I found this quite a challenging read, I think mostly because it focuses more on the issues between Violet and Henry than the strengths that must have existed within their marriage. I know firsthand the pressures of parenthood when it becomes more about being a carer so I totally get the issues they faced to an extent but along the way it felt difficult to see any positives between them based on the chapters reflecting back on their lives never-mind in the current day when they are estranged. That said it’s a very good representation of raising a child with different needs and about male mental health and Luke was an exceptional character. If you’re expecting a lighthearted summer romance than this book isn’t for you but if you’re willing to read a book that gets to the core of a marriage which is set in a stunning location and has very strong characters then this is definitely worth the time.

Wow. Read mainly on a plane and I did not want to land!!!!!!What a gripping story. Told by going back and forward in time which was clever. There is so much I want to say but will spoil. Set mainly on a beautiful Greek island . Eliza was a stand out character which you will realise as you read it. Being a parent is hard and trying to be a great wife or husband at the same time is a juggling act. Violet and Henry are selling their dream house and it is the story of how they find them selves in the position they are. . Just read it. A perfect summer love story with some great twists and some sadness and a perfect ending.

It’s taken me a while to write a review for this book. It wasn’t the easiest of reads, I did have to persevere. It just made me feel uncomfortable. I’m sure that every mother can see herself somewhere in this story. Read it and let me know what you think?

Violet and Henry are on the brink of divorce due to the challenging behaviour of their son, Luke. Told over twenty summers their love story is told. Interesting read about male mental health too. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

I started reading this book whilst staying in a townhouse in Pollensa, not far from The Orange House in the book! One of the reasons that I enjoyed reading this is that , knowing Pollensa very well, after visiting for 20 years, the book was true to the village.
The characters were complex and the subject matter difficult at times but even so I thought that the book was written sympathetically and thoughtfully.
Would I have enjoyed the book as much as I did if I hadn’t had such a love of the area I’m not sure but all I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed my trip down memory lane to my ‘second home’.

Escape to Mallorca and The Orange House with Isabelle Broom’s new novel. This books feels like a departure from her usual style, it covers male mental health and I found it to be an utterly compelling novel. It’s thought provoking and will stay with you long after you have turned the last page. There are some very likeable characters and you do feel as if you’ve been transported to the Mallorcan sunshine. Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and the author for the chance to review.

I'm at a loss as to how to review this book. It is very well written but I felt lost in the to=ing and fro-ing of the timeline. I never quite knew where it was going next. Nothing was straightforward, though it was easy to suppose that Luke was mildly autistic from the beginning. Why didnt anyone else realise? It's a tale of immense ups and downs, unhappiness, misunderstandings and more. Whilst I am aware of the cleverness of the writing, the descriptions of emotions etc, I did not find it a happy book to read. However, thanks to NetGalley for a chance to read the book and review it.

An utterly enchanting and emotional novel about love and romance. The author manages to infuse a thoroughly evocative atmosphere into a page-turner plot The overall feeling from reading this book is like being enveloped in a warm hug from that special someone in your life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC. My views are my own.

Henry and Violet have been married for years and have a son named Luke. They used to live in the Orange House in Mallorca (Henry is Spanish) but now they are separated. Violet lives in England with her mother but has flown over to Spain for some reason. Luke is there with his girlfriend too. I was drawn to the book by the beautiful cover and the blurb promising a love story.

I expected the present to be a framework for the past that would be the majority of the story, and when they remember their love story, they reconcile. But instead the action is mostly in the present, with flashbacks now and then. Tons of cryptic references are made to the scars on Henry's face and "that day" etc, but finding out what actually happened is like wading through treacle. All we can figure out is that son Luke was/is a difficult child with behavioural problems, possibly on the spectrum, and the different attitudes to dealing with him is what ultimately seems to have killed the parents' marriage. Also, the mother seems to have lots of unexplained debts, and something was going on with a neighbour. I have to admit that I slightly lost interest after reading and reading and still not getting more answers.

I'm giving this three stars as it's well-written and the Spanish scenery is gorgeous, as is the cover but I think it would have been better to give us some context earlier in the story about all the issues the characters are facing.