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The Final Summer of Vodka: The Marmaris Diaries
Meet Lei. She is a Thirty something British wannabe socialite living in Marmaris / Turkey, looking for 'the one' - if such a thing actually exists? But who is she really? Well, she is your sister, that crazy young auntie, your best friend, your niece, your daughter. Lei is you. Like most at some stage in life, Lei is thwarted by an ex. In fact, she plagued by the love/hate that she has for him and desperately wants to move on with her life, but somehow manages to trip over him at every turn. Damn that dong. What is it with ex's though? They don't want you but don't want anyone else to have you either? Men, ugghhhhh...So, Lei sets a goal at the start of the diary to have gotten over the ex and to find 'the one' by the end of the Summer season. Over the course of the Summer she meets some very interesting suitors, but with all the 'Mr.Right Now's' and hangovers clouding her judgement, is she able to find what she is looking for?Unleash your inner wild child and follow Lei, her dog Gucci and her team of 'Mingers' while they meander their way through the Summer's ups and downs, Lei's love of dear friends, the love of dear booze, all in the quest for the love of dear love. Recommended for 16+ and is most certainly not for the easily offended.
227 pages, Paperback
Published July 8, 2016
18 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 21, 2017
Louise Bell’s novel The Final Summer of Vodka is a light-hearted romp through the alcohol fuelled nights and hangover daze of 30 year old single Brit Lei who lives in Marmaris, Turkey. Having already met, split from, got back together with, broken up with again The Turkish One (aka Mr Wrong) about a zillion times, she’s looking for Mr Right, but no matter how much vodka she consumes, The One stays in her heart and mind. As a result, she’s decided to give herself one last summer to find the real Mr Right.
Unfortunately, Lei has the ability to fixate on the wrong type of guy like a well-trained homing pigeon. Even when all the signs are screaming “Wrong Way, Go Back!” in bright neon lights, she goes out on dates with men she knows in advance aren’t her type, don’t turn her on and don’t even speak English, desperately trying to make them into the man of her dreams. Even when she realises she’s met her match, he’s Mr Wrong too.
The Final Summer of Vodka is written in diary form, full of spelling mistakes, half-finished sentences and lots of swearing, which make the reader feel they have a privileged glimpse into Lei’s private life. There are some brilliant lines like “We ended up snogging on the sofa like a pair of mentally disturbed teenagers filled with angst”, and “After consuming enough alcohol to have powered a village for three years we headed down to bar street”, which made me snort with laughter. However I wanted more to know more about the other people in the book. I think The Final Summer of Vodka would have benefitted from the other characters in story being developed more fully so we’d get a better sense of Lei’s motley crew of off again on again friends (think about your teenage BFF relationships – only forever until you fight - and you’ll get the picture).
That said, if you’ve ever found yourself weeping hysterically on the couch at five in the morning after a Saturday night bender, frantically texting the man you call a “Bastard”, with no affection intended, for the last time, ever, really never again, until next time, then this book is for you.
Unfortunately, Lei has the ability to fixate on the wrong type of guy like a well-trained homing pigeon. Even when all the signs are screaming “Wrong Way, Go Back!” in bright neon lights, she goes out on dates with men she knows in advance aren’t her type, don’t turn her on and don’t even speak English, desperately trying to make them into the man of her dreams. Even when she realises she’s met her match, he’s Mr Wrong too.
The Final Summer of Vodka is written in diary form, full of spelling mistakes, half-finished sentences and lots of swearing, which make the reader feel they have a privileged glimpse into Lei’s private life. There are some brilliant lines like “We ended up snogging on the sofa like a pair of mentally disturbed teenagers filled with angst”, and “After consuming enough alcohol to have powered a village for three years we headed down to bar street”, which made me snort with laughter. However I wanted more to know more about the other people in the book. I think The Final Summer of Vodka would have benefitted from the other characters in story being developed more fully so we’d get a better sense of Lei’s motley crew of off again on again friends (think about your teenage BFF relationships – only forever until you fight - and you’ll get the picture).
That said, if you’ve ever found yourself weeping hysterically on the couch at five in the morning after a Saturday night bender, frantically texting the man you call a “Bastard”, with no affection intended, for the last time, ever, really never again, until next time, then this book is for you.
July 29, 2018
Marmaris memories
I holiday in Marmaris every year and by the end of the second week I lie on my lounger google searching jobs there.
I enjoyed reading this book for the Marmaris mentions and the perspective of someone who lives there all year round... I look forward to reading Lei’s second diary before returning to Marmaris at the end of the month.
Just one small moan, as a teacher I found the typos and spelling mistakes hard to ignore.
I holiday in Marmaris every year and by the end of the second week I lie on my lounger google searching jobs there.
I enjoyed reading this book for the Marmaris mentions and the perspective of someone who lives there all year round... I look forward to reading Lei’s second diary before returning to Marmaris at the end of the month.
Just one small moan, as a teacher I found the typos and spelling mistakes hard to ignore.
December 30, 2019
Love it
I absolutely love it cant believe I've read it in one day can't wait to read more from going to marmaris myself for 17 years every bit of it's true.
I absolutely love it cant believe I've read it in one day can't wait to read more from going to marmaris myself for 17 years every bit of it's true.
April 2, 2024
Addictive
Excellent book. Can relate to it so much. Made me laugh so much and I could relate. Would just not use the word ‘alas’ so much. Can’t wait for the follow up .
Excellent book. Can relate to it so much. Made me laugh so much and I could relate. Would just not use the word ‘alas’ so much. Can’t wait for the follow up .
December 13, 2016
Not normally the type of book that I would read. However, I know the author and had a great season in Cyprus working with her as a holiday rep a few years ago. Therefore I gave it a go.
It was amusing and I enjoyed it. A bit Bridget Jones does Turkey but none the worse for that. Louise may say it is not autobiographical but it comes close at times.
A good first novel, it would make an entertaining rom com.
It was amusing and I enjoyed it. A bit Bridget Jones does Turkey but none the worse for that. Louise may say it is not autobiographical but it comes close at times.
A good first novel, it would make an entertaining rom com.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews