WHEN LOVE GIVES YOU LEMONS

A young man has one week in Italy to prove he’s changed and win his ex back.

Italian American rising senior Fielder Lemon is still trying to get over his childhood best friend and first love, 19-year-old Riccardo DeLuca, who ended their relationship a year ago, then disappeared. Enthusiastic foodie Fielder has dedicated his energy post-breakup to growing his online presence on TikTok, where he reviews local restaurants. When his cousin suddenly announces his destination wedding in Amalfi, Fielder is ecstatic—until he learns that Sienna, Ricky’s older sister, is the bride. Now he’ll have to spend a whole week on the beautiful Mediterranean coast with his ex. But he decides this proximity offers the perfect chance for him to show Ricky that he’s “grown and changed.” What he wasn’t counting on was that Ricky, who’s also Italian American, would show up with a new boyfriend. Alongside the romance storyline, Salvatore explores themes of discovering your passions, recognizing and loving your true self, finding your purpose as an individual rather than just as part of a relationship, and connecting with your cultural roots. The book also contains commentary on climate change and sustainability in the context of an Italian lemon grove Fielder visits. The presence at the wedding of Fielder’s gay cousin, who struggled with internalized homophobia, and Sienna’s bigoted cousin, who continually makes jabs at queer people, offers opportunities to show the impact of bias.

A humorous and heartfelt love story about growth, change, and clarity.