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The Island Retreat
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
'[A] wise and calming novel […] And the Corfu setting is so beautifully evoked' Daily Mail
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
'[A] wise and calming novel […] And the Corfu setting is so beautifully evoked' Daily Mail
415 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 26, 2026
About the author
Cathy Kelly
112 books1,132 followersBorn 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
March 11, 2026
‘Nobody can come here and be unchanged’.
Rose Talisman was once a well-known psychologist with her own TV show, but after a dramatic incident, she abruptly left the public eye. Five years later, after regathering herself with her sister, Adriana, she’s ready to try again with the retreat they’ve opened on Corfu. However, although Rose expects forthright honesty from her participants, she’s been holding on to a secret for decades, and now it’s threatening to undo her.
The Island Retreat is a warm, immersive read that delivers exactly what fans of contemporary women’s fiction hope for: engaging characters, emotional journeys, and the reassuring promise of a happy ending.
Cathy Kelly has a particular talent for creating people who feel recognisable and genuine. Each person who arrives at the retreat carries their own complicated history, and the story takes its time revealing the layers of their lives. Kelly balances moments of vulnerability with humour, kindness, and a sense of community among the attendees.
Yes, readers familiar with the genre will anticipate the eventual HEA resolution, but, after all, that’s what the participants came to the retreat for and what we readers enjoy about this genre.
Overall, The Island Retreat is a thoughtful and entertaining piece of chick lit that proves the genre can still deliver emotional depth alongside comfort and escapism.
‘Who we become in spite of everything: that is who we are. The rest of our past is just gossip’.
Rose Talisman was once a well-known psychologist with her own TV show, but after a dramatic incident, she abruptly left the public eye. Five years later, after regathering herself with her sister, Adriana, she’s ready to try again with the retreat they’ve opened on Corfu. However, although Rose expects forthright honesty from her participants, she’s been holding on to a secret for decades, and now it’s threatening to undo her.
The Island Retreat is a warm, immersive read that delivers exactly what fans of contemporary women’s fiction hope for: engaging characters, emotional journeys, and the reassuring promise of a happy ending.
Cathy Kelly has a particular talent for creating people who feel recognisable and genuine. Each person who arrives at the retreat carries their own complicated history, and the story takes its time revealing the layers of their lives. Kelly balances moments of vulnerability with humour, kindness, and a sense of community among the attendees.
Yes, readers familiar with the genre will anticipate the eventual HEA resolution, but, after all, that’s what the participants came to the retreat for and what we readers enjoy about this genre.
Overall, The Island Retreat is a thoughtful and entertaining piece of chick lit that proves the genre can still deliver emotional depth alongside comfort and escapism.
‘Who we become in spite of everything: that is who we are. The rest of our past is just gossip’.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Enjoyable, easy read with likeable characters. Would recommend this to anyone wanting a book with a feel good ending.....
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
⭐️4 Stars⭐️
The Island Retreat: An emotional new novel from the international #1 bestseller by Cathy Kellyis set on the alluring Greek Island of Corfu. Rose Talisman was a successful TV therapist guru and then disaster struck but now she’s opening a luxurious retreat in Corfu along with her sister and her sister’s husband. Villa Artemis is in the village of Xanthe with beautiful sea views and Rose hopes to heal people who require therapy and to renew her own career.
The first retreat held involves six guests with a week to reveal secrets, relationship issues and varied stories, meanwhile Rose is being contacted by someone who knows secrets about her past.
The story is character driven and I enjoyed getting to know each of the characters and their individual problems and I ate up all the drama. I also loved hearing about the details of setting up and the running of the retreat and found it the perfect holiday read! I really need a trip to Greece now after reading this!
Publication Date 24 February 2026
Publisher Harper Collins
Thank you so much Harper Collins Australia for an early copy of the book
The Island Retreat: An emotional new novel from the international #1 bestseller by Cathy Kellyis set on the alluring Greek Island of Corfu. Rose Talisman was a successful TV therapist guru and then disaster struck but now she’s opening a luxurious retreat in Corfu along with her sister and her sister’s husband. Villa Artemis is in the village of Xanthe with beautiful sea views and Rose hopes to heal people who require therapy and to renew her own career.
The first retreat held involves six guests with a week to reveal secrets, relationship issues and varied stories, meanwhile Rose is being contacted by someone who knows secrets about her past.
The story is character driven and I enjoyed getting to know each of the characters and their individual problems and I ate up all the drama. I also loved hearing about the details of setting up and the running of the retreat and found it the perfect holiday read! I really need a trip to Greece now after reading this!
Publication Date 24 February 2026
Publisher Harper Collins
Thank you so much Harper Collins Australia for an early copy of the book
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rose Talisman is starting a new venture. Instead of entertaining the masses on the TV with quick fix therapies, she has opened a retreat for a lucky few who will stay for a week to heal themselves.
Grazia and Bernard are a married couple but Bernard only sees Grazia's problems with her step-children; Keera, a successful singer, is there following her meltdown and time in rehab; India is there to find out why she keeps falling for the wrong men; Dan is simply trying to get the girl who dumped him to take him back; and Dianne is filled with such rage her children are threatening to cut her out of their lives.
But they are not the only ones with secrets. Rose has her own demons and someone seems to have found out. Can she help the "retreaters" without losing everything she's fought so hard to build?
Cathy Kelly gives us a very readable story about learning to understand your own limitations and learning how to stand up for yourself. All the characters are well drawn and (mostly) sympathetic. Its definitely a page turner and I would happily recommend it. While it does delve into some disturbing aspects of human behaviour, it is very entertaining with a satisfying ending.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the digital review copy.
Grazia and Bernard are a married couple but Bernard only sees Grazia's problems with her step-children; Keera, a successful singer, is there following her meltdown and time in rehab; India is there to find out why she keeps falling for the wrong men; Dan is simply trying to get the girl who dumped him to take him back; and Dianne is filled with such rage her children are threatening to cut her out of their lives.
But they are not the only ones with secrets. Rose has her own demons and someone seems to have found out. Can she help the "retreaters" without losing everything she's fought so hard to build?
Cathy Kelly gives us a very readable story about learning to understand your own limitations and learning how to stand up for yourself. All the characters are well drawn and (mostly) sympathetic. Its definitely a page turner and I would happily recommend it. While it does delve into some disturbing aspects of human behaviour, it is very entertaining with a satisfying ending.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the digital review copy.
December 31, 2025
ARC read- thanks to the publishing team and NetGalley for an advanced copy
This was a much easier, lighter read than I was anticipating. Like an episode of death in paradise but without the murder.
I loved the setting and all of the different characters. It was fun to see them all interacting.
The therapy side had some positives and some questionable moments, but it was all very self aware about not being a manual for ideal practice.
A good read to end 2025.
This was a much easier, lighter read than I was anticipating. Like an episode of death in paradise but without the murder.
I loved the setting and all of the different characters. It was fun to see them all interacting.
The therapy side had some positives and some questionable moments, but it was all very self aware about not being a manual for ideal practice.
A good read to end 2025.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Set on the island of Corfu, the once famous TV therapist Rose Talisman, has opened up a luxury retreat.
6 guests arrive, some more enthusiastic than others. Can Rose help them all in just one week?
I found this a very enjoyable and easy read. Each person's story was engaging and kept me interested. I especially liked the interactions between the guests.
It was a very straightforward read. No twists or turns but really great characters that I could visualise. I enjoyed reading this in the depths of winter but I can see this as a popular holiday read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read an advance copy.
6 guests arrive, some more enthusiastic than others. Can Rose help them all in just one week?
I found this a very enjoyable and easy read. Each person's story was engaging and kept me interested. I especially liked the interactions between the guests.
It was a very straightforward read. No twists or turns but really great characters that I could visualise. I enjoyed reading this in the depths of winter but I can see this as a popular holiday read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read an advance copy.
May 9, 2026
4.5 Long time fan of Cathy Kelly. Loved the characters of the story, their humanness and willingness to push themselves out of their comfort zone to become stronger versions of themselves.
January 22, 2026
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.
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.
March 16, 2026
Put this one in your summer reading list! A very readable novel with a good balance of lightness and depth. Rose Talisman, a previously famous tv show therapist, has opened a hotel and is running a retreat on the Greek island of Corfu. Six guests attend and each of them has their own parcel to carry and secrets to hide, but Rose also has a past she doesn’t want people to know…
The scene setting is beautiful; I could imagine myself being there (I also want to go to a retreat in Corfu). I was initially worried about the amount of characters, especially listening to the audio, but it wasn’t an issue at all. The author did a brilliant job at introducing them and keeping them interesting and alive whilst switching between them. The retreat/group therapy set up worked really well, diving into people’s pasts on and off as the story developed.
A very enjoyable read with a slightly cheesy ending, but it kind of worked. It was a real page turner and this would make a perfect holiday read. As mentioned, I did listen to some of this on audio and I can highly recommend that too!
The scene setting is beautiful; I could imagine myself being there (I also want to go to a retreat in Corfu). I was initially worried about the amount of characters, especially listening to the audio, but it wasn’t an issue at all. The author did a brilliant job at introducing them and keeping them interesting and alive whilst switching between them. The retreat/group therapy set up worked really well, diving into people’s pasts on and off as the story developed.
A very enjoyable read with a slightly cheesy ending, but it kind of worked. It was a real page turner and this would make a perfect holiday read. As mentioned, I did listen to some of this on audio and I can highly recommend that too!
February 11, 2026
I have always loved Cathy Kelly books and was excited to read her latest one.
Set in Greece, Rose has started up a retreat, where a group of six strangers come together to share the beautiful surroundings and share the issues they have been trying to resolve in their personal lives.
Rose the main character, offers straight talking therapy which reveals secrets and creates friendships and bonds with everyone attending.
The characters were all wonderfully written. Each with their own backstory. I could relate to each of their issues which were explored in a real and empathetic way.
Overall I enjoyed the book which would make a good summer read.
Set in Greece, Rose has started up a retreat, where a group of six strangers come together to share the beautiful surroundings and share the issues they have been trying to resolve in their personal lives.
Rose the main character, offers straight talking therapy which reveals secrets and creates friendships and bonds with everyone attending.
The characters were all wonderfully written. Each with their own backstory. I could relate to each of their issues which were explored in a real and empathetic way.
Overall I enjoyed the book which would make a good summer read.
March 21, 2026
This was fiiiine but also felt a tad too similar to Nine Perfect Strangers. If I had a bookshelf titled “books you’d happily read if you forgot your kindle and this was available at the Airbnb but you wouldn’t pick if you had all the options in the world” I’d put this straight on it.
February 26, 2026
This book transported me from a wet and windy UK to the sun and sand of Corfu. It felt like a holiday without the airport queues! Rose Talisman and her sister and brother in law set up a retreat for therapy and healing - Villa Artemis. The first six guests all have their own reasons for being there. Secretly Rose hopes to boost her own confidence and fix herself as well as the guests.
I loved this book and cannot believe it is my first book by this author. I loved her characters, the depth of their stories and the overall plot outcome. The writing was real, raw at times and relatable. I enjoyed the themes of friendship, truth, trust and a feeling of warmth, not just from the sun. I could almost smell the bougainvillaea and taste the baklava. It had The Talisman Effect on me!
I loved this book and cannot believe it is my first book by this author. I loved her characters, the depth of their stories and the overall plot outcome. The writing was real, raw at times and relatable. I enjoyed the themes of friendship, truth, trust and a feeling of warmth, not just from the sun. I could almost smell the bougainvillaea and taste the baklava. It had The Talisman Effect on me!
May 20, 2026
Enjoyable, it would make the perfect holiday read
July 13, 2026
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would.
June 24, 2026
Always love a Cathy Kelly book
May 29, 2026
Ok so like, I enjoyed reading this and probably would have given 5 stars if it wasn’t a nine perfect strangers rip off. It was an easy read to keep me entertained
April 26, 2026
Six people gather on a fabulous Greek island, each one hoping that ten days in the sun, writing their life stories, will magically fix their lives. Five years after her career as a tv therapist ended in one catastrophic instant, Rose Talisman is opening a retreat in Corfu. There are six guests, and one week to help them face their secrets.
I’ll start out by saying I had to stop reading this halfway through and pick it back up after I gave birth to my baby so I’m not sure if my experience of reading was skewed or not because of this 🥴
It took me a while to get into reading this book, but after the first 100 pages I was flying. The writing is easy to read and the characters have interesting back stories. However, (and this is a personal preference) I didn’t enjoy how their stories ended. Each character’s conclusion was just too convenient for my liking, and I would have loved a bit more complexity or less of a “happy ending”.
Having said that, I think if you are going away this summer, this could be the perfect poolside book to escape with.
Thanks to @harpercollinsire for sending this my way. 🌅
I’ll start out by saying I had to stop reading this halfway through and pick it back up after I gave birth to my baby so I’m not sure if my experience of reading was skewed or not because of this 🥴
It took me a while to get into reading this book, but after the first 100 pages I was flying. The writing is easy to read and the characters have interesting back stories. However, (and this is a personal preference) I didn’t enjoy how their stories ended. Each character’s conclusion was just too convenient for my liking, and I would have loved a bit more complexity or less of a “happy ending”.
Having said that, I think if you are going away this summer, this could be the perfect poolside book to escape with.
Thanks to @harpercollinsire for sending this my way. 🌅
January 17, 2026
This lovely book was the perfect antidote for dark and cold January.
Synopsis :
Rose Talisman, an ex TV therapist and her sister have created the most perfect escape; a beautiful retreat on the Greek island of Corfu.
For her first retreat, there are 6 guests booked in for a week of therapy and soul searching.
What will these 6 very different people discover about themselves in that week and maybe they aren’t the only ones in Villa Artemis that are running away from their problems. Rose is banking on this new venture being a success as her troubled and secret past may just be starting to catch up with her….
A very enjoyable and engaging read with lots of interesting and quirky characters, some I really liked and others, not so much (I love feeling outraged by an obnoxious character!).
This wasn’t just a story about souvlaki, sea and sunshine but also covered some difficult themes and these were dealt with great sensitivity.
The author’s vivid descriptions of Villa Artemis, the Greek food and the scenery made me want to pack a bag and book a flight as I could picture it all so well.
Thank you so much to Harper Collins for sending me this lovely early copy and I will be thinking about this story when I head off to the Greek islands for some much needed sunshine this coming summer!
UK Publication Date : February 2026
February 15, 2026
Six guests with their own secret struggles and one week to work it out. This is Rose’s fresh start after ‘that’ incident - she’s offering a week long therapy retreat in Corfu. Her guests will divulge their deepest secrets and try to navigate a path forwards. From addictions, to abusive husbands and toxic exes - will their week in the sun end with plans for the future or will it crash down around them. And is it Rose who has the biggest secrets of all?
This was a fast paced intriguing read! I really enjoyed how all the characters backstories and ‘issues’ were explored. We got comprehensive sub-plots featuring all the attendees and really got to know them. This was an interesting setting - with the group therapies and gradual unfolded secrets - and kept my attention. I liked how the characters interacted and supported each other and the bonds they created.
I loved the setting of this! Sunshine is just what I needed in this rainy and dreary February. I really liked the picturesque Corfu setting and it added so much to the overall themes and setting of the book.
Overall a fast paced interesting read!
ARC copy provided by HarperCollins & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This was a fast paced intriguing read! I really enjoyed how all the characters backstories and ‘issues’ were explored. We got comprehensive sub-plots featuring all the attendees and really got to know them. This was an interesting setting - with the group therapies and gradual unfolded secrets - and kept my attention. I liked how the characters interacted and supported each other and the bonds they created.
I loved the setting of this! Sunshine is just what I needed in this rainy and dreary February. I really liked the picturesque Corfu setting and it added so much to the overall themes and setting of the book.
Overall a fast paced interesting read!
ARC copy provided by HarperCollins & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'm sorry to say I didn't enjoy this.
Six people sign up for a therapy retreat.
Each have their own problems, and we hear throughout the book the unravelling.
I really liked the characters Jeera and India.
I found Dan to be very weak. He definitely needed to have his eyes opened.
Then there is Bernard and his wife Grazia. He only came along for his wife. He was the least likeable. I found him to be obnoxious, rude, and arrogant. I must admit that when his secret is revealed, I did laugh. Poor Grazia.
Then there is Dianne. It's hard to like her at the beginning as she is just so angry all the time. Understandable when we find out what she has been bottling up for years.
The retreat sounds idyllic. Set on the island of Corfu and run by Rose, her sister and brother-in-law. But even Rose as the therapist has her own demons.
I have read the Sisterhood, which I enjoyed immensely. I won't give up on this author as I'm sure this was probably a one-off for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for the invitation to read this in return for an honest review.
Six people sign up for a therapy retreat.
Each have their own problems, and we hear throughout the book the unravelling.
I really liked the characters Jeera and India.
I found Dan to be very weak. He definitely needed to have his eyes opened.
Then there is Bernard and his wife Grazia. He only came along for his wife. He was the least likeable. I found him to be obnoxious, rude, and arrogant. I must admit that when his secret is revealed, I did laugh. Poor Grazia.
Then there is Dianne. It's hard to like her at the beginning as she is just so angry all the time. Understandable when we find out what she has been bottling up for years.
The retreat sounds idyllic. Set on the island of Corfu and run by Rose, her sister and brother-in-law. But even Rose as the therapist has her own demons.
I have read the Sisterhood, which I enjoyed immensely. I won't give up on this author as I'm sure this was probably a one-off for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for the invitation to read this in return for an honest review.
March 5, 2026
I'm always excited for a new Cathy Kelly book, and I am a sucker for anything set in Greece! Rose Talisman is a former TV therapist (think Dr Phil) who is opening a retreat in Corfu that will run week-long group therapy sessions. Rose loves helping people face their secrets and heal themselves, but she's got a lot riding on this being a success. We follow the six initial participants over the week and learn about their troubles and see them start to understand how they can heal and move forward. Rose has her own secrets too, and the retreat might help her in ways she didn't expect.
Overall, I enjoyed this, but I didn't love it as much as other CK books. It took me a while to wrap my head around all the different characters, and it tackled some deep topics that I wasn't prepared for. The scenery is stunning though, and it was wonderful to see each participant undergo growth and make friendships with one another. I think this will either be a book you love or hate, but it'd definitely one worth reading, especially if you're a fan of Cathy's books in general.
Overall, I enjoyed this, but I didn't love it as much as other CK books. It took me a while to wrap my head around all the different characters, and it tackled some deep topics that I wasn't prepared for. The scenery is stunning though, and it was wonderful to see each participant undergo growth and make friendships with one another. I think this will either be a book you love or hate, but it'd definitely one worth reading, especially if you're a fan of Cathy's books in general.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you @netgalley and @cathykellybooks for sending me an invite to read this eArc.
Rose Talisman is looking for a fresh start. Five years after her show as a tv therapist ends, she is looking for a fresh start and she is hanging her hopes on an healing retreat on the island of Corfu with her sister and partner.
Enter the six guests. Each comes with a lot of baggage. Keera is running from addiction, India is trying to work out the direction of her life, Dan is working out his relationship with his ex, Grazia and Bernard have issues in their marriage and Dianne is being made to attend to deal with her unexplained rage. Can Rose help them move forward?
The premise is a pretty simple one, and is a pretty pleasant read. It has some funny parts, but also deals with some heavy subjects and there is some mystery included when it comes to the guests secrets.
I would recommend this if you wanted a nice, meaningful read in parts.
Rose Talisman is looking for a fresh start. Five years after her show as a tv therapist ends, she is looking for a fresh start and she is hanging her hopes on an healing retreat on the island of Corfu with her sister and partner.
Enter the six guests. Each comes with a lot of baggage. Keera is running from addiction, India is trying to work out the direction of her life, Dan is working out his relationship with his ex, Grazia and Bernard have issues in their marriage and Dianne is being made to attend to deal with her unexplained rage. Can Rose help them move forward?
The premise is a pretty simple one, and is a pretty pleasant read. It has some funny parts, but also deals with some heavy subjects and there is some mystery included when it comes to the guests secrets.
I would recommend this if you wanted a nice, meaningful read in parts.
March 25, 2026
An enjoyable book, by an author I have read many times. After her TV career ended following an incident on her show, Rose, with her sister and brother-in-law, starts a new venture on the island of Corfu. As a therapist, she still wants to help people and hopes that the new, wonderful sounding Villa Artemis the family have poured their heart, soul and money into setting up, will be a success. Six guests arrive, all with their own issues and as a group, they set to work on trying to help with these. The stories behind each of the guests are varied and I love how Rose deals with them all. Her nature and way of working is wonderful and friendships are also formed along the way between the guests, with them helping each other too. The descriptions of the island have certainly made me add it to my list of "Must visit" as well!
April 18, 2026
The Island Retreat was such a breath of fresh air in the women's fiction genre- set in the idyllic Greek Island of Corfu a retreat being run by a famous woman known as Rose Talisman who promises the various individuals who have come to the island that they will leave there with a better insight on their lives.
While they are there each person manages to take a step back and really look at their lives and come to terms they need to make changes for the better.
I found the plot to be immersive and well written and the characters were all likeable except for the grumpy and downright mean Bernard.
This is my first foray into the work of Cathy Kelly and it won't be my last.
Thankyou to Netgalley, Harper Collins as well as the author Cathy Kelly for an arc of this wonderful book.
While they are there each person manages to take a step back and really look at their lives and come to terms they need to make changes for the better.
I found the plot to be immersive and well written and the characters were all likeable except for the grumpy and downright mean Bernard.
This is my first foray into the work of Cathy Kelly and it won't be my last.
Thankyou to Netgalley, Harper Collins as well as the author Cathy Kelly for an arc of this wonderful book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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December 20, 2025If Cathy Kelly's stellar writing career ever falters she could always become a therapist.
Showing empathy and wisdom, Kelly introduced me (and many others I'm sure) to the concept of limerence, as former TV therapist Rose gets to work on the first clients at her island retreat.
We sit back and wait for the clients to arrive and for their stories to unfurl, while luxuriating in the Corfu sunshine and the high end decor of Rose's villa.
I love the way that Kelly doesn't allow Rose 100% success, keeping it real. And Rose herself has an intriguing back story.
Filled with charm and commonsense, I loved it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advance digital copy.
Showing empathy and wisdom, Kelly introduced me (and many others I'm sure) to the concept of limerence, as former TV therapist Rose gets to work on the first clients at her island retreat.
We sit back and wait for the clients to arrive and for their stories to unfurl, while luxuriating in the Corfu sunshine and the high end decor of Rose's villa.
I love the way that Kelly doesn't allow Rose 100% success, keeping it real. And Rose herself has an intriguing back story.
Filled with charm and commonsense, I loved it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advance digital copy.
April 19, 2026
I normally love Cathy Kelly's novels, but this one, I wasn't feeling at all.
I'm not a fan of character back stories, and Rose's story just got in the way of the goings-on in Corfu. When her dark, dark secret eventually came out, I almost laughed out loud. A total damp squib.
Sometimes, it felt a bit of a chore to pick up the book and continue, but I soldiered on.
And the ending? It was almost as if the author got 400 pages in and thought, right, let's get this wrapped up.
I won't stop reading Ms Kelly's books, but I'm hoping for better in the future.
I'm not a fan of character back stories, and Rose's story just got in the way of the goings-on in Corfu. When her dark, dark secret eventually came out, I almost laughed out loud. A total damp squib.
Sometimes, it felt a bit of a chore to pick up the book and continue, but I soldiered on.
And the ending? It was almost as if the author got 400 pages in and thought, right, let's get this wrapped up.
I won't stop reading Ms Kelly's books, but I'm hoping for better in the future.
March 25, 2026
My least favourite Cathy Kelly book - I have read them all. Too many main characters, which resulted in a lack of depth. Still an ok read
March 26, 2026
found it quite boring
April 17, 2026
I think I read a different book than everybody else did bc I did not enjoy this much at all?
March 4, 2026
4.5*
This is a great story by Cathy Kelly, one that I found difficult to put down.
Rose Talisman had a job that she loved, a job that she believed in, a job that gentle Rose was good at, she was a therapist helping millions by way of a nationwide TV show, but the show was becoming commercialised, and after one disastrous incident, Rose lost not only the show but the boyfriend that she adored.
Five years later, older and wiser, Rose, along with her sister and brother in law, decided to set up a retreat in the beautiful Villa Artemis. The villa, on the stunning Greek island of Corfu, was set among pine forests and overlooking the sparkling Ionian sea, this was going to be a place where people came to heal, to face their demons, the start of their journey to a calm, fulfilling life.
The villa was open to six people, Rose was nervous, she had put everything into this venture, it had to succeed.
The first residents began to arrive, and a more complex and divergent set of individuals was hard to imagine..........had Rose bitten off more than she could chew ?
Diane, whose anger was getting out of control, an anger that worried her daughters, Diane didn't really want to be here, no way was she divulging her secrets.
Keera, a successful singer whose star was on the wain, a singer who had relied on drugs, alcohol and rehab to survive, a singer managed by her controlling mother, a mother who wanted to live her own failed career through her daughter, a mother who wouldn't let go.
India, beautiful, talented, India who heard wedding bells and saw babies at the beginning of every new, destined to fail, relationship.
Neuroscientist, Dan, obsessed with his girlfriend Julia, the girlfriend who he had known forever, the girlfriend who used him and dumped him.
Lastly, married couple, wealthy, older businessman, Bernard and he beautiful trophy wife, Grazia. Grazia loved arrogant Bernard, but both he, and his children, treated her abysmally, this retreat would either make or break them.
This is a beautifully written book, with well rounded, complex, but mostly likeable characters, the author had done a brilliant job researching the ins and outs of therapy, she made the gentle Rose seem real.
Thank you Harper Collins and Net Gallery for this ARC, my review is voluntary and I thoroughly recommend this book.
This is a great story by Cathy Kelly, one that I found difficult to put down.
Rose Talisman had a job that she loved, a job that she believed in, a job that gentle Rose was good at, she was a therapist helping millions by way of a nationwide TV show, but the show was becoming commercialised, and after one disastrous incident, Rose lost not only the show but the boyfriend that she adored.
Five years later, older and wiser, Rose, along with her sister and brother in law, decided to set up a retreat in the beautiful Villa Artemis. The villa, on the stunning Greek island of Corfu, was set among pine forests and overlooking the sparkling Ionian sea, this was going to be a place where people came to heal, to face their demons, the start of their journey to a calm, fulfilling life.
The villa was open to six people, Rose was nervous, she had put everything into this venture, it had to succeed.
The first residents began to arrive, and a more complex and divergent set of individuals was hard to imagine..........had Rose bitten off more than she could chew ?
Diane, whose anger was getting out of control, an anger that worried her daughters, Diane didn't really want to be here, no way was she divulging her secrets.
Keera, a successful singer whose star was on the wain, a singer who had relied on drugs, alcohol and rehab to survive, a singer managed by her controlling mother, a mother who wanted to live her own failed career through her daughter, a mother who wouldn't let go.
India, beautiful, talented, India who heard wedding bells and saw babies at the beginning of every new, destined to fail, relationship.
Neuroscientist, Dan, obsessed with his girlfriend Julia, the girlfriend who he had known forever, the girlfriend who used him and dumped him.
Lastly, married couple, wealthy, older businessman, Bernard and he beautiful trophy wife, Grazia. Grazia loved arrogant Bernard, but both he, and his children, treated her abysmally, this retreat would either make or break them.
This is a beautifully written book, with well rounded, complex, but mostly likeable characters, the author had done a brilliant job researching the ins and outs of therapy, she made the gentle Rose seem real.
Thank you Harper Collins and Net Gallery for this ARC, my review is voluntary and I thoroughly recommend this book.
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