Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read.

Charlotte gets fed up of her life in Chester and decides to relocate to Greece. Her boyfriend Jamie is happy to relocate with her until a few months after moving to Greece he decides he wants to return to Chester and his old life. Charlotte stays in Greece and sets about building her life there. After doing up her little cottage she opens a bakery in the village where all the villagers can’t get enough of her cakes. On a trip back home Jamie appears suddenly deciding he wants her back. What will Charlotte do. Will she return to Chester for good or will she decide to stay in Greece and let the gorgeous Greek man put the broken heart back together.

I am Greek and the way the author talk about is very authentic . You can feel the love for my country and Crete . I loved that our heroine while she had a life in England she decide to live everything back and start a new life in a foreng coyntry . She starts this journey with her fiance but he after a while does not want to live in Greece and they split . But now she is not alone she has her new friends and all the villagers . But there is a new man who will make her move on . When she goes back to England her ex is waiting for her . Who will she choose ?
The only thing I did not like is that the name for Darius or Apollo are Ancient Greek but they are not very used nowdays and especially in Crete .
I received this book from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Based on the synopsis, it seemed the plot would focus more heavily on the “after” of Jamie leaving but I was surprised that Roberts chose to take the reader along the before as well. With a first person POV, we got a front seat experience of Charlotte’s life and her tribulations on deciding whether or not to take a leap of faith for Greece.

I didn’t particularly care for Jamie, I felt that it was obvious he was facing regret since the beginning and readers didn’t get to see any qualities that made Charlotte love him. Charlotte was lovable and hard-working. This was her dream and she wanted to fully embrace the community. The cast of side characters were magic and now I want to move to this village because of how sweet and helpful everyone is.

A very slow burn of the story unfolding, this is very much a book that is focused on being independent and chasing your dreams. While heartbreak and love are present, they are not main tropes and if that’s what you’re looking for- this won’t be it.

Ever daydreamed about escaping the drudgery of day to day life by moving to your favourite holiday destination and living the dream? I think we all have. However, for Charlotte and Jamie the dream becomes a reality when they find their dream home, not in their native Chester as planned, but in Crete. However, is it as easy as they thought?
A great summer’s read - both for reading in the garden or by the pool. The characters were likeable and I really wanted it to work for Charlotte (1st person narrator). There were good times and bad but in the end I was satisfied with another glorious read.

I enjoyed this book as a summer read - perfect for a beach holiday. I liked that the move to Greece wasn’t smooth and there were some bumps in the road. I loved that the main character got involved in local life and made friends by saying yes to lots of different social occasions. It makes me so jealous that people can pick up their entire life and move to a different country!

It felt a little dated compared to some of her other books - and by that I meant that the main character didn’t come across as young and vibrant, some of her language and choice of phrase was quite old fashioned ! Didn’t distract from the lovely plot however, but made it somewhat hard to relate to her.

You always know what you are getting with Sue's books. Whisked off your feet to a beautiful location wishing we was all there.

After a holiday in Greece, Charlotte and Jamie decide that rather than buy a new home in Chester they will up root and start a new life in Greece.
Jamie soon gets cold feet leaving Charlotte alone finding her feet and a life without him.

This is a wonderful story, about starting over, never to be afraid and go for them dreams!

Throw in hunky Darius and a beautiful restaurant and you have a joyful summer story.

I love the friendships Charlotte formed with all the villagers.

I absolutely loved this and enjoyed all the characters, and Sue's descriptions really brings her books to life.

A perfect pick me up that we all want.

Highly recommended and a well deserved ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me.

This is a cute and quick beach read...nothing too serious, but enough to keep the reader engaged. There are a few surprises here and there, but it is the descriptions of Crete and the bakery delights that will make you want to take a vacation!

well written with a gripping storyline and well developed characters that I loved. The book is full of vivid descriptions and rich Imagery so I felt like I could smell the smells, taste the tastes and see the sights of Greece. Reading this has made me want to escape abroad and sit around a pool for two weeks. I really enjoyed it.

The rain is lashing against the windows.  A perfect time to travel virtually to sunny Crete. Being there would be even better, but I’ll settle for the next best thing: a new book by this author. 😊

Hands up if you would like to live in the sun. Well, I will put both my hands and feet up. 😉 I know how it feels because I have spent a little over a year on the Canary Islands and I would not mind at all going back there permanently. I understood perfectly where Charlotte and Jamie came from.

Of course you miss your family and friends and probably other things too, but it’s your life and you have to make the best of it. After all people are just one phone call or  maybe now rather Zoom call or Face Time away and they can always jump on a plane to relax a few days under the clear bleu skies.

Buying a house and living there is one thing, but finding a job is more difficult. I guess there are not a lot of jobs for grabs and it’s only natural they give them to the natives first. Starting your own business if often they only way to go and even that is not simple when you don’t speak the language very well. But that’s what new friends can help you with.

Are you ready to join this lovely couple on their journey?

This was such a lovely story. The author’s writing style is always light and fluffy. Exactly what you need in this dreary weather to lift your spirits. 5 stars

Thank you

A great summertime read all about taking a chance on life and love….Brilliant… gripping and addictive, it will pull you in from the first page… A must-read.
I found the pacing just right and took me away to faraway lands.

***What Happens in Greece by British author Sue Roberts is the story of a longtime engaged couple who buy a house and move to Greece. New friends are made, renovations undertaken and bumps in the road experienced. She is very happy with her new life, but his experience is different and therein is the conflict. The author’s descriptions of the area and the food are good, but this reader failed to develop any strong emotional ties to the characters…except maybe the goat. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley.

The story
Charlotte and Jamie have been engaged for four years. She owns a bakery in an English town, Jamie is a mechanic. They would love to move to a house with outdoor space but property prices make it an impossibility. Charlotte is browsing the for sale ads in Crete when she spots a fixer upper for sale. They decide to take a look, and fall in love with the property and lifestyle. But will they be able to make things work out in the long run?

My thoughts
Sue Roberts’ storytelling style is very much a first person POV with lots of details and thoughts included. It’s a very “personal” insider view. I really enjoyed Charlotte. She is really hard working and always looks for the bright side, is naturally optimistic and caring towards her friends and family. I loved this visit into the Greek small village life, neighbours, local goats and the stories of the characters and their comings and goings. It makes for a really entertaining read.