Interested in a detailed summary with read-alikes?? Check out my Annotation of this book.
This review is based on an advanced review copy (ARC) received through Reedsy Discovery. Plot Summary and Personal Thoughts below have also been published on that site.
Author: Kat Moreno
Category/Type: Young Adult
Genre: LGBTQIA+ fiction
Publication Date: July 2, 2023
Number of Pages: 182 pages of story text (ARC eBook format; other sources list more pages for different formats)
Geographical Setting: A small US city.
Time Period: Present day.
Series (if applicable): This is book 1 in a series.
Plot Summary: Strawberry Lemonade is an engaging story with a delightful, slow-burn romance that will leave you teary-eyed yet heart-warmed.
It’s crush-at-first sight when Scott and Min’s paths awkwardly cross at the beginning of freshman year of high school. Though they circle each other in the intervening years, the two don’t share a class until senior year. When they finally begin spending time together, their bond is immediate and their friendship blossoms through their love of art (dance and drawing), helping to forge a strong bond between them. Through the usual high school struggles, including sports, family life, and applying to college, Scott and Min are always there for each other. When they finally express their true feelings, they must also navigate how they’ll let their future plans determine their happiness in the moment.
Dealing with high school activities and queer teen love, this book would be good for Heartstopper fans.
Content warnings (may containt SLIGHT SPOILERS): Anti-gay speech and actions.
Representation:
Gay romance
Korean love interest
PERSONAL THOUGHTS
WARNING: May contain spoilers
I am still feeling all the feels from Strawberry Lemonade. Though the book is short, the characters are fully realized, emotions are believable, and readers will feel like they too had a year to get to know Scott and Min.
It was easy to become immersed in this book and that is what really hooked me. Moreno’s choice to use simple language kept the story moving, even with pages spent describing daily activities. Readers will feel the boredom of typing class, the excitement of volleyball matches, and the intensity of preparing a portfolio or dance audition. Moreno perfectly captured how unimportant moments in high school somehow felt all-consuming at the same time. Also, as a graduate of art school myself, Moreno nailed it when describing Scott’s parents’ hesitations about him majoring in art. Even over a decade after earning my BFA, I’m still asked about what you can do with an art degree. Scott parents come around, but this scene was a moment of true connection for me.
The slow-burn of Scott and Min’s progressing relationship also keeps the pages turning. There’s not a kiss until 80% in, but readers, it’s worth it! The characters and their connection are so well-developed you will be cheering despite knowing Scott and Min must soon part ways for college.
Readers should be aware that, although this story has a romance at its center, it is not a Romance, more a coming-of-age/learning about love tale with an emotional ending. There is plenty of hope, and I finished reading with visions of how Min and Scott will reconnect throughout college floating through my head.
““”One day we’ll be real adults and we’ll live closer than three thousand miles apart and we’ll be together,” he whispered, his chest tightening.” ”
UNDER THE DUST JACKET
Ok, ok, I know ebooks technically don’t have dust jackets but let’s just talk about the cover for a minute. It seems simple enough but I was swooning when I realized it’s intended to be one of Scott’s drawings. Nice!
Final resting place: My ARC was digital so this book now resides in my Apple Books app library.
WHAT I’M READING NOW
My annotations and reviews are always running a bit (or more than a bit) behind what I’m actually reading so here’s a little bit of a teaser, if you will, for reviews to come.
A Gathering of Shadows by V. E. Schwab (re-read)