A wonderful lighthearted book from Emma Burstsall. Two families set off on holiday to Crete but will all be well? Stella needs a break as her best friend dies, her friends husband needs a break and her own husband is separated from Stella. An unusual family dynamics in an unusual house where the owner only accepts guests if the “house tells her they have special needs. A mixture of fun, family disharmony and romance. Thanks to Emma and her publisher. Thanks also to NetGalley

I received an ark from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. I expected a happy uplifting story set and beautiful island of Crete and instead I got the story. I want us selfish woman who created the breakdown in her own marriage and he had expected everybody to believe that somehow her husband Was to blame. Suddenly I found the heroine Stella a totally boring and self sacrificing martyr. Yes of course I could understand her grief over the death of her best friend but the way in which she then took over responsibility for the best friend’s husband and daughter to the extent that she was prepared to sacrifice her own children and husband was totally unappealing. When her husband turns up because he’s so concerned about her we realise that he’s not a bad guy after all. I have to say the one and only sex scene was cringeworthy. I love a well written sex scene which gives us some character development and this emotionally satisfying. This was not one of those sex scenes. There was so much about this book that could be good but the main female character was so unattractive that I couldn’t engage. Sorry this was not make up of tea.

Loved the setting and characters.
Would recommend this to others.
Thank you for providing me with a copy to read.

I received a free copy of, Beneath the Lemon Trees, by Emma Burstall, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Stella is hurt and starting to heal from the loss of a dear friend, and the end of her marriage, she decides to take a trip to Greece, Corfu, to reset. I think we all need to get away from our troubles, at some time in our life, why not do it in beautiful Corfu. I liked this book, and seeing Stella start to heal.

I loved being transported to the villa in Crete.

I loved the story about the villa and and all the characters from Crete and the beautiful scenery. The depiction of the delicious Cretan food transported me right back to the beautiful island.

I found the main character difficult to connect with but I loved lots of the other characters. The story is about family and in the end the important bonds that cannot be broken.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book.
Unfortunately I will not be posting a review of this anywhere because I DNF’ed this book.
I couldn’t get into the story no matter how hard I tried but the description and the setting were good so I will rate it 2 stars solely for them.

Thank you netgalley & publishers for an advanced copy of this book for my review. I got caught up in this.book I binge read it in record time. This is a story that follows the journey of family and friends who embark on a holiday on the beautiful island of Crete to try and mend broken hearts & relationships.

This started off well but, I instantly didn't like the characters which spoilt it for me. The children were spoilt and and very rude. They didn't appreciate their surroundings at all. The story drifted off quite quickly and really didn't like the mention of bleeding scabs and bruises. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I liked.the premise.of.this book, the.setting and some.of the well written description of the setting. I fell in love with the villa but not all its inhabitants. I found the main character a martyr and she makes some very strange decisions. all in all readable but a good edit would make this book so much better.

Fabulous, fabulous book, loved every minute of it. The storyline, the varied characters. The setting made me feel I was on holiday. There were many magic moments, some sad, but a lot that made me happy. Not one to be missed, await the next book please.

This book was really a 2.5 star book for me, rounded down because I just can’t give it a 3. The premise of the story sounded promising, and it started out strongly. The description of Greece and its people/food/sights throughout the book were A+. I was ready to pack my bags and head out to this villa myself. I still might, as long as this group of horrible characters has left the building.

Stella has recently separated from her husband, and lost her best friend to cancer. She brings her children and second best friend and HER children along for a two week vacation in what could be paradise. However, Stella is so whiny and wishy washy and weak that she can’t let anyone enjoy themselves. Her inability to say no results in a new houseguest to join the vacation, a houseguest that probably should have been drowned at the start to put everyone else out of their misery.

This book really just needs an overhaul of these characters. The vacationing women and houseguest drag down the story because they are such over the top miserable people. The people of the village are so vibrant and magical and well written that it makes it even more apparent. I really did love the Villa and its backstory and proprietor. I would love to read a book about that.

On a last note- I myself am not a fan of spicy content, and I wasn’t really expecting it from this book in particular. When it popped up near the end, following a weird, extensive conversation about scabs and bruises? Very out of place and frankly gross. Still not sure what the authors fascination with picking scabs is all about.

Great read that included the senses allowing the read to enjoy the scenery, smell the atmosphere and share the emotions of the characters.

I liked the direction of the storyline that the author wanted to go. Family vacation to a beautiful country, marriage in crisis, finding herself and what she wanted in life. The need to get away from every day life.

However, there were lots of ick factors that added nothing to the storyline. Her being accident prone is fine -but we didn't need all of the blood, scrapes, scab picking, sucking of her own blood. We didn't need the teeth picking and then eating it. Those are huge ick factors that I could've done without.

I read this lovely book in one day. Very easy to follow with some great characters and I found the friendship dynamics really intriguing and thought provoking. Stella and her friend Louise go to Crete for a holiday with their respective children. From page one you know that there is more to the villa that they are staying in than meets the eye. Katerina is the housekeeper and is very evasive about who actually owns the villa, Stella is struggling after the death of her best friend Harriet and is always on hand to support Harriet’s husband and daughter but doesn’t seem to see how this impacts on her own family and other friends. This covers everything from grief, family dynamics, teenagers, friendship and relationships. Beautiful setting and varied storylines running through it I found this an enjoyable read. Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC

I really enjoyed this book! I now want a trip to Crete well without all the drama! Such a gorgeous cosy book full of romance, family drama, friendships and just feel good vibes!

Was ok. Not one I would read again.


Thank you Emma Burstall, Boldwood books and Netgalley for the ARC.

You know it's a book you'll not revisit when the only thing that captures your attention is the description of the locale.

This book was not well done in many ways. The storyline was just meh. You have the heroine Stella, who in her grief and busyness with her career, completely neglects her family and throws her marriage of many years away, just to take care of her dead friends family. Huh lady your family first please!!!

Then the guy Jon (who she is looking out for) has been emotionally cheating on his dead wife for many years by being in love with Stella. Overall just too much going on like a day time soap of yesterday years.

Not to my taste

2.5 ⭐️ 1 🌶️

Read As An Arc

🍋 Crete
🍋 Mamma Mia Vibes
🍋 Family Healing
🍋 Self-Discovery
🍋 Easy Read
🍋 Romance


I had such high hopes for this read because of the cover and the Mamma Mia vibes it was giving off. Who doesn’t love a bit of Mamma Mia? — Don’t go breaking my emotions — is exactly what happened while reading this book.

The imagery is beautiful to the pant where you can actually visualize the island of Crete — the description was great!

Out of all the characters - and there is a lot - Louise was my favourite that I think was created better than Stella. There is character development within the book especially with Stella but omg… she’s a bit much. She complains, makes these choices that I can’t wrap my head around.

As much as I love the detail, it was unnecessary for certain parts of the book! The magical aspect of this book was good; I just wish there was more of it and explored it more. This could’ve made the read a bit more better to have something else to be engaging.

The spice was horrendous. I felt awkward and weird through it all. I wasn’t vibing with it. I feel like it didn’t match the book and maybe just didn’t belong or had to be written a little better and not so rushed.

Overall, it was an easy read. There was a lot of hope and let downs with this. It was missing things to bump this read up to 4 ⭐️.




* Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!


** this will be released on Goodreads on sept 6 @ https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/170879374-bee?shelf=read

Really enjoyable read! I loved the backdrop of a small Cretan village and the interesting characters. April was really memorable! The book is very well written and transported me right back to Crete! Somehow I think it would have been even stronger with less intimate details. It kind of felt like it was added to fit in more with a romance genre; less is more.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Before beginning, I will say, I was excited to read this book — thinking it’d be a lovely beach read. Boy was I wrong.

Spoilers Ahead:

Beneath the Lemon Trees revolves around Stella, a recently separated woman who takes a vacation in Crete with her two children (Hector and Lily) and her friend Louise, and her two children.

This vacation comes at a time where Stella is in great need of a get away. She has lost her life long friend to cancer, has been trying to run her catering business, along with upholding a promise she had made to her late friend, Harriet. This promise being that she would look out for her daughter and now widower husband.

Shortly after arriving in Crete (the scene building was lovely) you find Stella speaking to Louise about how she was questioning whether Hector should have been joined them due to his attitude. Saying that he has been taking his father’s side in the separation and blaming his mother for what has transpired between them.

Stella makes it seem as though the separation was both her and Al’s (husband’s) fault.
That he too was complicit in the demise of their marriage.

Come to find out later that nope it was all her. She was so focused on upholding the promise to Harriet that she put Jon (widower) and his daughter, Jemima, before her own husband and children.

In a flash back you get insight that Al had noticed how much Stella had been struggling and had asked how he could help her. She simply shuts him down. Snaps at him that he can’t in fact take care of Jon and Jemima for her, he can’t run her catering business, and also do all the shopping and making of dinner for her own family.
He acknowledges that this was true, he could not take off work to care for Jon, however he could pick up groceries and make dinner. The man was TRYING! But she continued to push him away.

Unsurprisingly he had enough and SHE suggested they separate. So he ends up renting an apartment and moving out.

And she wonders why Hector blames her.

While on vacation, Stella invites Jon to join them because she feels so sorry for him being alone. This being done without her consulting Louise. For which Louise is justifiably annoyed.

He arrives and he ends up confessing his long standing love for Stella, love that he claims he has felt for her even while Harriet was alive. Saw that coming. Also what an ass.

Stella is appalled and tells him that she couldn’t possibly begin anything with him out of respect for Harriet and also because she simply didn’t have feelings for him.

All the while she reflects that she must tell him this in a manner that doesn’t upset his fragility. And that no matter what, she would still stick by him because she had made a promise to Harriet. How many times could she have mentioned that darn promise?! *ugh* she’s exasperating.
And you wonder why her actual husband felt neglected.

Other background things happen while in Crete, some things that I find added absolutely nothing to the story - the character of the shop owner and her family.

In the end Stella reconciles with her husband - surprise and they live happily ever after.

Aside from Stella being insufferable and the story itself being anything but an enjoyable beach read - the author jumps from current day to flash backs in such a way that you need to stop, reread the page to decipher what is going on.

The one moment of spice was dreadful and so abrupt that it didn’t feel as though it belonged in the book.

The book seems light and upbeat by the lovely cover, but it is anything but.

Overall was it the worst book I’ve ever read, no. Would I ever recommend it. Absolutely not. Do I wish I had the time back that I spent reading it. You betcha.