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The Greek Villa
Is this villa in Greece a disastrous fixer-upper… or a dream come true for Claudia?
After receiving a life-changing inheritance from a beloved, quirky older relative, thirty-two-year-old Claudia has done something wild they would approve of – she’s bought a run-down villa in Greece! Though she’s never seen it in person, she’s sure that with a lick of paint, it will be everything she’s ever dreamed of…
But, arriving at her new home on the gorgeous Greek island of Corfu, Claudia is met with a shock. The cracks look more like chasms, plants are growing through the tiled floor, and the view of the sparkling blue sea would be perfect – if there was a window instead of a hole in the wall.
With the local villagers thinking she’s mad to take on the villa, Claudia panics she’s made the biggest mistake of her life. Until local builder Dimitri comes to her rescue… Between his caring nature, his rippling muscles and deep brown eyes, Claudia can’t believe she’s found her knight in shining armour. And they grow close over glasses of Greek wine beneath the stars, after long, hot days working on the villa.
But just when Claudia begins to see a future with Dimitri, his ex-girlfriend throws a spanner in the works. Though he reassures her that it’s over between them, Claudia starts to feel like he’s keeping secrets. Then a pipe bursts, flooding the villa, and all Claudia’s hopes are dashed at once…
Should Claudia call it quits and head back to her old life? Or is Dimitri hiding the perfect surprise, one that could help Claudia finally build her dream life in Greece?
Fans of Sarah Morgan, Jenny Colgan and My Mamma Mia Summer will love this gorgeous holiday read, which will sweep you away to the stunning beaches of Greece.
After receiving a life-changing inheritance from a beloved, quirky older relative, thirty-two-year-old Claudia has done something wild they would approve of – she’s bought a run-down villa in Greece! Though she’s never seen it in person, she’s sure that with a lick of paint, it will be everything she’s ever dreamed of…
But, arriving at her new home on the gorgeous Greek island of Corfu, Claudia is met with a shock. The cracks look more like chasms, plants are growing through the tiled floor, and the view of the sparkling blue sea would be perfect – if there was a window instead of a hole in the wall.
With the local villagers thinking she’s mad to take on the villa, Claudia panics she’s made the biggest mistake of her life. Until local builder Dimitri comes to her rescue… Between his caring nature, his rippling muscles and deep brown eyes, Claudia can’t believe she’s found her knight in shining armour. And they grow close over glasses of Greek wine beneath the stars, after long, hot days working on the villa.
But just when Claudia begins to see a future with Dimitri, his ex-girlfriend throws a spanner in the works. Though he reassures her that it’s over between them, Claudia starts to feel like he’s keeping secrets. Then a pipe bursts, flooding the villa, and all Claudia’s hopes are dashed at once…
Should Claudia call it quits and head back to her old life? Or is Dimitri hiding the perfect surprise, one that could help Claudia finally build her dream life in Greece?
Fans of Sarah Morgan, Jenny Colgan and My Mamma Mia Summer will love this gorgeous holiday read, which will sweep you away to the stunning beaches of Greece.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 3, 2024
537 people are currently reading
242 people want to read
About the author
Sue Roberts
35 books168 followersSue was born in Liverpool and moved to Lancashire as a teenager where she has lived ever since. She has written three books, the third 'My Summer of love and limoncello.' will be published on March 6th and she is busy working on a fourth book. When not busy writing, Sue spends her time with her ever growing family. She enjoys walking, cinema and travelling. Her first book 'My Big Greek Summer.' was inspired by frequent visits to the Island of Rhodes in Greece. All Sue's books are available from Amazon in kindle and paperback format.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
July 26, 2024
Go on vacation to beautiful Greece, fall in love with it, buy a vacation home, meet a handsome man that you are mutually attracted to. I can't be the only one that wishes I was the main character, Claudia, in this book?!?!
Enough said, right? I loved the characters and the slow burn romance. The author did a great job describing Claudia's villa and the relationship of her neighbors. I also love that Claudia was pretty much always eating some sort of Greek dessert! 😆 🤣
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of The Greek Villa by Sue Roberts in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed it and already got another Sue Roberts book to read.
Enough said, right? I loved the characters and the slow burn romance. The author did a great job describing Claudia's villa and the relationship of her neighbors. I also love that Claudia was pretty much always eating some sort of Greek dessert! 😆 🤣
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of The Greek Villa by Sue Roberts in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed it and already got another Sue Roberts book to read.
July 30, 2024
Very predictable, pretty much from the 1st few chapters.
Then ended really abruptly.
Definitely not a favourite.
Then ended really abruptly.
Definitely not a favourite.
June 16, 2025
Good but predictable
May 5, 2024
This was just what I needed to help me through a tough week. Nothing is better than delving into a Sue Roberts escapism read. This was a fabulous light hearted fun read with everything in there to cheer you up and get you into the spirit of summer. The characters were engaging and as usual the descriptions of the food and the location made the reader feel like they were stepping through the cobbles of Greece on a summers evening or dipping their toes in the sea.
It is a story of hope and second chances and of never giving up on following your dreams
It is a story of hope and second chances and of never giving up on following your dreams
October 17, 2024
Not a fan of this book. The writing was really clunky, the FMC (I don’t even know what her name is) was super condescending, and I’m not sure there was really a plot - it seemed to end quite abruptly, but then again what more could have been said?
I did like the great cast of locals, but that really wasn’t enough for me to like this book.
I did like the great cast of locals, but that really wasn’t enough for me to like this book.
June 3, 2024
The Greek Villa by Sue Roberts
I'm very grateful to Net Galley and
Bookouture, who have given me an eARC of this book that is gonna be published on June 3rd 2024.
This story follows Claudia, she is a woman in her thirties who lives in the U.K. and has always gone on holidays to Corfu, a small island in Greece, and she loves it. After coming back from another week in Corfu, she receives the news that her older uncle has died and he left her a part of his inheritance. She doesn't know what to do with it, so one day, she finds on the internet that someone is selling a villa in this very same island. She thinks that this is destiny and decides to buy it. She knows the villa is a fixer-upper so she embarks on this new project to make it her dream vacation house. She hires a Greek builder, Dimitri, and while both of them are fixing the house, they start to get to know each other.
First, I will explain what I liked about the book:
Some of the landscapes and food descriptions were amazing. I could really imagine myself being in Corfu eating a baklava and lying on the beach, so that was a very entertaining part of the book.
Now, some things I disliked:
Sometimes, the main character, Claudia, was funny and relatable but other times, I really couldn't stand her. I felt she was very judgy and didn't have a solid opinion on anything. Her inner monologue was all over the place, and it really confused me and sometimes, it bored me. The chemistry between Dimitri and Claudia was building up and kept me interested at times but then it disappeared and it appeared again.
There were a lot of really interesting characters, but none of them had deep developments, so at the end, they felt kind of unimportant.
I felt like the book wanted to cover so much ground, and because of it, it felt short on certain things, like some characters and the romantic relationship. Also, some descriptions were extremely long, so the book lost my attention several times.
I wouldn’t say it is one of the worst books
I have read. I think it has enjoyable parts that made me have a good time, but overall, I would not recommend it to everyone. But I do think some people might find it much more fun than I did and that is the beauty of books.
I'm very grateful to Net Galley and
Bookouture, who have given me an eARC of this book that is gonna be published on June 3rd 2024.
This story follows Claudia, she is a woman in her thirties who lives in the U.K. and has always gone on holidays to Corfu, a small island in Greece, and she loves it. After coming back from another week in Corfu, she receives the news that her older uncle has died and he left her a part of his inheritance. She doesn't know what to do with it, so one day, she finds on the internet that someone is selling a villa in this very same island. She thinks that this is destiny and decides to buy it. She knows the villa is a fixer-upper so she embarks on this new project to make it her dream vacation house. She hires a Greek builder, Dimitri, and while both of them are fixing the house, they start to get to know each other.
First, I will explain what I liked about the book:
Some of the landscapes and food descriptions were amazing. I could really imagine myself being in Corfu eating a baklava and lying on the beach, so that was a very entertaining part of the book.
Now, some things I disliked:
Sometimes, the main character, Claudia, was funny and relatable but other times, I really couldn't stand her. I felt she was very judgy and didn't have a solid opinion on anything. Her inner monologue was all over the place, and it really confused me and sometimes, it bored me. The chemistry between Dimitri and Claudia was building up and kept me interested at times but then it disappeared and it appeared again.
There were a lot of really interesting characters, but none of them had deep developments, so at the end, they felt kind of unimportant.
I felt like the book wanted to cover so much ground, and because of it, it felt short on certain things, like some characters and the romantic relationship. Also, some descriptions were extremely long, so the book lost my attention several times.
I wouldn’t say it is one of the worst books
I have read. I think it has enjoyable parts that made me have a good time, but overall, I would not recommend it to everyone. But I do think some people might find it much more fun than I did and that is the beauty of books.
June 10, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARK in exchange for an honest review.
This book is about Claudia who inherits money from her late uncle and loves Greece. She decides to buy a Villa in Greece in an area she used to vacation on as a kid. She hasn't seen it in person and finds out it needs a lot of work. Cue handsome local builder Dimitri who she hires to renovate the Villa. I did enjoy the premise of this book. I personally enjoy watching HGTV shows and was super excited for this. I couldn't help but grow a love hate relationship with the main character Claudia. She stuck her nose in everybody's love life and business and put her opinion in situations that weren't her place to comment on. I did enjoy going along the journey of her dream Villa coming all together! I couldn't help but feel her and Dimitri not having a ton of chemistry. They were very doubtful in understanding and trusting each other. I couldn't help but have a mixed feeling whether I was rooting for them or not. It also annoyed me how Claudia corrected people on the way they talk and pronounced things. People have different accents and will pronounce things differently than you! Especially in other countries. I get she wanted her house done as was promised to her, but she really over exaggerated and came off like a privileged snob when she acted all surprised that people have multiple jobs to survive. I get you want your house done as would I. But people still need to put a roof over their head and their family's. I was highly entertained but for all the wrong reasons. Her snarky comments to the people working on her Villa telling people in the village to forgive someone for something no one asked her opinion on and just because a women wasn't with her husband and was alone with her child you assumed she was a single mom when her husband was just working to provide for them. Last but not least I did enjoy her becoming friends with the women in the village and am happy she got her dream Villa.
This book is about Claudia who inherits money from her late uncle and loves Greece. She decides to buy a Villa in Greece in an area she used to vacation on as a kid. She hasn't seen it in person and finds out it needs a lot of work. Cue handsome local builder Dimitri who she hires to renovate the Villa. I did enjoy the premise of this book. I personally enjoy watching HGTV shows and was super excited for this. I couldn't help but grow a love hate relationship with the main character Claudia. She stuck her nose in everybody's love life and business and put her opinion in situations that weren't her place to comment on. I did enjoy going along the journey of her dream Villa coming all together! I couldn't help but feel her and Dimitri not having a ton of chemistry. They were very doubtful in understanding and trusting each other. I couldn't help but have a mixed feeling whether I was rooting for them or not. It also annoyed me how Claudia corrected people on the way they talk and pronounced things. People have different accents and will pronounce things differently than you! Especially in other countries. I get she wanted her house done as was promised to her, but she really over exaggerated and came off like a privileged snob when she acted all surprised that people have multiple jobs to survive. I get you want your house done as would I. But people still need to put a roof over their head and their family's. I was highly entertained but for all the wrong reasons. Her snarky comments to the people working on her Villa telling people in the village to forgive someone for something no one asked her opinion on and just because a women wasn't with her husband and was alone with her child you assumed she was a single mom when her husband was just working to provide for them. Last but not least I did enjoy her becoming friends with the women in the village and am happy she got her dream Villa.
June 2, 2024
Thank you NetGalley & Bookoutre for an ARC copy of this book.
Unfortunately, this was not the book for me. I was very excited about the premise. I lived in Greece for a few years and love everything about it. I am also a big fan of Mamma Mia and Mamma Mia Here We Go Again, and I was hoping for a story that evoked similar feelings. What I got, instead, was a LOT of details about house renovation, a main character that I couldn't manage to like, and boring and repetitive dialogue.
The story begins very slowly. Nothing truly relating to the Greek villa happens in the first third of the story. Most of what follows are details about replacing the roof and the rotting floors, rendering the house, painting the gate, picking bathroom fixtures, and installing kitchen cabinets.
The dialogue was extremely stilted, boring, and repetitive. A lot of it sounded like banal conversations you would have with acquaintances in real life, which is not the type of dialogue you would want to read in fiction.
And the worst of all was Claudia. She comes into an inheritance and decides to buy a house on an island in a foreign country on a whim. And then she complains about the expenses that come with such a purchase. And every time a hiccup happens at the reservation she has to throw a pitty party and is all woe-is-me! Even when that included one of the workers falling through the floor while doing work on her house, and having to stay home and not work for a few weeks!
And the romance was not convincing at all! She starts lusting after Dimitri from the first day she meets him, but no flirting happens - aside from a couple of innuendos that might have even been innocent mistakes - until the very end of the book! All of a sudden they can't stay away from each other, and then, BAM, the story is over and she's moving to Greece to be with him!
I was tempted to DNF the book, but it was short enough that I finished it hoping it would eventually get better.
Unfortunately, this was not the book for me. I was very excited about the premise. I lived in Greece for a few years and love everything about it. I am also a big fan of Mamma Mia and Mamma Mia Here We Go Again, and I was hoping for a story that evoked similar feelings. What I got, instead, was a LOT of details about house renovation, a main character that I couldn't manage to like, and boring and repetitive dialogue.
The story begins very slowly. Nothing truly relating to the Greek villa happens in the first third of the story. Most of what follows are details about replacing the roof and the rotting floors, rendering the house, painting the gate, picking bathroom fixtures, and installing kitchen cabinets.
The dialogue was extremely stilted, boring, and repetitive. A lot of it sounded like banal conversations you would have with acquaintances in real life, which is not the type of dialogue you would want to read in fiction.
And the worst of all was Claudia. She comes into an inheritance and decides to buy a house on an island in a foreign country on a whim. And then she complains about the expenses that come with such a purchase. And every time a hiccup happens at the reservation she has to throw a pitty party and is all woe-is-me! Even when that included one of the workers falling through the floor while doing work on her house, and having to stay home and not work for a few weeks!
And the romance was not convincing at all! She starts lusting after Dimitri from the first day she meets him, but no flirting happens - aside from a couple of innuendos that might have even been innocent mistakes - until the very end of the book! All of a sudden they can't stay away from each other, and then, BAM, the story is over and she's moving to Greece to be with him!
I was tempted to DNF the book, but it was short enough that I finished it hoping it would eventually get better.
June 7, 2024
Sue Roberts’ “The Greek Villa” is a delightful summer read that transports you to the sun-drenched shores of Corfu. The story follows Claudia, a 32-year-old woman who, after receiving a life-changing inheritance, does something utterly wild—she buys a run-down villa in Greece!
Upon arrival, Claudia is met with a reality far from her dreams. The villa is in shambles, with cracks that resemble chasms and a garden that’s more jungle than oasis. Yet, it’s in this beautiful chaos that Claudia finds her true calling and, quite possibly, love.
Roberts does a phenomenal job of painting the picturesque landscape of Corfu, making you feel as if you’re stepping through the cobbles of Greece on a summer’s evening. The character of Claudia is expertly depicted—her courage and determination shine as she tackles the extensive renovations needed to transform the villa into her dream home.
Enter Dimitri, the local builder with a heart of gold and eyes reflecting the depth of the Ionian Sea. His appearance in Claudia’s life is serendipitous, and their growing bond is a testament to the unexpected surprises life can offer.
“The Greek Villa” is not just about the blooming romance between Claudia and Dimitri but also about the journey of self-discovery and the courage to pursue one’s dreams. It’s a story that will sweep you away to the stunning beaches of Greece and leave you rooting for Claudia’s happily ever after.
Roberts’ writing is engaging, filled with warmth, humor, and a cast of characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. This book is a must-read for fans of Sarah Morgan, Jenny Colgan, and anyone who dreams of a Grecian adventure.
So, pour yourself a glass of juice and your favourite snacks, settle into a comfortable chair, and dive into “The Greek Villa.” It’s a summer holiday rom-com that promises laughter, romance, and the charm of Greece wrapped in a beautiful story of hope and new beginnings.
Upon arrival, Claudia is met with a reality far from her dreams. The villa is in shambles, with cracks that resemble chasms and a garden that’s more jungle than oasis. Yet, it’s in this beautiful chaos that Claudia finds her true calling and, quite possibly, love.
Roberts does a phenomenal job of painting the picturesque landscape of Corfu, making you feel as if you’re stepping through the cobbles of Greece on a summer’s evening. The character of Claudia is expertly depicted—her courage and determination shine as she tackles the extensive renovations needed to transform the villa into her dream home.
Enter Dimitri, the local builder with a heart of gold and eyes reflecting the depth of the Ionian Sea. His appearance in Claudia’s life is serendipitous, and their growing bond is a testament to the unexpected surprises life can offer.
“The Greek Villa” is not just about the blooming romance between Claudia and Dimitri but also about the journey of self-discovery and the courage to pursue one’s dreams. It’s a story that will sweep you away to the stunning beaches of Greece and leave you rooting for Claudia’s happily ever after.
Roberts’ writing is engaging, filled with warmth, humor, and a cast of characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. This book is a must-read for fans of Sarah Morgan, Jenny Colgan, and anyone who dreams of a Grecian adventure.
So, pour yourself a glass of juice and your favourite snacks, settle into a comfortable chair, and dive into “The Greek Villa.” It’s a summer holiday rom-com that promises laughter, romance, and the charm of Greece wrapped in a beautiful story of hope and new beginnings.
May 30, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
“I closed my eyes and imagined gleaming walls and a traditional painted front door. Inside, there would be a modern bathroom, maybe a glass sink, set against open exposed brickwork. I would display art on white walls and have a tasteful mix of modern and traditional Greek furnishings. Windows with wooden shutters would be flung open in the evening so I could listen to the sound of the crashing waves at the nearby beach that would lull me to sleep.”
Claudia has always dreamed of owning a villa in Greece. After gaining some inheritance from her late uncle, she buys a fixer-upper on the beach in Rona. As she renovates her villa, she begins to make friends around the village, including the handsome builder, Dmitri. With the renovations, she runs into disaster after disaster. Has she thrown away all of her money, or will she eventually have the home and life of her dreams?
This book is the perfect summer read! The descriptive writing about the culture, food, and beauty of Greece took me on a vacation in my mind. I can tell the author has personal experience in visiting this area by all of the little details she includes. I would love to read more of her books about Greece and Italy.
I did not like the focus on the supporting characters relationships and problems. I thought these subplots took away from the major plot of the story. I found the FMC unlikeable at times throughout the story. She was critical of the locals, but she became more understanding as she spent more time in Greece.
Overall, this book was a really fun read! If you are a fan of the HGTV shows Fixer-Upper and Beach Front Bargain Hunt, this one is for you!
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read and review this ARC. It will be released on June 3, 2024.
“I closed my eyes and imagined gleaming walls and a traditional painted front door. Inside, there would be a modern bathroom, maybe a glass sink, set against open exposed brickwork. I would display art on white walls and have a tasteful mix of modern and traditional Greek furnishings. Windows with wooden shutters would be flung open in the evening so I could listen to the sound of the crashing waves at the nearby beach that would lull me to sleep.”
Claudia has always dreamed of owning a villa in Greece. After gaining some inheritance from her late uncle, she buys a fixer-upper on the beach in Rona. As she renovates her villa, she begins to make friends around the village, including the handsome builder, Dmitri. With the renovations, she runs into disaster after disaster. Has she thrown away all of her money, or will she eventually have the home and life of her dreams?
This book is the perfect summer read! The descriptive writing about the culture, food, and beauty of Greece took me on a vacation in my mind. I can tell the author has personal experience in visiting this area by all of the little details she includes. I would love to read more of her books about Greece and Italy.
I did not like the focus on the supporting characters relationships and problems. I thought these subplots took away from the major plot of the story. I found the FMC unlikeable at times throughout the story. She was critical of the locals, but she became more understanding as she spent more time in Greece.
Overall, this book was a really fun read! If you are a fan of the HGTV shows Fixer-Upper and Beach Front Bargain Hunt, this one is for you!
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read and review this ARC. It will be released on June 3, 2024.
May 10, 2024
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review*
The Greek Villa sweeps reader off to Greece in a story of love, second chances and friendship that permeates throughout the characters. The descriptions of Greece captures the reader's attention with the vivid images of the culture and scenery that made me slightly envious of Claudia and her Greek villa when reading! The author creates a stark contrast from the dreary and mundane world of working in an office in the UK to the stunning world of Greece that pulls Claudia deeper into building her dream life and villa. I also enjoyed the depiction of various relationships from old friends turned rivals to friends again, father - son relationship and Claudia's family dynamics that proved that it doesn't matter the situation, relationships and friendships always take work and love to flourish.
I didn't feel that Claudia and Dimitri had a great level of chemistry and their relationship didn't have that build-up that made me root for these two to be together. I think the relationship would have benefited from a situation that forces the two characters to spend a lot of time together (aside from renovating the villa) that creates tension and helps the reader understand the characters more deeply.
The Greek Villa is a fun, light-hearted and fast paced summer read that entwines second chances, love and community in the perfect for holidays in the sun! Let Sue Roberts take you on a journey to Corfu and back with her vivid characters and imagery that makes the reader experience the delights of Greece without leaving the house.
The Greek Villa sweeps reader off to Greece in a story of love, second chances and friendship that permeates throughout the characters. The descriptions of Greece captures the reader's attention with the vivid images of the culture and scenery that made me slightly envious of Claudia and her Greek villa when reading! The author creates a stark contrast from the dreary and mundane world of working in an office in the UK to the stunning world of Greece that pulls Claudia deeper into building her dream life and villa. I also enjoyed the depiction of various relationships from old friends turned rivals to friends again, father - son relationship and Claudia's family dynamics that proved that it doesn't matter the situation, relationships and friendships always take work and love to flourish.
I didn't feel that Claudia and Dimitri had a great level of chemistry and their relationship didn't have that build-up that made me root for these two to be together. I think the relationship would have benefited from a situation that forces the two characters to spend a lot of time together (aside from renovating the villa) that creates tension and helps the reader understand the characters more deeply.
The Greek Villa is a fun, light-hearted and fast paced summer read that entwines second chances, love and community in the perfect for holidays in the sun! Let Sue Roberts take you on a journey to Corfu and back with her vivid characters and imagery that makes the reader experience the delights of Greece without leaving the house.
July 16, 2024
In Sue Robert’s novel, The Greek Villa, Claudia’s life takes a significant turn when she buys a house in Greece without ever seeing it. With an inheritance in hand, Claudia seeks to honor her uncle’s generosity. Claudia recalls fond memories of vacationing in Greece and the idea of owning her holiday home in this place feels like a dream. However, the excitement turns into a little bit of anxiousness as she discovers the villa, she purchased is a fixer upper. Hiring the nephew of a local bakery owner, Claudia learns to manage her expectations while navigating some unexpected challenges. As she builds her dream holiday home, she starts to get closer to her builder. Will she be able to let go some of those preconceived thoughts on love and relationships for herself?
The book beautifully captures the essence of the town’s people, culture, and traditions painting a vivid picture of a small town that thrives off the summer season of tourism. Throughout the book, communication and relationship nurturing is masterfully portrayed. The author emphasizes that relationships require effort and ongoing connection. Additionally, the importance of healing friendships and forgiveness.
Even though I liked the book and would recommend it to others, I felt the character development could have been more in depth. Some of the subplots left me wondering how they tied into the rest of the story. At moments, I wanted a deeper exploration of Claudia and Dimitri’s love story. Nevertheless, I appreciated the slow burn in their relationship. I also liked Dimitri going after Claudia!
The book beautifully captures the essence of the town’s people, culture, and traditions painting a vivid picture of a small town that thrives off the summer season of tourism. Throughout the book, communication and relationship nurturing is masterfully portrayed. The author emphasizes that relationships require effort and ongoing connection. Additionally, the importance of healing friendships and forgiveness.
Even though I liked the book and would recommend it to others, I felt the character development could have been more in depth. Some of the subplots left me wondering how they tied into the rest of the story. At moments, I wanted a deeper exploration of Claudia and Dimitri’s love story. Nevertheless, I appreciated the slow burn in their relationship. I also liked Dimitri going after Claudia!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2024
📖: The Greek Villa
✍🏻: Sue Roberts
⭐: 4
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this gifted copy!
This was my first introduction to Sue Roberts' work from The Greek Villa! The cover looks so stunningly beautiful, and knowing that it was a rom-com, this book checked all my boxes. Sue has a way to immediately grab the reader's attention from the very first chapter of her book.
Sue Roberts' does an exceedingly good job when it comes to writing up a summer read just in time for the upcoming holidays. Using summer as a focal point in the book made me more excited, and I had been looking forward to seeing what came up in the book. Roberts immediately transported me from my bedroom to the island of Greece with the descriptive language that she used in her writing. Adding on to that, I could instantly see myself in the actual scenes of Sue's book transpiring right in front of me, as she has a way with her writing as if you were seeing the characters interactions in real life.
I had such an amazing time with the characters throughout their journey in this well-crafted summer rom-com. The plot, characters, and setting all gripped my attention enough to make me stay up late and continue reading The Greek Villa, as I literally couldn't stop reading and wanted to know more about how the story was going to pan out.
✍🏻: Sue Roberts
⭐: 4
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this gifted copy!
This was my first introduction to Sue Roberts' work from The Greek Villa! The cover looks so stunningly beautiful, and knowing that it was a rom-com, this book checked all my boxes. Sue has a way to immediately grab the reader's attention from the very first chapter of her book.
Sue Roberts' does an exceedingly good job when it comes to writing up a summer read just in time for the upcoming holidays. Using summer as a focal point in the book made me more excited, and I had been looking forward to seeing what came up in the book. Roberts immediately transported me from my bedroom to the island of Greece with the descriptive language that she used in her writing. Adding on to that, I could instantly see myself in the actual scenes of Sue's book transpiring right in front of me, as she has a way with her writing as if you were seeing the characters interactions in real life.
I had such an amazing time with the characters throughout their journey in this well-crafted summer rom-com. The plot, characters, and setting all gripped my attention enough to make me stay up late and continue reading The Greek Villa, as I literally couldn't stop reading and wanted to know more about how the story was going to pan out.
May 31, 2024
I have read many of the Greek series written by Sue Roberts and some of them I have enjoyed reading. This book is slightly different from the rest of her Greek series.
Claudia receives and inheritance, she does something that is beyond crazy--buying a rundown villa in the small village in Greece. When she arrived only she realized her mistake and the villagers think that she was crazy enough to buy the house. But she meets Dmitri, who would help her with the renovations around the house and at the same time, Claudia was having second thoughts whether she made a mistake of buying the house or not.
The problem with all these Greek series is it basically follows the same storyline. Moving to Greece from UK, probably because of a breakup with your boyfriend or death of a relative, then meets a gorgeous Greek man, then of course it will be a happily ever after. For those who are interested in those types of romance stories, then this book will be perfect. Me on the other, even though I enjoyed her previous books, I felt the storyline was the same always though the plot was different. I knew what was going to happen next and also the end so it was predictable for me in certain ways. As a result, I feel this was an OK read to me. Worth only three stars.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
Claudia receives and inheritance, she does something that is beyond crazy--buying a rundown villa in the small village in Greece. When she arrived only she realized her mistake and the villagers think that she was crazy enough to buy the house. But she meets Dmitri, who would help her with the renovations around the house and at the same time, Claudia was having second thoughts whether she made a mistake of buying the house or not.
The problem with all these Greek series is it basically follows the same storyline. Moving to Greece from UK, probably because of a breakup with your boyfriend or death of a relative, then meets a gorgeous Greek man, then of course it will be a happily ever after. For those who are interested in those types of romance stories, then this book will be perfect. Me on the other, even though I enjoyed her previous books, I felt the storyline was the same always though the plot was different. I knew what was going to happen next and also the end so it was predictable for me in certain ways. As a result, I feel this was an OK read to me. Worth only three stars.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
May 16, 2024
I honestly could not get into this book, and I had to force myself to finish it just to see how it ended. It felt more like a home renovation book with the tiniest side of romance. This book took "slow burn" to a whole new level.
Pros:
The descriptions of the villages in Greece were lovely. It truly made me want to visit Greece.
Cons:
*The main character was extremely selfish. Anything that went wrong with her home renovation sent her into a pity party. An older man literally fell through the 2nd floor of her house due to rotten floors, and she was concerned about how this was going to impact the house being finished. -_-
*I wouldn't even classify this as a romance. The two main characters somewhat started flirting after 50%. Honestly don't know if I could even consider it flirting. They got together (closed door) at 84%... and the book ENDED at 88%.
*The entire book was about Claudia's renovation on her villa in Greece. I'm pretty sure I could renovate a home now with everything I "learned" from this book.
*It felt like this was written by a high school student. The wording throughout the book and dialogue were cringey. "She had a face like thunder." Not even sure what that is supposed to mean.
Meh. Just meh.
Pros:
The descriptions of the villages in Greece were lovely. It truly made me want to visit Greece.
Cons:
*The main character was extremely selfish. Anything that went wrong with her home renovation sent her into a pity party. An older man literally fell through the 2nd floor of her house due to rotten floors, and she was concerned about how this was going to impact the house being finished. -_-
*I wouldn't even classify this as a romance. The two main characters somewhat started flirting after 50%. Honestly don't know if I could even consider it flirting. They got together (closed door) at 84%... and the book ENDED at 88%.
*The entire book was about Claudia's renovation on her villa in Greece. I'm pretty sure I could renovate a home now with everything I "learned" from this book.
*It felt like this was written by a high school student. The wording throughout the book and dialogue were cringey. "She had a face like thunder." Not even sure what that is supposed to mean.
Meh. Just meh.
June 3, 2024
Many of us have no doubt dreamt of buying a Greek villa, renovating it and escaping to Greece. As such we can identify with Claudia who spends her uncle's inheritance on a whim and buys a house she's never seen that needs doing-up. The premise sounds great and had me hooked at the start.
I loved the descriptions of Greece and of course the food as Claudia finds builder Dimitri and begins the renovations.I was expecting more conflict and for lots of things to go wrong yet amazingly Dimitri is free and does an amazing job. The only fly in the ointment is when one of the builders falls through the ceiling. Claudia didn't seem very understanding and doesn't seem to have much of an idea about Greek life.
The constant toing and froing between Greece and England wore thin after a while and I would have liked more of a spark between Claudia and Dimitri. That said, I enjoyed the read, loved watching the villa come together and of course the HEA. Lots of great descriptions that will allow the reader their own fantasy escape to Greece.
I loved the descriptions of Greece and of course the food as Claudia finds builder Dimitri and begins the renovations.I was expecting more conflict and for lots of things to go wrong yet amazingly Dimitri is free and does an amazing job. The only fly in the ointment is when one of the builders falls through the ceiling. Claudia didn't seem very understanding and doesn't seem to have much of an idea about Greek life.
The constant toing and froing between Greece and England wore thin after a while and I would have liked more of a spark between Claudia and Dimitri. That said, I enjoyed the read, loved watching the villa come together and of course the HEA. Lots of great descriptions that will allow the reader their own fantasy escape to Greece.
June 2, 2024
If you want a lighter, low angst romance to get you in the mood for summer you cannot go wrong with something from Sue Roberts! These romances set in Greece always put me in a holiday mood no matter when I read them but when I only have 4 weeks until I go to Greece, I'm totally in holiday mode now!
Claudia decides to use an inheritance to do something very unClaudialike and buys a property to renovate. But buying sight unseen is maybe not the best way to buy!
Hiring Dimitri, the local builder, should make things go a bit easier but the Grumpy, annoyingly handsome Greek male gets under her skin every time they bump into each other. Claudia is great at dishing out advice to everyone else about their lives and relationships but sadly doesn't heed her own advice! She could also be a bit of a snob and very opinionated - I think that's why I struggled with this one a bit.
There wasn't a lot of commonality between Dimitri and Claudia and I did have to just go with the story sometimes and found I wasn't rooting for them as I usually would with my MC's. However, I still really enjoyed the story and was happy with the ending. I really enjoyed watching as Claudia finally settled down a bit and became friends with the locals and a lot less stand-offish and aloof.
Claudia decides to use an inheritance to do something very unClaudialike and buys a property to renovate. But buying sight unseen is maybe not the best way to buy!
Hiring Dimitri, the local builder, should make things go a bit easier but the Grumpy, annoyingly handsome Greek male gets under her skin every time they bump into each other. Claudia is great at dishing out advice to everyone else about their lives and relationships but sadly doesn't heed her own advice! She could also be a bit of a snob and very opinionated - I think that's why I struggled with this one a bit.
There wasn't a lot of commonality between Dimitri and Claudia and I did have to just go with the story sometimes and found I wasn't rooting for them as I usually would with my MC's. However, I still really enjoyed the story and was happy with the ending. I really enjoyed watching as Claudia finally settled down a bit and became friends with the locals and a lot less stand-offish and aloof.
May 11, 2024
The Greek Villa is a nice, easy summer read that explores relationship challenges amongst the main characters and the side characters. The author does an amazing job of describing the setting and scenery so you really feel like you are in Greece while reading.
I was stuck between rating 3 or 4 stars but decided to go with 3 for one main reason. I don’t mind slow burn romances but this book felt extra slow burn. Much more of the plot is spent on the villa renovations and the main characters move to Greece than there is on the budding romance. There was a nice build into their relationship, but I would’ve enjoyed there being more to that story line earlier in the plot.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bookouture Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I was stuck between rating 3 or 4 stars but decided to go with 3 for one main reason. I don’t mind slow burn romances but this book felt extra slow burn. Much more of the plot is spent on the villa renovations and the main characters move to Greece than there is on the budding romance. There was a nice build into their relationship, but I would’ve enjoyed there being more to that story line earlier in the plot.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bookouture Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 26, 2024
Although I don't dislike slow-burn romances, this novel felt particularly so. The main characters' relocation to Greece and the villa's renovations take up much more storyline than the developing romance. There didn't seem to be any chemistry between Claudia and Dimitri, and there wasn't a build-up in their relationship that made me want them to be together. I would even say that I was bored with their relationship.
I also did not create any connection to Claudia, as a character, she got on my nerves often. I found her pretty selfish, for instance regarding her house renovations, I did not find her really comprehensive.
However, I did like the description of the greek landmark, I found myself wanting to visit Greece and especially Corfu really soon.
Thank you Netgalley and Sue Roberts for an advanced copy, in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2024
This book wasn’t necessarily my usual style, but it was very much mamma Mia here we go again.
It follows the story of Claudia after she purchases a run-down fixer-upper in Greece after receiving some inheritance money from a relative. She hires Dimitri, a local builder, to help with the renovations. We follow them as their relationship turns from professional to personal, and the trials and tribulations of renovating a very old, falling to pieces villa!
The love story between Claudia and Dimitri is very sweet, easy to read and is very much holiday romance vibes. This book does remind me a lot of mamma Mia (of course in a very positive way), and it was an enjoyable read to wind down with. I did find it a little bland at times, repetitive in the sense of issues going wrong with the villa and not much else, but it didn’t stop me from enjoying the read.
It follows the story of Claudia after she purchases a run-down fixer-upper in Greece after receiving some inheritance money from a relative. She hires Dimitri, a local builder, to help with the renovations. We follow them as their relationship turns from professional to personal, and the trials and tribulations of renovating a very old, falling to pieces villa!
The love story between Claudia and Dimitri is very sweet, easy to read and is very much holiday romance vibes. This book does remind me a lot of mamma Mia (of course in a very positive way), and it was an enjoyable read to wind down with. I did find it a little bland at times, repetitive in the sense of issues going wrong with the villa and not much else, but it didn’t stop me from enjoying the read.
June 8, 2024
An unexpected family inheritance opens the door for Claudia to make her dreams come true with a move to Greece.
Author Sue Roberts showcases the beautiful landscape of Corfu in The Greek Villa as Claudia buys a home, planning to fix it up.
The author does a phenomenal job with the depiction of Claudia’s character. At 32, she doesn’t have any love interests preventing her from moving to the island. Yet, in fulfilling her dream, she realizes the house requires extensive renovations.
What ensues is a classic tale of girl meets boy, who, in this case, happens to be Dimitri, a local builder. He helps Claudia with her vision, but just as she thinks her happily ever after is in reach, trouble brews.
The Greek Villa delivers a delightful summer beach read full of laughter and romance. ~ Amy for Novels Alive
Author Sue Roberts showcases the beautiful landscape of Corfu in The Greek Villa as Claudia buys a home, planning to fix it up.
The author does a phenomenal job with the depiction of Claudia’s character. At 32, she doesn’t have any love interests preventing her from moving to the island. Yet, in fulfilling her dream, she realizes the house requires extensive renovations.
What ensues is a classic tale of girl meets boy, who, in this case, happens to be Dimitri, a local builder. He helps Claudia with her vision, but just as she thinks her happily ever after is in reach, trouble brews.
The Greek Villa delivers a delightful summer beach read full of laughter and romance. ~ Amy for Novels Alive
May 28, 2024
Thank you netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed and have recommended it to my book club girls already!
Claudia inherits some money from an uncle and decides to buy a villa in a Greek Island that she used to visit with her family as a child. Catch? She hasn't seen the villa! After making friends with the neighbour and the owner of the local bakery, she is finally introduced to this helpful builder she has heard about. Cue handsome man, all the problems possible with the villa and many trips back and forward between England and the Greek villa. A happy ending for many of the characters and their storylines and it was just so lovable! I'm off to Greece in two months and this has absolutely set the scene and got me so excited for it. Not to paint myself unrealistic expectations or anything! Thank you so much Sue Roberts
I really enjoyed and have recommended it to my book club girls already!
Claudia inherits some money from an uncle and decides to buy a villa in a Greek Island that she used to visit with her family as a child. Catch? She hasn't seen the villa! After making friends with the neighbour and the owner of the local bakery, she is finally introduced to this helpful builder she has heard about. Cue handsome man, all the problems possible with the villa and many trips back and forward between England and the Greek villa. A happy ending for many of the characters and their storylines and it was just so lovable! I'm off to Greece in two months and this has absolutely set the scene and got me so excited for it. Not to paint myself unrealistic expectations or anything! Thank you so much Sue Roberts
June 3, 2024
Happy Pub Day! Unfortunately, I really struggled with this book and I felt like the first half of the book was very slow (many chapters devoted to acquiring the Villa and moving). Then, many other chapters just focus on building/re doing the Villa. These chapters just dragged on and were a bit boring. I wanted to DNF, but I really wanted to get to the romance part...which only happened really at the end and was super rushed. I won't say it was insta love because they knew each other the entire time but it was just slow until it wasn't. I would have loved some more drama, especially when the ex comes back (:
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review :)
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2024
This book just wasn't for me.
I truly wanted to love this book, cute Greek Villa, fun neighbors, hot contractor, beach, following your dreams, romance, mama mia vibes - seemed right up my alley. But the writing felt a little clunky, my feelings towards the FMC flipped from "I like her she's fun" to "ugh she's a wee bit annoying" often, I hoped for a little more chemistry between the romantic leads, and the first half is very slow, but then the book ended pretty abruptly.
Some thing I did really enjoy - the descriptions of the surroundings and the food - I really want greek food now and to visit Corfu due to her wonderful detailing.
Thank you NetGalley and Sue Roberts for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I truly wanted to love this book, cute Greek Villa, fun neighbors, hot contractor, beach, following your dreams, romance, mama mia vibes - seemed right up my alley. But the writing felt a little clunky, my feelings towards the FMC flipped from "I like her she's fun" to "ugh she's a wee bit annoying" often, I hoped for a little more chemistry between the romantic leads, and the first half is very slow, but then the book ended pretty abruptly.
Some thing I did really enjoy - the descriptions of the surroundings and the food - I really want greek food now and to visit Corfu due to her wonderful detailing.
Thank you NetGalley and Sue Roberts for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 30, 2024
After the truly awful weather we’ve had in the UK recently, I knew I needed to transport myself to sunny Corfu as soon as I received an advance copy of Sue Roberts’ new book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it’s a tale of friendship, blossoming romances and new experiences. The plot unfolds well and I was completely invested from the beginning. The characters are relatable and likeable devoured this book in a day. The descriptions of Corfu leave you feeling as if you’re right there with Claudia, you can almost taste the mouth watering food as it’s described and feel the hot sun on your skin. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to review.
May 31, 2024
Two things are for certain when reading a Sue Roberts book about Greece: there will be a rehab on a cute villa and a hot Greek make involved.
Claudia comes into some money and purchases a villa on Corfu. Greece is in her blood but she has a good job and string family ties in Northern England. Except can drop dead gorgeous Dimitri change her mind.
The romance is tortuously slow to develop. I wanted to jump in the pages and yell I’ll take him since Claudia remains very skittish.
I love Dimitri’s surprise towards the end.
Claudia had to learn to leap and not overthink life.
A good summer read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the early read.
Claudia comes into some money and purchases a villa on Corfu. Greece is in her blood but she has a good job and string family ties in Northern England. Except can drop dead gorgeous Dimitri change her mind.
The romance is tortuously slow to develop. I wanted to jump in the pages and yell I’ll take him since Claudia remains very skittish.
I love Dimitri’s surprise towards the end.
Claudia had to learn to leap and not overthink life.
A good summer read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the early read.
June 4, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and author Sue Roberts for this ARC to read and review!
This was a light and easy-going, summery read that whisked me off to the romantic and beautiful Greek isles! The lovely people of this tight knit community, the descriptive scenery and the yummy pastries all made me want to make my own holiday trek to this magical place!
Claudia’s journey to have her dream villa doesn’t just bring her a home to call her own, but also sweet friendships with new neighbors and maybe a little romance too! This is a story that pairs well with a gooey treat, a cool drink and your favorite beach chair!
This was a light and easy-going, summery read that whisked me off to the romantic and beautiful Greek isles! The lovely people of this tight knit community, the descriptive scenery and the yummy pastries all made me want to make my own holiday trek to this magical place!
Claudia’s journey to have her dream villa doesn’t just bring her a home to call her own, but also sweet friendships with new neighbors and maybe a little romance too! This is a story that pairs well with a gooey treat, a cool drink and your favorite beach chair!
June 6, 2024
Perfect book for a lazy summer afternoon! Set in Greece it is a story of making your dreams a reality and opening your heart to love. Claudia has always loved Greece and when she inherits some money she takes the leap an buys a villa. The pictures in her head don't match the condition of the villa but with the help of her attractive builder Dimitri she might just have the place of her dreams. Claudia's friends and family round out the book and make the story feel real. This was just what I needed, it left me feeling happy and wanting to buy my own villa.
Thanks to the author, Bookouture, and NetGalley for providing a copy for my honest review.
Thanks to the author, Bookouture, and NetGalley for providing a copy for my honest review.
June 6, 2024
Sue Roberts wrote a book that felt like going on an adventure! When Claudia uses her inheritance to buy a Greek villa, she is met with a few obstacles but does not back down from her dream. The setting of the village in which her villa is set sounded picturesque and the people who she met offered some great dynamics to the story. I also enjoyed her family dynamics and reading about her family supporting each other. The way her relationship with Dimitri also unfolded was sweet to read. I was rooting for them both throughout! Thank you to Bookouture for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinons are my own!
July 1, 2024
I really wanted to like this book, but it just wasn’t for me.
At times the flow just wasn’t there in the story telling and certain aspects felt rushed or undernourished. For example, the romantic relationship needed more fleshing out… more love and attention given to it to make it feel relatable and engaging. The FMC wasn’t for me either, there were many times when I found her to be thoroughly annoying and/or obnoxious and condescending.
Things may be someone else’s perfect book, so I do encourage others to give it a go if the blurb interests you. This is just one opinion, mine.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
At times the flow just wasn’t there in the story telling and certain aspects felt rushed or undernourished. For example, the romantic relationship needed more fleshing out… more love and attention given to it to make it feel relatable and engaging. The FMC wasn’t for me either, there were many times when I found her to be thoroughly annoying and/or obnoxious and condescending.
Things may be someone else’s perfect book, so I do encourage others to give it a go if the blurb interests you. This is just one opinion, mine.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
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