Can a stay at a magical villa help her find her way to start again?
When Cleo arrives at Villa Ariadne on the sun-drenched island of Crete, she’s hoping for space to breathe – and perhaps some clarity about the life she no longer recognises. Newly divorced and estranged from one of her children, she’s not sure what comes next.
Sharing the villa with a small group of women, each carrying their own private heartaches, Cleo is drawn into the gentle rhythm of island life. Beneath the lemon trees and endless blue skies, friendships begin to form and long-buried hopes stir.
But when an unexpected event shakes their peaceful escape, the women are forced to come together in ways none of them anticipated. And as Villa Ariadne works its quiet magic once more, Cleo may discover that even in uncertainty, second chances are still possible.
The Villa of Secrets by Emma Burstall is published by Boldwood Books on 20 May 2026. You can find out more about the book on Amazon, Goodreads and StoryGraph. With thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing an advance review copy of this novel.
Emma Burstall
Emma Burstall writes the most wonderfully warm and escapist stories, filled with emotion, relationships, friendship, healing and second chances. Her recent novels transport readers to the beautiful surroundings of Crete and the unforgettable Villa Ariadne, beginning with Beneath the Lemon Trees, followed by Beside the Turquoise Sea, and now The Villa of Secrets.
Alongside her Greek island novels, Emma has also written the Tremarnock series set in Cornwall, as well as standalone novels including The House on Rockaway Beach, The Darling Girls and Never Close Your Eyes.
A former journalist who studied English at Cambridge University, Emma now lives between South West London and Surrey. When she’s not writing, she enjoys hiking, reading and wild swimming — something that somehow feels perfectly fitting for the atmospheric, sun-soaked worlds she creates within her novels.
If you’d like to escape to Villa Ariadne for yourself, or discover more of Emma’s beautifully warm and heartfelt stories, you can find her here:
Review
Villa Ariadne sounds like the kind of place most of us would dream of escaping to – sunshine, incredible food, beautiful views and the chance to leave real life behind for a while.
Emma Burstall completely swept me away to Crete with a story full of warmth, emotion, friendship and just enough drama to keep me glued to the pages. I was very glad to be experiencing it all from the comfort of my cosy reading chair though because honestly some of the events in this book had me thinking there is absolutely no way I would cope in real life!
Although this works perfectly as a standalone story, this is actually the third of Emma Burstall’s Villa Ariadne books I’ve read and I still can’t quite believe how every single one feels completely fresh despite sharing the same setting. There’s never any sense of repetition – just a familiar warmth and quiet magic surrounding the villa itself and the wonderful locals living nearby. As Katerina says, the villa chooses who gets to stay there, and once again it felt like these characters found themselves exactly where they were meant to be.
The food descriptions had my mouth watering throughout, despite my very unadventurous palate meaning I’d probably survive on plain bread while everyone else enjoyed the incredible Greek dishes being described. The setting itself felt so vivid and comforting that I could almost picture myself sitting beneath the lemon trees looking out at the sea.
What I loved most though was the connection between the women staying at the villa. Each of them arrives carrying their own heartbreak, worries or struggles and all hoping to somehow “fix” themselves, but the friendships that slowly develop feel incredibly natural and genuine. Nothing felt forced or overdramatic, just emotional, comforting and very real. It was one of those stories that quietly wraps itself around you without you even noticing.
I also loved spending time amongst the locals surrounding Villa Ariadne because they bring so much warmth and heart to these books. By the final page I honestly wasn’t ready to leave Crete behind again.
Emma Burstall really does write the perfect Greek escape and every visit to Villa Ariadne leaves me wanting to book a trip immediately – even if I’d spend the whole holiday hiding from the drama while eating bread and admiring the view!
#TheVillaOfSecrets #EmmaBurstall #VillaAriadne
#BoldwoodBooks #NetGalley
More from Villa Ariadne
One of the things I’ve loved most about these books is returning to the atmosphere of Villa Ariadne — the sunshine, the sea, the emotional journeys and that beautiful sense of escape Emma creates so effortlessly.
If you’d like to discover more of the stories set in Crete, you can also read my reviews for:
🌿 Beneath the Lemon Trees (2024) Beneath the Lemon Trees by Emma Burstall
🌊 Beside the Turquoise Sea (2025) Beside the Turquoise Sea by Emma Burstall
Although each novel works perfectly as a standalone, there’s something truly special about revisiting Villa Ariadne and the world surrounding it.
See About My Reviews and Review FAQ for full star rating explanations and review guidelines. This review may also appear on my social media channels and selected book platforms. All links were correct at the time of publication. DISCLOSURE: I received a review copy of this book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley. As always, my thoughts are honest and my own. This review is original content. Please credit and link back if you wish to quote.
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