I can't really think of many magical realism books I've read, but this one was thoroughly enjoyable once I finally connected with our MC. I really did enjoy the family diner setting, I felt it gave this book a really cozy, homey feel. One thing I noticed was that I felt like I wasn't sure what I wanted for the MC until a solid half way through the novel, which doesn't normally happen to me, I'm pretty quick to get a feel for what I want to see for the MC. I feel like the ending did end up tying everything together in a neat little bow and I enjoyed the conclusion. This book definitely gave me summer and beach-read vibes.

*3.5 rounded up.*

Sugary and tart, sweet and sour, and leaving a lingering taste, The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie lives up to its name as it uses magical realism in the form of little drops of lemon candy that allow 32 yr old piemaker Lolly a bittersweet chance to see what might have been.

Plotwise, there really aren’t any surprises, the plot follows pretty closely the outline set up in the description. What I wasn’t expecting was the emotional toll this book would have on me. Following along in Lolly’s emotional journey, I found myself questioning my own pathways, my own decisions, and my own future.

Lolly is approaching her 33rd birthday when her sister digs up an old journal of hers from middle school with a list of her life goals: live in another country, own her own restaurant somewhere amazing, fall in love, and help her family be happy together forever. Suddenly she’s hit with the realization she hasn’t achieved any of her dreams and likely never will, stuck in place by a promise made to her dying mother to keep the family restaurant running and her family together. This is what she’s dedicated her life to and this is what she’s given up her own dreams for.

Seeing how depressed Lolly is thinking about her past and how hopeless she feels about her future in the days leading up to her birthday, her great-aunt gives her a truly amazing gift – lemon drop candies that will allow her to walk the paths not taken. What if instead of staying to take over the restaurant when her mother died, she had moved away and opened her own restaurant? What if instead of giving up the man she loved to focus on her fractured family and the family restaurant, she had married him? What if her mother had never died in the first place?

As each day lived in an alternate life seemed to teach a bittersweet lesson and didn’t hold the answers for “following her bliss”, I began to feel a little hopeless myself alongside Lolly. What was the point of making different decisions if none of them really brought her happiness? And then when she finally got to see her mother again and was given the advice not to cling so tightly to things that are already broken, wow did I get upset on Lolly’s behalf (since it was the promises she made Lolly give her on her death bed that caused her to give up her dreams in the first place!).

I’ve seen a lot of reviews saying they couldn’t connect with Lolly, but I had the opposite problem – I identified too much. Honestly, I almost didn’t finish the book because of how upset I was getting, but I’m glad I stuck it out. Rest assured there IS a happy ending, even though it starts to feel impossible for a minute. The ending of the book actually ended up being rather cute and allowed me to think differently about searching for my own bliss in the future.

I absolutely recommend this book. The plot may seem a little kitschy, but the story is deeper than expected. Starting off sour and ending sweet, The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, both for the protagonist and the reader, but the happy ending feels earned and satisfying, and totally worth it.

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this advanced copy (even if it did take me a bit to actually read it). All opinions expressed are my own.

This is the story of Lolly, a 32-year-old single woman working in her family's diner, as she's been doing her entire life. After the death of her mother, she put aside her hopes and dreams to help her dad and raise her sister. When her sister finds her diary with a list she made when she was 13, she realizes she hasn't accomplished a single goal. She makes it a mission to try to complete at least one before turning 33.

This is a great story about "what if" and how specific decisions or events in your life can change your future path. When Lolly's Aunt Gert gives her magic lemon drops that allow her to live a single day in the life she could have had, the decisions to view that other life come with some realizations. Just because you think another life will be better, doesn't always mean the grass is truly greener on the other side.

I think we've all had that experience of "what if I'd made a different decision when XYZ happened?" and wondered what our life might look like now. Whether it's a regret or just curiosity, we've all been there. This is a great story about how those decisions and regrets don't mean you can't make lemonade (or lemon drop pie) out of the lemons life has given you!

This started slow for me but picked up as Lolly uses a lemon drop to find out what might have been if her life had taken a different turn. A good book club selection to discuss the choices we make and their consequences.

There is always regrets in life, lots of ‘what ifs’ and things that we wish we could change or go back in life and do it over differently so we have our dreams come true, eliminate those regrets but decisions and choices in favor of dream or against, always costs in one way or another way. There is always something we are not happy about and the cycle of wishing to change it starts its circle. But what if we are actually given a chance to see the other side of the what ifs and live alternare life for a day with better life choice?

In The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie is Lolly Blanchard gets three chances to visit an alternate reality of life if she could have made different decisions or if things happened in a different way. The story is about regrets, life choices, burden of responsibility, sacrifices, family, love, second chance, and life journey.

I loved the concept of the story and plot is interesting. There are intermittent past chapters that show Lolly’s relationship with her one and only love of life, Rory, and what happened between them. All Characters are realistic and relatable.

Some things are surprising while most of things are easy to predict especially after she used her last lemon drop on Rory. I enjoyed how Lolly turned things around and her business idea is predictable but amazing. It was great the way she realized she actually have accomplished all her goals just not the way she has thought. End is super lovely heartwarming and uplifting.

Why 4 stars -I liked the realistic approach with all the details and close look on emotions and feelings but at the same time it also made the story so very slow.

Overall, The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie is meaningful, touching, emotive, and bittersweet contemporary with touch of magical realism.

This was a lovely, charming book. Magical realism is hit or miss for me and it definitely worked in this story, especially in the context of complicated grief over losing a parent.

What a brilliant plot! I loved flowing Lolly as she discovered what could have happened if choices were presented a bit differently. This novel was heartwarming and utterly captivating. I just smiled so much!

Thank you Berkley for letting me have an advanced copy! It was so great.

What an incredibly sweet book (no pun intended!) The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie will have you turning the pages wanting to know what happens to Lolly next on this magical ride with lemon drop candies. The book has a wonderful group of characters, with all very distinct personalities.

More importantly, while food is a common theme throughout the story, at its core it tackles grief and the loss of a loved one, both in death and relationship, love, wanting to belong and figuring out what to do with one's life. I honestly didn't expect the story to be as moving as it was, but it is one that will stick with me for a long time.

Highly recommend checking out The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie.
Thank you Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC!

With another birthday on the horizon Lolly finds herself contemplating what has happened compared to what could have been when she finds her teenage diary. In the past she made the decision to be there for her family and the business they owned rather than following her own dreams both personally and professionally.

It is rare to have the option of going back and having the opportunity to make different choices but thanks to her aunt and three magical lemon drops Lolly has that choice. Now she must decide if she should rewrite the past or realize that those events shaped her into the woman she has become and instead change the future.

With each experience Lolly finds herself on a journey of self discovery that doesn’t disappoint.

I absolutely loved this book. Wouldn't it be great if we could have a do-over in life about our three greatest regrets? Lolly has a chance to do just that with the help of three magical lemon drops her Aunt Gert gives her. When Lolly, at age 33, sees her life has gone nowhere after the death of her mother, she uses the magic drops to see what life could have been like if she followed different paths. This book is a breath of fresh air and hope, in this world that seems to do nothing but crush the spirit. I highly recommend this book for all!

Have you ever thought about what your life would be like if you made different choices? This book explores those different scenarios while encouraging the main character to think of whether these choices would make her happy. Her self reflection helps her move forward with her life. This is a thought provoking story that is filled with hope.

Oh my goodness I loved this book! Such a heartwarming story of perspective and blooming where you're planted - proof that the grass isn't always greener. It's beautifully executed magical realism and has the most wonderful, fully-formed characters. I absolutely adored it. And it totally had me craving lemon pie :)

I have never read this author before, but the premise was intriguing and the reviews were very good.
And I did enjoy it a great deal. The story was unique and made me think and imagine what these lemon drops (if they were real) could really do to change someone's future.
The three lemon drops and the visits to what-might-have-been were enticing me to keep reading. The one that threw me was to her mom. That visit didn't really make sense to me. And after that the story lost some of it's pull for me. However, the ending was great and I did very much enjoy quirkiness of the story.
Thank you to Ney Galley for allowing me to read the book. The opinions are entirely my own.

TITLE: THE MAGIC OF LEMON DROP PIE
AUTHOR: Rachel Linden
PUB DATE: 08.02.2022 Now Available

Heartwarming
Hopeful
Heavenly

Lolly is almost thirty three, and full of regrets on the what-ifs of life, and with the help of her quirky aunt and three lemon drops, Lolly is able to take a glimpse of the what-ifs and rediscover her courage to move past her grief.

Reading THE MAGIC OF LEMON DROP PIE by Rachel Linden is like drinking warm tea that soothes your soul. Every time I picked up the book, I see my face with a huge smile and ready to escape once again to a Danish diner in Seattle, at a quaint village in England, or wherever Linden happens to take her readers, we are sure to find the magic of comforting foods and the love of family.

I highly recommend this book if you love reading about uplifting stories with a magical touch.

This sweet story takes a look at all the "what ifs" we carry around. Lolly made a list of life goals when she was in middle school; 20 years later she takes a look at the list and realizes that none of them have come to pass. With a little it of magic she's able to visit alternate lives to see what her different choices could have made of her life.

What a beautiful book. In the Magic of Lemon Drop Pie, Lolly is stuck in her life, having promised her mother to keep the family restaurant going no matter what. She puts aside her own dreams and aspirations and is miserable - but now she has three chances to see what her life would have been like if certain regrets were undone. I expected a light, inspirational story however it was deeper than I expected - I spent the middle of the book with a constant tear (or more...) in my eye. What a beautiful novel that made me consider the wealth of blessings I have in my own life.
I will recommend this to all of my homebound customers who enjoying family sagas, or moving, inspirational stories.

Loved the idea for this book. Reminded me a bit of the midnight library premise. It all ended up being too painfully slow. The mc wasn’t very relatable. The best parts of the book were the alternate realities she visits. Not the worst book I’ve read but just meh.

This was a deliciously sweet story with a side of magical realism perfect to cleanse the reading palate.

I’ve really been enjoying books with a time travel/change the past storyline this year, and was so excited to read
THE MAGIC OF LEMON DROP PIE.

Lolly is a woman in her thirties trying to keep her family diner afloat, and living out her Mother’s dream before she died, realizing that she wishes things turned out differently for herself. When Lolly’s Great Aunt gives her magical lemon drops and the opportunity to revisit her life and what could have been, she jumps at the chance.

Overall it was a lighthearted story, and I really enjoyed it!

*many thanks to Berkley Pub/Netgalley and Uplit Reads for the gifted copy for review

One Sentence Summary: Lolly is given the chance to live a day in a life she could have had thanks to some magic lemon drops, and must then determine which life she wants to live forever.

My thoughts:

The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie has all the ingredients for the kind of story I gobble up with great enjoyment: food, family, romance, quirky friends, delightfully mysterious older relatives…and a similar premise to a book I’ve previously enjoyed. I can’t quite tell if it’s because of the story or because I was so enamored with that earlier book, but I was left feeling little more than lukewarm about this book. But that’s not to say this isn’t a good one; it really has a lot of charm and lovely characters, one of whom is placed in an enviable situation.

In the end, The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie does nicely balance the women’s fiction and romance aspects. It does tell a very sweet story of second chances and of figuring out what one ought to do with one’s life. It tells a heartwarming story of family and loss and the drive to do one’s loved ones proud. It also offered Lolly the enviable opportunity to briefly live a life she could have had on her journey to either torture herself with what could have been or to help her find her way from the daily drudgery she’s committed herself to since her mother’s untimely death right when everything was going right for Lolly.

But I found the early focus on an expired romance a little overbearing and the male lead, Rory, rather bland. To me, the romance felt like it was having an elbow fight with the women’s fiction aspect of Lolly figuring out her life. Often, it was jarring, especially during the first half when I could not for the life of me figure out why a failed romance was given such prominence. It does make a lot more sense later on, but I felt like I really had to wait for it, complete with a great deal of frustration, especially since Rory didn’t feel like he deserved Lolly’s devotion. I had such a hard time figuring him out, and I still see little more than a cardboard cutout of a male whenever I try to picture him.

I really liked Lolly. She really tried, she really loved her family, she really put her all into everything to keep her family’s restaurant afloat after her mother’s tragic death. I felt her loss with her use of every lemon drop, every could have been, as well as her deep love and devotion to her mom. Emotionally, it was easy to connect with her, to feel the consequences of every decision and every road not taken. But I seriously struggled with her tight grip on a failed romance, especially since he had moved on. There were so many issues I took with Rory. He felt like he was only there to serve as a romantic partner, his story complex to make their romance complicated, but it didn’t really endear me to him. I didn’t care for him as a partner to Lolly. He simply felt like he didn’t really try hard enough, as though he’d rather sacrifice her than anything else, forcing Lolly to re-imagine her life.

What was really nice, what saved the book for me, were Lolly’s best friend and aunt and the setting. Even though Magnolia, Washington wasn’t terribly detailed, I got a sense of Washington and really loved the beach Lolly loved going to. It was the small details that transported me there, the small town feeling. It felt cozy and lovely. But Lolly’s friend Eve and aunt Gert stole the show. They were such fun ladies, ladies who really grabbed their lives by the horns and tamed it into what they wanted. They lived their lives, they did what made them happy, and I couldn’t help but admire them. They felt entirely at odds with Lolly, which might explain why I liked her, but longed for more for her.

The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie has a lot of good ingredients. It’s charming and it has food, including a recipe for the eponymous pie. It details Lolly’s use of three lemon drops, each of which gives her the opportunity to live a life she could have had. But I wish each use had prompted something new in her. Instead, I just felt her regrets piling up, giving me little more than a very sad Lolly who didn’t seem to learn much of herself or her life and just kept trudging on. The part that seemed to have more of an impact on her and what she really wanted was the detailing of exactly how her relationship with Rory started and ended. Overall, it lacked the vibrancy I had hoped for and a woman really trying to search for herself and come to terms with her life. As a romance, though, it was cute and sweet, if a bit bland.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s so cute and perfect for when you’re looking for a happy, cozy read! It gave me some Midnight Library vibes. I’ve never been a fan of time travel stuff, but I do love the idea of making every day count and am always fascinated by the idea of how one choice has such a big affect on the course of our lives. In #themagicoflemondroppie (thank you, @uplitreads and @berkleypub for my gifted copy!), Lolly receives three lemon drops that allow her to live a single day in a life that might of been had she simply made a different choice. This story is about letting go of regrets and embracing the present. I definitely recommend checking it out. It would be great for your next #bookclub pick! Lots to discuss and even comes with reader questions in the back of the book!