The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Book of the week
Let’s be honest, nobody really likes change.
While we often crave change, the reality can be uncomfortable, as it brings so much uncertainty to our lives – after all, most of us tend to be creatures of habit.
Often, however, it’s the changes we don’t see coming that have the most profound impact. With sudden life-changing events sweeping the world at the moment, the theme of this book is prescient.
When Life Gives You Lemons, is all about one woman’s challenge in facing a life-altering change and trying her best to make the most of it.
Viv seems to have it all: A successful career, two children, a loving husband – or so it seems, until she discovers her husband is having an affair with a colleague.
Life as she knows it changes forever. Suddenly single in middle age, Viv has to come to terms with her new life, and in doing so realises she might just be able to make the most of what life has thrown at her.
In the past few years, the saying “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade” has been plastered on so many posters and door hangings that it has become a bit of a cliche.
Similarly, this book takes after its title and is a little bit cliched in its storyline and concept.
Thus, while it’s not unique, arguably that’s where its appeal lies; it’s an easy book to get stuck into and something people can relate to. It’s a story that offers an optimistic version of the world, which is something we could all use from time to time.
The pace is quite slow and the plot tends to meander at times, lacking much drmatic tension within the story, which means it’s not an exciting or very compelling read.
The topics and themes covered appeal to a more mature reader, but they’re not complex in their delivery.
Overall, while it has its faults, if it’s a comforting, undemanding story you’re after this will definitely deliver.
Gibson writes fairly well and provides some humorous moments as Viv navigates her newfound freedom, although the claim in the synopsis that it’s laugh-out-loud funny is a bit of an exaggeration in my opinion.
When Life Gives You Lemons is an uplifting, albeit whimsical, story about making the most of what life deals you.
It may not be the most exciting novel but one that demonstrates how some changes can alter things for the better.
Review by Emma Reekie.