The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie

Reader's Guide
The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden
Discussion Questions:


1. At the beginning of the story Lolly feels stuck in her life. She is caught between duty to her family and the diner and her own dreams and desires. Have you ever felt stuck because you were caught between two conflicting priorities? What did you do?

2. What do you think of Lolly’s life goals list? Ultimately, do you think Lolly accomplished any of her goals? Why or why not?

3. What role does Aunt Gert play in the story? How does she help Lolly move forward in her life?

4. How were each of Lolly’s three lemon drop days important to her? What did she take away from each day? How did those takeaways impact her choices later on in the story?

5. Do you agree with Aunt Gert’s life advice to “follow your bliss”? Why or why not?

6. How does Lolly follow her bliss in the story? How does she learn to be honest, pay attention, and seek joy? How does that influence the ending of her story?

7. In what ways does Lolly exhibit generosity in the later part of the story while still pursuing her own dreams? Do you think it’s possible to do both? How?

8. Lolly is surrounded by strong women—her mother, Aunt Gert, Daphne, and Eve. How do they help guide her life choices? What strong women have most influenced you and how did they impact your life?

9. How does Lolly’s enduring love for Rory shape her life? How do you feel about the path their relationship takes and how their story ends?

10. In what ways does Lolly see sparks of light and glimmers of hope in her darkest times of loss? How do those sparks ultimately lead her toward her bliss?

11. What important lessons do you think Lolly learns by the end of the story? Do those lessons resonate with you? Why or why not?

12. If you had three lemon drops to use, what would you choose to redo or revisit in your past?