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There are times when the future seems so certain that it is almost impossible to imagine life taking a different course. For Emily Sherridan, marrying the man she loves and leaving Chicago for Los Angeles is the beginning of an exciting new adventure. Eric dreams of becoming a successful screenwriter, and Emily is more than willing to build a life alongside him while he pursues that ambition. In 'Hard Lemonade', Darlene Deluca explores what happens when youthful optimism meets the realities of marriage, money and responsibility, creating a deeply moving story about love, family and the unexpected directions life can take.
Emily is only twenty when she arrives in California, newly married and determined to make her new life work. Their apartment is far from luxurious, money is already something they need to think carefully about and Eric's career is still waiting for that all-important break, but Emily sees possibility everywhere. There is something wonderfully endearing about her optimism. She does not expect everything to be handed to them, and she is prepared to work hard for the future she believes they are building together. Her parents may have reservations about the speed with which she has married and moved so far away, but Emily is determined to prove that she knows exactly what she is doing.
It is watching Emily navigate the years that follow that makes this novel so compelling. She is intelligent, capable and incredibly hardworking, but she is also stubborn. When something goes wrong, her instinct is not to admit that she is struggling but to find another way around the problem. She works more hours, changes her plans and convinces herself that whatever difficulty she is facing is temporary. There is always another reason to keep going and another point somewhere in the future when everything will supposedly become easier. Deluca allows Emily's character to develop gradually, making her decisions entirely understandable even when it becomes increasingly obvious that she is taking far too much upon herself.
Eric is equally well portrayed. It would have been very easy to present him simply as the husband whose ambitions create difficulties for his family, but Deluca gives him considerably more depth than that. He is passionate about writing, and the constant cycle of submissions, promising responses and rejections takes its toll. There are moments of genuine affection between Eric and Emily, and their relationship is far more complicated than one person being right and the other wrong. His dream matters deeply to him, but as time passes, questions inevitably arise about ambition, compromise and how much should be sacrificed in the pursuit of something that may always remain just beyond reach.
The marriage between Emily and Eric is one of the strongest aspects of the novel because its difficulties develop so naturally. Small frustrations become larger ones, financial pressures influence their decisions and the responsibilities of adulthood are considerably less romantic than the future they once imagined. What is particularly convincing is the way Emily continues to believe in the life they are building. She loves Eric, remembers why she chose him and desperately wants the future they dreamed about to become a reality. Deluca captures the complicated emotions of a marriage under pressure with sensitivity, allowing both affection and frustration to exist side by side.
Motherhood gives the novel much of its emotional heart. Chloe is an absolute delight, bringing warmth and humour to the story, but becoming a mother also changes the way Emily looks at the world around her. Decisions that once concerned only herself and Eric now affect their daughter as well, and providing Chloe with love and security becomes increasingly important. Deluca captures the exhaustion and joy of motherhood particularly well, along with the practical difficulties of balancing childcare, employment, education and family life.
The relationship between Emily and her mother, Julia, is also beautifully observed. Julia finds it incredibly difficult to watch her daughter struggle from such a distance, particularly when she suspects Emily is not always telling her everything. At the same time, she understands that too much interference may push Emily further away. Their relationship is filled with love, frustration and the occasional misunderstanding, but there is never any doubt about how deeply Julia cares for her daughter. Julia has her own lessons to learn about allowing an adult child to make her own decisions, which gives their relationship a lovely sense of balance.
Friendship is equally important throughout the story. Molly, in particular, is a wonderful character whose friendship offers Emily something entirely separate from her marriage and family. As Emily's circumstances change, the women around her become increasingly significant, offering companionship, practical help and kindness when she needs it most. Deluca explores female friendship with great warmth, while also examining Emily's deeply ingrained belief that accepting help somehow means she has failed to manage on her own.
One of the most memorable elements of the novel is a beautiful green glass bowl that Emily chooses shortly after arriving in California. She is struck by the thought that something can be beautiful and fragile while also being strong, and the bowl quietly remains part of the story as the years pass. Its significance is never overemphasised, but it reflects something of Emily herself and becomes a wonderfully subtle piece of symbolism.
The title is equally well chosen. 'Hard Lemonade' carries the idea of making something from circumstances that have not turned out as expected, but Deluca never suggests that life's difficulties can simply be brushed aside with a positive attitude. Emily has to learn, adapt and reconsider some of the things she once believed about love, success and independence. Her determination remains one of her greatest strengths, but she must also discover that there is a difference between perseverance and being afraid to admit that something needs to change.
There is sadness within 'Hard Lemonade', but the novel never becomes overwhelmingly bleak. Chloe provides some delightful lighter moments, while the friendships and family relationships bring warmth to the narrative. Deluca handles the more difficult aspects of Emily's story with restraint, allowing their emotional impact to come from characters who feel wonderfully real.
'Hard Lemonade' is a beautifully written and deeply absorbing novel about marriage, motherhood, ambition, friendship and resilience. Deluca has created a wonderfully believable protagonist in Emily, a young woman whose determination to build the life she imagined takes her on a journey she could never have anticipated. Thoughtful, moving and filled with memorable characters, 'Hard Lemonade' is women's fiction at its finest. A beautifully realised and ultimately uplifting novel that is thoroughly deserving of five stars.
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See you on your next coffee break!
Take Care,
Mary Anne xxx