The Greek Café: An absolutely gorgeous and feel-good summer holiday romance

by Sue Roberts

Tucked away on the edge of a lemon grove is a long-forgotten café overlooking a glittering blue sea. Erin gazes at the For Sale sign leaning against the faded blue door. Could this be the place to finally start over?

Newly single Erin is desperately in need of a fresh start. So when the opportunity to work at a holiday resort on a sun-soaked Greek island comes her way, she can’t say no. Even if it was the last place she visited with her ex-boyfriend…

A summer escape is just what Erin needs but forgetting her broken heart seems impossible. Then she stumbles across a charming old café hidden at the bottom of a forgotten lemon grove and feels instantly drawn to it. Despite the blue paint flaking on the door, she feels sure this is the place to help mend her heart.

Using all the savings she has, Erin decides to bring the café back to life with the help of sexy local boatsman, Takis. His broad shoulders and dark brown eyes make her stomach flutter. And as they work together to restore the café, Erin imagines what life could look like if she left her heartache in the past…

But just as Erin’s feelings for Takis begin to grow, a storm sweeps in and threatens to destroy everything they’ve worked for. Is this a sign Erin should book the next flight home? Or should she give this gorgeous island and love a second chance?

Get ready to be swept away to the blue skies, golden sands and lapping waves of Greece in this gorgeous, feel-good novel. Perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan, Kate Frost and Mandy Baggot.

What readers are saying about Sue

‘OMG I loved this!! I was transported to a gorgeous Greek island… Glorious… I simply adore this book… Absolutely beautiful. The perfect book to read at the pool or even better at the beach!’ loris2littlelibrary, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Absolutely fantastically gorgeous… I read it in one sitting… Heart-warming… I was truly whisked away to Greece feeling the sand on my feet… I absolutely loved the gorgeous atmosphere… Absolutely perfect.’ Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I loved this… Absolutely gorgeous… unputdownable… There is no way you aren’t going to love this… It lightened my world for even the VERY short time it took for me to read it.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Nothing is better than delving into a Sue Roberts escapism read… A fabulous, light-hearted fun read… Made me feel like I was stepping through the cobbles of Greece on a summer’s evening.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A heart-warming read that will transport you to the sunny shores of Greece… Recommended for anyone in need of a feel-good story with a perfect blend of humour, romance, and a touch of Greek magic.

Genres: Romance

295 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication August 20, 2026

About the author

Sue was born in Liverpool and moved to Lancashire as a teenager where she has lived ever since. She has written three books, the third 'My Summer of love and limoncello.' will be published on March 6th and she is busy working on a fourth book. When not busy writing, Sue spends her time with her ever growing family. She enjoys walking, cinema and travelling. Her first book 'My Big Greek Summer.' was inspired by frequent visits to the Island of Rhodes in Greece. All Sue's books are available from Amazon in kindle and paperback format.

Reviews

[Roz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written romantic comedy set in Greece, which evokes the sounds and smells of the Mediterranean from its pages.

The protagonist Erin has escaped to Greece as her life is running away with her. Finding a job in a hotel she immediately discovers a cafe which has been left unused and is entranced by the lemon grove setting.

Although the story itself is easy to predict the telling of it is woven so well you won’t want to put the book down. The characters come easily to mind when reading and you can almost taste the food and drink that is served in the sunshine.

This is the perfect summer romance escape, one to read while on a beach or at home and imagining you are.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely escapist summer read with engaging characters and a story of hope and second chances and that you never know what is round the corner and a reminder that life is for living and to embrace any opportunities that might arise. As usual this author makes you feel like you are actually in Greece and sampling its delicacies with the sun soaking into your skin via their beautiful descriptive writing and way with words.

If your having a stay cation then this is the perfect summer read to transport you to other places and make you feel like you are on holiday.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very nice cozy read.
Erin has been made redundant and is recovering from a breakup with her boyfriend so decides to go on an adventure . She gets a job as a lifeguard in a hotel in Greece. She makes lots of nice friends and buys a old cafe in need of renovation. The descriptions of Greece and the weather are lovely the characters are fun and with a dash of romance this is a great read
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for my arc copy