t expect much from this one but it turned out to be a sweet (if slightly cliche) ya romance. despite the promising start, the pacing was off as too many plotlines were introduced and the ending was rushed. i liked valeria and gage together though their romance was overshadowed by the family drama, but i’m not complaining as it’s one of the standout parts of the book.

[Lindsey (Bagel) · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, the cover is SO STINKIN’ CUTE! It’s what made me want to read in the first place! Second, I didn’t realize that this was a stand-alone but kind of part of a series?? I’m definitely curious to read about Miguel and Ana Maria in book 1!!!

This was just a sweet YA! Fun little tropes and classic high school issues! I did find myself bored at parts, but honestly it’s probably because I’m not the demographic! It’s harder to relate to high schoolers as I get older, but still it was a cutesy story and perfect for anyone who needs an easy read!!

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute story. I loved Gage, he was crazy intelligent but still caring, and also relatively classy. I like that in a guy (including book characters, apparently). Valeria was cool too, although she got on my nerves a few times. I hated the mom, but that was to be expected. I also totally understood the description of Adrian feeling the need to be perfect all the time, it felt like the author knew what she was talking about. Anyway, Tia Isa was a great character too! I have had aunts help me through hard times, and it was just cool to see that unique type of love in a book. The romance between Gage and Valeria was so cute. Unfortunately, this book had QUITE a bit of language, and a few small parts that I disliked. I also thought that the ending was quite rushed, but fine nonetheless. ALSO! I speak just enough Spanish to understand the vast majority of sentences in that language with minimal effort. I loved the addition of actually using the language, showing that they were Cuban instead of just stating the fact.

[kaitlyns_library · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one!!

[Emily Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda meh overall, but I do absolutely love the fact that the main character is a girl who's almost 6 feet tall with severe mommy issues😌

also- I like that the author adds recipes to the end of every book. Very fun personal touch!

[Stacey Couch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute book! What started out as a fake relationship to help each other out turned into an adorable story! Love the sub plots of family and friendships as well.

[Living My Best Book Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Bloomsbury for the gifted copy.
Valeria is a young woman in her senior year, trying to make it to graduation, and Gage, her twin brother's school rival, is the only guy who can make it happen. What was supposed to be a simple tutoring arrangement turns into a fake dating arrangement. But when real feelings develop, will things get sour or sweet?

Valeria is starting her senior year of high school. She should be making memories with friends and getting excited about her future plans, but it looks like she might be stuck at Port Murphy High. Algebra II is the bane of her existence, and she has one shot to find a tutor who will make her ready for her retake. Her twin brother is the most popular guy in school; he looks good and is smart too, but they are currently having a rocky relationship. So, she has to seek out help from her brother's rival, Gage. Gage was always top of his class, but his grades slipped after a breakup with his girlfriend of a couple of years. Valeria puts her big girl panties on and makes Gage an offer he can't refuse. If he agrees to tutor her, she will pretend to be his fake girlfriend and keep his ex away. What could possibly go wrong?

I ate up every single word. I started reading it, and it was impossible to put down. Everything about Valeria felt authentic and relatable. She feels invisible and is going through so many emotions in high school. High school has a way of making us feel everything all at once. Valeria is used to being in the shadow of her twin brother, Adrian, but now that they aren't on the best of terms, she is forced to find her own path. And while she struggles to find her place, she pushes through and does it. I am glad she and Gage found each other because they helped each other realize what love is and how having someone like you for who you are gives you the courage to stand firm and stand up for yourself.

I know readers will love Gage because even though it starts off as fake dating, he is sweet, charming, and nerdy(totally hot). I mean, the thought and care that went into making Valeria a nutritious lunch so that she would have her energy to take her retake test made me swoon so hard. This book is so much more than your average fake-dating young adult romance; it is vulnerable and hopeful. Valeria and Gage are dealing with feeling lost/abandoned and learn to lean on others along the way. I know this is a standalone and no pressure to author Alexis Casttellanos, but I would love to read a book featuring Adrian. Also, I can't finish this review without thanking the author for representing POC and the Latinx community. While I am Mexican and not Cuban American, I love being able to learn about the culture and see the similarities we share. It's like seeing a movie with characters who actually look and sound like you; finally feeling seen.

[Alexis Castellanos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I say this a lot but I feel it bears repeating, especially now: It seems like the world only wants two kinds of stories from Latin Americans: stories of immigration and stories of the struggle. In fact, I have experienced this first hand since my debut book (and most popular book) is a story about immigration. But Latin Americans have so many stories worth telling that fall outside those boxes, stories of joy and stories of laughter and stories of fantasy and magic. I strongly believe that the best way to tell a story is to be as authentic as possible, tell a story with a specific reader in mind. And with that specific, sincere story, the authenticity of the experiences and the emotions will be what appeals to readers, whether they identify with that specific reader’s identity or not.
For both Guava and Grudges and Lemons and Lies I had the same reader in mind: A Cuban-American girl whose parents are immigrants from the 70s–80s, doesn’t live in a town with a large Hispanic population, loves her family but has a difficult relationship with one of her parents, and is someone who likes to laugh, a lot. Is that girl maybe a version of my teenage self? Yeah, kind of. That teenage version of myself was desperate to see someone like her in a book, a Cuban-American kid in a white town who wasn’t a chonga like her cousin and didn’t like to wear the bodycon dresses that her mom tried to get her into and who was running through the gamut of teenage emotions and feeling alone.
All those feelings I had—fish out of water, not meeting my parent’s expectations, a riot of strong emotions I had no idea how to handle—I think so many people can relate to those experiences. Those genuine feelings and stories are what make these stories universal.
Lemons and Lies is a bit more personal and deals with some heavier topics than Guava and Grudges. The core of this story centers more around Valeria’s family than it does the romance, following Valeria during a particularly difficult and lonely time in her life. She deals with an absent parent, a situation no one in her family addresses head on. There’s a lot of turmoil and frustration inside of her, and she doesn’t know what to do about it, and often lashes out at the people who try to reach out a helping hand.
But don’t worry, there’s still romance! Gage, a guy who will pack you a nutritious lunch and help you study and read you Latin love poems to help you fall asleep. There’s more small town charm and shenanigans, enough food descriptions to make you hungry (and a recipe at the end to help with that problem), and a whole riot of teenage emotions.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a small Washington town, Valeria is realizing that she's reached her senior year without making any friends of her own or having any romances. She used to hang out with her twin Adrian and his friends, but when he stopped talking to her over the fallout of a rivalry with another local Cuban family, Valeria stopped hanging out with him and found herself all alone, especially since their mother essentially abandoned the family two years ago. Valeria is also failing algebra, which could mean (horror of horrors!) repeating senior year alone. Adrian, meanwhile is a football star and in line to be valedictorian. Ugh. Valeria's cousin Miguel and his mother are living in the Morales house after a divorce and a move, and through Miguel, Valeria vaguely knows Gage. He is also in line to be valedictorian, but a traumatic breakup made him lose ground. He's not really interested in tutoring Valeria in math, but he's also stuck with trying to organize his wealthy family's annual charity auction--which his demanding parents want him to do with his cheating ex--and Valeria offers to do that work for him. Plus, you know, being his fake girlfriend so he has a good excuse not to work with Ginger. What could go wrong?

While this was somewhat predictable, as fake-dating romances usually are, there's a lot more to this one. The disrupted family relations in the Morales family play a big role, with Valeria's split from her twin's orbit, her resentment of her aunt trying to be a mother to her in lieu of the real mother who couldn't be bothered to stay, and then the tension of her returning mother trying to force Valeria into a package her mother approves of. Valeria is a well-developed character, starting to realize that pushing everyone away was not only a bad idea, it's made her terrified of even trying to be in a real relationship, which doesn't do her any favors with Gage. Their relationship is clearly perfect when they are not thinking about it, though--they complement each other well, and support each other. So stick around for the completely expected happy ending. Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.

[BarbieTheeReader🎀🫦 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
"You can do this stuff, you just had a rough start."
"Food is how our family shows love."
"Did you not hear the part where what really matters is just trusting yourself?"

Big thanks to Bloomsbury for the physical arc and Libro f.m. for the ALC! Immersive reading for the win! I absolutely loved this story so much! The extensive and immersive cuban american culture, to their culture, lingo, language, foods, sense of family, and more. Valeria is such an anxious person that is extremely relatable. As she is navigating family drama, getting out of her twin's shadow, and trying to pass math class, was all real high school stressors. Gage's assistance and connection with Valeria as he helps her progress in math class was so sweet! The fake dating antics added to more drama within their high school, which added trials and tribulations for the two of them as they navigated their feelings for one another. I like that the both of them became support systems for one another naturally before they even realized it, and the silent assistance they showed one another with just their eyes. The similar family expectations was something they both navigated and dealt with differently, and I enjoyed reading about Valeria's confidence growing as Gage not only tutored her, but also spoke life and encouragement into her. Valeria's assistance with Gage as he navigated getting his grades back up, the auction, and learning how to live in the moment and not to always live in state of stress. Gosh this story was super cute and I really enjoyed it a lot. I love how their love foods and desserts also brought them together!!

[Ashley Urquhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book should perhaps be listed as the second in a series, but read fine even without the context from the previous book. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I feel like a lot of “fake dating” books are between the school bad boy and the shy, introverted girl so it was great to see a slightly different take on that. Gage and Valeria were both incredibly different people, but also could believably date each other if they were to ever organically cross paths.

I thought the context of Valeria within her family was really interesting. There were some complex dynamics that could have been explored a little more, but perhaps a lot of that happens in the first book. I liked the setting of the family bakery and wanted to try every single yummy thing described. I liked how Valeria had some obvious strengths. She may not have been naturally good at math, but she could work hard and stay organized and that’s not even to mention her artistic ability.

Overall, I thought this book was quite good and probably would have been a five star if I’d read it as a teenager. I could even see myself picking up the first book at some point.

Note: I received an early finished copy from Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I start and finish this book in the same day? I sure did! Lemons and Lies was exactly what I needed right now. I was in a little bit of a book slump and this was the exact sweet, refreshing story to pull me out of it. Sometimes I forget the power of a YA book. How the innocence of young love can give you butterflies and make you feel young again too.

Valeria and Gage were so great together. They complimented each other so well and were honestly such a good picture of what a healthy high school romance can look like. (Even while working through some heavy topics) They never asked too much of each other, they cared about the other’s successes, and they supported each other through big things without becoming codependent or obsessive. Of course that doesn’t mean that their relationship was free of typical teenage drama. There is still plenty of that!

The family story in this was just as compelling as the romance. I felt all of Valeria’s anxieties and insecurities along with her. And loved watching her find her voice!

[Amber Wessies Owrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything in Valeria's life seems to be falling apart, her twin brother, Adrian, isn't speaking to her, she is eating lunch in the bathroom, and now she is failing Algebra II and might not graduate. In an attempt to get her math grade up, Valeria strikes a deal with Gage. Valeria will help him with his parents' charity auction, and Gage will tutor Valeria in math while they pretend to date. Things are getting better until Valeria starts having real feelings for Gage, and her mother returns from Miami. As her life seems to implode, Valeria starts to realize things about herself, she holds people at arms length because she doesn't want to be left behind or not be loved, and she is tired of being her brother's shadow.
This love story is just as much about familial love as it is romantic love. Fans of Sarah Dessen and Deb Caletti will enjoy this teen romance that is deeper than you might expect.
Neglect, child abandonment, and mental health issues are aspects of the plot. There is some cursing but overall this is a clean romance novel.

[hannah ♥︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this was very cute and classic! I finished it in about 2 hours so a very cutesie quick read when you need a pick-me-up! I loved the start, thought it was set up really well, particularly the romance's beginning!

However, as it went on, I felt like the family storylines were more developed than the romance (this was good at times), which meant that when Gage made his declaration of love (this is a fake dating romance - if that's a spoiler, you've obviously never read this trope) I was kind of like hold up that was unexpected! Like not that he liked her, just the timing. More detail on what their future plans were would've been cute as well - like the whole Valeria rules these businesses stuff could've been a discovery of what she wants to do in the future, rather than art as a throwaway thing here and there.

Nevertheless, this book was great! These are just some minor improvements to make it magnificent. My final three words are: quick, nuanced, adorable!

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A sweet meet-cute or a scheme destined to turn sour? Fake dating, family drama, and foodie fun combine in this YA paperback original.”

What a cute and easy read. I love the unique story line and characters. The banter was top tier and everything I would want in a YA romance. I laughed out loud numerous times. Add in some dysfunctional family moments and you’ve got yourself a great YA book. This was my first book by the author, but now I definitely want to read more of her works.

A very special Thank You to NetGalley, Bloomsbury YA, and the author for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Skeena8 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Is a YA book set in the senior year of high school and this book does such a great job of bringing me back to that time and the drama and stress of being young. I enjoyed this story so much. The fake dating and mutually beneficial arrangement is adorable and I love them as a couple. This book took me through all the emotion and made me fall in love for the first time again. All the delicious food in this book had me starving and wanting to go to Cuban restaurant and try all of this deliciousness. The cover of this book is adorable and I loved the title and the relevance to the storyline.

[Laryssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh, I loved this book. I did mess up again and read the second book first. Ugh. They seem like they can be read easily enough as stand alone books though.

It was so cute. I fell in love with Valeria and Gage’s fake relationship. They were so cute together.

Valeria’s twin brother needs anger management. He is going through stuff too but damn, he doesn’t seem like a good guy at all. The way he treats his sister seems so cruel. I wish that would have been worked out more on the pages. It seemed glazed over.

My heart ached for how rude Valeria and her brother are to their Tia.

I already started the next book…errr the first book. lol

[Queen B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Bloomsbury for the gifted book!

Lemons and Lies was a sweet little YA, focusing on Valeria and Gage and their fake dating escapades. When Valeria needs a math tutor to pass (and graduate high school), she makes a bargain with Gage—he’ll tutor her and help her pass, and she’ll be his fake girlfriend and help him plan his parents’ charity auction. Like Michael Scott says, it’s a win-win-win.

These two were cute together, learning more about each other and becoming true friends (who maybe have more feelings). But I felt like the majority of the story focused on their respective home lives. Gage and his parents’ pressure to follow in their footsteps, regardless of what he wants. Valeria and her physically (and emotionally) absent mom and the distance she’s felt this year with her twin.

The pacing on the romance was a bit quick, but I still enjoyed the story. I’ll be looking for more from this author in the future!

[Lauren Stroud · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover of this cute new YA novel put a smile on my face before I ever read a word. It made me giggle and broke my heart a little, too, and all the talk of food and cooking made my mouth water!

Valeria is a high school senior, but she’ll never earn a diploma if she can’t pass Algebra II. Gage is at the top of his class and working to balance extracurriculars and expectations. Sounds like a recipe for a little fake dating, right?

Absolutely.

If you’re a lover of YA like I am, this one is a fun story. I enjoyed the audio along with the Kindle version, and I really enjoyed the cultural aspects of this storyline.

Valeria needs a math tutor to have any hope of graduating, but her art is outstanding. . What was your favorite subject in school?

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This companion book to Guava and Grudges is about Adrian's twin sister, Valeria. After everything that happened in the first book, it's been a rough start to the school year. Valeria is in very real danger of not graduating, unless she can pass her math class. She sets up a fake dating scheme in exchange for tutoring with the Gage, who is in the running for valedictorian. The sticky part is that it's Adrian who he is competing against. A sweet romance and family drama. Recommended for grades 8 & up.

eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss

[Sabrina Kaeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so so cute! It was giving the wonderful kicking and giggling we all love in romance! The banter was amazing and the storyline was refreshing and new for me!

This book did Rom Com right! I laughed out loud multiple times and I just couldn't put the book down because of it! The plot flowed smoothly and had the perfect amount of romance in it for a YA book. And just look at the adorable cover!

I cannot wait to read Guava and Grudges next after this! If you love fake dating, high school settings, banter, and comedy then this is right up your alley!

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a classic YA rom com--fake dating, fall carnivals, family drama, and a swoon-worthy love interest! I loved Guava & Grudges, and this was the perfect companion; the same laugh-out-loud humor and heart-stopping romance, with its own unique voice and storyline. If you like your rom coms funny and sweet, with just a little bit of bite (the dysfunctional family dynamics got me good in this one) then this is for you. Highly, highly recommend!