Set in Crete, a place I love and with such a beautiful cover, how could I resist ' Beneath the Lemon Trees'. Breaking my own strict rule of never judging a book by its cover, it serves me right that I was a little disappointed. The novel was not the laid back summer romance that I expected.

Stella and her friend Louise plus their respective teenage children have rented a villa in Crete to give them a much needed break. The holiday did not turn out to be the relaxing one they had expected as there was so much tension between everyone. Unsurprisingly really as Stella, rather an unlikeable person actually, had definitely been asking for trouble with her attitude towards her family.

Transport yourself to Crete with this story of love and loss. It is perfect escapism if you are looking for an easy read full of descriptive paragraphs about beautiful scenery and delicious food.

With thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review 'Beneath the Lemon Trees'

A story about loss and grief and allowing yourself space and time to heal and live again.
Stella has been through a lot and it was good to see her recognise that she needed to take time for herself to grieve and feel again.
I loved the descriptions of Villa Ariadne and the town. The beach and coastline sounded idyllic.
The mystery surrounding the villas owners was intriguing and I loved the sound of Katerina and her little off grid house.
An easy read to bring back the summer vibes at the end of the school hols.

This story takes place on a small island belonging to Crete. There aren’t any cars or local land transport, just water taxis & your feet to go exploring. Stella travelled with her son & daughter, with her friend & her two teenage children. There are mixed emotions within the group. Life had been falling apart. The main theme is grief…beware there are triggers. It’s not a romantic holiday read. It’s gritty & deals with tough issues. There’s some ‘paranormal’, which I don’t like. However the story is well written & an interesting read.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGallery & Boldwood. I am writing a voluntary honest review

This slow burner looks deeply into the abyss that remains when you lose someone you love, and the damage that is done during that time.

Emotions long locked away are brought to the surface in this lovely story, and that's how Stella's soul starts to heal.

In life, much as in Stella's story, its hard not to be a people pleaser, and seeing Stella slowly put herself back together once she starts putting herself first helps remind me that it's ok to do it now and then.

I enjoyed this, and found it a gentle, uplifting read.

While I enjoyed the beginning and end of this book, I felt the middle was a lot of the same.
I felt that the main character, Stella, was very wish washy and wouldn’t stand up to her deceased best friend’s husband. Instead due to her guilt she invites him on a trip that she took with another friend and their kids while she’s trying to move on from her husband and doesn’t seem to understand why her friend is mad and distancing herself.
The sex scene at the end with her husband seemed very out of place after what Stella said at the beginning of the book especially with it right outside in the open. It just wasn’t realistic.
The best part of the book for me was the full descriptions of the beauty of Greece and the descriptions of the food. Additionally I like some of the people that they befriended in town.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

This book intrigued me from the start. Being Greek, there were quite a few references that hit home for me, specifically in the food descriptions. I really enjoyed the premise of the story, the variety of characters presented and the setting.

I found this book to be quite short, and in turn, some of the characters seemed to be lacking the depth needed to feel truly connected to them. There were also a few moments where I felt the story get lost. The sex scene at the end I found to be unnecessary, especially after what Stella shared towards the beginning of the novel. I also feel like the ending showed a happy family directly after trauma and grief - which doesn’t really fit into a natural timeline.

Overall I enjoyed this quick read.

This book was filled with glorious descriptions, tackled difficult emotions and situations and had a whole realm of quirky, funny characters including a magical villa that chooses its own guests according to need. Fabulous.

Heartbroken after the loss of a friend and the collapse of her marriage, Stella hopes that this trip to the idyllic Greek island of Crete will give her and her family a chance to heal. And when she first steps into the breath-taking Villa Ariadne, with its views over the azure waters and intoxicating scent of lemons, Stella’s troubles seem to melt away.

Until the arrival of an old acquaintance, and an unwelcome revelation, threaten to undermine the peace at the villa, and Stella is forced to make a difficult decision. But with the help of Crete’s beautiful scenery and the kindness of its locals, Stella is about to discover that Villa Ariadne can still offer an escape… and so much more.

This book was okay for me. I wasn't particularly engaged with the story or the characters, but the imagery almost made up for it. That alone bumped it up a star for me. If you want to visit Cyprus, read this book and you'll feel like you're there!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

Following her marriage breakdown, and recovering from bereavement, Stella takes her family and friends to Crete. An enchanting villa, to heal wounds and rebuild relationships .Everything does not run smoothly with warnings from a clairvoyant. Well written, interesting story. Perfect summer reading.

In this book, Stella, recently separated from her husband and grieving the loss of her best friend to cancer, decides to take a two-week vacation with her children, her second-best friend, and her friend's children. The vacation, which should be an escape to paradise, is overshadowed by Stella's indecisiveness, inability to say no, and her tendency to be whiny and weak. Her poor decision-making brings an unwelcome houseguest, disrupting the trip further.

While the story offers an appealing escape vibe with vivid descriptions of scenery and village life, the plot is disjointed and lacks focus. The main character, Stella, is frustratingly fragile and inconsiderate, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. There is also a missed opportunity to explore the villa's “magic,” which could have added depth to the story. Overall, the book is an okay read with potential that wasn't fully realized.

I love to read books set in Greece and the Greek islands so this book immediately appealed to me. Whilst some of the descriptions of Crete were very good I wasn’t really drawn to the characters and didn’t really care very much what happened to them. An okay beach read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC

Stella has gone on holiday to Crete with her children and her friend Louise and her children following the break up of her marriage and death of her best friend Harriet. The break is to give Stella time to heal however it doesn’t appear to be the relaxing break she envisaged. Hector her son doesn’t seem to want to be with them, a lady from the village with ‘the gift’ giving warning messages and then Harriet’s Husband taking her up on the off the cuff offer to come out to holiday with them all lead to arguments and near disaster.
The scene setting was very good and with the description of the food as well I would happily go to Crete.
I however could not warm to Stella unfortunately, although she was understandably devastated about her friends death and appreciate this can lead to acting out of character, she was just too selfish and self absorbed to be likeable.
The spicy content at the end was also unexpected and not sure necessary as didn’t feel like it belonged really, actually made me cringe!
Sorry I could only give three stars as enjoyed learning more about Katelina and history of the villa and the scenery but couldn’t warm to the characters and was getting too annoyed with the main character for this to be a particularly relaxing read.
Thank you to Netgalley nd Boldwood books for an advance copy, opinions are completely my own.

Free courtesy of Netgalley

I started this book completely blind, as I didn't read the blurb beforehand so wasn't sure what to expect. I haven't read any of Emma's books before but this one has a good story and I did enjoy it.

The story follows Stella, who is taking her family and her friend Louise's family to a villa in Crete for a holiday, she is hoping to leave her life behind for a while, as it has all gone wrong since her best friend died. She has tried to deal with her grief, whilst trying to keep to her promise of looking after her friend Harriet's grieving husband and daughter. Jon doesn't really give Stella a break from the grief he is experiencing and after another emotional phone call, she invites him to join them in Crete.

It is an emotional rollercoaster for Stella when he arrives on the island and causes friction between her friend and her children.

The book was well written, and the story was good but not all the characters were believable and a few were just thrown in there but didn't add anything to the story. I love reading books about other countries, and if it is written well, I normally want to immediately get on a plane and visit there but unfortunately this book didn't really show me anything about the island they were staying on, just that there was no traffic and you had to walk everywhere.

It is still a good book to read and I would recommend it.

Liked the writing style - I could really picture the setting (especially the food - maybe a little too much??).
This could be on me - but wanted more self-discovery and instrospection from the characters. Felt a little shallow - and Stella just seemed like a horrible person - why was she friends with her? Also -main character had no backbone, no boundaries -

Overall - a decent summer read - especially if you want to visualize Crete.

🍋 This was my first Emma Burstall book. I enjoyed it. It was just a little more emotional & sad than I was expecting, so it took me a while to get into it. Sometimes I need to be geared up for what I'm reading & this one took me by surprise.

🍷 I felt for Stella & what she'd been through. I won't put spoilers here, but it was a very emotional time for her & I did understand her pain & how heartbroken she was, but there were certain times when I wanted her to stand up for herself & realise that she couldn't do things for everyone else & not for her or her family.

🍋 The descriptions & setting was beautiful. I felt like I got to know the Island & the walks & like I fell into step with the families & their outings to the shops or beaches.

🍷 It's definitely more of a gritty read, if you're looking for more drama & tough relationships & things that life can throw at you.

🍋 I enjoyed the ending as everything came together. I was glad Stella got her happy back & something for herself.

I received a free copy of, Beneath the Lemon Trees, by Emma Burstall, from Netgalley. Stella is hurt and starting to heal from the loss of a really good friend, and the ending of her marriage. Stella decides to take a trip to Greece, Corfu, to reset and to recharge. This book was a cute story of how we are sometimes need to escape reality and spend it in a beautiful country. As a therapist I know how important nature and beauty can be in the healing and therapeutic process.

A contemporary women's fiction novel that blends elements of romance, personal growth, and travel literature. Set against the stunning backdrop of Crete, Greece, the story follows Stella, a woman seeking healing and renewal after experiencing significant personal losses.

The author skillfully uses the picturesque setting of Crete to create an immersive atmosphere. The vivid descriptions of Villa Ariadne, with its views of azure waters and scent of lemons, effectively transport the reader to this idyllic location. This attention to sensory detail likely enhances the reading experience, making the setting almost a character in itself.

The novel touches on themes of grief, healing, and second chances. Stella's journey from heartbreak to potential new beginnings is a relatable and engaging narrative arc. The introduction of an old acquaintance and an unexpected revelation adds complexity to the plot, creating tension and driving character development.

The story seems to balance personal drama with the charm of Greek island life. The mention of Crete's scenery and the kindness of locals suggests that the novel explores the transformative power of travel and new environments on one's perspective and emotional state.

The book appears to be more than just a light beach read, delving into deeper emotional territories as Stella grapples with difficult decisions and the possibility of opening herself up to love again. This depth likely provides a satisfying emotional journey for readers.

Overall, the novel seems to offer a compelling blend of escapism and introspection. It's likely to appeal to readers who enjoy stories of personal reinvention, those who appreciate vivid travel settings, and anyone looking for an emotionally resonant summer read.

The novel promises a journey of self-discovery and healing, all set against the enchanting backdrop of a Greek island, making it an ideal choice for readers seeking both emotional depth and a vicarious Mediterranean getaway.

My first thought after finishing this book was, "When can I book a trip to Crete?" The writing was so descriptive I actually felt like I was there {I mean, not really, but I certainly enjoyed all the beautiful descriptions!} The characters were not my favorite {looking at you, Stella!}

Overall, an easy, enjoyable read for the beach!

Great beach read. Beautiful scenery and the food was so descriptive. I could almost feel the confession on the wine glasses. Perfect!
Stella is consumed with grief for her best friend Harriet and is really struggling to get past her survivor guilt of being alive. She promised her friend she would look after her husband and daughter but she’s struggling to juggle that, her own family and her business too and grieve. She splits with her husband and goes on holiday with another friend. The house and it’s mysterious owner bewitches her and life begins to unravel even more. Along with new friends will re house help her heal?
Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

This was a quick read and a beautiful trip through Crete. I really enjoyed the setting and I loved the mystery of the villa and the village characters. Stella herself was difficult for me to empathize with and I struggled a bit with the characters and the plot. The consistent picking of scabs felt forced (like it was supposed to be an allusion to something, but I wasn't sure what?). Stella seemed very blind to the fact that the situation she was in was of her own making, and her constant need to take care of her best friend's husband (at the expense of other relationships) seemed over the top.