Under the Lemon Tree

by Emma Cowell

Can one Greek summer heal the secrets of the past? Could discovering a family secret encourage Kat to follow her heart?

Shattered by the sudden loss of her twin, Nik, Kat is lost in grief. The comfort of family feels both soothing and suffocating, but everything changes when she inherits a house on the breathtaking Greek island of Agistri from a mysterious uncle she’s never met.

Arriving on Agistri, Kat is mesmerized by its crystalline waters, lush pine forests, and the citrus-scented air. Among the white-washed houses and warm, welcoming locals, she begins to feel her heart heal. The island offers more than solace, sparking courage in Kat to face her loss — and maybe even embrace the spark of unexpected love…

But as she unearths her family’s buried past, Kat must also confront her own fears of belonging, forgiveness — and the possibility of rediscovering happiness in the shadow of heartbreak…

This soul-stirring novel from Emma Cowell, perfect for fans of Victoria Hislop, Carol Kirkwood and Karen Swan, offers an unforgettable journey of healing, heritage, and the hope that blooms under the Grecian sun.

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PRAISE FOR UNDER THE LEMON TREE

‘Emma Cowell is a masterful storyteller of sun-drenched, heartfelt, glorious stories. In Under the Lemon Tree, you will bask in the Grecian sun in a novel of pure escape. Kat navigates the path of grief and as she heals, secrets are revealed that will change the course of her life. Delicious. Luscious. The perfect summer read!’ – Adriana Trigiani

'Move over Victoria Hislop, Under the Lemon Tree seals Emma Cowell’s place as mistress of the Greek romantic novel. This book has all the elements for a bestselling summer romance.' – Eva Glyn

'Beautiful, emotional and uplifting escapism with an exquisitely vivid Greek island setting. Utter bliss.' – Alex Brown



‘I was engrossed, hanging on to every word, and so impressed by Under the Lemon Tree that I will be recommending it to all my friends.’ – Patricia Wilson

'A life-affirming and captivating story. A delightful read.’ – Kate Frost

'A compelling journey of healing and family secrets. It evokes Greece through Cowell’s beautiful descriptions of food and family life.’ – Francesca Catlow

'Beautiful, emotional and uplifting escapism with an exquisitely vivid Greek island setting. Utter bliss.' – Alex Brown

‘Under the Lemon Tree is one of those novels that stayed with me long after I finished reading the last page… A beautiful uplifting love story, full of secrets, emotion and hope, set against the backdrop of a gorgeous Greek island.

Genres: Contemporary, Fiction

371 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 8, 2025

Reviews

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guarantee you’ll want to hop on a ferry to Agistri and order a slice of Lemonopita, or at the very least, plan on Greek food for dinner!

I can always count on Emma Cowell to give me an emotional narrative rich with authentic Greek island life. This time she transported me to a scenic island near Athens and showed me that “life is really a beautiful collision of circumstances that none of us are able to predict. Who we love, where we go, who we meet” …. they’re all ingredients that randomly combine over time to make us who we are.

You’ll have plenty to ponder, especially if you’ve been reading recent news headlines. Perhaps we aren’t as tolerant of anything ‘different’ as we thought we were. Maybe this is our reminder that everyone needs and is deserving of love and respect.

I was wrapped up in a story highlighting characters who:
💙felt a need to right a past wrong
💙challenged the definition of ‘home’
💙were flawed and relied on second chances
💙learned the freedom in forgiving
💙discovered that love comes when we least expect it

My takeaway: Grief is “love that is missing its target.”

I was gifted this copy by Avon Books UK and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is rated highly so I was incredibly disappointed to find it BOOOORING, cliched, cringe and far-fetched

[Claire Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It shouldn’t take an inherited house on an Greek Island to change your life around. But if the situation arises you wouldn’t turn it down, would you?

Kat’s deep in grief. She’s irritated by her family and friends trying to take over her life. She’s feeling lost. She knows secrets are being kept from her. But she’s not sure how to start making changes.

In all honesty, the story started a little slowly for me. However, it didn’t take long before I was hooked. I had to know what Kat was going to do or say next and I was desperate for her to figure everything out.

It was a really emotional story, but it was also a heart-warming one of family drama, friendship, personal growth, romance and much more!

This is the perfect summer book for anyone who loves a family drama with a little bit of romance, especially if you like travel stories too.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Under the Lemon Tree is another gorgeous read by the very lovely Emma Cowell. I have loved every one of her books and, as always, this one is so beautifully written you can’t help but love the perfectly imperfect characters and fall in love with Greece all over again.
When we first meet Kat, she hasn’t long lost her twin brother, Nik. I can’t even begin to imagine that kind of devastating loss. My heart went out to her and her parents.
When she discovers she has inherited a house, on a Greek island, from an uncle she had never met she is naturally shocked and intrigued. As was I!
I loved following Kat on her journey to Agistri. It sounds like such a beautiful place. I could totally envisage her renovations of her new home and could quite happily live there myself.
I was not prepared for the secrets she discovers about her uncle, her brother, and her mother. Kat’s pain was almost palpable, and my heart ached for her at times throughout this story.
This is such a rollercoaster of an emotional read, set in a stunning location. A heart-warming tale of family dynamics, love, grief, friendship, personal growth, ambition, hope, achievement, romance, true love, and delicious Greek food. I was completely captivated!

** Many thanks to the author and publisher for my review copy via NetGalley **

https://chataboutbooks.blog/2025/04/0...

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story has an amazing setting and I felt I was on the island with the characters, feeling the heat of the sun and the coolness of the water as I went on the journey with Kaz. It’s a story of heartbreak, family secrets, hope, strength and the chance of love. An uplifting story that will stay with me. An ideal summer read.

[Lynne Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Skim read to the end of this. The family secret? Frankly boring. A waste of a read 😡

[Lisa (Two Bookish Brits) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Avon Books UK and the author for the proof copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am so emotional right now…this book hit me so hard. I was left with tears in my eyes multiple times and an ache in my chest.

There’s an 11 month gap between me and my sister and I literally do not know what I would do without her…I can’t even imagine what it would be like to lose a twin..someone you shared a womb with…oh it broke my heart.

Kat is overcome with grief, having lost her twin in a car crash. Fast forward a few months and there’s more grief landed on her shoulders. With this unexpected event Kat finds herself travelling to Greece and bathing in its beauty. She hopes to find herself again by doing what she loves, writing and decorating.

Andreas is going back to his beautiful home after travelling a while. He can’t wait to feel the warmth of the sun on his skin and the breeze in his face and to be able to relax. Whilst at the airport he’s sprayed with fizzy liquid and frustrated by the madding woman who did it, unbeknownst to him this same woman ends up being his new neighbour.

The back and forth between these two had me laughing. the tension from the first meet to their banter it was so much fun.

Watching Kat relax a little was beautiful, her heart is so full of pain, heartache and seeing her laugh had me smiling. Finding connections to her deceased brother had my heart happy, feeling closer to him and smiling when thinking about him instead of the complete and utter despair she feels and the never ending tears that always follow.

Emma Cowell brought us a truly touching book about grief and finding ways to deal with it and overcome it. It’s heartbreaking, it’s beautiful and was utterly unputdownable.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you to Avon Books UK for allowing me access to this ARC.

Having read the blurb, I was initially intrigued but hesitant. I'm very much a mood reader, and I was worried the grief aspect would be too much for me at the time I read it.
However, I was pleasantly surprised and swept away with this beautiful story.

Kat has just turned 37, is in the process of (amicably) divorcing her husband of 15 years, and, most importantly, grieving the loss of her twin brother Nik.
When her estranged (& secret) uncle passes away leaving her his house in Greece, it seems the perfect time to escape normal life and discover her Greek roots. The plan: renovate and rebuild the house, and herself.

I think this is the perfect summer read! Set on the beautiful island of Agístri, it had me wanting to hop on a plane and have my own Greek adventure!
The story had such depth. Kat's struggles with her family secrets, their controlling nature, and of course at the heart of it, her grief.
Alongside this though was a love story that added such brightness to Kat's story. It fills you with hope and had me smiling for her by the end.
One of my favourite parts of the story though was her family. I adored the dynamics of her Orthodox Greek parents and her dad had me smiling everytime he appeared on the page!
And, of course we can't forget the formidable housekeeper, Mrs. Rálli was a fantastic character!

This was a heartwarming & uplifting story and one I'll be recommending you all for your beach reads!

[Mer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ma yne ormod o lyfrau am lemons a dwinne yn lemon. Camgymeriad oedd ei brynu deud gwir. Mynd am 99c ar y kindle ag yn fy mhen meddwl mai “As long as the lemon trees grow” o’n i’n brynu!
Ta waeth, joies i o prun bynnag. 😂

[Shannon Booth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice easy holiday read. A story about navigating grief, reconnecting with yourself, and taking charge of your life, all wrapped up with a bit of romance. I won’t be rushing back to reread this book, but I’ve certainly taken away a few pearls of wisdom.

[Shirley King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this. Good holiday read.

[Svetlana Boukhny · Rating 1 out of 5]

Predictable, banal, boring.

[Valerie McGurk · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Kat inherits a house from her uncle on the Greek island of Agistri everything changes. Falling in love with her surroundings gives Kat the encouragement to face the recent loss of her twin and while renovating the house she discovers a family secret that rocks her world. As she confronts her own fears she finds peace and happiness.

An adorable read that I couldn’t put down.

[Sheri · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a decent read but didn't have the substance i was looking for.

[Julie Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful romantic fiction story that transports the reader to the beautiful Greek island of Agistri.
Idyllic blue skies and gorgeous golden sandy beaches await Kat as she returns to the island with hopes of healing her broken heart. Kats twin brother Nik died in her arms after they were involved in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. Kat is still devastated but hopes that renovating her late uncles house will help with her grieving.
Andreas a mysterious man she meets ignites a romantic spark and as they are neighbours Kat discovers secrets. Not only does Kat find her heritage but lies are uncovered leaving her to work out if she can forgive the past and move on to a new life.
My thanks to Net Galley and publishers Avon Harper Collins for the arc of this thoroughly enjoyable summer read

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

✨2 stars✨

Firstly, although this is a negative review, I mean no hate towards the author and I could see why others would definitely enjoy this book. However, this book just didn't work for me.

I am honestly so disappointed with what this rating ended up being because in the beginning, I was thoroughly enjoying the story. The reasoning behind our protagonist Kat's actions and why she wanted to go to Greece was understandable and I could really emphasise with Kat's grief over the loss of her twin brother Nik. It wasn't until Chapter 25 that the characters (mainly Kat's friends and family) really began to irk me so much that I just couldn't look past it. Now it's not even like something big happens in this chapter, its only then that I began to be aware of how her friends and family treated Kat which led me to start writing down each time it happened from this point on which led to me compiling this list:

- Kat is constantly kept in the dark about several things, for example her brother Nik knowing about her Uncle in Greece and even travelling to the island without her knowing. Yet for some reason her friend Lizzie and ex husband Jamie along with at least her mother (and maybe her father) were all aware of this and yet no-one told her because Nik wanted to "protect her". Protect her from what? At this point Kat would've been 31 and in the present day she's 37 so I fail to see, and the author gives no reason as to why the other characters are coddling her so much. It honestly became so frustrating!

- When Kat brings up her own frustrations to Lizzie about all the secrets being kept from her, Lizzie tells her to "get some perspective" and to stop looking in the past... Obviously finding out about the secrets surrounding her family is a big part of her identity so the fact that her longest friend just dismissed this but then has the audacity to get annoyed at Kat when she didn't immediately tell her that her Greek neighbour was a famous actor baffled me. Like my girl you have been keeping a secret for 5+ years so you really don't have a leg to stand on.

- Now moving on to probably the biggest factor of this book that I just didn't get was the inclusion of Jamie in all of Kat's business. We are told that they are separated and almost divorced. So why he still so involved in Kat's life? So much so that he even travels with her parents to Greece... I didn't get why he calls her wifey and she still has him saved in her phone as husband but she is very quick to act upon her attraction to Andreas (which there's nothing wrong with as they are separated but I just don't understand their dynamic at all)!
When Jamie meets Andreas, Andreas tells him that he's heard a lot about him and Jamie responds "all good things I hope. She is still my wife." This wasn't even said in a jokey sarcastic way as later on Jamie tells Kat that Andreas' mansion and staff are "somewhat out of her league"??? I just don't get why is he so involved, even as a plot device there is no reason for him to be around so much.
Another example is when Andreas tells Jamie that he can help himself to the wine because what's his (Andreas') is Jamie's but then Jamie responds "well you already have something of mine, so it's only fair to share," I'm sorry what? They are separated and almost legally divorced... Why is Jamie even there? Why is he so involved still?
Jamie then tries to get Andreas to come outside clearly looking for a fight because apparently he wants to act like a teenager. He does apologise to Kat the next morning but when she implies that he will also have to apologise to Andreas he says "what pretty boy next door? You must be joking?" I would understand if Jamie was acting this way because he is jealous and wants to get Kat back but it isn't written like that as at no point does he try together back to her and that though never crosses Kat's mind, so why why why is he included?

Overall, I was really enjoying this book but then all the characters became really annoying and hypocritical and while Kat may have addressed her frustrations in her mind, it took until 78% for her to begin standing up for herself and even that was lacklustre.

However, this is not to say I can't see why other people would enjoy this book. The two stars are for the evocative Greek Island setting and the explorations of grief which I thought was well done.

I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

[Tripfiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

Novel set on AGSITRI

4.5*



Kat has just lost her twin brother, Nik, and she is recuperating at home with her family.

Then the news arrives that she and Nik (and now, of course, it is only Kat) are set to inherit an estate on Agistri in Greece. It was the home of her mother’s estranged brother, of whom Kat had no knowledge. This is, of course, an all round shock for everyone. Her parents have cosseted her, over functioned in ‘typical’ Greek manner but perhaps stifled her too, and Jamie – her soon-to-be-ex-husband – is still buzzing around, keen to be in on the action.

Given her recent loss and her growing understanding that she has to escape the cloying environment, she opts to head for Agístiri, where the property is situated. She has decided on a sabbatical from work and will devote herself to the renovation project. Her boss is supportive and keen she should send a written journal back to her work, recording the renovations, her responses and her feelings as the project evolves – sharing what life is like on the Greek island.

From the get-go at the airport, she is dogged by a young man with incredibly smart, elegant shoes and linen ensemble, all the way from London – Andreas turns out to be her neighbour on the island. He is also a very good looking man, living in quite some luxury. They spar initially and flounce about and subsequently agree that they have been unpleasant to each when they reflect on the early days of their acquaintanceship. She discovers through him that her brother came to visit their uncle, unbeknownst to her, which is shocking. What other secrets could there be? Andreas himself also has a secret or two and thus complex neighbourly relations ensue.

The eponymous lemon tree of the title grows in the grounds of the little house, almost as though the house had been built around this tree that produces “Golden Apples” (in Greek Mythology, ‘golden apples’ were often associated with the Garden of Hesperides and thought to have been more likely lemons). The lemons are used to flavour some of the dishes that are made in Kat’s home and throughout the novel there are references to mouthwatering Greek dishes, and at the end there is a recipe for Lemonópita.

The setting is delightfully conjured up and the narrative is peppered with Greek words and wonderful food to really set the tone. A couple of trips to the neighbouring island of Aegina added a a nice diversion. I couldn’t altogether buy into the reasoning behind various secrets, especially where Kat’s mother is concerned; and Jamie, the ex, as a presence felt a bit superfluous. But those are minor quibbles, and overall this is a fabulous read that transports the reader to Greece. The author is certainly giving Victoria Hislop a run for her money! I really enjoyed my ‘trip’ to Agistri.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Months after the car accident that killed her twin brother, Nik, journalist Kat is still overwhelmed with grief at the loss of her spiritual 'other half'. Her family and friends mean well, but are smothering her with their attempts to protect her in her fragile state. When she discovers she has inherited a house on the beautiful Greek island of Agistri from the uncle she never knew existed, she sees a chance to get away from their constant meddling in her life.

Kat is enchanted with Agistri from the moment she steps ashore. Although she regrets never knowing her uncle, she looks forward to time using her skills as an interior designer to transform the house he left her - and hopefully to finally follow her dream to become an author at the same time.

Renovations, writing, and the Greek sun reawaken Kat's spirits, helped along by the undeniable frisson between her and her handsome neighbour, Andreas, who she considers infuriating and attractive in equal measure. But Agistri is also a place that holds secrets about her nearest and dearest, and Kat will never find true happiness until she has made peace with the demons of her own, and her family's, past.

A new Emma Cowell book means a new heart-wrenching adventure under the Greek sun, and this time, under the shady branches of an ancient lemon tree too! The slow-burn story unfurls through the eyes of Kat, as she tries to navigate the unfathomable loss of her twin, and best friend, Nik - the Apollo to her Artemis, which Cowell uses as the most delicious mythological thread to trace the intricacies of their relationship, and the impact of the many secrets that come spilling out on Agistri. And secrets there are a-plenty, tied to the history of Kat's parents' generation, and her own, which they must all confront before healing and forgiveness can follow.

In that way she does so well, Cowell combines the loveliest of stories with the heady atmosphere of Greece in all its splendour, particularly when it comes to the people, the environment, and culinary delights to set your tastebuds alight. She also displays her considerable writing talent, once again, to explore deep sorrow, regret, and the complicated feelings that come with family relationships mired in relatable emotional baggage.

This story thrums with multiple threads of second chances at happiness, and I revelled in every single one, especially the very best of will-they-won't-they love stories between Kat and Andreas, with twists and turns that kept my heart firmly in my mouth. The waves of emotion keep coming with the poignant highs and lows of the characters, and I shed a lot of tears as I shared their journeys. Cowell's best book yet - and it even has an adorable kitty character too!

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma Cowell has yet again written a marvellous piece of fiction. This book I have actually read in one sitting and it's a book that I could not put down because of the easy reading style, the wonderful characters including Jamie who I wanted to smack and told off several times while I was reading the book.
The story starts off when you meet Kat on her 37th birthday when her have family of organised a party but there's one thing missing her twin brother Nik.
Six months before when Kat and Nik we're together, they were involved in a horrible car accident due to a drunk driver plummeting into them. On that day Kat and her family lost Nik and the grief you can still feel throughout the story not only for Kat but also her parents Mina and Giorgios.
Kat receives a inheritance from her uncle Petros who she never knew about, and the inheritance should've been shared between her and the twin brother so it's a more poignant situation for Kat .
Kat has the bravery to go over to Greece to the island of Agistri ( which is described so beautifully by the author ) and moving into the house that her uncle left her and starts to redevelop it with a renovation. On her flight out she meets Andreas and they don't connect well and for a little while they have misunderstandings, but then something develops between them as they get to know each other.
I have really enjoyed the buildup of the relationship between Kat and Andreas, she's feisty and he's defensive and they do cross swords a couple of times, but there's an underlying passion and love that you get from the two of them. There are problems that do occur on the way with Andreas revealing his story of his youth and how he met her uncle Petros , lies told from Christos which leads to a big misunderstanding and her ex-husband to be Jamie on the night they meet being an absolute idiot of a man.
The relationship that Emma Cowell has created between Kat and her friends and family are really well written and I do like every character, including Jamie but my favourite is Kat's baba ( dad ) Giorgios - a man of wisdom and deep understand who I learnt to adore throughout this book.
He reminds me of my Dad and there was a nice feeling of familiarity about his characteristics and his love for his daughter.
I also liked the part of the story where Kat started writing a blog about the renovation and her grief, there was such a lovely sensitivity to that that you could not help but feel and it was written so beautifully by the author.
This is definitely my favourite book by Emma Cowell now and I just know my mum is going to love this as much as I did .

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kat has felt lost ever since the death of her twin, NIk. Her family means well, but their careful handling is stifling. She's simply going through the motions of her life, but they feel meaningless. Until she inherits a home on a small island of Agistri in Greece from an uncle she never met. Kat see's this as a chance for a fresh start. Despite lurking beneath the peace and beauty of the island are secrets that threaten everything Kat thought she knew about her family

This is another beautifully written story, a rocky, emotional journey from the agony of loss, the grief in learning long buried secrets, and the slow, difficult climb to overcome the wounds, to find forgiveness. When Kat discovers the secrets her friends and family have kept from her she is hurt and angry Her sounding board is the island priest who always seems to be there just when those feelings threaten to totally overwhelm her. He helps her to understand and work through the feelings and in doing so, Kat finds a strength she didn't know she had, eventually working her way toward acceptance and finding joy and love.

There is a special, poetic quality to Emma Cowell's writing. She paints pictures with her words. The beauty of the Greek islands comes alive in her descriptions of colors and smells so that you I can almost feel the breeze in my face as I'm reading, catch the scents of the grilling meat and baking sweets. By using background settings such as storms or sunsets, clouds or clear skies, Ms Cowell enhances the emotions of the story so they are not just felt, they are experienced. It's simply impossible not to be entranced by the setting, the characters and the warmth, compassion and sincerity of this story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon UK for a copy of this book. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Dha loves books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre - Literary fiction
Emotional rating - 😢 😊 🥰 🥰
Speed and ease to read - 🏃🏾‍♀️🏃🏾‍♀️🏃🏾‍♀️
Number of pages - 384
Publication Year - 2025
Makes you think about a bigger topic -  No
Recommend the book - ✔

▪️Synopsis

Shattered by the sudden loss of her twin, Nik, Kat is lost in grief. The comfort of family feels both soothing and suffocating, but everything changes when she inherits a house on the breathtaking Greek island of Agistri from a mysterious uncle she’s never met.

The island offers more than solace, sparking courage in Kat to face her loss — and maybe even embrace the spark of unexpected love…

But as she unearths her family’s buried past, Kat must also confront her own fears of belonging, forgiveness — and the possibility of rediscovering happiness in the shadow of heartbreak…

▪️ How I found the book

I read this whilst in Athens and it felt like the perfect setting to read this book that is set in Agistri, Greece. The author, Emma Cowell, describes the Greek island beautifully from the blue sea to the smell of the lemon trees 🍋.

This book starts with Kat losing her twin brother and managing her grief. Suddenly she inherits a property from an Uncle she didn't know existed on the Island Agistri.

The book follows Kat on her trip to Agistri and the property development of her new house. Thie is intertwined with her personal journey through grief, gaining strength to stand up against her family and uncovering many secrets. Alongside those are storylines of love in a relationship, friends and family.

The book started well and came to a satisfying ending. The characters were OK but I didn't really love any of them....except Kat's dad and Father Serino, both made me smile with each interaction.

Overall, a nice summer read!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book we meet Kat, who has recently lost her twin brother Nik. Kat finds out she has inherited her Uncle's property, who she was unaware of, and we see her come to terms with this new reality that she is now in.

I feel like I've not read a good soul searching book in a long time and I thought this was a beautifully written book. We explore lots of topics in this book including: grief, friendships, past loves, new loves, family disagreements and community.

I liked all of the different stories in this one and I definitely felt for our main character ,Kat, along the way. She unearths many secrets throughout this book and it leaves her questioning the morals of the people around her. Although what I think she will understand is that they are trying to protect her from more pain in the long run.

Andreas was a fantastic addition to the book and we see some joy finally being added back into Kat's life. I loved reading their chapters together!

The backdrop of this book was perfect. I'm sure alot of people will be flying out to Greece once they have finished this! The descriptions of the island, the weather and the local food delicies sounded phenomenal.

My heart definitely ached for our family in this book who lost Nik. It reminds me of the quote "To know great love is to know great pain". I'm pretty sure I haven't made that one up but it reminds me of Kat's intense love for Nik and the reason why she has such grief is because there was so much love between the two and you can't have one without the other.

I'm really looking forward for readers to pick this up in May when it comes out! This is my first of this authors but it most certainly won't be my last!

[cosylittlereadingcorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kat and Nik are twins born in England to Greek parents and grow up showered with love, in a busy and vibrant Greek community. Their heritage is everywhere they look: in the stories their parents have told them over the years to the taverna run by the family. But when a drunk driver collides with Kat and Nik’s car and Nik dies at the scene, Kat’s world is shattered. Already part way through a divorce and now without her twin, grief seems all too overwhelming. Six months after the accident a letter arrives notifying Kat that she has inherited a Greek home on the island where her mother grew up. The surprise? The home belonged to an uncle she never knew existed. Full of questions about her mother’s past, Kat decides to visit the island and renovate the old house and try and start to heal after so much loss as well as discover her heritage.

This book has a gorgeous, warm vibe, filled with delicious Greek food and the kind of joviality that reminded me of scenes from My Big Fat Greek Wedding. My favourite parts were where Kat wrote about grief, examining how it changes us, our present and our future. It isn’t a heavy read so don’t let the word grief frightened you off. It is comforting and if you fancy a bit more sunshine now autumn has arrived and a bit of romance then this will hit the mark.

My favourite quote from the book (but probably plenty more I could have saved):
“Life is a beautiful collision of circumstances that none of us are able to predict. Who we love, where we go, who we meet.”

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grab a box of tissues and get ready for a heartbreaking but ultimately uplifting read.

Kat loses her twin brother as they are travelling together in a car crash and doesn’t know how she is going to carry on without him. As she physically heals following the crash, she is given some news of a property on a beautiful Greek island she has inherited from an uncle she hardly knew.

This is a bit of a lifeline for Kat as she throws herself into life on the island of Agistri whilst renovating the house and writing about her journey through grief and decorating.

There is, of course, some romance involved by way of a gorgeous next door neighbour.

Can Kat begin to mend her heart, and uncover family secrets along the way, with the help of her family and friends?

This is the first book I have read by Emma and oh it was something special. It read as truly authentic to Greek life, and after reading the acknowledgments I find it really is authentic. There was much talk about Greek food which all sounded delicious and I really must try. There is a recipe in the back for Lemonopita, one of the special dishes mentioned in the book, which I am going to try making. 

It was a beautifully crafted story about love and loss, the importance of forgiving, of family and friends. And the setting was gorgeous, and now I don’t feel as if I have missed out on a holiday as I feel I was there!

Huge thanks to Avon books for kindly sending me an advance copy.

[Colin Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kat is heartbroken by the death of her twin brother Nick in a car accident caused by a drink driver, her struggles made worse by splitting with her husband Jamie. She then finds out that she has inherited a house on the Greek island of Agistri from an uncle she has never met. She travels there to look at the house and to see if she can find out any more about him. On the way she keeps meeting Andreas and not on the best possible terms, she then finds out that he is her new next door neighbour.
I started reading this book just as a warm spell had finished here, going back to colder than normal spring weather and reading about sunshine on a Greek Island was a pleasant reminder of warmer days. I did struggle a bit with the main characters, Kat is very spiky, which is not unexpected with what she was going through, however Andreas kept blowing hot and cold on their relationship. The reason for this did become clearer as the story progressed, and his relationship with her uncle revealed itself. I did enjoy the story and the setting (and the description of the glorious Greek food), makes an ideal summer read or one to remind you of warmer times at other times if the year.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

[Karen Mace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a real emotional read, but full of hope and healing - one of those books that gives you a real hug through the chapters.

Kat is dealing with the tragic loss of her twin, Nik, and she's feeling lost. Her way of dealing with troubles in life is to throw herself at her work so she's unable to stop or slow down which is what she needs. And when she learns that she's inherited a house on a Greek Island from an uncle she never even knew about, her world starts to spin a little more!

She travels to Greece to take some time out and get back to writing, and the space gives her time to start sorting her head out while dealing with new revelations and learning more of the family secrets she was oblivious to. And even her Mum is reluctant to open up about the past, leaving her feeling quite frustrated.

The Greek setting is perfect for this story, and the way the storyline of the past reveals itself was utterly captivating. She learns more about herself through the actions of others and it starts to give her a real sense of self as she begins to take control of her life and emotions and you sense the feeling of calm it begins to give her, finally coming to terms with the events that have taken place over the years.

A perfect Greek getaway read for the Summer months - highly recommended!!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big thank you to Avon and NetGalley for my e-ARC. Grateful as always 💛

In Under the Lemon Tree, we follow Kat who is devastated after the tragic loss of her twin brother, Nik. With her world having been turned upside down, she's now coming to terms with facing the rest of her life without her twin.

After receiving some unexpected news that she has inherited a grand house in her family's homeland of Greece from an uncle she has never heard of, Kat finds herself on a plane straight there. Who is this mysterious uncle, and why has he been estranged her whole life?

With more shocking revelations along the way, Kat dares to dream of new beginnings and she rediscovers herself in Greece. Under the Lemon Tree is a beautiful story about family, grief, forgiveness, and even finding love in unexpected places.

I really enjoyed this book overall, and I can't wait for other readers to fall in love with it! I loved that it is set in Greece, somewhere which I've been lucky enough to have many gorgeous holidays. The amazing writing made me feel like I was right back there along with Kat, and I found all of the characters genuinely enjoyable to read.

I couldn't recommend adding this one to your summer TBR more!

[River Scott Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've finished reading Under The Lemon Tree by @emmacowellauthor, and I rate it 5 stars 🌟

After the death of her twin brother, Nic Kat is devastated and at a loss at what to do until she inherits a house in the Greek island of Agistri from an uncle she didn't know. the house left to both Nic and herself she's upset she couldn't share this with her brother, and in order find peace and to visit the the island of her late uncle and find out who he was and why she was never told about him before.

But once you open a lifetime of secrets, they can never be taken back. But with a mysterious handsome stranger living next door, Kat has a chance at happiness, but will she let what happened in the past affect her future, or will she take a chance and run with it.

I absolutely 💯 without a doubt, loved this book. It took me a little longer to finish as I just didn't want it to end, so i took my time and enjoyed it all it's wonderfully written and plotted with fantastic characters.

This is a story of loss,grief,love, and the unexpected. I honestly couldn't put it down. i loved how the story played out and came together for a wonderful ending that will keep any reader happy. I highly recommend this book 📖

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kat is celebrating her first birthday since the death of her twin brother Nik, when she discovers that an uncle she didn’t know existed has passed away and left her a house on the Greek island her mother is from. The “unknown relative leaving a house” is a trope that has been done countless times before, but as I was on a Greek island myself, I thought this would be a good read. Once I discovered that the family estrangement was due to Kat’s uncle being gay, I was excited to read about the views of the Greek Orthodox Church about homosexuality and the cultural and societal opinions, maybe with a historical plot line from when Kat’s mum and her brother were younger and the fallout occurred. But there was none of this. Everything was surface level only, with nothing too deep. Which yes, made a good holiday read but personally, I would have liked and expected something deeper to justify the plot. There were some nice descriptions of the Greek scenery however other aspects of the book were disappointing. The secrets, revelations and potential romantic interest were not very subtle. It would have been more immersive to have more descriptions of the Greek food, as opposed to them just written in italics.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started off by quite enjoying Under the Lemon Tree but as the booked progressed, I found that the pace of the book hadn’t really changed throughout and I found that I was becoming a little bored. I was also becoming irritated of the repeated theme of secrecy between the family and friends of Kat, and I think it frustrated me more because the secrets were really unnecessary and always resulted in an anticlimax - I don’t know why it needed to be kept a secret that Nik had been to the island!? The juiciest secret was of her mum having an affair some years ago, but even that was anticlimactic as it had already pretty much been put to bed.

I found quite a lot of the book to also be quite cheesy, with how Andreas’ and Kat’s relationship developed for example seemed to be quite instantaneous and had no build up. The way Nik and Kat spoke with each other was also very cheesy and there were moments where I felt myself cringe ever so slightly.

Despite the above, I did like the descriptive language used about Greece and also of the interior design choices that Kat made - I could really envision it all.

Under the Lemon Tree would be really suited to someone that enjoys a cheesier storyline, but it didn’t quite grab my attention on this occasion.