This is a first time read by Eva Glyn, new author to this reader. "The Olive Grove" is a loveable story about a middle-aged woman, Antonia looking to start a new life and Damir, a young man who has scars and fears that have resurfaced after years of being repressed. The author allows you to a pictorial view of Croatia and the results that war can cause and its affects on the people who witnessed and experience the aftermath. I found myself at times pulled into their lives and was hoping that these two people could come together to to overcome their past and allow healing...and that is just want happened.

This was such a well-written story that tugged at my heart as I turned the pages. I loved how Ms. Glyn provided a beautiful setting of the island of Korčula. Although at time it slowed in certain parts, it continued to keep my interest to the very end. Well done and recommend the read.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for this ARC in exchange for this fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

I received The Olive Grove as part of a NetGalley giveaway.

Seeking to escape a toxic affair at her home in England, Antonia accepts a job as housekeeper at a Croatian villa. There she meets Damir, the property's owner and manager. Decades earlier, Damir came to Croatia as a refugee, the fate of his parents shrouded in mystery. Still reeling from the death of his aunt, who raised him, he is determined to make the property a success. But the darkness of his past is persistent and in order to move forward, he will need to face, with Antonia's help, the ghosts that haunt him.

I really liked this. I live in a city with a large Bosnian population, but the war itself still isn't something that I'm super familiar with. The Croatian setting is lovely, and Glyn does an excellent job of contrasting the idyllic setting with the horrors that took place decades earlier. I liked it more that they didn't make Damir and Antonia romantic partners. I didn't get that vibe from them from the beginning, and was worried they were going to force it, especially as they highlighted Damir's affinity for older women. Instead, their friendship is both unique and wonderful to watch develop. A really interesting, atmospheric read.

A beautifully written book by Eva Glyn, set in Croatia.
Damir inherits his aunt's villa and restores it to use for peoples holidays. He takes on Antonia from the States as a housekeeper, as she is leaving an affair and job behind her, and also a daughter who needs to learn how to live with her partner.
Damir has many problems and flashbacks from the war in 1990's and needs alot of help to overcome this.
Antonia needs to re-evaluate her life and she and Damir help each other as friends.
Highly recommended. Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for an A.R.C.

The story opens in Korčula (Kor-chu-la), a Croatian island off the Dalmatian coast in 1996 and the author immediately tickles your 5 senses with amazing descriptions which pull you deeper into the story. You become aware that it’s set in a war zone, and you have a sense that the nameless female character has a reason to feel guilty, but you know you need to read further to find out why.

Then the plot shifts to Sussex 2019 where Antonia Butler is realizing that her unhealthy relationship with a married man must come to an end. Encouraged by a friend, she sends off her resume to a boutique hotel in Korcula hoping employment there will provide her with a chance to start over. As if leaving a relationship wasn’t difficult enough, her daughter in her twenties and partner who had been living with Antonia, move out. It’s just the push Antonia needs.

Arriving in Korcula, Antonia is swept up in preparing Vila Maslina, the restored farmhouse, for its first guests. Damir Maric, the owner, soon becomes a loyal friend and the two learn the necessity of healing before they can move on.

Eva’s approach to the Croatian conflict and the slow reveal regarding Damir’s childhood elicits empathy and compassion from readers. The unfolding of the horrific tragedy in this beautiful country highlights not only the damage and devastation but the effect on the community and individuals. Glyn explores the far-reaching effects of wartime, the difficult choices people were forced to make and the efforts those left behind needed to make in order to forge a new future.

This story highlights the agony of starting over, both in a relationship and employment, and explores the challenges is starting a new business venture. It also sheds light on PTSD and the necessity of seeking help. Middle-aged readers who've had grown children recently leave home will also identify with Antonia.

The author was inspired by an incredibly moving story she heard about growing up during the Balkan war in the 1990s. She was on holiday in Croatia and was moved by her tour guide’s personal experience. The two worked together to share this powerful and emotion-filled story.

Publishes September 3, 2021.

I was gifted this advance copy by Eva Glyn, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

The Olive Grove……. Antonia left behind her life in the states to help open and assist in running a beautiful refurbished “villa” in Croatia. The new owner seems to have PTSD from his younger years and after the death of his Aunt. It’s a moving story about life, changes and sacrifices.

Beautifully written book that transports you right into the story. Wonderful characters and a plot that grabs you right from the beginning.

This was my first book from this author, I absolutely loved it and will be looking out for more.

Thank you to net galley and the publishers for an advance copy of this book. Much appreciated.

I received an advance copy of, The Olive Grove, by Eva Glyn. This is a nice story about change, love, families, and secrets.

I loved this book. It is the story of a young man carrying the horrific scars of growing up in a war-torn country and how his aunt's death – thus the sudden loss of the only security he has known – triggers all his fears, his past traumas rising to the surface after years of repression. Eva Glyn writes with empathy and compassion about Damir and her exploration of the conflict in Croatia reminds us powerfully of the atrocities of a war that was so close to home and the long-term effects war has on a community, generations after the fighting has stopped. The skill with which she tells us of his childhood means that we have nothing but the utmost sympathy for Damir and the man he has become.
The Olive Grove is also the story of Antonia, a middle-aged woman who has left an unhealthy love affair and whose daughter is of an age where she needs to become more independent. With no job, no relationship and the understanding she needs to make space for her daughter to grow, Antonia finds herself working for Damir and together the two of them help each other heal, forge a future and learn to believe in themselves.
It is a beautiful story and Eva Glyn's powerful prose creates the most magical setting. As I read, I was transported to another country and loved how all of my senses were stimulated by the evocative descriptive writing. A fabulous book that I am more than happy to recommend.

Thank you One More Chapter and NetGalley for this advance ebook copy.

The Olive Grove was an extraordinary read. The cover is what drew my attention.
So I went into this story blind. I thought this book was awesome and the characters were great.
This is one seriously well written book that will grab your attention from the start and will carry you through a delightful story with equally delightful characters. The author writes so vividly and powerful, that I really did feel as though I was apart of the story myself.
Great read for sure.

Antonia Butler has accepted a job as housekeeper on the Croatian Island of Korkula. She’ll be looking after a restored farmhouse called Vila Maslina. Here, she hopes to make a fresh start, leaving her past behind her. But the beautiful island has an ugly past, dating back to the War and the owner of the farmhouse has secrets of his own. This book whisked me away to a beautiful island, Glyn expertly weaved the tragic history of the island in along with its inhabitants and natural beauty

I don’t recall having read a piece of fiction based in Croatia so that’s what initially attracted me to request The Olive Grove. Set in Croatia, it’s a story of a young man who is still tortured by a war torn land and family secrets. It’s also the story about a woman who needs to begin living her own life for herself and not others. I liked all the characters. I liked all the descriptions about Croatia. The 1990s wars are discussed a lot and it was interesting to read a different perspective. It’s a well written story.

Every book I read and review starts off with the full five stars and the hope that they will still be in place on the last page and this book is no different.

Blimey the text in the prologue is tiny! I hope it's bigger after that otherwise the first star will be coming off already!

Chapter one was good, but the tiny text is already giving me a headache. Onto the second chapter.

The second chapter was good too... if a little predictable. I think I can guess what'll happen before too much longer lol

I hope the author has got written permission to use these well-known brands otherwise they could get themselves into seriously hot water!

I'm really into this book now, so much so that I've forgotten to review the previous two chapters lol Every one of those five stars are still firmly in place and I'm still hopeful that they'll stay there too.

That's the third big brand name that's been used, I'm guessing without written permission, so unfortunately that's the first star coming off after just under a third of the book :-(

I'm half way through this book now and another big brand name has been used, but I've already taken one star off for that reason, so we're still at four stars... this book is sooo good though and I'm so glad I discovered it hidden in the depths with all those other books that I've yet to read and review!

Only got 53 pages left to read now and the last couple of chapters must have been absolutely heartbreaking to write but I reckon the author has handled it really well... not so heartbreakingly that you heart feels ripped to shreds but at the same time they have made me emotional too.

Down to 28 pages now and it's taken a few unexpected turns and I was possibly wrong with my assumptions at the start of this review, but at the same time so right in other ways. I won't spoil it for you, but I can see a 'happily ever after' at the end of this wonderful book.

OMG! That was a shock I wasn't expecting so close to the end... could there be a sequel in the works??

This is a definite must-read by everyone and the one and only reason I'm not giving it the full 5 stars is 'cos of the use of those brand names is all.