Book Review: Love, Lies, and Lemon Cake

By Sara Steven

Last year, I had the privilege of reading and reviewing Sue Watson’s Younger, Thinner, Blonder. It’s a fantastic book, one that I enjoyed immensely. When I was asked to review Love, Lies, and Lemon Cake, I knew I was in for a treat (and I’m not referring to the lemon cake!).

Faye Dobson is our sweet heroine. She’s in her 40s and unhappily married to a man who prefers tinkering with toilets over tinkering with her. (He’s a plumber by trade). She’s had just about enough, and the vivid fantasy life she conjures up with famous hot studs like Brad Pitt and Ryan Gosling will only take someone so far. It is fantasy, after all. What about her dreams? Traveling abroad, having dinner on a rooftop in New York City and making love under the stars were just a few items on her to-do list. Nothing has been accomplished. Life has gotten in the way and her husband hasn't been supportive of her, not in a good many years.

When Faye meets the handsome (and much younger) Australian deli worker, she can’t help but feel as though there’s something to look forward to. She can live vicariously through his stories of a life unscripted, yearning to throw caution to the wind and explore the uncharted territory of who she used to be. Faye finds it very hard not to fall for a man who actually listens and pays attention to her, making her feel appreciated. But does he feel the same? What would a tanned blond God see in an aging, washed-up woman like Faye? Is she willing to give up everything she has and take a chance on an unsure thing?

I had a hard time putting this book down. There’s a beautiful build-up to everything for Faye, and for the supporting characters. I was laughing out loud a lot of the time, and my husband would look at me like I’d gone nuts. It’s not often a book gets to me like that, but Watson is a great writer with fantastic comedic timing. Even if you’re not going through a situation like Faye's, you can certainly identify with her. So many of us have our own dreams we’ve left on bucket lists, locked away in a storage box or crumpled up in the corner of a dresser drawer. Maybe it’s time to brush away the dust and check off a few of the items.

And, a bit of a warning: If you have any kind of sweet tooth, you’re in big trouble. I found myself practically salivating when reading about the various foods and desserts Faye picks up from the deli. I had a lot of cookies and treats while reading this book, but it was well worth it!

Thanks to Bookouture for the book in exchange for an honest review.