The House of Hidden Letters

by Izzy Broom

‘Whisk away to Greece… the perfect escapist read.’ Veronica Henry

‘Atmospheric, romantic and mysterious... perfect for fans of Victoria Hislop.’ Cesca Major

For Greek cottage. One Euro.

Skye doesn’t make impulsive decisions. But when she sees a derelict Greek cottage for sale by lottery, she enters with dreams of a fresh start.

However, her heart sinks as she pushes open the tattered blue door weeks later. Can this wreck ever be her home?

Then Skye finds a bundle of letters hidden in the fireplace, their faded pages drawing her in with a story of long-forgotten love, tragedy, and unbelievable bravery.

But all the while, Skye’s own past is circling. No matter how far she goes, fate is never far behind…

This gorgeously sweeping, escapist dual-timeline novel is perfect for fans of Karen Swan, Victoria Hislop and Lucinda Riley.

‘Absolutely loved it… Engaging characters, evocative setting, emotional journey. I was captivated from the first page to the last!’ Cathy Bramley

‘Absorbing, beautiful and devastating. A moving story of love and loss, of courage and kindness, of how the light of hope will shine through the darkest of times. I loved every page.’ Chris Whitaker

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction

400 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication March 17, 2026

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, The House of Hidden Letters, by Izzy Broom, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Skye decides to enter a competition to buy a Greek cottage, she decides to try for it. The cottage is not what it looked like at all. This book has all the emotions, so much going on, past and present.

[Lisa]

AN INTRIGUING AND MYSTERIOUS STORY OF HOPE FOR A NEW BEGINNING

SUMMARY
Change Your Life for €1.

Skye is not impulsive, but when she sees a derelict Greek cottage for sale by lottery for one euro, she applies. She needs a fresh start far from London and her husband. Weeks later, she feels disheartened as she opens the tattered blue door, questioning whether it can ever be her home. During renovations, she finds a bundle of faded letters behind a wall that reveal a story of love, tragedy, and bravery. Meanwhile, Sky’s own past is always on her mind, reminding her that fate will follow no matter how far she runs. But what was she running from?


REVIEW
I loved Skye’s intriguing and mysterious story. Author Izzy Broom’s fabulous descriptions of the remote Greek island of Folegandros were fabulous. Mountains, a cobalt blue sky, a ribbon of sea, and a church high on a distant hill all serve as the backdrop for Skye’s new backyard. The book pulled me into the story, and I wanted to join Skye and help her renovate her crumbling cottage.

The story weaves a quick-moving and fascinating tale featuring three threads: Skye and her past, her new community on the island, and the thrilling story of love and tragedy told in the letters she found. All of the characters are simply engaging. Read it, and you’ll love it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for an advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed here are my own.


Publisher Berkley
Published March 17. 2026
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

[callistoscalling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy of this one; all thoughts are my own.

📖 Book Review 📖 If I win the lottery, there will be signs. My instagram will be filled with me reading books from exotic locations and I will most certainly be returning to the Greek isles. Twenty years ago, I was swept away by the majestic colors and rich history of the Aegean Sea. When a silver key is placed into Skye’s palm and she takes ownership of a villa abandoned since World War II, her world changes in the most remarkable way. Told in dual timelines, The House of Hidden Letters is a beautifully haunting reminder that our world is connected across time and space. In a moment when it feels like the walls are closing in around us, Izzy Broom’s novel feels poignantly relevant while still maintaining a breezy aura of hopeful escapism.

Would you buy a house on a remote Greek island for €1?

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delighted to have had the opportunity to have an early copy of this book!! Set in Greece, Skye arrives having won a lottery for an abandoned Greek house along with some others. Helped by Andreas to renovate the cottage, Skye finds her community, there to support her!! The story has two time lines, the present and also the previous cottage owners during the war! Skye finds this link during her time at the cottage. Really enjoyed this book, characters likeable and story line kept me wanting to know more!! 5 stars 🌟

[Clare Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Skye enters a competition to buy a cottage in Greece. She wins the competition but the cottage it not what is looked like at all. She finds a bunch of hidden letters that tell a story of a long-forgotten love, tragedy and bravery.

[Danni The Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great debut from Izzy Brown. I thoroughly enjoyed going through this journey with these well developed characters.

Skye wins the lottery to buy a house for one euro on a Greek island and takes it. There are other houses that have been won, and a small community comes together.
Whilst moving into her new house she finds hidden letters in her house, which sends Skye into the past to find out what happened during the war on this little island.

Whilst Skye is burrowing herself with the past, she has been neglectful of the present and it soon catches up with her.

There are a variety of themes that feature in this book, I particularly love how Izzy Brown has written and presented each of her characters and I was fully invested in this story.
I felt the ending could have meatier but on the whole this was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I hope to read more from this author. Thank you

Thank you to Penguin and Netgally for my copy on return for an honest review

[Starlight Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin for the opportunity to read this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

A story of self development and found family, with a strong nod to the past.

Whilst the first half of the book was quite slow. By the second half, it flew by. I loved the characters, and felt like I was alongside them trying to piece together parts of the islands mystery.

I enjoyed the diary excerpts from Katarina. As well as, how these were added either in the form of the letters or told as part of Katarina’s chapter. No information felt repeated.

Whilst there are some triggers which would warrant a trigger warning at the beginning of this book. I will say i am slightly sad to be leaving the island of Folegandros, with Skye,Andreas and all their new island community.

[ssloves books - Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of new beginnings, community, friendship, love and loss. It’s a dual timeline story and we follow Skye in present day who has won a house on a small island in Greece.

I loved the setting, full of sunshine with a few thunder storms and the small community on Folegandros. As Skye meets some of the other winners of houses, she uncovers hidden letters in her home. There are other items found including bones and she is terrified that those who know her well will find out where she is.

In the past we follow Katerina who falls in love and the impact of the Nazi invasion in her island changes her life. It’s a love story and the characters are well written and I enjoyed the storyline across both time lines.

[Marie Kane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous read from Izzy Broom as she transports us to the Greek island of Folegrandos.

Skye has purchased a derelict Greek house as part of a lottery buy scheme and arrives on the island to start afresh. All the buildings around hers are newly occupied too and the little community are able to restore their properties traditionally, with the help of local builder Andreas.

However when Skye discovers old letters hidden in her house and the neighbours discover other artefacts in their properties, the sad secrets of why the community became abandoned are revealed.

A thoroughly enjoyable and heartfelt read, with the added bonus of being transported to Greece during winter in the UK.

Highly recommended.

[Mel Stanton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story to get lost in, it was captivating. Beautiful place to picture as well.

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The House of Hidden Letters by Isabelle Broom

Set on the beautiful Greek island of Folegandros, The House of Hidden Letters weaves together two timelines: one modern-day and one in the 1940s, into a rich, immersive story that is both moving and unforgettable.

I had the joy of reading this while in Panormos, Crete, and I honestly don’t think there could have been a better setting. This is a book made to be read in Greece. Having visited the country many times, I was struck by the authenticity and respect shown in every description of the island, its landscapes, and its people. It’s clear Isabelle Broom has a deep love for Greece and has poured that into her writing. Her attention to detail made me feel like I was walking those sun-drenched paths alongside her characters.

This isn’t my first novel by Isabelle (I previously read The Orange House) and once again I was blown away by her ability to craft characters so vivid they feel as though they could step right off the page. The community spirit, the bonds of friendship, and the quiet beauty of everyday life were all captured so perfectly. Even the smallest moments, such as a character simply walking through her surroundings, were written with a lyrical quality that drew me in.

The 1940s passages were handled with particular care, full of unease and uncertainty, yet threaded with resilience and hope. Though I’m no historian, they felt authentic and emotionally true. What struck me most was how both main female characters, separated by decades, shared parallels in their journeys. Different times, different struggles, yet the emotions of love, fear, hope, and resilience are timeless. That connection across history really resonated with me.

I also want to highlight Isabelle’s sensitive portrayal of coercive control and domestic abuse. With professional experience in this field, I found her writing not only authentic but deeply respectful. She captured the essence of such a relationship with care, creating a representation that felt both true and necessary.

Ultimately, this is a perfect summer read: vivid, emotional, layered with history and love, and filled with characters who will stay with you long after the final page. Beautifully written and utterly absorbing, The House of Hidden Letters is a story I’ll be recommending widely.

Thank you to NetGalley and Isabelle Broom for the opportunity to read this beautiful ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it was raining outside, it was lovely to be whisked off to a fabulous Greek island.
Skye has won a house after entering into a lottery for one euro. The stipulation is that you live in the community for 2 years. This is perfect for Skye as she is running away from her life at home.
As work progresses on her house, she comes across a bundle of letters. This tells the story of Katerina during the second world war.
I found the parts of Katerina quite moving. It must have been awful having your island occupied by such vile men. The writing was so descriptive. It felt like I was living there with them.
When Skye's past caught up with her, I was willing her to be strong. I'll admit, I didn't particularly like her mother, Cassandra, at first, but she came good in the end. Karma lives on!
It is a beautifully written story, which I enjoyed immensely. I shall ve looking out for other books written by this author.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House uk Cornerstone for the invitation to read this in return for an honest review.

[janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I so badly wanted to really love this book, but for some reason, I can't explain, I just couldn't completely connect with it. That's not to say it's a bad book because it really isn't, and i know im definitely in the minority with this one!

Told from dual perspectives and parallel timelines, this made it an interesting read.

In the present, needing to escape her past, Skye enters and wins a €1 house lottery, along with a few others. Arriving in Follegandros, Greece, she is shown to her new home. A very run down cottage in need of major refurbishment. On starting the work, Skye stumbles a stash of hidden letters, and the local builder, Andreas, starts translating them for her.

In the past, a young greek woman, Katerina, comes to realise that her village and home are slowly being taken by the Nazi's. She doesn't want to be sat on the sidelines while the war is raging around her. She wants to be fighting for her country.

I found most of the characters, apart from Skye and Andreas, to be rather flat, two dimensional. I wish they had had a little more about them because there was a lot of potential there for them to be more interesting.

If I'm being completely honest, I much preferred reading about Skye's story, I found myself more engaged with that part of the book and I think there could easily be a second follow on book, just with Skye and Andreas!

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK for the ARC.

[Rachel Axford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant escapism.
Skye wins a cottage on a Greek island in a lottery. The whole village has been taken over by other lottery winners and a close knit community soon develops.
There is a dual timeline which explains why the village was abandoned.
I was captivated by the idea of moving to Greece and starting again.

[Liz Fenwick]

This is the perfect holiday read. It’s a beautiful story of love, loss and new beginnings. I loved it.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The House of Hidden Letters by Izzy Broom (an author who also publishes under the name Isabelle Broom) is a dual timeline novel set on the beautiful Greek island of Folegandros. When Skye sees a lottery for €1 derelict Greek cottages, she sees a chance to escape her life. However, even in the quaint village with her new neighbours and community around her, her past is still circling, as she works with contractor Andreas to turn the long-abandoned house into a home.

When Skye finds a bundle of letters from war-time Greece hidden in the fireplace, she begins to learn more about the island’s history and the lives of the people who inhabited this area long before her.

Flitting from the past to present, Broom’s dual timelines not only build great suspense and pace but also draw her slightly away from her usual writing style, weaving the romantic, escapist writing she is known for with further depths of history, and furious female resilience. What does carry from Broom’s other works, though, is her incredible ability to bring these beautiful locations to life, the depth of her characters, and her ability to fill the pages with twists, turns and revelations that keep a reader gripped.

Exploring some quite dark and difficult topics including: war, grief, domestic violence, sexual assault and pregnancy loss, this is a novel that could potentially benefit from content warnings for some readers. These topics though, are written with a gentleness and compassion that make for a deeply emotional story.

The House of Hidden Letters is an intense, mysterious, and captivating read that is perfect for fans of Louis de Bernières’ Captain Correlli’s Mandolin, with its threads of love and loss.

[GemsLiteraryGems · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skye enters and wins a €1 house lottery, along with a few other people who have also done the same. Arriving in Follegandros, Greece, she is shown to her new home, a very run down cottage in need of major refurbishment. During the building work, Skye stumbles upon a stash of hidden letters, and a local builder, Andreas, starts translating them for her. Before long she is drawn into the story and her own past starts to catch up with her. The woman in the letters, Katerina, writes about her experiences of her island slowly being taken by the Nazis. But sitting on the sidelines isn't enough for her, she wants to help her island an her country by fighting to protect them.

This is a dual timeline story, with Skye and Andreas in the present and Katerina in the past. The mystery around the letters meant that it's slow to start and then as we get to know Katerina's struggles you find yourself rushing to the end to find out what happened. Unfortunately I'd like to have had more resolve here but I suppose if there were letters found in a wall in real life, you'd not necessarily get the full story either! It's an escapist read full of hope despite the wartime setting for Katerina. Not my usual genre, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Thanks to Netgalley for a free ARC in return for an honest review.

[Louise Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to @netgalley , the author and publisher @penguinrandomhouse for the ARC of The house of hidden letters. A dual timeline story of survival, love, female strength and community in both modern day and back in war time 1940’s.
I was totally invested in the characters and developing, cleverly intertwined story across timelines.
The writing was scrumptiously descriptive, and I could clearly picture the scenery and people on the Greek island of Folegandros.
Skye wins a €1 lottery house on the island and finds herself among a new community of other winners and local inhabitants. After several ‘finds’ during house renovations the stories of the past start to surface. Andreas, a Greek builder is tasked with helping with the renovations and helps Skye translate hidden letters from the past which helps the community understand the horrors of war time occupation on the little Greek island.
There are some themes in the story that could be triggering but the writer has handled them with care. We learn Skye’s reasons for coming to the island and how her new community help her deal with the situation. I would love there to be a sequel, as I’d love to know more about the future lives of the community.
Read this if you like
❤️ Relationship development
🔍 Mystery
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Community
🗓️ Dual timeline

I highly recommend this delightful book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5
Released 26/03/2026

[Michaela Hopkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was first drawn to this book after holidaying in Greece earlier in the summer. Then the description…

“For sale: Greek cottage. Price: One Euro.

Skye doesn’t make impulsive decisions. But when she sees a derelict Greek cottage for sale by lottery, she enters with dreams of a fresh start.”

I just had to read it!

Skye arrives at her new home on the beautiful Greek island. She soon meets Andreas, the builder who will help her renovate the cottage and one day, they discover a bundle of letters written by a previous owner during the war…

As Skye and Andreas begin to read the letters, the story splits into two timelines, revealing a wealth of secrets from both periods. All parties haven’t had an easy path - to say the least, but Katerina’s story was particularly heartbreaking and so tragic!

This story takes you on an emotional rollercoaster and there could easily be a second book! I would love to hear more from Skye and Andreas!

Thank you to Issie Levin from Penguin Random House UK for providing me with digital ARC of this book via @netgalley in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Out March 2026

[Carmela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a solid 3.75 for me. I was really excited for this story based solely on the premise, and Izzy Broom had me deep in her clutches for the first third of the book. That being said, the cleanness of the initial plot (smoothly-linked plot points, intriguing narratorial questions, good scene pacing) seemed to drop after the two-thirds mark, and the ending felt a little sloppy. I loved the character explorations, though, and that really is what carried the story. Broom is a capacious writer, with her worlds and characters almost too big for the bounds of this book. I really am excited to see what she produces next.

While I personally think of this as a near-perfect book club read, there are some heavy topics depicted, including rape, death of infants, starvation, domestic abuse, and death of an animal. Though nothing is described graphically, it could be triggering for some readers.

Thank you Edelweiss+ and Berkley for the eARC.

All my reviews start at 3 stars, with stars added or subtracted as deemed fit.

[Gold Bunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of hope, found family and mystery-solving told in a dual storyline between past and present. The writing style was excellent and the excerpts from the letters were well-placed and gave the story an alternative perspective, which I really valued as a reader, without repeating anything. I really enjoyed solving the mystery with the characters as I read, and I found the pace engaging throughout, though slightly faster paced towards the end, but it never felt too slow or rushed. I would've loved a fully resolved mystery by the end, as I'm on tenterhooks for more and am sad to leave this lovely island with so much interesting history and character. I would recommend this as a great escapism read, but beware of the content warnings for violence, abusive relationships and war that come up towards the end of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the eARC, I am incredibly pleased to have had the chance to read and review this fabulous book!

[Sara Oxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautifully written five-star read. This is compelling and creative, you can’t help but get pulled into the small Greek community. This is a great story that traversers two timelines, they both have moments that will push your emotions to breaking point, but they also have such beautiful moments that you are swept away with the beauty. Skye really does deserve winning the lottery on a one-euro house. As the story progresses and you get to know her and why she entered the lottery, you can feel her pain, and then when they find the letters and the timeline splits and the second story unfolds you feel for everyone as they face the hard reality of war. This one will have you reaching for tissues, but it will also warm your heart and have you taking chances, as sometimes that all we can ask for in life, the chance of a win, or the chance of a great community.

[Yaira · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book features a few of my favorite things. It is a romance book that features a dual narrative and is set against the history of the Greek island Folegandros, and has a twinge of mystery as the main characters try to unfold the back story of the place they live in.

While the beginning of the book develops slowly (and therefore took me a little while to get into it), it is a beautiful read that gets you hooked until the end. A story of personal development, a reminder that history is always amongst us, and the summery vibe of a Greek island.

I especially loved that two powerful female characters were the main focus of the book, that both got the chance to develop themselves, and were not just whisked away by romance.

Thank you NetGalley & Random House for the ARC!

[Ann Pearce · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment I started reading this book I was hooked. Skye has fled to a Greek island following the purchase of a house for 1 euro in a lottery. With the help of the builder, Andreas, and the support of the other lottery winners, Skye begins to renovate her house and rebuild her life as she's absorbed into the local community. But why have the houses been abandoned and what's so important about the finds which the land gives up as work progresses? The answers lie in letters hidden during the war and the revelations of the writer's life in flashbacks to the German/Italian occupation.
A thoroughly absorbing book which brings to life both the characters and the beauty of the island of Folegandros.
Thank you to NetGalley for introducing me to book and author in a preview copy

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story!
The book starts with Skye arriving in Greece having won a lottery for abandoned properties on a Greek Island. We then meet the builder who will assist in fixing up the houses, Andreas, along with the other winners of the lottery. Gradually we learn why Skye has run away from the UK , and how she finds letters written during the war inside parts of the house. The story splits into Skye’s story and Katarina’s story of her life during the occupation of her village. No spoilers here - you need to read the book!
Really well written, with complex characters, historical references, excitement, community, lies, fear and love.
Highly recommended!
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Amanda Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is told in dual timelines. In the present there is Skye who has won a €1 house lottery. She needs to escape her past so arrives in Follegandros with hope. What she finds is a run down cottage which needs lots of refurbishment. After starting the work she stumbles across some letters from the past.

The past is about a young Greek girl Katerina, her life is being taken away by the Nazis and she wants to help fight against them. As we read along we find out much more about both characters.

Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with any of the characters in the book and I found the story to be just ok but not memorable in any way.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The House of Hidden Letters by Izzy Broom is a well researched story told over two timelines, present day and 1940's.

Skye moves to the Greek Island of Folegandros after winning a lottery to buy a house for one euro. Whilst renovating the house she finds a stash of hidden letters which are dated from the 1940's, a local builder, Andreas, starts to translate them for her and several things come to light which are connected with them.

Having read several books by Isabelle Broom , and enjoying every one of them, I was expecting something a little different. Maybe the new pen name and the change to historical fiction is a clue? Putting that aside though, this is a book about friends, new beginnings, mystery and romance in a beautiful setting.

3.5 stars

[Michelle Morley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The House of Hidden Letters whisks you away to Greece and an old, derelict cottage that the FMC purchases on a whim for a single euro. About as far from the sort of thing she would usually do, as she could get.

In the cottage, she discovers a stack of letters, and the book becomes a tale of two timelines.

Izzy Broom has delivered a book that takes you on the highs and lows of the most emotional rollercoaster and leaves you wonderfully exhausted by the end of it.

This is a beautiful holiday read, and I give it 3.5 stars.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really pleased to review this from NetGalley

The story which is- dual time lines, and set in Greece. Skye has won a lottery to an abandoned Grrek house with some others. The house is in need of renevation and are helped by Andreas. As I said there are two timelines, one in the present and during the second world war with the previous owners, in which Skye find out during her time in this cottage by means of letters.

An emotional and good read really recommended and I feel privilaged to have read this before the publication date- set for March 26 2026.

This will be a great Easter and sunbed read in 2026.

[Ellen Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful yet moving read about love and loss. Set in a small Greek island where we meet Skye and follow her journey whilst also learning secrets of the past. A dual timeline with stories of the past from the 1940 and the war.
I loved how the author was able to bring the island to life with beautiful descriptions. The minor characters certainly added to the story too.
I’d love to learn more about the characters as I felt there was more story to tell.

Thank you to NetGalley and Randomhouse for the ARC