This week, we’re giving away three copies of When Lemons Give You Life by Anna Johnston. When Lemons Give You Life follows retired Michelin-star chef Griff Barlow who rediscovers joy by secretly cooking for fellow aged care residents, but he's hiding a devastating lie. When his estranged sister Lisa's life intersects with his secrets, they may find an unexpected recipe for forgiveness. You can also meet Anna on our blog and on episode 615 of our podcast. Here’s the blurb:
A sharply funny, heart-stirring novel about rediscovering joy when life has lost its flavour, from the author of the bestselling The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife (recently acquired by Netflix).
Redemption is a dish best served warm . . .
Retired Michelin-star chef Griff Barlow has lost his appetite. He’s done with grief, guilt and the beige slop they dare call food at Sunny Glen Aged Care Facility, where he now resides.
Life’s given him all the lemons he can handle – so he breaks into the nursing home kitchen to bake himself one last tart. It’s supposed to be his final meal, but the act of cooking stirs a dormant joy. Soon, he’s regularly sneaking in after dark, serving up flavour and comfort to his fellow residents. Yet behind the apron is a lie so big it could destroy the one thing he has left to protect . . .
Meanwhile, Griff’s younger sister, Lisa, is navigating a new ADHD diagnosis and the spark of an unexpected romance. Despite their fractured sibling relationship, she dutifully visits Griff, though she knows hope of a reconciliation is gone, buried in the silence between them.
But the truth has a way of boiling over – and when secrets, soufflés and second chances collide, they may discover a recipe for forgiveness.
Anna Johnston's second novel is an enchanting story that will appeal to fans of Richard Osman, Joanna Nell and Amanda Hampson.
If you’d like to win a copy, simply enter your details in the form below. Three lucky people will win a copy!
Entries close midday (Syd/Melb time) Monday 25 May 2026. Winners will be notified within a week of the competition closing.
GOOD LUCK!
THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED. THANKS FOR YOUR ENTRIES! WINNERS WILL BE CONTACTED BY EMAIL AND ANNOUNCED IN OUR NEWSLETTER.
