Embracing the Lemonade Life by Sandra Sookoo is a hugely enjoyable and inspiring story with lemonade-loving cancer survivor Carla as heroine, and ambitious city lawyer Jake as hero. Carla now lives each day as it comes as she runs Cute as a Button bed and breakfast, concentrating on being happy as often as she can, while Jake prefers things carefully mapped out and thought through. Carla escaped the city to find a quieter and friendlier way of life in Bridgewater, whereas Jake couldn’t wait to leave the town for more excitement and opportunities in Indianapolis. He’s only come back for a couple of days for his friend’s wedding. Or so he thinks. Thanks to Hamlet, a black and white guinea pig, Carla and Jake meet, but can such polar opposites ever realistically expect to get on? Surely they’re not even remotely compatible.

I read this book in one sitting. It’s a well-paced story that flies off the page, but it’s by no means an easy read. The author cuts to the chase with the theme of cancer that runs through the story. So often taboo as a subject, Sandra Sookoo gives it its human dimension, and we see the despair, courage and hope that go with this disease. There’s a lot of emotion in the book – plenty of smiles but lots of tears too. You can’t help but put yourself in Carla’s and Jake’s shoes and wonder how you’d cope with the situations they find themselves in. Likeable, rounded characters, a realistic small town setting and imaginative and sensitive writing make for a delightful, unusual and brave book.