Ruby arrives in Greece with a plan. But life has it's own plan for her. Good story with a few twists. Wonderful characters.

3.5 rounded up

This book is an emotionally rich summer read, perfect for anyone who loves Greece or dreams of going there. It follows Ruby, who, after losing her job and feeling lost, is offered a new beginning by her aunt in Corfu. Although hesitant at first, Ruby takes the chance and moves to work at her aunt’s bar and restaurant for six months.

The story blends humor, romance, and emotional depth—especially in Ruby’s evolving relationship with Yianni, which is filled with vulnerability and tension. Ruby’s journey of healing from a controlling ex is portrayed with authenticity, making her character deeply relatable.

Told with shifts between past and present, the narrative explores heavy themes like emotional abuse and grief with sensitivity. The emotional arc is compelling, balancing laughter with moments of deep sadness. A notable strength is the couple’s temporary separation, which felt meaningful and necessary for their personal growth. Their eventual reunion is both powerful and well-earned.

Thank you NetGalley & Brilliance Publishing for the ARC!

I was hooked from the beginning!!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

Oh wow! How easily I was transported to the Greek islands. I felt all the feels of this beautifully written story. We are all broken in parts but loved how Ruby overcame it all to make all her dreams come true.
Inspirational, romantic and perfect in every way imagined. This book for sit with me for quite a while and wrap me in the warm Aegean sun that I didn’t even know I needed 🩷

What a romantic getaway this was. Very Mamma Mia coded but in a completely stunning individual way. Just what we needed going into the summer months and a perfect way to welcome spring. Beautiful beautiful beautiful story!

ooooooh i do love these books. this genre, this type of book is just the best!
i cannot tell you enough that if you look to this cover,think you like books like this, read the blurb and are still pulled in then you must read this book. because you will adore it just like i did.
its the perfect fit to the genre and type. the setting, the location, the central and wider story is just superb.
ive wanted to go to this part of the world for so long and this only makes me yearn to do so. i dont think that will ever be possible so these books also capture that little place of my heart.
in this book we have Ruby who had to all but flee a terrible relationship back home. Francesca does this topic so sensitively. she doesnt shy away from it but nor does she overwhelm the reader. and she makes it all about Ruby and what we should know and be feeling about what she went through. desperate for a rest to her heart she retreats to the island of Corfu to help her Aunt Hazel at her seaside taverna. just being where she is starts the healing process. being surrounded by good people only helps her more. a peace begins to weave itself into the painful parts she had to escape from and in its place she starts to grow her own sense of self again.
there is another unexpected and at first unwanted person who adds to this peace. and this is Yianni who works alongside her at the taverna. hes kind,warm and supportive and the connection between the two is both instant but slow and calming. his support and patience is one beautiful thing about him. and their growing relationship is formed on the grounds of that trust and connection.
Ruby is of course still hurting and cautious. can she trust him? can she trust herself?

the first part of the blurb tells you to read this book if you love specific authors. and my my my it couldnt be more right. this book was perfection.

The story centers on Ruby, a woman who’s just escaped a manipulative, emotionally damaging relationship in England. Desperate for a fresh start, she retreats to the Greek island of Corfu to help her Aunt Hazel run a quaint seaside taverna. Surrounded by turquoise waters, olive groves, and the warmth of village life, Ruby hopes to find peace and begin rebuilding her sense of self.

Ruby arrives with the intention of keeping to herself—romance is the last thing on her mind. But she soon meets Yianni, a handsome and kind-hearted local who works alongside her at the taverna. Their connection is undeniable, yet Ruby is cautious. She’s still carrying emotional wounds and isn’t sure she’s ready to open up again.

As Ruby finds her footing in her new environment, she slowly starts confronting the trauma she left behind. The story doesn’t shy away from exploring the long-lasting effects of emotional abuse, and Catlow handles these themes with care and authenticity. Ruby’s inner journey—learning to trust herself, recognize her worth, and make peace with her past—is central to the novel and deeply moving. , Yianni meanwhile, proves to be more than just a love interest—he’s supportive without being pushy, patient, and respectful of Ruby’s boundaries, making their slow-burn romance feel organic and earned.

This is ultimately a story about reclaiming your voice, embracing second chances, and letting the healing power of new surroundings and meaningful connections guide you forward. It’s an uplifting and tender novel, perfect for readers who enjoy stories of personal renewal wrapped in sunlit Mediterranean charm.

I hope one day to visit Greece from how beautifully written this book was about it. I loved the main character so much! I was engulfed by this story from page one. Wonderfully done

A four read, this took me out of my reading slump. A great summer read and some chapters really intrigued me, so many heart breaking thoughts of ruby which you would definitely relate to when reading this. Thank you NetGalley for fitting me this arc

Ruby only expected to learn the restaurant business when she moves to Corfu to work in her aunt Hazel's taverna-she didn't expect to find love. This is a nicely atmospheric romance between Ruby and Yianni but also between everyone and Corfu. It might seem odd that Ruby wants to open a restaurant, given that her parents' place failed and that, more importantly, she's not a cook but she's a hostess who enjoyed bringing people together. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Good characters and fine storytelling make this a good read.

OMG, you guys, Greek Secret is the ultimate summer vibe ☀️💙 If you love Greece (or just dream of vacay-ing there 🏝️), this book is IT.

Ruby’s life is in shambles—she’s lost her job and has no clue what’s next 😩. But then, her aunt (who’s visiting from Corfu ) drops a literal dream opportunity in her lap: come work at her restaurant & bar for six months. At first, Ruby’s like uhh no thanks because she doesn’t want pity, but after some friendly persuasion, she’s packing her bags and heading to paradise ✈️🌊.

And can we TALK about the chemistry between Ruby and Yianni?!? The tension, the vulnerability—I was rooting for them from page one 😍🔥. There are hilarious moments, some real tear-jerkers, and honestly, Ruby’s struggle with her controlling ex hit so close to home for me 💔.

Oh, and if you’re a The Little Blue Door fan, you’ll love the little Easter eggs 👀✨. Francesca just gets it, and I cannot wait to see where she takes us next!! 💕📖

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

A great summer read to take you away to a beautiful beachy town where love blossoms. Ruby has had ups and downs in life and is in need of a restart. Luckily her aunt has invited her to Greece to work in the family restaurant, Greek Secret, which is the perfect place to help Ruby on her way to fulfilling her dream of opening her own restaurant someday.
Greek Secret, by Francesca Callow, takes me away to the island of Corfu in Greece and to the beautiful beaches that Yianni and Ruby explore and enjoy as they get acquainted on a more personal level. I feel as though I’m there, or at least I want to be there. I’m fortunate, that I have a trip to Greece scheduled in a few months and I hope I can experience a bit of the excitement that Ruby felt as she explored Greece and experienced love in a whole new way.
I thank Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to reading more books by Francesca Callow to prepare for my upcoming trip to Greece.

Greek Secret is a fun romantic getaway to the shores of Corfu, offering a journey of self-discovery, renewal, and of course, romance. The narrative follows Ruby, who, after a tumultuous past, seeks a fresh start by assisting her Aunt Hazel in running a small restaurant on the island for six months before returning home (she intends) to run​ her own restaurant.

This book vividly captures the essence of Greece, immersing you in its golden beaches and the warm, bustling atmosphere of local life. The island's charm is intricately woven into the story. While the plot unfolds at a leisurely pace, this tempo allows for a deep exploration of Ruby's journey and the relationships she cultivates, adding layers of richness to the narrative.​

Ruby's character is both relatable and endearing. Her aspirations to carve out a new path resonate deeply, and you will find yourself rooting for her success. Ruby and Yianni have chemistry right from the first few scenes of the book, which I thought was fun. This notwithstanding, their relationship is a definitely a slow burn, and you really get to experience them slowly developing trust in each other, which adds depth to their story.​ (Yes, he's her step-cousin. No, they're not blood related. No, it's not weird unless you make it weird!).

In short, this was a cute, fun read. If you've been to Greece, I think it will transport you right back--it certainly did for me! Greek Secret is a perfect summer read (or a read when it's cold and you want to imagine yourself in paradise instead!). You won't be disappointed.

Unfortunately, I did not finish this book. Perhaps maybe I’ll come back to it, because I love Greece and that’s half the reason I requested, but for right now, I’m not feeling it.
The writing to me was rather flat. Very “I did this, then I did this, and this is how I felt about it, and then this is what I did next.” I wasn’t drawn in or interested in any of the characters or their motivations.
Ruby says she wants to open a restaurant, she even explains why, but she’s drawn to the hospitality aspect of it, which didn’t really add up to me? Like, it threw me that, as far as I could tell, she didn’t cook. And I can understand that she didn’t want to tell anyone about her dream of opening a restaurant because her parents’ failed, but…wouldn’t that be motivation to figure out why? So you can do things differently/not make their mistakes? Also, she has a business degree but has exclusively worked in restaurants, cafes, and bars…her goal seems pretty obvious to me.
I also couldn’t tell how old she was. To me, she read eeeeeearly 20s, but context clues (I don’t remember if it was ever stated) told me she was late twenties at the youngest. Ruby’s voice read to me like an older woman trying to write a how she thinks a younger woman would be (as if she wasn’t one at some point!), and I couldn’t shake that.
Anyway, I wish I liked it, but DNF-ed at 33%.

This book is not for me. The pace is slow and the story focused on details rather than action.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Francesca Catlow and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

3,5⭐ - sun, romance on a Greek island? Yes, please!

This book follows Ruby, hoping to get a fresh start after a traumatic experience with her ex, she travels to Corfu to work in her aunt Hazel's taverna. Upon arriving she meets Yianni, will he make Ruby forget about her past?

This was such an easy and fun read, with at times some heavy/sad topics. I loved following along Ruby's journey and the relationship she makes on the sunny Greek island.

The Greek setting in this book is perfect for summer time. I loved how the main female character was writing. She had great depth to her character.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to receive this book for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book very much. I am thinking of going to Greece and reading this book made me want to go even more. It was a feel good book and the descriptions of Greece made it more intriguing.

I enjoyed the writing of Francesca Catlow and look foward to reading more books by her.

Greek Secret by Francesca Catlow is a sun-soaked escape to Corfu, filled with romance, self-discovery, and second chances. When Ruby arrives on the island to help her Aunt Hazel run a taverna, she’s determined to focus on her fresh start—not on Yianni, the charming colleague she can’t seem to ignore. But as the past she tried to leave behind begins to catch up with her, she must decide whether to take a leap of faith and embrace the new life that awaits.

Catlow’s writing captures the beauty of Corfu with vivid descriptions that transport you straight to its golden beaches and bustling tavernas. The chemistry between Ruby and Yianni is slow-burning yet undeniable, making for a heartfelt romance that unfolds naturally. While the story is light and perfect for a holiday read, it also touches on deeper themes of healing and learning to trust again.

A beautifully written, feel-good romance with just the right amount of drama, Greek Secret is perfect for anyone looking for an escapist read that balances warmth and emotion. Whether you’re a fan of Catlow’s Little Blue Door series or discovering her work for the first time, this book will leave you longing for a Greek getaway of your own.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

There was something about the step cousin thing that really put me off. I get they’re not technically related but it’s still weiiiiiiiird. Aside from that I felt like the story dragged on a little bit, too much repetition around the main characters dreams etc.
Definitely made me want to visit Greece though :)