The Island Love Song by Emma Cowell, a NetGalley review. Set on Hydra a beautiful Greek island, Ella and Georgia are sisters, a family full of tensions and secrets. Wow this book was amazing, for me it had everything and more to make it a great read and fans of @emmalloydcowell won’t be disappointed. It’s a book full of passion, volatile relationships and secrets that have the potential to blow this family apart. Ella and Georgia are opinionated, stubborn, strong, independent woman that are both fighting their own demons. Georgia is regimental in everything she does, she’s fiercely protective of her daughter Phoenix. Ella is a free spirit who had her heart broken many years ago and has been running from that ever since and the secrets that were a result of that. The sisters fight like titans but this becomes clear that this is because of the secrets they hold. Yet this book is so much more than the characters, it’s about the island that it’s set on. The island of Hydra, an island that has this magical pull, a voice and a heart that wraps itself around you. This book is a constant joy to read, that keeps pulling the punches with its twists and turns. It’s an emotive read, a beautiful love story, between family, across generations and first loves and about a love for a stunning island. It’s clear while reading that the author has a love for this island and then jumps off the pages and as a result you can imagine yourself on this island. In places this book will break your heart a little, reaching for the tissues, frustration at the stubbornness of the characters and parts will make you smile and warm your heart. I got invested in the characters and didn’t want it to end as I felt there was more these characters had to say. I love this authors books and can’t recommend this enough, a great summer read, a great read to escape the drab weather! Weather you are new to this author or already a lover of her books, go out and get your copy, it’s out this week, 6th June 24 ❤️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When Ella and Georgia were young their mother owned a house on the Greek Island of Hydra, and they spent many happy summers there.
Now the sisters are returning to the island after many years away to scatter their mother’s ashes.
Ella is a professional photographer who spends her life travelling, living out of a backpack. Georgia is married with a daughter, Phoenix and tries her best to keep up the façade of the perfect family life.
Returning to Hydra will be emotional, but it could also be dangerous. It is the place that holds their darkest secrets, and it could be the place that finally unlocks them.
This is a story of family, love and the potential power of secrets to destroy.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed reading this book, it hooked you in from the beginning, turning the pages to read what happens next.

After their mother passes away, sisters Georgia and Ella come back to Hydra so that they can scatter their mother’s ashes as she wished.

Ella, who is the youngest hasn’t visited the island for a long time, after a failed relationship.

Being back, secrets are revealed between the two of them that were kept all this time, of themselves, their previous relationships and families.

This makes them think about their current lives.

The story was well-written and very descriptive.

I highly recommend this book.

Sisters Ella and Georgia, plus Georgia's daughter Phoenix, travel to the Greek island of Hydra to scatter their mother's ashes. Ella was born on the island, where their mother had a summer home, but for reasons that are gradually revealed isn't keen on travelling back there. Whilst Georgia is married Ella has never settled, but has a very successful career as a photographer.
This is basically a family saga, not always my favourite genre, but I did enjoy this one with its wonderful Grecian setting. The relationship between the two sisters is very strained, the reason for this is gradually revealed. Ella's first boyfriend was a budding pop star and one of the reasons for the two's struggles, his involvement gradually becomes clearer. Again this is a slow burn book that does deserve to be read.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

The Island Love Song is set on the gorgeous Greek Island of Hydra but it holds secrets for sisters Ella and Georgia.
Their Mother has passed and Georgia is insisting that they obey her wishes of her ashes to be scattered on the Island where she owned a home and the girls spent their childhood there. Ella however, is reluctant to go back and after delaying the event for as long as possible, they return along with Georgia’s daughter not only to scatter their Mothers ashes but also to confront their past.
This is Emma Cowell’s third novel and I enjoyed it immensely as secrets unfolded and the change in the sister’s relationships.

My thanks to Net Galley and the publishers Avon for the advance digital copy of this delightful book.

As someone who is really obsessed with Greece, I was very excited to receive an ARC copy of this book! And what a journey it took us on. It traverses the histories of an eclectic mix of characters who become quite the blended family, and explores many different shades of motherhood and found family.

The novel is set on the beautiful island of Hydra, and definitely made me want to visit. Whilst I really wanted to adore this novel, it unfortunately wasn’t quite in my favourite style that is more “show, don’t tell” - and sometimes felt we as the reader were being spoon fed
too much information. I also found the constant repetition that there were big secret reveals on the way to be distracting at times.

All in all a lovely story with many twists and turns though, and a great summer escapist read.

Many thanks to Avon Books U.K., Emma Cowell & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A tale of family, relationships and secrets set in the beautiful Greek island of Hydra. I was instantly taken with the plot to this novel which sees two sisters, Ella and Georgia along with Georgia’s daughter Phoenix as they return to Hydra to scatter their mother’s ashes but whilst there, the sisters also need to confront their past. There’s a lot going on in this book but it kept me entertained with each turn of the page. The plot unfolds beautifully and add in the picturesque location, you’ve got a fabulous beach read. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author for the chance to review.

The Greek island of Hydra where this book is set sounds like paradise. The writing and description is so vivid I felt I was actually there seeing the sights along with smelling and tasting the food. This is a great story about families and secrets. A good summer read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Set on a Greek Island called Hydra, the book has three main female characters Ella, Georgia and Phoenix.
The story is told in past and present chapters which lead up to the culmination.
I very much enjoyed reading this book, I loved the descriptive writing about the island, could see the donkey’s, pictured the island perfectly.
I could almost hear the waves, and smell the Greek food. I wanted to be transported there in real life, other than by my senses.
This is the first book I have read from this author, and now wish to read more.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions about the book are entirely my own.

Hydra sounded like a perfect setting for this captivating story of love and secrets. This was a very moving and touching story which was told beautifully. It certainly captured my imagination with all its twists, turns and so many secrets hich had been kept for many years. A great story of love, friendship and family relationships. This was a brilliant read.

New author for me but really enjoyed this book, Island of Hydra sounds amazing and the story is a mix of love and loss but also new beginnings. . Sisters go to scatter ashes but all is not as it should be.
My thanks as always to NetGalley and Publisher Avon books for the early read

A tear jerker. Two sisters are on their way to Hydra to scatter their mums ashes. Oh well that got me from the start! The rest of the novel looks at some sad subjects and family dynamics but there is a sense of love all around too. And that gorgeous orange novel is to die for!

This was an enjoyable read - two sisters return to Hydra to scatter their mother’s ashes. Georgia - the oldest - is the one to organise the trip dragging her younger sister, Ella, along. Ella was born on Hydra but has not visited since she spent a holiday there with her boyfriend - the love of her life. Their relationship ended following this holiday and Ella has in many ways never moved on.

Their visit brings many secrets between the sisters into the open - about their family, their identities and past relationships - and leads them to question how they are both currently living.

I struggled with both main characters - both felt too extreme for me - but the main issues dealt with in the story were interesting. A bittersweet ending.

Sisters Georgia and Ella are forced to finally confront their secrets when they visit Hydra to scatter their mother's ashes. To be honest, my favorite character is Georgia's daughter Phoenix, who is not the almost caricature her mother and aunt are. Georgia is rigid, Ella flighty and you'll eventually find out why. Regardless, the Hydra setting is delightful and this kept me turning the pages. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good summer read about family.

This story was set on the beautiful Greek island of Hydra. Its a sweet story of love lost and found again. It's about family and the many twists and turns that life can bring. I really enjoyed the book and I think its well worth the read.

This was a lovely read which many readers would love to take on holiday and enjoy. Its about family and secrets which have lain hidden for a long time.
Set on a beautiful Greek island it follows Ella and her sister Georgia, along with Georgia's daughter Phoenix as they travel to the island where they spent family holidays to scatter their mother's ashes.
I enjoyed the story told from both sister's perspectives and the sister are very different from each other. Georgia is organised and her actions clash with those of her sister Ella.
The setting was wonderful, a warm and inviting Greek island which transports the reader to somewhere relaxed and sunny.
Once the main secret is revealed as a reader it makes the dynamic between the sisters perfectly clear.
Part of the story focuses on Ella's love life where her heart was broken was emotional and her feelings and actions made perfect sense.
The revelations from long held secrets take the well crafted plot to a crescendo.
This is a book with depth, there is discussion around some difficult themes which I enjoyed and overall I thought this was a very enjoyable read which I devoured over the course of one day.

This was a lovely story, and would be a nice beach read.

There's a lot going on in this book. The relationship between the sisters, Georgia and Ella, the past that haunts them, their relationship with the daughter, Phoenix, as well as a second chance romance for Ella. The setting was described beautifully and almost transported you to the island of Hydra in Greece. I enjoyed how the relationship between the sisters was explored, especially considering the fraught nature of their past and the secrets that Georgia was holding on to.

Unfortunately, I didn't connect with any of the characters in the book. The daughter, Phoenix, seemed to be far older than 17 and was probably the most mature person on that island. Both Georgia and Ella were written as extreme versions of their personalities. Georgia was selfish, rigid, overbearing, and refused to take any accountability for any of her actions- which would be normal for a 17 year old, but not so much for a 40+ woman. Ella, on the far other end, was flighty and immature, and I cannot imagine -nor were we given any believable reason- that she would be in love with Harrison for 20+ years. None of their actions made any sense either- they jumped from one emotion to another in the span of the same conversation without any transition, which was very jarring.

I know that this will be popular for those who love a great setting and an emotional story. I did enjoy reading this book and have several people in mind that I would recommend it to.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this arc. All opinions are my own and without bias.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Greece and Hydra is the perfect backdrop for a vacation read and that's exactly what this book is. An exotic setting and familiar relationships is the center for Emma Cowell's third novel. Two sister has to face the truth of the past and lingerings secrets while spreading their mother's ashes. The relationships in the novel is described so good and it pulled on the heart strings. I would definitely recommend it.

Hydra, the picturesque Greek island, is a paradise for most, yet for sisters Ella and Georgia, it is a place where their darkest secrets dwell. And now the time has come for them to confront their past as they return to Greece to scatter their mother’s ashes.

I was immediately grabbed by this story, wanting to know what the secrets were and how they would be resolved. The characters of the sisters and their daughter/niece were well drawn and you could really get involved with them. The food descriptions were mouthwatering too! The book kept me interested all the way through and I was left wanting to find out hat happened next when it ended. A great read.

Emma Cowells third book which once more takes us to Greece, this time the beautiful island of Hydra….

Ella and Georgia spent their early years visiting Hydra with their mother, who owned a home there, and after her death it seemed the perfect place to scatter her ashes.

Super organised Georgia has the trip planned to perfection and not so organised Ella is happy to go with the flow and joining them is Georgias 17 year old daughter.

Both sisters have mixed feelings about returning, as so much has happened there in the past and sometimes the past and it’s secrets shouldn’t be revisited.

But Hydra has other ideas and the sisters are about to face a few truths which have been long forgotten!

A must read for summer, a wonderful story with lots of twists, turns and revelations all
set with Hydra as it’s beautiful backdrop.

Highly recommended to read on your sun lounger this year.

Thank you to NetGalley for the early copy to read.