From the author of the beloved international bestseller The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife comes a heart-stirring novel about family, second chances, and the lengths we go for those we love, following a woman fighting to hold onto life and her older brother who's rediscovering reasons to embrace it.
‘Smart, authentic, and full of heart.’ —Graeme Simsion, New York Times bestselling author The Rosie Project
‘A delicious treat of a novel, rich with the complex flavours of love, loss, familial relationships and redemption. I adored it.’ —Emma Grey, international bestselling author of Pictures of You
Retired Michelin-star chef Griff Barlow has lost his appetite. He's done with grief, guilt, and the beige slop they call food at Sunny Glen Aged Care Facility, where he resides. Six decades of life have handed him all the lemons he can handle, so he breaks into the nursing home kitchen to bake one last tart as his final meal. But the act of cooking stirs a dormant joy, and soon he's sneaking in after dark to serve up flavor and comfort to fellow residents, who come alive with each bite—all while hiding a lie big enough to destroy the one thing he has left to protect.
Lisa, Griff's younger sister and sole visitor, is navigating a midlife ADHD diagnosis, a new romance, and unexpected news that could change everything. Despite their fractured relationship, she keeps showing up, even with hope for reconciliation long buried in the silence between them. But the truth has a way of boiling over, and when secrets, soufflés, and second chances collide, Griff and Lisa may discover a recipe for forgiveness.
Heartfelt and inspiring, When Lemons Give You Life is a deeply human novel about love, forgiveness, redemption, and rediscovering joy when life has lost its flavor.
Genre: General Fiction
‘Smart, authentic, and full of heart.’ —Graeme Simsion, New York Times bestselling author The Rosie Project
‘A delicious treat of a novel, rich with the complex flavours of love, loss, familial relationships and redemption. I adored it.’ —Emma Grey, international bestselling author of Pictures of You
Retired Michelin-star chef Griff Barlow has lost his appetite. He's done with grief, guilt, and the beige slop they call food at Sunny Glen Aged Care Facility, where he resides. Six decades of life have handed him all the lemons he can handle, so he breaks into the nursing home kitchen to bake one last tart as his final meal. But the act of cooking stirs a dormant joy, and soon he's sneaking in after dark to serve up flavor and comfort to fellow residents, who come alive with each bite—all while hiding a lie big enough to destroy the one thing he has left to protect.
Lisa, Griff's younger sister and sole visitor, is navigating a midlife ADHD diagnosis, a new romance, and unexpected news that could change everything. Despite their fractured relationship, she keeps showing up, even with hope for reconciliation long buried in the silence between them. But the truth has a way of boiling over, and when secrets, soufflés, and second chances collide, Griff and Lisa may discover a recipe for forgiveness.
Heartfelt and inspiring, When Lemons Give You Life is a deeply human novel about love, forgiveness, redemption, and rediscovering joy when life has lost its flavor.
Genre: General Fiction
Praise for this book
"Anna Johnston imbues her characters with a warmth, tenderness, and singularity that makes them irresistible. A charming tale of redemption, complex sibling bonds, and the joy of a meal cooked with love, this book will leave your heart full and your tastebuds ignited." - Mikki Brammer
"A gorgeous, moving, life-affirming tale of second chances, redemption, and the power of love in its many forms. I absolutely adored it. It's like the sun breaking through the clouds!" - Matt Cain
"An uplifting and bighearted tale of family, forgiveness, and the life-changing magic of a meal cooked with love. Brimming with wisdom and bright dashes of humor, this delightfully tender story made me laugh, cry, and then laugh again." - Meg Donohue
"A delicious treat of a novel, rich with the complex flavors of love, loss, familial relationships and redemption. I adored it." - Emma Grey
"Written with empathy, insight and authenticity, When Lemons Give You Life is a delicious journey from regret to reconciliation. The protagonist Griff Barlow's recipe for redemption reads from a Michelin-starred playbook of family secrets, loss and grief, as a reminder that it's never too late to make amends. Heartfelt, funny, and uplifting." - Julietta Henderson
"Anna Johnstons' newest novel is brimming with hope, healing, and second chances. Told in crisp, mouthwatering prose, it's a story that will linger in your heart long after the last sentence." - Rachel Linden
"For the burnt-out and world-weary, Anna Johnston's novels offer essential therapy - wickedly funny stories about flawed heroes with the power to restore our faith in each other." - Kirsten Miller
"Smart, authentic, and full of heart." - Graeme Simsion
"A gorgeous, moving, life-affirming tale of second chances, redemption, and the power of love in its many forms. I absolutely adored it. It's like the sun breaking through the clouds!" - Matt Cain
"An uplifting and bighearted tale of family, forgiveness, and the life-changing magic of a meal cooked with love. Brimming with wisdom and bright dashes of humor, this delightfully tender story made me laugh, cry, and then laugh again." - Meg Donohue
"A delicious treat of a novel, rich with the complex flavors of love, loss, familial relationships and redemption. I adored it." - Emma Grey
"Written with empathy, insight and authenticity, When Lemons Give You Life is a delicious journey from regret to reconciliation. The protagonist Griff Barlow's recipe for redemption reads from a Michelin-starred playbook of family secrets, loss and grief, as a reminder that it's never too late to make amends. Heartfelt, funny, and uplifting." - Julietta Henderson
"Anna Johnstons' newest novel is brimming with hope, healing, and second chances. Told in crisp, mouthwatering prose, it's a story that will linger in your heart long after the last sentence." - Rachel Linden
"For the burnt-out and world-weary, Anna Johnston's novels offer essential therapy - wickedly funny stories about flawed heroes with the power to restore our faith in each other." - Kirsten Miller
"Smart, authentic, and full of heart." - Graeme Simsion
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