Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read Beneath the Lemon Trees by Emma Burstall. I felt as though I was in beautiful Greece! Lovely!

Given the book cover and title I was settling down for an escape to Crete and a relaxing in the sun read well i couldn’t have been more wrong . An extremely well written book about Stella trying to deal with the death of her close friend and broken marriage and escapes with her family to Crete to heal but she soon learns she must face her own demons before she can move on and with the family dynamic holidays are not always easy , we follow her journey. The characters and beautiful scenery an easy read taking on some difficult subjects handled well and at times Stella wasn’t always the most likeable of characters . Overall a good read

As the days get shorter and the nights draw in, the greyness of the autumn so far means we need to escape for some sunshine.

Stella has lost her friend, has split form her husband and along with her children and another friend she seeks some sun and solace in Crete. It seems this magical villa they have chosen is the place to heal. The owner lives a very simp;e life and seems to think this is the palce for Stella.

That is until some unwelcome visitors arrive and old hurts resurface. Stella has to make some harsh decisions if she is to survive the future and have the peace she needs. In the meantime, the others around are having to change.

This is not a book for complete escapism, but a book which tackles difficult issues, such as grief, alcoholism and jealousy and all wrapped within the threads of the characters in this book. Stella whilst not particularly likeable for me, actually made this book all the more interesting and proves that you cannot possible be all things to all people without someone getting hurt.

This had me dreaming of a Grecian vacation! The villa was absolutely gorgeous by the description and I truly wish I could visit. The characters were well thought out and the story was engaging.

a summer holiday that doesn’t go to plan, families fighting, sadness and death.. i was slightly concerned where this was going but it was a delightful book set in crete and i loved how descriptive it was of the island
a good holiday read

A beautiful escapist novel. Stella retreats to Crete with her children and friends to Villa Ariadne, which promises to a healing experience. After the loss of her best friend, Stella has been consumed by grief, and it has led to a separation from her husband. She is reeling from both losses and hopes that the island will help her begin he recovery. Beneath the heady scent of the lemon trees and basking in the salty azure waters, dining on local cuisine , sampling the local shops, and getting to know the local area and its people does have its own power. The holiday isn't without its difficulties, and to begin healing, you have to face the pain head on first. The support of friends and family and new-found friends stands out in this book alongside the healing power of nature. #beneaththelemontrees #emmaburstall #netgalley

Such an absolutely beautiful and heartwarming story of love, perseverance, and grief. The characters were interesting, and Stella in particular showed a fair amount of growth throughout the story which was appreciated as I did not find her very likeable at first! I loved the setting, and am even more eager to visit Crete now more than before

In this fun and summery women’s fiction and modern romance novel, readers travel to Greece with Stella, her friend, and their children as they cope with the death of a close friend and the collapse of Stella’s marriage. Villa Ariadne is beautiful and stunning against the backdrop of a beautiful Greek beach and several lemon trees, but an old friend -- and the widower of the friend Stella has just lost -- arrives and crashes their vacation. With this new arrival threatening the peace of their vacation and jeopardizing Stella’s relationships with her son and her friend, she must make a difficult decision about her love life and her future happiness. With several powerful and poignant relationships at the heart of this novel, Burstall brings Crete’s beauty and local kindness to these characters who need it. The characters are the star of the novel, and readers will love escaping to Greece with them. The emotional heart of this novel is incredibly strong, dealing with grief, love (in many forms), and kindness, and Burstall balances these many emotional notes incredibly well. With a great heart and fantastic characters, readers looking for a summery escape to Greece and a bit of love will definitely enjoy this excellent novel.

At first glance I thought this was going to be your usual holiday romance type of book....but I was pleasantly surprised at the weight this story carried.
A journey through grief, healing, and self discovery.
The honest approach in writing about the main character found me struggling to warm to her at times...but that shows the complexity of us all as human beings, and gave depth to the journey you share with her in the reading of this story.
All of this is set against the backdrop of the beautiful island of Crete.....and the author does a fine job bringing alive the sights, sounds and atmosphere of this captivating Greek Island.

First, I need to mention how much I love the cover. But it was not expecting the book to be what it was based on this. It was a little bit of a wild ride with a family and their friends taking a vacation. I honestly could not have guessed where this book was heading and it was a journey.
It was easy reading, and beautiful descriptions. This is not a lighthearted read though!

This seemed like a fun escapist read at the outset: family and friends rent a mysterious estate in a gorgeous seaside community. There was some subtle whimsy about the estate that was hinted in the beginning, but the story mostly strayed from that plotline and then hurriedly looped it shut toward the end. Despite lots of characters with individual plotlines, it was easy to follow and not confusing. I enjoyed the descriptions of scenery and food the most. The plot was predictable and a bit slow despite delving into lots of heavier topics. There was a spicy scene at the very end of the book that appeared out of the blue and felt super out of sync with the rest of the book. Not a hit for me but definitely an easy read! Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I took me a long time to get into this. It did get better as I went. I found the main character difficult to like. In her grief she pushes out everyone other than the widow of her best friend and while grief can certainly do this, it was hard to relate due to the extent. Overall I found it an enjoyable read though.

#BeneaththeLemonTrees #NetGalley This was an perfect holiday read. Kind of predictable in the way the story was going with some parts that didn't seem to have a point - Stella's bruises and he continual scratching of mosquito bites until they bled. I guessed the ending quite early into the book. I felt the 'Intimate' scene at the end of the book seemed out of character and wasn't really necessary. Overall an easy read with some beautiful descriptions of the Cretan countryside and the food.

Really struggling with this one … overall I enjoyed it but there were some really awkward elements that jarred. The main character was not very likeable and had all sorts of issues. Maybe that’s the point - her redemption through the book! Understandably the death of her best friend had affected her, but to put them ahead of her own family seems odd… her clumsiness and picking of mosquito bites added nothing to the story … the sexual harassment from the widower and the entirely predictable events such as the owner of the villa and the seaside incident! But the worst part was the random spicy scene which wasn’t necessary at all and totally jarred - was so out of place in this book.

However, I really enjoyed the side characters - the moody son, the villa’s housekeeper, and the shopkeeper and her rowdy kids… on balance it was an interesting read which made me want to visit Crete again (no way am I hiking up a remote path to a magical villa though) but difficult to give more than 3* to this one.

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Beneath The Lemon Trees by Emma Burstall is a beautifully crafted, heartwarming novel set against the enchanting backdrop of the Greek island of Crete. It is a tale of healing, love, and new beginnings,

The story follows Stella, who is grappling with profound grief following the death of a close friend and the collapse of her marriage. Desperate for a break from her shattered life, she embarks on a journey to Villa Ariadne, a picturesque, sun-drenched retreat nestled among lemon trees on the shores of Crete. The villa, with its breathtaking views of the azure sea and the intoxicating fragrance of citrus in the air, feels like a sanctuary capable of soothing her soul. As the island works its magic, Stella finds solace in the warmth of the locals and the tranquility of the villa.
However, Burstall doesn't let her protagonist off too easily. Just as Stella settles into the peace of her surroundings, an unexpected encounter with an old acquaintance stirs up unresolved tensions. An unwelcome revelation further challenges her fragile sense of calm, forcing Stella to confront the choices she’s been avoiding. Burstall expertly navigates these emotional upheavals, balancing heartache with hope, and compelling readers to reflect on their own capacity for resilience and change.

The allure of the novel lies not just in the emotional journey Stella embarks upon, but in the vivid portrayal of Crete itself. Burstall's descriptions are rich and immersive, allowing readers to practically feel the warmth of the sun, smell the lemons in the air, and hear the rustle of olive trees in the breeze. Villa Ariadne becomes a character in its own right—a place of transformation, where both the heart and spirit can find refuge and rebirth.

Stella's evolution is touching and authentic. Burstall does not rush her character’s healing; instead, she lets it unfold naturally through her interactions with the people of Crete, who are portrayed with warmth and vibrancy. Their kindness and wisdom provide a perfect counterbalance to the novel's more painful moments, and through them, Stella learns that even the most fractured of hearts can mend, given time and the right environment.

One of the novel's central themes is the idea of letting go of the past in order to embrace the future. Stella’s journey of self-discovery and healing is accompanied by a slowly blooming romance, but it is not the rushed, overpowering love typical of many novels. Instead, it is gentle, patient, and allows Stella the space to rediscover herself before fully committing to someone new. The emotional growth and the possibility of second chances make this book a deeply satisfying read.

Beneath The Lemon Trees is an evocative, soul-stirring novel that offers readers a perfect blend of emotional depth and the irresistible charm of a Mediterranean escape. Emma Burstall expertly explores themes of grief, healing, and renewal, reminding us that even in life’s darkest moments, there’s potential for hope and beauty. With its lush setting and uplifting message, this book is perfect for anyone in search of a feel-good, transformative summer read.

Crete is part of my heart after travelling there and this heartwarming novel made me smile and gave some good time in another place.
Well plotted, cute, entertaining.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of Beneath the Lemon Trees in exchange for an honest review.
Despite its inviting title, which suggests a sunny, Mediterranean tale, Beneath the Lemon Trees is more about navigating grief—and not in a particularly engaging way.
The biggest issue I had with the book was the pacing. The chapters were extremely long, averaging around 40 minutes each, which made it difficult to stay engaged. I often found myself reluctant to pick it up, unsure if I had enough time to commit to getting through a whole chapter in one sitting.
On top of that, I struggled to connect with the characters. The main character was not very likeable, and neither were many of the supporting characters. This made it hard to sympathize with their struggles or invest in their journeys. I also felt the portrayal of grief was poorly handled, with little emotional depth or nuance to resonate with.
That said, I did enjoy the ending, and I appreciated the sense of resolution that finally came. If you’re looking for a story about grief with a sunny setting, this book may still appeal to you. However, for me, the slow pacing, long chapters, and unrelatable characters made it a difficult read, and I wouldn’t recommend it overall.

Beneath the Lemon Trees is a good, light holiday read with some more serious topics thrown in that add depth and interest. I enjoyed reading it. And I love Crete so I enjoyed this short 'visit' there.

Sure, the book has flaws. The focus on Stella's cuts and bruises was random and added nothing. The Greek locals' English was unrealistically good!

I think more could have been made of Stella's misguided focus on Jon and Jemima rather than her own family, I was expecting her to have a deep AHA moment on that score. But the overall message that grief does weird things to you was quite well conveyed.

Overall, I think that this is a novel that is sort of sitting on the fence between light holiday romance and more serious family drama. It could have veered more towards the drama, in my view, and thus earned a 4th star.

Still, it's a good read that I finished within about 24 hours; quite the page turner in the second half especially.

This was my first book by this author and I liked getting to know Stella and her story. Her son, Hector, drove me up the wall, but once I knew why he was the way he was, I had a lot more compassion. Stella has a lot of grief and has not been dealing with it, so it has had a negative effect on her and her family. I did not like the thread involving Jon, but did understand how things came about after losing his wife Harriet. It was a bit too intense for me. There were some dynamics I was not a fan of, but overall I liked the story. I loved learning a little about Greece and Crete and would love to visit one day!