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Saturday, April 11, 2026

When Lemons Give You Life by Anna Johnston: Book Review

 



When Lemons Give You Life: A Novel by Anna Johnston
not yet published: Aug. 4, 2026; William Morrow, NetGalley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Themes of creeping dimentia, ALS, and also polycystic kidney disease are themes in this novel involving two married men, Beau and Griff, and Griff's sister Lisa. The lengths that people will go, to protect and to be with their loved ones, is the strong message.

Beau and Griff live in an aged care facility, where Griff, pretending to be a victim of dimentia so he can live in the facility with Beau, works as Martin, the full time chef of the facility by day, and then turns into Beau's supposedly ALS husband at night. The plot is complex as the methods Griff uses to live with Beau and also to do what he loves best - cooking - are somewhat convoluted, but it works out for him.

Griff's guilt about failing to help his sick sister Lisa compounds the gravity of the situations that Griff must maneuver and manage.

A heart warming and informative novel on mental and physical illness, and one man's effort to deal with both to help his loved ones.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this advance readers copy.


Looking forward to reading:

April 7, 2026; Penguin Press, NetGalley

"The best in short fiction from around the world, from celebrated anthologist and author John Freeman and award-winning novelist Rabih Alameddine
"



July 21, 2026: Crooked Lane Books, NetGalley
A neighbor is killed in the same way as the latest read of the mystery book club. Retired librarian Neeti is on the case as more bodies pile up



June 9, 2026: Crooked Lane Books, NetGalley
New librarian Nichelle finds the dead body of her missing father on the front steps of her library. Nichelle tries to clear her brother of the crime


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When Lemons Give You Life by Anna Johnston: Book Review

  When Lemons Give You Life: A Novel by Anna Johnston not yet published: Aug. 4, 2026; William Morrow, NetGalley My rating: 5 of 5 stars...