When life hands you lemons ... is it ever too late for a second chance?
Zelda's impulsive nature has got her precisely nowhere up until now. A fresh start in a beautiful hilltop town in Sicily looking for new residents, together with her best friend Lennie, could be just what she needs. And who better to settle down with than the person who knows her best?
But the sun-filled skies and sparkling seas can't hide the shadow hanging over Citta d'Ora, which means not everyone is pleased to see their arrival. The dreams Zelda and her fellow new residents had of setting up a new life might be slipping away. But a friendship with restauranteur Luca could be about to unlock the possibilities that lie in the local lemon groves. And there's a wedding on the horizon that might be just what the town needs to turn it around...
Could a summer in Sicily help Zelda learn to trust her instinct and follow her heart?
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Many thanks to Headline via NetGalley for my copy of My Lemon Grove Summer to review and to Sharon for having my review on the blog.
Jo Thomas' new novel My Lemon Grove Summer takes us to the island of Sicily to the hilltop village of Citta D'Oro, it was once a prosperous and bustling village but now it is desolate and falling to pieces. Tourists drive through the village without stopping on their way to Mount Etna and the villagers are merely existing not thriving. But with the arrival of Zelda, Lennie and a few others will the fortunes of the village be about to change?
Stepping back a bit to see how our main characters arrive on the island we first meet Zelda who is approaching her 40th birthday as she attends a party with her long term friend Lennie. She wonders is this what is ahead for me sliding into old age solo and left on the shelf. Yet again the man she viewed as a contender on her dating app has left her high and dry, after a few dates she thinks she is not Miss. Perfect and always seems to pick Mr. Imperfect. By now she thought she would be happily married with kids, a home and a dog but this dream couldn't be further from her reality. Zelda was definitely an old romantic and looking for the romance and love that exists in films but so far it has very much evaded her.
So when Lennie reminds her of a pact they made in college her interest is piqued but I wondered right from the beginning was she settling for second best because worry was crippling her that she would be left on the shelf and maybe she jumped into the situation that unfolded without given it any real deep and meaningful consideration. I could feel Zelda's desperation that all she wanted was some security in her life which would boost her confidence. As the story develops and we get to know her a little better it's evident that events in her childhood deeply affected her and she is afraid of history repeating itself. Aside from the personal side of her life, her work/professional life isn't much better. Her dream of a vintage clothing business was established only for it to come crashing down and she feels her hopes and aspirations were stolen from her.
As Zelda recalls the promise settled upon many years ago she thought sure what have I to lose as I have lost everything so far and I can't see what direction my life needs to go in. On one hand she is very brave to go for it as people always say never say no to adventures or else you will lead a very dull life. On the other hand I really did think she was crazy and impulsive as she is reminded that if neither herself or Lennie were married by 40 than they should marry each other. I thought she was not thinking things through as saying yes to everything has gotten her into trouble in the past but maybe this was the opportunity that was waiting for her all along. Lennie was a gentle character who I thought at times was too much on the periphery considering he was going to marry Zelda. I would have loved maybe one or two chapters from his viewpoint even though I know this was Zelda's story. I did guess a certain angle to Lennie's story fairly early on but I thought it was very fitting and worked out very well over all.
As Lennie and Zelda embark on an adventure in response to an ad he has seen online, one wonders will their new life relocating to Sicily to live and work be a disaster or an utter triumph. They both have visions of accepting their relocating money and living in a nice villa perhaps, soaking up the sun, finding work and establishing new and contented lives. With this new phase in her life about to begin Zelda feels a sense of release like a weight has lifted from her shoulders. But it soon becomes apparent that everything they had been promised and their spur of the moment and impetuous idea was not going to live up to expectations. They arrive to find the village on its knees with buildings crumbling, lemon groves dilapidated, overgrown and abandoned and an air of melancholy about the village. They have been brought in to breath new life to the village and as the belief is that to keep Mount Etna happy a marriage must take place every ten years Lennie and Zelda are the perfect fit. But as Giuseppe has such aspirations for the village there are many and perhaps one dominant force blocking him at every turn.
If it had been me I think I would have upped and ran away from the situation the pair found themselves in. I know they wanted to find some sort of happiness and stability in the chaos and uncertainity of their lives but when you expect one thing and discover another I think it gives you justifiable means to back out. As it soon becomes apparent that a house is not ready for Zelda and Lennie, and that they will have to share with other people, they realise they will have to stay as they had been relying on the relocation money which has now gone missing.
I loved the other characters that were introduced that had travelled from Britain too in the hopes of establishing a new life. Tabitha is a writer hoping to write many articles and books in the Sicilian sunshine, Barry has three failed marriages behind him. Ralph is fleeing a disaster in London and Sherise and Billy just want some land to farm animals as they had been taken away from them back at home. It was an unusual group forced together by the promise of a good life but as they discover all is not as it seems and they very much have a battle on their hands. Are the group all brought together because they each are escaping something in their lives? Are they all in the last chance saloon of life and will this opportunity give them the break they so desperately need? Only time will tell and they go back and forth over whether to stay given the promises have not become a reality.But suffice to say what unfolded was an enjoyable, heartfelt and engaging read that you very easily become lost in.
I thought once Zelda and Lennie reached Sicily the story developed at just the right pace and I really felt as if I was on the island with them. I was glad they faced challenges and that it wasn't all plain sailing. I could easily visualise the setting so clearly in my head as Jo Thomas no matter where her books are set always brings the setting to life through such vivid descriptions and I always love how food plays such an important role in her books. It's evident she enjoys the research that goes into her books. This time its lemons and the limoncello that features very prominently. She takes something that is native to the area and showcases it and weaves it into the story so expertly that it almost becomes a plot line in itself and is instrumental in how Zelda begins to grow up that little bit, to grow in confidence and to take the bull by the horns to make something of the situation she finds herself in.
I thought the reasons for Zelda's impulsiveness and the fact she behaves in certain ways and takes risks were very well done and slipped in perfectly to the story. It made me change my opinion of her because on reflection I was quite judgemental of her when really I should have sat back and watched the story unfold and not form such early opinions. Zelda and the community, which becomes more like a family, came up against stiff opposition in their bid to transform the fortunes of the village. With help from restaurateur Luca their ideas begin to flow and perhaps some other more emotional and physical elements begin to flow too but can they come to fruition given the many obstacles placed in Zelda's path.
I didn't like how one person could emit so much control and power over an entire village and I thought the reason for doing so was slightly weak. Said person was the master of manipulation, a bigoted bully who needed taking down a peg or two. As all the villagers seemed to be connected in one way or another, and a wall of opposition was cemented, I loved how Zelda just kept ploughing on and that she was learning to trust her own instincts, to know her heart but if she was doing this with regard to the bigger issue of the village would she be able to apply the same principles when it me to her personal life or will she live to regret the decision she had made with regard to a pact made so many years ago?
In the first half of the book I felt things dragged ever so slightly but once I reached the half way point I found myself fully invested in the story and yet again Jo Thomas has woven her magic and created another fabulous summer read. There are lots of life lessons to be learned throughout and witnessing the transformation of Zelda was a joy to read. Follow your heart, follow your instincts and take a leap of faith.But does Zelda do this? Make sure you pick up this uplifting, superb and gratifying story to discover the outcome for Zelda and co.
Thanks Sharon and Emma x
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