HARD LEMONADE by Darlene Deluca
Fiction, Women’s Fiction
5+*****
Blurb: Her husband fails. Her marriage fails. Does that make Emily Sherridan a failure?
With high hopes and rose-colored shades, Emily Sherridan leaves her family and friends to build a new life with her screenwriter husband in sunny Los Angeles. There, she learns that love conquers all…until the rent is overdue, the rejections pile up, or the test is positive. As months, then years, go by and Eric’s career fails to launch, Emily is determined to hold everything together. But when he brings danger into their lives, it’s over. When the cops arrive at her doorstep, anguish mixes with anger. She wonders how low they can go—until one of the officers hands her the number to a women’s shelter. Broke and broken, her dreams are dashed and her confidence is shaken. With Eric’s taunt about running home pounding in her ears, Emily pushes forward though she’s unsure of her direction. She cannot give up. Her daughter deserves more. From rosy dreams to real-life roadblocks, Hard Lemonade is a compelling story of friends, family, and fierce sheroes.
THOUGHTS: Had I seen this book on a shelf, I probably would not have picked it up. It’s not my “usual” type of read. And that would have been a huge mistake because this is an amazing story. It drew me in and didn’t let go until the last page. The story is actually written from two points of view – the main character of Emily, and occasional bits from her mother. As a young woman, Emily fell in love with Eric, a hopeful screenwriter. They move from Chicago to California where the weather is beautiful – but life isn’t. Emily works hard to provide for them, but Eric refuses because “writing” is his job. Except he’s not getting anywhere. Her mother helps them furnish their tiny apartment. As things go from bad to worse, Emily tries hard to hold everything together and makes friends with the neighbors. When she gets pregnant, Eric goes from bad to worse. But when the baby comes along, he turns into a good daddy. But isn’t working. And isn’t writing. And when he brings danger home… Emily has had enough and, on the advice of the police, moves to a women’s shelter. While trying to get her life together, she refuses to let her parents know how bad things are. Then Eric dies. She tries to keep going, but eventually, she has to move home to Chicago, where she starts over, and turns her life around and into a success.
This is a highly emotional story. It could be hard for some people to read, but it is a beautifully written story with an uplifting outcome. It is definitely a story worth reading.
Highly recommended.
Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
