This book started off well for me, it had a feel of a Victoria Hislop story however by halfway through I got bored of the quick flitting between a few different storylines and found it difficult to keep up with what was happening. For me the parts were too short and I simply lost interest. Where I was intrigued I just got a bit bored. I think if it had been set out differently and more time was given in between moving from storyline to storyline I would have enjoyed it more.

An good story for anyone who loves books about the relationships and dynamics within families.

Much darker than you would expect, and a really interesting historical context around the Cyprus civil war, which I didn’t really know much about!

It’s not an easy read, the structure is a little bit all over the place, but still worth finishing I thought!

This was so disjointed that the only reason it has two stars is because I managed to finish it.

The description of the bakery certainly does create a real feel and left me feeling hungry.

But overall I just could not relate to the characters or the story.

This book takes two families and looks at how they are affected by the civil war in Cyprus, and subsequent emigration to the UK. It also talks a lot about Cypriot baking - don't read it on an empty stomach! The stories of the families touch against each other at times, in a way that seems entirely appropriate given that Cyprus is a relatively small island.

Nobody is unscarred by events on Cyprus. The book features domestic violence, mental illness, and downright sadness. It is about rebuilding life after despair, and baking features as a link between worlds.

It was an absorbing read. Thank you, Netgalley, for letting me read it.

I have really struggled with this book and it has taken a number of months to work through. I just didn't gel with the characters and felt it jumped around quite a lot. Perhaps my frame of mind jut wasn't there!

Throughly enjoyed this book even if it took a while to get into. The struggles of Mrs Petrakis as she leaves Cyprus to start a bakery in London. Slightly confusing with the back and forth to several different time zones, but ok when got into it. A subject I’ve not read much about

This book is set in Cyprus and London and flits between two characters and there families and two time lines. Once you get used to this style of writing I thoroughly enjoyed this new to me author. It is full of love and I trigue but also murder and mental illness. The writing style is very descriptive and you can almost imagine yourself in the bakery setting. I would definitely recommend this novel
Thanks to#NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review

This is a book about the trials and tribulations of Maria Petrakis along with her daughter in law Elena. Set in Cyprus and London it is very descriptive about the lives of these women and their families and neighbours, disrupted by the civil war in the 1970s.

The timeline does move backwards and forwards a great deal, not just 'past' and 'present' for both women but at various points in their lives in both countries and not in any chronological order. You really need to note the date at the start of the chapters to understand where you are.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

A novel about two Cypriot familes and two countries, England and Cyprus spanning a period of years around the time of the partition of Cyprus. The storyline includes mental illness, civil war, abuse and murder but also includes love, desire, friendship, family and beautiful descriptions of cakes and pastries. A sad book but also one of hope.

I was drawn to this book by the concept and the references to Cypriot history, notably the 1974 war. Maria Petrakis is a Greek Cypriot woman who escapes domestic violence and a country in the grip of a civil war to open a bakery in Green Lanes, London. The imagined smell and taste of the baked delicacies (there is a useful glossary at the end of the book) literally made my mouth water.
Initially, I enjoyed the descriptions of the setting and how Maria wished to see her son, Costa settled and married to a Greek girl. When a young girl, Elena, comes into the shop, Maria is drawn to her, perhaps recognising something within Elena and is keen for her to meet Costa.
However, as the book progressed I found the constantly changing timelines somewhat confusing. Although the characters are well drawn, I was irritated by the abundance of detail regarding the numerous secondary characters and I felt this didn’t really progress the narrative. The book is heart breaking in places and features some difficult issues. I felt enormous sympathy for the characters involved. All the women in this book have their own story to tell and it is clear that their strengths and weaknesses have been shaped by their past, often traumatic, experiences.
Whilst not quite for me, I’m sure many people will enjoy this book and I would like to thank the publisher, John Murray Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The story of a woman who created a new life in another country, sacrifices and hard work, loss and loneliness all endured to make that transition. Important historical facts about the division in Cyprus and the culture it tore apart. fascinating reading about being there during the war, a piece of history that needs to be told. The story goes back and forth from London to Cyprus and you can see why family is the most important thing. Very descriptive and conjures up the scenarios in the bakery so well I could almost smell the pastries. Lovely story brought to life. Thank you #NetGalley for the copy to review.

This book was interesting in parts but for me just the different timelines meant it did not flow as well as it should have.Set between London and Cyprus the story covers a lot of interesting subjects including post natal depression, domestic violence and also loss.Maria Patrakis runs a bakery with her son Costa ,set in the heart of the Greek Cypriot community in London and she sets about finding him a wife and when Elena walks into the shop one day she thinks she could be the one .The cakes and pastries Maria made sounded amazing and could almost smell them ,was very realistic and I think this would appeal to many readers but was not one of my favourite books

This was a compelling read, and Maria Petrakis a wonderful character. The story moves between London and Cyprus, and forward and back in time. Rich layers of history are revealed and we come to understand just how difficult Maria's life in Cyprus was. A violent and cruel husband and a tragic loss lead to her eventual eacape to London with her beloved son Costa. Here she opens a bakery selling gorgeous breads and traditional Greek Cypriot delicacies. And in the act of baking, and providing a taste of home, Maria is saved. Can the bakery work its magic for her daughter in law, Elena, also a woman haunted by loss and guilt.

Wonderfully evocative, rich with detail and a beautiful story.

Oh how I wish I could visit Mrs Petrakis shop for some tasty Greek pastries soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the chat.

This wonderful read tells the story of Mrs Petrakis, her bakery, her family and those who visit her shop.

Based both on Cyprus and London it tells the back story of Maria Petrakis, her life in Cyprus, her move to London and the life she builds for herself after she buys her bakery and makes her dream come true.

This book is beautifully written, some of the content is upsetting as Maria fled an abusive marriage and her daughter in law struggled with her mental health. The characters are so vivid and Ms Karras tells the story so well.

I throughly enjoyed this book and recommend it.

A lovely story, I was initially a little confused by the jumping between different time periods. In the end, though, this turned out to be a fascinating story, interweaving Cypriot history with the story of intertwined families, love and loss, all centered round a Cypriot bakery in North London.
Mary Karras does a great job of conveying the sights and tastes of Cyprus as she tells the story of Maria Patrakis and her daughter-in-law Elena, how they each make their way to London. The book looks at motherhood, all different types of mothers, and the challenges of mental illness, but all through the medium of a story that draws you on. Well worth a read.

I was sent a copy of The Making of Mrs Petrakis by Mary Karras to read and review by NetGalley. This novel had a great premise with the story weaving between Cyprus and London, following the lives of the titular Mrs Petrakis and the secondary protagonist, her daughter-in-law Elena and their respective families and friends. There is a good deal of observation of food throughout the book and you get a reasonable sense of place with the bakery being at the very heart of the story. Unfortunately, the novel didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I found the jumble of dates throughout the novel slightly confusing and at times the reader isn’t immediately made aware of who a particular section relates to. There was quite a lot of unnecessary repetition and I didn’t feel that there was enough depth to the writing itself. I personally feel that this novel would have benefitted from another couple of drafts and a substantial amount of culling, for me at least in the present form it was rather too long.

This was a very sad novel set in Cyprus just before the civil war in the 1970s and in London during the 1980s. It tells the story of the life of Mighty Maria Petrakis and her wonderful bakery in London's Green Lanes, Greek Cypriot community. The descriptions of all the wonderful pastries make you want to try them and you can almost smell the rose water and cinnamon. Maria a strong independent figure has a tragic history that helps her empathise with her many customers.
Elena a young woman who is sent to London during the civil war to escape the violence wanders into Maria's bakery and the two women's lives become entwined.
The novel deals really well with the feeling of longing for your culture in anther country, the terror of being displaced during war, mental illness and repressed trauma. It was really interesting and sometimes a little confusing as it moved through the time lines but I think that added to the feeling of confusion and anxiety felt by Elena. The role of women in these societies was interesting highlighting the limited choices women had in this period and how misunderstood mental illness is. It was a heavy read at times due to the subject matter but I did enjoy it.

Beautifully written a story of Cypriot women who move to London.There are happy and sad moments there is baking the characters come alive.A book I willl be recommending.#netgalley #johnmurraybooks

This is a book about the trials and tribulations of Maria Petrakis along with her daughter in law Elena. Set in Cyprus and London it is very descriptive about the lives of these women and their families and neighbours, disrupted by the civil war in the 1970's.
The author describes the lives and feelings of the women beautifully, you could really feel the heat in Cyprus and the bustle of the bakery in London. There are many greek terms used which add to the atmosphere and a glossary is provided at the end of the book although you can generally get an understanding through context and it adds to the reader's appreciation of the culture.
The timeline does move backward and forwards a great deal, not just 'past' and 'present' for both women but at various points in their lives in both countries and not in any chronological order . You really need to note the date at the start of the chapters to understand where you are, unfortunately this impedes the flow of the book.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy for my honest review.

I didn’t know what I was expecting when I began this book, but I grew to know the characters and see how life had made them who they became. It is the story of Mrs Petrakis, her life in the small bakery that she had created, and the life she had left behind in Cyprus. It also follows the life of her daughter-in-law Elena and her struggles with post-natal depression.

Mrs Petrakis is a proud woman who loves her bakery shop. There are no shortcuts for more profit her reputation is worth so much more. She has a son Costas, who she was determined would marry a good Cypriot girl. Set in the 1970s onwards, war with the Greeks was just around the corner. Maria Petrakis was a good and hard-working woman, but until she married, she had no idea of the brute her husband was. It was Maria, that was made to feel ashamed.

The story jumps back and forth between timelines and the lives of Maria and Elena as the horrors take over the pages of the man Maria has married. The story deals with so many issues, from domestic violence and post-natal depression, to a tragic death. Very heartbreaking, it made me cry. I liked Costas, such a gentle man that tried to do his best in difficult times. He loved his family very much.

It is a story of so many tragedies and joy. The making of Mrs Petrakis is beautifully written. A woman that even her family didn’t know everything about.

I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.