Mima Tipper introduces readers to a 15-year-old high school athlete who aspires to be a great cross-country runner as a member of her school's track team. Kat, the main character of Kat's Greek Summer initially believes that she has her entire summer planned out-- she will practice running every single day along with her friends who will also be running and performing for the team. As it happens, Mike Dougherty, Kat's high school crush, will also be running with the members of the track team. However, Kat's mother quickly deposits a surprise announcement upon Kat and her younger brother-- their mother will be pulling them both away from their home in the United States and traveling with them to her native hometown of Paralia, Greece. Kat has not been in Greece since she was about 6 years of age. Of course, it is never revealed to Tipper's readers what their mother's motivation is aside from the fact that she wants to see her mother and family again.

Kat and her brother are members of a one-parent household. Kat explains in the beginning that when her parents were still together, they lived in a much larger house and following their divorce they relocated to one that Kat barely finds acceptable. When Kat attempts to reach out to her father about choosing to spend the summer with him and his new family, he makes it clear that their top priority is focusing on each other which leaves Kat as an innocent outsider. Kat's brother is at such a young and impressionable age that he simply agrees to go along with whatever situation is presented to him.

Tipper writes eloquently about characters who travel from the United States to Greece. Her descriptions of the natural beauty of the landscape and the Aegean Sea are captivating. However, the beauty and allure of Greece basically are limited to that. when writing character profiles, the Greek natives are limited and rather judgmental. Of course, Kat does go against accepted social norms by running out in near-public conditions with barely any clothing on. Being that Kat is a 15-year-old girl and a minor who has not even begun high school, tipper places the reader in a rather awkward situation of taking on a parental role to a girl who seems ambitious yet repeatedly steps into risky and socially impudent situations. There are scenes which seem too volatile when reading about any character who is described as a minor. One might inevitably begin to wonder if the description of Kat being a 15-year-old rather is a loose comparison of innocent and impressionable women of any age who may inadvertently enter compromising situations. Either way, these passages are difficult to read out of mere civility and courteousness.

Christian readers or readers of Christian faith will undoubtedly be offended and affronted by descriptions of Greek deities or false godlike beings. Traditional readers will simply skim over these sections after dismissing the passages as merely verbal musings from the author. the main character, Kat, will not be found to make the best decisions through the trajectory of this novel.

While Kat's Greek Summer is quite well written, there are simply too many awkward passages and descriptions. this is not an easy book to read nor is it unobjectionable. There were instances when I adamantly did not want to continue reading. I even stared at the screen on NetGalley indicating "I will not be giving feedback for this book." However, ultimately, I decided to continue reading in order to finish and find out what becomes of the characters.

This book was an overall delicious read. Visiting a small town without certain conveniences of contemporary life, such as an internet connection, can be therapeutic for some people yet seriously vexing for others. Yet the prose does a lot to temper one's traveling woes. It colors the setting with the sunlight that can perhaps only be seen in this part of the world, like the Aegean blue that so enchants our protagonist. For all of Kat's dissatisfaction with this simpler lifestyle, she can't help loving the place and the people there who welcome her like someone who hadn't been home in so long. As a city-dwelling reader who has only seen Greek islands in photos and videos, I was easily immersed in the setting myself.

Given the overall light tone of the writing, I was surprised by the strong undercurrent of sexuality here, or rather, by the ever present threat of sexual violence. It's there from the beginning with the drive-by catcalling directed to Kat in the very first few pages, which in hindsight could have been a strong enough clue for me about an important theme in this book — that Kat as a teenage girl would time and again face unwelcome sexualization by male characters.

Like real life harrassers do, these characters see her simply living her life as a runner as a way to project their power fantasies onto her. Unfortunately, their behavior gains another dimension when Kat interacts with older Greek boys who treat her as "a 'fast' American girl" and not just as a girl they can "joke around" with. Kat is not specifically targeted for her "American-ness" (or at least how "American-ness" is stereotyped as sexual promiscuity), but she's certainly more vulnerable without the linguistic skills and cultural knowledge to help her navigate her surroundings better. To be honest, I was afraid that the love interest Theofilus might similarly take advantage of her (some myths about Artemis demonstrate a reasonable cynicism towards men, after all) but he fortunately proves to be an upstanding young man (Extremely lucky for Kat! There's something to be said about her recklessness, but I guess that's natural for a teenager with training plans that have been getting frustrated by this sudden trip to Greece). Kat is as much to blame for her lacking Greek skills as much as she is to blame for the negative attention she gets from boys. That is, not at all.

That last point doesn't go unexplored. We see Kat predictably struggle with the language barrier and make genuine attempts to connect with people in spite of it. We also do find out the reason for Kat's disconnect from her Greek heritage, though this revelation comes perhaps a tad late in the story. Her struggles to fit in in Paralia turn out to be dominoes in a line that goes back to her mother's own feelings as a Greek girl born and raised.

I would have liked to see Kat and Maria bond some more, so that the closing mother-daughter(-community) image would've been even stronger. One or two conversations between them that are integral to that emotional subplot sadly happen off the page, favoring the more fleeting (even fragile) moments of happiness over deeper understanding. I did like that Kat's integration was facilitated by her relatives in Paralia, although a better balance between her (admittedly magical) moments with Theofilus and with her mother plus her younger brother James too, could've been struck. I figured she'd lean on Maria and James some more when questions about "Greek-ness" stumped her, as they are her bridge between New Canaan and Paralia.

Again, this was an enjoyable book, and I think I would've enjoyed it even more if I were part of the target age group. Kat is a likeable character, and the story has a lot of adventure and learning opportunities to keep me hooked. As an adult of child-rearing age, however, there's also a lot of anxiety fuel, again because of the existing risks exacerbated by Kat's stubbornness. Her propensity for indulging in romantic daydreams complicates things further. I might say that Kat reminds me a little of myself, which is why I wished for a way for her to have her taste of freedom while staying safe. But ultimately this is a YA book, so more adult anxieties don't turn into full-blown horror stories. Kat is a kaló korítsi at her core, who earns her happy ending with a combination of guts and loving support, and there's nothing to complain about that.

Thank you to NetGalley and to SparkPress for the eARC!

Imagine being surprised with a summer vacation - a whole summer in Greece!

Now, imagine being a teenager who wants to be home for the summer.

That's the main conflict in the story.

As expected, Kat learns to love Greece, and also becomes more prepared to be herself in the new school year. What she imagines will be a boring experience becomes fun and worthwhile. And, of course, an interesting love interest helps.

The best thing about this story? Kat is a runner! I love runner-focused plots (and there aren't nearly enough). Training for cross-country is a big deal.

"She ran on, her brain clearing and her body humming. Everything faded except the road under her pounding shoes and the twinkling of a couple of tiny lights marking Paralia ahead. She couldn't stop now. Losing that need to keep running - even for a second - hurt, a physical pain. She wouldn't be one of those girls who gave up plans."

"Her running. That was still safe. Still hers."

Kat is about to start high school and has just moved to a new town after her parents got divorced. As if these were not life-changing events at all, Kat is surprised by her mother's plan for them to go to her home village in Greece to visit her family for the entire summer, derailing the girl's plan to train with her new school's cross-country team.

From the book description and some random reviews I looked at before deciding to read this, I gathered that this would be a simple, almost middle-grade story about the importance of reconnecting with one's roots, family, and culture, despite initial reluctance, because that's where growth and self-discovery take place. Only maybe with some first love motifs to make it more YA than middle grade.

But I should say that this story of discovering cultural diversity is much more disturbing than that. Because it turns out that cultural differences are not just about ✨embracing diversity✨ and fun local customs and delicious cuisine. It can also mean that something that's perfectly normal in one place is frowned upon as indecent behavior in another - to the point where a person labeled as engaging in such "indecent behavior" is no longer physically safe. And what's worse, the person, who is objectively culturally alien and could not have known better, is simply scolded for not being a "good Greek girl" instead of being informed about how the expectations of a more patriarchal rural culture are creating an unsafe space for her. Okay, I should spell that out, because it doesn't happen that far into the plot, so it can't be considered a huge spoiler: Kat goes running around the village, which is already weird for a girl by the standards of Greek rural culture, according to the book, but she also does it in running clothes that are totally appropriate by American standards, but she gets dirty looks from the local men and is stalked and then almost assaulted [*] because the rural boys combine these observations with "knowledge" from pop culture that American girls are available. These kinds of disturbing aspects of cross-cultural encounters. Unfortunately, as a woman, you don't have to actually be in a "foreign place" to be harassed, but here the creeps are especially at ease because the girl is thrown into a context where she lacks linguistic and cultural codes by someone she had reasons to trust the most. And I think this is an important theme that Mima Tipper is trying to explore here, but I am also not sure that she is putting all the right accents for the actual YA audience while exploring it. For one thing, I would like to see more validation of the protagonist's anger at being put in this situation, for the sake of those readers who might find it relatable.

[*] nothing graphical happens, so that's YA-appropriate

Another thing I was not sure about, in terms of the message to the reader, was the portrayal of Kat falling in love. It's a genre romance, I get it, but twice in the novel she falls in love with someone she sees for the first time in her life, to the point of obsession and willingness to change her entire life's routine just because of their looks? That it literally happens twice to her might suggest an ironic commentary on the idea. But I am not sure that 14-year-old girls need more literary role models like this. I remember, when I was about that age, being bothered by the fact that this was not what happened to me naturally, and trying to model my experiences on such portrayals. So maybe more critical engagement would be good here as well.

But this is clearly and interesting and thought-provoking piece, even for someone who is obviously not anymore 14.

Thanks to the publisher, SparkPress, for providing me with a free eARC through NetGalley. The opinion above is my own.

Publication date May 13, 2025.

"Kat's Greek Summer" by Mima Tipper is a delightful young adult novel that explores themes of self-discovery, cultural identity, and first love. The story follows Kat Baker, a teenager whose meticulously planned summer of training for her high school's cross-country team takes an unexpected turn when her mother announces a family trip to their ancestral village in Greece. This sudden change sets the stage for a transformative journey as Kat navigates the challenges of adapting to a new culture, maintaining her athletic ambitions, and exploring budding romantic feelings.​

This narrative's focus on teenage experiences and emotions quickly highlighted its relevance to that age group. The story captures the complexities of adolescence, making it particularly resonant for junior high and high school readers. Its length and engaging prose also make it an accessible and enjoyable read for college students seeking a light yet meaningful story.​

Tipper's vivid descriptions transport readers to the sun-drenched landscapes of Greece, immersing them in the sights, sounds, and flavors of the village of Paralia. This rich setting serves as a vibrant backdrop to Kat's internal and external conflicts, enhancing the depth of her journey. The novel adeptly balances themes of familial expectations, personal aspirations, and the universal quest for belonging, all while weaving in a sweet and genuine romantic subplot.​

In summary, "Kat's Greek Summer" is a heartwarming and insightful read that beautifully encapsulates the teenage experience. Its engaging narrative and relatable themes make it a compelling choice for young readers and those young at heart. A great summer read for YA readers, for sure!

Mima Tipper’s debut novel, Kat’s Greek Summer, is a contemporary YA story that blends self-discovery, family heritage, and first love in a sun-soaked Greek setting.

The story follows Kat Baker, a determined young runner whose plans for a breakout freshman year are upended when her family unexpectedly spends the summer in a rural Greek village. Struggling to balance her training with cultural immersion, Kat secretly continues her workouts, leading to late-night encounters with Theofilus, a local boy. As her secrets pile up, so do the consequences, ultimately forcing Kat to confront her identity and sense of belonging.

Tipper’s writing effectively captures the vibrancy of Greece, from the warmth of the village community to the stifling summer heat. Kat’s internal struggles feel authentic, and her journey toward self-acceptance is both relatable and heartfelt. While the romance adds charm, it remains secondary to Kat’s personal growth. Some plot elements, such as the mounting conflicts from her secrecy, may feel predictable, but the novel’s overall message about embracing one’s heritage and individuality remains compelling.

Overall, Kat’s Greek Summer is an enjoyable read for fans of coming-of-age stories with strong cultural themes. Readers who appreciate Jenna Evans Welch’s travel-infused YA novels will likely find this a satisfying summer escape.