The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie

The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie is the story of thirty-two-year-old Lolly who is stuck in a rut. Stepping up as the glue of the family after her mother’s sudden death ten years ago, Lolly is no stranger to putting her dreams on hold. She’s sick of baking lemon meringue pies for her family’s struggling diner. When she finds a list of life goals she made when she was a seventh grader, she feels extra depressed that she hasn’t accomplished anything. How did her life go so wrong?

This book has a delightful twist of magic realism. Lolly’s eccentric great aunt gives her three mystical lemon drops that will allow her to live one day in an alternate version of her life. Through this unexpected gift, Lolly comes to learn more about herself and her life then she could ever imagine.

The writing in this book is absolutely beautiful. Linden adds a wonderful set of details that ties up together perfectly at the end. The ending is satisfying, if a little tidy, but the overall effect is heartfelt, emotional, and charming. This book will make readers laugh, but also cry. It’s a wonderful journey that I highly recommend.