why do so many cookie recipes call for lemon juice and lemon zest?

ok so i have never been a fan of lemon in my pastries. so why do so many recipes call for lemon zest? im looking through a cookie cookbook and all the recipes call for lemon zest and/or lemon juice. but why? if i make it like the recipe says will it taste like lemon? or does the lemon act as some sort of balancing ingredient to balance out the sugar and butter or what not?