Unser griechischer Sommer

by Maeve Haran

Vier Freundinnen im besten Alter bringen eine verschlafene griechische Insel auf Trab!

Seit ihrem Studium waren Dora, Penny, Nell und Moira ein unzertrennliches Gespann. Doch mit der Zeit haben sich die Frauen zwischen Karriere, Beziehungen und Familienplanung aus den Augen verloren. Penny leidet sehr darunter – und da sie in einer Krise steckt, benötigt sie die Unterstützung ihrer Freundinnen umso mehr. Kurz entschlossen trommelt sie Dora, Nell und Moira zusammen und unterbreitet ihnen eine Idee: Wie wäre es, wenn sie ihren legendären Griechenlandurlaub aus Studienzeiten wiederholen würden? Die Frauen sind Feuer und Flamme, und so brechen sie auf eine kleine Kykladeninsel auf, wo sie nicht nur Ouzo und Oliven erwarten, sondern auch der Sommer ihres Lebens …

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance, Greece, Audiobook, Travel

448 pages, Paperback

Published May 16, 2022

About the author

Maeve Haran is an Oxford Law graduate who worked in journalism and television before writing her first novel, Having It All, a worldwide bestseller translated into 26 languages and shortlisted for
the Romantic Novel of the Year. She wrote twelve more contemporary novels, one work of non-fiction, and two historical novels.

Her new book In the Summertime is due out on June 8.

She has grown-up three children and lives in North London.

Reviews

[Steffi · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Unser griechischer Sommer" klang mit seinem Klappentext nach einer unterhatsamen Sommerlektüre, so dass ich sehr neugierig auf das Buch geworden bin.

Dora, Penny, Nell und Moira haben während ihres Studiums einen unvergesslichen Sommer in Griechenland. Viele Jahre später, mit unterschiedlichen Familien- und Karrierewegen, beschließen die vier diesen Sommer noch einmal zu wiederholen und reisen nach Griechenland.

Ich habe mich ein wenig schwer getan in das Buch reinzukommen, was vor allem an den vielen Namen lag. Auch im weiteren Verlauf des Buches hatte ich ein paar Schwierigkeiten die vier Freundinnen und ihre entsprechenden Lebensgeschichten auseinanderzuhalten.

Die Geschichte war prinzipiell unterhaltsam und flüssig zu lesen, aber ich muss sagen, dass sie ingesamt nicht völlig meinen Geschmack getroffen hat. Mir war die Geschichte teilweise ein wenig zu konfus, zu viele Personen und zu viel Hin und Her. Es fehlte ein bisschen der rote Faden.

Das Setting hingegen war sehr gelungen und das Buch hatte eine tolle sommerliche Atmosphäre. Die Autorin hat die Landschaft und alles weitere mit vielen schönen Details beschrieben und man hatte das Gefühl selbst in Griechenland zu sein.

[Cath Hughes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had read The Getaway Girls by Dee Macdonald earlier this year which was a much better book about women in their 60s travelling around Europe.
And also Sail Away by Celia Imrie which was also about 2 women in their 60s on a cruise ship.
So when I started this book and found it was also about 4 women in their 50s on a Greek holiday I groaned!! It was ok, sweet even. But I couldn't give it 4 or 5 stars like most of the other reviewers!!

This book makes more references to alcohol than any other book!!

[fer ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book (especially the beautiful descriptions of the island) but the story wasn’t that good 🤔🙁

[♡ Meli ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️2.5
Maeve Haran's *The Greek Holiday* promised a sun-soaked escape filled with humor and charm, but unfortunately, it fell short of expectations. The novel follows a group of friends on a vacation in Greece, aiming to deliver a light-hearted and entertaining read. However, the story is riddled with clichés and sudden, unconvincing character changes that undermine the plot.

One of the main issues is the predictability of the storyline. The book relies heavily on familiar tropes, making the plot foreseeable and less engaging. Additionally, the characters, while intended to be funny and endearing, often come off as flat and uninspiring. Their sudden shifts in behavior and relationships feel forced, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the narrative.

The ending is particularly disappointing, with a rushed and disjointed resolution that leaves many threads unresolved. Despite these flaws, Haran does succeed in creating a vivid and appealing atmosphere. The descriptions of the Greek setting are vibrant and immersive, capturing the essence of a picturesque holiday destination.

For those looking for a quick vacation read, *The Greek Holiday* might still hold some appeal, especially if you enjoy Haran's writing style. However, it may not be the most memorable or satisfying choice. Despite this, I remain open to exploring Haran's other works, hoping they might offer a more cohesive and engaging experience.

[Tripfiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romance novel set in GREECE (Cyclades)

Check out our You Tube interview with the author: https://youtu.be/co6yYp72wuw



Of course, with this novel we need to start with location! It is truly transportive. The author was inspired by Lindos on Rhodes and the tiny island of Milos, to create a stunning backdrop for her novel The Greek Holiday. Read our #TalkingLocationWith... piece here.

Four women of more mature years – Penny, Moira, Nell and Dora – decide to get together and plan to revisit the island of Zanthos, where they had a memorable trip in their youth. They arrive now and are dismayed to see the huge car park, the party town, the flashing lights and the mass tourism that has besieged the island. On a whim they decide to take their destiny in the their hands and they set off by boat. Fate brings them to the small island of Kyri. Here there is no tourism and a failing, agricultural/fishing economy. A little boost from the tourism sector would not go amiss.

So the women set about helping the locals to convert some rustic fishing huts into desirable AirBnB accommodation, tastefully decorated and low-key. The author is clearly keen to reflect both the positives and negatives of tourism.

I was delighted to learn a little more about Greek mythology, the author slides in information without it being didactic. It is clear that there is a missing statue of Venus, and young local Ariadne is adept at finding herbs to help with all sorts of ailments. She can smell the myrtle which indicates the mystical presence of Venus (the same as Aphrodite in Greek mythology). It seems the statue may have been hidden to be sold on to unscrupulous dealers, as there is a booming trade in valuable statues. And don’t forget, the Venus de Milo was discovered on Milos!

The food and wine all add to the setting. Did you know that Kleftiko literally means “stolen meat”? It apparently used to be illegal for poor people to own animals, so they would steal a sheep and cook it with beautiful herbs, well underground away from any prying eyes! The author shares her own experience (which ended in a bout of terrible food poisoning) of eating squid, cooked on hot car engines. Apparently that is/was a thing!

Each woman has a bit of a backstory and with the new found simplicity of life, they each have some thinking to do. How tempting is the story of Shirley Valentine! This is very much a story about Greece, women, friendship and family. With a tasty bit of romance thrown in! There is wit and wisdom too.

[Ronel Snyman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect holiday read

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 it just wasn’t what I was expecting

[Ellie (bookmadbarlow) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this was certainly a case of right book right time. After a run of tough reads I needed a comfort read to envelope me in a warm hug and this is exactly what I got.
Four women of a certain age - on/around retirement age, travel back to Greece to relive their college holiday and let me tell you this was hilarious! Think Mamma Mia mixed with a bit of Sex and the City the movie.
The narrator of the audio did an amazing job of bringing each of the different characters to life for me and the author didn't shy away from deeper topics of a controlling/abusive husband and loneliness, but the overarching message was friendship and how women can prevail. Obviously there was some romance in thrown in for good measure as well as a mystery surrounding a missing statue, which really made me smile.
This for me was the perfect holiday read/or non holiday as the case may be this year and it will definitely whisk you away to warmer places, if only in your mind.
My thanks to the publisher for the book.

[Christine Duckhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

I love anything and everything related to Greece and the Greek people. This novel brought me some memories of Greece on a few cold winter days.
The story is so well told, that I could easily picture the fictional island and the characters we meet during the holiday of the old friends.
There is one small inaccuracy. You wouldn't get away with giving a watered down ouzo to any Greek little old man.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful Greek island where four old friends end up spending their holiday. I really liked the descriptions of Greece. And the four friends and their interactions and pudding romances were nice. The story had a bit too much of "the natives can't do it themselves, so we white folks step in and save them" vibe to completely enjoy it though.

[Linda O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous book.
I loved every minute of it.
The storyline revolves around 4 mature ladies. Dora, Penny, Moira & Nell. 4 old college friends.
Penny comes into a small legacy & invites these friends on a weeks holiday back to the Greek island of Zanthos, where they thproughly enjoyed themselves years ago when they were in their teens. But when they arrive, there is nothing as they remember it. They decide to have a trip around the islands & find somewhere better to stay. Unfortunately, Moira is taken seriously ill & they have to stop off at the nearest island of Kyri & get her to the local doctor. It's going to take a long time for Moira to recover. So whilst she is staying at the doctors home & being looked after, the rest of the ladies book into a hotel. As they explore this unspoilt island they fall in love with it more & more. The only tourists they get is from the passing boats & cruise ships & don't get many staying guests. The islanders would love a few more tourists to their islands.
The women soon make friends & the islanders take them to their bosom. So Penny decides to try to put them on the map by thinking up ways to bring more tourists in.
These are 4 strong women.
Penny is eager to get away from her controlling & mentally abusive husband , who has never had a good word to say to her or about her all her married life.
Nell is deeply unhappy that she rarely gets to see her daughter & granddaughter. The overbearing mother-in-law has taken them over & is monopolising them, so Nell doesn't get a look in.
Dora runs her own PR firm & her top client has decided to go to another PR firm. So Dora decides now is the time for a break & to get away from publicity.
Moira is a newly retired professor from Cambridge & hasn't worked out what she wants to do next.
There are quite a few colourful characters in the storyline & it gathers speed all the way throughout.
In the end I found it hard to put down. A marvellous read. Has lots going on in it. The women learning about themselves & what friendship really means & enjoying life to the full.
Really made me want to pack my bags & go there myself.

[Lesefieber22 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aufregende Sommergeschichte im idyllischen Griechenland

Als sich die vier Jugendfreundinnen Penny, Nell, Moira und Dora treffen, um ihre Freundschaft neu aufleben zu lassen, ahnen sie noch nicht, was alles auf Sie zukommt. Nicht nur die 4 Frauen haben sich in den letzten Jahrzehnten in unterschiedliche Richtungen entwickelt, auch Zanthos, die Insel auf welcher sie einst einen unvergesslichen Urlaub verbracht haben, hat sich verändert. Von der Hippie-Romantik vergangener Zeiten ist nichts mehr übrig, der Ort wird von Touristen überschwemmt und ist kaum noch wieder zuerkennen. Rasch beschliessen die vier Frauen, den Urlaub abzubrechen, enttäuscht von der Realität und bekräftigt durch Spannungen zwischen den einstigen Freundinnen. Auf dem beschwerlichen Rückweg wird Moira krank und sie sind gezwungen, erstmal auf einer winzigen Insel einen Zwischenhalt zu machen. Rasch wächst die idyllische Insel Kyri und ihre Bewohner den Freundinnen ans Herz, jeder auf ihre ganz eigene Art und Weise. Bei der Suche nach einer verschwundenen Statue finden sie wieder zusammen und erleben zum ersten Mal, was Freundschaft wirklich bedeutet. Für die vier Freundinnen bringt der Sommer auf der griechischen Insel wichtige Erkenntnisse, eine neue Liebe und die Erfüllung lange gehegter Wünsche.

Der Einstieg in den Roman gelingt etwas schwer, doch rasch nimmt einem die Geschichte der 4 Frauen gefangen und es fällt schwer, das Buch wieder weg zu legen. Hin und wieder gibt es etwas viele Handlungsstränge gleichzeitig und manchmal gelingt die Lösung der Probleme auch etwas zu leicht, aber im Ganzen ist es eine tolle, aufregende Sommergeschichte, die leicht zu lesen ist und Lust auf Sonne, Meer und einen kühlen Weisswein gemeinsam mit Freundinnen macht.

[Liba · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 college friends meet after many years .
Penelope (Penny ) is married to controlling Colin .She is a housewife. They have 2 children : Wendy and Tom. Wendy is married with small children, Tom lives abroad.Penny (about 50 ) inherits some money from parents and decides to use it for a holiday abroad with her friends.
Helen (Nell ) was married .Her daughter Willow is married and has an year-old daughter,Naomi. Nell feels unwanted by her daughter, who clearly prefers her mother-in-law Marigold to her.
Neither Moira (classics professor ) nor Pandora (Dora, a PR )are married. Dora worked as a PR for Venus Green, a celebrity.
The 4 friends arrive at the Greek island of Kyri and meet some old friends there, who remember the
English girls" from 30 years ago. There is Takis and his mother Cassandra and his 15 yo daughter Ariadne.And there is Nikos, the mayor of Kyri. Xan (Alexandros ) is a businessman from Athens, who wants to cut down the olive grove and build a mansion there.Ariadne loves the mythology, especially Aphrodite (Venus ) and is against Xan.
The 4 friends decide to help the locals to turn their boathouses into rentals for summer- airbnbs.
And then there are surprise arrivals. First, Willow comes with little Naomi- and Marigold .Nell has a chance to get closer to her daughter and granddaughter.
Next arrival is Karl, also a classics professor ,who befriends Dora. His friend Stellios likes Nell.
Meanwhile, Penny and Nikos are falling in love. Takis is interested in Moira.

And then Colin arrives and is obnoxious to Penny.
Interesting that 3 out of 4 friends have Greek names : Helen, Penelope and Moira.
Fun book.

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four middle aged women revisit the Greek island where they have happy memories of holidaying as university students but find it has become overrun by tourists. They relocate to Kyri, an as-yet undiscovered island that is very like the one they remember from their teenage years. The fun, friendship and romance they find there make them reconsider their lives and what it is that they value most.

This is a light, easy, predictable read - ok as long as you are prepared to suspend disbelief. So many eligible, middle-aged men around who just happen to fall for British holidaymakers instead of local women? A local community who don't know the first thing about running a business or using the internet, and who are delighted to be ordered around by a bunch of English, middle-class tourists? A real live Greek goddess who uses floral scents to guide her devotees to make miraculous discoveries?

If you start picking holes in it, it falls apart quite quickly. But for a lightweight holiday read, it's fine. Does what it says on the tin without any major drama. I did feel quite sorry for Moira though - everyone else ends up with a new lover and/or business - she just ends up with a part-time waitressing job. The moral seems to be that if you want life-changing holidays, you can't shop at Oxfam or have messy hair...

[Hayley Marsland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four women, Penny, Dora, Nell and Moira, who originally met at university, went away on a holiday to a small Greek island back when they were eighteen years old.

They're now middle aged, and have reunited in order to relive that first trip, but when they arrive nothing is as they remember it.

This being the case they decide to cruise around other islands instead, but then Moira becomes very ill, so they are forced to stop at a tiny island called Kyri, so that she can access medical attention.

Kyri is very unspoilt and somewhat over looked, in favour of the larger and very much more popular island of Santorini, but the foursome fall in love with the tiny island, and the locals.

The women are determined to help make Kyri into a destination where other tourists will want to stay and not just by pass on board a cruise ship, so they set about helping the islanders, to bring more tourists to them.

But this story is about so much more than helping an island community to reinvent itself.

It's about having fun, being happy, the possibility of finding love even, but most important of all, it's about them finding themselves, and realising the importance of strong female friendships, that could last a lifetime.

A lovely book all round.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I bought the paperback version which is not yet on goodreads) It took about 4 chapters before I started to get into the book. The switch to a less-inhabited island I loved. Penny's love story was nice but the ending was not dramatic enough - she should have beat lumps on Colin's head! The end-of-book confrontation with him was tepid and unsatisfying. The instruction to the inhabitants that they should paint their places to bring in more tourism was not convincing. The bad review posted by one of the characters was not realistic either. And I could not get into the search for the item and the rich islander - he did not seem menacing as portrayed.
I liked the descriptions of the island and the places they went, it reminded me of a couple of trips to Greece. Some of the characterizations were fleshed out, and some weren't. The pairing off of Dora with the Cambridge prof seemed rushed - and not convincing.
I enjoyed the book, but won't be re-reading it, and I have liked other Maeve Haran books better.

[Michelle B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Greek Holiday is a perfect book to sit back relax and enjoy and remember your own wonderful holidays in the sun.
The premise of the story is four 60 year old women who holidayed together on the same Greek island when they were at university who want to recapture that spirit by revisiting the island. Unfortunately, when they arrive they find the island they once loved, has changed beyond recognition. However, fate leads them to the beautiful unspoiled neighbouring island of Kyri, which is so like Zanthos when they visited many years ago.
Together the four unlikely friends battle their personal demons to help the community and enjoy their time on the beautiful island of Kyri.
What I would give right now to be able to visit Kyri!
A beautiful and easy read which makes it so easy to picture being on the fictional island of Kyri.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sally Tyrer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Greek holiday is a perfect tonic in these times of lockdown when we can only dream of a holiday! The descriptions of the Greek countryside, beaches and food and drinks instantly transports you to your holiday destination!
Four old friends at retirement age decide to relive their youth and go back to Greece where they all holidayed many years previously, each had their own reason for going and a certain amount of emotional baggage but during the extended holiday they all change and come to new realisations regarding their love lives, relationships and self worth, helped in no small part by their attempts at helping the local economy of kyri and locating and rescuing a certain very special statue! The importance and power of female friendship is at the forefront of this lovely holiday read.
Thank you net galley for this early read.

[Rachel Ben-eliezer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four old university friends, Dora, Penny, Nell and Moira, reunite to relive that first hippy-dippy trip together to a beautiful, unspoilt, romantic Greek island looking for sun, sand and sea.
But it’s not just about going back to when they were young. Maybe they do have dreams like Shirley Valentine, because, ultimately, they’re all looking for something to help them through some difficult times in their lives – whether it’s with their career, family or relationships.
What they discover in Kyri is an opportunity to reinvent, be themselves, contribute to a community who wants their help, at the same time as having fun, being happy and even finding love. But, crucially, they discover the most valuable lesson of all – understanding the true importance of female friendship.
A very nice entertaining book.

[Cheryl Briggs · Rating 2 out of 5]

I decided to fit in reading this book in the last few days of Summer as it was set on a Greek island.
The premise seemed interesting enough but unfortunately it was quite dull.
Four women end up on a tiny island with no tourist trade to speak of & all of a sudden they come up with how to change it making the locals seem quite dim because they hadn't thought of it.
The race to find 'the baddie ' hiding the statue was not in the slightest bit exciting to read & the horrible husband turning up to find his wife was a big let down. No big argument or anything just a short conversation then that was it! After stating from the beginning he was not a great husband & deciding to leave him throughout the story I was anticipating a huge showdown but was disappointed.
Glad to have finished it. Totally forgettable!

[Rona Nimmo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Greek Holiday by Maeve Haran

Four woman Penny, Nell, Dora and Moira who went to university together and then spent the summer on a small Greek island. Decades later they decide to have a reunion and go back to the original Greek island but during their stay one of the takes Ill and has to be taken from the ship to a different Greek island and a whole new unexpected adventure begins .

A really well written book with friendship, humour, adventure intrigue and no one is quite what they seem the story had it all.

Beautifully described places and characters you can envisage being there.

A great story from the first page to the last. A fabulous anytime read.

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have been seeking out stories populated by women and this one seemed to fit the criteria. There are plus and minus points to this book.. yes it is populated by women and yes they, for the most part, drive the story.
Unfortunately I wasn't taken by the idea that four women who effect change on this tiny island are all 'blow-ins' and it felt very colonial, presumptuous and wrong. The individual self discoveries seemed to rely on finding a love interest and I decided that there was much in the story that could be read very fast, or not at all, the pace of the telling felt laboured. Maybe this one is not for me.....

[dawn nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this, would have been the most perfect beach read. The story of 4 middle aged school friends who go on a holiday to recreate a holiday they once had when they were teenagers. I found the book very slow to start with and kept on putting it down, it actually took me quite a while to read, but the more the book progressed the more enjoyable it was. Loved the woman, and the descriptions of food and the scenery. One thing the book has done is put me off going to Santorini on holiday, i definitely now want to go and explore the tiny islands instead. An easygoing enjoyable amusing beach read.

[Leigh Drury · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book... the story is light and bright and breezy, perfect for a summer holiday read! In fact - I read this whilst on a Greek holiday, so that may well have enhanced my enjoyment and earned it an extra star?! Actually, it deserves its 4 stars... it's a good tale of 4 different female friends and their reunion 20 years after their post-uni Greek holiday. Much has changed - but then all that tied them together as friends still remains... just a little further under the surface than it used to be! It's a love letter to the beauty of friendship, summer... and the history and warmth of Greece!

[Ann Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penny has been left some money. She decides to spend it on a holiday, visiting a Greek island where she previously went when she was 18. She invites along the same three friends who went previously. They are disappointed when they arrive, the island has changed. They leave the island after just one night. Chance brings them to another Greek island, Kyri. Here they are very welcomed by the locals, penny and her friends help the locals to put Kyri on the tourist map, in a small gentle way. There are some adventures along the way, of course some romance and at the end of the holiday the four friends have very much bonded. A lovely feel good read.

[Claire Rowlands · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time reading a book by Maeve Harlan and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Four friends, from different walks of life, have arranged a reunion holiday to Greece, revisiting where they went when they were younger, each leaving their problems behind.

They discover the beautiful, unpopulated Kyri, help the locals to make their island more popular at the same time as having fun, solving a mystery and a bit of romance. Discovering a valuable lesson of understanding the true importance of friendship.

Loved the description of the island and people and really enjoyed the mysterious twist too.

[Ginette Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fairly light and easy read, nevertheless I enjoyed the story of four university friends rekindling their friendship on a return to Greece, recalling an earlier trio they had taken as impoverished students. The four: a university professor made redundant, a dominated and unhappy wife, an upmarket PR guru and a divorcee, estranged from her family, find their previous haunt to be overcrowded and not as they remembered. Deciding to return to Athens, they have to stop off at a small island when one of them becomes ill, and here they find happiness and a sense of purpose. I would recommend.

[Olivia Simmonds · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Greek Holiday is a charming book about old friends reconnecting and finding who they are again.

The book is set in Greece and it reminds me a lot of Mamma Mia. Great for a beach read. I just felt there were a lot of characters to keep track of- the women, their husbands, their children and a fair few greek people. I loved the themes of friendship, love, second-chance romance and summer fun. The audiobook version was pretty good, with the exception that Penny's voice was a bit grating after a while.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lighthearted tale of four mature women on a Greek “catch up holiday” I liked the descriptions of the Greek coast and the sea and the author certainly exported the reader into the sea and sunshine! Parts of the plot were a little unusual and improbable but on the whole I enjoyed the read. The descriptions of the main characters were good and I like Penny the “main” character and liked how she finally found strength to ditch a controlling husband. A good light summer read!

[Fiza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book and the unique characters, excluding the ghastly Marigold. Hehe. With all the places described, it feels like I am back to Greece once again for a holiday. Story was well written. This is my first book by Maeve Haran and I am not disappointed. I will be looking forward to read the rest of her books.