A magical villa.
A life-changing summer…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.
Can she open herself up to the possibility of love and find the strength to start again?
Beneath the Lemon Trees by Emma Burstall is released 7 September 2024. Published by Boldwood Books and available across digital, audio and print formats.
You can find out more about the book on Amazon, Goodreads and StoryGraph.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to publication. All views expressed are my own. This review, or parts thereof, may also be published on my social medial channels. All links are correct at the time of publication.
Emma Burstall
Emma Burstall is the bestselling author of women’s fiction, including the Tremarnock series. Emma studied English at Cambridge University before becoming a journalist for local and national newspapers and women’s magazines. She lives in London and has three children.
Connect with Emma Burstall at EmmaBurstall.com and on Facebook, Instagram and Threads
Review
Beneath the Lemon Trees completely stole my heart from the very first page. Emma Burstall creates the kind of story that wraps itself around you so effortlessly that, before long, you can almost feel the warmth of the Cretan sunshine, smell the lemons drifting through the air and hear the gentle sound of the sea below Villa Ariadne.
At the centre of the story is Stella, struggling beneath the weight of grief, heartbreak and the collapse of her marriage. Arriving in Crete with her family, she hopes for space to breathe and heal, but what follows is far more emotional and complicated than a simple summer escape. Family tensions simmer beneath the surface, old wounds begin to reopen and difficult truths threaten the fragile peace Stella is desperately trying to hold onto.
What I loved so much about this novel is the way Emma Burstall balances heartbreak with hope so beautifully. Beneath the idyllic surroundings lies a deeply emotional story about loss, healing, forgiveness and finding the strength to begin again. Stella’s journey felt incredibly real and heartfelt, and I became completely invested in both her struggles and her growing sense of self as the story unfolded.
And then there is Villa Ariadne itself – breathtaking, comforting and impossible not to fall in love with. Burstall writes the setting so vividly that it becomes far more than simply a backdrop to the story. The villa, the lemon groves, the sparkling sea and the slower pace of island life create such a powerful sense of escape that every chapter felt like a little retreat from reality.
The gorgeous descriptions of Crete, the delicious food, the warmth of the locals and the emotional depth running throughout the story all came together perfectly. This is exactly the kind of book you want to lose yourself in on a sunny afternoon, beside a pool or curled up dreaming of your own Greek escape.
Beautifully written, emotional, uplifting and completely absorbing, Beneath the Lemon Trees is a truly wonderful read that stayed with me long after I turned the final page.
#EmmaBurstall #BeneathTheLemonTrees #VillaAriadne
#BoldwoodBooks #NetGalley
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