View source for Love, Lies and Lemon Pies by Katy Cannon

{{infobox2
|title=Love, Lies and Lemon Pies
|author=Katy Cannon
|reviewer=Robert James
|genre=Teens
|rating=4
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=978-1847154897
|pages=336
|publisher=Stripes Publishing
|date=May 2014
|aznuk=1847154891
|aznus=1847154891
|cover=1847154891 
|website=http://katycannon.com/‎
|video=
|summary=Well written and gorgeously published, this first YA novel from author Katy Cannon is a great start for her. I look forward to reading more!
}}
Ever since her dad's death, Lottie has struggled at school, especially socially. Given the choice of joining an activity or her mum getting a home visit - something she's desperate to avoid - she signs up for Bake Club. Initially, she's a reluctant member, but as she gets to know school bad boy Mac and a few other people who might become good friends, things look up. But with the Bake-Off ahead and Lottie telling lie after lie to protect her mother's secret, will Lottie's new happiness crumble around her?

I'm a huge fan of teen contemporary novels and, as mentioned in my review of [[Lobsters by Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison]], think that this kind of story often gets unfairly overlooked by critics. I was really looking forward to reading Katy Cannon's debut and it's a fresh and funny read that doesn't disappoint.

Lottie is a likeable main character, although her voice doesn't shine through quite as much as those of my favourite narrators in this type of novel do, and the relationships she builds which her new friends are well-handled. I liked the romance developing but for me, Lottie's family issues were the strongest part of the book. I particularly liked the portrayal of her mother, struggling to deal with her grief and living with another problem.

This other issue isn't one I'd seen tackled in YA books before - I think I've heard of it being done once or twice but not read anything else with it in - and Cannon deserves huge praise for her tactful and sympathetic handling of it. It means that there's more depth to this than I was perhaps expecting and added a lot to the book.

It's also one of the nicest looking books on my shelf! Stripes have done an amazing job of publishing this one - the bright cover is really gorgeous and the recipes which appear throughout are a great reason for teens who want to try them themselves to buy, not borrow, this one.

Well worth reading, I look forward to more from Katy Cannon.

We also have a review of its [[Secrets, Schemes and Sewing Machines by Katy Cannon|companion book]]. For other fresh, funny stories about teen girls don't miss [[Have a Little Faith by Candy Harper]] and [[My Family and Other Freaks by Carol Midgley]].  You might also enjoy [[And Then We Ran by Katy Cannon]].

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