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Beneath the Lemon Trees
Pre-order the breathtaking, new escapist novel from Emma Burstall, perfect for fans of Victoria Hislop, Carol Kirkwood and Karen Swan.
Heartbroken after the loss of a friend and the collapse of her marriage, Stella hopes that this trip to the idyllic Greek island of Crete will give her and her family a chance to heal. And when she first steps into the breath-taking Villa Ariadne, with its views over the azure waters and intoxicating scent of lemons, Stella’s troubles seem to melt away.
Until the arrival of an old acquaintance, and an unwelcome revelation, threaten to undermine the peace at the villa, and Stella is forced to make a difficult decision.
But with the help of Crete’s beautiful scenery and the kindness of its locals, Stella is about to discover that Villa Ariadne can still offer an escape… and so much more. Can she open herself up to the possibility of love and find the strength to start again?
Praise for Emma
'Brilliant' Phillipa Ashley
'A novel to lose yourself in' Faith Hogan
'Step into a world of pure escapism in this gripping tale of family secrets, sibling rivalry and summer romance' Chat Magazine
'A charming, warm-hearted read... Pure escapism' Alice Peterson
'Burstall is a great writer, and this is not your usual run-of-the-mill chick lit... I was gripped from the start' Daily Mail
'Burstall has a true knack for transporting you to her world' Jane Corry
Heartbroken after the loss of a friend and the collapse of her marriage, Stella hopes that this trip to the idyllic Greek island of Crete will give her and her family a chance to heal. And when she first steps into the breath-taking Villa Ariadne, with its views over the azure waters and intoxicating scent of lemons, Stella’s troubles seem to melt away.
Until the arrival of an old acquaintance, and an unwelcome revelation, threaten to undermine the peace at the villa, and Stella is forced to make a difficult decision.
But with the help of Crete’s beautiful scenery and the kindness of its locals, Stella is about to discover that Villa Ariadne can still offer an escape… and so much more. Can she open herself up to the possibility of love and find the strength to start again?
Praise for Emma
'Brilliant' Phillipa Ashley
'A novel to lose yourself in' Faith Hogan
'Step into a world of pure escapism in this gripping tale of family secrets, sibling rivalry and summer romance' Chat Magazine
'A charming, warm-hearted read... Pure escapism' Alice Peterson
'Burstall is a great writer, and this is not your usual run-of-the-mill chick lit... I was gripped from the start' Daily Mail
'Burstall has a true knack for transporting you to her world' Jane Corry
256 pages, Paperback
Published September 6, 2024
About the author
Emma Burstall
15 books153 followersEmma is the author of nine novels including her bestselling Cornish series, Tremarnock. These books in order are - Starting Over In Cornwall, Christmas At The Cornish Guest House, A Summer in Cornwall, A Cornish Secret and The Girl Who Came Home To Cornwall.
Her latest book, The House On Rockaway Beach, came out in September 2022 and she's currently working on the next one.
Emma read English at Cambridge University and began her career as a cub reporter on the Western Morning News in Plymouth, later becoming features editor of Woman and Family Circle.
She loves films and the theatre, yoga, pilates, wild swimming, hiking and spending time with family and friends.
She lives in South West London and has three children and two grandchildren.
Her latest book, The House On Rockaway Beach, came out in September 2022 and she's currently working on the next one.
Emma read English at Cambridge University and began her career as a cub reporter on the Western Morning News in Plymouth, later becoming features editor of Woman and Family Circle.
She loves films and the theatre, yoga, pilates, wild swimming, hiking and spending time with family and friends.
She lives in South West London and has three children and two grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
August 18, 2024
I received a free copy of, Beneath the Lemon Trees, by Emma Burstall, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Stella is hurt and starting to heal from the loss of a dear friend, and the end of her marriage, she decides to take a trip to Greece, Corfu, to reset. I think we all need to get away from our troubles, at some time in our life, why not do it in beautiful Corfu. I liked this book, and seeing Stella start to heal.
August 14, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Before beginning, I will say, I was excited to read this book — thinking it’d be a lovely beach read. Boy was I wrong.
Spoilers Ahead:
Beneath the Lemon Trees revolves around Stella, a recently separated woman who takes a vacation in Crete with her two children (Hector and Lily) and her friend Louise, and her two children.
This vacation comes at a time where Stella is in great need of a get away. She has lost her life long friend to cancer, has been trying to run her catering business, along with upholding a promise she had made to her late friend, Harriet. This promise being that she would look out for her daughter and now widower husband.
Shortly after arriving in Crete (the scene building was lovely) you find Stella speaking to Louise about how she was questioning whether Hector should have joined them due to his attitude. Saying that he has been taking his father’s side in the separation and blaming his mother for what has transpired between them.
Stella makes it seem as though the separation was both her and Al’s (husband’s) fault.
That he too was complicit in the demise of their marriage.
Come to find out later that nope it was all her. She was so focused on upholding the promise to Harriet that she put Jon (widower) and his daughter, Jemima, before her own husband and children.
In a flash back you get insight that Al had noticed how much Stella had been struggling and had asked how he could help her. She simply shuts him down. Snaps at him that he can’t in fact take care of Jon and Jemima for her, he can’t run her catering business, and also do all the shopping and making of dinner for her own family.
He acknowledges that this was true, he could not take off work to care for Jon, however he could pick up groceries and make dinner. The man was TRYING! But she continued to push him away.
Unsurprisingly he had enough and SHE suggested they separate. So he ends up renting an apartment and moving out.
And she wonders why Hector blames her.
While on vacation, Stella invites Jon to join them because she feels so sorry for him being alone. This being done without her consulting Louise. For which Louise is justifiably annoyed.
He arrives and he ends up confessing his long standing love for Stella, love that he claims he has felt for her even while Harriet was alive. Saw that coming. Also what an ass.
Stella is appalled and tells him that she couldn’t possibly begin anything with him out of respect for Harriet and also because she simply didn’t have feelings for him.
All the while she reflects that she must tell him this in a manner that doesn’t upset his fragility. And that no matter what, she would still stick by him because she had made a promise to Harriet. How many times could she have mentioned that darn promise?! *ugh* she’s exasperating.
And you wonder why her actual husband felt neglected.
Other background things happen while in Crete, some things that I find added absolutely nothing to the story - the character of the shop owner and her family.
In the end Stella reconciles with her husband - surprise and they live happily ever after.
Aside from Stella being insufferable and the story itself being anything but an enjoyable beach read - the author jumps from current day to flash backs in such a way that you need to stop, reread the page to decipher what is going on.
The one moment of spice was dreadful and so abrupt that it didn’t feel as though it belonged in the book.
The book seems light and upbeat by the lovely cover, but it is anything but.
Overall was it the worst book I’ve ever read, no. Would I ever recommend it. Absolutely not. Do I wish I had the time back that I spent reading it. You betcha.
Before beginning, I will say, I was excited to read this book — thinking it’d be a lovely beach read. Boy was I wrong.
Spoilers Ahead:
Beneath the Lemon Trees revolves around Stella, a recently separated woman who takes a vacation in Crete with her two children (Hector and Lily) and her friend Louise, and her two children.
This vacation comes at a time where Stella is in great need of a get away. She has lost her life long friend to cancer, has been trying to run her catering business, along with upholding a promise she had made to her late friend, Harriet. This promise being that she would look out for her daughter and now widower husband.
Shortly after arriving in Crete (the scene building was lovely) you find Stella speaking to Louise about how she was questioning whether Hector should have joined them due to his attitude. Saying that he has been taking his father’s side in the separation and blaming his mother for what has transpired between them.
Stella makes it seem as though the separation was both her and Al’s (husband’s) fault.
That he too was complicit in the demise of their marriage.
Come to find out later that nope it was all her. She was so focused on upholding the promise to Harriet that she put Jon (widower) and his daughter, Jemima, before her own husband and children.
In a flash back you get insight that Al had noticed how much Stella had been struggling and had asked how he could help her. She simply shuts him down. Snaps at him that he can’t in fact take care of Jon and Jemima for her, he can’t run her catering business, and also do all the shopping and making of dinner for her own family.
He acknowledges that this was true, he could not take off work to care for Jon, however he could pick up groceries and make dinner. The man was TRYING! But she continued to push him away.
Unsurprisingly he had enough and SHE suggested they separate. So he ends up renting an apartment and moving out.
And she wonders why Hector blames her.
While on vacation, Stella invites Jon to join them because she feels so sorry for him being alone. This being done without her consulting Louise. For which Louise is justifiably annoyed.
He arrives and he ends up confessing his long standing love for Stella, love that he claims he has felt for her even while Harriet was alive. Saw that coming. Also what an ass.
Stella is appalled and tells him that she couldn’t possibly begin anything with him out of respect for Harriet and also because she simply didn’t have feelings for him.
All the while she reflects that she must tell him this in a manner that doesn’t upset his fragility. And that no matter what, she would still stick by him because she had made a promise to Harriet. How many times could she have mentioned that darn promise?! *ugh* she’s exasperating.
And you wonder why her actual husband felt neglected.
Other background things happen while in Crete, some things that I find added absolutely nothing to the story - the character of the shop owner and her family.
In the end Stella reconciles with her husband - surprise and they live happily ever after.
Aside from Stella being insufferable and the story itself being anything but an enjoyable beach read - the author jumps from current day to flash backs in such a way that you need to stop, reread the page to decipher what is going on.
The one moment of spice was dreadful and so abrupt that it didn’t feel as though it belonged in the book.
The book seems light and upbeat by the lovely cover, but it is anything but.
Overall was it the worst book I’ve ever read, no. Would I ever recommend it. Absolutely not. Do I wish I had the time back that I spent reading it. You betcha.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2025
Even een fijne feelgood tussendoor die zich afspeelt op Kreta. Lekker kabbelend verhaal maar niet te, precies de vakantiesfeer die je wilt. Alsof je zelf door een dorpje struint, zo’n ritme heeft dit boek.
We volgen Stella die haar beste vriendin heeft verloren en met vriendin Louise inclusief hun tienerkinderen (ze hebben allebei 2 kinderen) naar een mysterieuze villa gaan. Tikje mysterie, tikje spiritualiteit maar nooit idioot overdreven. Gedoe met mannen want Stella is uit elkaar en de man van haar overleden beste vriend vraagt nogal wat van haar steeds. Ja, was mooi en leuk en hoopvol. Lekker even.
We volgen Stella die haar beste vriendin heeft verloren en met vriendin Louise inclusief hun tienerkinderen (ze hebben allebei 2 kinderen) naar een mysterieuze villa gaan. Tikje mysterie, tikje spiritualiteit maar nooit idioot overdreven. Gedoe met mannen want Stella is uit elkaar en de man van haar overleden beste vriend vraagt nogal wat van haar steeds. Ja, was mooi en leuk en hoopvol. Lekker even.
July 28, 2024
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for this ARC.
This was an escapist novel alright. It painted the vacation house beautifully and if I hadn't wanted to visit Crete before, there's no doubt this book would have convinced me to do so.
Right off the bat, I was intrigued by the "magic" of the villa. The prologue did a great job of setting the mysterious tone that hummed through the entire novel. Unfortunately, except for the revelation about the house's owner, most of the plot just wasn't exciting for me.
Half the time, I was annoyed at Stella's inability to say no. She infuriated me. The rest of the time, I wondered when a certain character (not gonna spoil) would show up. When this character finally showed up, it felt too late because by then I had already decided that this novel was just okay for me.
It's not bad, it just wasn't as good as I thought it'd be based on how the prologue made me feel.
I did like the vivid imagery and how the author painted the culture and the quirky townspeople. But I did find some parts overly described, like, was it really necessary to say that they went to this restaurant and found the food bland? I was wondering if the food review would figure into the plot later on but it didn't, so what was it for???
Overall, I thought the world-building was great, the magical aspect of the novel was good (the grand reveal could've been more exciting), and the romance was meh.
P. S. Early praise for this book said this escapist novel contains family secrets, sibling rivalry, and summer romance. There were lots of family secrets, sure. I don't know if I'd categorize this as a summer romance, but okay. I found sibling rivalry nowhere though. (Not a criticism of the book or author, I just felt compelled to mention that.)
This was an escapist novel alright. It painted the vacation house beautifully and if I hadn't wanted to visit Crete before, there's no doubt this book would have convinced me to do so.
Right off the bat, I was intrigued by the "magic" of the villa. The prologue did a great job of setting the mysterious tone that hummed through the entire novel. Unfortunately, except for the revelation about the house's owner, most of the plot just wasn't exciting for me.
Half the time, I was annoyed at Stella's inability to say no. She infuriated me. The rest of the time, I wondered when a certain character (not gonna spoil) would show up. When this character finally showed up, it felt too late because by then I had already decided that this novel was just okay for me.
It's not bad, it just wasn't as good as I thought it'd be based on how the prologue made me feel.
I did like the vivid imagery and how the author painted the culture and the quirky townspeople. But I did find some parts overly described, like, was it really necessary to say that they went to this restaurant and found the food bland? I was wondering if the food review would figure into the plot later on but it didn't, so what was it for???
Overall, I thought the world-building was great, the magical aspect of the novel was good (the grand reveal could've been more exciting), and the romance was meh.
P. S. Early praise for this book said this escapist novel contains family secrets, sibling rivalry, and summer romance. There were lots of family secrets, sure. I don't know if I'd categorize this as a summer romance, but okay. I found sibling rivalry nowhere though. (Not a criticism of the book or author, I just felt compelled to mention that.)
Did Not Finish
March 21, 2026I just couldn't get into this and it was so slow
March 7, 2026
Sex scene at the end was beyond hilarious and a wee bit cringe, and descriptions of Stella constantly picking scabs until they bled was starting to give undiagnosed disorder, but overall it was an enjoyable beach read. Except in my case, it was winter…
April 20, 2025
Waar gaat het over?
Stella had een pittige periode achter de rug. Het verlies van haar beste vriendin Harriet, die een man en kind achterliet, drukte zwaar op haar. Daarbovenop kwam nog het einde van haar huwelijk, wat het allemaal niet makkelijker maakte. Om even los te komen van alles, besloot ze samen met haar vriendin Louise en hun beider kinderen op vakantie te gaan.
Online vond Stella een charmant vakantiehuisje op Kreta: Villa Ariadne. Ze diende een verzoek in om het te huren, en de verhuurster, Katerina, voelde intuïtief aan dat deze vakantie precies was wat het gezin nodig had. De boeking werd bevestigd, en niet veel later genoten ze van het prachtige Kreta, de rust van de omgeving en de kleine uitstapjes die ze maakten.
Toch kon Stella zich moeilijk volledig ontspannen. Het verdriet om Harriet zat diep. Ze voelde een sterke verantwoordelijkheid voor de nabestaanden van haar vriendin, vooral voor Jon, Harriet’s partner. Zijn constante telefoontjes en het delen van zijn verdriet drukten zwaar op haar. Stella had altijd de neiging om anderen te helpen en te ondersteunen, zelfs als dat ten koste ging van haar eigen welzijn – simpelweg omdat ze niemand wilde kwetsen.
Uiteindelijk besloot ze, zonder overleg met Louise, om Jon uit te nodigen om ook naar Kreta te komen. Toen hij eenmaal arriveerde, veranderde de sfeer meteen. De vakantie waar Stella zo op gehoopt had, werd iets heel anders dan ze zich had voorgesteld.
Mijn mening
Dit was mijn eerste kennismaking met Emma Burstall en wat een fijne verrassing! Haar warme schrijfstijl trok me meteen het verhaal in en liet me wegdromen naar het sfeervolle Kreta. Alles werd zó beeldend beschreven dat ik het echt voor me zag.
De personages kwamen tot leven en door de diepere thema’s als verlies, relaties en zelfontdekking raakte het me op meerdere vlakken.
Een mooie, pure roman die me bij zal blijven en wat zeker niet mijn laatste boek van deze auteur zal zijn.
Stella had een pittige periode achter de rug. Het verlies van haar beste vriendin Harriet, die een man en kind achterliet, drukte zwaar op haar. Daarbovenop kwam nog het einde van haar huwelijk, wat het allemaal niet makkelijker maakte. Om even los te komen van alles, besloot ze samen met haar vriendin Louise en hun beider kinderen op vakantie te gaan.
Online vond Stella een charmant vakantiehuisje op Kreta: Villa Ariadne. Ze diende een verzoek in om het te huren, en de verhuurster, Katerina, voelde intuïtief aan dat deze vakantie precies was wat het gezin nodig had. De boeking werd bevestigd, en niet veel later genoten ze van het prachtige Kreta, de rust van de omgeving en de kleine uitstapjes die ze maakten.
Toch kon Stella zich moeilijk volledig ontspannen. Het verdriet om Harriet zat diep. Ze voelde een sterke verantwoordelijkheid voor de nabestaanden van haar vriendin, vooral voor Jon, Harriet’s partner. Zijn constante telefoontjes en het delen van zijn verdriet drukten zwaar op haar. Stella had altijd de neiging om anderen te helpen en te ondersteunen, zelfs als dat ten koste ging van haar eigen welzijn – simpelweg omdat ze niemand wilde kwetsen.
Uiteindelijk besloot ze, zonder overleg met Louise, om Jon uit te nodigen om ook naar Kreta te komen. Toen hij eenmaal arriveerde, veranderde de sfeer meteen. De vakantie waar Stella zo op gehoopt had, werd iets heel anders dan ze zich had voorgesteld.
Mijn mening
Dit was mijn eerste kennismaking met Emma Burstall en wat een fijne verrassing! Haar warme schrijfstijl trok me meteen het verhaal in en liet me wegdromen naar het sfeervolle Kreta. Alles werd zó beeldend beschreven dat ik het echt voor me zag.
De personages kwamen tot leven en door de diepere thema’s als verlies, relaties en zelfontdekking raakte het me op meerdere vlakken.
Een mooie, pure roman die me bij zal blijven en wat zeker niet mijn laatste boek van deze auteur zal zijn.
September 2, 2024
Set in Crete, a place I love and with such a beautiful cover, how could I resist ' Beneath the Lemon Trees'. Breaking my own strict rule of never judging a book by its cover, it serves me right that I was a little disappointed. The novel was not the laid back summer romance that I expected.
Stella and her friend Louise plus their respective teenage children have rented a villa in Crete to give them a much needed break. The holiday did not turn out to be the relaxing one they had expected as there was so much tension between everyone. Unsurprisingly really as Stella, rather an unlikeable person actually, had definitely been asking for trouble with her attitude towards her family.
Transport yourself to Crete with this story of love and loss. It is perfect escapism if you are looking for an easy read full of descriptive paragraphs about beautiful scenery and delicious food.
With thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review 'Beneath the Lemon Trees'
https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...
Stella and her friend Louise plus their respective teenage children have rented a villa in Crete to give them a much needed break. The holiday did not turn out to be the relaxing one they had expected as there was so much tension between everyone. Unsurprisingly really as Stella, rather an unlikeable person actually, had definitely been asking for trouble with her attitude towards her family.
Transport yourself to Crete with this story of love and loss. It is perfect escapism if you are looking for an easy read full of descriptive paragraphs about beautiful scenery and delicious food.
With thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review 'Beneath the Lemon Trees'
https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...
July 29, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. *spoilers below*
A woman travelling to a beautiful Greek island to escape the troubles of her life and try to heal the pain from her past? Does this not give major "Mamma Mia" vibes? I'll be honest, that is what caught my initial attention. Based off of the description, I expected self-discovery, romance, and family healing to be in the book, and it was delivered, maybe just not in the way I anticipated.
Things I enjoyed:
-The author did a fantastic job with vivid imagery. I felt as though I was on that island with the characters and I could picture the villa beautifully.
-I loved the magical element that the prologue gave the book, but I'm disappointed I didn't get more of that throughout the rest of the story. Nevertheless, because of the prologue, I was hooked from the beginning because I wanted to see what happened next.
-Louise. That's all. She was just so real. I feel like her actions and feelings towards Stella were justified, but I also love how she stood up for her family and friends.
-A main thing that I crave in books is character development, and I felt that I did get that with Stella, so I appreciated that.
Constructive criticism:
-Some of the flashbacks about Harriet could have been better introduced. I feel like if I knew more about Harriet before I learned about her death, the flashbacks would have been more impactful.
-The descriptions of the food were a little too detailed. I know it's probably because Stella was in the catering business but it just didn't interest me to know every single spice and herb in every single dish.
-Stella! Ugh, she was so annoying! She was whiny, made horrible decisions that lead her husband and children to resent her, and she kept interrupting people when they spoke. I feel like she thought she was entitled to whatever behaviour because she was mourning, but you don't just abandon your family when times are hard.
-THE LOVE SCENE AT THE END. Literally ew what was that. It was so unnecessary and I will be completely honest, I've never cringed that hard in my life.
-Lastly Jon. He was the biggest red flag. Falling in love with your wife's best friend? Even if he didn't act on anything while Harriet was still alive that has to be emotional cheating.
In general, it was a fairly light and easy read, but overall it was just a 'meh' book, which I rate as 2.5 stars (rounded up to 3).
A woman travelling to a beautiful Greek island to escape the troubles of her life and try to heal the pain from her past? Does this not give major "Mamma Mia" vibes? I'll be honest, that is what caught my initial attention. Based off of the description, I expected self-discovery, romance, and family healing to be in the book, and it was delivered, maybe just not in the way I anticipated.
Things I enjoyed:
-The author did a fantastic job with vivid imagery. I felt as though I was on that island with the characters and I could picture the villa beautifully.
-I loved the magical element that the prologue gave the book, but I'm disappointed I didn't get more of that throughout the rest of the story. Nevertheless, because of the prologue, I was hooked from the beginning because I wanted to see what happened next.
-Louise. That's all. She was just so real. I feel like her actions and feelings towards Stella were justified, but I also love how she stood up for her family and friends.
-A main thing that I crave in books is character development, and I felt that I did get that with Stella, so I appreciated that.
Constructive criticism:
-Some of the flashbacks about Harriet could have been better introduced. I feel like if I knew more about Harriet before I learned about her death, the flashbacks would have been more impactful.
-The descriptions of the food were a little too detailed. I know it's probably because Stella was in the catering business but it just didn't interest me to know every single spice and herb in every single dish.
-Stella! Ugh, she was so annoying! She was whiny, made horrible decisions that lead her husband and children to resent her, and she kept interrupting people when they spoke. I feel like she thought she was entitled to whatever behaviour because she was mourning, but you don't just abandon your family when times are hard.
-THE LOVE SCENE AT THE END. Literally ew what was that. It was so unnecessary and I will be completely honest, I've never cringed that hard in my life.
-Lastly Jon. He was the biggest red flag. Falling in love with your wife's best friend? Even if he didn't act on anything while Harriet was still alive that has to be emotional cheating.
In general, it was a fairly light and easy read, but overall it was just a 'meh' book, which I rate as 2.5 stars (rounded up to 3).
October 21, 2024
A beautiful escapist novel. Stella retreats to Crete with her children and friends to Villa Ariadne, which promises to a healing experience. After the loss of her best friend, Stella has been consumed by grief, and it has led to a separation from her husband. She is reeling from both losses and hopes that the island will help her begin he recovery. Beneath the heady scent of the lemon trees and basking in the salty azure waters, dining on local cuisine , sampling the local shops, and getting to know the local area and its people does have its own power. The holiday isn't without its difficulties, and to begin healing, you have to face the pain head on first. The support of friends and family and new-found friends stands out in this book alongside the healing power of nature. #beneaththelemontrees #emmaburstall #netgalley
August 13, 2025
I really really loved this book, im sad reading a lot of the negative reviews for this book, I really enjoyed the characters (yes they were annoying at times) but that was the fun of it and what hooked me, I wanted to see them resolve their problems and get character development and they did, that’s what a good story is. I loved the story and the ending and I read it in 4 hours in just 1 sitting!! I personally recommend it but don’t expect it to be super happy at first, but I love that kind of story!!
April 27, 2025
Dit is echt een leuk boek waar je je kan onderdompelen in de mooie landschappen en kan genieten van het heerlijke eten van Kreta.
Ik had constant zin in vakantie en Grieks eten als ik in mijn boek verzonken was. Het gaf me ook echt al een vakantiegevoel.
Er komen ook wel heftige onderwerpen aan te pas ondanks het een luchtig en vlot geschreven verhaal is.
Ik ben fan! ☺️
Ik had constant zin in vakantie en Grieks eten als ik in mijn boek verzonken was. Het gaf me ook echt al een vakantiegevoel.
Er komen ook wel heftige onderwerpen aan te pas ondanks het een luchtig en vlot geschreven verhaal is.
Ik ben fan! ☺️
August 4, 2026
Mind ostis ära selle raamatu kaanepilt, mis tekitas mõnusa suvetunde, seda sealt ka sain. Naistekas täis draamat, pettumusi ja armumisi. Lihtne lugemine, aga lihtne pole alati paha, seega ei näe põhjust madalamat hinnangut anda.
August 2, 2024
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I am very much a mood reader and the cover of this book gave me such high hopes but I have to say it fell pretty short of what it could have been. For starters, the main character is just unlikable and even trying to be empathetic I still didn’t feel like she did enough to fully redeem herself in the end. The overall story line was good although a bit predictable. The book was supposed to be about the magic of the villa and how it is special for the guests it chooses, but I don’t feel that was really talked about much at all. I will say the author did a wonderful job with the side characters, the descriptions of Crete, and the descriptions of the Greek food/culture. I wish the characters and storyline would have gotten as much effort. Finally, while this was a romance and I have absolutely no issue with open door/explicit scenes, the single one in this book really seemed forced and out of place and a closed door implied scene would have really been a better fit. I still enjoyed the book overall and it was a very easy read so if a story set on a small Greek island interests you I’d say give it a
June 19, 2025
Even lekker boek tussendoor. Beetje hoog drama gehalte. Vooral lekker dat het op Kreta afspeelde en dat soms heerlijk gedetailleerd wordt beschreven, waardoor ie jezelf daar ook even waant.
July 2, 2025
Not the most exciting book but pleasant enough & set on the island of Crete. Light & easy to read.
August 16, 2025
*audioboom*
Under the Lemon Trees by Emma Burstall is a nice feel-good book, perfect to listen to while doing household chores. Not a standout, but definitely not bad either. Just an enjoyable, light listen. Nothing more, nothing less.
Under the Lemon Trees by Emma Burstall is a nice feel-good book, perfect to listen to while doing household chores. Not a standout, but definitely not bad either. Just an enjoyable, light listen. Nothing more, nothing less.
March 14, 2026
When I started reading this it felt as if I’d read it before, then I realised I’d read the other one in the series first - beside the turquoise sea. Great descriptions, love Crete .
June 30, 2026
A great read about how sometimes even the best of friends and family members should communicate just that little bit more
June 29, 2026
mitte midagi nagu ei juhtunud, aga tohutu draama oli kogu aeg.
(audioraamat)
(audioraamat)
May 2, 2026
Mening voor nu. Leest niet lekker. Ik ga kijken of ik deze nog ga oppakken na een tijdje
July 31, 2024
I was given this ARC early in exchange for a honest review courtesy of NetGalley.
This book was definitely an escape on vacation vibe and I really enjoyed the descriptions of the scenery and culture. I also really enjoyed all the characters from the village, they really brought some light to the story. I thought to prologue in the beginning really intrigued me. However, the plot was honestly kinda all over the place and I couldn’t stand the main character, Stella. She was so annoyingly fragile and weak and didn’t know how to say no but still somehow managed to hurt all the people around her. I wish there would’ve been more exploration on the “magic” of the villa, I think it would’ve made this story so much more interesting. Also the random sex scene at the end was kinda not necessary. Overall this book was just okay. I think there could’ve been so much more done with it.
This book was definitely an escape on vacation vibe and I really enjoyed the descriptions of the scenery and culture. I also really enjoyed all the characters from the village, they really brought some light to the story. I thought to prologue in the beginning really intrigued me. However, the plot was honestly kinda all over the place and I couldn’t stand the main character, Stella. She was so annoyingly fragile and weak and didn’t know how to say no but still somehow managed to hurt all the people around her. I wish there would’ve been more exploration on the “magic” of the villa, I think it would’ve made this story so much more interesting. Also the random sex scene at the end was kinda not necessary. Overall this book was just okay. I think there could’ve been so much more done with it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2026
A good winter read
August 19, 2024
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
I expected a happy uplifting story set on the beautiful island of Crete and instead I got the story of grief, angst, selfishness, suicide and a little bit about Crete.
Stella, the heroine is a self absorbed and selfish woman who created the breakdown in her own marriage and had expected everybody to believe that somehow her husband Was to blame. Suddenly I found the heroine Stella a totally boring and self sacrificing martyr. Yes of course I could understand her grief over the death of her best friend but the way in which she then took over responsibility for the best friend’s husband and daughter to the extent that she was prepared to sacrifice her own children and husband was totally unappealing.
When her husband turns up because he’s so concerned about her we realise that he’s not a bad guy after all.
I have to say, the one and only sex scene was cringeworthy. I love a well written sex scene which gives us some character development and is emotionally satisfying. This was not one of those sex scenes. There was so much about this book that could have been good but the main female character was so unattractive that I couldn’t engage. Sorry this was not my cup of tea.
I expected a happy uplifting story set on the beautiful island of Crete and instead I got the story of grief, angst, selfishness, suicide and a little bit about Crete.
Stella, the heroine is a self absorbed and selfish woman who created the breakdown in her own marriage and had expected everybody to believe that somehow her husband Was to blame. Suddenly I found the heroine Stella a totally boring and self sacrificing martyr. Yes of course I could understand her grief over the death of her best friend but the way in which she then took over responsibility for the best friend’s husband and daughter to the extent that she was prepared to sacrifice her own children and husband was totally unappealing.
When her husband turns up because he’s so concerned about her we realise that he’s not a bad guy after all.
I have to say, the one and only sex scene was cringeworthy. I love a well written sex scene which gives us some character development and is emotionally satisfying. This was not one of those sex scenes. There was so much about this book that could have been good but the main female character was so unattractive that I couldn’t engage. Sorry this was not my cup of tea.
July 11, 2026
This is a light reading that doesn’t feel too obligating, which is a perfect read to take on a relaxing and lazy vacation. With the beautiful illustration and colours of the cover, this would make a book that people may pick up at the airport or a bookshop at a tourist spot.
Beneath the Lemon Tree tells the story of Stella who tried to escape to a Greek island, Crete with her best friend, Louise and their children after the death of her childhood and the separation from her husband. The lemon tree was briefly mentioned but I guess was not the centre of the plot?
Her elaborative writing was a struggle to keep me to focus, and took a while for me to get used to. But I guess that is her style, it could make your mind wandering, or it could make you feel like you were in the scene.
Beneath the Lemon Tree tells the story of Stella who tried to escape to a Greek island, Crete with her best friend, Louise and their children after the death of her childhood and the separation from her husband. The lemon tree was briefly mentioned but I guess was not the centre of the plot?
Her elaborative writing was a struggle to keep me to focus, and took a while for me to get used to. But I guess that is her style, it could make your mind wandering, or it could make you feel like you were in the scene.
May 3, 2025
uplifting?
I have been reading a lot of this genre of book lately, just as a nice escape so I’m starting this review with the fact that I don’t have high expectations. I know what I’m getting. It’s gonna be some woman who probably has some kind of self-esteem issues going to a foreign country for some reason. There’s miscommunication and eventually some kind of love interest that comes together at the end. Maybe a sex scene or two. This book was full of depressing and annoying characters, some really bizarre almost metaphysical element that didn’t really make sense at all with the rest of the book, and possibly the most awkward sex scene I’ve ever read that came out of absolutely nowhere and was oddly graphic and honestly made me laugh. It was so bad. I definitely don’t recommend this book and I will never read another one from this author.
I have been reading a lot of this genre of book lately, just as a nice escape so I’m starting this review with the fact that I don’t have high expectations. I know what I’m getting. It’s gonna be some woman who probably has some kind of self-esteem issues going to a foreign country for some reason. There’s miscommunication and eventually some kind of love interest that comes together at the end. Maybe a sex scene or two. This book was full of depressing and annoying characters, some really bizarre almost metaphysical element that didn’t really make sense at all with the rest of the book, and possibly the most awkward sex scene I’ve ever read that came out of absolutely nowhere and was oddly graphic and honestly made me laugh. It was so bad. I definitely don’t recommend this book and I will never read another one from this author.
September 10, 2024
Highly troubling and absolutely frustrating, Beneath the Lemon Trees by Emma Burstall is about a woman who is on vacation with her friend and their respective children but stirs trouble when she invites someone unwanted.
Summary: Stella Johnson books a vacation in Crete, Greece, for herself, her close friend Louise and their four children in total. Without consulting them, she invites Jon, the husband of her best friend who recently passed away from cancer, to join their vacation, which raises a lot of ire.
Tropes/Genres:
• family drama
• island setting
• mentions of cancer
• contemporary fiction
• set in Crete, Greece
Review: What does this book have to do with lemon trees? Regardless, there are so many reasons to dislike this book. It's filled with problems. For starters, the main character was very unreasonable and difficult to like. The minor characters in this story probably saved the rating a little.
Stella was such a frustrating character. I don't even understand how anyone can be this unreasonable. Okay, it's fine that she's unlikeable at the start of the book, right? She could have character development. In my opinion, her main problems weren't properly addressed. Every time someone tries to call her out for her actions, she gets defensive and then delivers low blows. And she knows they were low blows. I guess it's okay for her to be an asshole just because she was kind enough to help her dead best friend's husband even if it meant that she neglected her family in the process! Wow!
Louise is the real deal. I didn't like how rude she was to Marina at first even though I kind of get why she reacted that way, but I grew to like her a lot. She delivers the truth right at your face. She called out Stella for what she did wrong, such as inviting Jon without consulting anyone – NOBODY wanted Jon to crash their vacation, but Stella invited him despite knowing that just for the sake of Harriet – and neglecting her family to assist Harriet and her family. She's truly the real deal. She's awesome. She's not even unreasonable. She made so many good points. Even if she may have any form of negative bias against Harriet, it doesn't cloud her rational judgement, and it sucks to see Stella discredit her opinion just because she herself couldn't accept the truth.
Jon is terrible. I don't even understand why he practically got away with everything he did, including sexually harassing Stella. I don't like Stella, but nobody deserves to be harassed by a guy and guilt-tripped for rejecting him, especially not when said guy is your dead best friend's husband. I cannot do this. He's too awful, and he got away with everything he did way too easily. Next.
Al is such a sweetheart, and it is evident even though he barely appears in this book. It really pained me to see him constantly get demonised by Stella when she was the one who was neglecting him and their family in the name of helping her dying best friend Harriet. Harriet, Harriet and Harriet. She's always talking about Harriet. I'm not even surprised everyone got so jaded about everything revolving around Harriet because it was really excessive. I honestly don't think Stella deserves Al at all, but I guess it's not really my place to tell people what to do.
This brings me to my main issue: the fact that she neglected her family and prioritised her dead best friend's family over her own wasn't addressed. I don't give a crap if you're such a nice person. It's good to help others, but kindly don't do it at the cost of your own family. And she did cause a lot of issues and instability for her family. But even while she realised what she had done, it was excused. She wasn't sorry for what she did. She was sorry about what she lost. There's a difference. You can help your dying best friend and still be present for your family. She chose to act all entitled, make it all about Harriet and neglect her own family. But I guess it's okay because she had good intentions. I don't know if you know this, but you can be kind and still have a lot of issues.
All that family drama aside, the author seemed to try to talk about the magic of the villa and how it was special for the guest it chose. The prologue was truly intriguing. However, this aspect of the story fell short. It was barely talked about because the bulk of the book was about Stella and how unreasonable she was, refusing to see that her actions had hurt the people around her. Oh, and she's only sorry about the consequences, not the fact that she caused it single-handedly. The irritating drama about Stella and Jon, which could've been so easily solved, heavily overshadowed everything else in the story.
I don't have any issues with sex scenes in fiction, but the one in this story was so out of place and unnecessary.
The description of the setting was nice, though. It was nice to have multiple breaks from all that trouble about Stella and Jon when they visited Porto Liakáda. April and her son Dimitrios, also known as Meaty, aren't that funny, but I guess they can still be considered comedic relief.
Overall, I think that this book can still be enjoyed by people, but it's so easy to dislike so many characters in this book. The main character herself was filled with problems that were never properly addressed. If you like books with family drama, though, you can try this.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the read.
Summary: Stella Johnson books a vacation in Crete, Greece, for herself, her close friend Louise and their four children in total. Without consulting them, she invites Jon, the husband of her best friend who recently passed away from cancer, to join their vacation, which raises a lot of ire.
Tropes/Genres:
• family drama
• island setting
• mentions of cancer
• contemporary fiction
• set in Crete, Greece
Review: What does this book have to do with lemon trees? Regardless, there are so many reasons to dislike this book. It's filled with problems. For starters, the main character was very unreasonable and difficult to like. The minor characters in this story probably saved the rating a little.
Stella was such a frustrating character. I don't even understand how anyone can be this unreasonable. Okay, it's fine that she's unlikeable at the start of the book, right? She could have character development. In my opinion, her main problems weren't properly addressed. Every time someone tries to call her out for her actions, she gets defensive and then delivers low blows. And she knows they were low blows. I guess it's okay for her to be an asshole just because she was kind enough to help her dead best friend's husband even if it meant that she neglected her family in the process! Wow!
Louise is the real deal. I didn't like how rude she was to Marina at first even though I kind of get why she reacted that way, but I grew to like her a lot. She delivers the truth right at your face. She called out Stella for what she did wrong, such as inviting Jon without consulting anyone – NOBODY wanted Jon to crash their vacation, but Stella invited him despite knowing that just for the sake of Harriet – and neglecting her family to assist Harriet and her family. She's truly the real deal. She's awesome. She's not even unreasonable. She made so many good points. Even if she may have any form of negative bias against Harriet, it doesn't cloud her rational judgement, and it sucks to see Stella discredit her opinion just because she herself couldn't accept the truth.
Jon is terrible. I don't even understand why he practically got away with everything he did, including sexually harassing Stella. I don't like Stella, but nobody deserves to be harassed by a guy and guilt-tripped for rejecting him, especially not when said guy is your dead best friend's husband. I cannot do this. He's too awful, and he got away with everything he did way too easily. Next.
Al is such a sweetheart, and it is evident even though he barely appears in this book. It really pained me to see him constantly get demonised by Stella when she was the one who was neglecting him and their family in the name of helping her dying best friend Harriet. Harriet, Harriet and Harriet. She's always talking about Harriet. I'm not even surprised everyone got so jaded about everything revolving around Harriet because it was really excessive. I honestly don't think Stella deserves Al at all, but I guess it's not really my place to tell people what to do.
This brings me to my main issue: the fact that she neglected her family and prioritised her dead best friend's family over her own wasn't addressed. I don't give a crap if you're such a nice person. It's good to help others, but kindly don't do it at the cost of your own family. And she did cause a lot of issues and instability for her family. But even while she realised what she had done, it was excused. She wasn't sorry for what she did. She was sorry about what she lost. There's a difference. You can help your dying best friend and still be present for your family. She chose to act all entitled, make it all about Harriet and neglect her own family. But I guess it's okay because she had good intentions. I don't know if you know this, but you can be kind and still have a lot of issues.
All that family drama aside, the author seemed to try to talk about the magic of the villa and how it was special for the guest it chose. The prologue was truly intriguing. However, this aspect of the story fell short. It was barely talked about because the bulk of the book was about Stella and how unreasonable she was, refusing to see that her actions had hurt the people around her. Oh, and she's only sorry about the consequences, not the fact that she caused it single-handedly. The irritating drama about Stella and Jon, which could've been so easily solved, heavily overshadowed everything else in the story.
I don't have any issues with sex scenes in fiction, but the one in this story was so out of place and unnecessary.
The description of the setting was nice, though. It was nice to have multiple breaks from all that trouble about Stella and Jon when they visited Porto Liakáda. April and her son Dimitrios, also known as Meaty, aren't that funny, but I guess they can still be considered comedic relief.
Overall, I think that this book can still be enjoyed by people, but it's so easy to dislike so many characters in this book. The main character herself was filled with problems that were never properly addressed. If you like books with family drama, though, you can try this.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the read.
August 30, 2024
This book was filled with glorious descriptions, tackled difficult emotions and situations and had a whole realm of quirky, funny characters including a magical villa that chooses its own guests according to need. Fabulous.
August 2, 2025
The less I say about this, the better...
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