This book intrigued me from the start. Being Greek, there were quite a few references that hit home for me, specifically in the food descriptions. I really enjoyed the premise of the story, the variety of characters presented and the setting.

I found this book to be quite short, and in turn, some of the characters seemed to be lacking the depth needed to feel truly connected to them. There were also a few moments where I felt the story get lost. The sex scene at the end I found to be unnecessary, especially after what Stella shared towards the beginning of the novel. I also feel like the ending showed a happy family directly after trauma and grief - which doesn’t really fit into a natural timeline.

Overall I enjoyed this quick read.

This book was filled with glorious descriptions, tackled difficult emotions and situations and had a whole realm of quirky, funny characters including a magical villa that chooses its own guests according to need. Fabulous.

Heartbroken after the loss of a friend and the collapse of her marriage, Stella hopes that this trip to the idyllic Greek island of Crete will give her and her family a chance to heal. And when she first steps into the breath-taking Villa Ariadne, with its views over the azure waters and intoxicating scent of lemons, Stella’s troubles seem to melt away.

Until the arrival of an old acquaintance, and an unwelcome revelation, threaten to undermine the peace at the villa, and Stella is forced to make a difficult decision. But with the help of Crete’s beautiful scenery and the kindness of its locals, Stella is about to discover that Villa Ariadne can still offer an escape… and so much more.

This book was okay for me. I wasn't particularly engaged with the story or the characters, but the imagery almost made up for it. That alone bumped it up a star for me. If you want to visit Cyprus, read this book and you'll feel like you're there!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

Following her marriage breakdown, and recovering from bereavement, Stella takes her family and friends to Crete. An enchanting villa, to heal wounds and rebuild relationships .Everything does not run smoothly with warnings from a clairvoyant. Well written, interesting story. Perfect summer reading.

In this book, Stella, recently separated from her husband and grieving the loss of her best friend to cancer, decides to take a two-week vacation with her children, her second-best friend, and her friend's children. The vacation, which should be an escape to paradise, is overshadowed by Stella's indecisiveness, inability to say no, and her tendency to be whiny and weak. Her poor decision-making brings an unwelcome houseguest, disrupting the trip further.

While the story offers an appealing escape vibe with vivid descriptions of scenery and village life, the plot is disjointed and lacks focus. The main character, Stella, is frustratingly fragile and inconsiderate, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. There is also a missed opportunity to explore the villa's “magic,” which could have added depth to the story. Overall, the book is an okay read with potential that wasn't fully realized.

I love to read books set in Greece and the Greek islands so this book immediately appealed to me. Whilst some of the descriptions of Crete were very good I wasn’t really drawn to the characters and didn’t really care very much what happened to them. An okay beach read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC

Stella has gone on holiday to Crete with her children and her friend Louise and her children following the break up of her marriage and death of her best friend Harriet. The break is to give Stella time to heal however it doesn’t appear to be the relaxing break she envisaged. Hector her son doesn’t seem to want to be with them, a lady from the village with ‘the gift’ giving warning messages and then Harriet’s Husband taking her up on the off the cuff offer to come out to holiday with them all lead to arguments and near disaster.
The scene setting was very good and with the description of the food as well I would happily go to Crete.
I however could not warm to Stella unfortunately, although she was understandably devastated about her friends death and appreciate this can lead to acting out of character, she was just too selfish and self absorbed to be likeable.
The spicy content at the end was also unexpected and not sure necessary as didn’t feel like it belonged really, actually made me cringe!
Sorry I could only give three stars as enjoyed learning more about Katelina and history of the villa and the scenery but couldn’t warm to the characters and was getting too annoyed with the main character for this to be a particularly relaxing read.
Thank you to Netgalley nd Boldwood books for an advance copy, opinions are completely my own.

Free courtesy of Netgalley

I started this book completely blind, as I didn't read the blurb beforehand so wasn't sure what to expect. I haven't read any of Emma's books before but this one has a good story and I did enjoy it.

The story follows Stella, who is taking her family and her friend Louise's family to a villa in Crete for a holiday, she is hoping to leave her life behind for a while, as it has all gone wrong since her best friend died. She has tried to deal with her grief, whilst trying to keep to her promise of looking after her friend Harriet's grieving husband and daughter. Jon doesn't really give Stella a break from the grief he is experiencing and after another emotional phone call, she invites him to join them in Crete.

It is an emotional rollercoaster for Stella when he arrives on the island and causes friction between her friend and her children.

The book was well written, and the story was good but not all the characters were believable and a few were just thrown in there but didn't add anything to the story. I love reading books about other countries, and if it is written well, I normally want to immediately get on a plane and visit there but unfortunately this book didn't really show me anything about the island they were staying on, just that there was no traffic and you had to walk everywhere.

It is still a good book to read and I would recommend it.

Liked the writing style - I could really picture the setting (especially the food - maybe a little too much??).
This could be on me - but wanted more self-discovery and instrospection from the characters. Felt a little shallow - and Stella just seemed like a horrible person - why was she friends with her? Also -main character had no backbone, no boundaries -

Overall - a decent summer read - especially if you want to visualize Crete.

🍋 This was my first Emma Burstall book. I enjoyed it. It was just a little more emotional & sad than I was expecting, so it took me a while to get into it. Sometimes I need to be geared up for what I'm reading & this one took me by surprise.

🍷 I felt for Stella & what she'd been through. I won't put spoilers here, but it was a very emotional time for her & I did understand her pain & how heartbroken she was, but there were certain times when I wanted her to stand up for herself & realise that she couldn't do things for everyone else & not for her or her family.

🍋 The descriptions & setting was beautiful. I felt like I got to know the Island & the walks & like I fell into step with the families & their outings to the shops or beaches.

🍷 It's definitely more of a gritty read, if you're looking for more drama & tough relationships & things that life can throw at you.

🍋 I enjoyed the ending as everything came together. I was glad Stella got her happy back & something for herself.

I received a free copy of, Beneath the Lemon Trees, by Emma Burstall, from Netgalley. Stella is hurt and starting to heal from the loss of a really good friend, and the ending of her marriage. Stella decides to take a trip to Greece, Corfu, to reset and to recharge. This book was a cute story of how we are sometimes need to escape reality and spend it in a beautiful country. As a therapist I know how important nature and beauty can be in the healing and therapeutic process.

A contemporary women's fiction novel that blends elements of romance, personal growth, and travel literature. Set against the stunning backdrop of Crete, Greece, the story follows Stella, a woman seeking healing and renewal after experiencing significant personal losses.

The author skillfully uses the picturesque setting of Crete to create an immersive atmosphere. The vivid descriptions of Villa Ariadne, with its views of azure waters and scent of lemons, effectively transport the reader to this idyllic location. This attention to sensory detail likely enhances the reading experience, making the setting almost a character in itself.

The novel touches on themes of grief, healing, and second chances. Stella's journey from heartbreak to potential new beginnings is a relatable and engaging narrative arc. The introduction of an old acquaintance and an unexpected revelation adds complexity to the plot, creating tension and driving character development.

The story seems to balance personal drama with the charm of Greek island life. The mention of Crete's scenery and the kindness of locals suggests that the novel explores the transformative power of travel and new environments on one's perspective and emotional state.

The book appears to be more than just a light beach read, delving into deeper emotional territories as Stella grapples with difficult decisions and the possibility of opening herself up to love again. This depth likely provides a satisfying emotional journey for readers.

Overall, the novel seems to offer a compelling blend of escapism and introspection. It's likely to appeal to readers who enjoy stories of personal reinvention, those who appreciate vivid travel settings, and anyone looking for an emotionally resonant summer read.

The novel promises a journey of self-discovery and healing, all set against the enchanting backdrop of a Greek island, making it an ideal choice for readers seeking both emotional depth and a vicarious Mediterranean getaway.

My first thought after finishing this book was, "When can I book a trip to Crete?" The writing was so descriptive I actually felt like I was there {I mean, not really, but I certainly enjoyed all the beautiful descriptions!} The characters were not my favorite {looking at you, Stella!}

Overall, an easy, enjoyable read for the beach!

Great beach read. Beautiful scenery and the food was so descriptive. I could almost feel the confession on the wine glasses. Perfect!
Stella is consumed with grief for her best friend Harriet and is really struggling to get past her survivor guilt of being alive. She promised her friend she would look after her husband and daughter but she’s struggling to juggle that, her own family and her business too and grieve. She splits with her husband and goes on holiday with another friend. The house and it’s mysterious owner bewitches her and life begins to unravel even more. Along with new friends will re house help her heal?
Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

This was a quick read and a beautiful trip through Crete. I really enjoyed the setting and I loved the mystery of the villa and the village characters. Stella herself was difficult for me to empathize with and I struggled a bit with the characters and the plot. The consistent picking of scabs felt forced (like it was supposed to be an allusion to something, but I wasn't sure what?). Stella seemed very blind to the fact that the situation she was in was of her own making, and her constant need to take care of her best friend's husband (at the expense of other relationships) seemed over the top.

Stella has recently lost her best friend due to an awful illness and subsequently her marriage has also broken down. She decides that a foreign holiday is long overdue with another good friend as well as their children. Stella is fortunate that the magical Villa Ariadne in Greece is available for their chosen dates and quickly makes a booking as she feels it is just the right fit for her current situation.

Things start to go downhill when Stella’s son’s attitude doesn’t pick up any when they land in Greece and his mood has a negative effect on everyone else. The atmosphere declines further when Stella’s late friend’s widower arrives. The holiday continues to deteriorate and some very bad decisions are made. This doesn’t seem to be the perfect holiday that Stella had planned.

To be honest, I didn’t really like the main protagonist, Stella. I couldn’t work out why she insisted her grown up son go on holiday although he clearly didn’t want to be there and was spoiling it for everyone else. Nor could I understand why for some reason Stella seemed to think it was ok to invite her late friend’s husband, without mentioning it to anyone else in the villa beforehand. The descriptions of the villa, town, scenery, etc were brilliant and very easy to see in the mind’s eye. I have loved most of these authors other books and wouldn’t hesitate to pick up her work again.

I enjoyed the description of the Villa, surrounding views, local people and the food but a little lost at times with the storyline.

Stella and her friend Louise take their children for an idyllic 2 weeks in beautiful Crete to rest, recharge and have some fun. after separating from her husband Al and wanting to re connect with her children.

Things haven't gone to plan and it seems their prefect holiday isn't going to be perfect after all!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book and review.

I was attracted to the description of this book and the cover. Its summertime and I love Greece so it seemed like a great choice.
I loved the descriptions of Greece, the villa, the scenery, the food. I loved the quirky locals.

The book was an easy read. I liked some of the characters. I found the protagonist, Stella, to be annoying. Her attitude and choices were inexplicable. She treats her husband appallingly. Whilst I enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of the location, I felt nothing for the characters.

This is a light reading that doesn’t feel too obligating, which is a perfect read to take on a relaxing and lazy vacation. With the beautiful illustration and colours of the cover, this would make a book that people may pick up at the airport or a bookshop at a tourist spot.

Beneath the Lemon Tree tells the story of Stella who tried to escape to a Greek island, Crete with her best friend, Louise and their children after the death of her childhood and the separation from her husband. The lemon tree was briefly mentioned but I guess was not the centre of the plot?

Her elaborative writing was a struggle to keep me on focus, and took a while for me to get used to. But I guess that is her style, it could make your mind wandering, or it could make you feel like you were in the scene.

First of all I was attracted by the beautiful summery cover and the Cretian setting. It wasn’t exactly the light hearted summer book I was expecting but the gorgeous description of Crete and a story of love and loss and difficult relationships more than made up for that. Beautiful!