The Island Retreat: An emotional new novel from the international #1 bestseller

by Cathy Kelly

Six guests. One week to uncover their secrets.Rose Talisman is pinning it all on a fresh start.

Five years after her career as a therapist ended in one catastrophic instant, she is opening a retreat in Corfu. The understated, luxurious Villa Artemis is surrounded by wild pines and sea views.

Just six guests. One week. Time for Rose to help them face their secrets – and move forwards.

But Rose has staked everything on the retreat. It has to work – or she loses it all. And people’s secrets have a way of revealing themselves in ways no one expected.

Nobody’s past is staying hidden for long…

Will that include Rose’s, too?

'A triumph […] vivid and wise and uplifting' Marian Keyes

'This latest from [Cathy] is a cracker' Mail on Sunday

440 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 26, 2026

About the author

Born in Belfast but raised in Dublin, Cathy initially worked for thirteen years as a newspaper journalist with a national Irish Sunday newspaper, where she worked in news, features, along with spending time as an agony aunt and the paper’s film critic. However, her overwhelming love was always fiction and she published her first international bestseller, Woman To Woman, in 1997. She did not become a full-time writer until she had written another two books (She’s The One and Never Too Late) and finally decided to leave the world of journalism in 2001, moving to HarperCollins Publishers at the same time.

Someone Like You and What She Wants followed in successive years. Her sixth novel, Just Between Us, was her first Sunday Times number one bestseller, while her eighth novel, Always and Forever, topped the UK bestseller lists in October 2005, displacing Dan Brown and J. K. Rowling. In 2007, Past Secrets in was also a number one paperback bestseller.

Lessons in Heartbreak was shortlisted for the Eason Irish Popular Fiction Book of the Year at the Irish Book Awards in April 2009. In September 2009, Once in a Lifetime topped the UK bestseller lists for three weeks. In March 2011, Homecoming achieved the same feat. Her latest novel is It Started With Paris, published by Orion in 2014.

In Autumn 2011, Cathy headlined a search for a new writer on ITV’s The Alan Titchmarsh Show.

Cathy’s trademark is warm story-telling and she consistently tops the bestseller lists around the world with books which deal with themes ranging from relationships and marriage to depression and loss, but always with an uplifting message and strong female characters at the heart.

Cathy also has a passionate interest in children’s rights and is an ambassador for UNICEF Ireland. Her role for UNICEF is a Global Parent, which means raising funds and awareness for children orphaned by or living with HIV/AIDs.

She lives with her husband, John, their twin sons, Dylan and Murray, and their three dogs in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow.

To contact Cathy email info@cathykelly.com

Reviews

[Sinead K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable, easy read with likeable characters. Would recommend this to anyone wanting a book with a feel good ending.....

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Island Retreat.

In this book, we meet Rose Talisman, a former favourite TV therapy guru, star of The Tailsman Effect. She has opened a new retreat at Villa Artemis in beautiful Corfu, the land of myth and legend. Rose has a secret which she is hiding and she hopes no one finds out - she does not want anyone to ruin her future. She has created Villa Artemis as a safe place, not only for herself but for people to come and talk openly. We also meet Adrianna and the very funny Chef Christos. He brought a lot of humour to the book and did make me laugh!

The setting in Corfu is beautiful and you can imagine yourself sitting on the white beach, watching the waves crash over the rocks towards the sea. Sounds so idyllic!

The story features Rose plus six retreat guests. All guests have come to the retreat for different reasons hoping for healing and a fresh start. Rose wants to send them away with a guide to a happier future, although their work does not stop when they leave the retreat - they have to keep up what they have learned. At this point I think it is very important to point out that very serious issues are addressed in detail. Cathy Kelly does handle these issues sensitively and with care and they come across extremely well researched.

All 6 guests go on their own individual journey. We have Diane, India, Kiera, Dan, Bernard and his wife Gracia. I do not want to give out why they are all at the retreat but this is a very complex story with multi dimensions. We see the inner thoughts and personalities of each of the characters and we really get to know them and why they are there. We see how much opening up to the group helps each other and it is lovely to see that unexpected friendships are made.

I did get very invested in each of the characters and I wanted to know which stage of their journey they were going to be at, at the end of the book. Everyone deserves help and the chance of a hopeful future.

There are many messages throughout the book that will resonant with many readers. Rose teaches them that you have to face the past and that their future is theirs to shape, and that they carry more courage and resilience than they ever realised.

I loved the ending with regards to the gift they were given at the end - to remind them of what they have learnt, that they are strong and that they have come through so much. Rose is very proud of her group and rightly so. They have become stronger, more confident and can each see a better future ahead.

Thank you very much to HQ, HarperCollins UK for my advanced copy. This review is based on a NetGalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.

[Val Millard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rose Talisman was a well known therapist with a tv show in America, called The Talisman Effect. She wasn’t happy with the way the show was being manipulated by the directors and was on the brink of suggesting major changes when there was a catastrophic incident live on air which finished her career.

Four years later Rose has bought a large villa in Corfu along with her sister Adrianna and her brother in law, Christos. They have turned it into a wellness retreat and hoping to restart Rose’s career as a therapist. It has an infinity pool, luxurious accommodation, a bar, walking distance to a beach and beautiful gardens. The first retreat has been planned and 6 clients are due to arrive. Rich businessman Bernard, who is only coming as his wife Gracia wanted him to join her. Dan who is a scientist and his long term girlfriend has finished their relationship. Dianne from Australia who has been sent by her children as she has been very angry since her husband died. India who has a problem with men and no real career paths, and Keera, who has had a very good career as a musician but now wants to give up much to the upset of her mother who wants the money her daughter earns.

I did find the book difficult in places to keep up with whose story was being told. I also had a problem with how expensive the retreat must have been considering how much the villa must have cost to renovate and all the people who worked there. How did most of the participants afford to be on the retreat and with only 6 guests at a time how would it manage financially in the future? Should I even worry about that in a fiction book?

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a long while since I last read a Cathy Kelly novel, and having just finished The Island Retreat I have no idea why I left it so long.

I was totally and utterly fascinated by The Island Retreat. I loved Rose's approach to therapy and how she is trying to help the six guests on this debut retreat in Corfu.

All the guests are all so different, but they definitely need help, whether they realise it or not, and some of their stories really did get under my skin.

And I loved the setting of Corfu, and the nearby town of Xanthe (even if I initially kept reading it as Zante, which of course is another Greek Island). Rose, Adriana and Christos have created a wonderful hotel and retreat and their yoga instructor is rather tasty!

But at the same time it is clear that Rose is hiding something from her past, which has stopped her from having relationships, and that someone is now threatening to expose. Some of the past secrets are really hard to read, but the author deals with difficult subjects with sensitively and it all felt authentic.

I found that when I wasn't reading this, my mind was on the characters, and hoping they would all get the resolutions they deserved.

Thoroughly enjoyed this story and I have made a mental note not to leave it so long between Cathy Kelly novels in future!

Thank you to HarperCollins and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Molly Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up. Thank you to NetGalley for this arc!

Rose is a qualified therapist with a rocky past. Between her mysterious upbringing and the crash and burn of her quick-fix therapy show in LA, opening a down to earth retreat in Corfu seems like a natural next step (or last resort).

The concept of this book is fantastic and the various characters show real potential for depth, but I felt as though the author slightly missed the mark.

Having to introduce the 6 attendees of the retreat, alongside their problems, and then attempt to solve them within the length of the book was maybe too big a task for this size of novel. The start of the book had great pacing and managed to naturally introduce everyone, but from the midpoint on it felt as though the author was rushing to add drama and tie things up.

At stages the therapy-based discussions felt quite shallow and more common sense than in depth therapy. This led to some story arcs feeling quite cheesy.

The second half of the book felt like it was awaiting an editor’s review, filled with grammatical errors and repeated stories. I’m aware that this is an ARC so I imagine this will be resolved prior to publication.

This was an easy read with some good characters, I just hope it has some work done prior to publication.

[Georgina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots going on in the new book from Cathy Kelly
Rose Talisman's career went down in flames 5 years ago and she has been rebuilding herself along with the villa she and her sister own.
Now Villa Artemis is ready for the first guests to this island retreat for a week of intense therapy.
6 guests with very different stories.
Bernard and Grazia, he's only there for Grazia, she is there to confront their family dynamics.
Keera, who has finished rehab and is trying to decide where her life goes from here
Dianne, who's anger issues are taking over her life.
Ben, split up from his long term girlfriend, but hoping they will get back together.
India, who feels aimless and rudderless, struggling with her value and place in life.
And Rose herself, can the retreat try to fix her as well.
An enjoyable read, but in some places felt a bit rushed, and in my head, I can't help but think that a week wouldn't be enough for the "journey" these characters go on.
Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC

[S A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Six people all with different problems go to Corfu for an island retreat, with their own problems and dramas to sort out.

The Island Retreat had the potential to become melodramatic and farcical, there is one part near the end of the book where it gets close to it but Kelly manages to tow that line and bring it back. What I liked about the book was that while the characters, including Rose the therapist, were all dealing with their own personal history all of it was steeped in a realism that you could identify with. The story moves between the main characters attending the retreat with some jumps back and forth taking you into their personal lives, but not to a point where it becomes confusing.

Overall I enjoyed the book, I found myself rooting for some of the characters. It doesn't delve into deep trauma, which I think it right considering the setting of the book, but delves into people trying to improve themselves in a sensitive way.

[Angela Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rose has set up a retreat in Corfu and must make it after her career as a therapist ended. Six different characters arrive who all have very different personalities and hidden issues which we learn about as the story progresses.

This was an enjoyable read and I loved seeing how the characters connected and began to feel and act like a family as the week went on.

The Greek setting sounded stunning and the villa was described perfectly and really added to the story, I could just imagine all of them at the retreat and was invested in their lives and how they could improve themselves. India was my favourite character and some of the ore stories were just heartbreaking.

Thanks to NetGalley, Cathy Kelly and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Greece and this book transports us to Villa Artemis in Corfu, I can smell the air and hear the cicadas…

I have to admit that I struggled during the first quarter of this book, however, as everyone’s stories unfolded, with the parallel story of how Rose Talisman was born, the background as to why her show was cancelled and the importance of her sister in her life, I was totally in and couldn’t stop turning the pages.

I am glad the author gave it time, time to get to know the characters on a deeper level and at a slower pace, it meant that the last quarter unravelled perfectly and the book tied up beautifully.

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

The six people who gather together on an idyllic Greek island for a writing retreat each have a compelling motive for being there. But perhaps none more so than Rose, whose future rests on the success of this venture.

Still, when people are intent on excavating their past experience to feed into their writing, they haven't always bargained for what might actually surface in the process....

Enjoyable, insightful and entertaining, this gets 3.5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Nici · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn’t stand the writing style of this novel. It‘s bloated with description, from outfits to backstory (even of minor side characters), thrown at us at such a speed that no story can naturally unfold. It feels like reading the prep work the author did, the notes about everyone and the setting and so on. There‘s no subtext, it’s all telling. Not for me, unfortunately!
Also: content warning for excessive ableist language

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK | HarperFiction for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Gem ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a brilliant look at human interactions, our innermost secrets, lessons learnt and how we can find people to help us heal.
The beautiful backdrop of Corfu, Greece was the perfect spot for this book, the community, family and villa combine to soothe and set up the characters for hard work amongst the restoring nature of the surroundings.
I understand Rose's guarding of her privacy secretively but this element of the storyline was the only thing that didn't connect with me, but she was a fascinating character.

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rose has worked hard to open her retreat on the island of Corfu after losing her job as a therapist on an American television show.
The six people that have been chosen to attend the retreat all have different backgrounds and problems that they hope to address in the week they are there.
Lots of characters in this story with some complex situations.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading Cathy Kelly's books for many years, so I was really excited to get an ARC of The Island Retreat,

The book's premise is a group of strangers get together for a therapy week in Greece under the guidance of celebrity / TV therapist, Rose Talisman, who has a mysterious past. Rose had a professional setback a few years ago and has set up her therapy retreats as a way back into the therapy scene.

You get to know the back stories of this group of strangers, who have all kinds of issues including marital breakdowns, parent / child relationships, toxic relationships, all kinds of addictions, and, as you would expect, they bond in unexpected ways during the course of the retreat.

I really enjoyed it - in some ways it was a light read, but dealing with some heavy issues. Cathy Kelly's writing style is always a joy to read - emotive, easy to read and her characters pull you in straight away.

Thanks to Cathy Kelly, Harper Collins and NetGalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.

[Cora · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a book which let's me escape abroad but there was a bit too much crammed in of the characters' back stories for me and the ending was a bit too neat.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.