What do you think?
Rate this book
When Death Gives You Lemons
The road to forgiveness has never been this queer.
Isaac Frye is many things: Animal enthusiast, gay, guilty of three murders, dead.
Grim is only one thing: Tired of leading humans to their afterlife, day after day.
When Isaac dies and asks for a second chance to make up for what he did, Grim seizes the opportunity to explore the living realm with the excuse of wanting Isaac to succeed in his task.
But humanity isn’t at all what Grim expected, and now he’s stuck on the road to forgiveness with a guilt-ridden murderer by his side. Not that he can die, but there are far more pleasant ways to explore the world.
As Isaac searches his past for a forgiveness that may never come, Grim discovers the truth behind the murders; and whether his unwilling companion is irredeemable after all.
This story explores redemption, guilt, and forgiveness in the midst of a world full of hope. Recommended for ages 16 and above.
Isaac Frye is many things: Animal enthusiast, gay, guilty of three murders, dead.
Grim is only one thing: Tired of leading humans to their afterlife, day after day.
When Isaac dies and asks for a second chance to make up for what he did, Grim seizes the opportunity to explore the living realm with the excuse of wanting Isaac to succeed in his task.
But humanity isn’t at all what Grim expected, and now he’s stuck on the road to forgiveness with a guilt-ridden murderer by his side. Not that he can die, but there are far more pleasant ways to explore the world.
As Isaac searches his past for a forgiveness that may never come, Grim discovers the truth behind the murders; and whether his unwilling companion is irredeemable after all.
This story explores redemption, guilt, and forgiveness in the midst of a world full of hope. Recommended for ages 16 and above.
383 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 11, 2026
18 people are currently reading
532 people want to read
About the author
Alice G. Brooks
1 book8 followersAlice G. Brooks, formerly published under Alice Brooks, is a sapphic indie author writing LGBTQIA+ fiction and low fantasy. When she’s not writing, she enjoys hiking, videogames, rewatching the same shows over and over again, and photography.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 9, 2026
ARC review
Isaac is a really relatable (I promise I’m not telling on myself) and layered character. I am a SUCKER for nonhuman-discovering-human-life-and-being-confused (am I doing the trope thing right?) and I had so much fun with Grim. Even if you take the yearning out of it (dunno why you’d want to do that but anyway), these two characters have a great back and forth and they both have traits the other lacks. There’s an organic weaving of sweet almost romcom worthy laughs and heavy content.
The world building and Alice’s take on heaven, hell and whatever else is waiting for us is fresh and contemporary. I love an afterlife with a dash of beaurocracy. I will definitely be reading more from this author!!
My only criticism is I found the story about Isaac’s victims that is eventually uncovered to be really outlandish. There were very few backstories that could have adequately explained the brutality of Isaac’s actions (especially contrasted against how he is portrayed throughout the book) but the direction it went in just kind of made me say… “okay?” Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed this book and I still think it’s worth reading! It’s just not what I was expecting and not in a good way. The lasting impression this book left on me is of Isaac and Grim’s relationship arc above anything else.
No spoilers but I was very satisfied with the ending!! This is definitely an experimental journey that is worth every page. Bonus: GAY bonus bonus: gay and indie 😌
Isaac is a really relatable (I promise I’m not telling on myself) and layered character. I am a SUCKER for nonhuman-discovering-human-life-and-being-confused (am I doing the trope thing right?) and I had so much fun with Grim. Even if you take the yearning out of it (dunno why you’d want to do that but anyway), these two characters have a great back and forth and they both have traits the other lacks. There’s an organic weaving of sweet almost romcom worthy laughs and heavy content.
The world building and Alice’s take on heaven, hell and whatever else is waiting for us is fresh and contemporary. I love an afterlife with a dash of beaurocracy. I will definitely be reading more from this author!!
My only criticism is I found the story about Isaac’s victims that is eventually uncovered to be really outlandish. There were very few backstories that could have adequately explained the brutality of Isaac’s actions (especially contrasted against how he is portrayed throughout the book) but the direction it went in just kind of made me say… “okay?” Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed this book and I still think it’s worth reading! It’s just not what I was expecting and not in a good way. The lasting impression this book left on me is of Isaac and Grim’s relationship arc above anything else.
No spoilers but I was very satisfied with the ending!! This is definitely an experimental journey that is worth every page. Bonus: GAY bonus bonus: gay and indie 😌
October 16, 2025
This book will make you laugh, tear up, and want to punch one of the main characters in the face while hugging and protecting the other main character from all harm. Which is, honestly, everything I want from a book. I want characters so real, with such genuine depth, that I actually get angry with them, or want to cry with them, or just laugh with them. The story is unique, paced well, and will keep you invested until the very end. There are themes of acceptance, grief, understanding/processing how our mistakes can define us if we let them, how much our actions define us as humans, etc etc. And it's done in an accessible way that really makes you think. Plus, it's very, very gay. 10/10 stars, would read again. I would protect Grim with my life. Alice is a fantastic storyteller and I will read anything she writes!
November 23, 2025
Isaac wants to make amends. But at what cost
Obviously the big question of the book is “who deserves to be forgiven?”
But imo. Not this guy lol
He does some shitty things and continues to do shitty things for his own selfish reasons. Even though he’s hurting EVERYONE.
“Just this one last thing” is his theme and I just don’t feel like anything has been redeemed in the end.
I had some huge plot questions, but I looked past them when I remembered this is YA.
Grim is new to emotions and ppl and frankly deserves better than this guy
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to arc read this novel
Review of advance copy received from Author
Actual Rating: 3.5 (rounded up)
For Fans Of: The Good Place, Dead Like Me, Miracle Workers (S1), Good Omens, Reincarnation Blues
Guilt, grief, and the search for redemption are at the heart of this book. Overall, I found it to be a really beautiful meditation on guilt and mourning, on what redemption means or can mean. Grim repeatedly warns Isaac that there is no way to redeem what he has done - the murders have happened, they cannot be fixed - and questions why Isaac seems to be chasing forgiveness for 10-year-old crimes.
Overall I have mixed feelings about the book. I went from "I love this" to "meh" about 60% of the way through. The back half of the book is bloated and drags on while Grim and Isaac have the same conversation over and over. Yes in real life processing guilt and grief takes time and often you hit the same block over and over, but that doesn't work in a book with a finite amount of space. I also thought Grim's relationship with Ann and Cris could have been played with more,
That being said, I found a lot to love about the book. Grim reminds me of Daniel Radcliffe's character in Miracle Workers (season 1), while Isaac made me think of a deeply depressed Jack Kerouac.
I loved how absolutely fucked up Isaac's story is. The author's choice to make it so deeply horrifying felt like a choice to make it impossible for the reader to try to excuse his actions and offer him redemption from outside the story. What he did was unforgivable, unredeemable - they were bad things and they cannot be fixed. To that end I thought giving his victims agency in the brightness was a very cool choice.
I'm not sure how I feel about where Isaac and Grim's relationship went. On the one hand, I enjoyed how growing closer eventually made Isaac feel he could "confess" to Grim, but I think a queerplatonic relationship might have had a greater impact than a romantic one.
Ultimately this book takes a deep topic and treats it with respect, and I think it's worth a read for people interested in the philosophy of good/evil and the very human experience of guilt and the search for forgiveness.
Thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC, I am leaving this review by my own choice.
For Fans Of: The Good Place, Dead Like Me, Miracle Workers (S1), Good Omens, Reincarnation Blues
"I just think there has to be more to them than that. More than our widely accepted fact that humans are not redeemable if they do bad things."
Guilt, grief, and the search for redemption are at the heart of this book. Overall, I found it to be a really beautiful meditation on guilt and mourning, on what redemption means or can mean. Grim repeatedly warns Isaac that there is no way to redeem what he has done - the murders have happened, they cannot be fixed - and questions why Isaac seems to be chasing forgiveness for 10-year-old crimes.
Overall I have mixed feelings about the book. I went from "I love this" to "meh" about 60% of the way through. The back half of the book is bloated and drags on while Grim and Isaac have the same conversation over and over. Yes in real life processing guilt and grief takes time and often you hit the same block over and over, but that doesn't work in a book with a finite amount of space. I also thought Grim's relationship with Ann and Cris could have been played with more,
That being said, I found a lot to love about the book. Grim reminds me of Daniel Radcliffe's character in Miracle Workers (season 1), while Isaac made me think of a deeply depressed Jack Kerouac.
I loved how absolutely fucked up Isaac's story is. The author's choice to make it so deeply horrifying felt like a choice to make it impossible for the reader to try to excuse his actions and offer him redemption from outside the story. What he did was unforgivable, unredeemable - they were bad things and they cannot be fixed. To that end I thought giving his victims agency in the brightness was a very cool choice.
I'm not sure how I feel about where Isaac and Grim's relationship went. On the one hand, I enjoyed how growing closer eventually made Isaac feel he could "confess" to Grim, but I think a queerplatonic relationship might have had a greater impact than a romantic one.
Ultimately this book takes a deep topic and treats it with respect, and I think it's worth a read for people interested in the philosophy of good/evil and the very human experience of guilt and the search for forgiveness.
Thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC, I am leaving this review by my own choice.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Many Thanks to Alice G. Brooks for the ARC.
Is there a better way to understand humans, their emotion and their world then by following around a murderer?
Yes probably, but after reading this book I wouldn't want it any other way.
A.G. Brooks created an amazing and fascinating world, incredibly interesting and deep characters and a story that constantly had me glued to the page.
Isaac and Grim made me laugh out loud, almost cry and think deeply about love, forgiveness, and (chosen) family. In the end I just wish I could have stayed with them longer.
Can someone ever reach forgiveness if they just caused too much pain? Do intentions behind actions matter at all if they hurt others in the end? Should you tell the truth no matter how much it hurts or destroys? How far are you willing to go to apologize? And does it really matter if you deserve forgiveness or not?
This book asks a lot of questions, but while it doesn't always answer them head on it might help you find an answer for yourself, if there is one to find. It certainly will make you think about it.
Isaac might not be a hero to anyone, but given one last chance he finally takes action and tries to right the wrongs, that seem impossible to justify. Its him, through which Grim learns about the mortal world for the first time. Seeing Grim trying to figure out everything from food and train-tickets to facial expressions and forest was not only hilarious but also a very interesting POV.
The double POV is very well done. The perspectives are unique and always give very different insights into the scenes.
While I loved this book I feel like the overall style is a bit unpolished, but that didn't keep me from enjoying the story and just makes me excited to see Brooks books in the future.
This was a great read that I will make my friends read immediately after the official release.
Is there a better way to understand humans, their emotion and their world then by following around a murderer?
Yes probably, but after reading this book I wouldn't want it any other way.
A.G. Brooks created an amazing and fascinating world, incredibly interesting and deep characters and a story that constantly had me glued to the page.
Isaac and Grim made me laugh out loud, almost cry and think deeply about love, forgiveness, and (chosen) family. In the end I just wish I could have stayed with them longer.
Can someone ever reach forgiveness if they just caused too much pain? Do intentions behind actions matter at all if they hurt others in the end? Should you tell the truth no matter how much it hurts or destroys? How far are you willing to go to apologize? And does it really matter if you deserve forgiveness or not?
This book asks a lot of questions, but while it doesn't always answer them head on it might help you find an answer for yourself, if there is one to find. It certainly will make you think about it.
Isaac might not be a hero to anyone, but given one last chance he finally takes action and tries to right the wrongs, that seem impossible to justify. Its him, through which Grim learns about the mortal world for the first time. Seeing Grim trying to figure out everything from food and train-tickets to facial expressions and forest was not only hilarious but also a very interesting POV.
The double POV is very well done. The perspectives are unique and always give very different insights into the scenes.
While I loved this book I feel like the overall style is a bit unpolished, but that didn't keep me from enjoying the story and just makes me excited to see Brooks books in the future.
This was a great read that I will make my friends read immediately after the official release.
January 18, 2026
I first discovered Alice G. Brooks’ storytelling in their debut “Don’t Trust the Raven” and I knew then that this author was a powerhouse.
When Death Gives You Lemons proved that I was right.
This book hit me like an emotional gut punch. Brooks’ writing is efficient, pulling you through the story quickly. But the emotional depth is very much there. Every character is 3 dimensional, the worldbuilding is great and the pacing is excellent.
SPOILERS AHEAD
This isn’t a criticism, in fact quite the opposite. As a mom, I found it really hard to forgive Isaac for what he did. I just couldn’t help putting myself in Kira’s moms’ shoes and I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t get past it. I was still angry with him, even after he did his time in the pit. But the thing that is so wonderful about this book is that the author doesn’t tell you what to think or feel. Maybe you believe that Isaac was a victim of circumstance and he deserves to be forgiven for the mistakes he made. Maybe you will never stop being angry with him for taking the life of someone’s child. There is so much room for nuance, discussion and grey area. That’s actually really rare right now. I love when a character doesn’t have to be likeable to be a great character.
BUT GRIM ON THE OTHER HAND. Grim was a shining beacon of light in this story. I loved everything about him, from his curiosity, to his literal thinking, to his optimism. He was just so fun to read about, and somehow I ended up laughing out loud several times in this book that also made me want to break down and cry.
DAMN ALICE YOU DID THAT.
When Death Gives You Lemons proved that I was right.
This book hit me like an emotional gut punch. Brooks’ writing is efficient, pulling you through the story quickly. But the emotional depth is very much there. Every character is 3 dimensional, the worldbuilding is great and the pacing is excellent.
SPOILERS AHEAD
This isn’t a criticism, in fact quite the opposite. As a mom, I found it really hard to forgive Isaac for what he did. I just couldn’t help putting myself in Kira’s moms’ shoes and I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t get past it. I was still angry with him, even after he did his time in the pit. But the thing that is so wonderful about this book is that the author doesn’t tell you what to think or feel. Maybe you believe that Isaac was a victim of circumstance and he deserves to be forgiven for the mistakes he made. Maybe you will never stop being angry with him for taking the life of someone’s child. There is so much room for nuance, discussion and grey area. That’s actually really rare right now. I love when a character doesn’t have to be likeable to be a great character.
BUT GRIM ON THE OTHER HAND. Grim was a shining beacon of light in this story. I loved everything about him, from his curiosity, to his literal thinking, to his optimism. He was just so fun to read about, and somehow I ended up laughing out loud several times in this book that also made me want to break down and cry.
DAMN ALICE YOU DID THAT.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2026
i was and still am very happy that i received an ARC copy of this book. it sadly took me longer to read than i wanted it, which says nothing about the book and everything about me. anyway, here are my thoughts because i have a lot of them!
„when death gives you lemons“ by alice g. brooks is a book about forgiveness, death and life. issac asks for a second chance after his death and grim is eager to follow him at this journey. isaac learns about forgiveness and grim about human relationships and the reason why isaac killed three people.
as you might guess, does the book deal with rather dark topics. this was done in a sensible but not depressing way, which i appreciated a lot. grim not understanding humans that well at the beginning, as well as reading about queer teenagers made the tone a bit lighter at times. you think (and learn) about the fact that not everything is black and white, without turning it into a huge philosophical discussion if you don’t want it.
their writing style and the short chapters made it easy to read the book, even though i found some parts confusing. that might just be because it took me some time to read the book and not because of the book itself though. i still grew very fond of the characters over the course of the book. they do grow a lot, believe it or not!
i can only recommend this book if you‘re looking for queer, morally grey characters and a fantasy story about both death and life!
„when death gives you lemons“ by alice g. brooks is a book about forgiveness, death and life. issac asks for a second chance after his death and grim is eager to follow him at this journey. isaac learns about forgiveness and grim about human relationships and the reason why isaac killed three people.
as you might guess, does the book deal with rather dark topics. this was done in a sensible but not depressing way, which i appreciated a lot. grim not understanding humans that well at the beginning, as well as reading about queer teenagers made the tone a bit lighter at times. you think (and learn) about the fact that not everything is black and white, without turning it into a huge philosophical discussion if you don’t want it.
their writing style and the short chapters made it easy to read the book, even though i found some parts confusing. that might just be because it took me some time to read the book and not because of the book itself though. i still grew very fond of the characters over the course of the book. they do grow a lot, believe it or not!
i can only recommend this book if you‘re looking for queer, morally grey characters and a fantasy story about both death and life!
January 26, 2026
This was definitely a read that took me a while to get into but once I hit about the half way mark I was invested to see where things would go. Firstly, this is definitely a book that has some dark topics and I’d really recommend looking up trigger warnings if you’re sensitive to any subject matters. Secondly, I wouldn’t say this is romance focused at all. There is a side romance but the story really focuses more on Issac and what happened. Issac is one of those more selfish unlikable/unredeemable type of characters but I thought he was written in a nice way that made him likeable to read from. I liked Grim especially, it was enjoyable to see this kind of naive reaper explore the human realm and really try to get a grasp on humans. I liked that we got some occasional funny/romantic moments between Grim and Issac, they were more subtle and far in between but it was nice to get a small moments between them against so many dark topics.
The story leading up to the murders is mysterious and I liked the added sense of suspense that the writing gave. I would say you do kind of have to suspend your disbelief a bit because once things are explained it does feel kind of far fetched. Aside from that I enjoyed reading about both realms and their rulers, I liked the characters & their romance, and I thought that the ending was decent. Thank you to the author for my complimentary review copy.
The story leading up to the murders is mysterious and I liked the added sense of suspense that the writing gave. I would say you do kind of have to suspend your disbelief a bit because once things are explained it does feel kind of far fetched. Aside from that I enjoyed reading about both realms and their rulers, I liked the characters & their romance, and I thought that the ending was decent. Thank you to the author for my complimentary review copy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this book so much. Not only was the plot really entertaining, but I IMMEDIATELY got attached to the characters and I purposely took my time reading this so as not to LEAVE THEM. Oh, Isaac. What a tragedy you are. A murderer consumed by guilt, so desperate for a forgiveness that would never come. As we slowly uncovered his past, I found myself questioning how the playful, sarcastic Isaac we knew could have ever done something so horrible, but as we dove deeper and deeper, the truth hit hard. And Grim…I love him so much. There were so many moments where I just BEAMED because of how adorable he is when discovering something NEW about humans.
~
The structure of the afterlife and the world-building around it was really unique and although quite simple, it had enough detail to FEEL REAL, which was really fun. As for the relationship between Isaac and Grim…UGH I LOVE THEM. They had chemistry pretty much right away, even without any of the yearning and soft moments. Their banter was so fun and I just felt like they clicked so naturally, that the transition from strangers to lovers went so smoothly, you barely noticed *THE* moment it happened.
~
You should definitely pick up this book if you’re looking for something that will make you laugh AND cry, and because Isaac and Grim are just absolutely incredible.
~
The structure of the afterlife and the world-building around it was really unique and although quite simple, it had enough detail to FEEL REAL, which was really fun. As for the relationship between Isaac and Grim…UGH I LOVE THEM. They had chemistry pretty much right away, even without any of the yearning and soft moments. Their banter was so fun and I just felt like they clicked so naturally, that the transition from strangers to lovers went so smoothly, you barely noticed *THE* moment it happened.
~
You should definitely pick up this book if you’re looking for something that will make you laugh AND cry, and because Isaac and Grim are just absolutely incredible.
November 29, 2025
4.5/5, but goodreads doesn't let me do half stars 😡
Well this was fun. I don't know who thought it would be a good idea to try and understand humanity through the lense of a remorseful murderer, but here we are. It works surprisingly well :D
The book is filled with great situational jokes ("Classic human behavior, Grim. Good job."), much gayness ("His blue eyes drown me violently, making me swallow salty waves"), some very fun observations on humanity ("The living realm has a lot of doors and so far every single one of them has creaked") and some surprisingly deep philosophical discussions (sadly no quotes here, cause they would spoil too much :D).
The half star off from the full 5 star is because the story transitions felt off pacing wise. When they first move from the afterlife back to living realm it's a little bit rushed and then in the end when they go back to the afterlife, that transition is also slightly weird in the pacing.
All in all this is an extremely good book and it gets a full recommendation.
It has the perfect mixture between the tension of following a murderer recounting his murders and just a fun little read with some very funny scenes.
Well this was fun. I don't know who thought it would be a good idea to try and understand humanity through the lense of a remorseful murderer, but here we are. It works surprisingly well :D
The book is filled with great situational jokes ("Classic human behavior, Grim. Good job."), much gayness ("His blue eyes drown me violently, making me swallow salty waves"), some very fun observations on humanity ("The living realm has a lot of doors and so far every single one of them has creaked") and some surprisingly deep philosophical discussions (sadly no quotes here, cause they would spoil too much :D).
The half star off from the full 5 star is because the story transitions felt off pacing wise. When they first move from the afterlife back to living realm it's a little bit rushed and then in the end when they go back to the afterlife, that transition is also slightly weird in the pacing.
All in all this is an extremely good book and it gets a full recommendation.
It has the perfect mixture between the tension of following a murderer recounting his murders and just a fun little read with some very funny scenes.
November 16, 2025
Reading the ARC for this book has been one of my favourite experiences this year, the rollercoaster of emotions I went through with reading both points of view was extreme but not unwelcome. I would recommend this book if you’re wanting something emotional, with some tense moments and some cute moments too!
I’ve loved every second spent on this book uncovering Issac’s past and witnessing Grim’s development. The author has done an amazing job with writing this book, managing to perfectly get across the atmosphere and differences in both the boys. Seriously, please read this book if you have a chance, you won’t regret it!!
I’m super grateful for being able to have the ARC, it meant a lot to me ❤️
I’ve loved every second spent on this book uncovering Issac’s past and witnessing Grim’s development. The author has done an amazing job with writing this book, managing to perfectly get across the atmosphere and differences in both the boys. Seriously, please read this book if you have a chance, you won’t regret it!!
I’m super grateful for being able to have the ARC, it meant a lot to me ❤️
December 7, 2025
this is one of the most beautiful stories i’ve had the pleasure of reading. there’s grief, and anger, and hope, and love, and wonder. this book will grip your heart in its skeletal hands and wrap your around its scythe. and you’ll be glad you let it happen.
isaac and grim’s story is complicated. it’s messy and raw and will make you a little uncomfortable as they confront isaac’s brutal past. it will force you to think of humanity, of what makes a person truly good or evil, and will make you sit and reflect.
truly a beautiful story i would recommend to everyone.
on a lighter note…gay grim reaper. need i really say anything else?
isaac and grim’s story is complicated. it’s messy and raw and will make you a little uncomfortable as they confront isaac’s brutal past. it will force you to think of humanity, of what makes a person truly good or evil, and will make you sit and reflect.
truly a beautiful story i would recommend to everyone.
on a lighter note…gay grim reaper. need i really say anything else?
Review of advance copy received from Author
Screaming at the top of my lungs: OH MY GOD I AM LOVE THIS BOOK
I was completely sold on “grim reaper x serial killer and they’re gay” as a premise and it did not disappoint in the slightest!
Beautiful writing exploring the intricacies of moral ambiguity and remorsefulness and forgiveness, all the while a former serial killer teaches a very autistic-coded grim reaper how to human whilst they rapidly fall in love and just aaaaaa I love them both so much (I love Cris and Ann too!) (And literally all the other characters too) 🩵🩵🩵
(The 3rd quarter drags a bit which is why I put this at 4.75 not 5)
Huge thank you for my ARC!!
I was completely sold on “grim reaper x serial killer and they’re gay” as a premise and it did not disappoint in the slightest!
Beautiful writing exploring the intricacies of moral ambiguity and remorsefulness and forgiveness, all the while a former serial killer teaches a very autistic-coded grim reaper how to human whilst they rapidly fall in love and just aaaaaa I love them both so much (I love Cris and Ann too!) (And literally all the other characters too) 🩵🩵🩵
(The 3rd quarter drags a bit which is why I put this at 4.75 not 5)
Huge thank you for my ARC!!
February 6, 2026
I stumbled across this book via an IG reel posted by the author. I was intrigued! A reaper named Grim, tasked with delivering humans to either the brightness (heaven) or the pit (hell), encounters a human named Isaac who wants more time to get closure.
I honestly don’t know how I feel about the book overall. I enjoyed Grim in the living realm. All his questions and curiosity about humans was sweet. However, Isaac’s whole situation was a lot… and when we get to the end with Isaac and Grim confessing their love for one another, I just didn’t get it.
The story is okay, but the writing needs work.
I honestly don’t know how I feel about the book overall. I enjoyed Grim in the living realm. All his questions and curiosity about humans was sweet. However, Isaac’s whole situation was a lot… and when we get to the end with Isaac and Grim confessing their love for one another, I just didn’t get it.
The story is okay, but the writing needs work.
December 1, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book!! I was on tenterhooks throughout cuz I had absolutely no idea how Grim and Isaac were ever going to be endgame, and, ngl, I was kind of slightly worried it would take a really sad turn and my heart would be broken...
It was pretty sweet—as well as a deep exploration of murder, morality, and the clinging guilt and remorse that follows.
if you enjoyed The Good Place, you'll definitely also love When Death Gives You Lemons!!
I received an ARC from the author & I'm leaving this review voluntarily! <3
It was pretty sweet—as well as a deep exploration of murder, morality, and the clinging guilt and remorse that follows.
if you enjoyed The Good Place, you'll definitely also love When Death Gives You Lemons!!
I received an ARC from the author & I'm leaving this review voluntarily! <3
October 20, 2025
I absolutely DEVOURED this book, an absolute MUST READ if you are a fan of deep moral questions of redemption, and what that really means, and also SUCH A CUTE ROMANCE. I would die for Grim, as simple as that. 5 stars, all the way. Would give it 10 if possible. Read this book, you will not regret it! (Mind the trigger warnings though, because it has a good share of deep topics. But they are beautifully handled by the author, so amazing job.) I will definitely be re-reading this one!
January 4, 2026
“when death gives you lemons, make some tea.”
this is a beautiful story. it takes you through grief, guilt, and death in such a wonderful way. this book allows you to view what happens after death in a new light. the relationship that develops between isaac and grim is so touching and genuine. grim doesn’t fully understand human emotions but is still able to comfort isaac and learn what helps him. the story is beautifully paced and feels so natural.
this is a beautiful story. it takes you through grief, guilt, and death in such a wonderful way. this book allows you to view what happens after death in a new light. the relationship that develops between isaac and grim is so touching and genuine. grim doesn’t fully understand human emotions but is still able to comfort isaac and learn what helps him. the story is beautifully paced and feels so natural.
November 4, 2025
Thank you to the author for receiving an ARC of this novel!
This was strangely endearing in all the right ways. The story of a recently dead man and his grim reaper, the concept of forgiveness and eternal guilt...and just some sprinkles of humanity being weird and odd and yet so beautiful
A bit long to get into (in my opinion), but definitely worth it
This was strangely endearing in all the right ways. The story of a recently dead man and his grim reaper, the concept of forgiveness and eternal guilt...and just some sprinkles of humanity being weird and odd and yet so beautiful
A bit long to get into (in my opinion), but definitely worth it
February 2, 2026
This definitely raised a lot of important questions on redemption and forgiveness but I found it lulled a bit. While I did enjoy it and appreciated the message, I'm so glad he wasn't given the forgiveness he craved, there are some things you can't fix
December 12, 2025
I really enjoyed this book!!!
I read the advanced readers copy 🩷
I read the advanced readers copy 🩷
Review of advance copy received from Author
thank you for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
"Death isn't as bad as humans make it out to be. It's quite freeing. I always thought that you should chase death, not flee from it."
When Death Gives You Lemons by Alice G. Brooks is a beautiful urban queer fantasy written about pain, punishment and death. Received an ARC, and here’s my absolutely mesmerised review of the book.
At its core, the novel is about Isaac, a guilt-ridden murderer who seeks a second chance after death... for redemption. Taking his side is Grim, a reaper tired of escorting souls to the afterlife. Now, they’re in the living realm... Isaac seeking forgiveness; Grim trying to understand humans.
And throughout the story, I kept thinking, “Can a story about death be this cute and funny?” It’s often philosophical, also comforting and heartwarming. Grim felt like a baby robot learning the world and the nuances of human behaviour.
Alice’s writing is conversational and straightforward, making the book easy to read. Even serious themes like grief, forgiveness and acceptance never feel overwhelmingly heavy.
She also managed to keep the pace natural. Nothing felt dragged or forced. At times, Isaac did feel like an irritating crackpot (towards the end, especially), but only for moments.
The ending is touching, too, beautiful, closing on a happy note. It’s rare to find a book that talks so openly about death yet leaves you with happy tears. Resonated with my own thoughts around death.
“When death gives you lemons, make some tea.”
It's a fun, light read. Best suited for fans of philosophical fiction who are curious about death and the afterlife.
February 15, 2026
Unconventional paranormal romance
A recently deceased man, a reaper, and a trip that will turn the afterlife upside down…it’s When Death Gives You Lemons.
Isaac just died…now he is discovering what happens *after*. He meets Grim, his assigned reaper and asks for a favour.
Isaac, it turns out, was living with the guilt of having unalived his three closest friends. He wants the truth to be known before he leaves completely. He is given two weeks.
Grim is sent back to supervise and learn more about humanity. He has never been human so his experiences attempting to understand the world around him are genuinely hysterical.
This is an unconventional love story with paranormal themes and elements of mystery. It is about second chances and forgiveness, grief and guilt, regret and consequences. It deals with mental health issues, including attempted self-deletion, bullying and homophobia.
There is very little in the way of spice, sticking with kissing and tender moments. The romance is slow burn. Most of the significant relationships in the story are LGBTQ.
Frequently funny, often bittersweet, this is a great read. If you want a MM paranormal relationship with a bit of a difference, give this one a try.
A recently deceased man, a reaper, and a trip that will turn the afterlife upside down…it’s When Death Gives You Lemons.
Isaac just died…now he is discovering what happens *after*. He meets Grim, his assigned reaper and asks for a favour.
Isaac, it turns out, was living with the guilt of having unalived his three closest friends. He wants the truth to be known before he leaves completely. He is given two weeks.
Grim is sent back to supervise and learn more about humanity. He has never been human so his experiences attempting to understand the world around him are genuinely hysterical.
This is an unconventional love story with paranormal themes and elements of mystery. It is about second chances and forgiveness, grief and guilt, regret and consequences. It deals with mental health issues, including attempted self-deletion, bullying and homophobia.
There is very little in the way of spice, sticking with kissing and tender moments. The romance is slow burn. Most of the significant relationships in the story are LGBTQ.
Frequently funny, often bittersweet, this is a great read. If you want a MM paranormal relationship with a bit of a difference, give this one a try.
November 7, 2025
I'd like to start by giving a big thank you to Alice, who gave me an ARC copy of the book. Thank you for trusting me with Isaac and Grim's story. And with that, let me begin. The best I can, I promise, without any spoilers.
Starting with the characters: Isaac and Grim were crafted perfectly, as individuals and as a couple. Their personalities, beliefs, desires, and conflicts are all compelling and complex. Isaac and Grim's time in the human world proves successful in many ways. Starting with Isaac, so obsessed with redeeming his already tarnished name, that he will do anything-- and I mean anything, for a LITTLE forgiveness, for someone to see BEYOND the crimes he committed. The actions he took in the past and those in the present (as vague as possible so others can enjoy their reading experience) characterize him as a LOVABLE and TRAGIC hot mess! You want to grab him by the shoulders and shake him every now and then, but in an endearing way. We'll let Grim do that instead.
Grim. GRIM!!!!!!! To simply state it, I love him. His development was especially thrilling from start to finish. As one of the many reapers, you expect him to have a black/white viewpoint on life... death, actually. One word to describe him: JUDGMENTAL (but rightfully so!) You have to pick up the book and read it if you want to know if this personality trait changes. All I'll say now is it's worth it... Our little oblivious Grim wants to learn about humans, who he once described as "simple" and "squishy." But he learns humans are VERY complex and stronger than they make out to be-- the way they move, the way they act, the way they convey their emotions, the way the endure hardships. All because he follows Isaac on his journey of redemption. Watching Grim trying to be human is comedic, balancing this heavy story with lighthearted moments. Isaac often ridicules Grim for being the babysitter on this quest, but Isaac is the REAL babysitter here-- watching out for Grim, who is as clueless about the world as a child is. And boy, do I absolutely love it.
Together, Isaac and Grim are the sun and moon. They are their own beings, but they aren't complete without each other, and can't exist without the other. The pacing of their relationship is perfect, complete distaste to mild liking, to becoming friends and eventual lovers-- to fully seeing each other. If you're a fan of grumpy x sunshine and comfort x hurt, then this one is definitely for you. I had to hold my chest and wipe my tears whenever a certain someone had to be comforted because the horrors of his mind are too great...
And on that note:
When Life Gives You Lemons, You Make Lemonade🍋
When Life Gives You This Story, You READ IT!!!!📚
Look out for it’s release in January! You don’t wanna miss this one.
Starting with the characters: Isaac and Grim were crafted perfectly, as individuals and as a couple. Their personalities, beliefs, desires, and conflicts are all compelling and complex. Isaac and Grim's time in the human world proves successful in many ways. Starting with Isaac, so obsessed with redeeming his already tarnished name, that he will do anything-- and I mean anything, for a LITTLE forgiveness, for someone to see BEYOND the crimes he committed. The actions he took in the past and those in the present (as vague as possible so others can enjoy their reading experience) characterize him as a LOVABLE and TRAGIC hot mess! You want to grab him by the shoulders and shake him every now and then, but in an endearing way. We'll let Grim do that instead.
Grim. GRIM!!!!!!! To simply state it, I love him. His development was especially thrilling from start to finish. As one of the many reapers, you expect him to have a black/white viewpoint on life... death, actually. One word to describe him: JUDGMENTAL (but rightfully so!) You have to pick up the book and read it if you want to know if this personality trait changes. All I'll say now is it's worth it... Our little oblivious Grim wants to learn about humans, who he once described as "simple" and "squishy." But he learns humans are VERY complex and stronger than they make out to be-- the way they move, the way they act, the way they convey their emotions, the way the endure hardships. All because he follows Isaac on his journey of redemption. Watching Grim trying to be human is comedic, balancing this heavy story with lighthearted moments. Isaac often ridicules Grim for being the babysitter on this quest, but Isaac is the REAL babysitter here-- watching out for Grim, who is as clueless about the world as a child is. And boy, do I absolutely love it.
Together, Isaac and Grim are the sun and moon. They are their own beings, but they aren't complete without each other, and can't exist without the other. The pacing of their relationship is perfect, complete distaste to mild liking, to becoming friends and eventual lovers-- to fully seeing each other. If you're a fan of grumpy x sunshine and comfort x hurt, then this one is definitely for you. I had to hold my chest and wipe my tears whenever a certain someone had to be comforted because the horrors of his mind are too great...
And on that note:
When Life Gives You Lemons, You Make Lemonade🍋
When Life Gives You This Story, You READ IT!!!!📚
Look out for it’s release in January! You don’t wanna miss this one.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews