A beautifully written story. Though described as romance/women’s fiction, it is much more. It’s a tour of Croatia that share insights of both current and the not too distant historic times. Antonia is need of some time off and away from her regular life to clear her head and decide what the next chapter of her life will be. Light stuff! Enter Damir Maric, who also needs to move forward from his tragic filled life and who is in deep mourning and in need of exorcising so many demons. It’s a lovely read that will have you adding Croatia to your bucket list as I did. This book should be on everyones must read list.

This book drew me in from the first page. Antonia’s journey to Croatia to work in a newly set up hotel, owned and built by Damir, is an unusual starting point. This is a beautifully written story of Antonia gradually finding her own thus far hidden talents, as she works with her younger boss Damir. The story weaves around the development of a successful business in a beautiful part of Croatia. As Antonia grows in confidence and self- belief, so Damir is slowly crumbling from the self- assured young businessman, into a man on the edge of breakdown, due to his past experiences as a child in war- torn Bosnia.
This is an excellent read, providing many thought provoking moments and situations for the reader, and I did not want to put it down.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this title. I recommend it.

Undoubtedly, Glyn expertly creates the stunning setting of Croatia, leaving my mouth-watering – not only for exploring what seems to be a beautiful part of the world, but also with references to such yummy dishes!

I found this an interesting narrative, exploring a part of history I know nothing about: the Bosnian conflict. Damir, an old soul in a young body, is clearly suffering from PTSD after his experiences of the Bosnian war when he was a child. Try as I might, I really struggled to imagine Damir as a young man of 35 years because the way that he behaves seems so much older. Yes, he is a successful businessman and is making a financial success of his renovated farmhouse however, his barely controlled traumas significantly age the character.

To be honest, I was expecting more flashbacks than what Glyn provides. Instead, this is infrequently embedded into the present day narrative. The references to the war are short and sharp, symbolising the pain and grief that Damir unexpectedly experiences. It is quite heart-breaking considering how much his childhood continues to haunt him as an adult. Overall, I think I would have preferred more scenes that were longer and developed, to get a better understanding of the terrors of the war in Croatia. I think this would have helped me to connect more with Damir.

The other strand to this plot is Antonia, leaving England and a poor relationship to start again at Damir’s farmhouse. Whilst Damir’s identity is shaped by his terrors, Antonia is having to re-evaluate herself: to take the time to build her confidence and reassess her role as a mother. Leaving her daughter, Honey, back home, Antonia realises she needs to adjust her relationship with Honey to ensure her daughter grows to become more independent and capable of making her own decisions. Over this process, Antonia realises that actually, the life she led in England was not the healthiest – either for herself or for her daughter – and Croatia offers her that freshness she needs.

All in all, this is a lovely, summery story. The setting was beautifully described by Glyn and I could vividly picture that wonderful coastline. Yet, despite the enticing cover, this book is more about the psychological changes both characters experience. For Damir, it is a case of reconnecting with his past in order to heal; for Antonia, she needs to accept a brighter and bolder future in order to better herself. The farmhouse and olive grove are therefore the vessels that encourage this transformation.

I did enjoy this novel from Glyn but did find the latter quarter to slow down. I wanted to see a bit of a quicker pace when it came to Damir’s closure and I thought it the plot started to repeat itself. Prolonging the ending was frustrating but I think the writer does this to reflect the arduous, emotional journey that both characters experience.

This is not a typical summer read and I liked learning about a different time of history. With such a warm setting, the characters were likeable and I supported their chances at healing and moving forwards.

With thanks to One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, author Eva Glyn and One More Chapter publishing for giving me a free arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
4 stars
This book was an emotional story about those who are trying to heal from the scars the war left upon those who survived. The author did a great job handling the emotional side for those who face the aftermath of war. The writing and pacing made this story come to life with well developed characters readers will not soon forget!

When Antonia decides to end a no win relationship, she finds herself talking a job in a beautiful Croatian island. Her new employer Damir was a child during the horrible war in Bosnia and still suffers from the unknowns of his family’s past. As they both struggle to deal with their issues, they build a wonderful relationship built on trust,
Wonderful characters, incredible descriptions of the island Korcula.
Gut wrenching at times, but a beautiful story of family, love, friendship, community and resilience. Thoroughly enjoyed this story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions in this review are my own.
Thanks Netgalley and Rachel Quin for the opportunity to enjoy this book.

Set in beautiful Croatia, this story seems at first sight to be an idyllic escape into a stunning part of the world. Antonia finds herself to be there, in part to work through her own problems and to give her daughter the space to grow up. However, it seems that the region's past wars have not been forgotten and their effect on the population cannot be ignored.

Damir's story unfolds in a gentle fashion. His friendship with Antonia similarly develops and you see that they support each other through their own issues. The story is full of the beauty of the region but you realise that beneath the surface are some difficult scars. The story is told in a confident and intriguing way through the characters we meet. There are some emotional moments and always in the background are the ghosts of Damir's mother figures which contrast with Antonia's role. This is a great summer read and one which will take you away to a whole other country.

In short: The past is never far away
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book

My Thoughts: this book was not at all what I expected, I was thinking a woman escaping to a secluded spot and finding the romance she least expected whilst there. And whilst that was part of it, the biggest part was a man discovering the truth about his life and his family!

Antonia is having an affair with her boss, she’s been holding out hope that he would leave his wife but a tear down the line they’re still together and she’s decided she needs a clean break, so when adding a new listing to their holiday home company she discovers that they’re looking for a new housekeeper, so she takes a chance and applies anonymously!

When Damir rings to let her know that she has been successful her whole life changes, mostly for the better but it does mean she has to leave her 22 year old daughter behind.

When she arrives in Croatia she soon learns that her new place of work is full of hidden secrets and so it seems is her new boss, or at least she feels like he’s hiding how he really is.

Can she get to the bottom of it, whilst holding down a full time job and helping her daughter fix her relationship whilst she’s at it?

Although this story wasn’t what I expected as I said at the beginning it was so so good and full of so many layers!

I did find Damir a little whiny and annoying at times, but the further you got into the story the more you understand why and I actually felt myself feeling for him.

This was an absolutely delightful read which made me feel all warm and fuzzy by the end!

I did enjoy this but I did get bored with it. Maybe I've read similar before. Quite disappointed with this one. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

An enjoyable book set on an island in Croatia. Damir and Antonio forge a friendship through work.
But Damir is struggling with demons in his dead; relating back to the war that split his country. Although he was small, memories are overtaking his life and he needs answers.
A book about friendships, trusts and the will to overcome hurdles.
Great descriptions of local food, landscapes and historical facts concerning the break up of Yugoslavia.

Antonia Butler realises that her life in England is going nowhere so when an opportunity arises to work as a housekeeper at Villa Maslina on the beautiful Croatian island of Korčula, Antonia takes a chance, not just on relocating, but also in getting to know the young owner of the villa. Damir Maric, is a troubled man whose enthusiasm, and joie de vivre, is hampered by the secrets and tragedy of his past, a past which has so many troubling memories that Damir prefers to keep them well hidden. Antonia and Damir get to know, and like each other, and the business at Villa Maslina starts to thrive, and succeed, but Damir's troubling memories seem to be hampering his ability to move on with his life.

The Olive Grove brings to vibrant life the warmth and sunshine of a Croatian summer whilst at the same time alludes to the troubled past of the former Yugoslavia during the momentous years of the Croat-Bosniak War. In keeping the narrative light, but compassionate, the impact of the troubles is in no way diminished but is rather made all the more poignant by being so much part of the story.

I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters, Antonia in particular has her own problems to sort out but her warm nature and sheer common sense help to move this really lovely story along in a sensitive and compassionate way. There is a sense of putting right the sins of the past and the author does this really well whilst at the same time brings the beautiful island of Korčula to life with descriptions of its sunny climate, cosy bars and restaurants, and of course, the eponymous olive grove, which is such an integral part of the story.

From its beautiful cover, to its emotional and heartwarming content, The Olive Grove is every bit as captivating as I knew it would be from this talented storyteller.

The Balkans, particularly former Yugoslavia, as the Middle East as well, are conflict-prone literary geographies. Very often I am nauseated reading books set in this parts of the world which are set in the black-and-white narrow-minded take where the local history should be always bloody, uncivilized and eventually dangerous for the rest of the world. However, there are many authors doing their best to offer a different narrative. Few of them are succeeding.

The Olive Grove by Eva Glyn is set mostly in the Croatian island of Korčula, in the Dalmatian archipelago. There is Antonia that decided to re-start her life as a multilingual manager of Vila Maslina. And there is the owner of the Vila Damir Maric which is an interesting character as well. And there are many other characters in the book which are very well portrayed and do have a level adorable of maturity which resonates a lot with the type of characters I love to meet in books - and in real life too. Most of them do have a way of behaving with the freedom of life thoughtful experiences. Such characters can only be part of equally thoughtful stories.

One of the story includes dealing with the long-term trauma of the war in the former Yugoslavia, but there are also stories of self-discovery, acceptance, mature love and romance. All told in the slow-pace narrative, sometimes contemplative, sometimes romantic, There is a perfect match between the main two layers of the narrative amplifying each other. This balanced prose was for me one of the most entincing features of The Olive Grove.

As someone deeply interested in how political events shape everyday life and interactions, I appreciated the thoughtful way to feature the trauma of the Balkan wars into a personal unique story. The author´s approach is elegant and respectful, dealing gently with facts and personal trauma.

The ways in which the natural Croatian setting is described, a place which happen to know more than the average travel magazine descriptions, is diverse and realistic and takes the reader out of his or her reading chair far away, on a beach near the crystal clear waters of the Dalmatian coast.

The Olive Grove is different in some many respects of many of the books dealing with such topics and I can only be glad to have been given the chance of reading it. Eva Glyn´s book is a proof that one can still respect a classical literary canon and write in the most interesting entincing way.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I really enjoyed this, great storyline and great characters and of course a perfect location.

The Olive Grove is an absorbing, compelling read perfect for escaping into after a stressful day.

Firstly I absolutely loved the setting of this book! Croatia is a place I’ve wanted to visit for ages and this book has definitely made me more determined to get there soon. The wonderfully vivid descriptions made me feel like I was actually there, experiencing the wonderful views for myself and I spent far to long on the computer looking up pictures of the sights that are mentioned in the book too as they sounded so amazing. I enjoyed getting to know the island of Korčula better and to learn more about the Croatian traditions and way of life.

The two main characters were great creations who were interesting to get to know. I liked that the author has used slightly older characters in this book as I always think that brings a bit more to a story as there is more past to explore. Antonia is escaping from a relationship with a married man which she has started to feel a bit grubby about – I must admit I did cheer when she decided to leave him. Her worries over her roles as a mother now her child has grown up was a very interesting one to follow and made me warm towards her especially as I’ve had similar concerns myself for when my children are older. I enjoyed living precariously through her as she starts a new job (and life!) In a different country as it’s something I’ve always fantasied about. Damir was another great character who I quickly fell in love with after reading about his concern for the kittens. He’s a man with a traumatic past sadly as he grew up in Croatian War of independence which has had an impact on his life. I found it interesting to follow his story, learning more about the war but to see him change as the story went on.

The story unfolds at a steady pace with flashbacks from the character’s past helping the reader to understand what has happened and why the characters might be acting a certain a way. There are a few surprises along the way but mostly this is just a gentle read to relax into and savour. I’m a big fan of this author’s books and I’ll definitely be recommending it to others.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to One More Chapter for my copy of this book via netgalley. Though I did end up buying a copy too so my mum could read it!

This was the first book that I have by this author. She created life-like characters that I cared about quickly. The story line is developed expertly. Beginning with a basic story that becomes more and more involved as the plot progresses.

Antonia is at a crossroads in her life, and is brave enough to make a positive change.

Damir is trying to keep up with his busy life, but his unresolved past has caught up with him and it is trying to cripple him.

These two very different people’s lives have intersected and they will find strength in each other. This is an emotional story that I fully enjoyed. It is like life, a combination of joy, guilt, regret, love, achievement and a bit of mystery.

I definitely recommend this book!

I want to thank Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for allowing me to read the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

The stories of two people, intermingled to form a friendship and lifeline. Antonia, seeking and finding a version of herself and her confidence that she hadn’t known in a while. Damir, bandaging scars and chasing memories from a war he cannot remember and battling the effects of PTSD that plague him while trying to live a life and find lost things. They each have many things to learn from each other, which unfolds into a beautiful relationship throughout the story. Well written, intriguing and heartfelt, definitely pick up The Olive Grove.

This was very good and made me want to visit Croatia. The characters were relatable and gave me a few hours of escapism. Recommended

An excellent read, although not a super light one.

The book follows Antonia as she steps out of her comfort zone to try something new. At the same time it explores the impact of war and its physical and emotional scars.

This book will stay with me for a long time.

A very moving story set on the Island of Korcula in Croatia, very descriptive of the Island just makes you want go and visit all the beautiful places described.

Antonia breaks up with her married boss who she was having an affair and goes to Korcula as a housekeeper in a rental villa owned by Damir left to him by his recently bereaved aunt, he was brought up by his aunt after his father died and mother went missing in the Yugoslavian war.
Damir suffers from PTSD and Antonia helps him find answers to his nightmares while she tries to settle away from her daughter left in England.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Sent to Goodreads.

The first thing I noticed about this book was the beautiful cover. Then I read the synopsis and thought what an interesting sounding story. I have never read a book by Eva Glyn before and I am so glad I did.

The story follows Antonia a middle aged woman in a dead end affair with her married boss (that never ends well) and a dead end job, but it is a job and it pays the bills. Then she decides to change her life and go to work at a restored villa in Croatia owned by a young man, Damir. Damir himself has unhealed wounds from growing up in a war torn country. These two lost souls find each other and a chance at a new life. I really enjoyed this novel. I am not really familiar with Croatia and its environs so it was nice to read a novel set in surroundings that are not France, Greece or Italy, great countries, but it is nice to branch out. I have always known about the Bosnian war, but this novel really brought home the horrors and how hard it can be to move on. Following these two people on their journey to a happier more fulfilled life made this book a wonderful read. The supporting characters were interesting to, but it was Damir and Antonia who were the heart of the novel.

I recommend this book for those looking for an emotional read in a beautiful setting. I look forward to more books by Eva Glyn.

Thanks to Netgalley, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and the author for the chance to read and review this book.

I enjoyed The Olive Grove. It’s moving an evocative with every turn of the page.

Antonia is having an affair with her boss. She wants to escape and ends up taking a job as a housekeeper in a villa in Croatia. Her new boss Damir, is totally different. He’s keen to make a success of the villa but his thoughts are elsewhere. He wants to escape his past but will this new start give him the opportunity and can Antonia help him?

Thank you to NetGalley, One More Chapter and the author for the chance to review.