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wolfalex's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
lynnedf's review against another edition
4.0
Honestly - I started this book and thought “ok, this will probably be fine; not a great read... but ok...” And then I kept reading.
4 star read.
It started slow and muddled for me - Poppy and Chloe’s characters seemed too similar (in the first few pages), and I found it difficult to keep track of who was who. Chloe is obviously the main character, since she’s our narrator, and every once and a while you’d get the narration from another character- Elodie- and to be honest I spent 50% of the book wondering how these two stories align.
And then it all fell into place. This book had a great mysterious aspect to it, although at times Chloe felt a little melodramatic, but it all worked for the final result.
The absolute beauty of this book, and the reason I really got into it, was Greece. Karen Swan did a brilliant job of bringing the reader to Greece - the descriptions made me feel like I was on a yatch in the middle of the ocean, enjoying one drink too many. It was complete and perfect escapism.
This is my second Karen Swan novel, and I appreciate that although her books are of a romantic nature, she doesn’t get boggled down in having vivid sexual encounters- because there isn’t really a need. She leaves enough to the imagination and fills the rest of the pages with a good little mystery.
I would definitely say that the last half of the book was stronger than the first half, but that this is a great read to escape from the everyday and just enjoy.
Recommended - especially as a vacation, beach or summer read. Light, enjoyable, and it will leave you thinking about Chloe and Joe.
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.
4 star read.
It started slow and muddled for me - Poppy and Chloe’s characters seemed too similar (in the first few pages), and I found it difficult to keep track of who was who. Chloe is obviously the main character, since she’s our narrator, and every once and a while you’d get the narration from another character- Elodie- and to be honest I spent 50% of the book wondering how these two stories align.
And then it all fell into place. This book had a great mysterious aspect to it, although at times Chloe felt a little melodramatic, but it all worked for the final result.
The absolute beauty of this book, and the reason I really got into it, was Greece. Karen Swan did a brilliant job of bringing the reader to Greece - the descriptions made me feel like I was on a yatch in the middle of the ocean, enjoying one drink too many. It was complete and perfect escapism.
This is my second Karen Swan novel, and I appreciate that although her books are of a romantic nature, she doesn’t get boggled down in having vivid sexual encounters- because there isn’t really a need. She leaves enough to the imagination and fills the rest of the pages with a good little mystery.
I would definitely say that the last half of the book was stronger than the first half, but that this is a great read to escape from the everyday and just enjoy.
Recommended - especially as a vacation, beach or summer read. Light, enjoyable, and it will leave you thinking about Chloe and Joe.
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.
thebooktrail88's review against another edition
visit the locations in the novel Let's travel to Greece and New York!
If you've ever wanted to know about the concierge business for the rich and famous, then this novel will make you gasp and if you know a lot about it - it'll still make you gasp. It's outrageous some of the demands made upon the staff. I wouldn't have the patience to bite my tongue as some of these characters do.
Anyway, this is a fun summer read. A bit Housewives of (insert city name here) but full of sun, plastic people and an insight into how the other half live. The grass is not greener here - it's fake!
The New York strand of the novel is a story of craziness and working hard. Once we get to Greece (and it's quite late in the book) there's a sense of calm and serenity. Of course if you happen to fall in love with the man you're supposed to be working for, that feeling is not going to last for long.
Greece is the place to be here and once there, this novel transports you to a bout a house hunting and a dream that that could be you. A beach read as much is set in a very nice whitewashed coastal area!
katesking's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
jas_mv's review
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
chloeandbooks's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
I had such high expectations going into this and sadly, they didn't deliver. Maybe it's my fault, but from the title, cover and synopsis, I was expecting a cute romance taking place in Greece. But actually, it takes 200 pages for them to get to Greece and only like 60-70 pages actually take place in Greece, so that was a big disappointment.
I also wouldn't have qualified this book as a romance novel, which would have been okay if not for the romance between the main character and the love interest to be so rushed, underdeveloped and flat. I absolutely thought they had no chemistry at all. One day they talk a little bit and the other they're in love and she can't stop thinking about him, but she's also still kinda in love with her ex? Makes no sense to me.
The 'good' part for me would be the mystery aspect, but that only came up in the 150 last pages or so. But that definitely kept me reading and it's the only reason it got 2.5 stars instead of 2.
So yeah I went into this expecting so much more than what I got so disappointment is the word I'm thinking of when I think of this book.
**
OHH wow I need to read this.
1) Greece is the #1 country I want to visit and I've always wanted to go there so reading about books taking place in Greece make me super happy (and also super jealous. I used to really want to be Lena from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants haha)
2) The main character's name is Chloe! I don't think I've ever read a book with my name as the main character's name so this is exciting!!
I had such high expectations going into this and sadly, they didn't deliver. Maybe it's my fault, but from the title, cover and synopsis, I was expecting a cute romance taking place in Greece. But actually, it takes 200 pages for them to get to Greece and only like 60-70 pages actually take place in Greece, so that was a big disappointment.
I also wouldn't have qualified this book as a romance novel, which would have been okay if not for the romance between the main character and the love interest to be so rushed, underdeveloped and flat. I absolutely thought they had no chemistry at all. One day they talk a little bit and the other they're in love and she can't stop thinking about him, but she's also still kinda in love with her ex? Makes no sense to me.
The 'good' part for me would be the mystery aspect, but that only came up in the 150 last pages or so. But that definitely kept me reading and it's the only reason it got 2.5 stars instead of 2.
So yeah I went into this expecting so much more than what I got so disappointment is the word I'm thinking of when I think of this book.
**
OHH wow I need to read this.
1) Greece is the #1 country I want to visit and I've always wanted to go there so reading about books taking place in Greece make me super happy (and also super jealous. I used to really want to be Lena from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants haha)
2) The main character's name is Chloe! I don't think I've ever read a book with my name as the main character's name so this is exciting!!
ellaada's review against another edition
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
effiereadsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Easy, laid-back read. Perfect for lounging in the sun and enjoying the day. Definitely had a few twists and turns that I saw coming, but there were a few surprises as well. Some of the characters could’ve been developed more and it might have added to the book, but other than that it was a pretty solid read!