Lemons and Lies

A sweet meet-cute or a scheme destined to turn sour? Fake dating, family drama, and foodie fun combine in this YA paperback original.

Valeria Morales’ senior year is not off to a great start. Her twin brother Adrian isn’t talking to her, she’s realizing all of her friends were actually his friends, and now she’s failing math. Enter Gage Magnussen. Gage isn’t looking to take on any tutoring gigs now that his standing as valedictorian is at risk after letting a catastrophic breakup distract him--not to mention his demanding parents expect Gage to coordinate their yearly charity auction alongside his cheating ex. So Valeria offers him a deal: If he helps her pass, she’ll take over event planning AND pretend to be his girlfriend. A win-win-win!

But as their study sessions move to deep conversations and their fake dates begin feeling realer and realer, is it possible the lemons they’ve been dealt will turn to lemonade? Or will this arrangement only sting?

Alexis Castellanos was born and raised in Florida where she enjoyed sunny days, dramatic thunderstorms, and delicious Cuban food. After graduating from college, she moved to New York City and worked as a scenic artist, bringing theatrical sets to life with a little bit of paint and a whole lot of ingenuity. She currently works as a graphic designer by day and spends her nights dreaming up stories. She is the author of the graphic novel Isla to Island and Guava and Grudges. She lives in Los Angeles with her partner and two cats. Connect with her on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @alexisc_art and on her website alexiscastellanos.com.