The imagery in this book is amazing, the descriptions of the villa and the towns with all its surroundings was absolutely stunning. I went into this blind and I was so shocked! When our main characters decide to take a trip, I expected a cute little story about finding love again within a marriage, and while the book does focus on this. Nothing else is like it seems. There’s twists and some heavier themes, but wow it was great!

A fabulous read so descriptive and beautifully written. Pure excapism it took me to Crete for awhile. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher's for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Looked forward to reading this from Emma Burstall after having enjoyed her previous book Under the Lemon Trees. This story is set in Crete in a dreamy villa that Edie visits, as a reader I was so jealous of Edie! It’s a wonderful escapist novel that you can easily lose yourself in.

Emma Burstall's "Beside the Turquoise Sea" is a nice little read with a few twists that come as a surprise to the reader.
Set in a village in Crete, the description of the villa and surrounding area so beautifully portrayed it makes the reader want to visit.
The underlying tone of suspense among the characters really intrigued and kept me engaged. The story ends with some unresolved conflict which leads me to believe a sequel is to follow. This is book 2 of a series so far.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A book set with a glorious back drop of sea, sand and a gorgeous holiday villa. I was delighted to catch up with some of the more quirky residents of the island. With a smattering of intrigue and relationship tests this is a glorious summer read.

Starting the book I was very confused, had I read this before? No, not published yet. Tracked back to a book I’d read, under the lemon tree.
Virtually the same set up but different characters from UK. Disappointing as I felt I’ve been here before.
About 1/3 way in the story opens and I’m getting the feeling of wanting to read more.
Many twists and explosive times.
Yes I did eventually love the book. But give it 4* due to the ‘repetitive’ start.

Oh, I absolutely adore the escapes I take with Emma Burstall, and this one felt like a warm hug wrapped in Mediterranean sunshine. From the very first page, I felt as if I’d been dropped straight into that beautiful villa in Crete — surrounded by olive trees, blue skies, and the sound of the sea. It’s a special sort of magic that only this author can create.

Emma Burstall has this remarkable gift for capturing the beauty and complexity of relationships — making every character feel like someone you already know, or would love to meet. The quiet loneliness that settles when the kids have left home, the awkward spaces that can arise in a long marriage, and the hopeful moments where change and connection can still find their way… she writes it all with such warmth and sincerity. You don’t just read her stories — you live them.

Edie, Ralph, their friends, and the fiery, intriguing Jessica felt completely real to me. I was invested from the very first chapter, drawn in by their dynamics, their struggles, and their moments of belonging and rediscovery. The Villa Ariadne became a character too — a sun-drenched backdrop that felt as vivid and inviting as the people within its walls.

That’s the beauty of an Emma Burstall book: it’s more than a story, it’s an experience. The way she weaves emotion, setting, and character together creates a world you don’t want to leave, a place you carry with you long after the final page is turned.

Brilliant book, lovely characters, a dreamy setting… what more do you need? Five sunshine stars from me! 🌞🌊📚

Can the Villa Ariadne work its magic once more
Revealing secrets, helping guests their relationships to explore?
This time Edie and her husband, Ralph, are coming this way
Hoping to rekindle their nearby honeymoon stay.

The rift between them has them growing apart
But neither really wants that, it'd break their heart.
So a stay at the villa with their closest friends
Could help them all to brighter ends.

A fifth guest is invited to join these four
An independent colleague to get to know more.
However, angst and conflict soon arise
Then there's an even bigger surprise!

The villa is beautiful, the setting is great
But what happens then could be a huge twist of fate!
There are revelations, discoveries and so much more
As life around the villa they get to explore.

A holiday to change things for ever more
A fantastic read with twists galore!
For my copy of this book I say a huge thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

The locale sounds beautiful but just started off slowly and I could not really get into this book. I was hopeful! The cover is beautiful!

I read the first book about Villa Ariadne, but it's readable as a standalone, offering sufficient details about the villa and its history. It has new visitors who need the villa's mystical influences. Its focus is on two midlife couples and their relationships, as well as a single late invitee. All the relationships are troubled, but as the story unfolds, it's evident that there is an addictive mix of darkness and healing at work. I enjoyed this story more than the first one I read, perhaps because I understood that it isn't a cosy and lighthearted read. The resolution is satisfying and believable. I like the mystical ethos, the complex relationships and the suspense. The setting is vibrant and vivid, providing a stark contrast to the relationship dynamics.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Beside the Turquoise Sea by Emma Burstall was a beautifully written book from start to finish. I just wanted to repack my suitcase and travel to a Greek island, walk on the sand and watch the sea go in and out of the beach and take in all the smells and atmosphere. Beside the Turquoise Sea just done that, I dreamt I was back on my holiday.
This book was a heartwarming and is about Edie, who has begun to feel really lonely in her family home where she shares with her husband Ralph, their children are both all grown up, they have moved out, and living their own dreams. Edie really hopes on returning to Crete, where she and Ralph spent their honeymoon, hopefully this will help heal the growing rift between them both. So, she goes on the internet and finds a perfect place and in the Crete Islands, a beautiful villa called Villa Ariadne. She contacts the owner and arranges the dates with them on when she would like to go on holiday. When they get there the villa has breathtaking views and is very peaceful. This is a perfect place to spend a week together, along with their closest friends Mac and Hannah.
Edie invites a fifth person a her feisty, independent colleague Jessica, as she felt sorry for her.

It's clear from the moment they all arrive that the villa is very special, and under the golden Greek sun, it looks perfect. Edie hopes to rekindle relationship between her and her husband as she’s feels it is slipping away from her.

But when conflict arises between two of her fellow guests, will Edie be prepared for revelations that could change her life forever?

This book is So Good I could not put it down. I loved it. I highly recommend this book.

I enjoyed reading Beside the Turquoise Sea by Emma Burstall. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

I was rather expecting a holiday escape – the village in Southern Crete and the wonderful Villa Ariadne are beautifully drawn, and you can certainly feel the sunshine – but this book turned out to be rather more than an opportunity for some armchair travel.

Now an empty nester, Edie feels the excitement has gone from her marriage to Ralph – but hopes they can grow closer again when they return to the island where they had their honeymoon for the half-term holidays. They’re joined by friends Mac and Hannah – with a few qualms, as it’s become fairly obvious that they’re having a few problems in their marriage too, their frequent arguments becoming a little uncomfortable. And, at the last minute, they also invite Edie’s single work colleague Jessica – the evening they spent together before the holiday gave them the feeling she’d fit in just fine.

But things start to go wrong as soon as they arrive – Jessica’s particularly forthright in her views and opinions, rubbing everyone up the wrong way, Mac and Hannah’s issues begin to escalate, and it’s clear this isn’t going to be the idyllic stay Edie’d hoped for. The atmosphere is already tense and uncomfortable when Jessica decides to do some sightseeing, but fails to return – and they have no option but to involve the police.

The whole book very much focuses on the cracks and strains within marriages – and the emotional stress of that stage in life is particularly well handled. Other than Edie, I didn’t find any of the individuals sympathetic or likeable – but that made the reasons for their bad behaviour and the various secrets that emerged all the more intriguing. Nothing and no-one is quite what they seem to be – including the Villa Ariadne itself, although we’re already aware that its owner Katerina rather knew that their time there would be the life-changing opportunity they all needed.

It’s a compelling story, with a few twists that came as a real surprise – and the exploration of friendship, the dynamics between the main characters and the emotional touches are all excellent. The atmosphere at the villa, as things go from bad to worse, is cloying and claustrophobic – but the setting is absolutely gorgeous, and the author certainly captures its beauty with glimpses of village life and descriptions that really transported me there. While not the light beach read I thought it would be, it was a rather more challenging read that I really enjoyed – and would certainly recommend to others.

Crete and Villa Ariadne sound the perfect place to visit and reconnect with eachother and life.
Beside the Turquoise Sea is the second book from Emma Burstall set at the Villa with its healing properties.
With some of the characters ones you love to dislike, suspicions begin to rumble from the very beginning as cracks start to show in all relationships and friendships.
The contrast between the sunny blue sky and the chilled atmosphere cleverly shown to add a nice bit of tension to the story.

Edie and Ralph along with their good friends Hannah and Mac plus new friend Jessica jet off to Crete for fun and relaxation in a beautiful setting and abide.
Except one person is incredibly obnoxious and I would, have been tempted to push that person off the cliff side.
Another relationship gets closer and yet another implodes.
This book is deceptive because there is a lot beneath the beautiful cover, more than I imagined.

This is not my normal type of read, but every so often, I like to read something different. Lately, I have been reading a lot of romance, so now I have stepped into "Women's Fiction."

There was just something about this book; the blurb was vague, but enough to entice. However, the cover won me over. I wanted to know what happened beside the turquoise sea!

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I wasn't expecting this!

2 couples and a solo go on holiday together, to Crete, where everything sounds so breathtakingly beautiful! The prologue gave me a mystical vibe, a promise that something big was going to happen.

Then we see Edie, stuck in a rut, like so many when the children fly the nest and wants to reconnect to her husband, Ralph. They go away with Mac and Hannah, and somehow Jessica comes along too.

Do not get me started about Jessica. She will just ruin this review.

I adored Edie, her ways. She just wants a nice holiday and a chance to reconnect, reset and try and move on.
On one hand, nothing much happens in this book; people go on holiday and people come home - that's the simplistic view. However, SO MUCH HAPPENS. Things I didn't expect, and kudos to the author as she tackled a topic that isn't talked about much with such care. My heart broke for said character. I was so shocked and appalled. Everything from their demeanor, to taking the blame, just everything. You really do not know what goes on behind closed doors!

I loved everything about this book, and it was such a welcome treat. So much so, the audiobook was devoured in 2 sittings. I just couldn't put it down. I was hooked, and the mystical and the magic of the book bled into real life. Just like Edie had a pull to the villa, I was pulled to the book.

It is one to lose yourself in whilst catching the sunshine and feeling like you are with old friends.

Really enjoyed this book, which embraced all the beauty of a Greek island yet with an undercurrent of suspense. The setting is wonderful but I particularly enjoyed the relationships between the characters and how the dynamic shifts during the course of the story. The book also deals with some difficult themes such as domestic violence, which are treated with sensitivity by the author.

Great setting, great characters superbly told.

Edie is a school teacher who is lonely after her kids have moved out. She and her husband have become distant from each other. So, she arranges a trip to Crete with her friends, Mac and Hannah, as well as last-minute guest Jessica, a colleague of Edie’s.

This story takes us back to Villa Ariadne, from Beneath the Lemon Trees. It was fun seeing some of the characters from that book in this story. Overall, it was an enjoyable read set in beautiful Crete. It was a page-turner with some twists and turns, a little bit of magic, romance, and fresh starts. I look forward to more stories from this author.

Thanks @boldwoodbooks, @netgalley, @rachelsrandomresources, and the author for this arc.

Beside the Turquoise Sea is an enjoyable enough escapist read centered in Greece. I do think some of the secondary characters were a bit one dimensional even with the twist in there. Would have liked a bit more communication between Edie and Ralph before the resolution.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #Boldwood Books for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

This is a standalone sequel to Beneath the Lemon Trees. Yet again, Villa Ariadne in Crete, through caretaker Katerina, chooses some apparently worthy guests - Edie and husband Ralph who have a neglected empty nest marriage, friend Hannah and husband Mac plus colleague Jessica.

I don't mind a bit of magical realism. I liked the warm and eclectic community of Porto Liakáda, including April and her unruly family, and painter Marina who gives unwanted prophecies. The gorgeous cover drew me in and the many descriptions of the breathtaking scenery and the delectable food are beyond evocative - it made me want to book a holiday to Crete.

However, this is where my enjoyment ended. Midway through the book the genre seems to change into a mystery, when Jessica goes on a day trip to Knossos but doesn't return or answer her phone. I was honestly thinking I'd landed in a different sort of book, especially as the next topic we got was domestic abuse and accusations of murder.

Gone was my happiness about a lighthearted summary read. The atmosphere turned toxic, Jessica, an independent child-free woman was painted as horribly selfish, and the ending was very abrupt. In the course of a week, marriages, friendships and group dynamics were thrown into disarray and it didn't make for the relaxing feel-good read I had been expecting.

2.5 stars