A review by tessa_talks_books
Take a Chance on Greece: Prepare to fall in love with the romance of the summer by Emily Kerr

5.0

What's it about (in a nutshell):
Take A Chance on Greece by Emily Kerr is a delightfully funny tale of a woman who is anything but a party girl, waking up with a tattoo of a man's name and having no memory of getting it or what inspired her to get it. Her quest to discover the origins of the tattoo sends her on a journey of self-discovery that changes her life completely.

Initial Expectations (before beginning the book):
The cover is cute and cartoonish, depicting a fabulous view of the Mediterranean, I presume since the title mentions Greece. From that, I suppose the story will be a humorous holiday-type story. The blurb confirms this by describing a The Hangover type story which should be a lot of fun.

Actual Reading Experience:
Take A Chance on Greece made me smile my whole way through the book. It is a fun, feel-good story with a great setting – my ideal setting.

I enjoyed observing Lydia's growth above all else. This character-driven story follows her journey to break free from a life that trapped her and take a chance on the unknown for which she only has a mysterious tattoo to guide her. I think inside of all of us is that desire to take a chance on something that could be great – to drop everything and follow our heart's dream where it leads. Whether that involves a person, a location, or even a job change – we all have those dreams that responsibilities make seem so far away. So, reading a story about someone who does just that is incredibly relatable and allowed me to do the same vicariously.

The first-person narration and the surprising twists and turns create an incredibly fast-paced story that held my focus from beginning to end. I think the twists were my favorite part, as I didn't expect them based on the genre. They are several laughs too, which I always hope for with a romantic comedy, and the romance aspect is so natural and sweet. I loved that it wasn't instant love, as it could have easily been given the premise.

And I can't forget to mention the setting. I think part of the reason I related and rooted for Lydia is because that setting is my dream. Not specifically that island but any island, though Greek Islands with the white buildings and unreal blue water is such a visual dream and stunning setting.

Characters:
Lydia is the main character and narrator. She is an accountant in a relationship with her boss, who treats her horribly – paying her less than everyone else and dictating everything. But once she realizes what's going on – how controlling and self-serving he is- she changes drastically. I admire her strength of character and her sense of adventure. She is determined, brave, and loves to explore. She is a character who is easy to get behind.

What It Reminds Me Of:
The Hangover in a much smaller, more focused story

To Read or Not to Read:
If you are looking for a book that will take you on a fun adventure to a beautiful location, Take A Chance on Greece is just that book. It will delight and surprise you!