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My Mama Mia Summer by Annie Robertson
One summer... One dream...
One chance to make it happen.
Laurel hasn't taken a risk her whole life. Now as the summertime dawns, she's going to do something that nobody expects of her. As she and her grandmother, Marnie, always loved to, Laurel turns to her ABBA albums and her favourite film, Mamma Mia! She grabs her passport, dons her dungarees, and jets off to Skopelos for her own Meryl-inspired adventure...
Laurel books into the faded but charming Villa Athena and befriends its eccentric owner. As she explores the island's famous sights, Laurel finds herself feeling strangely at home. So should she return to her life in London, or could this be where she truly belongs?
This summer dust off your passport, pack your best dancing shoes, and escape to Greece on your own Mamma Mia adventure! The perfect summertime read for fans of Karen Swan, Holly Hepburn and Isabelle Broom.
One chance to make it happen.
Laurel hasn't taken a risk her whole life. Now as the summertime dawns, she's going to do something that nobody expects of her. As she and her grandmother, Marnie, always loved to, Laurel turns to her ABBA albums and her favourite film, Mamma Mia! She grabs her passport, dons her dungarees, and jets off to Skopelos for her own Meryl-inspired adventure...
Laurel books into the faded but charming Villa Athena and befriends its eccentric owner. As she explores the island's famous sights, Laurel finds herself feeling strangely at home. So should she return to her life in London, or could this be where she truly belongs?
This summer dust off your passport, pack your best dancing shoes, and escape to Greece on your own Mamma Mia adventure! The perfect summertime read for fans of Karen Swan, Holly Hepburn and Isabelle Broom.
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First published June 21, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
September 6, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
Cute summer read! 🥰
Cute summer read! 🥰
July 5, 2018
As a massive fan of Mamma Mia (the show and the film), in addition to a lover of fiction where there is a Greek Holiday, I was instantly drawn to this summery looking book.
Within the first few pages of the book, I knew I had made the right decision. I was drawn into the story practically from the first few pages, and loved every moment of the book since. It is in fact a shame it had to end.
Laurel and her grandmother Marnie, had always intended to visit Skopelos where Mamma Mia was filmed, but they kept putting it off until it was no longer possible, so when Laurel is forced to take holiday leave from work she decides to go to honour Marnie's memory.
From the moment she steps onto the plane, we are treated to a whole host of wonderful characters, fabulous scenery more references to Mamma Mia than perhaps is health to put into a book, but all the more enjoyable for their presence.
If anything I would say if you haven't seen the film some of the references and parallels that are drawn may go completely over your head, but for those that have, you will love every second of this as, I did.
Laurel soon makes a host of new friends, and Athena at the Villa Athena is a marvellous character, the scenery on the island is spectacular, and as you would expect there is plenty of great food too.
This is a perfect summer read, or a pick me up in winter when you are longing for sunnier weather. Full of humour and emotion too, this is just an all around fabulous fun book to read.
This is the first book I have read by Annie Robertson, and it certainly won't be the last.
Make your mind up, and spend some Money, Money, Money, on this book that will have you thanking Abba for the Music, while you spend time with Annie the Dancing Queen, and find out if Laurel really does have a dream!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Orion for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Within the first few pages of the book, I knew I had made the right decision. I was drawn into the story practically from the first few pages, and loved every moment of the book since. It is in fact a shame it had to end.
Laurel and her grandmother Marnie, had always intended to visit Skopelos where Mamma Mia was filmed, but they kept putting it off until it was no longer possible, so when Laurel is forced to take holiday leave from work she decides to go to honour Marnie's memory.
From the moment she steps onto the plane, we are treated to a whole host of wonderful characters, fabulous scenery more references to Mamma Mia than perhaps is health to put into a book, but all the more enjoyable for their presence.
If anything I would say if you haven't seen the film some of the references and parallels that are drawn may go completely over your head, but for those that have, you will love every second of this as, I did.
Laurel soon makes a host of new friends, and Athena at the Villa Athena is a marvellous character, the scenery on the island is spectacular, and as you would expect there is plenty of great food too.
This is a perfect summer read, or a pick me up in winter when you are longing for sunnier weather. Full of humour and emotion too, this is just an all around fabulous fun book to read.
This is the first book I have read by Annie Robertson, and it certainly won't be the last.
Make your mind up, and spend some Money, Money, Money, on this book that will have you thanking Abba for the Music, while you spend time with Annie the Dancing Queen, and find out if Laurel really does have a dream!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Orion for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
August 29, 2018
A Super Trouper of a summer read!
This was an easy holiday read that ticked all the boxes. Slightly sad and disillusioned-with-life heroine, feisty old Greek Athena and her run down holiday villa, middle-aged Brit abroad, newly-weds with a baby on the way and a mysterious sort-of hot author. Throw all these characters in with the inhabitants of Skopelos plus the Abba soundtrack and movie memories and you have a great Greek pick-me-up!
This was an easy holiday read that ticked all the boxes. Slightly sad and disillusioned-with-life heroine, feisty old Greek Athena and her run down holiday villa, middle-aged Brit abroad, newly-weds with a baby on the way and a mysterious sort-of hot author. Throw all these characters in with the inhabitants of Skopelos plus the Abba soundtrack and movie memories and you have a great Greek pick-me-up!
August 26, 2020
Perfect summer read! My heart is full, and even I didn't get vitamin sea this year, I feel like I just came back from Greece. Sweet summer book, that made me watch the Mamma Mia movie one more time.
And one thing is for sure, I have new destination on my travel bucket list.
And one thing is for sure, I have new destination on my travel bucket list.
October 27, 2021
I had high expectations for this book. I don't know why, probably because of the title, because I am a huge fan of the Mamma Mia movies, so i was a little disappointed. The ending was cute though.
August 31, 2021
*3.25?
August 20, 2020
Sweet story, makes me want to visit Skopelos to see it for myself.
June 4, 2020
Like it purely for nostalgic reasons and because I love the Mamma Mia movies. Other than that and beachy vibes, this doesn't stand out in any other way.
February 25, 2024
See raamat oli väga kerge ja kiire lugemine. Raamatus oli palju kurbust, mis tõi lugedes mitmel korral pisara silma. Samas oli Laurelil julgus, soov ja tahe teha elus kannapööre. Kõigepealt reisida kohta, mida vanaemaga koos sooviti külastada, mida vanaema kirjeldas ja nimetas kui Laureli ema ja isa tutvumiskohaks ja unistuste elukohaks. Kuid saatus tahtis muud ja Laurel kaotas vanaema haiguse tagajärjel. Seega reisile ja muutustele elus tuli tal üksi vastu minna. Tal oli kogu aeg kuklas mõte/soovitus, mida vanaema ütles- „ela oma elu, mitte teiste elu, ära lase teiste eludel end segada“. Tutvused, mis juba reisi alguses tekkisid olid pöörased kuid samas kasumlikud. Oli imekspanevaid otsuseid, julgeid ettevõtmisi jm.
Kreeke, Skopelose saar, Villa Athena, ABBA ja Mamma Mia rajad, uued tutvused, armumised, nudistide rand, riskide võtmine jm kas on see kõik seda väärt, kas see on koht kuhu jääda või pöörduda tagasi harjumuslikku Londoni ellu. Mõtle, mida teeksid sina, kas oleksid selleks kõigeks valmis?
Üks suvi… Üks unistus… üks võimalus see täita.
Kreeke, Skopelose saar, Villa Athena, ABBA ja Mamma Mia rajad, uued tutvused, armumised, nudistide rand, riskide võtmine jm kas on see kõik seda väärt, kas see on koht kuhu jääda või pöörduda tagasi harjumuslikku Londoni ellu. Mõtle, mida teeksid sina, kas oleksid selleks kõigeks valmis?
Üks suvi… Üks unistus… üks võimalus see täita.
August 26, 2018
An enjoyable holiday Read
3stars as the book is above average but still a rather obvious ending. Quite a few characters with their own histories, problems and solutions. I enjoyed reading over 4 or 5 days, not exactly gripping nor exciting, but a nice story, especially if you like Greece.
3stars as the book is above average but still a rather obvious ending. Quite a few characters with their own histories, problems and solutions. I enjoyed reading over 4 or 5 days, not exactly gripping nor exciting, but a nice story, especially if you like Greece.
March 28, 2022
A MOVIE ABT THIS WHEN?
September 11, 2018
2.75/5
Though this book sets out to be a nice,easy read and an omage to Mamma Mia and does that wonderfully,there isn't exactly much going for it.I wasn't sure just how high of a rating to give it simply because I don't think it's trying to present itself as this important piece of writing that will shape generations to come,but rather is just something there to uplift you when times are a bit rough; and it does do that,so should I rate it higher even though I wasn't that into it?Who knows
Though I noticed that between waiting in airports and being on planes/buses/etc,I did manage to read close to 200 pages without noticing throughout one rather eventful day,I did find myself slacking once back home and alone with the book.It no longer really pulled me in,it felt like it dragged on and,although the resolution felt obvious before the story even began,it still felt a little forced and just ... there.
I don't quite know what to tell you except that if you,too,are a Mamma Mia fan in need of something quick to read (and would appreciate the most random Abba/Meryl references thrown in at the most random of times),it might be worth it to give this book a shot!
Though this book sets out to be a nice,easy read and an omage to Mamma Mia and does that wonderfully,there isn't exactly much going for it.I wasn't sure just how high of a rating to give it simply because I don't think it's trying to present itself as this important piece of writing that will shape generations to come,but rather is just something there to uplift you when times are a bit rough; and it does do that,so should I rate it higher even though I wasn't that into it?Who knows
Though I noticed that between waiting in airports and being on planes/buses/etc,I did manage to read close to 200 pages without noticing throughout one rather eventful day,I did find myself slacking once back home and alone with the book.It no longer really pulled me in,it felt like it dragged on and,although the resolution felt obvious before the story even began,it still felt a little forced and just ... there.
I don't quite know what to tell you except that if you,too,are a Mamma Mia fan in need of something quick to read (and would appreciate the most random Abba/Meryl references thrown in at the most random of times),it might be worth it to give this book a shot!
March 14, 2021
V kolikor želite brati res romantično zgodbo, ki je popolna pravljica, potem je to knjiga kot nalašč za vas.
Sama sicer nimam prav nič proti romantiki, v kolikor ima vsebino plus še nekaj več No, v tej knjigi nisem našla nekaj več. Gre za preprosto, brezupno romantično, neživljensko in nerealno pravljico, in nič več. Zdi se, kot bi bila napisana na hitro, in zgolj, ker je avtorica našla dobro tržno nišo ljubiteljev filma Mamma Mia in Abbe, kakor je tudi glavna junakinja v knjigi navdušena nad njimi. Nekaj opisov Skopelosa sicer je, nekaj krajev, ki so bili v filmu tudi. Želja, da bi se znašel tam, je bila seveda tudi pri meni prisotna. Pa vendar; v knjigi je toliko srečnih koncev, da je to res malce preveč; prijateljstva, in to ne eno, temveč več njih, se v samo enem dnevu spremenijo v vseživljenjska, konec predvidljiv, presenečenj ni.
Se pa knjiga bere lepo in tekoče... Ko bi bila vmes kakšna skrivnost, kakšen korenit zaplet, kakšen srečen konec manj... bi bila veliko bolj verjetna.
Sama sicer nimam prav nič proti romantiki, v kolikor ima vsebino plus še nekaj več No, v tej knjigi nisem našla nekaj več. Gre za preprosto, brezupno romantično, neživljensko in nerealno pravljico, in nič več. Zdi se, kot bi bila napisana na hitro, in zgolj, ker je avtorica našla dobro tržno nišo ljubiteljev filma Mamma Mia in Abbe, kakor je tudi glavna junakinja v knjigi navdušena nad njimi. Nekaj opisov Skopelosa sicer je, nekaj krajev, ki so bili v filmu tudi. Želja, da bi se znašel tam, je bila seveda tudi pri meni prisotna. Pa vendar; v knjigi je toliko srečnih koncev, da je to res malce preveč; prijateljstva, in to ne eno, temveč več njih, se v samo enem dnevu spremenijo v vseživljenjska, konec predvidljiv, presenečenj ni.
Se pa knjiga bere lepo in tekoče... Ko bi bila vmes kakšna skrivnost, kakšen korenit zaplet, kakšen srečen konec manj... bi bila veliko bolj verjetna.
June 2, 2025
Omg what a sensational book!
July 20, 2025
lovely, would read again
August 28, 2025
palju abbat, palju kreekat ja palju tegevusi. kerge lugemine. oligi mamma mia suve unistus. meeldis :)
December 21, 2018
Feel good beautiful read
What a fantastic book. It's written so well that you don't realise how far you have gotten as it entrances you into the story looking in and watching it unfold with intrigue. Beautiful storyline I think everybody can relate to. Leaves you swing with every page.
What a fantastic book. It's written so well that you don't realise how far you have gotten as it entrances you into the story looking in and watching it unfold with intrigue. Beautiful storyline I think everybody can relate to. Leaves you swing with every page.
July 5, 2022
Loved this so much. Makes me want to go and stay a villa Athena!!
Read
August 16, 2024Лорел, по смртта на баба и Мерил ќе замине на остров Скопелос во Грција. Какви незаборавни моменти ќе помине таму? Што ќе открие во вила Атена? Каква одлука ќе донесе за нејзин живот во иднина, којшто и се измени со пристигнување таму? Дали ќе успее да помогне во нејзини намери за љубовта на пријатели? Но, што ќе се случи на љубовно поле и кај нејзе?
August 12, 2018
With the Mamma Mia sequel being released this summer this made the perfect holiday read for me. I loved the original film and am an Abba fan. This made the book a lovely, warm read- making you picture the amazing setting and joining Laurel on her amazing trip. They must have had a real upsurge in bookings since the film and it's easy to imagine why. I just loved everything about this book- it left me with the same cosy feeling as the film does and I can imagine picking it up to reread when I need to feel a bit of summer magic in the coming months.
August 30, 2024
A feel good easy read
August 8, 2018
Cute story
I liked the overall premise of this book, and making Mamma MIa the backdrop of the tale was a great idea. This was a cute and fun story.
I liked the overall premise of this book, and making Mamma MIa the backdrop of the tale was a great idea. This was a cute and fun story.
June 17, 2020
Wow and wow is all I can say. This is the first book I have read by Annie Robertson and it certainly won’t be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed it and couldn’t put it down.
I absolutely loved the main character Laurel and thought she was great.
This book transported me to Greece and it felt like I was on holiday.
I definitely recommend this book. I really can’t wait to read Annie Robertson’s next book.
I absolutely loved the main character Laurel and thought she was great.
This book transported me to Greece and it felt like I was on holiday.
I definitely recommend this book. I really can’t wait to read Annie Robertson’s next book.
June 13, 2018
This was a very enjoyable, happy feeling, light-hearted story set on the 'Mamma Mia' island of Skopelos. If you've seen the film the book visits various places the film did, like the beach and church, and the general vibe around Villa Athena will feel very familiar.
Laurel is feeling rather down and struggling a bit as her beloved grandmother, who brought her up when her parents died when she was very young, has only recently died. Then she is told she has accrued holiday from her event planning job that she needs to use or she will lose it, so decides on the spur of the moment to jet off to the Greek island of Skopelos. Both Laurel and her grandmother, Marnie, loved the film 'Mamma Mia' and always meant to visit for a holiday but never got around to it so Laurel feels her grandmother would have loved her going.
On the way there she gets chatting to outgoing Angie, who is also on her way to Skopelos for a holiday, and they become friends. One on the island she meets the quite eccentric elderly villa owner, Athena, and finds out that the villa is rather tired and old fashioned and Lauren is the only guest at the moment.
There are various other characters involved, a slight love interest for Laurel with enigmatic writer Mark, and a lovely foodie couple Chris and (very pregnant) Emily.
Athena then has a few health issues and Laurel steps in to help, and between all the new friends they decide to help Athena bring the villa back to life by staging a dinner party night with an Abba tribute band.
There are various characters coming and going throughout the book and by the end some go home... and some don't! Great fun and I can definitely see a sequel (please!) as I want to follow up on this great group of friends and see where life leads them - hopefully back to Skopelos!
Laurel is feeling rather down and struggling a bit as her beloved grandmother, who brought her up when her parents died when she was very young, has only recently died. Then she is told she has accrued holiday from her event planning job that she needs to use or she will lose it, so decides on the spur of the moment to jet off to the Greek island of Skopelos. Both Laurel and her grandmother, Marnie, loved the film 'Mamma Mia' and always meant to visit for a holiday but never got around to it so Laurel feels her grandmother would have loved her going.
On the way there she gets chatting to outgoing Angie, who is also on her way to Skopelos for a holiday, and they become friends. One on the island she meets the quite eccentric elderly villa owner, Athena, and finds out that the villa is rather tired and old fashioned and Lauren is the only guest at the moment.
There are various other characters involved, a slight love interest for Laurel with enigmatic writer Mark, and a lovely foodie couple Chris and (very pregnant) Emily.
Athena then has a few health issues and Laurel steps in to help, and between all the new friends they decide to help Athena bring the villa back to life by staging a dinner party night with an Abba tribute band.
There are various characters coming and going throughout the book and by the end some go home... and some don't! Great fun and I can definitely see a sequel (please!) as I want to follow up on this great group of friends and see where life leads them - hopefully back to Skopelos!
July 19, 2021
3.5🌟 - mamma mia! and summer holiday in Greece vibes. yes please ☀🏝
August 17, 2019
I enjoyed this delightful book. Had to stop in the middle of the book to watch the movie again, which I highly recommend, to get into the spirit of the book and to help with the imagery of the book. Love the book - great, fun story.
July 18, 2018
Novel set on SKOPELOS ... Kastani Beach awaits....
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is out at the end of July 2018. So it seems fitting that a novel, with ABBA and all things Mamma Mia at its heart, should be published to coincide with the film release! On point marketing, or what!
Laurel has recently lost her beloved Marnie, her Grandmother, who has looked after her since the day her parents were killed in a car accident. Laurel was only two at the time.
Laurel’s parents had fallen in love in Greece and therefore the film, in all its blue, white, yellow and bougainvillea edged joy has come to feature large in Laurel’s life. A pair of her mother’s dungarees somehow seal the connection, a very Meryl Streep item of clothing. Marnie and Laurel had always intended to visit the island because of the film (and they are not alone, there are plenty of tips on the internet how to explore the island with Dancing Queen ringing in your ears!). The DVD of the film is Laurel’s permanent companion.
Thus, Skopelos has to be the destination of choice for Laurel’s first holiday on her own. On the plane, she meets midwife Angie, a larger than life Geordie character, and once ensconced in the slightly odd, dilapidated but somehow charming Villa Athena – run by eccentric Athena – all her cares disappear. Joining forces with Mark Embry (a rather well known writer) and a couple expecting their first baby (and Angie never far away), she is in her element, soon planning a wonderful party (she is after all an event planner) to get Villa Athena back on its feet. This all just underlines the feeling that she is now “at home”.
The parallels between her life with Marnie and events as they unfold on Skopelos are unmistakable. With love on the horizon, the dream of a different life beyond Clapham and London, Laurel has plenty to think about and decisions to make!
A delightful novel if you want to keep the feeling of the Mamma Mia Summer going. It will certainly want to make you dust off your passport and get your vocal chords honed! Kastani Beach awaits you!
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is out at the end of July 2018. So it seems fitting that a novel, with ABBA and all things Mamma Mia at its heart, should be published to coincide with the film release! On point marketing, or what!
Laurel has recently lost her beloved Marnie, her Grandmother, who has looked after her since the day her parents were killed in a car accident. Laurel was only two at the time.
Laurel’s parents had fallen in love in Greece and therefore the film, in all its blue, white, yellow and bougainvillea edged joy has come to feature large in Laurel’s life. A pair of her mother’s dungarees somehow seal the connection, a very Meryl Streep item of clothing. Marnie and Laurel had always intended to visit the island because of the film (and they are not alone, there are plenty of tips on the internet how to explore the island with Dancing Queen ringing in your ears!). The DVD of the film is Laurel’s permanent companion.
Thus, Skopelos has to be the destination of choice for Laurel’s first holiday on her own. On the plane, she meets midwife Angie, a larger than life Geordie character, and once ensconced in the slightly odd, dilapidated but somehow charming Villa Athena – run by eccentric Athena – all her cares disappear. Joining forces with Mark Embry (a rather well known writer) and a couple expecting their first baby (and Angie never far away), she is in her element, soon planning a wonderful party (she is after all an event planner) to get Villa Athena back on its feet. This all just underlines the feeling that she is now “at home”.
The parallels between her life with Marnie and events as they unfold on Skopelos are unmistakable. With love on the horizon, the dream of a different life beyond Clapham and London, Laurel has plenty to think about and decisions to make!
A delightful novel if you want to keep the feeling of the Mamma Mia Summer going. It will certainly want to make you dust off your passport and get your vocal chords honed! Kastani Beach awaits you!
November 27, 2022
Laurel has never 'Taken a chance' but 'She has a dream'. After a loss that leaves her adrift, she decides to use her 'money, money, money' to take a trip to the island of Skopelos to live out a dream-vacation. Skopelos is the very island where the popular 'Mamma Mia' was filmed.
From an off-the-beaten path villa, new friends, a lavish party, delicious food, sexy Greek men, a nudist beach, secrets and a possible romance, this trip just mind 'Change her mind' and ask her 'Take a Chance on me'.
Full of references to the film, mostly Meryl and Pierce (or rather Pierce's very-bad singing skills), and ABBA songs, here is a warm fun summer story, perfect to pull you out of any slump. If you've seen Muriel's Wedding, both of the Mamma Mia films, or the stage show and love ABBA music, trust me, you'll love this book!
From an off-the-beaten path villa, new friends, a lavish party, delicious food, sexy Greek men, a nudist beach, secrets and a possible romance, this trip just mind 'Change her mind' and ask her 'Take a Chance on me'.
Full of references to the film, mostly Meryl and Pierce (or rather Pierce's very-bad singing skills), and ABBA songs, here is a warm fun summer story, perfect to pull you out of any slump. If you've seen Muriel's Wedding, both of the Mamma Mia films, or the stage show and love ABBA music, trust me, you'll love this book!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews