I have to be honest I picked up What Happens in Greece, because it was clearly based in Greece. And I just wanted to read something that would deal with the wonderful Greece  and Greek food. Of course there was so many delicious mentions of food, I just had to find myself some gyros. 

What starts as a crazy idea ends up being the best decision for Charlotte, in more ways than one. She decides, along with her fiancé Jamie to, after one too many wines, buy a property in Crete and start a new life. Along the way Jamie realises that this may not be the right thing for him and so they part ways. Charlotte, is determined to stay and make new friends and enjoy her new life. 

Baring in mind that the description says that Jamie decides Crete life is not for him, it does take him a long while to leave, nearly 40% of the way through the book. I felt that this was a ridiculously long time and made me question if I had read the back of the book right, which I had. The book then carried on, but I felt like we were then slightly rushed. Maybe it was just me.

But I did really enjoy the book and the idea that home is where you feel most comfortable and belong. After all that is home. I also enjoyed meeting all the townspeople and getting the taste of romance between Charlotte and Darius. 

What Happens in Greece was a satisfying, summery read, although it may make you hungry!

Thank you to Netgalley for a pre publication copy. In return for an honest review! #whathappensingreece #netgalley

Charlie and her fiancé Jamie are looking at selling their house in order to buy one with a garden. Charlie always loves their holidays to Crete so out of interest has a look at the house prices. To find they can get a house, annexe and acres at a steal. So Jamie says let's go and view it! Will they find their dream home or will it come crashing down around them?

I love a romance abroad. So as soon as I saw the title and the cover. I knew I must read it.

This book is a easy read. One that does what it says on the tin and you can follow easily when you don't want to concentrate too hard. I started it on the plane back from Greece!

It is a page turner and you find yourself sinking in to the description of Crete and the villages Charlie and Jamie visit. However at least the first 1/3 of the book this is really all that happens. After this you find more things starting to happen. Although they are all "told and not shown." Their is little emotion in anything big that happens in Charlie's life. You start to see a bit of emotion coming and then boom new paragraph and we've moved on. The last chapter has more emotion than the whole book put together. I did feel that the first 1/3 of the book could have been condensed into an epilogue which would have allowed the author chance to really explore each turn in Charlie's life and therefore time to explore her emotions, thoughts and feelings. Which would help the reader fully emerse themselves into her life.

I found this book very difficult to give a star review. I really enjoyed the the book, descriptions and how romance was represented in the book as amicable. Showing sometimes it is just you want different things not that their is drama or trauma. However because I felt their was emotion lacking and such a big part of the book nothing happened other than daily life. I have given it 3.5 Stars as opposed to a solid amount of stars.

After reading this book, Crete is now on my bucket list of places to visit. There are loads of charmingly delightful descriptions of the village, the countryside, the local community and the friends that the main character makes, as well as descriptions of the wonderful food. I felt as though I was there!

It was also lovely to read about Charlotte’s vision of a new life for herself in a foreign country and how she made it become a reality – although not without some heartache along the way. However, Charlotte does have at least one sexy Greek man to help repair her heart, and one of these leads to a slow-burn romance.

This book focuses on following your dreams and the reality of that dream not being shared by the man you love. It is a gentle story, perfect for getting in the mood for a holiday in the sun.

This is a women's fiction/romance book, which is set in England and Greece. The story is about a woman called Charlotte and her boyfriend Jamie, who give up their life in England to move to Greece. Charlotte loves it in Greece, and she lovingly decorates her new house and makes lots of friends. Jamie, however, decides that Greece is not for him, and he moves back to England, leaving Charlotte alone to finish decorating the house, and mending her broken heart. She is sad for a while, but she soon perks up, and gets inspired enough to set up her own bakery/shop, which delights the locals. Moving on, a Greek man called Darius comes knocking on her door, but is she ready for romance again?

This is a fun, heartwarming and inspiring adventure, which really drew me in, and left me feeling uplifted. This is the perfect summer read to take on holiday with you. Or if you are like me, I read it in the winter, to brighten up a dreary day and remind me of the sunshine. Highly recommended!

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

It is never easy to follow your dreams
But sometimes its even better than it seems!
Moving to Greece where they'd holidayed before
Could this be the restart they'll both adore?

A brilliant community, new friends,
Long sunny days, new dreams without ends.
A farmhouse, an olive grove and even a goat, too,
Sounds idyllic to me - does it to you?

Jamie and Charlotte have been together for years
Who'd guess this move would end with them in tears.
Is this really a dream or a nightmare instead?
Should they return home to Chester or stay in the Med?

This is a story of being brave and taking a chance
With new opportunities and possible romance.
It is about joining in a new community, too,
And fitting in with others whilst somewhere new.

A heartwarming read that could well inspire you
To consider your life and just what you'll do.
Sometimes finding your new home means changing
And aspects of your life and relationships rearranging.

It is a fun read that I enjoyed from the start
Even though there's a danger of a broken heart.
For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
Such a heartwarming read and this is my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and all for an ARC copy in return for an honest review.
This is a slow moving, reflective type read that is more thought provoking than plot driven. The writing style is a little diary-esk.. as in "in the morning I did this. In the afternoon I did that".
The life lessons were good but repetitive.

This was a nice book and an easy read. It was very heart warming. I read this in summer which is the perfect time to read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What Happens in Greece is the story of a longtime engaged couple who buy a house and move to Greece. After several months of hard work, the house is done and Jamie admits that he misses England and wants to return. Charlie knows that this home is where she belongs so he returns to England and she remains by herself.

The book is full of vivid descriptions and rich imagery. I had a hard time staying interested in this book at times, but then I would get into it and get lost in the Greek atmosphere. Overall a good book to "escape" to.

The best thing about this book (besides the cover) was the descriptions of Crete. I want to sell my house and buy one in Crete now. However, I found most of the story lacking. I never connected with Charlie. Most of it seemed one dimensional.

This book makes you want to sell up and find your own place to buy in Crete. You can feel the Greek sights. sounds and delicious food. I always love Sue Roberts books and this really was the perfect read. I was really sad to come to the end. I wasn't ready to leave it all behind.

What a fun book. I absolutely enjoyed all the characters in this book. This was one that I tried to slow myself down reading because I did not want it to end. Highly recommend giving it a read and highly recommend recommending it to friends and family.

I love Sue Roberts' books set in Greece. She is very good at making the reader feel as if they are on vacation in the area. Descriptions of the islands, the people, the culture are so realistic. And, they always make me feel good, with endings that are believable and heart-warming. The characters seem like real people with real flaws. In this book, a woman who owns a bakery/coffee shop in England decides (along with her fiance) to move to a Greek island, buy a run-down cottage and turn it into a B&B. But, her fiance soon tires of the plan and moves back home, leaving her to figure out what to do. I couldn't put it down until I learned how it would end. A great summer beach read!

Another lovely book by Sue Roberts!!! I really needed to "travel" somewhere so this book happening close to Chania, on the island of Crete in Greece was just the perfect book for my mood! And I loved it!!! This book is all about reshaping your life, about new beginnings and following your dreams. It's well written, it's fun to read, there is not a boring moment in the story and the settings in Crete is to dream for!!! What a nice book! I am giving it a 4 starts out of 5!

I was unsure on this one - there were parts I loved and parts I just couldn't get into.
The pacing seemed quite slow in places and the characters seemed questionable but the setting of Crete is beautiful and makes for an ideal summer read.

A quick and easy read that I found myself picking up after a long day to unwind. The characters are beautifully written and I came to love them within the first few pages and was rooting for them all the way to the end. At times I wanted to stop reading because I just wanted the experience to go on for longer.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Predictable, fast paced , cute summer read. The food mentioned made me constantly hungry while reading this🤣

The book felt a bit like in a to-do list format, but interesting enough to keep you reading.

Not a great book, but not brilliant either. The setting in Crete sound amazing, as someone who was recently to Greece I would definitely consider going to Crete next.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

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This was supposed to be compelling and interesting, based on the synopsis, but it turned out to be one of the most uninteresting and bland books I've ever read.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

A gorgeous summer read that will make you roar with laughter, What Happens in Greece is the unmissable new romantic comedy from Sue Roberts.

When Charlotte and her fiancé bought a rundown farmhouse in Greece, they thought that it was the best decision they ever made – until reality kicked in and Jamie hightailed it back home as fast as his feet could carry him leaving Charlotte to wonder whether her impulse purchase was a mistake of gargantuan proportions! Not prepared to throw in the towel just yet, a devastated Charlotte decides to make the best of things and try to turn her ramshackle cottage into her own little corner of paradise. But is Charlotte just fooling herself? Or is Crete where she truly belongs?

As she rolls up her sleeves and gets to work on her forever home, Charlotte is touched by the warm welcome the local community has given her – and she is also finding herself getting a teeny bit hot under the collar thanks to drop dead gorgeous restaurant owner and part-time handyman, Darius, who is always willing to lend a helping hand. The more time Charlotte spends in Crete, the more she realizes that she might just have found a place she can call home – until she goes for a fleeting visit back to Chester and Jamie professes his undying love for her and begs her to give him a second chance.

Forced to make an impossible decision, who will Charlotte choose: her first love who had broken her heart or the handsome Greek hunk who had put it back together again?

Sue Roberts never disappoints her readers with her zesty romantic romps that never fail to bring some much-needed Mediterranean sunshine into our lives! What Happens in Greece is a feel-good and uplifting tale about taking a chance on your own happiness, new beginnings and falling in love when you least expect it that left me with a massive smile on my face.

Charlotte is a wonderful heroine, Darius will make you swoon and Greece is brought to such wonderful life you can almost feel its warmth on your skin.

Fun, fabulous and simply irresistible, What Happens in Greece is another must-read by Sue Roberts.

• Beautiful setting
• Delicious food description
• Romance
• Big life changes

Couple Charlotte and Jamie are quite happy with their lives in Chester. Jamie is a mechanic and Charlotte own her own café. They both work hard and are saving to buy a house bigger than their current flat. Following an idyllic holiday on the island of Crete Charlotte begins to toy with the idea of living abroad. When a rundown farm house becomes available they cannot resist flying out for a viewing. They both quickly fall in love and throw caution to the wind buying the house. Packing up and leaving their lives behind they are soon thrust into village living, welcomed by everyone. However, as Charlotte flourishes Jamie begins to miss home and it isn’t long before he makes the heartbreaking decision to return to England. Charlotte is suddenly alone but surrounded by the love of her friends and with her sights set on the old village bakery she forges ahead with her new life in sun.

This book was utterly delightful. As we know books set in Greece are a staple of the summer for me now Sue’s annual offerings are a firm part of that. I thought the setting sounded beautiful and I was once again transported to a wonderful Greek island from my living room. Sue painted a wonderful picture of the island, the villagers and the old farm house Jamie and Charlotte buy.

I loved the characters of Jamie and Charlotte and found it so sad that I knew they wouldn’t last (as per the blurb) from the burb I expected to dislike Jamie but I really didn’t. You could completely understand the huge life change moving to Greece was and how it just wasn’t right for him. I really appreciated that this book didn’t have a nasty break up or a wronged women escaping. They parted amicably with their relationship simply not working because they wanted different things. I kept hoping Jamie would change his mind and came back to Greece. I did like Charlotte and Darius but I had a soft spot for Jamie.

I also liked the great cast of characters that featured. Everyone was so welcoming and helpful to Jamie and charlotte. From neighbours willing to help to local tradesmen working for them. I loved that Charlotte would be having dinner with neighbours Stelios and Eleni one night but would be having drinks with their son Apollo the next. Charlotte was so warm and friendly and everyone was lovely to her in return. I did enjoy the friendship to romance relationship with Darius but I appreciated that a lot of this book was focused on friendship. It focused on Charlotte building a new life and her friends rallying around to help her with this and getting over Jamie.

What really stuck with me from this story was the wonderful descriptions of food. In the UK Charlotte owns a small café and when she moves to Greece she bakes for her new neighbours but quickly starts looking into re-opening the village bakery. With the help of local villager Kat they do just that offering a selection of wonderful sweet treats and bread. The descriptions of these were mouth watering especially when Charlotte starts looking into baking Greek treats and cakes. I found myself looking up Greek honey cake recipes to try at home, it was delightful. There are also plenty of delicious descriptions of savoury Greek food to enjoy to.

Overall, this was another wonderful book by Sue offering transportation to a beautiful Greek island. I could feel the sun as Jamie and Charlotte brought life back into the farmhouse. I could also smell and taste the delicious food described and feel the warmth coming from the characters. It’s a summer must read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for providing me with a copy of this book for review

I've read a lot of mysteries and thrillers this summer and felt I needed something light and vacation-y. What Happens in Greece by Sue Roberts seemed like the ideal choice.

Charlotte "Charlie" and her boyfriend Jamie are feeling a little down and out in dreary Chester, England when Charlies gets this crazy idea of selling her business and buying a house in sunny Crete, Greece. They would never be able to purchase a house with a tiny garden in England, but in Greece they can get a house with an olive grove and a guest house. Sure it will need some fixing up, but on the house hunting trip they fell in love with the village.

I was half-expecting a more modern version of The Durrells of Corfu. But it wasn't so much. Of course, as both feature English ex-pats living in Greece, there are a few similarities, but Charlie and Jamie don't seem to encounter as many absurdities as the Durrells did.

The descriptions are lovely and I so wanted to go to Greece. I also wanted to know how realistic it would be to buy a house in Greece. I looked at a couple of real estate sites and what I could afford would have been more like the house the Durrells found themselves in than Charlie (it may have even been worse than the Durrells' house). But then again Charlie did sell a business and it is a bit easier for someone from England to buy a house in Greece than someone from the U.S.

I did kind of worry that this would be a romantic comedy with the 30-something characters. But I would place this firmly in the women's fiction genre. There is a little romance, but it is just one part of the journey to self-discovery that Charlie is on.

Whether you are looking for a book to take to the beach, or a book that will take you to the beach, you can't go wrong with this one.

My review will be published on Monday at Girl Who Reads - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2022/07/what-happens-in-greece-by-sue-roberts.html