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Greece Actually

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Small, shy, safe. That’s how Becky lives ever since her last romantic calamity landed her in hospital. Her comfort zone is as confining as her tiny bank balance, and fiercely guarded by her totally over-the-top mum. But the news that her ex is back sniffing round is the final straw. In a very un-Becky move, she packs her bags for the Greek island of Skiathos. Maybe the setting of her favourite ABBA movie will be just the break from reality Becky needs…

Stepping aboard the Mamma Mia! boat tour, Becky leaves her fear in the port as she sings… out loud… in public, and cries Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! to everything the Greek life has to offer. She befriends locals young, old, and absolutely perfect (hello, sizzling hot restaurant-owner Kyros!), dines on freshly baked bread drizzled in golden olive oil on a starlit date, and walks barefoot along silky sandy beaches.

When Kyros asks her to stay longer, Becky is stunned. Could she really create a new life for herself here, and trust her heart with this smooth-talking charmer? But just as she’s thinking about putting down roots, her troublesome ex makes a dramatic return, begging for her back. Will she go back to playing it safe, or will she take a chance on Greece and embrace her true dancing queen?

280 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 13, 2021

318 people are currently reading
812 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 146 reviews
Profile Image for Carrie.
3,567 reviews1,693 followers
September 23, 2024
Greece Actually by Sue Roberts is a contemporary romance read. This one is short and sweet and perfect for those that love to travel to exotic locales in their books being set in the Greek island of Skiathos.

Becky has done her best to start her life over after a relationship ended with her in the hospital and her ex in jail. When Becky’s uncle offers her a chance to stay in his villa in Skiathos and bring a couple of friends she can’t resist the offer and quickly invites her best friends Paige and Abby.

After the ladies arrive on the island they make the most of their getaway getting out exploring and enjoying the culture. On one of their many ventures around the island Abby meets a sexy Greek by the name of Kyros and takes him up on his offers of showing her around. When Abby’s friends head home she spends even more time with Kyros and wonders how she can ever return to her life and leave him behind.

If I were to grade Greece Actually by Sue Roberts strictly on the setting it would easily be a book that rated five stars for me. And if I were grading this one on simply being a fun vacation for a group of ladies I believe it would still be right up there. The thing that brought my rating to three and a half stars was this is supposed to be a romance and that part of the story seemed rushed and lacking. It is overall a short, quick read so if there were as much depth put into the romance that there was the setting it would have been great. Regardless though being one that loves a good setting I still enjoyed my time in Greece and would read this author again.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Profile Image for Berit☀️✨ .
2,095 reviews15.7k followers
August 14, 2021
Another fun escape of a book from Sue Roberts! Becky has just escaped an abusive relationship, completely uprooted her life and started over. When her uncle reaches out and asks her to housesit his Villa in Greece she jumps at the chance. Now can I just say I would love to have an uncle or any relative for that matter that would pay for me to housesit their villa on a Greek island. Anyways I digress… as in all of Sue Roberts books she really brought the essence of Greece to life in the pages of this book. The sun, the sand, the food. Part of the story Becky spends with her two BFFs Paige and Abby. Glorious days lounging on the beach, nights of delicious dining, and even an Abba boat cruise that sounded like a blast. Becky also meets A handsome local Kyros, Who just might convince her to prolong her stay. Becky was a sweet relatable character who I was definitely rooting for. Loved this gorgeous setting and all the outings with her girls. My only teeny tiny complaint is the romance I wish it was perhaps a little more developed. This was a perfect getaway for those of us that probably won’t be getting a tropical vacation this summer.

This book in emojis: 🏝 🍹 👙

*** Big thank you to Bookouture for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
Profile Image for Elaine - Splashes Into Books.
3,883 reviews136 followers
August 16, 2021
Another fantastic read, courtesy of Bookouture and NetGalley!
What did I think of it ? Read on to see . . . .

This is a contemporary romance, a delightful read
It is a fun story, great to escape into, just what I need.
There are three friends who support each other
And a caring, protective father and mother…

Becky has recovered from what happened in the past
Making a fresh start and feeling safer at last
With her parents nearby and new friends, too,
Becky’s life is much better and has begun anew.

When Becky’s Uncle invites her to travel and stay
In his Greek villa whilst he sails away
Her parents volunteer her shop to run
Her two best friends will go with her, the deal is done!

Skiathos there new home will be
For a week or two - or even three.
Meeting the locals, exploring around
Wondering just what there is to be found.

The three friends help and look after each other
As new people, new tastes and places they discover.
Through it all there’s a worry, though,
Will her ex find her and where should she go?

The sights, sounds and scents shared in this book
Make me long to visit Skiathos to take another look
With Mamma Mia, ABBA and a beautiful romance
This book is definitely worthy of more than a second chance!
Profile Image for Sally Hanan.
Author 7 books159 followers
July 18, 2021
Very light reading, but enjoyable, I suppose, for the reader who loves descriptions of the water, food, beaches while on holiday. It's very much written in a "tell not show" type of writing, so I never felt as if I could dig into any type of character or storyline.
Profile Image for Lauren Prior.
45 reviews1 follower
May 29, 2024
This book was quite repetitive, and full of purple prose and unrealistic dialogue, but I kept going purely because I'm in Greece and it was so quick and easy to read by the pool.
Profile Image for Megan.
249 reviews37 followers
August 13, 2021
thank you to netgalley & bookouture for the eARC

🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷

I have never read such an inaccurate, misleading summary in my life. Let me just break it down for you: Did Becky’s last romantic relationship land her in the hospital? Yes. It was a physically abusive relationship. Is her mom “fiercely over the top”? Not in the least. She encourages her daughter to get back out there and live life, and even watches Becky’s store while she’s gone. Is her ex back? Not until about half-way through the book, and he isn’t “sniffing around” until about 80% through. Does she just decide to pack her bags in a spur of the moment decision to visit Greece? Nope. Her uncle wants her to house sit while he goes sailing. He even offers to pay for Becky and her friends so they can have a girl’s holiday. It takes her several days to agree. Is Mamma Mia her favorite movie? She doesn’t say so. In fact, there is an embarrassing lack of Mamma Mia for a book that uses it for so much marketing. Does Becky go in a Mamma Mia boat tour and sing out loud? Hardly. There’s a boat tour but there’s no commentary on the surroundings or how they relate to Mamma Mia– just ABBA blaring from the speakers. And she only sings at a screening of Mamma Mia that lasts all of two hours. And does Kyros ask her to stay? No. Not even vaguely.

What this book is really about is a woman who just takes a vacation to Greece. Becky owns a soap shop and when her uncle offers an all expenses paid trip to Greece for her to watch his house, Becky grabs her two best friends and the three women set off for a much needed holiday. While reading in the town center, Becky meets local restaurant owner Kyros. There’s an immediate attraction and the two strike up a holiday romance.

read the rest of my review on my blog: https://megansbookstacks.wordpress.co...
Profile Image for theliterateleprechaun .
2,445 reviews217 followers
July 16, 2021
I love it when Sue Roberts writes another book set in Greece and invites me along for an armchair travel! If you aren’t familiar with this author, she capably places her readers in the setting with her vivid descriptions, her characters are always authentic, and her relaxed, easy going plots are realistic and engaging.

In this book, Becky has just relocated and opened a new business when the offer to spend time on the Greek island of Skiathos is presented by her Uncle Henry. He knows that Becky is still reeling from an abusive relationship and knows that Greece is just what his niece needs. Thankfully, Becky’s arm is easy to twist and soon Abby, Paige and Becky are heading off to azure waters.

I’d be right there with Becky as (1) she boards the ABBA tour boat…with my ‘microphone,’ belting out the familiar tunes to some of my favourite songs, (2) as she tries out amazing restaurants and (3) as she soaks up the sun on beautiful sandy beaches.

When she meets dreamy Kyros, a local restaurant owner, she falls head over heels. As the holiday comes to a close, Becky is wondering if she can maintain a long-distance relationship or chalk it up to a holiday romance and head home to structure and security.

Roberts has found the perfect recipe for escape reading with a touch of sweet holiday romance for all of us armchair travelers who await our chance to travel post pandemic restrictions.

This easy-going, clean romance with great travel vibes and a few giggles should be on your radar come August 13, 2021.

I was gifted this advance copy by Sue Roberts, Bookouture, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Profile Image for Liva's reading antics.
383 reviews28 followers
December 10, 2024
There can never be too much Greece!😇 This book will take you to Greece right from the spot you are reading the book.

We were supposed to go there two summers ago but had to cancel because of the pandemic. This book ripped the wound open again. 😭

The setting in this book is perfect. Right after the characters left the airport, it felt like I am actually there joining their holiday.

While I loved the setting and some side characters, the majority of characters, including the main protagonist, were very one-sided. Through the story, we do not get to properly discover any of them. They are only tales and observations told by the main character. It feels like the author has tried to include a narrative for each, but did not spend enough time to explore any of the storylines for either of them. There is Henry and his wife's story, Scott's story, Kyros's story, her girlfriends. After reading this story, I cannot say I know any of them, nor can understand why they acted the way they did, while they are the pillars of this story.

Unfortunately, the romance was also missing a spark. I want to describe the relationship as " nice" which indicates that something was missing. Description of dates they went on focused way more on surroundings than their connection. Their love did not convince me.

This book will be great for you in case you love to read travel descriptions about places, food, and locals.

Thanks to NetGalley, Sue Roberts, and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. 🤗
Profile Image for The Sassy Bookworm.
4,057 reviews2,871 followers
October 10, 2021
⭐⭐⭐

This one was okay. I loved the setting. And there was some laugh out loud parts. But it had the tendency to read like a travel information book a lot of the times. 🤷🏻‍♀️

**ARC Via NetGalley**
Profile Image for Bookworm86 .
1,973 reviews137 followers
May 14, 2022
BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Greece Actually' by Sue Roberts.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Sue Roberts, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 13th August 2021.

This is the second book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'Going Greek' 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 'Perfect for fans of Carole Matthews, Jenny Colgan and Sophie Kinsella.' I am a huge fan of Jenny Colgan and Sophie Kinsella 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' 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, 35 chapters and an epilogue . 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 Becky. This book is written in first person perspective and the main protagonist is Sam. 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. 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 can 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 all the Mamma Mia references which definitely helped with the visualisation. The storyline was so heartwarming and it was such an easy and relaxing read with moments of laughter, some tension and overall happiness. It ended absolutely perfectly and I would love to see what Becka 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 Becka's shop and meeting her Mum and Dad who I absolutely adored how supportive they were of Becka and all she was doing. I thought Becka's shop was adorable and definitely somewhere I would visit if u came across it. I thought the friendship between Becka and Sheila was sweet and how Becka was constantly concerned for Sheila being in the market during the colder months.

The characters were all unique with their own realistic traits, strengths and weaknesses. It was intriguing to watch Becka and Kyros's relationship grow, develop and change throughout the the storyline. It was also intriguing to see how not only Becka and Kyros's relationship change throughout the book but also Becka's friendships and relationship with Paige, Abby and Uncle Henry. I loved meeting them along with Alex. The friendship between the girls was beautiful and it must be amazing to have such friendships where they supported each other so much. Kyros is an absolute sweetheart and such a romantic that I started falling in love with him myself. I loved the adorable hideaway he found for her and how thoughtful he was arranging the girls a night out. 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 everyone apart from a certain person. 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!!!

Overall a perfect light hearted unputdownable romance that will sweep you off your feet and land you in Greece.


Genres covered in this novel include Romance Novel , Humorous Fiction, 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, Sophie Kinsella and anyone who needs a holiday!!


278 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase 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

#GreeceActually #Bookouture #SueRoberts #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
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Profile Image for Els .
2,264 reviews53 followers
September 22, 2024
Oh my, this is a gorgeous summer read! The author takes us to Greece where we invited to keep Becky and her friends company during their vacation. We are treated to a bit of history, beautiful sceneries, mouth watering local dishes and refreshing drinks. We dive into the warm sea, go on boat trips and tag along wherever they go.

Becky, the main character, has some trust issues which is very understandable after what she went through, but will she be able to open her heart again and fall head over heels? At first she was determined to not let anyone in again, but what can you do when Cupid shoots an arrow?

We meet some lovely and not so lovely characters and we are witnessing strong friendships growing even stronger.

It’s a lovely sunny story with some great banter between the girlfriends but there was also room for an oh-no-this-cannot-be-happening moment.

Longing for a holiday? If you pick up this book you will be on one, without needing to pack, travel or do the washing afterwards! 😉 5 stars

Thank you, Sue Roberts and Bookouture.
Profile Image for Kelly.
367 reviews53 followers
August 1, 2021
This sweet contemporary romance is about a woman from England with a past history of suffering from abuse travels to Greece with her friends and the joy she finds there including a new man in her life. It is a great quick easy read.
Profile Image for Lauren Smith.
30 reviews
June 18, 2024
Nice to listen to in bits and pieces as relief from heavier books. I kept waiting for something bad to happen to any of the characters, and one bad thing barely even happened. Surprised that I enjoyed this book, but I felt like I knew the characters. They had some depth without needing to delve too deep into any of their psyches.
Profile Image for Sam Ann.
139 reviews3 followers
July 22, 2022
A good sunshine escape/armchair travel book.

Overall it’s a nice story, but the strong DV theme was a bit off putting.
453 reviews5 followers
July 14, 2021
Mamma Mia! What a great summer beach read! Romance and intrigue abound.

Becky and her best friends Paige and Abby travel to Greece to the island of Skiathos to have a sun filled and worry-free holiday, compliments of Becky’s uncle Henry. As they explore the fabulous scenery, turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea, and the seaside village, they also explore their lives. Abby is plagued with guilt over leaving her towns and boyfriend of 15 years. Paige is missing being away from her newlywed husband. Becky lacks confidence in men and is trying to relax and enjoy her time but worried and fearful after hearing news that her ex-boyfriend has just been released from prison, having served time for assaulting her. While in Greece, they mingle with the locals (mostly men) but Abby and Paige come to appreciate all that they left at home in England. Becky meets one special man in particular, Kyros who makes her believe in herself again. Can Becky find love again?

With a strong interest in Greece and in hopes of visiting someday, I found the descriptions of the scenery, the food, the people, the culture to be detailed and fascinating. However, the story itself was a bit trite and not very engaging to get the reader to really care about the characters plight. If you are looking for a beach read that you can pick up and put down then pick up again, this would be a good one. For fans of Mamma Mia and ABBA, you would enjoy all the references to where it was filmed. It is a harmless little story but set in a beautiful location.

Thanks to #netgalley #GreeceActually for the opportunity to read this ARC and review this book.
Profile Image for Robin Loves Reading.
2,898 reviews453 followers
August 16, 2021
Becky had experienced a horrific experience with her ex and has lived hrr life in a bubble ever since. Her ex is now out of prison and has begun making his presence known. Becky leaves the comfort of her loving parents, her small business and existense to head to the Greek island of Skiathos to look over her uncle's villa while he goes on a much-needed vacation.

Becky takes the chance and takes off with two of her close friends. This proves to be a fabulous experience for Becky and she finds out how wonderful life could be - if only for a brief while. One of the things Becky least expects is being drawn to restaurant owner Kyros. He is flawless, but naturally, Becky has reason for caution. Is there a chance that the time Becky and Kyros spend together could possibly lead to more? Can she trust her heart again after what she had previously suffered?

Greece Actually is a wonderful read, perfect for reading while lounging at the beach or pool. As sweet as the romance is between Becky and Kyros, there are moments of levity where her ex is concerned. The story balances out and proved to be quite enjoyable.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Sarah Dressler.
850 reviews37 followers
August 17, 2021
I am learning more and more about my reading style. First, I am a mood reader- always and forever. Second, my mood reads typically follow the seasons.

This is such a cute little summer read (of course, y’all are seeing how my mood reads follow the seasons)! I love the British-isms in this one as well. You’ve seen how much I like that recently.

Sue Roberts wrote this super cute little read with so much hilarity in the midst of lessons to be learned. First, Samantha makes some early relationship errors which cause her, as a public figure to basically go into hiding in Greece with her sister’s family. The question is: who WOULDN’T want to go to Greece for a while??

While in Greece she runs into an ex from many years ago, while making some great friends within her sister’s small town. Spyros and his father, who run a cheese shop (factory??) are my favorite characters. They are just so adorably Greek.

This novel gave me serious Jenny Colgan vibes, so if you are a fan of hers, you’d most likely enjoy this novel!

Thank you to @bookouture and @sueroberts for my #gifted copy in exchange for my honest review!
Profile Image for Abby.
122 reviews14 followers
July 7, 2021
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me an ARC of this book to review!

This book is a great summer read. It's definitely a getaway. I loved the atmosphere of the book. Sue Roberts excels at scenic descriptions. From the sights to the food to the sounds, I felt fully immersed in the story.

I also enjoyed the female friendships in this book and the different subplots with our main character's friends. I liked how we saw glimpses of other relationships in the book besides the primary romantic relationship. It enhanced some of the themes about relationships in the book. My only issue with the book was the pacing of the romance plot. The romance storyline starts kind of late in the book and feels rushed. I wish it was more spread throughout the whole book. Still, I'd recommend this book to anyone in need of a summer getaway.
539 reviews
August 13, 2021
This is another enjoyable romance by Sue Roberts with vivid and colourful descriptions which certainly make you want to go to Greece! Reading this might be the next best thing!

Becky is struggling with her little shops where she sells scented soaps and creams, and she is also dealing with trauma caused with her ex-boyfriend. Her uncle's invitation to spend a holiday at his villa is perfect to get away from all this. She takes a couple of friends, who each have their own problems. Will the sunshine, gorgeous scenery and perhaps some romance revive her?

This is great escapist reading during the depression and insanity of the pandemic.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for LESLIE J (mrsj_readsbooks).
914 reviews31 followers
July 13, 2021
Mamma Mia! You need to jump right in to this funny, romantic story. Beth and her friends will take you on fun-filled holiday to the warm sunny beaches of Skiathos and behind.. Love is in the air, but is it just a fling? or the real thing? You will not be disappointed in the sights, sounds and smells of the Greek Islands. I read this book in 2 sittings as I needed a sunny vacation.

. I've always wanted to travel to Greece and after reading this book I feel like I've walked the streets and seen all the amazing beach views.
Thank you to Net Galley and Bookouture for allowing to read and review this book.
Profile Image for Shannon Rochester.
758 reviews42 followers
January 13, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review...I am fairly certain that I requested this book just because it was taking place in Greece...I have always had a thing for that Country...throw in a love story and I am there. I think this might be my first book by this author but it definitely won't be my last. I loved the story line, I loved the characters, and I definitely loved the setting...especially the Abba part lol. It had me googling the area and other facts to see if it all actually existed and when I learned that it did, I added it to my "travel to" list...someday, maybe.
Profile Image for Ellie's .
270 reviews2 followers
July 17, 2021
Love it, love it, love it! This book was a perfect reminder that we can make errors in our life and also have the right to love again, and of course, have a vacation! I'm keen I had the chance to read it, definitely needed it.
#GreeceActually #NetGalley
Profile Image for Aanya Sachdeva.
Author 3 books56 followers
July 14, 2021
OMG I LOVED IT!!
This was soo good, the word 'nipped' was used alot like ALOT rest it was soo cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My rating 4.5 stars
Profile Image for Coffee & Kindles.
186 reviews2 followers
August 31, 2021
Prepare yourself for sun and sand! This will take you in an adventure you won’t soon forget!!! Pack your beach wear and enjoy this with some sun, sand and a warm breeze.
Profile Image for Dipanshi.
249 reviews30 followers
April 23, 2022
A very average, just okay book, but serves as the perfect read if you're looking for escapism since the descriptions of the beautiful Greek island of Skiathos and the food will make you feel like you've traveled there yourself.
I picked this up when I wanted something really light to read and was just looking for a pick-me-up and this book is definitely that.
I think it was this book that triggered my need to read more of cozy books about women entrepreneurs since I really liked reading about the short snippets of Becky's business. I read this in the start of March and now at the end of April, I realise I've read a lot of perfectly bland, perfectly happy books about women running small businesses and I think this book may have triggered this obsession. And I can't help but think, does that say something about me? Do I have hidden desires about opening something similar? Well, even though psychoanalyzing myself is really fun, we're here to talk about the book so let's dive into that.

Becky is living in a small country town of England, having shifted there after her abusive ex assaulted her. She is in constant fear of him finding her, even though he's currently in prison, and so she lives a bland, cautious life. Until one day, based on a request from her uncle, she flies to Skiathos to housesit his large beautiful villa, while he's off on a vacation. She takes along her two friends for the ride and they enjoy a beautiful week in Greece, partying on the beach, eating amazing food and ogling local handsome men.

As I said, very much a dreamy escapist novel, this is definitely going to make you wistful. While I was soothed by the writing, it may have the opposite effect on you and make you sad cus y'know you're not actually in Greece. (And if you are in Greece, please be aware that you're one lucky sod and we are all very jealous).

I call this bland though, because this is very much a 'tell not show' novel though it did evoke beautiful imagery in my head. Also it's very calm, because there aren't any huge stakes for anything, and everything is very very neatly resolved, with a bow on top.
Also the characters seem to do shady shit for no reason, it felt like the author wanted to explore these plotlines, but in the end resorted to not utilising them, and forgot to remove them. Somewhat odd.

Overall, a very peaceful reading experience, would recommend if you're looking for mindless fluff with beautiful settings.
Profile Image for Yvonne.
1,747 reviews136 followers
November 18, 2021
I have read quite a few of this authors books and I do like the ones set in Greece. Greece Actually is a wonderful book to read, especially during a chilly November afternoon.

Becky doesn't have many friends, she doesn't really go out. But the two friends she does have are supportive and together they have good fun. Becky has only lived in the area for three years, she runs her own shop. When she gets invited to stay at her Uncle's villa in Greece she immediately thinks of how good it would be to spend some time with her two friends and get away from work and memories for a while.

Becky is a person who is someone who would rather remain hidden, it is only further in the story that I discovered why this was. It also explained the reason for her move to a Lancashire town. Starting her business and making her own stock does sound like hard work but it is also a way for Becky to keep busy. Having supportive and fun friends gives her the chance to live a little and having them go with her on holiday means she will go.

The author really does a fabulous job of describing the Greek Island of Skiathos and I did virtually visit on the internet, it looks amazing and very similar to how I imagined it to be. There is of course mentions of the local food, some history and sights to be seen. Then there is a certain Greek restauranteur by the name of Kyros.

The story is one that has its moments of sadness, but only a very small amount. It is more the story of Becky and how she is moving forward and gradually starting to believe in herself. She is very much in control, but it was so nice to see her gradually loosening up and enjoying herself. She is a character I liked and I wanted her to reach out and experience life.

This is a lovely story that was a one-sitting read, food, scenery, gorgeous beaches and the characters ticked all the boxes for me. Ideal for those who love to be whisked away to warmer climates for some romance reading. One I would definitely recommend.
Profile Image for Ryan.
72 reviews2 followers
May 1, 2024
I love this easy ready about a girls trip to Greece. Who doesn't like a girls trip. I enjoyed all the characters who were just out to have some fun with your typical back home issues that one could possibly have. That said I felt the whole ex-boyfriend angle was unnecessary and didn't add anything to the book until the end but again it felt very contrived like the author had to tie that part of the story line together. I don't remember finding out about the husband that kept going next door or the author rushed though with a flimsy explanation that I glossed over. I wish we could have found out more about the aunt that passed away. I thought maybe there was a story there and about how she had such olive toned tanned skin. Again another gloss over that could have used a little bit of a different story line than an crazy ex-boyfriend. So many different ways the author could have went. She finds our she was adopted and the uncle and aunt were her real parents but they could not take care of her for some reason when she was a child or a baby. MAybe the mom had a torrid affair with some Greek man many moons ago and the uncle was keeping her secret because it was his very lose friend. Something more juicy and attention holding.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Emily (crushes.onmy.bookshelf).
1,000 reviews8 followers
January 26, 2022
Thank you to Bookouture publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

Okay let me start out and say that Mamma Mia is my favorite. So I was too excited for this book. I absolutely loved Going Greek and was very ready to read this book.

I really liked our heroine, Becky. She was independent and very strong especially after what she went through. And she had such supportive friends. I loved learning more about Abby and Paige.

It definitely made me want to go to Greece like right now. It was so descriptive and I really felt like I was there. There were times that I thought the story kind of dragged because there was so much description. But it really was fun to read about so I didn’t mind!

And now the wonderful love interest Kyros. This was a slow slow burn, but I really enjoyed the ease of their relationship. It wasn't overnight. But It was super natural. They fell for each other. And Kyros was such a book crush. He was patient and caring when she needed. I would love to find a relationship like that.

Overall, this was a sweet simple read.

4/5
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