Bookworm Files | The Lemon Grove

A blogger reviews The Lemon Grove by Helen Walsh
A blogger reviews The Lemon Grove by Helen Walsh
Reading is a magical experience isn’t it? Sitting down in your comfy space, a pair of
your favourite faux-fur lined slippers, snuggling your toes, waiting to get
lost in a thousand words written on the pages in front of you. 
25 books.
That is my goal, my resolution. I set myself this personal challenge, hoping to
go above and beyond that number. Beauty may be my main focus and passion, but
getting stuck into a delicious paper back, well that is an awesome feeling.
I have just
finished my first book of 2015The Lemon Grove by Helen
Walsh. 
A book that is
by no means a challenging read. Your ideal poolside partner, a typical
holiday pick up, one to use as a warm up session for those brain
nourishing novels
, of which I have plenty gathering dust on my bedside
table. 
Reason for
purchase?
The sparkling blue water dominating the cover caught my eye, whilst
the blurb describes the location: Mallorca.
Having spent almost three years on the island myself, I was intrigued to see how
well the author captured its beauty. I miss Mallorca, the heat, the smells, the
landscape. Picking up this book was much cheaper than buying a flight, simply
by turning the pages I could be right back there again. 
The story?
Husband and wife return to their precious holiday hot spot, but this time it
appears to be tainted by the arrival of the stepdaughter and her new boyfriend.
Wife, Jenn, who seems quite content in her marriage, is then seduced by Nathan,
the 18 year old boy dating her step daughter Emma. If Fifty Shades of Grey is
what you call your steamy hot chocolate, with all the toppings (yes, cream and
marshmellows durr), then this is more… a tea bag. Not even a brew.
Helen Walsh
paints a dreamy picture of Deia, which I can promise is as spectacularly pretty
as she describes throughout the story. I truly did feel as if I was right
there, lapping up the sunโ€™s rays with my trusty factor 50.  Nevertheless, what this book really lacks is a
strong character. There are only four main players, with a few extras thrown in
to fill out the gaps, but no one really grabs me. They all leave me feeling a
bit, well, empty.
Jenn is the
one you will get to know the most, the story revolving around her and her
relationships with the family. I still havenโ€™t made up my mind whether I liked
her or not. Then there is Greg, her husband, who to be fair, seems like an
alright chap and as you read more of the story, learn he carries a great burden
and puts on a strong front for his familyโ€™s sake. Emma, the stepdaughter, she
really irritates me, but then at times I feel empathy towards her. Nathan,
portrayed as a typical 18 year old boy, moulded into a stereotype: Attractive
lad + Bad Boy = Moron.
Oh the
ending, the ending. This resulted in me slamming the book down onto my bed and
staring at the wall in disbelief. Not in the Gone Girl, woah that is a mind
numbing ending kinda way, but more of the WELL I JUST SPENT ALL THIS TIME
READING FOR WHAT. If you have read or plan to read this book, you will know
what I mean.

Like I said,
if you want an easy read,
with an ounce of drama and seduction thrown in, then
this is for you. For the first book of the year, this was not all that
disappointing, as I did actually enjoy reading it and finished it in under a
week. However it has most certainly geared me up to read more thought provoking
stories. All recommendations welcome

08 Comments

  • Wow I didn’t realise you’d spent 3 years in Mallorca! Sounds like a lovely read ๐Ÿ™‚

    Josie XOXO

    Fashion Mumblr

    • Zoe Newlove

      Yup, that’s where I started my blog! I loved it ๐Ÿ™‚ x x x

  • Makeupwithanni

    I think this will be my next Kindle book ๐Ÿ™‚ Really nice post i enjoyed reading it. I nominated you for the Liebster Award! so please check on my post the rule for the competition and good luck !
    https://makeupwithanni.wordpress.com/2015/01/16/liebster-award/

  • This cover always catches my eye, but from the reviews I’ve read I know it wouldn’t be one that I’d enjoy. Good luck with your reading challenge, getting lost in the book is pure magic <3 xo

    • Zoe Newlove

      Ah thanks so much for your comment Jennie ๐Ÿ˜€ Yeah it isn’t one that I would read again, which is a shame, as I love books I can read over and over! If you have any recommendations I would love to hear them! x x x

  • I love the honesty of this review – much like with beauty products, not all books are great and they don’t suit everyone’s tastes! I hate the feeling of wasting time on a book but at least you know now, and at least you didn’t loathe it! Sometimes you just need an easy read (lord knows I’ve had a few in my time!).

    Anwyay, as an avid reader myself, my current recommendations would be:
    David Nicholls books (especially One Day and Starter for Ten),
    The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion (I am just about to start the sequel, The Rosie Effect)
    The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer (not light hearted but thought provoking!)
    John Green’s The Fault in our Stars or Paper Towns
    Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
    Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick.

    I think thats enough for now! If you end up reading any of the above I really hope you love them as much as I did – let me know!

    Can’t wait to read your future reviews.

    Jo xx

    She Wears Burgundy

  • Antipodes Skincare

    We love your bookworm pampering with the Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream Zoe. Thanks for sharing the love #lovethearoha