For me, this veered slighly away from what I usually relate to Diamond's novels but it was still a very enjoyable read,

If you want a good chick lit always reach for a Lucy Diamond book

This novel is certainly no different

Loved it

Thanks for the opportunity to review

Lucy Diamond always creates a realistic and beautiful setting of a holiday getaway in all the books she writes, and this book was no exception. This is a story of the people who work and the people that come to stay in the Iconian Escape hotel.
At first, I found it slightly different to her normal read and trouble to connect with the story. But as I went into deeper into this, I found it to be an emotional and heartwarming story, about relationships, grief, and finding loving again. The characters so endearing, especially Evelyn who was trying to complete the last wishes of her late wife. This is a great read 4 stars from me.

The Ionic Getaway is a hotel in Kephalonia, a Greek island. Several stories intertwine between guests and staff about relationships told by each in turn. . Loved the feel of the island, the activitities and the characters were believable and described well .
I gobbled this up in a couple of days..Just right for curling up on the sofa by the fire.

I’m a great fan of Lucy Diamond so I was looking forward to reading this. Set in beautiful Kefalonia which provides a wonderful backdrop for the story. The three main characters are women of different ages and life experiences and their backstories are central to the to the story. The other hotel guests and staff are great supporting characters who add a great deal of depth and interest. I thoroughly enjoyed this and highly recommend it. .

I’ve read and enjoyed other books by this author and wasn’t disappointed with The Island Getaway! An engaging story, in a beautiful setting with complex, rounded characters that I rooted for. I really enjoyed all the characters stories in this novel and would highly recommend.

Beautifully written with a stunning setting and colorful cast of characters possibly my favorite yet. The myriad story lines are so cleverly interlinked and captivate the reader and keep the pages turning. Possibly my favorite of her books so far and one that keeps on giving long after the last word is read. Highly recommend.

This beautifully written novel takes readers on a captivating journey to a picturesque Greek island, where three women, each seeking an escape from their lives, find solace and transformation. The vivid and accurate descriptions of the island immerse you in the Greek atmosphere, making it feel as though you’re basking in the sun alongside the characters. The intertwining of their individual stories is skillfully crafted, seamlessly blending their journeys into a cohesive and satisfying narrative. The novel’s conclusion ties everything together in a way that feels both natural and rewarding. A perfect escape read with depth and heart!

I have always really enjoyed Lucy’s books and was very excited to read The island getaway, the thought of being transported to wonderfully warm and sunny Kefalonia was so tantalising as I was sat here listening to storm Darragh raging around!
Such a beautiful setting and fantastic sounding Ionian escape hotel gave all the perfect holiday/beach vibes!
Initially I struggled to get into the book and acquainted with the myriad of characters, but as I progressed through the book and became familiar with the eclectic mix of personalities and their back stories I found myself enjoying the read, I particularly loved Nelly,Evelyn and Miranda and loved the way they became linked during there stay at the hotel and all the other characters who added such a depth to the storyline and the overall sense of friendship, making up and second chances!
A lovely book to pack for your next sunny holiday destination
Thank you NetGalley fir this early read

Absolutely amazing. I love the different character storylines and how they all interlink at one point or another. Could definitely read this again.

Thank you Lucy Diamond, Quercus Books and Netgalley for the ARC

Some wonderful characters find themselves at ‘The Ionian Escape’ hotel in Kefalonia.
They all have a story to tell and different reasons for being at the hotel. Some are workers there, some holiday makers and some are escaping from their normal lives.
Each chapter gives a clearer insight into a character by describing their background and dropping clues as to their reason for their stay.
The staff become people with names and a background, not just a receptionist or bartender.
Some rather beautiful stories emerge, some uplifting, some upsetting. But all well written and difficult for the reader not to become involved in the stories.

I started reading this having just returned from Greece – and it was wonderful to escape back to the sunshine! There’s a mix of characters all with back stories and all of whom are really different and written beautifully. I imagined Miranda to look exactly like Hannah Waddingham for some reason, whilst Evelyn was pure Iris Apfel!

The stories all intertwine – with flashbacks to the 1980s that you realise must be connected – but it takes a while to unravel the connections.

It covers a huge cross section of topics – from first love, sibling rivalry, later life relationships, coercive control – but all wrapped up in a stunning location.

It was a beautiful escapist read – which made me smile and cry!

A big thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for my ARC – I’d recommend pre ordering for a sunshine escape in the depths of January gloom.

I love this author and feel like I have grown up with them as have read all of their books since the very beginning.

This was an uplifting heartwarming read although certain aspects were quite sad and heartbreaking. I loved the characters and how each of them had their own story. And each chapter was dedicated to a different character.

Loved the descriptions of the setting which made you want to get on a plane and jet off in search of sunnier climes.

This was a poignant beautiful read

This was a really nice escapist book which I very much enjoyed. It's heartfelt and in places a bit of a tearjerker, and it's a fantastic beach read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for this ARC.

The Ionian Escape Hotel in sunny Kefalonia, Greece, welcomes new guests: disgraced actress Miranda Vallance, here to hide, and 82 year old terminally ill Evelyn Chambers, here to scatter the ashes of her dead wife. There is also Leonora Neale who we discover is the Nelly from Nelly's 1983 diary, where Nelly decided to stay in Kefalonia to work on a boat, until heartache forced her to return to the UK. Now she is back with her husband Frank, a celebrity chef who is rumoured to have behaved inappropriately with some female assistants which seems to be an ever so familiar tale right now.

This would be enough on its own but there are chapters dedicated to the receptionist, the office manager, the boss, the bartender and the cleaner, who doesn't even get a name. This is in theory a nice idea but it slows the story down too much and bogs it down with unnecessary side stories that add nothing too interesting.

This is a nice escapist and predictable read about second chances in a gorgeous setting with great landscape and food descriptions. I just wish it had kept to the main protagonists.

3.5 stars

Another book that I am not sure what to think about to be honest. I mean, it was a lovely and multilayered story, thought over and a step away from Lucy Diamond's previous books - it felt a bit serious in tone, more mature than usual.
On the other hand, there were many, many characters thrown together in - yes - very beautiful setting. But so many that I truly had problems to check whose turn it is and who is telling the story now.
I think my problem is that it was so brilliant happy end for all of the characters that it felt just too unrealistic. Also, all the "bad" characters and "good" characters, either stereotyped or - of course! - learning their lesson. It's just, there was nothing new in this story and some of the coincidences were too much over the top, just to keep the plot going.
But - after initial confusion and some problems into getting into it, it turned out to be a lovely story. The characters were growing on me with every page and even though their stories really felt too superficial and easy, I found myself engrossed in their lives. There are some emotional moments as well, actually I'd say more than usual and it is thought - provoking. Altogether - an enjoyable read.

This is a great read! It's full of different stories that all intertwine at the hotel 'The Ionian Escape' in really interesting ways. Every smaller story is engaging and the characters are well developed. I quickly got to a point where I couldn't put the book down as I needed to know what was going to happen to each character next.

There are some quite hefty themes dealt with in here; death, loss, abuse and others but they're dealt with organically through the characters and each story is ultimately quite uplifting. It's not a taxing read but it is a very enjoyable one. If you're a fan of Lucy Diamond, this is very much written in her usual style.

This is lovely, uplifting book, full of vividly portrayed characters in beautiful Kefalonia.
Simply, a delight to read. I enjoyed this book from page one.

I always enjoy this author and this book is no exception. Set in the beautiful Greek island of Kefalonia you really feel you are there. Lots of characters each with a story to tell and you do get invested in them all. An easy feel good read for a dark winters day.

Set in a hotel on Kefalonia, this book is told from the point of view of some of the guests and staff. Mostly in the present day, there are also flashbacks to previous times which adds to the stories of some of the individuals. I found the book a little chaotic at first, there are a lot of people and some of them are quick to anger, but as the plot starts to come together, I became more engaged with the book and started to like the characters more. A lot happens in the book and some of the coincidences stretch credibility a little too much, but as the stories of the main characters develop, the plot hooks you in. Kefalonia and Ithaca lovely, but beyond a couple of descriptions and naming of a couple of the touristy places, they are little more than the backdrop.
So, this book turned out much better than I initially expected,quite emotional but also thoughtprovoking. For an escapist read, you could do a lot worse .Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC