Beneath the Lemon Trees by Emma Burstall was a great read. I was transported to the warm Crete setting with vivid descriptions of the area while sat in a windy and wet UK. The book kept me hooked and I was sad when it was finished as I loved it.

Emma Burstall’s latest novel takes readers to the idyllic Greek island of Crete, where Stella, heartbroken from the loss of a friend and the collapse of her marriage, hopes to find peace at the enchanting Villa Ariadne.

The villa’s stunning views and soothing atmosphere seem like the perfect place to start over, but when an old acquaintance arrives, secrets are revealed that threaten to unravel the fragile peace Stella has found. Burstall’s writing weaves together themes of healing, self-discovery, and the possibility of new beginnings. The warm, welcoming locals and the gorgeous Greek setting offer a sense of calm and renewal, making this novel an ideal choice for fans of escapist fiction.

Stella’s journey toward healing is heartfelt and relatable, and the beauty of Crete serves as the perfect backdrop for her emotional transformation.

I have forgotten to review this book and realised when I was looking at my TBR pile, oops
SO this begins on the stunning island of Crete. It encompasses family relations, friendships and a few plots along the way to keep you interested. The cuisine for Greece is amazing and should never be ignored and this book helps with that.
Good all round summer read.

I loved the setting and the detailed descriptions set me back to Greece. A lot of angst though, but appreciated the complexities of the characters and especially on Stella as she dealt with the grief of losing her closest friend and also the dissolution of her marriage. Add to that a very needy friend and rebellious and pouty teenagers, Stella had a lot to deal with. What a magical place along with good people like the housekeeper to help with healing. This is an enjoyable book, not a light hearted romance like you might expect, but a bit deeper than that. I would recommend it to friends. Many thanks to #netgalley for the chance to read and review this book.

This was a lovely read but not quite what i expected from the cover. I thought it was going to be a beautiful romance novel - I never read the blurb beforehand. But this definitely didn't pan out the way I'd expected.
The setting for this book is everything!
I was completely transported each time I opened the pages of this book, to the beautiful landscape, sights, sounds and smells of Crete.
I've never been but this has definitely persuaded me that I would love the chilled and relaxed atmosphere.
The storyline does deal with some tough topics which are really well written - I think this is just an interesting, relaxing read, following Stella after the loss of her friend..

Loved this book for an easy summer read. There was lots going on with real-life family dramas! But all put across in a lovely easy-to-read way.

Beneath the Lemon Trees is a great palate cleanser. The descriptive landscape and wonderful plot make it a great escape from life and heavier books. Burstall's writing style is very engaging. I'll be looking for more from her.

I don't think I was the right audience for this book. The dialog felt awkward and clunky. Awkward interactions and I honest couldn't not stand Stella.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read Beneath the Lemon Trees by Emma Burstall. I felt as though I was in beautiful Greece! Lovely!

Given the book cover and title I was settling down for an escape to Crete and a relaxing in the sun read well i couldn’t have been more wrong . An extremely well written book about Stella trying to deal with the death of her close friend and broken marriage and escapes with her family to Crete to heal but she soon learns she must face her own demons before she can move on and with the family dynamic holidays are not always easy , we follow her journey. The characters and beautiful scenery an easy read taking on some difficult subjects handled well and at times Stella wasn’t always the most likeable of characters . Overall a good read

As the days get shorter and the nights draw in, the greyness of the autumn so far means we need to escape for some sunshine.

Stella has lost her friend, has split form her husband and along with her children and another friend she seeks some sun and solace in Crete. It seems this magical villa they have chosen is the place to heal. The owner lives a very simp;e life and seems to think this is the palce for Stella.

That is until some unwelcome visitors arrive and old hurts resurface. Stella has to make some harsh decisions if she is to survive the future and have the peace she needs. In the meantime, the others around are having to change.

This is not a book for complete escapism, but a book which tackles difficult issues, such as grief, alcoholism and jealousy and all wrapped within the threads of the characters in this book. Stella whilst not particularly likeable for me, actually made this book all the more interesting and proves that you cannot possible be all things to all people without someone getting hurt.

This had me dreaming of a Grecian vacation! The villa was absolutely gorgeous by the description and I truly wish I could visit. The characters were well thought out and the story was engaging.

a summer holiday that doesn’t go to plan, families fighting, sadness and death.. i was slightly concerned where this was going but it was a delightful book set in crete and i loved how descriptive it was of the island
a good holiday read

A beautiful escapist novel. Stella retreats to Crete with her children and friends to Villa Ariadne, which promises to a healing experience. After the loss of her best friend, Stella has been consumed by grief, and it has led to a separation from her husband. She is reeling from both losses and hopes that the island will help her begin he recovery. Beneath the heady scent of the lemon trees and basking in the salty azure waters, dining on local cuisine , sampling the local shops, and getting to know the local area and its people does have its own power. The holiday isn't without its difficulties, and to begin healing, you have to face the pain head on first. The support of friends and family and new-found friends stands out in this book alongside the healing power of nature. #beneaththelemontrees #emmaburstall #netgalley

Such an absolutely beautiful and heartwarming story of love, perseverance, and grief. The characters were interesting, and Stella in particular showed a fair amount of growth throughout the story which was appreciated as I did not find her very likeable at first! I loved the setting, and am even more eager to visit Crete now more than before

In this fun and summery women’s fiction and modern romance novel, readers travel to Greece with Stella, her friend, and their children as they cope with the death of a close friend and the collapse of Stella’s marriage. Villa Ariadne is beautiful and stunning against the backdrop of a beautiful Greek beach and several lemon trees, but an old friend -- and the widower of the friend Stella has just lost -- arrives and crashes their vacation. With this new arrival threatening the peace of their vacation and jeopardizing Stella’s relationships with her son and her friend, she must make a difficult decision about her love life and her future happiness. With several powerful and poignant relationships at the heart of this novel, Burstall brings Crete’s beauty and local kindness to these characters who need it. The characters are the star of the novel, and readers will love escaping to Greece with them. The emotional heart of this novel is incredibly strong, dealing with grief, love (in many forms), and kindness, and Burstall balances these many emotional notes incredibly well. With a great heart and fantastic characters, readers looking for a summery escape to Greece and a bit of love will definitely enjoy this excellent novel.

At first glance I thought this was going to be your usual holiday romance type of book....but I was pleasantly surprised at the weight this story carried.
A journey through grief, healing, and self discovery.
The honest approach in writing about the main character found me struggling to warm to her at times...but that shows the complexity of us all as human beings, and gave depth to the journey you share with her in the reading of this story.
All of this is set against the backdrop of the beautiful island of Crete.....and the author does a fine job bringing alive the sights, sounds and atmosphere of this captivating Greek Island.

First, I need to mention how much I love the cover. But it was not expecting the book to be what it was based on this. It was a little bit of a wild ride with a family and their friends taking a vacation. I honestly could not have guessed where this book was heading and it was a journey.
It was easy reading, and beautiful descriptions. This is not a lighthearted read though!

This seemed like a fun escapist read at the outset: family and friends rent a mysterious estate in a gorgeous seaside community. There was some subtle whimsy about the estate that was hinted in the beginning, but the story mostly strayed from that plotline and then hurriedly looped it shut toward the end. Despite lots of characters with individual plotlines, it was easy to follow and not confusing. I enjoyed the descriptions of scenery and food the most. The plot was predictable and a bit slow despite delving into lots of heavier topics. There was a spicy scene at the very end of the book that appeared out of the blue and felt super out of sync with the rest of the book. Not a hit for me but definitely an easy read! Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I took me a long time to get into this. It did get better as I went. I found the main character difficult to like. In her grief she pushes out everyone other than the widow of her best friend and while grief can certainly do this, it was hard to relate due to the extent. Overall I found it an enjoyable read though.