Funny and sassy I did enjoy this book who touches on many actual themes. I'll definitely read more books from this author in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-copy in exchange for an honest review. This is the first Fiona Gibson book I have read – and I am hoping if I decide to read one of her other books that I will enjoy it more. The book started well, which is why I kept reading it, but basically from a quarter in until the last quarter of the book was slow and, in my opinion, not written very smoothly. I wish the whole book was like the last 100 pages. Even though the main character has been dealt a crappy hand with a cheating husband, I had a hard time having sympathy for Viv. Maybe the complaints about Andy the ex, need to be more detailed right from the start. She just felt whiny and irritating. There was no real chemistry between her and her love interest and no detailed time of Viv with Nick – not sure how they would even end up together. Viv’s treatment of Penny’s feelings was dishonest and I’m not sure I would rely on Viv as a friend. Couple these issues with the book not flowing causing me to feel disconnected with the characters. If I decide to read another Fiona Gibson book, I’ll pay close attention to what reviewers say. Since Ms. Gibson is a multiple written novelist, I assume this book may just be a lemon.

Starting this book I knew from the start that something was of with Andy. And I hated her reaction to it, the way she just tried to make things normal again. And even though she tried, she failed. Even if it’s not her fault. 
And that made me so frustrated. 
I thought this should’ve been funny, but it dragged on without showing a funny scene... 

I don’t know if it’s the timing or myself, but I just couldn’t connect with the book. 

The writing was good, but mostly character driven. All in all it felt a little bit too slow and it just couldn’t catch me sadly. 
I needed to stop at 25 % even though I’m sorry about that.

When Life Gives You Lemons is a great motto to have, especially at the moment. But to cap it off the tag line is to add gin and tonic. Which if I must say is pretty perfect.

Viv is definitely the star of the show and it was great to see her blossom throughout. However, all the secondary characters  were fully fledged. I especially liked Penny, a strong older lady who has a penchant for bright clothes. And Izzy, Viv's seven year old daughter who is extremely creative.  But there are also many others.

Through Viv, we get her witty comments, her inner monologues and her dreams. Viv literally leaps off the page. So much so that it felt like she was sitting next to me. From the very first page I just wanted to be her friend. When she had a low moment I wanted to encourage her. When she planned to achieve her dreams I was her cheerleader.  Viv was a lady whom you can't help but like.

One gripe that I do have is, is the book being billed as a hilarious romantic comedy. Yet the book was not quite that. Yes there were some funny moments. And yes there was a hint of mild flirting. But whether this means that When Life Gives You Lemons is justafilable billed as such is questionable? Or maybe I am just being grumpy.

This was a fun, life affirming novel, that shows that no matter what stage of life you are. No matter what is being thrown at you. You can make positive changes and achieve your dreams.

An uplifting read, with a group of characters who cannot help but like. When Life Gives You Lemons is the perfect read. Especially when you add a Gin and Tonic in the mix!

This is my first book by Fiona Gibson, and I’m now wondering why I haven’t read anything by her before because this novel was right up my street, definitely what I needed to cheer me up and take my mind off my enforced isolation.

It probably helped that the main character of Viv could, in many ways, be me. I haven’t related this closely to the main protagonist of a novel in a long while. It is so refreshing to see a menopausal woman of a certain age as the main character of a mainstream book, and one who is so unassuming but kickass as Viv. Although I have to say, the thought of having a seven-year-old at the age of 52 (which would be the equivalent of me currently being in charge of a toddler) filled me with abject horror! Those days are far behind me, thankfully (although dealing with teens can be just as bad) and I admired Viv’s fortitude in this regard.

The writing in this novel is light and upbeat and easy to read throughout and I fairly flew  through the pages. The plot and tone and characters are all very engaging, and it was very easy to immerse myself in their world and care about what was going on. I really loved the fact that Fiona did not make any of the characters canonised saints or absolute sinners, which sometimes can happen when an author wants us to sympathise with a protagonist and her decisions. Here, although Viv’s husband behaves like a cad, he is not a pantomime villain with no redeeming features, just an ordinary, if slightly weak, man, and this makes it much easier for the reader to believe in him and Viv’s reaction to him. All in all, I felt like all of the characters and their behaviour were realistically portrayed.

What made this book a real winner for me, though, was the painfully and brutally honest portrayals of peri-menopause and what it does to a woman, both physically and emotionally. As someone who is going through this stage of life at the moment and has, at times over the past three years felt like her body has been hijacked by an alien who keeps doing very undignified things to it, it was refreshing to see someone talking about this out loud and taking the sting out of it. At times this book had me absolutely howling with laughter. The part when Viv’s boss takes her out to lunch to discuss a potential new role for her in the company was a particular highlight. A good chuckle at women in my current situation was the tonic I never knew I was missing.

On the downside, I may never eat another Wotsit.

This book was funny and pacy and all-round delightful. If you looking for an easy, upbeat read to get you through quarantine, I highly recommend it.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book, but it wasn't one that I would rave about all the time. The tropes were very cliché and the plot was ultimately predictable. 

Thank you kindly to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this review copy.

As with all novels by Fiona Gibson, there is a lot of humour in this book. You will be rooting for the middle-aged protagonist from the start.
What happens when the man you have spent all of your adult life with suddenly starts making you feel unattractive? As if the menopause is your own fault! You're not doing it just to spite him are you? 
But maybe there's another reason for his behaviour. Something that hadn't even occurred to you until he hits you with it.
Well, life is about to show you what happens, just when you think it's all over..

The plot of "When life gives you lemons" is by no means very original: Husband leaves his wife for a better looking colleague. Wife tries to come to terms with her new situation as a single mother.
But the story sounds relatable and Viv a very likable character. I also enjoyed the writing style very much. The title of the book could have been a bit more creative, but it still served its purpose (i.e. getting my attention to pick up this book!).

The only thing I would find fault with is the fact that the plot is a bit too slow and uneventful after the husband has moved out (at least until new people enter the scene). Fiona Gibson could have incorporated a lot more anecdotes with daugther Izzy, for example. Or anything else actually.

Loved this book! It was the perfect escape from real-life. Even though some parts were serious, it never felt heavy. As an American, I enjoyed reading about places in the UK and often had to Google different phrases or foods -- but that's what made it fun! I could escape to a whole different world for a few hours. I actually really enjoyed the Ludo storyline. Penny was never my favorite character, but I understood her role in the book. There were some long-winded parts, but it didn't detract from the story as a whole. Overall, it was fun and clever and (very often) I empathized with the main character, Viv. Definitely check it out!

I'm a few decades too young for this book, I think, but it was quite enjoyable and a quick read.

Viv is a busy middle-aged woman, taking care of her 7-year-old daughter and her husband who doesn't really show any interest in her anymore. When she discovers he's been having an affair with a colleague of his, Viv takes the opportunity to turn those lemons into lemonade: after all these years, she's finally going to put herself first.

This was a well-written story, with plenty of funny scenes mixed into the emotional ones. I liked being in Viv's mind throughout this turbulent time in her life, and getting her unfiltered thoughts about everyone in her life. Although the topics aren't that easy to deal with - adultery and menopause usually don't get many laughs - Fiona Gibson's sarcastic main character gave the story just enough lift to make it funny.

I liked that Viv didn't get swept off her feet right after being left by her husband, but that she had some time for herself. I also liked reading a romcom featuring an older woman instead of the usual twentysomething-in-a-fake-job characters that usually populate these kinds of books.

A joyous, light-hearted and uproariously hilarious tale that will make laugh out loud almost on every page, When Life Gives You Lemons is the irresistible new romantic comedy from a virtuoso of the genre: Fiona Gibson.

Viv thinks that her relationship with her husband Andy is pretty rock-solid. Married for over two decades, the two of them have been together through thick and thin and although things might not exactly be going great guns in the bedroom department, Viv doesn’t think anything of it. After all, with his busy job as an endocrinologist leaving him flat out, Viv thinks Andy is probably tired or just not in the mood. Viv has no reason to think that there might be something her husband is keeping from her, but when she finds herself going through his phone, she is shocked to her very core when she discovers that Andy has been playing away. Worse, the woman Andy has been having an affair with is not a leggy twenty-something bimbo, but an accomplished and intelligent medical professional who is a star in her field who is the same age as Viv!

Shocked, distraught and absolutely incandescent with rage, Viv cannot believe that Andy would jeopardise their marriage this way by having an affair. When she discovers that Andy has been lying to her for months and months, Viv realises that there is nowhere else for them to go and that their marriage is over. Finding herself suddenly single after almost three decades was not something Viv had ever planned for. She had thought that she would be growing old with Andy, she never imagined that at this stage in her life she would be having to get to grips with the ever-changing landscape of twenty-first century dating. But does Viv even want to get back in the dating game? With next to no desire to mingle and no interest whatsoever in dipping a toe in the dating pool, what should she do? Should she take a leap of faith? Or should she use this unexpected turn of events to find herself and discover who she really is?

One thing is for certain, forget about lemonade, when life gives you lemons, it’s time to reach for the gin!

A wonderfully enjoyable and immensely funny read that I had great difficulty putting down, When Life Gives You Lemon is an absolute joy from start to finish. Fiona Gibson writes some of the sharpest and wittiest comedies around and she is absolutely outstanding with When Life Gives You Lemons. A fantastic page-turner about picking yourself up, dusting yourself off and starting again when all the odds are stacked against you, 
When Life Gives You Lemons features a heroine who is real, believable, funny, honest and so brilliant you can just imagine sitting down with her for a couple of gins while putting the world to rights.

Fun and feel-good fiction does not get any better than When Life Gives You Lemons, another top-notch winner from the fabulous Fiona Gibson.

This wasn’t a unique read for me. It seemed like something I’d read before. I did enjoy the writers style so I will definitely try another by the author. Not much to say. Couldn’t really get into this book.

Every now and then I yearn for a fun, quick, and comical read just to break up the trend of the more serious books that I usually reach for. When Life Gives You Lemons appeared to be the perfect break for me when I read the summary, and I was excited when I finally snuggled down and started reading it. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t what I expected or wanted. Don’t get me wrong, it was a fun and easy read, but it just didn’t pull at me the way I had hoped. The writing was great and I will certainly read other books by this author, because I liked her style and there was enough “something” in this novel that makes me want to try another one.

This book was so cute!  I loved all of the characters and how they all wove together. At times it seemed like there was too much going on, and too many storylines, I liked how they all worked with each other. I could have read a whole book just about the fashion show and how it played out. Overall, this book is a fun read that doesn't require a lot of thinking, making it perfect for my headspace right now.

Sadly this just missed the mark for me, the tropes of the philandering husband and older lady re-finding herself aren't new and there just wasn't enough uniqueness to keep me truly invested. It was well written but perhaps just not for me right at this moment.

This is a book that I think many women will identify with. One minute you are happily married and before you know it, you are in a rut. Life, work, the kids take over until somehow you just seem to lose your own identity, let alone have time to question if everything is ok in the bedroom department. When Viv's husband compound the anguish by having an affair, Viv doesn't know what to do. However, could this be the making of her? Will she discover a newfound strength and for the first time do what she wants instead of being at the beck and call of everyone else? Witty with a bitter-sweet humour, this book will touch you in places you didn't know existed and make you dig deep.

Such a fantastic book! I was hooked since first chapter, I love the way the author made me feel like I had menopause hahaha I know it's weird but well I'm 34 and not menopausal, but the principal character, Viv, is actually menopausal and I started feeling her sweats!!! That happens when a book is perfectly written 🌸 I felt related to her, in so many ways. I enjoyed the characters because they were real and so simple and easy to imagine my own friends being part of this, so real. I understood everything she was saying and trying to improve in her life. I loved the neighbors, her friends, her daughter... I loved the way it all feels so so real while you're reading it!! 🌸 yeah her husband is such a regular confused guy, even if we don't want to believe this can happen to any of us, it can and I felt I'd react like her. A cheating husband, her kids, the need to move on, the need of gettin to know herself better. That self awareness that only loneliness can give us. 🌸 I will say this is such a lovely story, so joyful, such a great light read that makes you feel good and happy when you finish. But it also gave me so much hope as an adult woman, a mom... If you're an adult woman I'm sure you'll enjoy this... 🌸 Can't wait to read more of her books!!!! This author did fantastic, marvelous, with this one and I'm sure I'll enjoy her other books.

Viv is a 50 something mum of two who is struggling with an ailing marriage and the menopause. When husband Andy leaves her for another woman she initially falls apart and struggles to stay positive.
Viv has befriended an older lady, Penny, who many years ago was the creator of a fashion line  which was iconic in its time. 
Viv devises with the help of Penny’s son, attractive and visiting from New Zealand, to put on a fashion show of Penny’s work.
Viv is a likeable character, a good mum and who isn’t ashamed of her flaws. The other characters are well written and funny. 
The writing style is good but I felt the pace was a little slow at points.

Thank to Netgalley and Avon books for letting me have a copy in exchange for an honest review.

A warm, enjoyable story. You are fully drawn into Viv's life and feel for her as she deals with unexpected events. The closeness of friends was an underlying theme and the friendship with Penny was well described. The 'egg' incident was a laugh-out loud moment but fully believable. You get behind Viv and are urging her on to make the event she becomes involved with work.

Viv is a 50 something woman who looks like she has a perfect life, professional husband, good job and children who love her. Vic's reality is very different. She is menopausal and getting no sympathy or medical advice from her doctor husband  Andy who really should know better. Her job while responsible isn't fulfilling Viv, she used to be a stage manager and is now a PA. On the plus side she has very good friends, a lovely son and daughter and she's happy enough if vaguely dissatisfied.  All this is shattered when she discovers her husband is having an affair. Vic's life changes forever and she takes us with her in discovering life after Andy.  This book is perfect escapism, Viv in discovering who she really is and what she wants brings her with us through the emotional rollercoaster that is now her life. Parts of this book are thought provoking regarding women who allow their opinions and needs to be moulded to what other people in a family want. At times the writing is laugh out loud funny and I can't believe that I haven't read any Fiona Gibson books before, it certainly won't be my last! #Netgalley #whenlifegivesyoulemons