I was looking forward to this book, but I actually loved it so much more than I thought I was going to. It has a gentleness to it, and an honesty, that gives it a depth beyond what you might expect from a light, summery, rom-com romp. But it’s still great fun!

A wholesome getaway romance for young teens - funny, deep and summery all in one. Perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Beth Reekles.

A beautifully written book with a compelling story and well developed characters that I found myself relating to in ways I never expected. I loved it

I tried to read this book with an open heart, because people make mistakes and it can be hard to move on from. Love is complicated and falling in love with the wrong person can be really difficult. But even though she didn't intend to kiss him, Ori was scheming to "get to know Jackson better" behind her friend's back. The fact that this led to cheating, was really not surprising. (This is all on page one, by the way.)

So after not warming to Ori at all, she spent most of the book wallowing in her teenage drama. I read a lot of YA, so I don't use the term "teenage drama" lightly. This was just too much angst and self-pity for me. And then she very quickly moves on to the next boy she decides to have a crush on, after deciding really quickly that Jackson is not for her. I just felt if he was so easy to move on from, why did she kiss him in the first place?!

So yeah, to say this book wasn't for me was a massive understatement. I just did not get on with it at all and would advise other people to stay away unless you can get really into teen drama.

Who won’t enjoy a nice and warm Rom-Com? I couldn’t put it down. I loved not only getting to know the main characters. I adore the relationship of the main character and her grandad, this was a plus in the whole story
The most beautiful thing about this book is that the characters find peace and heal during the book. I leave this books with a warm heart and a smile. This is the kinda of book sometimes you need when you had a session of heavy reading.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange of a review . Pre order this book is a big help for the authors I just reviewed The Thing About Lemons by Tasha Harrison. #TheThingAboutLemons #NetGalley

I haven’t read a YA book in a really long time, but this was a lovely read. It was heartfelt, uncomfortable, and captivating. Tasha Harrison really captured the angst, and let’s face it pretty self-absorbed, atmosphere of those years around 15/16. I felt like she expertly captured that perfect ignorance you have at that age. I really think I would have connected wholeheartedly with Ori if I’d been reading this as a teen.
A theme of forgiveness ran throughout the book, not just in the obvious ways. Of course, there were themes about looking for forgiveness when you’ve messed up. But also, lovely passages around self-acceptance and learning to live with your mistakes; for making peace with the fact that we’re all human, we don’t always make the best decisions but that doesn’t mean you have to take things lying down.
I loved that this story was so heavily centred around finding yourself, but also forming bonds with your family. It was just so lovely to read a book that showed the importance of having multi-generational ties. It was heart-warming to see Ori’s relationship with her Grandad develop and grow.
I should probably mention that this book was full of romance, failed flings, steamy (but very PG) kisses and stunning realisations. But this book was so much more than just a teen romance. It was primarily a well-rounded story of growth, for all, not just Ori.
Would highly recommend if you like to read YA and YA romances (hello anyone who finds smut difficult to handle). And if you have teenage girls at home, I think you’re on to a winner with this one.

A teenager heads off to spend the summer in France with her eccentric grandpa, hoping to get a distraction from her life at home

Teenager Ori gets the chance to escape the mess she has made when she kisses her friend's boyfriend and alienates her entire friendship group in the process. Her mother is off on a trip with her partner and so Ori is sent off to France to stay with the grandad she barely knows, and her eccentric great aunt she has never met. The premise is very appealing and their set up in France is pure wish fulfilment, with a brief holiday romance thrown in for good measure. Ori lets herself get distracted with her elderly relatives antics, tales and revelations from her family history and enjoying the food and leisurely life in France, but then her best male friend and her former crush, the friend's boyfriend Jackson both turn up unexpectedly on her doorstep. It's a breezy and light summer read, doesn't demand much concentration but overall despite some great promise it's all a bit shallow and flat. Our self involved heroine s hard to warm to & there's not much to the story but there's a few entertaining supporting characters - her aunt and grandad prove to have more life and interest as characters than her teenage contemporaries.

A fun, witty and fast paced Rom-Com that I couldn’t resist putting down. I loved not only getting to know the main characters but also some of the supporting characters as well.

I enjoyed how the characters were able to open up to each other in order to uncomplicate their relationships and heal. I always love when characters are able to come together and help each other in a meaningful way, especially in a YA or middle-grade genre.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC for review.

Im sorry but this was just beautiful , following a young girl who’s lost , confused & unsure on a road trip with her grandad. I adored their relationship progression & honestly this book was near on perfection. I’m so glad I requested this , such a feel good story with the cutest characters.

Firstly, lemons! Secondly, this book is beautiful; both inside and out! This little book is about a teen finding her way, discovering who she is, and what she wants to do. Ori was flawed, she makes mistakes, but she accepts they were mistakes and tries to make them right. Having made her colossal mistake she has to spend her Summer basically friendless with a grandad she barely knows in France. I absolutely loved their relationship, watching it grow as she realised he wasn't quite as annoying as she thought (and his sister Odette, another great character). I loved all his many nicknames for her, they really made me smile! Each character was written so beautifully and each strand to the story seemed so complete and engaging. The perfect mix of the romance, friendship and family elements. The way it ended was perfect and I can't recommend this book enough!
(My only complaint is she says "Boomer" too much haha! I don't mean a crazy amount like every other page though, only a few but any number of times would be too much for me).

Thank you to the Author Tasha Harrison, to the publisher UCLan Publishing and to Netgalley for an early version of the book in exchange for this honest review.

Set in the summer following her GCSEs, Aurelie (Ori) finds herself having to change all of her plans after being caught breaking one of the biggest promises between best friends. Shunned by the entire friend group, except for childhood friend Ravi, Ori changes Cornwell with friends for France with her grandfather.

Despite the flaws of every character in the book, it was easy to get invested in their lives as they learn forgiveness, self-respect and love for each other.

This story definitely takes the reader on the adventure of Ori growing up and realising the type of person she is, away from her friends and their influence. It really makes you root for her to sort everything out and for her to finally make that big glass of lemonade from all of the recent lemons she's been handed recently.

Overall, this story was sweet, charming and unputdownable. It is definitely something I would recommend to everyone, no matter their age as it's certainly a story to raise the spirits. I will also be keeping my eye out for future books from this author.

Full review on my Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5564566562

Thank you for allowing me to read this book pre release. It is suitable for YA and I’m sure they will find the characters and content relatable. It is a feel good easy read.

Firstly I would just like to say thank you to the publisher and author for letting me read this book and giving me the opportunity to review it. What a lovely and genuinely heart warming book. I absolutely loved this read and felt so connected to the characters. Each character had my heart for different reasons. The book was fast paced and full of little twists and turns. Some which made me cry out loud. This book captures being young and grasps the perspective of a 16 year old perfectly. I would highly recommend this book to make you feel warm, happy and grateful for people in your life. 4.5/5

Ori Reynolds is a 16 year old girl who made a big mistake. She kissed her best friends boyfriend. To help her get over it, more like give her mom time to go on holiday with her new boyfriend, Ori’s mom sends her to stay with her estranged grandfather in rural France. She learns about her family and how to deal with her teenage problems.

The thing about lemons is a pretty typical YA book. Light reading, predictable ending with the friends to lovers trope. I enjoyed it, it was a perfect read to break up all the heavy reads I’ve had lately. It brought me back to the drama of being a teenage girl (definitely don’t miss that 😅). It was funny, sweet and very relatable. The thing about lemons is a perfect summer read.

“Life gave you lemons, but the thing about lemons is- as you might have discovered by now- sometimes they have a surprisingly sweet aftertaste.”

An absolutely beautiful tale of falling out, growing up, and spending your summer somewhere away from home with no idea how things are going to pan out. This is a lovely book which offers readers a glimpse into rural France, family secrets and how quickly a friendship group can fall apart; a really fabulous YA romance!

What can i say? You deserve it? Why Ori hope still be friend with them after what she do? The group make their priority and she better off without them. Then Ori still consider Jackson... oh my god.. I love how Ori reconcile with her grandfather, grow up and face her mistake and choose the right man.

Thank you to NetGalley for provide this book, it is pleasure to review this book.

#TheThingAboutLemons #TashaHarrison #UCLanPublishing #NetGalley #ARC

I was looking forward to this book, but I actually loved it so much more than I thought I was going to. It has a gentleness to it, and an honesty, that gives it a depth beyond what you might expect from a light, summery, rom-com romp. But it’s still great fun!

As someone who spent many teenage hours staring out a car window at beautiful French countryside and fantasying about the boys that may have been hidden there, The Thing About Lemons is like my own teen brain on a page! It has such a believable teen voice: all the conflict between self-belief and self doubt, intensely emotional friendships without being over-dramatic, the crushes and the fashion crises all set alongside tenderness and family and slow growing wisdom. And despite my nostalgia, it also has everything my own distant teenage years lacked, both the bad: the temptation of social media and ever-present FOMO, and the good: a consumer and environmental awareness wore lightly.

It is sweet, witty, pacy and feel-good, and it has two of the most unique and excellent supporting characters in grandparent and great-aunt Claude and Colette —Colette deserves a spin off all of all of her own (the continued hunt for her own Dada-esque ending!)

Highly recommended for 11+

A funny little story that I finished in a weekend and struggled to put down. A fun reminder of youth and the adventures and mishaps along the way.

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers. I didn’t expect to love this as much as I did, what a fantastic read. The character development with Ori and Claude was so cute, and reminiscent to family life. Such a beautiful book that I wouldn’t hesitate to give 5/5. I will be on the lookout for more novels from this talented author.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% my own.

This book was fine. It’ll be a good, quick read for the young adult audience.

This book follows Ori who loses all of her friends after kissing her best friends boyfriend. After being left with no plans for summer she goes on a road trip to France with her estranged grandad and great aunt. Ori’s relationships with her family and her friends Ravi and Jackson are explored throughout the book. I wish there was more Elias content as he was the only mature character in the whole thing.

There were a few formatting issues where there were no spaces between words when there should have been, but I assume this will be fixed prior to the publication date.