Take a Chance on Greece
By: Sue Roberts
Review Score: 3 Stars

Five Key Feels

-Orla’s reason to travel is incredibly powerful.

-Kos, Greece sounds beautiful!

-I really felt the realities of traveling (meeting people just temporarily, trying new things, appreciating cultural sites).

-Georgios is a very interesting character, I enjoyed learning more about him.

-The ending was sweet, although a bit predictable.

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Take a Chance on Greece was kindly provided as an ARC by Netgalley and Bookouture. Thank you for allowing me to read this wonderful book!

Release Date: 8/10/22

Take a Chance on Greece follows Orla, a women who has a near death experience, and decides she needs to spend more time traveling and seeing the world. On her journey to Greece, she meets some wonderful friends, including Georgios, an author, who she becomes very close with.

I really loved the travel side of this story. Imagining the different islands Orla visits, and the fun things you experience when you travel, really resonated with me.

On the flip side, I didn’t exactly love Orla and Georgios as a couple, they didn’t seem all that compatible in my opinion. The end of their story seemed a bit rushed.

Additionally, and maybe this is a silly American thing…but are vests still in style in the UK? I feel like every character wore a vest at some point. Is “vest” British slang for something else? That part definitely made me laugh.

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This was my first book by Sue Roberts and after searching other book titles by this author, and reading reviews, I was excited to begin. She gets plenty of praise for her descriptions that carry the reader to the locations she writes about. I can attest to that in Take a Chance on Greece. Not only does she provide vivid descriptions of Greece, she also makes your mouth water for the food.
I enjoyed her character development, which left me wanting to hear even more from the guests at the Kos B&B. I enjoyed the main character and her quest to find her roots and enjoy traveling. Despite all of these positives, the story dragged on slowly. I kept waiting for it to finally hit a sprint, but it never did. Other reviewers have mentioned the same. One of the characters was an author that was having a hard time writing his current work. It made me wonder if he was symbolic of Robert's own trouble.
The book is still a solid three stars as it made me want to read one of her earlier works for the travel fun inside.
Thank you Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.

so.. this is the perfect holiday read as i’m laid on my sun bed in greece! felt like i was part of the journey as the authors descriptions of Greece are spot on! A great entertaining read

This was a good read. It so made you want to go to Greece. Orla had been poorly and went to Greece to recover. She had loved going there as a child. She discovered a family secret that needed sorted. She also fell In love . I loved the description of the guest house she stayed in. It was a beautiful summer read. Loved it

I always find it awkward to review a book I didn’t really enjoy - especially when I’ve read and liked so many by this author.

I did like having a front row seat to Orla’s growth and loved how the truth of the secret set her free. The characters in Roberts’ books are always well-developed and she is a master at placing her readers in the setting; this book was no different. I always come away from one of this author’s books feeling like I’ve just had a mini vacation.

For some reason, I had trouble staying interested in this narrative. I found the writing didn’t flow as well as any of her previous Greek novels and I also couldn’t connect with this protagonist and the motive behind some of her actions. However, it won’t stop me from reading Roberts’ next Greek journey!

I was gifted this advance copy by Sue Roberts, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

This was the sweetest story! It made me want to visit Greece and eat the food! It was a easy, feel good read that I was exactly in the mood for!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the eARC for my honest opinion.

I have always wanted to go to Greece and this seemed like the perfect getaway! I unfortunately found the writing style very dry (like a book report) instead of descriptive and immersive. The plot twist was hinted at, but the execution was not it. It kind of happened; no build up to a reveal, just there’s a secret letter and 60% of the way through, the author tells you the REAL reason Orla is there.

I also wish the romance was more present. It felt like it was just sub-sub plot. The characters were all so cute though! I wanted more from them! Overall, the writing leaves much to be desired, but the characters and the setting were great.

2.75 ⭐️

Orla is single by choice. As soon as her relationships begin to get serious, Orla has a huge wobble and finishes with yet another boyfriend. She is afraid of commitment and being trapped in a relationship. She doesn’t know what a true love is about and how it is so easy to become one of a pair. She has also had many different jobs, but has not stuck with them either. She has itchy feet and has stayed in her present position because of the great team.
When Orla becomes unwell at the age of twenty-nine, she begins to feel panic and yes, even regret. She doesn’t want her life to end without travelling and especially returning to Kos where her family used to go for their summer holiday. Those childhood holidays were so idyllic, wonderful and joyous. Luckily Orla does get a second chance when her operation to remove a tumour from her brain is successful. She moves in with her Dad until she is fully recovered and that is when the fun really starts. Unknown to her father, Orla comes across a letter he received a while ago. She cannot believe her eyes as she discovers a massive family secret within this letter. She is twenty-nine for goodness sake. She can take it. She takes leave from her latest job and decides to travel over to Kos. She books a room in a small but charming B&B that is very near the sea in Kos Town.
When Orla arrives, she is delighted with her digs. It is so picturesque and fully adorned with flowers. Her room is upstairs and she soon finds out her neighbour is called Georgios and is an author. He is easy on the eyes as well, but not at all communicative. He is suffering from writer’s block and is stressed and quite grumpy. All of the other residents make up for him and are friendly and enjoy a good chat. Orla has an itinerary for her Greek Odyssey. She plans to visit several small local islands before she end up at the airport and flies home. She has set herself the task of finding the stranger who has written to her father. She has the address with her, carefully replacing the letter so her father will not know she has snooped.
Sue Roberts knows Kos so well. Her descriptions are spot on and I can see myself when we were there, walking through the town. Tigaki is the resort where we stayed and so my reading was double blessed, the memories so welcome and certainly true to form. Sue created her characters well – people just like you and me on holiday, loving the sea, the sunshine and the glorious times to be had. I liked the friendships and the easy way Orla communicated with people she had never met before. This novel is uncomplicated and has real everyday issues that are so relatable. I particularly enjoyed how Sue paints fantastic pictures of Orla’s walks, her love of Greek food and her friendships. This novel has a simple story well delivered. I received a complimentary copy from publisher Bookouture through my membership of NetGalley. Thank you for my copy sent in return for an honest and unbiased review. Many readers will find this novel right up their street. It includes a slow burning romance. I was so glad that Orla was able to come to terms when she uncovered the family secret. No more Miss Indecisive, Orla at last has found what she really wants now. The story is uplifting and is ideal for taking away on holiday. It’s a 3.5* review from me.

I liked the idea behind the novel and the execution of that idea was impressive. The writing style was simple and effective and the overall flow of the story felt very smooth.

I received an ARC of, Take a Chance on Greece, by Sue Roberts. Orla is feeling lost and adrift, will going to Greece help her, or will she run away again? A good read.

Thank you NetGalley

I’m loving this book I love the descriptions of everything in the book it makes me feel like I’m there :)

I absolutely loved the setting of Take a Chance on Greece. It gave me all the summer vibes! It’s a quick summer read for in between, but it was bit hard to connect with the characters. Everything felt a bit rushed as well, to be honest. Despite that, it was a nice and fun read! 2,5 stars.

I do enjoy Sue Roberts books this one however wasn't my favourite book felt rushed and the lead characters were unlikeable with no connection.

Take a Chance on Greece by Sue Roberts takes you to the island paradise of Kos for a journey of self-discovery, and with the tantalizing prospect of romance lurking around every sun-drenched corner. I always enjoy this author's tales that seamlessly blend wanderlust and personal journeys, and this latest was no exception.

Orla is twenty-nine when she is diagnosed with a brain tumour and forced to return to the family home to recuperate under the care of her father. Facing a serious illness brings what is truly important into sharp focus, and Orla knows that she must take her second chance as an opportunity to live life to the fullest. Returning to the Greek island of Kos, which she remembers fondly from childhood holidays, might be just the tonic she needs to get a fresh new lease on life.

This novel demands to be read on a sunny beach with a cocktail in hand and a heart full of gratitude.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.

This book made me a little uncomfortable if I’m honest. Orla was pretty selfish and childish, skulking about instead of speaking to Georgios directly. But then Georgios himself turned super creepy. I found the descriptions about peoples clothing and scents (aftershave, who still uses that?) distracting. I think I would have rather read about Rose or Sophia. The ending felt forced and rushed.

This just wasn’t for me.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Bookouture and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.


I didn’t connect to this story, I felt it was superficial I didn’t connect to the MC. I felt as if the relationships were surface, I didn’t relate.

Orla has done quite a bit of travelling already. It’s her trip to Greece the author invites us to join her on and even though the weather is perfect here too, I decided to accompany her main character. Orla is not only going there to enjoy the sun and explore a few of the Greek islands, but she is on a mission as well. One that could change her life in more than one way.

Orla ( beautiful name by the way 😊 ) is a very sociable person on the one hand. She makes friends with a lot of people very easily and she loves spending time in their company: going out for a meal, sightseeing, boat trips, dancing,… On the on the other hand, she does not mind her own company. She travels alone, goes on road trips on her own, visits restaurants asking for a table for one.

She does not like to stay for too long in one place and commitment is not on her agenda. When she does not feel comfortable any more, she leaves. Exploring new horizons and getting out of her comfort zone, she calls it. Others might have another opinion about that and call it running away…

Maybe it’s time to find the golden mean?

Orla is very determined and a bit indecisive at the same time. What she did not like at first, she finds charming later on. Of course people are entitled to change their minds, but for me I found it a bit difficult to get to know her.

Does being a happy single exists? Of course it does. You are in the driver seat and decide every direction you want to go to. I, for one, feel quite nice there. 😉 When you find your one, you happily move over to the passenger side from time to time as well. 😉

When I read one of this author’s books, I am a bit envious that I am not really on that plane, but she describes everything so vividly that I feel like I have actually been there and can tick that destination off my wish list. Her stories feel like travel guides, incorporated in wonderful feel good books.

Thoroughly enjoyable. 5 stars

Thank you

We only get one chance at life so live it to the fullest and that is exactly what Orla does!

As any of Sue's books they are simply wonderful and makes you really feel like you are there. It really makes me want to go to Greece. So well written, I could picture those wonderful views and smell that Seabass.

This is truly magical and just what I needed to read, a perfect summer read to devour whilst slipping on them cocktails.

Thank you Bookouture for the opportunity to review this wonderful book

I had a difficult time connecting with this story. It was a nice, sweet romance, with multiple connections and characters, but it just felt like I was watching it from afar. The best part of the story was the virtual vacation to Greece...with vivid imagery and descriptions of both locations and activities.

I absolutely love this authors books as they transport you to somewhere else entirely from where you are reading them and you can go from sitting on your sofa or in the garden to feel like you are reading on a beach in Greece in an instant.

You can almost smell the sea air and taste the beautiful Greek food with the descriptive writing which really helps the reader to soak up the sights and sounds

I love how this author writes about real people and real issues in a very sensitive and thoughtful way as well as creating escapism and romance in the process. I would love a sequel to this to see where the lives of Georgios and Orla take them