Luscious Lemon

by Heather Swain

She's finally seeing the fruits of her labors.
Chef Ellie "Lemon" Manelli's hip East Village bistro is suddenly all the rage; Lemon and her staff of wildly talented friends plucked from New York City's finest eateries can barely keep pace. Good thing she has her loyal, doting, bankrolling Georgia peach of a boyfriend, Eddie, to lean on -- not to mention a gaggle of loving relations over the river in Brooklyn. In fact, Lemon's life is turning out exactly as she planned -- except for the fact that she's late. As in late. Nobody said anything about, you know, labor.
Having a baby right now would jeopardize everything Lemon has worked so hard to accomplish, so the pregnancy test results leave her feeling a little sour. Eddie, bless his heart, wants to just go ahead and get married, but Lemon's not sure the timing's right. She's about to learn a lesson or two about love and loss, though. And in the end she'll discover that there's a reason things work out the way they do -- and that when life gives you lemons, you can make lemonade, or lemon tarts, or lemon meringue pie. Or, you can just be a plain ole Lemon, if that's what you were meant to be.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Contemporary

320 pages, Paperback

First published October 5, 2004

About the author

Heather Swain lives in a crooked house in Brooklyn, New York with her husband, two children, and a barkless dog. She is the author of novels for adults and young adults, craft books, and numerous short stories, personal essays, and non-fiction articles.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this based on a recommendation, because I've been slowly healing from a miscarriage. The main character in the story has a similar experience to mine, except that she got to hear her baby's heartbeat and started bleeding later as a warning sign. I had no warning signs, just a quiet, humiliating doctor trip where a heartbeat was not to be found. Miscarriages are rarely mentioned in fiction, so I appreciated it here, though I thought the characters weren't necessarily fleshed out as well as they could have been. But I wasn't reading it for character development, so I was satisfied.

[Evelyn Rubio · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is amazing how accurately the author describes the feeling of loss. I really like this book.

[Kendra Hudson · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you think this is a fluffy food/romance novel you are WRONG. This tackles some heavy topics. That being said it was generally interesting. It falls short because you love/hate the main character- Lemon. She has good reason to be guarded with the traumatic backstory. But she is pretty selfish with not much redemption arc. You will still root for her for a lot, but it wasn’t as satisfying of a narrative. I would say it’s well written though.

[Keri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!

Lemon resists the taking her family's expected path in life (get married, have kids) and owns her own swanky restaurant. When she finds out she is pregnant her view on life begins to change. Then when she loses the baby, everything changes.

Having recently had a miscarriage this book captured perfectly my thoughts and feelings. So many times I had to just smile because what Lemon was thinking was exactly what I've thought. Definitely made me feel like the feelings and thoughts I've had are completely normal.

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave it a chance. Read 30 pages. Was totally not into it. (Don't enjoy reading about pretentious foods.) Gave up.

[TJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another random book I collected from a free library in Hermosa Beach. It seemed like it was going to be silly, childish and romantic but became profound and endearing with an insightful look at grief.

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast read
August 2014

[Courtney Deane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fun and cute read - a quick one, too!

[Sri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tidak terlalu suka pada karakter Lemon maupun Eddie tapi suka cerita miscarriage dan bagaimana ibu Eddie berhasil membuat Lemon lebih bisa menerima kejadian yang dia alami. Ya, kurasa hanya orang yang pernah mengalami yang bisa merasakan dan berempati. Bukan hanya kehilangan anak (ya, tetap akan kusebut anak walaupun orang mengatakan yang hilang masih disebut fetus) tapi juga harapan. Bagaimana bisa beberapa hari sebelumnya bayi dikatakan sehat dengan denyut jantung yang terlihat jelas lalu kemudian denyutnya hilang sama sekali? Kenapa? Salah apa? Untuk kasus Lemon lebih parah lagi. Ketika dia sudah mengalami spotting, waktu ditengok menggunakan USG janin masih berdetak jantungnya. Malamnya, dia keluar begitu saja. Parahnya, Eddie menyalahkan Lemon, 'kamu ngapain aja sampai keguguran?' Hu, dasar cowok tak tahu diri.
Lalu orang-orang akan mengatakan, 'tidak apa-apa... tidak apa-apa, banyak ibu mengalaminya, setelah ini masih bisa hamil lagi'. Ah, tapi setiap ibu yang mengalaminya berhak bersedih. Seperti yang dikatakan oleh calon mertua Lemon:

This isn't something you get over. It's just something you get through, and then you carry it around with you for the rest of your life. It's part of your story now. Part of your history. It'll always, always hurt. Just not quite as bad someday.

Dan seperti yang akhirnya dikatakan oleh Lemon sendiri:

I understand that sorrow is a part of life. Rather than letting injustices weigh me down, like carrying around little stone statues in my heart, I could let them create some space, open me up, and become as empathetic and magnanimous as Makiko has been for me.

Walaupun begitu aku sering merasa persis seperti apa yang dikatakan Lemon beberapa hari sebelum dia mengalami pencerahan:

I'm already worn, battered down, and I think, this is what it means to be adult. To carry sadness with you that will never go away. That's what makes us slowly shrivel up and get old.

Semakin tua semakin sedih atau semakin tua semakin bijaksana? Silakan memilih :).

[Devon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please don't whimsically cast off 'LUSCIOUS LEMON' into that "dreaded" chick-lit category, because this is certainly not your typical chick-lit. Don't let the cutesy name, cover or Downtown Press imprint fool you, Heather Swain has delivered a fresh, smart, funny and emotional novel that is a great read for everyone, not just chick-lit lovers like myself!

Ellie "Lemon" Manelli is on top of the world. She has a wonderful boyfriend, a great large Italian family who dotes on her and best of all her restaurant, aptly named Lemon is a hit with the Manhattan set. But just as she begins to feel that she is on top of her game and more importantly escaping the trappings of her family, all the balls she has been juggling seem to come falling down around her when she finds out that she is pregnant. Her boyfriend Eddie is thrilled and more than ready to take the next step and become a real family but Lemon is not so ready to give up her old lifestyle (or her East Village apartment) just yet. But when the worst happens Lemon has to figure out how to deal with the guilt, loss and regret that threaten to smother her.

'LUSCIOUS LEMON' tackels a serious subject and does not make light or skirt around it, it hits it head on with all of the raw emotion it deserves. Swain created characters that are multi-dimentional and real who you will equally love and loathe at some point in the book. You will go from hating one character to understanding and maybe even sympathizing with them or from rooting for one to rallying against them and back to rooting for them in one fell swoop. This is true of the book as it is true in real life. And once you are finished with the book take the time to read the exceptionally well written "interview with the author" the combination of the two will have you wanting to run out and read more of Heather Swain, I know I do!

Absolutely 5 big stars!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the halfway point of this book, I was almost at the point where I wanted to put it down, and I was already thinking in my head, "2 stars? It must just be a book not right for me at this point of my life..." But I kept going because I didn't hate it, and I was invested enough to keep going. I'm glad I did. Ultimately, the book is about family, maturing, love, loss, and how those things can change a person and make them better people. Perhaps that is one of the problems I had with the first half of the book-- the protagonist seemed unlikable, selfish, and immature to an extent. To write this review without spoilers is difficult, but I will try. The second half of the novel is better, more emotional, realistic, and less obnoxious. Lemon, the main character, truly does grow and change and that was refreshing and drew me back into the story, as she became more sympathetic and likable. One part of the book that I really didn't like, and I think is another main reason I thought I may not make it through the whole book at first, were the early alternating chapters about fetal development, told from some odd omniscient embryo point of view. I found them cloying, annoying, and somewhat trite, but that could also be because I have read week-by-week pregnancy descriptions on so many baby websites when I was younger and pregnant. Overall, though, I did end up really liking the book, especially the second half. It isn't must-read literature by any means, but I do think the overall plotline fills a void in the current world of mommy-to-be women's fiction out there. Three stars.

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

During the summer months, when the sun is out, I go on a quest to read as many books that I can. On a recent trip to the local library, I went in search of a quick read "chicklit" book that stretched beyond a main character's obsessive desire to find a "perfect mate" (that sweeps her off her feet). So, in going through the paperback stacks, I stumbled across this book. (I think it was the sun outside and the yellow book cover!). When I read the description, I admit my interest was peaked. I love to read books that have a strong food element. In this case, the main character, Ellie, is a chef. Her restaurant, the cast of characters, and the imaginative dishes that were concocted were all truly interesting. However, once the restaurant element was removed from the story, I found the story to be less creative and colorful. The characters became simply 1 dimensional, overly simplistic and less interesting.

Despite these flaws, I do believe Swain carefully captured Ellie's "loss" and make the reader, feel a sense of closeness to her (main character).

Overall, a decent, quick read, with moments of excitement, love, sadness, and hope.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a chicklit novel that kind of didn’t go anywhere, I really liked this book! I liked the main character, her family and the Boy a lot. It was mainly about Lemon who owns a restaurant with her mixmatched group of friends, who gets pregnant and has a miscarriage and her outcome with it. Yes, lots of books talk about miscarriage, but this book described it way different then most others do, which is quickly and brushed under the rug. This book went into a lot more detail. The only bad thing about the book was the Girl’s relationship with her “best friend” and co-worker. It’s like, if they hated each other so much, why did they work together and have such a close relationship? They always fought over guys, from their past and it kind of got annoying, as the past is the past! Move on! That part was kind of lame. But I liked the Girl’s relationship with her huge mismatched family and Boy and while parts of the book were totally unrealistic, for some reason it didn’t bug me as much as it normally does. I would pick up this author up again.

Grade: C+

[Chana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was going to be romance, fun light-hearted romance! I was really sad when, well you know if you've read the book. I spent my time crying along with Lemon, I found it personally painful and you know when she kind of loses it at the baby shower? I was right there with her, crying and laughing like a lunatic at her joke. Sheesh. Wasn't expecting all this emotion from this book. I'm OK with it but I am still sad this morning. Too realistic by far to fit into the light-hearted romance catagory. Anyway, the food always sounds amazing and I like the ending of the book. I severely disliked Franny and really liked Makiko. I guess the lesson is to try to be the kind of friend that you would like to have.

[Rachel C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book as a birthday present, probably because the main character is a chef. The first few chapters were promising and I loved the restaurant stuff, but then it became a pretty humdrum book about an unplanned pregnancy.

From the author's note in the back, it's pretty clear that this book is based on her own experiences. I think Swain tried to be impartial about the main character/herself but ended up going too far - Ellie was rude and cranky almost the entire book and pretty much a jerk to her boyfriend, friends and family.

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Great title and a description that made it sound as though owning a restaurant and dealing with lifes curves could be fun and interesting. However, after reading this book, I'd retitle it to Bitter Lemon. Lemon is the main character--a tough, has it all cook whose restaurant is a success. Her boyfriend is a dream and her grandmother and aunts are lovable and feisty. Too bad Lemon has the personality of a sour crusty puddle of lemon curd. Lemon finds fault in everything and everyone, she's so bitter that she is unlikeable. No one will vote for this main character--whether she succeeds or not.

[Cassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I fell in love with Lemon. Although parts of the plot were really annoying (who opens a successful restaurant and then closes it? what's with the elusive bad friendship thing that we refer to 1500 times throughout the story?), I loved the characters and most of the story line. Lemon's honey was such a good character, and Lemon was even better. This book introduced me to Heather Swain, and I'm going to look into more of her books.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first time that I have read anything from this author. I am a huge fan of culinary novels and loved the food interwoven with the family drama in this book. The characters are all well written and the story line was intriguing. I hope to read more books by this author in the future. I recommend this book.This review was originally posted on

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lemon is not the easiest character to like or understand and Luscious Lemon is far more serious than the chick lit perky yellow cover indicates. It was a bonus for me that Lemon was a chef because I always enjoy books where food is featured. Overall a good book on a topic that I don't think is covered much in contemporary women's fiction.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book. It was so helpful and therapeutic to read about someone else who has been through the same thing I have ... to hear someone else talk about the same exact feelings I experienced ... it was very powerful for me. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has been through the pain of miscarriage (but have the tissues nearby, I bawled the whole way through).

[VWrulesChick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not knowing what this story was fully about, thinking it was love story and food/cooking story, I was surprised how it got a heavy with Lemon and her situation. Lemon struggles to what she has been working towards in the past decade, will her current situation be uprooted and turned upside down, or will she be able to adjust. Will her and Eddie make it? Will her restaurant survive the chaos?

[Christina, Join Me on Storygraph! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having experienced a miscarriage, this book hit close to home. I don't think anyone who has experienced such a loss would enjoy or appreciate this book, but it's a good read as well as therapeutic.

It was a fast one for me too, which typically indicates how well I'm liking a book.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quirky restaurateur finds herself accidentally pregnant and can't get a grip on how her life spins out of control. It was ok, but the best part was getting thrown into the world of a creative chef. I did like the strange family dynamics, lots of great side characters.

[Edie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it would be some light hearted chick-lit, but it turned out to be much more serious with a message I was not expecting. I would recommend it to all women who have had friends lose babies through miscarriage.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting a light hearted chick lit and this actually had substance. I thought the story was very nicely written, liked the characters, and found it to be realistic. Grab some Kleenex as you get going though.

[Sandra Campeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because it was a messy life. I get weary of books that tie up everything in a neat little bow at the end. Bravo to the author for not giving in to that temptation.

Starts off slow, give it a chance

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just wasnt really feeling the subject matter of this book and it was slightly depressing.

[Ophelia London · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really what I signed up for. A bit heavy for a chick book. I liked all the food talk, however.

[Maryeah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Certainly not a book I'd recommend to anyway pregnant or trying to get pregnant. It's not the happy, lighthearted book I expected.

[Preet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one great book. It was so powerful it made me cry.