Member Reviews
I line Rebecca Raisin, this is another example of her writing style. She's a one click author for me and this book is no exception. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.
Not my usual read but this is such a feel good book that ot held my interest from the beginning. It's a great feel good novel. I only wish there was a bookshop like this where I live as I'd never be away. Great read.
Evie has lost her job. She heads to Santorini to help out her gran, Floretta, in her bookshop, while she searches for her dream job, which is to find hidden gems in the romance genre and turn them into movies.
Being a bookshop based book it's full on with bookish talk. They come up with great ideas to drum up business. It’s very predictable, but that’s perfectly fine because I’d probably be mad if it turned out any other way. Slow moving, too, but such is island life, I suppose. Speaking of the island, sounds like quite a lovely place to be.
Regarding the fake dating with Georgios ~ I wasn't a super big fan of it with this one. I can't say too much because I don't want to give anything away, but I was not a fan of Evie's reaction at the end. At times, too, she was a little much and comes off immature. I can't say I was feeling their chemistry, but on paper they seem perfect for each other.
There's a nice lot of side characters, except one, there's always gotta be one that makes you mad. Gran is awesome and I absolutely loved their relationship. Makes me miss my Gram, who I called Germ (grrr, not with the jer sound), but she hated it because of the spelling 🤣. She's a little crazy with being married 9 times and all, and she's quite the story teller. Gran, not my Gram. Roxy was an absolute delight, as well, and I hope she gets her own love story. And who wouldn't love 6 rescue dogs that steal wallets, pee all over the place and toot like it's a mustang starting up?
Overall, I think this will definitely appeal to those that enjoy a summery bookshopy type of read....so perfectly titled it seems.
Summer at the Santorini Bookshop is a lovely summer read. Evie has just lost her job with a publishing company, and is at loose ends when she finds out that her grandmother is now the owner of a bookshop in Santorini. Evie jumps at the chance to visit her grandmother and work with her, but tells her mother that she will go and see what she is up to, so her mother doesn't go. Gran has had several husbands, and spent a lot of money lately, so everyone is worried about her. Evie arrives to find Gran in a feud with her landlord, her new husband off working out of the country, and Gran very much in debt. In order to keep her landlord at bay, Gran asks Evie to fake interest in her landlord's grandson, Georgios. It isn't what she wants to do, but Georgios is gorgeous so it makes it easier. They do hit it off and share confidences with one another, gradually turning the fake relationship into a real one, at least that is what it appears to be. Will Evie help save the bookshop? Will Georgios and Evie find love with one another?
This was a wonderful story. I liked all the characters, even Evie's mom, although she is a meddling, cautious and at times obnoxious mother/daughter. Georgios has secrets that make love not something he is looking for, but it will please his family, so goes along with it, but doesn't tell Evie, it is for them. There is a lot going on with Gran that we find out in this story and it brings to light how seniors are often scammed. The setting is wonderful, and I was happy to learn more about Santorini as I will be visiting there next fall on my cruise. This is a rom com with some serious issues as well. The characters are an eclectic bunch. There is a gentleman that visits the bookshop daily that obviously has feelings for Gran, but she just wants to be friends. They do go places together and I loved the dancing they did. This was a clean, fun, story that had me suspending belief at times, but I really enjoyed it. I loved the ending. All I will say is Karma is a b#*$%. I do recommend this one for a beach, pool or garden read.
Another wonderfully escapist novel by a favourite author of mine who always delivers. This has a heartwarming romantic storyline which kept me hooked throughout. Having lost her job as a book scout, the likeable and relatable Evie visits her rather eccentric grandmother Floretta ,who has a small bookshop in Santorini. However, Evie soon discovers that life is not always idyllic on the island as the landlord of the bookshop is threatening to take it away. Floretta comes up with a plan that involves Evie ‘fake dating’ the landlords grandson, which she reluctantly agrees to. It turns out that Georgios is a very handsome Greek God and along with their instant attraction they also have chemistry. As Evie’s summer Greek holiday comes to an end she realises that her fake relationship with Georgios may have became real having faked her way to finding love. I felt fully immersed in this story as the sunny island setting of Santorini was brought vividly to life through the detailed and descriptive narrative. I love the mix of characters as they all brought their different personalities to the story, including the intriguing visitors to the bookshop. I enjoyed the relationship between Floretta and Evie, whilst the chemistry between Evie and Georgios sizzled off the page. I was kept happily turning the pages of this novel and I recommend picking up this book today!
Loved this book! The storyline of Floretta and her husbands was so funny, I loved her! I fell in love with all the characters, even mum and Posy. I could really see the scene of the bookshop/bar at the top of a hill in Santorini and felt myself there with all the dogs and their personalities. This was a lighthearted, fun book that I would definitely pack in my suitcase!
I love Rebecca’s books and this one didn’t fail.
Read in a day whilst sunbathing on holiday (sadly not in Santorini). Thankyou for my copy.
I've read a couple of books by Rebecca Raisin so was excited to read this new one. It did not disappoint - a great setting, good characters and a heartwarming storyline. Its an easy but interesting read and it made me smile and laugh out loud. Can't wait for her next book.
In the book, we follow Evie who is going to help her grandma save the bookshop at Santorini. What can be so bad, right?! Summer, sun, Santorini and bookshop. Especially when you add a male equivalent to a Greek God. But there is a catch; she has to fake date him. I loved Evie as a character with all her quirks and in a way she reminded me of myself. Georgios is a topic on his own. But I think Gran was my favourite character.
The story was very entertaining and I’ve enjoyed reading it so much. I think this would be a perfect book to take with yourself on the beach this summer. It is a romance book but at the same time, it is also full of surprises that it will keep you on your toes for sure. Whenever I thought that I knew what is going to happen next, Rebecca found a way to surprise me.
This book is written for all us book lovers who have dreamed of having our own bookshop and falling in love with someone gorgeous. For all those romantics who love fake dating trope. This book is written for us, for sure. Let this book take you to the Greece, to the Santorini and the summer that we are all waiting for.
I always love Rebecca”s books and this is a delightful read and a great summer book for readers to fall in love with. Rebecca’s books let me escape and travel to far away places and have a great time and I always have a great time. Bravo Rebecca and fans of her books will love this book 📕.Thank you for this opportunity to read and share my love for Rebecca Raisin’s novels.🙋♀️🇨🇦🙏❤️📚👏💐🙌👍
Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Evie wants a fresh start after losing her job as a book scout. She decides to visit her grandmother who has just taken on a small bookshop in Santorini. Her gran is being threatened by her landlord and faces losing the shop. Evie is asked by her gran to fake a romance with her landlord’s handsome son to try and save the bookshop. Evie’s holiday is about to end but before she leaves can she save the bookshop and will her fake romance turn into the real thing.
The colourful book jacket, the protagonist’s sweet-natured first name, and the sunny holiday location of Santorini suggest a particular kind of book, and readerly expectations are not disappointed. Indeed there are some popular fiction tropes employed in this novel: the shy protagonist with an aspirational career employed by a Hollywood film company, the sudden dismissal, the wayward but affluent grandmother with a desirable beach-front property (the nine husbands and six rescue dogs are perhaps a little much, even for readers who enjoy such literary stereotypes), the volatile broody local man who turns out to be an undying romantic and becomes the fiercest supporter of the hapless heroine. I enjoyed this book – the literary equivalent of a romcom – but rather wished that it had also taken its opportunity to introduce readers to some pertinent pressing issues against the brilliant, sun-drenched Santorini background which would have given it more substance. I wish to thank NetGalley and the publishers for the free ARC that I was gifted in exchange for my free and unbiased book review.
a fun lively book to get lost in!
a great holiday read which perfectly describes the greek way of life with characters you want to be friends with.
definitely recommend
Rebecca Raisin is awesome. I love her books. Her writing takes me away from whatever is going on. The best time to read Rebecca Raisin's books is winter, spring, summer and fall. SUMMER AT THE SANTORINI BOOKSHOP has some exciting mystery to it. The end takes you by surprise. As always, a cute love story.
This is the second book I have read by Rebecca Raisin, and I enjoyed it as much as the first!
Summer at the Santorini Bookshop is a lovely story about Evie and her journey to finding love after loosing her job. The main characters of her Gran, Floretta, and Georgios are lovely characters to supplement Evie throughout the book. There are also a lot of nice side characters, and I loved how the relationships in this novel developed with Evie.
The bookshop based story is cute, comforting and at times hilarious. It is largely predictable but sometimes that is what makes it fun!
I would recommend this book, and will definitely be returning to read more from Rebecca Raisin.
Thank you to HQ and Rebecca Raisin for the opportunity to review the Summer At The Santorini Bookshop in exchange for an fair and honest review.
Summer at the Santorini Bookshop is a delightful rom-com full of fun, warmth, and crazy kookiness that will tickle your funny bone. The plot is a little crazy, full of secrets and a fake dating plan to con the landlord not to take an old lady's bookshop away by dating his son. Some of the plot is a bit far-fetched, wild, and chaotic – it stretched the realms of believability for me, but I held fast and made it through to the end. I felt many of the story escapades might have been averted if people had just sat down to talk to one another. While the plot is out there, Rebecca Raisin's writing is stunning; she captures the vivid beauty and exotic feel of the island of Santorini. Make sure you have nibbles while you read this book; the vivid and tempting descriptions of Greek food are sensual feasts and will make you ravenous.
The characters are well-developed, colourful, and brought to life through a fun story. Evie and Georgios are a cute couple and bring out the best in each other on their journey to falling in love. I have to admit Evie's grandma, Floretta, stole the show for me – she's eccentric, flamboyant, and a little off her rocker with nine marriages under her belt at 83 and her host of hilarious capers - she reminded me of my cookie grandma who was always causing mischief and chaos in our family. Honestly, I was starting to wonder if Evie's grandmother was some black widow murderer with all the suspicious deaths and marriages. Sadly, she wasn't. I'm still on the fence about Floretta being addicted to getting married – I mean, who gets married nine times – I can't imagine it.
A lovely, light, and funny read with summer holiday vibes that demands you slow down enjoy the sunshine, and take a moment to stop in this busy world. If you love gorgeous Greek guys, sunshine, and laughter, this must be on your summer holiday packing list or snuck onto your Kindle.
I would absolutely love to visit the bookshop in Santorini. Sun, sand, and a great book what a perfect way to unwind. I imagined I was walking along with the characters in this book. Fab
Another cosy read from Rebecca Raisin. I used to love this type of book and fell out of love with them but something about the way this author writes her characters means I am engaged. Yes you know what is going to happen from the get go but there's a comfort in that and the setting was a joy to read in a wet and dreary England.
This was a pretty good read for me. Evie and gran are such fun characters to read. The way the settings were described felt as though I was actually in Santorini.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley
Rebecca Raisin ist für mich die Königin der Gute-Laune-Wohlfühl-Romane. Sie kreiert diese Sehnsuchtsorte, an denen (fast) alles stimmt: atemberaubende Landschaften, eine gute Community und natürlich der heimliche Traumpartner. In diesem Fall hat sie das ganze noch getoppt, indem sie ein Rudel Tierschutzhunde hinzugefügt hat.
Das perfekte Buch für den Urlaub in der Sonne. Leicht, bunt und die Seele wärmend.