Buying a rundown cottage in Greece. A crazy, wine-fuelled idea, or the best decision she’s ever made?
Charlotte takes in the scene. To the left, her (ex?) fiancé’s retreating back as he runs back to civilisation; in front, the crumbling Greek island farmhouse she thought was their shared dream; and just below, a goat munching merrily on her sunhat…
At first, Jamie had leapt at Charlotte’s idea to permanently swap drizzly Chester for sun-drenched Crete. Now it looks like she’ll be living this dream alone. Devastated but determined, she rolls up her sleeves and gets to work turning the ramshackle house into her forever home. At least the local community welcomes her with open arms, including sexy restaurant-owner-slash-handyman, Darius.
Taking a sledgehammer to her old life, and snacking on homemade honey cake on her breaks, Charlotte begins to see the promise of a future without Jamie. But on a trip back home, he suddenly appears, wanting her back. Faced with a choice between the first love who broke her heart and the gorgeous Greek man who has been putting it back together, how will Charlotte choose where she truly belongs?
A totally laugh-out-loud and feel-good summer read about taking a chance on life and love! Perfect for fans of Carole Matthews, Jenny Colgan and My Mamma Mia Summer.
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.
Unfortunately, the cons outweigh the pros here as much as I tried to see the best in the book. ✅ The descriptions of scenery, food, drink, smells, and tastes were fantastic and are where the stars for this review are given. I loved how well Roberts set the scene and I could place myself at a bar or bakery in Greece so easily from her descriptions. ✅ Also, can I just say…THAT COVER! 😍 ✅ OMG, and finally a character who isn’t loaded with money and is conscious of spending! I get tired of the ‘lots of money make a great story’ staple.
Here’s where things go downhill for me…. ❌ The description of the book’s plot says that Charlie’s (ex)-fiancé leaves their life in Greece to go back home. This didn’t happen until 40% of the way through the book. That isn’t a rough estimate either as I read this on my kindle which gives a completion percentage at the bottom. ❌ Speaking of ‘returning home’, when her ex asks when she’s coming back home, she responds with ‘This is my home’, but whenever she’s chatting with family or friends she says ‘How are things back home?’ 🤔 Also, when Darius, the cute restaurant owner, makes a comment about Charlie hanging out with different men, she gets really pissed, but he’s seen with a girl once outside of work, and Charlie accuses him of being a ‘playboy’. These examples made me dislike Charlie as it seemed like a double standard. ❌ The interactions between characters seemed mostly forced and unnatural. The conversations Charlie had with her fiancé specifically seemed too proper and boring. ❌ Overall, the storyline and interactions left me feeling bored as nothing really seemed to happen throughout the book. I kept waiting for excitement that just never came. 2.5⭐️ rounding up because the imagery was great!! I believe this book had immense potential, and if you don’t care much about a storyline and want to read a book based on the pretty and flowery writing, this could be a great book for you. To me, the storyline matters the most and that needs to be strong for me to thoroughly enjoy it. Unfortunately, I was incredibly underwhelmed. However, I’ve seen some good reviews for this book as well, so feel free to check it out for yourself! 😊 A big thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book.
4⭐ Publication date ~ book ~ May 13, 2022, audio ~ July 7, 2022 Page Count ~ 272 Audio length ~ 7 hours 24 minutes Narrator ~ Esther Wane ~ lovely job POV ~ single 1st Featuring ~ slow burn, no steamage
What a nice and light story of taking a chance on something new. Perfect for summer beach reading.
Charlie owns a thriving bake shop and has enjoyed her life with fiance, Jamie, in England. When she happens upon a listing for a house in Greece, her and Jamie decide to take a look at it. They both fall in love with it and immediately put in an offer. After a few weeks though Jamie realizes that life there is not for him, so he hits it back to England.
Now on her own, with a crumbling house to maintain, and in the process of purchasing a bake shop, she seeks the help of local handyman, Darius. Darius happens to own a restaurant in their small town and apparently he's the cats meow. These two slowly form a connection, but can Charlie take a chance on love again?
I enjoyed Charlie as a character and the friendships she made along the way. The detailed description of the area makes me want to put Greece on my bucket list. When I need an easy peasy, light on the romance, read, I'll be sure to look out for Sue's books.
*Thanks to Dreamscape Media, Sue Roberts and NetGalley for my audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
this was a cute book. I seriously loved the way they described Crete. I wish I was living in Greece and could visit Charlie’s bakery. This book had such a cozy vibe but I didn’t really connect to the actual story. Charlie wanting to up and move her life & then they just magically get on a plane next week and buy a house in Greece? Idk it just didn’t seem realistic & the fact that Jamie was on board and encouraged Charlie for them to go and look at the house they want.. only for him to get homesick after moving & then goes back to England?? I’m giving this 3 stars. Loved the cozy cute vibe but the story line was giving very much.. meh
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I really enjoyed this read about finding where you belong and what makes you feel at home. I would not categorize this as a romance more like general fiction/women's fiction. It was a heart warming read that was just what I needed this summer.
This story is about Charlotte (Charlie) and Jamie buying a house in their favorite vacation destination (Greece) to start a life together. In the process of fixing up their house, they realize their paths might be heading on different paths. Charlie now has to navigate her life as she makes new friends, routines, and a living in her new town.
I enjoyed this read a lot. I listened to the audio and it was a great listen for the summer. I loved Charlottes character and I love how mature the characters acted in situations. I really enjoyed all the additional characters in the community and loved "running into people" on the street. I am usually a romance reader and while there is a romance subplot I enjoyed this book for more than just that.
A huge thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Author Sue Roberts really captures the essence of Crete in this feel-good summer read!
What a great premise - trading rainy, predictable life in Chester for a life of adventure in sun-drenched Crete! I’d love to be able to drop everything and move on a whim. The ‘forever home’ in Chania sounded idyllic; wildflowers, herbs, lemon and olive trees! Not only that but also great neighbours and a fantastic community! I loved Charlotte; she was a thoughtful, take-charge woman who took realizing her dream into her own hands and didn’t let anything or anyone hold her back. Go, girl.
Roberts capably explores the notion that ‘home’ is a place where you feel you truly belong and that finding yourself sometimes means getting rid of anything that has the potential to hold you back or slow you down. I loved that when one door closed, another opened.
Readers will love the food references, the Greek hospitality, and the laugh-out-loud moments!
I was gifted this advance copy by Sue Roberts, Bookouture, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
This audio was like eavesdropping on people discussing a to-do list. Everything was overly described in a list format. It left no room for the story to breathe. If this wasn't an audio book I probably would have DNF'd it. Thank you (?) to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my DRC.
Review for 'What Happens In Greece' by Sue Roberts.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Sue Roberts, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 13th May 2022.
This is the third book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'Going Greek' and 'Greece Actually' which I also recommend.
I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover, its intriguing synopsis and title and its extremely talented author. The synopsis stated that this book is 'Perfect for fans of Carole Matthews, Jenny Colgan and My Mamma Mia Summer.' I am a huge fan of Jenny Colgan and Carole Matthews so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Sue Roberts and if this is half as good as 'Going Greek' and 'Greece Actually' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue and 43 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in England, UK 🇬🇧 and Greece 🇬🇷 . The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited England on several occasions so am looking forward to see if I recognise anywhere.
This book is written in first person perspective and the main protagonist is Charlotte. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them.
Awww another absolutely fantastically gorgeous book Sue, Well done!!!!
This book is beautifully written and completely absorbs you in the stunning atmosphere of Greece and really sucks you in with the vivid descriptions leaving you feel the warmth of the the sun and smell of the sea. The synopsis and cover suits the storyline perfectly.
The storyline is authentic and realistic as well as easy to read and heartwarming. There was plenty of events going on throughout and it kept me hooked from start to end, I read it in one sitting while mainly sitting in the garden with the sun warming my legs at the same time Charlie was being warmed by the sun in Greece making it feel like I was there even more than Sue's evocative storytelling did. The storyline was filled with a range of emotions and was heartwarming, devastating and had love, relationships, family, friendship and history all going on in this beautiful atmosphere. It felt like a lovely break away from a rainy Wales!! I loved how the story ended and I would love to read more about the life in this gorgeous Greek village. I was absolutely devastated when I came to the end of this book as I was truly whisked away to Greece feeling the sand on my feet and looking at the stunning views. I absolutely loved the gorgeous atmosphere and the warm embrace of everyone in the village. The storyline was so heartwarming and it was such an easy and relaxing read with moments of laughter, some tension and sadness but overall happiness. It ended absolutely perfectly and I would love to see what Charlie decides to do in the end. This would make a lovely series. An absolutely gorgeous book!! I cannot wait to go on my next Greek adventure with the very talented Sue Roberts. I absolutely adored being in Greece but I also enjoyed learning and reading about Charlie's shop and meeting her neighbours and new friends who I absolutely adored how supportive they were of Charlie and all she was doing. I thought Charlie's bakery was adorable and definitely somewhere I would visit if I came across it. I thought the friendships between Charlie, Kat, Stelios and Eleni were sweet and strong friendships that I would love to have myself.
The characters were all unique with their own realistic traits, strengths and weaknesses. It was intriguing to watch Charlie and Darius's friendship grow, develop and change throughout the the storyline. It was also intriguing to see how not only Charlie and Darius's relationship change throughout the book but also Charlie's friendships and relationship with Jamie, Stelios, Eleni, Kat. Ralf, Leo, Kostas, Matty, Steph, Noah, Milly and Apollo and I loved meeting each and every one of them The friendship between the girls was beautiful and it must be amazing to have such friendships where they supported each other so much. Darius is an absolute sweetheart and such a romantic that I started falling in love with him myself. I loved the adorable dates he took her on and how he was happy to take things slow. Anyway, I best not say anymore as don't want to give anything else away for future readers!! It's just so easy talking about this fantastic book and so much I want to tell you all about but i really need to control myself!!! Needless to say I absolutely adored each and every character each for a different reason. All characters worked perfectly with the storyline and I would love to meet them again and hope to see this made into a series or even a movie!!!
Well done Sue on another absolutely gorgeous book!!! I will definitely be looking for your books any time I need to be swept off to another country!!! This is exactly why when I am looking for a romance your books are what I look for and your one of my favourite authors.
Overall a perfect light hearted, stunning unputdownable romance that will sweep you off your feet and land you in Greece.
Genres covered in this novel include Romance Novel , Humorous Fiction, Love, Sex & Marriage humour, Contemporary Romance, Humour and Holiday Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Jenny Colgan, Carole Matthews, 'My Mamma Mia Summer', Sophie Kinsella and anyone who needs a holiday!!
291 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) on kindle via Amazon or free on kindle unlimited which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
I really enjoyed this one, my first book by Sue Roberts. This was read during my Bed And Book time, a light hearted read that helps to ease me to sleep away from the darkness of my thrillers during the day! The first thing that drew me to the book was the setting at the start of the book. I also live in Chester so I loved seeing the references to the River Dee and such like. I could picture every scene in remarkable clarity! When Charlie ups sticks to Crete, Roberts does a wonderful job of place setting, and her descriptions made me feel like I was there, and I have never before visited so I had no point of reference! Her descriptions of the food in Crete were fantastic, and I'd bet Roberts is a good cook by the way she describes the food. The writing is okay, and very easy to read. Perfect for my evening read book.
Review for 'What Happens In Greece' by Sue Roberts.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Sue Roberts, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 13th May 2022.
This is the third book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'Going Greek' and 'Greece Actually' which I also recommend.
I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover, its intriguing synopsis and title and its extremely talented author. The synopsis stated that this book is 'Perfect for fans of Carole Matthews, Jenny Colgan and My Mamma Mia Summer.' I am a huge fan of Jenny Colgan and Carole Matthews so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Sue Roberts and if this is half as good as 'Going Greek' and 'Greece Actually' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue and 43 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in England, UK 🇬🇧 and Greece 🇬🇷 . The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited England on several occasions so am looking forward to see if I recognise anywhere.
This book is written in first person perspective and the main protagonist is Charlotte. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them.
Awww another absolutely fantastically gorgeous book Sue, Well done!!!!
This book is beautifully written and completely absorbs you in the stunning atmosphere of Greece and really sucks you in with the vivid descriptions leaving you feel the warmth of the the sun and smell of the sea. The synopsis and cover suits the storyline perfectly.
The storyline is authentic and realistic as well as easy to read and heartwarming. There was plenty of events going on throughout and it kept me hooked from start to end, I read it in one sitting while mainly sitting in the garden with the sun warming my legs at the same time Charlie was being warmed by the sun in Greece making it feel like I was there even more than Sue's evocative storytelling did. The storyline was filled with a range of emotions and was heartwarming, devastating and had love, relationships, family, friendship and history all going on in this beautiful atmosphere. It felt like a lovely break away from a rainy Wales!! I loved how the story ended and I would love to read more about the life in this gorgeous Greek village. I was absolutely devastated when I came to the end of this book as I was truly whisked away to Greece feeling the sand on my feet and looking at the stunning views. I absolutely loved the gorgeous atmosphere and the warm embrace of everyone in the village. The storyline was so heartwarming and it was such an easy and relaxing read with moments of laughter, some tension and sadness but overall happiness. It ended absolutely perfectly and I would love to see what Charlie decides to do in the end. This would make a lovely series. An absolutely gorgeous book!! I cannot wait to go on my next Greek adventure with the very talented Sue Roberts. I absolutely adored being in Greece but I also enjoyed learning and reading about Charlie's shop and meeting her neighbours and new friends who I absolutely adored how supportive they were of Charlie and all she was doing. I thought Charlie's bakery was adorable and definitely somewhere I would visit if I came across it. I thought the friendships between Charlie, Kat, Stelios and Eleni were sweet and strong friendships that I would love to have myself.
The characters were all unique with their own realistic traits, strengths and weaknesses. It was intriguing to watch Charlie and Darius's friendship grow, develop and change throughout the the storyline. It was also intriguing to see how not only Charlie and Darius's relationship change throughout the book but also Charlie's friendships and relationship with Jamie, Stelios, Eleni, Kat. Ralf, Leo, Kostas, Matty, Steph, Noah, Milly and Apollo and I loved meeting each and every one of them The friendship between the girls was beautiful and it must be amazing to have such friendships where they supported each other so much. Darius is an absolute sweetheart and such a romantic that I started falling in love with him myself. I loved the adorable dates he took her on and how he was happy to take things slow. Anyway, I best not say anymore as don't want to give anything else away for future readers!! It's just so easy talking about this fantastic book and so much I want to tell you all about but i really need to control myself!!! Needless to say I absolutely adored each and every character each for a different reason. All characters worked perfectly with the storyline and I would love to meet them again and hope to see this made into a series or even a movie!!!
Well done Sue on another absolutely gorgeous book!!! I will definitely be looking for your books any time I need to be swept off to another country!!! This is exactly why when I am looking for a romance your books are what I look for and your one of my favourite authors.
Overall a perfect light hearted, stunning unputdownable romance that will sweep you off your feet and land you in Greece.
Genres covered in this novel include Romance Novel , Humorous Fiction, Love, Sex & Marriage humour, Contemporary Romance, Humour and Holiday Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Jenny Colgan, Carole Matthews, 'My Mamma Mia Summer', Sophie Kinsella and anyone who needs a holiday!!
291 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) on kindle via Amazon or free on kindle unlimited which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
Jamie and Charlotte (Charlie) lived in Chester England. They are a long term couple who plan to marry once they buy a house. One of their favorite holiday spots is in Crete where it seems like the sun is always shining unlike rainy England. While she is checking the homes for sale in their town, Charlie looks at houses for sale in Crete and finds one that she knows they can afford. When she mentions moving to Jamie, he is all for the idea. When they look at the house, they fall in love with it. Despite the work that will need to be done, there is a large garden and an olive grove. They pack up and move to Crete and get to work. The people who live in their small town are all very friendly and go out of their way to help them. After several months of hard work the house is done and Jamie admits that he misses England and wants to return. Charlie knows that this home is where she belongs so he returns to England and she remains by herself. The friendly people in Chania make sure that she isn't lonely for too long and make her part of their town. Will Charlie be able to stay in Crete and make it her new 'forever' home or will she return to England and bury her dreams?
This is a book full of fun and friendship. There are also some laughs provided by Charlie's 'talks' with the goat the hangs around her house. Chania and the surrounding towns are well described - the sun drenched days and the beautiful trees and flowers make you feel like you're there. Charlie used to have a bakery in England and decides to open one in her new town. The food descriptions are wonderful and you can almost smell the bread baking.
This was a fun book to read. Charlie was brave to decide to stay in her new 'forever' home when Jamie left and make a life for herself. I think for the first time she realizes that she can handle life on her own -- along with a little help from her friends.
This is my first book by this author and I see that she's written other books about Greece and Italy that look interesting so I plan to give them a try. I need some mental vacations after several years of being stuck at home. In my opinion, this book would be a perfect read while you are laying in the sun at the beach and want something light to read.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review.
Absolutely loved this book. There isn’t a bad thing I could say about it. Loved following Charlottes life as she moved to Crete.. she really embraced life. Enjoying everything that was thrown at her.
Many women would have packed up and returned to the uk when her bf chose to return was refreshing to see her stand her ground and follow her dreams.
The book was very well written and flowed well. Lovely mix of characters.
Love this author and will definitely look out for her again
This is a women's fiction/romance book, which is set in England and Greece. The story is about a woman called Charlotte and her boyfriend Jamie, who give up their life in England to move to Greece. Charlotte loves it in Greece, and she lovingly decorates her new house and makes lots of friends. Jamie, however, decides that Greece is not for him, and he moves back to England, leaving Charlotte alone to finish decorating the house, and mending her broken heart. She is sad for a while, but she soon perks up, and gets inspired enough to set up her own bakery/shop, which delights the locals. Moving on, a Greek man called Darius comes knocking on her door, but is she ready for romance again?
This is a fun, heartwarming and inspiring adventure, which really drew me in, and left me feeling uplifted. This is the perfect summer read to take on holiday with you. Or if you are like me, I read it in the winter, to brighten up a dreary day and remind me of the sunshine. Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
***What Happens in Greece by British author Sue Roberts is the story of a longtime engaged couple who buy a house and move to Greece. New friends are made, renovations undertaken and bumps in the road experienced. She is very happy with her new life, but his experience is different and therein is the conflict. The author’s descriptions of the area and the food are good, but this reader failed to develop any strong emotional ties to the characters…except maybe the goat. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley.
Predictable, fast paced , cute summer read. The food mentioned made me constantly hungry while reading this🤣
The book felt a bit like in a to-do list format, but interesting enough to keep you reading.
Not a great book, but not brilliant either. The setting in Crete sound amazing, as someone who was recently to Greece I would definitely consider going to Crete next.
Charlie has always felt like she was meant to live somewhere else. She liked her life, but her trips to Crete always left her feeling like she wanted more. When she sees a charming little house that's in her price range, her and Jamie decide to make the move. They have a lot to do to fix up the house, but with the help of neighbors and new friends, it seems to be going swimmingly. That is, until Jamie decides living so far away from home isn't right for him. Charlie is left to do things on her own, and she can either live her dream or go home and live in her regrets. She decides to take charge and make her dreams a reality. I really enjoyed the culture of this book and all of the places and food I know and love. I am a sucker for a baker and Charlie made some amazing things, I loved her being immersed in her new culture and how it changed her. Jamie never really felt like he fit so I wasn't shocked when he went home. I can't imagine how hard it would have been to be Charlie, all alone in her new town, but she made it work. The description of the book made it seem like there would be more drama, but everything that happened felt very light and fluffy. There was no tension and no ill will towards anyone. If you like a really cute summer romance that will give you a taste of Greek life, this one is for you. The narrator was great with Charlie, but the Greek accent was off for me and the male characters seemed all very old when she did their voices. I couldn't feel a connection to any of the male characters for Charlie but overall this was a cute read.
A great feel-good novel that is taking place on the island of Greece.
When they discovered a sale of a gorgeous house on their favorite greek island - Jamie and Charlotte take a leap of faith, buy the scenic house and move to their favorite place on earth, with hopes of everyday vacation mode life. But weeks after the move, the couple realizes that they both have absolutely different views on their future. So as Jamie goes packing and moves back to their hometown, Charlotte takes time to let her broken heart heal. As time passes, she realizes how much she has missed her other love - the love for baking. And with a help of wonderful neighbors and newly met friends, Charlotte reopens the only bakery on her beloved island. And in the midst of living her dream life, our heroine begins to develop feelings for a dark, tall, and handsome local restaurant owner. And suddenly she receives a call from Jamie.
Although the novel was ah so predictable, I did enjoy a beautiful and inspiring story about following the heart and dreams. Of course, this is fiction, and in a book anything is possible and every character gets their happy ending. But stories like this give us hope and faith that everything works out in the end. After a number of suspense novels, this book was a breath of fresh air, a great break from my usual genre of reading. Thank you, NetGalley for a free and advanced copy of this novel in the exchange for my honest review.
Charlotte had a dream that came into existence. She purchased a cottage in Crete with big dreams. Engaged to Jamie, he willingly accompanied her. However, it soon got old for him and he headed back to the UK, breaking off their engagement. Charlie is not going to give up on her dream, however, and she continues on.
In fact, she decides to open up a bakery in Crete, much like she had when living in the UK. She had previously met someone who would be perfect working for her, and thus Charlie's dream grew even more. One more thing, and that is in the form of Darius, another business owner and neighbor. They are both quite drawn to one another, but Charlie is still nursing a broken heart. It just might only be a matter of time before the pair see how good they are together, thus making Charlie's dream take on even more meaning.
Sue Roberts always manages to write fabulous location-based books. Books that are beautiful not only in setting, but in the warm characters she develops. Charlie and Darius, as well as the other villagers where Charlie is settling, are truly ideal. This gives this book a place of home in one's heart, proving that dreams can indeed come true.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
This book makes you want to sell up and find your own place to buy in Crete. You can feel the Greek sights. sounds and delicious food. I always love Sue Roberts books and this really was the perfect read. I was really sad to come to the end. I wasn't ready to leave it all behind.
Charlotte is a bake shop owner who has grown tired of her day to day. She convinces her boyfriend Jamie that they should buy a home in their favorite vacation spot in Greece. The are able to find a beautiful little cottage that they can afford and then some. They quickly find their place among the local residents and make a new life for themselves that is until Jamie realizes that Greece doesn’t feel like home for him and he heads back to England. despite being heartbroken Charlotte is determined to make her newfound life in Greece work.
This book was a cute story, I liked how descriptive the author was about the scenery and the bake shops that Charlotte owns. I don’t know much about Greece but after reading this book I want to visit ASAP. Who hasn’t had thoughts of moving after visiting some place new on vacation. Some elements that didn’t really work for in this book were, I felt that as a reader we only got to know the characters on a very surface level. I would’ve loved to see more of Charlottes emotion when Jamie abandones her and when she has the chance at a second love I would’ve loved to see more passion and less wishy washy feelings towards the new love interest.
I listened to the audiobook copy of this book and I would saw the sound quality was just ok. At times I felt like it sounded a bit tin-ny or there was just something off on my end. I thought the narrator did a fine job.
I would recommend this book if you are looking for a light, easy breezy summer beach read.
Thank you to #netgalley and #Dreamscapemedia for this #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review
Reviews can also be found on my blog Escapades of a BookwormI received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.I have to be honest I picked up What Happens in Greece, because it was clearly based in Greece. And I just wanted to read something that would deal with the wonderful Greece and Greek food. Of course there was so many delicious mentions of food, I just had to find myself some gyros.
What starts as a crazy idea ends up being the best decision for Charlotte, in more ways than one. She decides, along with her fiancé Jamie to, after one too many wines, buy a property in Crete and start a new life. Along the way Jamie realises that this may not be the right thing for him and so they part ways. Charlotte, is determined to stay and make new friends and enjoy her new life.
Baring in mind that the description says that Jamie decides Crete life is not for him, it does take him a long while to leave, nearly 40% of the way through the book. I felt that this was a ridiculously long time and made me question if I had read the back of the book right, which I had. The book then carried on, but I felt like we were then slightly rushed. Maybe it was just me.
But I did really enjoy the book and the idea that home is where you feel most comfortable and belong. After all that is home. I also enjoyed meeting all the townspeople and getting the taste of romance between Charlotte and Darius.
What Happens in Greece was a satisfying, summery read, although it may make you hungry!
Charlie who Runs a cafe decides to up and Move to Crete with her other Half Jaime.
I Moved to Greece (Kefalonia a different Greek island) When i was 18 after meeting my Greek Husband 15 yeas ago... Being a similar age to Charlie and living in Greece, i have to say Charlie and all the characters seemed waaay to proper.... not Late twenties early 30's more in their 50's or 60's the way they speak.... and think....
Also Greek People with Broken English wont use long words like retrieve, exquisite, touche, Divine and formal.... and all the Greek people in the book spoke the Queens English.
I loved the Descriptions of Crete, i have never been there, so i loved discovering Crete through the authors eyes.
I loved the goat, that made me smile...... I know i have been known to speak to Random wanderers that venture into our Garden.
Its a very Slow descriptive book.... so if you want to visit Crete its a lovely read, but if you are waiting for a interesting "Story or adventure" this is pretty tame. So my Advice If you think about visiting Greece or are Nostalgic for a bit of Greek Life.... Pick this up!
In this story we follow Charlie who is a baker, cafe owner, and woman who is ready for change, through her and her fiancé’s move to Greece. All is well for the first few months until Charlie’s fiancé decides Greece is not his forever home. Charlie stays in Greece to create a life with the beautiful culture and people in her new village.
This story seemed like a retelling of someone’s life experience. There really was not a clear point of climax or interesting twist. It felt like I was just listening to someone telling me about their day for 40 chapters. I did love all the descriptions of Greece and the food but over all that is all I can say was interesting.
The characters were nice and likable but I kept waiting for something to happen or someone else to move to Greece or a new full romance but when I book ended I found myself checking to see if I missed a few chapters since it ended so abruptly.
I love a destination book and I can say that was the part I most enjoyed. I would love to visit Greece and see all the areas that were well described in the book.
Made me very hungry as I was reading it. Between mentions of Greek food and also baked goods, it is certainly a satisfying read, so long as you have nearby snacks.
And the setting of Crete is magnificently described. I could feel the heat of the summer, I could imagine Billy's random appearances, and generally the whole area where Charlotte has moved to, I could see so clearly.
It's a big life decision to buy a house in Crete, but it's one that really seems to be made for Charlotte. It's clear she takes to living somewhere different like a duck to water.
And I loved all the new people she meets, and friends she makes in the village.
This gave me a great hit of Greek escapism while I was in Spain on a cruise, and I loved that it made me forget where I was currently, and transported me to even further away!
Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book knowing it’s not a genre I usually read. However, I found it quite captivating in a serine and idealistic way. The story follows Charlie who decided with her fiance, to leave the UK and move to Crete. Charlie is a very sensible and grounded person throughout the entire story and I found myself marvelling at how well-adjusted she was. Normally this would be a negative for me yet Charlie still manages to grow and change. Roberts paints such a vivid picture of Greece that I found myself wanting to visit Crete. Also, a good portion of why I enjoyed this so much is due to the fantastic job the narrator Esther Waner did.
Special thank you to #NetGalley, #SueRoberts and #DreamscapeMedia for sharing this digital copy, these are my honest thoughts on #WhatHappensInGreece. Also, a thank you to narrator #EstherWane.
This is a sweet, fast-paced, albeit predictable, summer read. I felt like it's a story that's been told many times before. But it was definitely a good audiobook to listen to while doing chores. The setting was stunning, to the point that it did make me fall in love with Crete and look into purchasing real estate and possibly relocating there some day.
A big thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my personal opinion.
I found this one enjoyable, but nothing remarkable. I loved the Greecian setting as that is one of my favorite vacations of all time and who wouldn’t want to move to Crete? The characters were all very relatable and I liked that the narrator had a believable Greek accent (I’m not an expert but it sounded good to me). I did find it a little unrealistic that when the main character moved there, every single house upgrade worked out perfectly for her. I would definitely recommend it as a fun easy audiobook to listen to and look forward to hearing more from this author in the future!
Picked this up in the airport in Skiathos on a blue recycling bin as obviously someone had read it on holidays there and was leaving it either to be recycled….or to be picked up. Well I picked it up….took it back to England and read it….was a bit disappointed as I found the story and characters predictable and overall , to be a bit boring. I finished it on the way to a wedding in Bologna and left it with a note inside it, on an airport seat , in Bologna for the next traveler to pick up….I wonder how far it will go ?!