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Billy Lemonade
Jane Smith is too lonely for words. Ignored by her grieving mother, uncaring teachers, and peers, the desolate thirteen-year-old can’t find any peace after the deaths of her father and sister. Resigned to an empty, isolated existence, Jane can’t believe her luck when she meets Billy, a poor, older boy. Taunted, and stuck with a despised nickname, he is happy to be her friend.
Sensing Billy identifies with her pain, Jane finds hope as a friendship deepens over drifting summer days. But, when she suspects he’s hiding a terrible truth, Jane fears skeletons in his closet will pull them back into the dark.
Will Jane make the ultimate sacrifice to release buried sorrow and take her and Billy to a together forever place?
Sensing Billy identifies with her pain, Jane finds hope as a friendship deepens over drifting summer days. But, when she suspects he’s hiding a terrible truth, Jane fears skeletons in his closet will pull them back into the dark.
Will Jane make the ultimate sacrifice to release buried sorrow and take her and Billy to a together forever place?
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 20, 2021
1 person is currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Sarah J. Maxwell
3 books53 followersSarah grew up in South London. Her passion was horses, 80's TV shows, reading and acting. She fell in love with Australia in her 20's and met, then married an Australian. At 31 she achieved a First-Class Degree in English with Creative Writing. She now lives in Tasmania with hubby, two teenagers and two dogs. If she's not at her desk writing, she'll be walking the boys. You can visit Sarah online at: www.sarahjmaxwell.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 28, 2022
I had no idea what I was getting into when I picked up Billy Lemonade but I did not expect the hauntingly beautiful story that filled its pages.
Billy Lemonade is the sort of book that I feel like everyone needs to read to experience the power of the written word. The emotions that coursed through every sentence had me instantly transfixed. Maxwell crafts a tale of pain, loss, friendship, and love.
Billy Lemonade is a short yet heavy read. I had to put it down numerous times and process the torrent of feelings I was experiencing but I could never stay away for long.
This is the sort of book that makes me love reading. It was truly beautiful. I would give it 10 stars if I could.
Billy Lemonade is the sort of book that I feel like everyone needs to read to experience the power of the written word. The emotions that coursed through every sentence had me instantly transfixed. Maxwell crafts a tale of pain, loss, friendship, and love.
Billy Lemonade is a short yet heavy read. I had to put it down numerous times and process the torrent of feelings I was experiencing but I could never stay away for long.
This is the sort of book that makes me love reading. It was truly beautiful. I would give it 10 stars if I could.
October 26, 2021
A YA novel that can easily be read over just a few sessions. As a teacher of many years, I know without a shadow of doubt that the characters and themes in Billy Lemonade will resonate with so many young people.
Atmospheric, visual story-telling with strong characterization, immaculate prose and great pace, Billy Lemonade took me out of my usual genre and provided some light relief, which is a strange thing to say considering how heartbreaking the subject matter is.
It's difficult to say too much about the plot without giving spoilers, so I'll just say that the metaphor of Jane rebuilding the lemonade tower in order to prevent Billy finishing his story will stick with me.
Would I read Sarah Maxwell's work in future? You bet I would!
Atmospheric, visual story-telling with strong characterization, immaculate prose and great pace, Billy Lemonade took me out of my usual genre and provided some light relief, which is a strange thing to say considering how heartbreaking the subject matter is.
It's difficult to say too much about the plot without giving spoilers, so I'll just say that the metaphor of Jane rebuilding the lemonade tower in order to prevent Billy finishing his story will stick with me.
Would I read Sarah Maxwell's work in future? You bet I would!
September 27, 2024
So excited that my publisher has produced a new cover for 'Billy Lemonade' to tie in with the year anniversary of its release. Happy Birthday Billy! New cover coming soon!
Links below if you wanted to buy a copy with the current purple cover (which I personally LOVE):
In the US:
https://www.amazon.com/Billy-Lemonade...
In the UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Billy-Lemona...
In Aus:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Billy-Lemon...
A Father without mercy. A Mother who doesn’t care.
Billy and Jane, alone and lonely, until one summer’s day they find each other. Theirs is a relationship forged in despair, but they are stronger together and hope kindles, restoring what it means to feel alive.
Until a devastating secret changes everything.
**Review number 72 on Amazon! 93% of reviews are 5 star. My gratitude is immeasurable!**
Links below if you wanted to buy a copy with the current purple cover (which I personally LOVE):
In the US:
https://www.amazon.com/Billy-Lemonade...
In the UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Billy-Lemona...
In Aus:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Billy-Lemon...
A Father without mercy. A Mother who doesn’t care.
Billy and Jane, alone and lonely, until one summer’s day they find each other. Theirs is a relationship forged in despair, but they are stronger together and hope kindles, restoring what it means to feel alive.
Until a devastating secret changes everything.
**Review number 72 on Amazon! 93% of reviews are 5 star. My gratitude is immeasurable!**
December 30, 2020
There is something about the enigmatic Billy, something irresistible and intriguing and I dare you not to fall in love with him! Sarah J Maxwell perfectly captures the angst of being a teenager who feels lost and alone in her young heroine, Jane, and then along comes Billy. Savvy and cool, he seems the answer to her prayers, yet there is a mystery about him that only adds to her emotional confusion. The setting of the narrative beautifully reflects Jane’s inner world and her struggle to cope with her mother’s retreat into depression, as she tries to adjust to her new world. The relationship between Jane and the older, wiser Billy is handled with great sensitivity and subtly as the author avoids the more obvious course of a run-of-the-mill adolescent crush, and Maxwell does not shy away from the realities of dysfunctional parenting and it’s devastating consequences. My heart broke for Billy and he stayed with me long after I had finished the book.
August 7, 2021
I don't even know how to express how much I loved this book, but I'll start by saying I read Billy Lemonade in one day (well, sort of. I stayed up until 2AM reading because I couldn't put it down!) I'm in tears as I write this review. Out of all the books I've ever read, only three have made me actually cry. Billy Lemonade is one of them.
This book is riveting, emotional, and a true page-turner. It's a quick read, but it's not light. That said, the ending (which threw me for a loop!!) was very satisfying and made all the emotional punches worth it.
I don't want to give away any spoilers since part of the magic of this book is in the unexpected twists (yes, there are more than one!), so I'll end this review by saying that Billy Lemonade is a must read. Easily one of the best books I've read this year! Sarah Maxwell definitely has a fan in me and I look forward to many more books by this incredible author!
Seriously. Read this book! (But bring your tissues!)
This book is riveting, emotional, and a true page-turner. It's a quick read, but it's not light. That said, the ending (which threw me for a loop!!) was very satisfying and made all the emotional punches worth it.
I don't want to give away any spoilers since part of the magic of this book is in the unexpected twists (yes, there are more than one!), so I'll end this review by saying that Billy Lemonade is a must read. Easily one of the best books I've read this year! Sarah Maxwell definitely has a fan in me and I look forward to many more books by this incredible author!
Seriously. Read this book! (But bring your tissues!)
March 16, 2021
For a short book (133 pages) this was so emotional yet so endearing. I ended up loving Billy himself!
It really emphasises the struggles people go through with addiction, grief and loss.
A bloody good read!!
It really emphasises the struggles people go through with addiction, grief and loss.
A bloody good read!!
May 10, 2022
I'm not sure where to begin, other than saying I experienced all the feels and emotions humanly possible while reading this book. It is a heartbreakingly beautiful story where two misfits find each other because in reality, they need each other more than they could possibly understand. Don't get comfortable thinking you know how things are going to turn out - the twists near the end nearly had me on the floor. Billy and Jane are two unique and perfectly flawed characters with secrets and burdens too unbelievable for young teenagers to bear. Together they draw you into their stories, their lives, their unbelievable sorrows until your heart is ready to burst. This is the first book I've read by Maxwell, and it certainly won't be my last. Her writing flows across the page like poetry, pulling you in and taking hold until the very last word.
Some of my favorite lines from the book (of which there are many):
"I was too young to love with more than just innocence, but my feelings for him overwhelmed and scared me."
"Hundreds of spectral fish twinkled from the depths of a black sky."
"Billy's words hung in the air as dust does when caught in thin beams of sunshine."
"I looked into the distance, past the outstretched arms of naked trees and sugar-sprinkled rooftops."
Some of my favorite lines from the book (of which there are many):
"I was too young to love with more than just innocence, but my feelings for him overwhelmed and scared me."
"Hundreds of spectral fish twinkled from the depths of a black sky."
"Billy's words hung in the air as dust does when caught in thin beams of sunshine."
"I looked into the distance, past the outstretched arms of naked trees and sugar-sprinkled rooftops."
November 24, 2021
I read this book over two nights - absolutely beautiful! The story telling is sublime. I could picture the characters in my mind. So many emotions, sadness; happiness; shock, and so it goes on. When I realised what was happening - I was thrilled by the concept.
I had tears in my eyes when I finished reading it!
A definite MUST read!!
I had tears in my eyes when I finished reading it!
A definite MUST read!!
May 28, 2021
Wow.
I picked this book up after seeing a glowing review on Twitter, and I must say, it totally lives up to the hype. Maxwell makes you fall in love with Billy in Jane’s whimsical world, nailing the confusing emotions of a 13yo girl stuck between the innocence of childhood and the rough reality of adulthood. Beautiful and heart-wrenching, I read this short book in one sitting, but I think it’ll haunt me for much longer.
I picked this book up after seeing a glowing review on Twitter, and I must say, it totally lives up to the hype. Maxwell makes you fall in love with Billy in Jane’s whimsical world, nailing the confusing emotions of a 13yo girl stuck between the innocence of childhood and the rough reality of adulthood. Beautiful and heart-wrenching, I read this short book in one sitting, but I think it’ll haunt me for much longer.
October 23, 2021
Tower of Truth
Billy Lemonade is the story of two lost souls, whose worlds are colliding, as they resist their mutual destinies. If that sounds as dramatic as a teenage girl, meet Jane. Living with her alcoholic mother, ignored at school, her only friend is Billy Lemonade nick-named as such by the school bullies. The pace of their budding friendship moves with the speed of youth, but as the dire nature of their lives unfolds, it becomes evident that time holds a different meaning for the characters. Billy inhabits a nightmarish existence with his abusive stepfather, a disgusting brute of a man with no redeeming qualities. While Jane longs for her mother to emerge from her drunken haze brought on by an experience Jane refuses to discuss with her new friend. The two grapple not only with their home life but school, where Jane feels friendless and ignored, and experiences the uncertainty of teenaged emotions, with sharp jealousy emerging when she thinks another girl might possess Billy’s heart.
The author has deftly captured the inner turmoil of a teenage girl, prone to jealousy, quick to react. Their confined world may spur a reader to want more depth from Jane’s mother, or fancy Rachel to be more receptive to friendship. But as the story develops the final twists and turns with their smattering of supernatural elements are simple yet satisfying.
The Lemonade Tower, situated in Billy’s attic bedroom, symbolizes the impermanence of his reality. Literally, beneath the tower lies his secrets, held in newspaper clippings. “I marveled at the tower, balanced on a pile of newspapers, carefully constructed using lids as supports. Bottles squashed flat, others standing on end, the rest cut in half. There must have been a hundred or more.” Inevitably the tower comes crashing down but the author’s thoughtfully composed story picks up all the pieces at the end. The characters’ futures are inescapable but as they journey toward acceptance, the readers’ approval will follow.
Billy Lemonade will stay lingering with the reader long after the story ends and has a timeless quality securing it as a future classic for Young Adult literature.
Billy Lemonade is the story of two lost souls, whose worlds are colliding, as they resist their mutual destinies. If that sounds as dramatic as a teenage girl, meet Jane. Living with her alcoholic mother, ignored at school, her only friend is Billy Lemonade nick-named as such by the school bullies. The pace of their budding friendship moves with the speed of youth, but as the dire nature of their lives unfolds, it becomes evident that time holds a different meaning for the characters. Billy inhabits a nightmarish existence with his abusive stepfather, a disgusting brute of a man with no redeeming qualities. While Jane longs for her mother to emerge from her drunken haze brought on by an experience Jane refuses to discuss with her new friend. The two grapple not only with their home life but school, where Jane feels friendless and ignored, and experiences the uncertainty of teenaged emotions, with sharp jealousy emerging when she thinks another girl might possess Billy’s heart.
The author has deftly captured the inner turmoil of a teenage girl, prone to jealousy, quick to react. Their confined world may spur a reader to want more depth from Jane’s mother, or fancy Rachel to be more receptive to friendship. But as the story develops the final twists and turns with their smattering of supernatural elements are simple yet satisfying.
The Lemonade Tower, situated in Billy’s attic bedroom, symbolizes the impermanence of his reality. Literally, beneath the tower lies his secrets, held in newspaper clippings. “I marveled at the tower, balanced on a pile of newspapers, carefully constructed using lids as supports. Bottles squashed flat, others standing on end, the rest cut in half. There must have been a hundred or more.” Inevitably the tower comes crashing down but the author’s thoughtfully composed story picks up all the pieces at the end. The characters’ futures are inescapable but as they journey toward acceptance, the readers’ approval will follow.
Billy Lemonade will stay lingering with the reader long after the story ends and has a timeless quality securing it as a future classic for Young Adult literature.
January 20, 2021
The bonds of Friendship
Maxwell pens a good YA story in Billy Lemonade. I haven't read anything from this author before, and I really enjoyed this story. The story revolves around Jane, who is dealing with a lot with her home life. Then Billy, who has a lot of secrets, enters her life just in time. This is a young adult story and aimed toward that target audience, but I enjoyed following the story of Jane's journey. It's a wonderfully written story and brings in the believable, even if almost impossible. Filled with drama and hidden secrets, it also shows what having a good friend can do. This story was intriguing and kept the reader guessing. I have fast become a big fan of Maxwell. I look forward to reading many more stories by this author. This book is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews.
Maxwell pens a good YA story in Billy Lemonade. I haven't read anything from this author before, and I really enjoyed this story. The story revolves around Jane, who is dealing with a lot with her home life. Then Billy, who has a lot of secrets, enters her life just in time. This is a young adult story and aimed toward that target audience, but I enjoyed following the story of Jane's journey. It's a wonderfully written story and brings in the believable, even if almost impossible. Filled with drama and hidden secrets, it also shows what having a good friend can do. This story was intriguing and kept the reader guessing. I have fast become a big fan of Maxwell. I look forward to reading many more stories by this author. This book is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews.
May 25, 2021
Beautiful & Bittersweet
Wow. I haven't actually cried while reading in a very long time, but this... this got me good. Such a beautifully written, bittersweet story. The characters were raw and wonderful and I enjoyed every moment of this book, even as it tore my heart to pieces. Absolutely fantastic.
Wow. I haven't actually cried while reading in a very long time, but this... this got me good. Such a beautifully written, bittersweet story. The characters were raw and wonderful and I enjoyed every moment of this book, even as it tore my heart to pieces. Absolutely fantastic.
January 25, 2021
Billy Lemonade had me hooked from the very beginning. Every chapter is quick and eventful, meaning there was no slow section that you had to push through to get into the action, and I was kept guessing all the entire way through. Really good read!
May 18, 2021
Oh my goodness! I could not put this book down. It was captivating and exciting. This book took me on an adventure and I felt like I was right there with the characters. I could have stayed immersed in this story forever. I will be raving about this book to anyone and everyone!
February 26, 2021
A Heartbreaking Yet Joyful Story
I’ve been waiting for the release of Sarah J. Maxwell’s debut, and Billy Lemonade was worth the wait! On the surface, it’s a heartbreaking tale of two teens finding solace in a shared neglectful upbringing. Both ignored by alcoholic parents and invisible at school, they form a friendship where they feel seen again. But Billy is harbouring a secret that will turn Jane’s world upside down and force her to face a devastating truth that will change things forever. Beautifully written, with a twist that will stun you, Billy Lemonade is a YA book to add to your TBR list and read as soon as possible.
I’ve been waiting for the release of Sarah J. Maxwell’s debut, and Billy Lemonade was worth the wait! On the surface, it’s a heartbreaking tale of two teens finding solace in a shared neglectful upbringing. Both ignored by alcoholic parents and invisible at school, they form a friendship where they feel seen again. But Billy is harbouring a secret that will turn Jane’s world upside down and force her to face a devastating truth that will change things forever. Beautifully written, with a twist that will stun you, Billy Lemonade is a YA book to add to your TBR list and read as soon as possible.
July 16, 2021
Sarah J. Maxwell has written a classic that will span the eons of time. Giving the sense of the like I would compare to, but not limited to - To Kill a Mockingbird.
Billy Lemonade is well written with exquisite details that puts the reader into the story. With all that is provided, one can see the harsh conditions that Billy grows up in. They can feel the abuse he has to endure. The chills of loneliness that Billy feels, the reader experiences too, as they continue his journey with every written detailed word.
Sadness follows him, until one day he meets Jane, who suffers from the same display of lonely isolation. Together, they bond in companionship, submitting to the importance of friendship, wiping away the lonely life.
Mysteries dwell in the first few chapters, carrying on for much of the book. My mind was at a constant perpetual endless rotating ring of deducting thoughts, like a dog trying to catch its tail. The ending, the last couple of chapters, reveal several secrets, which left me in tears.
I cannot say anymore, for you, the person reading this review has to experience these surprises for yourself. Read and enjoy Billy Lemonade today!
Billy Lemonade is well written with exquisite details that puts the reader into the story. With all that is provided, one can see the harsh conditions that Billy grows up in. They can feel the abuse he has to endure. The chills of loneliness that Billy feels, the reader experiences too, as they continue his journey with every written detailed word.
Sadness follows him, until one day he meets Jane, who suffers from the same display of lonely isolation. Together, they bond in companionship, submitting to the importance of friendship, wiping away the lonely life.
Mysteries dwell in the first few chapters, carrying on for much of the book. My mind was at a constant perpetual endless rotating ring of deducting thoughts, like a dog trying to catch its tail. The ending, the last couple of chapters, reveal several secrets, which left me in tears.
I cannot say anymore, for you, the person reading this review has to experience these surprises for yourself. Read and enjoy Billy Lemonade today!
March 27, 2021
"Thirteen-year-old Jane has grown up fast - she has no choice, her mum's taken to drinking a lot. Jane feels invisible until she meets Billy Lemonade. Billy makes Janes smile again, transporting her from a lonely existence - but what secret lies beneath the Lemonade Tower?"
Like so many teenagers they feel invisible to those around them. Parents too caught up in their own misery, the school clique that they just don't fit into, teachers too distracted to see them. But then they find each other. One day Jane heads to her favourite hide-away in the woods and comes across Billy. They form a bond that helps them both start to heal.
But Jane is sure that Billy is keeping a secret - a big secret. And when she finds out what that secret is - life will never be the same for either of them.
Words can't describe how much this wonderful YA novel has touched me.
This is a beautifully written story. The lyrical descriptions immerse you into the often bleak worlds of Jane and Billy. And just when you think you know their story, think again.
A short book that packs quite an emotional punch.
Thanks to the author for sending me this review copy of her book.
May 3, 2021
This is a great YA novel;. A fantastic exploration of young relationships and an awful lot more.
Billy and Jane both have very challenging family situations. Billy's father is a bully and a drunk. Jane's mother drinks until she falls asleep. Neither parent has time nor care for their children. When Billy and Jane meet they form an inextricable bond based on their mutual feelings of being unseen and unacknowledged not only by their parents but also fellow pupils at their school.
This is a touching exploration of the relationship between two isolated kids who find solace in each other's company. Bill's and Jane's characters really shine and I developed a real fondness for them. The writing is perfectly pitched for a young audience but that won't detract from the enjoyment an older reader (I should know!) will derive from the book. The plot does not shy away from the uncomfortable truths of being a teenager living in difficult circumstances.
Highly recommended.
Billy and Jane both have very challenging family situations. Billy's father is a bully and a drunk. Jane's mother drinks until she falls asleep. Neither parent has time nor care for their children. When Billy and Jane meet they form an inextricable bond based on their mutual feelings of being unseen and unacknowledged not only by their parents but also fellow pupils at their school.
This is a touching exploration of the relationship between two isolated kids who find solace in each other's company. Bill's and Jane's characters really shine and I developed a real fondness for them. The writing is perfectly pitched for a young audience but that won't detract from the enjoyment an older reader (I should know!) will derive from the book. The plot does not shy away from the uncomfortable truths of being a teenager living in difficult circumstances.
Highly recommended.
January 21, 2021
This is the first book i read by Maxwell and i thoroughly enjoyed reading it following Jane's and Billy's friendship. The author makes it easy for you to relate to the characters Jane and Billy emotions etc through her words, which is sometimes hard to achieve. There's more to Billy than meets the eye who embarks on a friendship with Jane who is lonely and who's mother constantly drinks and ignores her. This story has a bittersweet ending.I received this book free in exchange for an honest and unbiased
review.
review.
January 26, 2021
A thoroughly enjoyable read, beautifully written. Although young adult, I’m in my forties and was still taken with the uplifting and compelling storyline which brought several tears towards the end. Teenage daughters also loved this book so would highly recommend for all ages. Definitely worth a read.
May 13, 2021
A hidden gem that I read in one sitting. From page one you know that there is something not quite right, but you have to wait with half guesses here and there until the end. Complex themes told with gripping narrative.
June 12, 2021
Am extremely quick read. Very fast pacing. Seems YA. Something gave away what was happening too soon - I think there was supposed to be more of a reveal. Solid book but nothing I would explicitly recommend or talk about. Some warm moments. Was okay. Not disappointed, not excited. Just neutral.
April 22, 2021
Started reading this and literally couldn't put down. Loved the story, really sad but in a beautiful way. Did not expect the ending at all! Totally in love with Billy. Best book I've read this year.
August 6, 2021
My daughter loved this book so much when she read it we had to buy a signed copy! Such a really great plot and plot twist.
April 22, 2021
I throughly enjoyed this book, it was a real page-turner and the characters are quite distinctive.
August 4, 2021
Important themes that could be life-changing for young adult readers. Abuse, death, grief, bullying, forgiveness. But ultimately life-affirming and hopeful. I hope it reaches the kids who need it.
July 23, 2021
Poignant, sorrowful, beautiful
I cannot say enough good things about this debut novel. Maxwell writes with style and beauty, drawing readers in and leading us through various emotional transitions. There is sadness in this story, but also true hope. I honestly cannot recommend it highly enough!
Definitely put this one on your TBR, then move it to the top, then just get started! You won't regret it!
I cannot say enough good things about this debut novel. Maxwell writes with style and beauty, drawing readers in and leading us through various emotional transitions. There is sadness in this story, but also true hope. I honestly cannot recommend it highly enough!
Definitely put this one on your TBR, then move it to the top, then just get started! You won't regret it!
November 9, 2021
Got me out of my reading slump!
Billy completely whisked me away. I didn't expect a fairytale; I saw most reviews mentioned how real and poetic this book was. How human it was. And it delivered.
The first chapter was hard for me to get through because I wasn't used to the scenery the author painted, a countryside as charming as it is dreadful... and Billy killing ants. I thought this was going to be the beginning of a teenage drama, where the younger girl falls in love with the slightly older boy.
Well, I was happy to be wrong.
The story unfolds pretty quickly, and it's easy to be in Jane's shoes. She hates school, she can't make friends, every other girl in school is hard to connect with. She only has Billy, and Billy only has her. Their friendship is endearing but mature; a real trip down memory lane for whoever experienced deep male/female friendships in school. But then the truth about Billy comes out and honestly, it devastated me. I'm not easily shaken by a story, but that part really made me tear up. It wasn't what I expected at all, and then I started having doubts about Jane as well, but still. When it hit, it hit hard.
An author to follow
Sarah J. Maxwell is a wizard with words; her vocabulary is amazing, and there is a sensibility in every sentence she writes that takes Billy Lemonade somewhere above your usual YA book. This isn't just some YA book. This is a book for young adults and adults, and anyone else who misses innocent summers.
By the end, I can guarantee you will fall in love with Billy. I don't know a reader who hasn't.
I can't wait to read more books by this author. She's a hidden gem.
Billy completely whisked me away. I didn't expect a fairytale; I saw most reviews mentioned how real and poetic this book was. How human it was. And it delivered.
The first chapter was hard for me to get through because I wasn't used to the scenery the author painted, a countryside as charming as it is dreadful... and Billy killing ants. I thought this was going to be the beginning of a teenage drama, where the younger girl falls in love with the slightly older boy.
Well, I was happy to be wrong.
The story unfolds pretty quickly, and it's easy to be in Jane's shoes. She hates school, she can't make friends, every other girl in school is hard to connect with. She only has Billy, and Billy only has her. Their friendship is endearing but mature; a real trip down memory lane for whoever experienced deep male/female friendships in school. But then the truth about Billy comes out and honestly, it devastated me. I'm not easily shaken by a story, but that part really made me tear up. It wasn't what I expected at all, and then I started having doubts about Jane as well, but still. When it hit, it hit hard.
An author to follow
Sarah J. Maxwell is a wizard with words; her vocabulary is amazing, and there is a sensibility in every sentence she writes that takes Billy Lemonade somewhere above your usual YA book. This isn't just some YA book. This is a book for young adults and adults, and anyone else who misses innocent summers.
By the end, I can guarantee you will fall in love with Billy. I don't know a reader who hasn't.
I can't wait to read more books by this author. She's a hidden gem.
June 28, 2021
A beautifully written book read by myself and my 16 year old son. So heartwarming, made me laugh and cry. A truly wonderful read and a very talented author. Highly recommend.
June 12, 2021
Young teenager Jane is alone and isolated since the move to Wales and her mother's descent into alcoholism. Then she finds a kindred spirit in Billy Lemonade, a boy who keeps himself to himself but nevertheless is clearly as troubled as she is – and they have more in common than she realises.
A melancholic and evocative portrayal of teenage life, especially the way social structures and status at school loom so large despite – or perhaps because? – of more alarming and uncontrollable parental factors back at home. Billy and Jane are both tragic but compelling figures that you find yourself rooting for almost instinctively as they travel through the mournful tunnel of the school year, and their ultimate destination is as unexpected as it is satisfying.
A melancholic and evocative portrayal of teenage life, especially the way social structures and status at school loom so large despite – or perhaps because? – of more alarming and uncontrollable parental factors back at home. Billy and Jane are both tragic but compelling figures that you find yourself rooting for almost instinctively as they travel through the mournful tunnel of the school year, and their ultimate destination is as unexpected as it is satisfying.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews