My Big Greek Summer: A feel good funny romantic comedy about second chances!

Mandy and Danny have been together since school with only a small break before marrying some eight years earlier. Work and Mandy’s need to ‘help’ everyone at the pub where she is bar manager has interfered with their ‘together time’, and they’ve fallen into a routine of take-aways, television and too tired. Of course, this is where Danny decides it’s his chance to ‘try something new’, leaving Mandy devastated, lonely and hopeless, her lack of focus at work has her boss ‘suggesting’ a break. Remembering a favorite childhood holiday in Greece, Mandy books a hotel and flight and is off to Rhodes for a near-fortnight stay. Far from the bustling and bright seaside she remembered, the hotel is sparkling clean but run down, many shops are shuttered, the pool is up the road at another small establishment, and the all-inclusive resort is teeming with both tourists and money – leaving little for the older, established (or now shuttered) community. Despite the changes, the time is exactly what Mandy needs, first to regroup and relax, then to test the waters with the very handsome Costas, and think of a way to make her childhood memories come to life. She loved that holiday and it seems as if her entire vacation will be wasted if she’s not able to make a difference – however difficult it may seem. Starting the wheels in motion for renovations and a music festival – Mandy heads back to Liverpool – still working out details and ideas, and helping in every way she can with the festival. Of course, Danny’s fling was simply that and he’s back and wanting her again – a series of choices and the ‘old familiar’ in which she wasn’t really happy, or can she take the chance and grab for the life she wants? Greece is calling….. A solid debut with a bit of extra padding and some moments where Mandy was too passively existing with situations that were the ‘safe’ ones, and it almost felt as if the lessons (albeit small ones) learned in her days away were simply there to serve the moment. But, Mandy is made of stronger stuff – even loving (and we see just how much she does through her descriptions ) Liverpool, there’s something missing – and that is the frisson of excitement that she had in Greece when every day was something new, different and exciting. A lovely introduction to this author’s heart and storytelling – I look forward to more. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

The story is quite boring..