Before I tell you how very much I enjoyed this lovely read, I think I really must talk about the elephant in the room (as opposed to one of the many turtles…) – because I’m sure you can’t have failed to notice the mention of “battling a global health crisis”. Lucie and Gavin are nurses who spent 2020 caring for patients on a covid ward, and I really wasn’t at all sure that I wanted to be reading about the pandemic while we’re still living through it. And it is more than just a mention – they reflect on the saddest moments, the problems of keeping going – and it was particularly brave of the author to take the risk, when so many readers are vehement that they read for an escape from reality.

For the first quarter of the book, every mention did disturb me, and tended to wrench me back into the real world – and I really wasn’t convinced that I was ready for comedy juxtaposed with a period that’s been a living hell for so many, particularly when we’re not yet at the end of it all and actually able to travel. But I have to say that it’s extremely well handled – and although I’d never have chosen it as a theme to read about, I did find that I stopped noticing every mention of masks, testing and lockdown and was drawn in by the characters I loved from the very beginning and their much needed escape to Corfu. On arrival, after a rather uncomfortable transfer in a fruit van along with the remaining watermelons, there’s a quite wonderful – and extremely funny – scene where the visitors to Sortilas are “processed” in a particularly unconventional way, and we meet some of the local characters who make this book the absolute joy that the author’s books unfailingly are.

Lucie is the loveliest focus for the story – brought up by her Aunt Meg (and fiercely protected) after the loss of her mum, she has a nice edge of sadness combined with an infectious sense of fun and capacity for happiness and laughter. And she couldn’t have a more entertaining companion than Gavin, her gay friend, who’s a wonderful mix of flamboyance and devil-may-care in his sparkly shorts while singing Cher’s greatest hits but shy and uncertain when things get a little more personal. Lucie’s love interest is Michalis (mmm, yes, he certainly pressed the right buttons for me too…), the village doctor who opens his surgery in the annex to the villa, just across the pool – we find out that his former life has had its moments too, and there’s one big issue, slowly revealed, that continues to plague him.

One of the very loveliest things about this book is the Corfiot community, the most wonderful collection of eccentric individuals all quite superbly drawn. I was a particular fan of Michalis’ sister Nyx, a little fierce as she wields her knives and machetes behind the counter of their father’s butcher’s shop, terrifying the poor customers who come in for their pork chops and rabbit, but who has a heart of gold along with a complete absence of any filter. And Miltos, who drives that fruit van like a Formula One car, refuses to believe that a man can be a nurse, and ensures Lucie becomes “Loosely” for the duration of their stay. And then there’s the centenarian twins who make elaborate wedding dresses, whether people need them or not – and perhaps the greatest tour-de-force of all, Melina, wielding her staff as organiser extraordinaire of the forthcoming festival of the Day of the Not Dead. And actually, I shouldn’t confine “wonderful characters” to the Corfiots – Gavin’s crush Simon, barista at the hospital coffee bar, is a great character too, and I just loved The Other Sharon Osbourne, the gobby nurse colleague who plays a great part in the story at a particularly critical point.

It’s a great story, with a few excellent moments of drama, plenty of poignancy, but with the next laugh never too far away. There’s a lovely attention to detail with the vivid settings and the delicious food (goodness, I could actually taste those kataifi…). The romantic content is perfectly done, strong and convincing, just right at an emotional level – and there’s a nice focus on family too, both Michalis’ and Lucie’s, bringing a tear to your eye amid the surrounding hilarity.

I will admit I had my doubts at the beginning – I thought the covid cloud was going to be inescapable – but this really was a book I thoroughly enjoyed. And the content I initially found less than comfortable? I’m more than happy to accept that it was a timely and appropriate tribute to those who worked on the front line, and not at all out of place in a romantic comedy. Do give this one a try – I thought it was wonderful.

(Copied to Amazon UK, but link not yet available)

A bit of a mixed bag for me. There are plenty of sweet, funny moments to enjoy in this story. But there are also some strange, implausible, and occasionally problematic ones.

Firstly, the context. Suspend reality, because our central characters (all frontline doctors and nurses during the pandemic) are taking a much-deserved break now the pandemic is over... Because it's over, right? Obviously, the author (probably just as the rest of us) hoped it would be over by the time the story was published. But it really isn't. So, the idea of overseas holidays, at least for most of us, is still a distant dream. As such, for all the good intentions, the entire concept feels completely off. I'm not averse to suspending belief and just immersing myself in a book, but this story is clearly trying to be respectful of a real-life lived situation, so I genuinely think had the publisher and author waited it would have felt more genuine. 

I did enjoy the romance once it got started, but there was a lot of heavy lifting involved before we even reached Corfu and the protagonists eventual meeting. Seven chapters involving disappearing hair and eyebrows, and an 'is he or isn't he gay' barista, which ultimately added nothing to the story. We also had the implausibility that not one but two characters who the author is at pains to emphasise DO NOT travel anywhere, let alone overseas (and in the case of Meg, not since Lucy was born) both suddenly had valid passports, even with a single day's notice, and post-pandemic! 

Unfortunately, I also found Gavin to be little more than a caricature, with every over-used stereotype of the overly flamboyant token gay best friend in abundance. Finally, there's a flippant Britney Spears mental health 'joke' that felt desperately out of touch.

All frustration aside, there are several amusing moments that I did laugh at, but these weren't enough to overcome the negatives which is reflected in my overall rating.

*Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to leave an honest review*

Like me, you’ve probably been wondering how authors are going to deal with the pandemic crisis that has gripped the world for the last twelve months in their writing. I think there are going to be three ways of going about it. Firstly, people can set there books in some kind of world, either pre- or post-pandemic, where the crisis is not mentioned at all and life carries on as if it never happened, secondly it could be mentioned just in passing but largely ignored, or thirdly the author can deal with the issue head on and fully incorporate it into their writing. I have seem some discussion about what readers are going to be looking for in this regard, and I have seen mixed responses with some saying they are not ready to read about the pandemic in fiction yet because they turn to books to escape it, and some saying they would be happy to see books reflecting the reality of what we have been through. Horses for courses.

In her latest book, Mandy Baggot has firmly taken the third route and put a nurse and a doctor in the aftermath of the pandemic firmly at the heart of the story and has not shied away from exploring what these people have been put through over the past twelve months and how they are dealing with it. I think this is a very brave move, because there are people who are just not going to be ready for books that contain any reference to the difficulties the world has faced recently, especially those that are otherwise a light-hearted romance, but personally, I really enjoyed this book and felt that Mandy dealt with what could be a tricky subject with grace and compassion and honesty, whilst still retaining her trademark warmth and humour in a way that demonstrated great skill in her craft.

I love Mandy’s books for the escapism they provide, and this one is no different. Here she transports nurses Lucie and Gavin to the sun-drenched shores of Corfu, where they are taking a well-earned break from the stresses they have been under working in the NHS throughout 2020. But it is not that easy to relax whilst the after effects of the pandemic are still washing around the world. Doctor Michaelis has returned from the Greek mainland to his small home village in Corfu for similar reasons, not expecting to find romance with someone who really understands what he has been through, but fate always has other plans in romance novels!

Michaelis and Lucie are both great characters with lots of heart and some issues to work through, and they had fabulous chemistry. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them, as they got to know each other. I also absolutely adored Gavin and Michaelis’s sister, Nyx, who were larger than life and great fun to read. Mandy has also provided a fantastic cast of supporting characters, worthy of any greek tragedy or an instalment of the ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ franchise, and the whole book is a performance a maximum drama, whilst still exploring some difficult issues sympathetically. I think the author has struck a great balance here between humour and pathos.

We all need a bit of escapism at the moment, and many of us long for those warm beaches and blue seas. Unfortunately, the world has not moved on maybe as far as Mandy imagined when she was writing this book, and foreign travel is going to be merely a memory for a bit longer I fear. So, this kind of armchair travel might be our only option for a while, and I for one will take it as the alternative for now. I know some people may feel like they don’t want to read about a world that is currently only wishful thinking, but I welcome the change of scene, even if it is only imaginary.

I admire Mandy for writing about the world as it actually is, rather than how we might wish it could be. I know not everyone will agree but, if you are a fan of Mandy’s books and are looking for that armchair escape, without shying away from our new reality, this is the book for you. A light, romantic, honest novel with a bittersweet kick.

What an absolute blast this book was! Mandy Baggot never fails to deliver the ultimate beach read. There's so much fun in this book, but also there's compassion and an understanding, not to mention a couple of little mysteries. I loved the characters, which Mandy does so well and I totally fell in love wit them. This book has it all, humour, love, compassion, intrigue but most of all fun. Would very much recommend it.

Nobody writes about the Greek islands better than Mandy Baggot!

Lucie and her best friend Gavin work together and play together; after the year they've endured fighting the global pandemic, they are more in need of a break than most. When Gavin proposes a holiday as lockdown eases, Lucie puts her faith in him and gives him free rein to book it all, and they head for their break on the idyllic Greek island of Corfu. A landslide puts the village into a local lockdown and Lucie is thrown together with Michalis Andino, the local doctor - and none too shabby in the looks and charisma department either! Not quite the dream holiday, but perhaps one which will change her life?

I've read a lot of novels by this author and there is no doubt that her love for all things Greek shines through her writing and adds to the magical quality of this story. This is a wonderful tribute to the hardworking nurses who gave so much of themselves to fight Coronavirus. No travel agent could do a better job of convincing me of the delights of Corfu but in addition this is a delightful story with gorgeous, appealing characters. Full of fun and laughter as well as romance, I really enjoyed this one. It has everything going for it and will definitely raise your spirits - something we could all do with right now. 4.5* and my recommendation.

Hurray! A fantastic escape to Corfu without leaving home!
This is the first book I have read this year which actually mentions the hard year it has been during all the lockdowns and covid fears, which was refreshing and a bit more real.
Best friends Lucie and Gavin decide on a holiday after a wild night out. Lucie is trusting Gavin with the booking and choices of where and what their holiday will be.......hmmmm...So starts the adventures for them both.
Absolutely loved this tale, hilarious at times but also dealt with some pertinent issues. Greek sun, sea, food and wonderful characters! A must read for this summer!
Thank you NetGalley for the early read.

I loved the begining, but not so much the end. I really wanted to love this one, but I just did not.
Maybe, just 3 stars...

🌅Turns of seriousness and humor in a sunny Corfu village🕶

4.5🌟 stars
A good read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The quirky characters who populate the small mountain village in Corfu where this story is set make for lots of humorous situations. But the heart of the story is more serious and a bit dark, as the village serves as an escape for three medical professionals traumatised and exhausted from a year of dealing with a pandemic.

Though the main romance is between British nurse Lucie and Greek doctor Michalis, there's a bit of extra romance to spread about. Gavin, Lucie's travel companion and best friend, provides plenty of silliness and comic relief. Some other standout secondary characters: Michalis's sister Nyx is a riot as is Miltos, the local fruit van driver. I thought the author did an excellent job of moving from heavier issues to light moments.

Thanks to publishers Aria & Aries and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Mandy Baggot never fails to deliver. Great book lockdown based in Greece , thorpughly enjoyed this and a wee bit of sun never goes wrong.

I was really looking forward to reading this and really enjoyed the beginning, but I got more and more disappointed as the book went on. There was just too much going on and too many people appearing. Also I feel like the Greek Characters dialogue kept changing, one minute you're reading it in broken English, then comes a longer sentence from them and it's in perfect English. It was far fetched and I just wanted to get it finished. It's a shame as the beginning was good and so accurate about how people have felt about getting away after Lockdowns etc, but the rest was too much for me. I am so sorry.

I absolutely love this author having read many of her books the past couple of years. I am more of a crime/thriller fan but when it comes to romance novels with a touch of comedy.....this author is my go to.
This is the story of Lucie, a nurse who goes to the beautiful island of Corfu with her best friend and work colleague Gavin for a much needed rest. She finds romance with a local man who has been working in the mainland as a doctor in a hospital during some extremely difficult times.
Lucie and Gavin meet lots of interesting and lovable characters, a favourite of mine being the local butcher Nyx, who is the sister of Lucie’s love interest.
I must admit, this isn’t my favourite of Mandy’s books. I generally read to escape the ‘real world’ and at the beginning there was quite a few mentions of Covid, which while it’s a great nod to the NHS and what we have all been dealing with the past year, it brought me back to reality with a bump at times. This is of course just my personal opinion and it didn’t stop me from finishing the book.
As with all the authors books based in Greece, it has made me dream of getting away for a much needed rest! Mandy I cannot wait to read another of your your lovely books.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher Aria and of course Mandy Baggot for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Staying out for the Summer - Mandy Baggot

The perfect light easy read, for a peaceful days reading! I will always jump at the chance to read a new book from Mandy Baggot, as they are pure escapism for me, although Covid is mentioned in the book it is done with tact and care, so I was still able to enjoy the break from reality whilst reading. Many thanks to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for allowing me the chance to read and review this book.

I love a book by Mandy Baggot and jumped at the chance to read this and disappear to some Greek sunshine.

A story set post Covid with references and flashbacks throughout I was slightly wary as reading light hearted reads has been my escape over the past year. However once I was a couple of chapters in I just knew I was going to love this book and the subject of Covid is mentioned with care and attention at all times.

I went to Corfu years ago and loved the opportunity to explore local food and traditions through Lucie & Gavin's adventure. A wonderfully light hearted read that will make you laugh with the stories and mischief they get upto. This was a story that was packed with love and loyalty and really focused on the importance of family.

Thank you NetGalley, Mandy Baggot and Aria & Aries for the ARC of Staying Out for the Summer. This is my personal review.
Thank you, Mandy Baggot, for the escape you gave me to Greece.
Lucie and Gavin have had a life they never thought they would see with being nurses but the prospect of a much-needed vacation in their future what could go wrong.
The setting was great and the interaction between characters made it a good read.

this is the first book by mandy baggot i’ve had a chance to read and i am completely charmed by it. at first i thought about rating this book 3.5 stars (because of two things i’m going to talk about in a second) but at the end i’m giving it 4 stars because i still loved it and there wasn’t even a minute when i was bored or uninterested in the story.

the fact that most of the action of the book took place in greece was a huge asset of the story. i love greece with all my heart, it’s a place i’ve been many times to and i’m still planning to come back there. because of that i adored every description of the corfu island, of the culture and the people. i also really liked the characters. not only lucie, michalis and gavin, but also the president of the village, michalis’ sister, father, meg .. they were all incredible people and i really enjoyed reading about them and having a chance to know them better. the relationship between the characters were too very well-built. except for the romance (very cute, very sweet romance that got me smiling almost all the time!) there was humor, a lot of friendships and a great family dynamic. overall a pretty awesome mixture that completely enchanted me.

what i did not like was the animals (?) aspect. there was a part where one of the characters rode a donkey in order to go to another place. i do not support using animals as a transport in any form and this is something i do have a strong opinion about so this was something i had a problem with. also, michalis’ family worked as butchers and some of the descriptions / things the characters were saying, were too graphic for me. if you don’t have a problem with reading or talking about those things then you should be fine, but i am personally very sensitive about it so this was something i was not a fan of.

however, overall i was really sold on this book and reading it was very pleasurable. i would definitely recommend it to a friend, especially if the mentioned friend like greece. 4 stars.

- arc provided by aria & aries via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Staying Out for the Summer is escapism from the pandemic. Two nurses take a trip to Corfu. Mandy Baggot always creates such relaxing settings and the plot was fun and laid-back. The characters, Lucie and Gavin are fun and realistic.

Staying Out for the Summer is laugh-out-loud and true to life. A real escapist treat.

Great to review Mandy Baggot's latest.

Thanks to Mandy Baggot and Aria for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

4 stars.

I think I'm in the minority of people who didn't enjoy this book. It is light and fluffy, which is fine for a beach/vacation read, but I didn't find much beyond that. I'm sorry, because I normally can find something positive to say but I'm at a loss. 2 stars is as generous as I can go on this one. It may be fine for another reader, though.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

This is going to be an awesome summer read! I breezed through this amazing novel! What I loved most was the characters they were fun, funny and witty! Amazing storytelling here! Looking forward to seeing where this book goes

This is funny, romantic and completely heartwarming. I have adored this book from start to end and found this completely impossible to put down.

I am a huge fan of this author and this is a wonderful book, which might even be my new favourite.

Lucie and Gavin are fab main characters and have made this book for me. This book has allowed me a great escape to a magnificent setting.

There's absolutely nothing negative I can say about this book. This is just the perfect heartwarming read. A definite five star read and one I absolutely recommend.

Lucie, Gavin and Michalis,s story .
This book was set on the charming island of Corfu . Descriptions of locations were very real to the reader.
This book was a light frothy read with some laugh out loud moments! It was extremely enjoyable, a perfect holiday read.
Two nurses worn out from a long covid year take a cheap holiday to Corfu . There they meet all the villagers , What a quirky cast of characters!
This includes Michalis , a doctor back home after working through the pandemic in mainland Greece. Many very different relationships are explored through this book ,
An uplifting book , I would thoroughly recommend
Many thanks to Netgalley, Aria and Aries and Mandy Baggot for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review