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Moje wielkie greckie wakacje

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Podnosząca na duchu komedia romantyczna o drugich szansach. Przezabawna opowieść o kobiecie, która żegna się z przeszłością i znajduje nową miłość.


Mandy, beztroskiej trzydziestoparolatce, wydaje się, że już zawsze będzie żoną Danny’ego, swojej pierwszej szkolnej miłości. Kiedy więc odkrywa, że jej mąż ma romans, postanawia dokonać w swoim życiu WIELKICH zmian. Bez chwili wahania wskakuje do samolotu i ucieka na skąpaną słońcem grecką wyspę. Błękitne morze, złociste plaże i pyszne koktajle są dokładnie tym, czego jej teraz trzeba.

Mandy zaprzyjaźnia się z przemiłymi mieszkańcami maleńkiej wioski nad morzem. Wpada jej też w oko przystojny, ciemnooki nieznajomy. Wkrótce odkrywa jednak, że nawet w raju zdarzają się problemy.


Czy wakacyjny romans pomoże jej uleczyć złamane serce? A może ktoś z jej dawnego życia pomoże Mandy przeżyć niezapomnianą przygodę?

304 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2018

1156 people are currently reading
1192 people want to read

About the author

Sue Roberts

34 books166 followers
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.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
Profile Image for Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader.
2,785 reviews31.9k followers
May 18, 2018
4 I Love Greece stars to My Big Greek Summer! 🍋 🍋 🍋 🍋

Just when I needed cheering up most, Mandy jumps into a plane to a Greek island, and I was along for the adventure, which was the perfect enjoyable distraction and then some! I have traveled to Greece, and Sue Roberts captures the idyllic setting in a realistic and amusing fashion.

When Mandy finds out her husband has cheated on her, she leaves. Of course she meets a handsome man in Greece, but things are not always as they appear to be. Will Mandy ever heal her broken heart?

In true rom/com style, I smiled, I laughed, and I swooned, all over this escape of a read. Sue Roberts has written an incredibly enjoyable romp, and I hope she’ll take us back to Greece in her next book!

Thank you to Sue Roberts, Bookouture, and Netgalley for the ARC. My Big Greek Summer is available now!

My reviews can also be found on my shiny new blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Profile Image for Berit☀️✨ .
2,095 reviews15.7k followers
May 7, 2018
4 Big Greek Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Now I want to book myself a trip to this little village Thakos in Greece... I usually am not pulled in by the setting of a book... but I think the author does such a magnificent job of describing this tiny village, she just made it come alive.... I also think she made Liverpool seem quite interesting, really all I know about Liverpool is the Beatles... yes, I vacation vicariously through the characters in my books!

Mandy was a fabulously relatable character.... blindsided by her husband‘s infidelity, a man she had been with since she was a teen ... Mandy decides she needs to take a vacation and major props to her for going by herself.... she finds herself in this little village in Greece that isn’t quite what she remembers from her childhood.... but as she spends more time there she is taken with the charm of the place and the people.... and decides she wants to breathe new life into this village....

Looking back on this book there sure was a lot going on.... but really what I found most lovely was Mandy’s relationships with the females in her life.... she had a fabulous BFF in Haley and developed a wonderful relationship with Janet a girl she knew from high school who ran with a different crowd.... Mandy also had a strong relationship with her mother... and an interesting but important encounter with a woman on an airplane....

So... will Mandy learn to love again? Will she breathed life into the little village of Thakos? You will need to read this book to find out... it is really Mandy’s story to tell....

Recommend as a perfect beach read, when you’re in the mood for a lovely getaway...

*** thank you so much too Bookouture and Net Galley for a copy of this lovely book ***
Profile Image for Book Addict Shaun.
937 reviews320 followers
April 9, 2018
Cyprus is my favourite place in the world but sadly there aren’t many women’s fiction stories set there. And so Greece is my next favourite place for a story like this to take place. My Big Greek Summer was an enjoyable read that encapsulated most things Greek that I love, however there were a few niggling issues that prevented me from loving the story as much as I would have liked. I am however excited to read more from Sue Roberts.

I feel like this story would suit an older woman as opposed to somebody looking for a pure escapist read. I don’t know whether that’s insulting but Mandy, her friendship group and the stage that she is at in her life was just hard for me to relate to. We don’t actually get to Rhodes until around about the 25% mark because all of that time is spent introducing Mandy’s character, and giving us her backstory and showing the dire situation that her marriage is in. In books like this I just want to read about our main character in the airport, and then them stepping off the plane into the glorious sunshine and being swept up by the Greek setting. For me too much time was spent in the UK and not enough in Rhodes (and sadly what time was spent in Rhodes bored me a little because I wasn’t interested in the musical aspect and much prefer reading about quaint little businesses or the renovation of boutique hotels). I suppose Sue Roberts has written something a little different here rather than going down that cliched path most other authors go down in this genre so I can award marks for that, even if I personally didn’t enjoy it.

Reading about Mandy stepping off the plane in Rhodes is exactly what I wanted from this story and was exactly the same feeling I feel when I arrive in Cyprus. That heat smacking you in the face when you step out of the plane, the smell of a foreign country and just the huge excitement at being on holiday in one of your favourite places. I enjoyed reading about Mandy’s experiences there as a child, and I liked the fact that Sue created this small village that was in need of some TLC, something that Mandy was only too happy to provide. It contains all of the hospitality you would expect from the Greeks, however parts of it have fell by the wayside, due in part to the all-inclusive hotels which I personally detest. To go on holiday to a Greek island or Cyprus and eat hotel buffet food is sacrilegious when the local restaurants are so amazing. I enjoyed witnessing the revival of this village and ended up wanting to go there myself. I felt that certain opportunities were missed and I didn’t fully embrace the Greek setting because of the back and forth nature of the story, and because I felt that whilst Sue did a good job of adding in plenty of Greek elements to the story, there were plenty more that could have been added had more time been spent on the island rather than faffing about back in the UK on bit part characters who had no relevant role in the story.

What ultimately saved the story for me and left a smile on my face was the ending. There aren’t many women’s fiction novels that take place in Liverpool (where Mandy is originally from and I loved the Liverpool scenes throughout) and without giving too much away I felt a little envious at the closing scenes to the story and would love an ending like that to my own life! My Big Greek Summer is not a girly chick lit read, and the passion throughout is as cold as a holiday cocktail and there’s zero sex scenes but instead it deals with some serious topics which, depending on which stage you are at in life, will mean that you could take something different from this story than I did. It is about Mandy rediscovering herself, and finding out what she truly wants from life. It’s about taking chances and not just accepting the life you have ended up living, but about taking the one you want to live. As is usually the case in fiction, things fall into place far too neatly for Mandy, however I was satisfied with the ending and I will definitely be reading whatever Sue Roberts writes next.
Profile Image for Elle G. Reads.
1,887 reviews1,022 followers
August 30, 2018
Release Date: May 3, 2018
Genre: Chick Lit
Actual Rating: 5 stars

My Big Greek Summer was a pleasant surprise for me! I thought this would be a breezy novel for some mindless reading but it was everything but! This book, while mainstreamed as a romantic comedy, deals with real life issues like broken marriages and overcoming life obstacles. There are tender moments, laugh out loud moments, and quite a few powerful messages in the book. I truly enjoyed it! If you are looking for a realistic chick lit novel with delightful characters who are easy to connect with then I certainly recommend this book for you. I love everything about it from the plot, the issues the characters are facing (and it's not just the heroine who is facing life challenges), the scenery (I would love to visit Greece after this book), and the delicious descriptions of the cuisine! My Big Greek Summer is a total winner and a must have for all chick lit fans!

In this book, you will meet Mandy- a 30 year old woman who is comfortable in life and in her marriage. But things get bumpy and Mandy makes the decision to take some time off from the relentless problems she's facing in her life (like her cheating husband) so she sets off to Greece for a little "Me Time". Not to long into her trip she starts to relax and fall in love with the little village she is staying at. She even meets some new friends. Will this trip of a lifetime, one that brings her so much joy, change the entire path to her life? Or is it just a dream. One that will only last until she boards her plane out of there? Well, to find out you will have to read it!

Once again, this book is a total hit! I loved it to pieces and am looking forward to jet-setting in more of Sue Roberts books in the near future. So take a chance, read this lovely novel, and enjoy!
Profile Image for Nicola Clough.
879 reviews42 followers
April 4, 2018
This book was my first by this author and simply brilliant from the first page fill of romance and finding happiness again and going away to Greece. Its well written with great characters and excellent story lines and has you hooked from the first page. Also about friendship and starting over again.
Mandy has been married to Danny and they met at school and she thought she was in love with him but they hardly have time together due to jobs and he starts coming home late but she doesn't suspect anything. He asks to talk with her and she learns he's been having an affair so he leaves and she can't cope at all so hope on a plane to Greece where she remembers it being beautful when she went as a child. She gets very friendly with the owners of the hotel but it's not all she thought it was to start with. Her best friend comes out as a surprise as well and they have fun. While she is there she has an idea to bring the lovely village alive again and to hold a concert. She comes home from her break and after speaking with her dad and then Danny she gets back with him but can it last or will he cheat again. She keeps going back to Greece to sort this concert out and she has a friend who has come back in her life helping her. While she's in Greece can she find happiness again and learn to love again. Well worth reading and great to curl up and think of summer days. Amazing read.
Profile Image for Els .
2,264 reviews52 followers
April 20, 2018
Sometimes you read a book and you think 'What a beautiful story' and you are aware that it is fiction. But here I felt like I was reading a diary. It seemed like Mandy was real and if I would live in Liverpool I could acutally meet here there.
The descriptions in the book were so realistic that I saw everything in my mind. I was in Liverpool, I was in Greece. It was as if I was an invisible friend going through all the emotions and facts with Mandy.
Sometimes it seems that a good friend is better for your heart than a lover but when friendship turns into something more, it's wonderful to enjoy it with your best friend.
I loved that everything came together and what a beautiful fairytale ending. I dare to hope for a sequel, because closing this book feels a bit like loosing a friend. I am not ready to say goobye to Mandy. So, pretty please ....?
Thank you, Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the chance to read this wonderful story.
Profile Image for Sherri Thacker.
1,677 reviews373 followers
April 16, 2018
Being set in Greece, I was anxious to read this book since I have never been to Greece. This author did a great job describing how it felt to be in Greece that I felt like I was there with Mandy as she went along the streets in Thakos. Since her husband just decided to one day and up and leave her, she deserved this solo trip!! I enjoyed this book and it was a quick read. I received this ARC from the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review of this book.
Profile Image for Rachel Gilbey.
3,324 reviews571 followers
April 15, 2018
I was excited the second I heard that this book existed, I was even more excited when the absolutely gorgeous and summery cover was revealed, and I was incredibly eager to start reading the second this book hit my kindle.

In fact my level of anticipation seemed possibly too high for a book by a debut author, but I could just tell this would be something I would enjoy....

... and I'm delighted to say I was absolutely right. From around the 25% mark onwards I found myself reading this with a huge smile on my face and wasn't able to put it down. And yet you may think you are getting a Shirley Valentine-esque book especially when Mandy meets a Costas for herself, or a typical beach read about a girl going on holiday, but there is far more story there and the book lasts longer than the initial holiday to Thakos, Rhodes.

In fact for a romantic comedy the romance element for the main character was barely present, you were sort of aware of of a potential new romance, but it wasn't really in your face for the majority of the book. There certainly was comedy though, and generally plenty of smiles and laughs to be had.

From the moment that Mandy arrives at Liverpool airport for the flight to Greece, I found myself regretting not being on holiday myself as this is easily a fabulous poolside read.

With lashings of sun, greek men, delicious greek food, and an idea of an event that would bring much needed income to the villagers in Thakos, My Big Greek Summer has everything you could want from a summer read and I am already looking forward to seeing what this author writes next.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Profile Image for Eve L-A Witherington.
Author 60 books49 followers
March 27, 2018
When bar manager Mandy finds out her husband Danny has been having a fling she up's and leaves for exotic Greece inspired by watching A Place In The Sun, for adventure, sun and sea. A welcome break from the pub as her boss wanted her to take a break after the shock break down of her marriage after they'd been together since they were teenagers.



Her best friend Hayley also suddenly arrives in Greece to stay with her and also falls in list after Matt. Meanwhile kindly hotel worker Costas takes a liking to Mandy especially after Mandy helps him and his father begin hotel renovations and she helps them set up a music festival, even when she returns home she carries on helping. Danny also see's sense and splits up with Slimming World Sarah, an old school acquaintance of Hayley and Mandy's but Mandy knows Greece is calling once again.



The chemistry between Danny and Mandy was dwindling from the start as the serial cheat got on with his own life without Mandy yet when she met Costas you can't help but root for the pair to get together for sure! A fun read with great maturity in Mandy dealing with a rubbish situation and I'm glad she got so much from her trip to Greece with helping out a festival beginning which is a first in any chick lit book I've picked up and oi loved it the story line was perfect for this book!



Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!
Profile Image for Nila (digitalcreativepages).
2,667 reviews223 followers
June 11, 2018
Anything Greek in the title with a beautiful cover - I am in
Anything by Sue Roberts - I am in
I loved the way author has described Greece in the book, it made me feel I am right there with the characters of this book.
A cheating husband causes Mandy to flee to Greece. And as in every room-Com, she meets a handsome man but all her other relationships also blossom. She has friends, bonds and new people in her life. And it was fun to see her finding her way back to life and mending her broken heart.
A warm read to escape reality and jump into Greece
Profile Image for Obsidian.
3,232 reviews1,145 followers
May 18, 2018
Please note that I received this via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.

I could have given this four stars if we had leaped more into the Greece side of things right off. The book had a big flow problem and I found myself bored until we had the main character, Mandy, go to Greece to get away from her cheating husband, Danny.

I definitely felt for the character of Mandy. We find out she has been with Danny since they were kids. When she finds out about his affair, she throws him out and tries to decide what she wants from her life. She starts to wonder if she settled with Danny (she did) and then eventually gets going to Greece.

Though I liked the character of Mandy, I was fairly bored by the love interests we get in this one which are Mandy's husband Danny and a man she meets in Greece, Costas.

We also have Mandy's best friend Hayley that I shrugged about too. The fact I had to go back and re-look up this person's name let's you know how much of an impression she made on me.

I love Greece. After spending two weeks there two years back on a catamaran, I dream of going back soon. The Greece I got to see is much different than the one depicted in Roberts book. Roberts takes a look at a small town in Greece, called Thakos, that seems fairly broken even though there is a nearby resort that is for the wealthy. I thought Mandy's idea was fairly absurd, I won't get into it, spoilers and all, but I maybe went why is anyone listening to Mandy and why is this even a thing? Why can't I just read about hot Greek men?

I thought the ending was rushed considering the first half of the book. I also unfortunately called a lot of things that occurred which made the book not that exciting to finish. I think Roberts wanted to wrap things up with a Happily Ever After, it just didn't feel quite real with her deciding to rush things forward four years.
Profile Image for Steph Lawrence.
512 reviews
Read
May 22, 2018
To be honest I felt disappointed with this. It didn’t feel like a Bookouture author.
The blurb sounded good. I was expecting something exciting like a Tilly Tennant, Holly Martin or Mandy Baggot. I love a romance set in the sun but I didn’t get hooked at all. It felt overly padded out and the story wasn’t very exciting.
This was a review copy in which I give my honest opinion. I won’t be featuring on my blog.
Profile Image for Ренета Кирова.
1,319 reviews57 followers
July 30, 2022
Мога да определя романа като чиклит, но не от забавните.
Манди е на 28 години и е пред развод. Работи в ресторант в Ливърпул и почти нищо не е направила с живота си, в застой е. Решава да пътува до Гърция на остров Родос, в градчето Такос, където има хубави спомени от дете. Това променя живота ѝ към добро, както при всички чиклити.
Какво не ми хареса, а те са доста неща:
Profile Image for Henrietta.
38 reviews2 followers
October 10, 2018
I genuinely cannot see why anyone enjoyed this book. It was painfully obvious that the author has not really accumulated much life experience, nor could she seem to provide any depth or realism to her characters.

The plot was a joke. I thought it would be ok for a summer beach read, but really - it is extremely cringeworthy and not worth your time.
Profile Image for Kirstie Ibrahim.
1,865 reviews20 followers
April 7, 2018
My first book by this author. I liked the storyline and the main characters. It was an easy read but I felt like it was missing a bit of oomph.
Profile Image for Anita.
2,647 reviews218 followers
May 4, 2018
Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

I really like this coming to terms with life story. As a lot of couples have found, the HEA they expected on their wedding day sometimes just doesn't exist. And, sometimes it takes a lot of work and compromise. We get to follow Mandy as she comes to terms with the end of her relationship, after being together almost 15 years, with Danny. Heart wrenching, softly humorous and totally believable.

At almost 30, Mandy thought she would be married to Danny forever. Then he comes home after an all nighter and it is obvious that he has been with another woman. She kicks him out of the house and begins to try and face her life without him. Her boss tells her to take a holiday and she heads for Thakos Greece, a holiday destination she remembers fondly from her childhood.

The village of Thakos is not exactly how she remembers it, but the people are warm and welcoming and just what Mandy needs to heal her heart and find the adventure spark that has been lacking in her life of late. Throughout the summer Mandy finds a new purpose and lets the peace of the tranquil blue ocean and the peaceful village mend her in ways she didn't even know were broken. As Mandy begins to open her heart again she finds that falling for a tall, dark and handsome stranger could bring a whole new set of problems to her life. 3 1/2-Stars
Profile Image for Monica Mac.
1,682 reviews41 followers
April 30, 2018
This book ended up being just as described - uplifting and with a feel-good factor approaching the temperature in the Greek sun.

Mandy is in a bit of a rut. Long time married to Danny, their lives follow predictable patterns of work and then curries in front of the telly. Mandy is ok with this but seemingly Danny is not as he seems a little bit TOO interested in women who aren't his wife.

Mandy needs a change of scenery and heads off to Greece, the place where happy childhood memories spring from, only to find that the locals have been hit hard by the recession and things are not as they were.

I adored this book, Mandy was a wonderful character and the secondary characters were as well. This was a lovely novel to read when you need a bit of a lift, so much positivity, not in an over-the-top way though.

4.5 stars from me.



Profile Image for Claire.
1,862 reviews16 followers
April 17, 2018
I loved My Big Greek Summer. Being a fan of the Greek Islands I’m instantly drawn to any books set there.

This one is set between Liverpool and a small village on the island of Rhodes. The main character, Mandy, has split up from her husband and after being encouraged to get away for a few days flies off to Rhodes where she remembers holidaying as a child. There’s cocktails, golden beaches and a man called Costas. What’s not to love!!

A great book, fun and uplifting that will put anyone in that holiday mood. Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to review.
Profile Image for Owl._..
544 reviews19 followers
April 9, 2018
A wonderful debut novel about growing up, moving on, and finding yourself. Definitely recommend you add this to your TBR list. A great beach read! I look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you #NetGalley and #bookotoure for the eARC. This is my honest review.
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Profile Image for Skyesmum .
507 reviews14 followers
April 20, 2020
A very easy read, perfect for reading in the garden whilst waiting for the warmer weather.

Likeable characters, a bit cheesy, but that's ok. I would recommend it if you're looking for a light read.
Profile Image for Emma Crowley.
1,026 reviews156 followers
May 4, 2018
My Big Greek Summer by Sue Roberts is a very easy, light, read perfect for whiling a few hours away on a sun lounger whilst abroad in sunnier climes. The story follows Mandy, aged 29 who is attempting to get her life back on track after what she thought would be her happily ever after turned into more than a disaster.

Husband Dave, who she has been with since she was 15, has been having an affair and as soon as this discovery was made he was shown the door. Now Mandy's job working in the Pig and Whistle pub is her only outlet, it is what makes her get up in the morning. It has been her saving grace and alongside the heartbreak diet her life has descended into one of normality and endless routine. She begins to question whether this will be it forever or will love ever make a permanent reappearance in her life at any stage in the future? Mandy's job is her salvation and she enjoys meeting the regulars and hearing their stories but she feels there has to be more out there for her? Was there something bigger waiting for her when she made Dave leave?

Given the book had both such a summery cover and title I presumed a Greek island would form the basis for the majority of the plot and setting. Instead I found the first quarter was dedicated to explaining Mandy's back story and what point her heart, mind and emotions were at with regard to the life situation she found herself in. This was all well and good, and yes it did need to be explained, but I thought it would have worked better if we had gotten straight into her going away and then letting her story be revealed piece by piece as she was away. I felt once Mandy was given the opportunity to take some time away from work given she was beginning to make careless errors and her mind and attention span was wandering , that for me was when the story really got going.

Of course I did feel empathy for Mandy, no one wants to have their perfect, ideal life snatched out from underneath them especially when you fully believed everything was rosy in the garden and not much could happen to change that. We didn't get inside the head of Dave that much, more so we followed Mandy's viewpoint and insights into the whole débâcle. But I did feel he was spineless and claiming married life had descended into endless drudgery, boredom and routine is simply not a good enough excuse in any way or form to cheat on your wife.

Mandy questions how she will manage without a man by her side? She feels she has become a failure when really she shouldn't feel that way at all given Dave was the one at fault. It's only as Mandy takes the bull by the horns and books a holiday to Thakos in Rhodes, where she once holidayed as a child and still has such fond memories of, did I feel the story stepped up a gear and there wasn't as much doom and gloom and feeling endlessly sorry for one self.

From the moment Mandy stepped off the plane into the heat and sunshine the book became a much better read. I enjoyed the descriptions of the town, streets, beach and the hotel where Mandy stayed. As the holiday began to work it's magic on Mandy and she began to relax and forget about her worries and stresses I felt she changed as a character and I became to warm to her more. I did want a positive outcome for her, and yes it was predictable as to what would happen, but it was enjoyable enough to see how we reached that point.

The holiday becomes even more adventurous when best friend Hayley arrives and lots of fun and frolics ensue. I thought the remainder of the book would be set solely on the island but instead a ten day holiday literally was the ten days. I didn't like what happened when she returned, to be honest Mandy was very gullible and foolish and it seemed as if she forget every piece of advice she had ever been given. She was learning a lesson but going down a very hard road to do so.

I enjoyed the focus on bringing the town of Thakos back to life as it had been struggling to attract the tourists and keep the townspeople in jobs. The idea from Mandy was clever and innovative. In doing this for the village I suppose after her second major upset it was a way of moving forward and learning to heal. Helping others would bring her great pleasure. Having an old 'friend' from school Janet back on the scene was a genius idea in that old wounds and struggles could be put to bed but she was also helping Mandy with her big idea. The story-lines working concurrently worked well. The book flew by in the latter half as preparations are made, yet the romance element seemed very much on the slim side. It was there but never really fully explored enough for me, it all just seemed to happen quite suddenly without a bit of indecision and going back and forth which a romantic chick lit book should have.

The ending felt very rushed with things being wrapped up too quickly. It needed some depth and substance to it, some fleshing out as some of the solutions to the big plans Mandy had for her major project just seemed to easy and convenient. There was also a storyline in the last 10% that given the overall nature and tone of the book I'm not necessarily sure it needed to be there or else it should have been introduced earlier and explored in much more depth. All that said My Big Greek Summer was an enjoyable, if not the most memorable read, and people looking for some escapist reading for their summer holidays would enjoy this story.
Profile Image for Amanda.
2,026 reviews55 followers
May 2, 2018
‘My Big Greek Summer’ is the debut novel written by Sue Roberts. Oh my days, what a debut novel it is and I have only just stopped laughing at things that happened in this book. I absolutely loved reading this book but more about that in a bit.
I must admit that I took to Mandy from the first moment I met her and by the end of the book, she felt like one of my closest friends. Things go wrong for her from the beginning with the break up of her marriage to the not so delightful Danny and her manager gives her some emergency leave, as she has been making some major cock ups. She can’t believe that her marriage has broken up as she thought that they were meant for each other and destined to grow old together. However, when she thinks about it she realises that things haven’t been right for a while. Danny has been playing away from home shall we say. To escape her heartache, Mandy goes on holiday to Greece on her own, which is a major step for her. Even when she is on holiday things go wrong but she seems to take these mishaps in good humour. What happens to Mandy could happen to any one of us. Will Mandy find happiness? Will Danny crawl back under his rock? Will Mandy fall in love? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves. Believe me, you won’t regret picking this book up.
I picked this book up at the right time as I needed a pick me up and what a pick me up it proved to be. I just couldn’t believe that the author hadn’t written a book before because the writing style, the story and the characters are so polished that speak of a much more experienced writer. The story flows well and the writing style is such that you become drawn into the story from the start. I was addicted to reading this book by the time I had finished reading the first page. As I needed to know if Mandy found happiness I just had to keep reading. The page numbers flew past in a blur and before I knew it I had cleared over 50 % of the book. I can honestly say that this book has left me with a smile on my face. On more than one occasion, I actually found myself laughing out loud at something I had just read which got me some strange looks on the bus and in the doctors surgery. I absolutely loved everything about this book from the places to the characters to the humour and beyond. ‘My Big Greek Summer’ is full of humour, romance and hope.
In conclusion I would have to say that I absolutely loved reading this book. In fact, this book should be on prescription because it cheered me up no end. I can’t wait to read further books by this hugely talented author and here’s hoping that we don’t have too long a wait in store. I would definitely recommend this book and this author to anybody and everybody. Seriously I can’t recommend this book highly enough. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 5* out of 5* but I would have awarded it 10* out of 5* if I could have.
Profile Image for Gabriela.
111 reviews17 followers
September 23, 2025
Nečekala jsem hodně a ani jsem hodně nedostala.

Nerada kritizuju knihy. Každý příběh má svého čtenáře. A každý hledá u knihy něco jiného. Já hledala pohodovou četbu k moři. To jsem sice dostala, ale… Já asi potřebuji ke spokojenosti trochu víc uvěřitelnosti.

Kniha se ale opravdu čte rychle a snadno. Kapitoly jsou krátké a příběh člověku docela utíká. Problém u příběhu je, že velká část příběhu se vůbec neodehrává v Řecku. Dalším problémem je, že se autorka věnuje často představovaní i úplně zbytečných vedlejších postav u kterých by stačilo znát jméno. A posledním problémem je, že kniha láká na letní romanci, ale v knize je lásky a romance opravdu velmi málo. Vůbec nečekejte randíčka, polibky nebo dokonce něco víc. Byli byste zklamaní jako já.

Ale! Kniha má i svoje plusy. I jiné než to, že se kniha čte snadno a rychle. V knize je znát, že autorka zná jak Anglii tak Řecko a tak člověk může objevovat nové místa, jídla i zvyklosti. Zároveň se mi velmi líbila řecká vesnice do které je příběh zasazený. Taky oceňuji celé to téma přechozených vztahů z kterých vyprchal život - zpracováno je to poměrně dobře. Fáze smutku, smíření, naděje, rozumu i štěstí - to vše tu je.

Co se týká postav, tak moc nevím, co k nim vlastně říct. Je jich dost. Většinu člověk nemá šanci ani pořádně poznat a jsou jen do počtu. On člověk pořádně nepozná ani muže, kteří hýbou životem Mandy. Což mi přijde docela nešťastné. A samotná Mandy ve mně nic moc nezanechala.

Velkým úskalím je i samotný konec, který s reálným životem má pramálo společného. Příliš mnoho šťastných náhod.

Suma sumárum ve mně tato kniha nic moc nezanechala. Žádnou velkou emoci ani ohledně postav ani ohledně příběhu.

P.S. V české verzi je opravdu dost chyb jako jsou chybějící uvozovky a tak. Dost to ruší při čtení, ale nechtěla jsem to v hodnocení příběhu zohledňovat. Za zmínku to ale stojí.
Profile Image for Helena.
183 reviews163 followers
August 3, 2019
This was, obviously, not a story that hasn't been told before. It was nothing special in that respect. But I can't describe how great I was feeling while reading this book! It was just so refreshing and heartwarming, it had me smiling all the time. It was also full of amazing detailed descriptions that really travelled you there at Thakos!!! I've found very few books with the ability to transport me right then and there but this was definitely one of them! I highly recommend it and give it 5 stars with all of my heart!
Profile Image for Julie.
Author 5 books228 followers
July 10, 2018
This is the perfect summer read and although I read it from the comfort of my garden, I could feel myself transported to Greece. This is a reminder that life doesn't always go to plan and not everyone should be given a second chance! It was wonderful to see the characters develop and show what they are capable of. A light-hearted beach read with a greek soul.
Profile Image for Mag.
39 reviews
July 16, 2022
Na wskroś przewidywalna, płytkie postaci, historia prosta jak drut. Miała być przyjemna wakacyjna lektura a tu takie rozczarowanie - emocje jak na grzybach. 2 gwiazdki, bo dobrnęłam do końca, by przekonać się, że zakończenie będzie takie jakie przewidywałam od pierwszych stron książki. Zdecydowanie nie polecam.
Profile Image for kasia .
309 reviews86 followers
September 13, 2022
2,5/3 // 5

No nie było to coś nadzwyczajnego, ale do czytania nad basenem na greckiej wyspie sprawdziła się idealnie
1,478 reviews47 followers
May 11, 2018
An enjoyable read which brought a little bit of Greek sunshine to a cloudy April afternoon...

The heroine, Mandy, goes to Rhodes on a whim after being told to take time off work as a result of her errant, cheating husband. Although the Sea View Apartments weren’t quite what she’d hoped, Mandy manages to make the best of it and is taken care of by hunky Costas and the rest of the locals.

Whilst Mandy’s brainwave seems a little far fetched, with some lucky coincidences and the will of the locals, she manages to make it all come to fruition. Whilst she is motivated about the event, she seems content to let life find its own pattern/ let others take control. This pervades throughout the book and at times I wanted to give her a shake and tell her to wake up and smell the coffee!

The scenes set in Liverpool were well articulated and I could easily imagine the setting and the buildings. The scenes set in the pub were vivid and realistic, adding to my enjoyment of the story.

As a debut novel, this reads well and I’ll be interested to see how Sue Roberts’ writing progresses. Her writing reminds me of Mandy Baggot (whose books I adore for a pick-me-up), possibly as the heroine shares her name!

4* an enjoyable read
Profile Image for Susan in Perthshire.
2,207 reviews115 followers
May 29, 2023
Sorry but I didn’t think this was particularly exciting or entertaining. Instead it was predictable and pedestrian. Everything was described in enormous detail and it was all ‘telling’ not ‘showing’. I hate to be so critical but I expected so much more. Ended up skimming.
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