When you are made redundant from your job with no notice and your mother strong arms you into going to Santorini to “rescue” your grandmother, what can you do but hop on a plane? And when it turns out said grandmother has married for the 9th time, spent all of her life savings on a bookshop and needs you to fake romance the landlord’s grandson then that’s what you’ll do. At least that’s what Evie finds herself caught up in when she jets to the Greek island of Santorini to help her grandmother Floretta.

So can she persuade, tall, dark and handsome Georgios, who looks like he’s stepped from the pages of one of the books Evie read as a book scout for a film production company, that she’s his happily ever after? At least long enough for Floretta to make the rent money. It’s not like she’s going to fall for him in real life…

Evie is bamboozled into helping Floretta but soon becomes caught up in the romance of running the bookshop and book night club and making it a success. She also starts to enjoy her time with Georgios, breaking her dating rules but finding she enjoys spending time with a fellow book lover. A city girl, she’s highly strung, introverted but is won over by island life.

Floretta is a character. Whirlwind, never still for a moment and always scheming, she’s seen her way through eight previous husbands who have all died in extreme accidents, including one with a drop bear.

Through her not so gentle machinations, Evie finds friendship, a place she feels comfortable, courage to try new things and love. Or and six dogs, one of whom likes to steal wallets.

I listened to this on audio and having been to Santorini before, made me want to return to the island filled with blue roofed white buildings and glittering sea and to visit a small bookshop in a little village in the hills.

A lovely, fun read.

I was fascinated by the job Evie had (or rather lost) at the start of the book, a book scout. I hadn’t heard of that before, reading books with a view to seeing if they might be commissioned for a film. I’ve been doing a bit investigating and apparently book scouts often read books with a view to them being translated too. When she lost that job, going to help her grandmother in her bookshop on a Greek island didn’t sound like too bad an idea. How gorgeous is that cover? I’ve never been to Santorini before but I’m certainly tempted now!

Her Gran, Floretta, was hilarious. A lady in her eighties, she lived life to the full and had no intention of growing old gracefully. Evie’s family were concerned about her on hearing she had taken on the bookshop and got married yet again. I almost lost count of how many husbands she had had and it was quite amusing hearing about what had happened to all the relationships. Floretta was an incurable romantic though and hoped that husband number nine (or was it ten?) would prove to be the one. She was my favourite character in the book.

Evie realised that her grandmother was experiencing money problems and found that the new husband was allegedly working on the oilrigs to earn more money. With the landlord threatening to sell the bookshop out from under her, Floretta persuaded Evie to fake date the landlord’s grandson Georgios. Fake dating is a common enough theme in novels but this one was a bit different as only one half of the couple knew about it! Of course in the fake dating trope you absolutely expect real love to develop and the couple to get together – you’d feel cheated if they didn’t – but the fun is in watching it develop.

I really enjoyed reading about the bookshop and meeting the customers who visited. There were some exasperating customers and some who were so lovely. I also enjoyed reading about the creation of the book club and the literary café Epeolatry which mean ‘the worship of words’. Isn’t that just perfect?

Summer at the Santorini Bookshop is a light, escapist read, funny and romantic, perfect for enjoying in the sunshine. Or to whisk you away from a rainy day at home!

An absolutely delightful story. I loved the very sensible granddaughter being despatched to try and bring her lovely grandmother into line, it made me laugh out loud at times.
The fake dating and love story was great too, mixed with a book shop and beautiful surroundings, What's not to like?
I loved all of the characters, and it was a great story too, with great twists at the end.

A cute feelgood book perfect to listen to on holiday while lying by the pool.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to listen to an advanced copy of this audiobook in return for a fair and honest review.

A light fluffy read which is exactly what ot says on the tin. With some added interest in the form of grandma's wild lies

When Evie is made redundant at her job and her grandmother gets married for the 8th time and in so doing taken over a bookshop in Santorini, Evie’s mother and sister decide it's the perfect time for Evie to go over and see if she can help out and make sure her grandmother is ok. When she gets there, Evie’s grandmother asks her to pretend to date the landlord’s son to keep him from closing the bookshop because they’re behind on the rent, but there is much more to the story!
This was a fun, fluffy and entertaining listen ans I love the idea of a bookshop with a club in the back that has a rent-a-dog service where patrons can come and rent dogs that are at the shelter and pet them while they’re reading books at the bookstore! Who wouldn’t love that? The characters were lots of fun-especially Gran-she gave Evie a run for her money! Then there was the “fake” romance between Georgios and Evie that turned into something real and sweet. The whole thing was just a fun way to escape for the day and I will be looking forward to more by this author.
Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for my review.

Loved this audiobook, took me to a beautiful hot country I could easily imagine. The narrator was great, enjoyed the characters, especially gran, there were times when I giggled out loud. Would highly recommend, so easy to listen to.

A refreshing summer story full of love, mystery and lots of fun wit and charm sprinkled throughout. With the added bonus of lots of dogs and their antics.
The author brings to life the Island of Santorini in the words, showcasing the beautiful village and culture.
This was a new author to me, but I will for sure be picking up some of her other books to read/listen to.

This is a cosy, light, easy read.
Set in santorini in a bookshop. We have two people fake dating both from the book industry.
We have a secretive granma, nosey interefering mum.
Theres family drama, sun, books, dogs lost of rescus dogs all with their own characteristics.
Including a dog who loves stealing wallets.

If you looking for a summer read, or something to take on holiday pick up this. Or even any rebecca raisin books.

BOOK REVIEW: Summer at the Santorini Bookshop
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I knew I would like this book just from the title! I mean what’s not to love about a story based around a book shop in Greece?!

After being made redundant, bookworm Evie goes to stay with her Gran who has just opened a bookshop in Santorini. Evie sets out at helping her mischievous Gran and ends up getting involved in all kinds of capers to help make a success of the bookshop, including fake-dating the landlord’s godson!

If you love books and romance this one’s for you! It’s a perfect summer holiday read - pure escapism in book form!

Georgia Maguire did a fabulous job of narrator and really brought it to life.

Thank you to HQ Audiobook and HarperCollins UK Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Loved it, full of books, sun and romance.

Evie goes to help her gran in her bookshop in sunny Greece. The bookshop is threatened to be closed by the owner so Gran sets a plan in action, she sets up her daughter with the gorgeous grandson of the owner.

There is nothing to love about this book, full of remarkable characters that will leave you wanting more. You can’t go wrong setting a book in a bookshop and one in Santorini.

I listened to the audio book, the narrator read it very well and you can immerse yourself into the book. She was easy to listen to and brought the book to life.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

A feel good story

Book Scout Evie has just been made redundant from her dream job, before she has chance to lick her wounds and recover. She is sent to Santorini to help her wayward Gran out of a pickle.

Floretta, Evie’s 84 year old Nan has married her 9th husband and settled down to run a bookshop but suddenly things have started to go wrong. She’s running out of money and has been arrested for disturbing the peace after a row with her landlord. Can Evie help sort the mess out?

Evie is socially awkward and a self confessed book worm/people hater how has she become embroiled in her grans plan to woo the grandson of the Landlord so he doesn’t take his book shop back? Can she pull it off? What happens when fake dating turns real?

This story made me laugh, it lifted the mood and was an enjoyable listen. This is my 1st by this author but I am keen to explore more.
The narrator did a fantastic job of portraying the story and I enjoyed listening to it.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this title

I absolutely loved this book. Immediately I felt like I was teleported to Santorini (on my bucketlist of to go places) so listening to this book simply enveloped me in lots of feel good holiday vibes but it was more than that.

The deeper message of love of family, support network, books, rescue dogs and romance and more all combined was a beautiful well written story that had me feeling as if I was there walking alongside Evie in her works to save the bookstore of her beloved Gran. I particularly loved the idea of how they were going to save the store by use of events etc in such a picturesque scenic place was simply beautiful.

The narration was well done and all characters truly came to life in all the right places absolutely beautiful romcom lighthearted enjoyable feelgood listen.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK audio for the opportunity to listen to this book for an open & honest review.

Summer at the Santorini Bookshop | Rebecca Raisin

Evie has been made redundant. Just as she tries to figure things out, she is sent on a snooping mission to Santorini. Her grandmother seems to be in great trouble: running a bookshop, recently married to husband number nine, and having money troubles.

After arriving in Fira, she bumps into the landlord's grandson and is roped in a fake-dating ploy by her gandmother to keep the landlord off their backs. Could she keep the ruse when he's too good to be true?

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I was lent a copy of this book in place of an honest review. Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley.
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I particularly requested this one because I travelled to Santorini myself during the time of reading. I spent only hours there but I managed to picture it through Raisin's writing albiet described briefly.

This has been an entertaining read. I didn't particularly like the main character, nor was I convinced of the chemistry between two mains. But I like them enough to read through. I was more curious to know everything about Gran though-- Such a carefree character.

Overall, nice beach read.

Funny, Witty, Lively! This book is a perfect mix of all. Following the story told by the eyes of a bookworm(just like us) from LA to the Greek Islands! A story of three generations of women who love, live and enjoy their life in different ways. (Note: Grandma is totally a bad arse!)

Add to it that the story about people who love books, and call them “Book Babies”. It’s a must read! This is a BookTok Lovers dream!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a copy of this book in audible format.

I loved it! Funny plot and characters and an ideal beach read. It's made me want to book a holiday to Greece ASAP.

🎧Audio Book Review🎧

Summer At The Santorini Bookshop
Rebecca Raisin

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So, I never processed to be any good at Geography - and I don't really travel much - but I was drawn to this as my daughter has just moved to Italy and I really thought this was based in Italy! 🫣
Anyway, I'm so, so glad I picked this up still, because I absolutely blooming loved it!

For anyone else like me, Santorini is one of the Greek islands and what a treat it was to escape there for a few hours whilst reading this book.

When Evie loses her book scout job she heads off to check up on her eccentric Gran and take a break in the gorgeous Greek sun.
After her 9th marriage, Gran has just bought a bookshop and has grand plans for its refurbishment and future events.
With the debts mounting up, Gran has a scheme that might just buy her some time with the landlord - but all is not quite as it seems.

I love, love, loved Evie.
For many of us book nerds out here, she is just one of the most relatable characters I've ever met!
She doesn't do people - escapes into her books - only dates her book boyfriends and is socially awkward to boot.
But, when asked to fake date Georgios to help her gran out, she's able to put aside her fears and step out of her comfort zone completely.

It was pretty obvious, right from the start, where this one was going - but what a journey we're taken on.
The development of the relationship between Evie and Georgios was beautiful to watch. It blossomed so naturally and we just knew that things were going to get tricky later on.
The twists within this thread were brilliant and had me chuckling as I read.

Gran (as I was on audiobook, I'm not attempting to spell her name right!) was amazing! For an 80 something year old, she was so full of life, mischief, loyalty and love.
If I make it to that ripe old age - I definitely want to be like her!

As if this couldn't get any better, we have the bookshop and all of its varied characters.
Obviously being on a small greek island, we see a wide range of unusual personalities with all kinds of foibles and with the language barrier too, this was a constant source of hilarity!
I also loved that there were lots of book related niggles and quips - I especially loved the complaint about books in a series being different sizes!! 😠

This was such a joy to read and I can't recommend it enough.
If you love books, romance, beautiful settings, a bit of mystery and mischief ....oh and let's not forget the dogs!! Then this one is definitely for you!



💕Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC copy - this is my honest review 💕

Summer at the Santorini Bookshop by Rebecca Raisin

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

A Greek island holiday. A fake-dating pact. A chance at true love?

After losing her job as a book scout, hopeless romantic Evie needs a fresh start. So when she hears that her eccentric grandmother has just taken on a small bookshop in Santorini, Evie jumps at the chance to visit her.

But life on the island is not as idyllic as it first seems. Gran has a tempestuous relationship with her landlord and he’s threatening to take the bookshop away from her. So when Gran asks Evie to fake a romance with her landlord’s Greek God of a grandson, Georgios, to keep the family on side, she reluctantly agrees.

As the sun sets on Evie’s Greek holiday, can she save the bookshop – and fake date her way to love?

My Opinion

Evie doesn't need to be asked twice to keep an eye on her grandmother in Santorini following her arrest. As a book lover she jumps at the opportunity to come up with ideas to save the bookshop. Rebecca Raisin has written some great characters and I especially enjoyed reading about the antics of the rescue dogs - I would recommend keeping a close eye on your wallet. This book will whisk you away to Greece and will keep you smiling as you see how both sides of the story unfold. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Rating 4/5

This was a cute, happy ever after type tale. It had some nice modern day details. The main characters grandma was a real
Character- so adorable in a rascally way.
The ending was simple and predictable, but sometimes that’s what you need from a book.

I enjoyed this story but I think it is a book I would have preferred to read rather than listen to. The characters were interesting and it was easy to become involved as the story progressed.