I loved how honest Beth was with herself throughout the story. Even though she knew her motivations, she was finding it difficult to move on. The 2 weeks in Almyros was the perfect place to re-discover her dreams and ambitions. Her friendship with Heidi is brilliant and I knew if anyone could get Beth on the right track, it would be her best friend.

It’s not just Beth who has lost confidence either. With Alex’ narration we find out about his familial responsibilities to his mum Margalo and how hard he works at 3 jobs. But sadly not the job he really wants to do. I was just as intrigued as he was about the money! The answer truly is a Mandy Baggot creation 🙂 I had no idea (didn’t even come close to guessing!) until it was there in front of me. Margalo’s character is perfect for the matriarch role of a Greek family and Alex trying desperately to meet her needs made me feel for him so much.

I love the way Mandy Baggot writes about relationships, including intimacy. There’s a powerful scene that had me wanting to swap places with Beth! Beth and Alex aren’t the only two who gave me all the feels either. I had an emotional attachment to all of the characters and felt bereft when the story ended. It felt as if I had spent the two weeks alongside them experiencing everything they did.

So many moments brought laughter too. Climbing down the ravine, parasailing, quadbiking to name a few.

If you’ve lost your way and are in need of a boost, One Greek Summer will inspire you. You’ll feel refreshed and confident, ready to make changes with enthusiasm.

Highly recommended.

Favorite Quotes:

‘How long is it since you’ve had a date now?’ … ‘Almost two months,’ Heidi breathed. ‘My lady parts basically think I’ve sold them for transplant.’

‘Repeat after me…I am a woman in my prime.’ ‘Oh, Heidi, have you been going to those motivational hours at the community centre again? Weren’t you put off for good when the guest speaker was someone who had once worked with Harvey Weinstein?’

‘I’m not sorry he isn’t dead.’ She took a breath. There had been times she’d wanted to cut the crotch out of his underpants, but death seemed a little too far, even in her darkest moments, drinking his vintage champagne like it was tap water.

‘I don’t fancy you either. Never have.’ ‘I don’t know whether to feel pleased or strangely curious as to why not.’ ‘Let’s leave it as an enigma…’

All everyone says is that yiayia died of a broken heart. But my mother says she died of shame because she could not bear to live the rest of her life as a widow mourning a man who shared his penis with the entire island.

‘He was at the beach bar in Roda, a late-night drink after practice for a band he is joining.’ She shook her head. ‘He is sixty-five years old. The only band he should be involved in is one they put around your arm to monitor blood pressure.’


My Review:

Greece has been on my bucket list for decades, and although I will confess to being far too lazy to make the arduous trek, I can partially satisfy my curiosity and wanderlust by occasionally picking up a Grecian based tale. One Last Greek Summer was quite the tasty snack with Ms. Baggot’s divinely keen sense for colorful details and vividly described scenes, I could almost hear the bleating of the baby goats, smell the sea air, and taste the delicious gyros. The writing and storylines were engaging, action-packed, cunningly observant, and shot through with crisp levity and whip-smart humor. The vibrant characters were appealing, well-drawn, and more than a bit intriguing - even the villainous ones that I wanted to give a pinch or ten.

This was my maiden voyage with the cleverly amusing Mandy Baggot and I am kicking myself for being tardy to the party as she has a wicked wit and an impressive listing of twenty-four published books. I am tempted to unhook the phone and clear my calendar for a month and just indulge in all things Baggot. Suffice it to say, Ms. Baggot has a newly minted baklava loving fangirl.

There is nothing better to take your mind off of life and travel around the world through enjoyable summer books at the beach.

Baggot’s style of writing is easy and fun and the constant dialogue keeps the book flowing. Following Beth’s journey to start a new life had me laughing out loud at many points along with cheering her on to break out of her shell and stand up for herself and enjoy Corfu as much as she did ten years ago!

A fun, flirty book with the perfect amount of humor to lift your spirits!

The Blurb :
Beth Martin is 31, newly divorced and wondering just what life holds for her...
Best-friend, Heidi, is adamant that all the answers lie in Corfu – the island where the girls partied away their youth. So cue a trip to a sun-drenched Greek island, ouzo cocktails, a trip down memory lane... and Alex Hallas, the man Beth has never quite forgotten.
As they dance under the stars, the sand beneath their toes, old feelings begin to resurface and Beth might just have a chance to take back her life. If they can learn to love the people they've become...

My Thoughts :
Being as Mandy Baggot is one of my favourite Authors I was delighted to read her next offering, and boy it doesnt disappoint. If I want some escapism, Mandy Baggot is my first port of call. Not to mention her stunning books covers.
We meet Beth Martin, newly divorced and fresh from her divorce party she heads off to Greece with best friend Heidi. Having been there 10 years previous when they were both footloose and fancy free, the girls head back to recreate their time there all those years ago. Back then, Beth met handsome Alex, who was an up and coming DJ, she has never forgotten him or their time together. When they bump into each other again and recognise each other right away, we follow a story of will they, wont they?. Can Beth and Alex pick up from where they left off or was it just a summer romance all those years ago!.
With Heidi trying to get Beth back to her youth and reliving life as they were both 21 again, can they both find some happiness or is the holiday just masking what has gone on back at home.
The idea of Beth and Alex meeting again after 10 years was perfect, it fitted well that we got to learn of the history and connection of the couple, this does happen in life at times and was nice to see Mandy include this in her story.
A story full of love, friendship, hope, funny moments and some new beginnings. Add in sun, sea and sand, and some yummy cocktails all set in beautiful descriptive Corfu.
Mandy has a habit of pulling in her readers to every story she writes and makes the reader feel as though we are right there in the thick of the action, living, smelling and tasting Greek life along with the characters.
Cant wait for more from Mandy Baggot soon.

As the blurb says Beth is newly divorced, so newly divorced in fact that ink has barely dried on the papers before her friend Heidi is suggesting a repeat visit to Corfu, somewhere they last went 10 years ago. The plan is to escape their lives now and help Beth rediscover the person she used to be. Being newly divorced Beth isn’t sure what life holds for her next, I can empathise, I’ve been there myself. However, while in Corfu she starts to relax and remember how much fun she used to have before she returned to the UK and her life was turned upside down.

While this is a story of romance, second chances and fresh starts, it also asks the question of whether you can ever go back to being the person you were years ago before your life changed. This is a fabulous read full of descriptions of idyllic beaches, sun-drenched vistas and the streets and eateries that Beth and Heidi visit. I’ve never been to Corfu but just from reading this book, it’s now on my list of places to visit. Although it’s an escapist book it’s also true to life, even on Corfu Beth can’t completely escape her attachments to the UK and it was interesting to see her reactions to this and what she did next. The characters are all brilliantly written, you can feel the emotions coming off them in waves, I wanted to get involved sometimes and tell people what to do or, conversely what they shouldn’t be doing. It felt so real I wouldn’t be surprised if they genuinely were real people.

This is a fabulous, escapist read which also doesn’t shy away from reality. Although it’s clearly a summer read I think it would be ideal all year round, after all what’s better than imagining beaches and sunshine in the depths of winter?

One Last Greek Summer delivers exactly what it promises on the cover - a laugh out loud brilliant summer romance!

Beth Martin is at a crossroads in her life; age 31 and divorced she knows that she cannot go on with things as they are. Luckily, she has her friend Heidi by her side; she persuades Beth that they need to return to Corfu, the Greek island they last visited ten years ago and where they had a fantastic holiday when they were both young and free. Can you ever really go back in time, or are they heading for a fortnight of great disappointment?

An absolutely fabulous read! This isn't a short, quick read by the pool. This is a substantial novel which will keep you glued to the pages from beginning to end. With ups and downs, twists and turns and plenty of the unexpected happening, I just loved everything about it. The cover is super and really conveys the story within. The story has substance and the setting is just sublime! This is Mandy Baggot at her best; warm, witty and so very entertaining. A great read and one I'm very happy to thoroughly recommend! Even if the weather is rubbish here, this will make you feel the warmth of the Greek sunshine. Absolutely a five star novel!

My thanks to publisher Aria for my copy via NetGalley, and in particular to Victoria Joss for including me in this Blog Tour.

I hadn't read anything by this author before, but I'll certainly be looking out for more. The setting of Corfu is just beautiful and a wonderful place to escape to during this woeful British summer. The characters adventures as they try to capture the freedom they felt at 21 with all the experience of being 31 is so much fun and I've certainly learnt something new about goats! Definitely one to cheer you up and give you a little joy in your life.

I cannot rate Mandy's books enough and this was no exception! This is a light hearted, great summer read thats perfect for reading around the pool or the beach.

There is always a generous comic element in this author’s stories, and this one illustrates it perfectly. Beth’s divorce is absolute, and her co-workers are throwing her a ‘Divorce Party’, to mark the occasion. Immediately, you appreciate how well Beth is liked, especially by her best-friend Heidi.

Rekindling, the freedom, high spirits and the simplicity of being twenty-one, on holiday, is their goal for Corfu, at thirty-one. Their adventure takes in the beauty of the Greek Island, even with accommodation disasters, wicked Mothers and having ten extra years of emotional baggage. The chance of romance and self -realisation beckons, and provides the reader with a humorous, picturesque, poignant and romantic trip to Corfu.

Realistically flawed characters, most of whom you warm to, a vividly described setting, a lovely dynamic between Beth and Heidi, whose friendship has strengthened over the ten years. The romance is expected, but no less sweet and makes this a perfect holiday.
I received a copy of this book from Head of Zeus - Aria via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Recently divorced Beth is trying to figure out what to do next. Her best friend Heidi not only throws her a divorce party at the office but also comes up with a plan of travelling to Corfu, just like 10 years ago, when they were both 21 years old and free – spirited. Moreover, this trip also ended up with a romance for Beth, so who knows what’s going to happen now?
However, the trip doesn’t start as expected, with a villa from hell and ceiling coming down. But then Beth meets Alex again, and even Heidi learns someone, but everything seems so complicated now, when they’re in their 30’s. Will the girls realise that they didn’t change so much at heart?

It was a lovely, summery story about friendship, second chances, new beginnings, hope and love, this all set against the most gorgeous setting ever – any book set in Greece, actually whatever set in Greece I’m going to love, that’s for sure, but “One Last Greek Summer” was also funny, entertaining and so easily written, so it’s a win – win situation.

I haven’t completely warmed to Heidi, I must admit, though there was nothing wrong with her, in fact she was a great friend, but there were moments that she was simply “too much” for me. Beth was great, a woman who knew what she wanted, and I loved seeing her growing up in confidence, starting to follow her dreams, evolving into a strong, independent woman. The friendship between those two was brilliantly captured, this is what I always imagined a real friendship should look like, being there for each other and telling things how they are.

As much as I enjoyed the flawless writing and the storytelling, there were moments that simply passed too slowly. I know, the author has decided to write about many subplots, as each of our characters, even the background ones, was significant to the story and had their own distinctive voice and story to tell, and so there was a lot to tell. I simply think there were passages that could be shorter, perhaps it would make the book this little bit more fascinating.

I really like Mandy Baggot’s writing style. It’s full of sunshine, it’s vivid and light – hearted, and she drops the best one – liners on us effortlessly, also adding a word here or there that made me grin from ear to ear. It’s so welcoming and evoking and it mixes reality with tons of great humour. It would be great to be able to escape to the beautiful, sunny Corfu with my best friend to recapture some moments of our own. There were cocktails, fun, sun, sea and summer romance, and the whole story was filled with fun and surprises for the characters. Under the beautiful surface of Corfu there was so much more to this story – finding yourself and this what is important to you. A perfect summer escape, and be warned that after reading it you’re going to immediately plan your own holidays! Recommended!

Well what a perfect beach must read although I would say you could enjoy it anytime of the year too. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Corfu with unlimited sun and sea not to mention the sexy DJ!

Beth and Heidi are best friends. Heidi manages to persuade Beth to go on a well deserved holiday. I’ve never been to Corfu but the way Mandy describes the setting really makes me want to book that as my next holiday destination. I just felt instantly warm as soon as I started reading ‘One Last Greek Summer’

What can I say about the characters of this beautiful story..... Beth is stuck in a bit of a rut but it takes going to Corfu with Heidi to get her making some massive life changes and my is she determined to make those changes. Heidi is hilarious, from her no nonsense attitude she really is there for Beth no matter what. Alex on the other hand is something else! On top of him sounding gorgeous he is clearly a kind, caring and loyal person. From taking care of his mother to being determined to go after his life dreams. The last time Beth and Alex saw each other was ten years ago. Can they reconnect in the short time Beth is in Corfu??
I won’t go into plot specifics but this is a story you won’t want to miss out on! 😊

‘One Last Greek Summer’ is about friendship, love and the bravery to make the changes you need to make your life dreams come true ❤️ I found Mandy’s writing style warm, witty and very relatable. I give ‘One Last Greek Summer’ 5*/5*!

Thank you to Aria Fiction for an advanced copy of this book via Netgalley.

With this dreary rainy weather, what could be better than finding a book with warm blue skies on the cover and the Greek island of Corfu on the inside! Shamefully, I haven’t read many books by this author, despite her name being so well known! Needless to say, I was looking forward to diving into this one! Beth is newly divorced and doesn’t really know where her life is going to take her now. To cheer her up, her best friend Heidi organises a holiday to Corfu, an island where they went together many years before. They are all set for sun, sea, cocktails and fun, but when they get there nothing seems to go to plan and that includes bumping into Beth’s first love, Alex…..

This was such a fun read! It goes without saying that I could feel the sand between my toes, the warmth of the sun beating down on me and the taste of ice cold cocktails whilst I was reading it. I also loved Beth and Heidi’s storyline and really connected with both of these characters. Being in Beth’s situation many years ago, I had the same idea to go off, forget divorces and ex-husbands and have some fun, so I could completely understand where Beth was coming from!!

The story was equally full of laugh out loud and heart-warming moments, making you really connect with the story and the characters. The characters were all fabulous and fit perfectly into the storyline, particularly Alex who was hotter than the Corfu sun! There were a few twists and turns throughout the story which kept me hooked meaning I couldn’t put the book down!

It was a story full of love, life and laughter with the added bonus of beautiful weather and stunning scenery! This certainly is the perfect summer read and I only wish I was lay on a sunbed, around a pool whilst I had read it! Great writing, and I’ll certainly be making more of an effort to read other books by this author!

The beginning pages of the book were so funny and caught my attention. A divorce party with interesting decorations🙃.
I found “One Last Greek Summer” to be an enjoyable, lighthearted summer beach read full of romance with engaging, fun characters.
Thank you to NetGallery for the opportunity to read and give my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria for the read of Mandy Baggot’s, One Last Greek Summer.

I just returned from a whirlwind, sun-filled, romance-drenched, fabulous vacation in Corfu… without moving an inch!

That is what reading One Last Greek Summer feels like, and who wouldn’t love that?!

Beth, recently divorced and feeling like her life needs a jump-start in a totally new direction, gets exactly that when her best friend Heidi, books them a last minute escape to the gorgeous Corfu.

Beth’s hesitancy to take this get-away is no match for Heidi’s enthusiasm and excitement, and before Beth knows it, she’s beach-bound, curling her bare toes in the powder-soft sand, reminiscing about Lex, the sexy young lover who had stolen her heart…and still held a piece of it ransom.

This is not the first trip to Corfu for these two best friends. They left their mark a decade ago when they were that much younger. Determined to make a go of recapturing the bliss of years ago, they set out to repeat history, and tempt fate. Can Beth and Heidi relive the wild freedom of when they were twenty and let their inhibitions go wild?

Lex is still in Corfu, living with his overbearing mother and working several odd jobs to make ends meet. Lex feels the pressure of living against his will and pushing down his dream of being a professional DJ. However, he and his cousin Elektra have an enterprising idea and are hoping their dreams of success will finally be realized. Things take a rollicking ride when Heidi falls head-over- heels for Elektra which brings Beth and Lex together more often.

Beth and Lex are not sure how the other feels because theirs was a summer fling and so many years have past, but the one thing neither of them can deny is that time did not put out the fire of their intense attraction to each other. Will this be their one last Greek summer together, or do the capricious Greek gods have a different fate in store for them?

Mandy Baggot’s gorgeous writing has the reader feeling the warmth of the sun, riding a quad bike off the mountainous beaten tracks, dining on mouth-watering gyros, and fully experiencing the thrill of her One Last Greek Summer.

I highly recommend this summer hit read that will heat you up any time of the year.

The opinions expressed in my reviews are my very own.

Fun, sun, cocktails and summer love! What more could a girl ask for? This fun filled book whisks you off to Corfu and I dare you not to smile as you read it!

Your best friend feels like her life is unraveling before her eyes. What do you do? You throw her one heck of a divorce party and take off for a sun filled adventure to Corfu. That is what Beth's BFF Heidi does for her when she learns her husband is cheating on her. They are off to party like they are 21 again! Girls trip!!

Their last trip to Corfu when they really were 21, was a fun filled adventure that ended up in romance for Beth. Could they relive their 20's? Is it possible? Well they sure tried! What a fun book this was. I felt like I was right there in Corfu with the sun streaming down on me as I went on their adventures with them both.

I found myself laughing and nodding my head in agreement as the girls discovered things just aren't the same as it was when they are 21. Aware that they just weren't as spontaneous as they were in their 20's they made a conscious effort to change their frame of mind and live life to the fullest. What a girls trip this turned out to be.

Corfu ended up being full of surprises for both girls. This book is a light, fun filled read that is perfect for this time year. It will make you want to get yourself out in the sun and have a little fun yourself!

A beautiful book which gave me the atmosphere of beaches and freedom where friendship and love was all that mattered. Best friends newly divorced Beth and Heidi went on a holiday to Corfu for 2 weeks to take a break from the humdrum of life. 10 years ago, they had had the time of their lives with parties, drinks, and hints of love. To remember the old memories and to make new ones, this book was one heck of an adventure.

My first book by Mandy Baggot, definitely not my last, the story made me long to escape from my life with my girlfriends to recapture beautiful memories. I loved when Beth met her old love Alex and their chemistry sparkled and flamed. Add to the entire mix some misunderstandings and ex husband wanting Beth back, this book was both entertaining and fun.

Mandy's writing brought vivid descriptions of the landscapes of beautiful seashores and a cabin on the beach with nature all around, slow pace of life, happiness abounding. A time for reflection and a time for love. A hammock and a cocktail was all I needed to enjoy this book.

This might be the perfect beach read for summer. Not only because Beth and her best friend Heidi, spend two weeks on the beautiful Greek island of Corfu with sun on their skin and sand in their toes. But also because it had all things I want in a beach read ... fun, quick read, a new adventure (best friend always a bonus), a summer to remember, and the backdrop of a beautiful country.

Beth is newly divorced and feeling suffocated at work, not only because she isn’t doing what she loves but because she works in an office along side her ex husband and his new girlfriend. Heidi, Beth’s best friend, suggests a holiday to Corfu to relive the same trip they took there ten years earlier before everything changed and life happened. After some convincing, they set off to enjoy two weeks in the sun, reliving their previous adventures (all the dance parities and drunken nights). They wanted to remember who they were at 21, all while starting over and making new memories. Little did they know that revisiting the island would also bring back Alex Hallas, or ‘Lex’ as Beth always called him. The one person that even after ten years couldn’t be erased from Beth’s memories. Is ten years too long, or did Beth come back to Corfu at just the right time?!

One Last Greek Summer is the first book I have read by Mandy Baggot, but since finishing this week I have looked up several of her other books. They all have super cute covers like this one, and they are drawing me right in to read for summer.

First impressions? It took me a while to warm to Beth, but it didn’t take that long. I liked the sneaky funny comments that we got, and her friendship with Heidi shines through the pages. It’s written so well.

The author’s descriptive writing style is amazing, and it’s made me want to visit Corfu badly. It’s a case of I need to go!! I’ve read other books by Mandy Baggot but this is probably my favourite one.

I loved the idea of Beth and Alex meeting again after 10 years. It’s a nice touch. We see so many love stories without the history already being in place so I loved the difference to this one. The connection between them both is wonderful, you feel their love for each other and I love how Mandy Baggot has managed to put it across.

I loved the end of the book, the promise they make each other, and the surprise for Beth at the end. I loved that it was a happy ending for all of the characters in their own way. I would really love to see where they end up 5, 10 years down the line!!

Funny, colourful, and reflective!

One Last Greek Summer is an engaging, summery read that takes us to the lovely island of Corfu and into the life of Beth Martin as she meanders through the loss of her mother, a recent divorce, a potential change of career, a rekindled romance from the past, and a holiday with her best friend Heidi where nothing goes as planned.

The writing is effortless and lush. The characters are quirky, relatable, and lovable. And the plot is a charming mix of light drama, heartfelt emotion, funny mishaps, friendship, family, love, and second-chance romance.

Overall, One Last Greek Summer is a heartwarming, breezy, delightful tale by Baggot that once again highlights her incredible ability to bring a country to life through her exceptional knowledge and passion for its food, landmarks, and culture.

Mandy really put together the perfect fun Greek summer read with "One Last Greek Summer". I really enjoyed both the characters of Heidi and Beth. Watching Beth evolve as a broken divorcee to a strong woman forging her own way in life was wonderful. Rekindling her relationship with Alex was a complex. evolving romance that I enjoyed. I started out the book giggling like a fool and finished in happy tears so I would say it's definitely a success!

Thanks to Aria Fiction and Mandy Baggot for an advanced reader copy via netgalley. All views expressed are my own opinion.