A review by notwithoutmybook
Lemon Lavender Is Not Fine by Elle Pallmore

2.0

This is a really difficult book to review, because I have such mixed feelings about it. It started out quite promising, I liked Lemon's character and it's clear that the author can write, there are just far too many things about this story that are really problematic. The romance was very 'insta-love' which isn't necessarily bad, but to me it fell flat. There was just no real chemistry between the two characters, none of the build up and intensity to back up them getting together. The main thing that really frustrated me though, a lot, actually, was that Lemon's home life with her dad was nothing short of abusive - this was never highlighted even slightly and the full-scale bullying she endured at school and online was not only brushed under the carpet by everybody, but twisted around to hold Lemon responsible for all of it. In reality, the police should have been involved, but the bullies weren't at all reprimanded and the amount of victim blaming and gaslighting going on just made me feel angry and sad.