
Member Reviews

This book swept me away with its vivid setting and emotionally resonant storytelling. What begins as a hopeful escape to rekindle a fading marriage slowly unfolds into a profound journey of self-discovery, friendship, and the pivotal choices that define midlife.
Edie is a relatable and quietly courageous protagonist. Her decision to return to Crete—the place of her honeymoon—is steeped in longing: for reconnection, clarity, and a spark she fears has dimmed. The Villa Ariadne, with its dreamy views and tranquil charm, serves as both sanctuary and crucible, revealing truths that have long simmered beneath the surface.When Edie invites her bold and unpredictable colleague Jessica to join them, the trip takes an unexpected turn. Tensions simmer, long-held secrets unravel, and the emotional stakes rise. The group’s interactions are layered and authentic, adding a depth that elevates this beyond a typical sun-drenched holiday read.
More than a story of sunshine and sea, this novel is a moving reflection on letting go of illusions and choosing the life that truly fulfills you.

Beside the Turquoise Sea by Emma Burstall is a charming, feel-good read that sweeps you away to the sun-drenched coast, where new beginnings and old secrets gently collide.
Bursting with warmth, wit, and emotional insight, this novel follows the lives of women seeking refuge, clarity, and a fresh start in a picturesque Mediterranean village. Burstall has a gift for creating layered, relatable characters - each one wrestling with their own challenges yet brought together by the promise of healing and friendship,
The setting is pure escapism, brought vividly to life with Burstall's rich descriptions of coastal life, delicious food, and the rhythms of a slower, more reflective way of living. But beneath the beauty, there's real emotional depth as the characters confront grief, love, betrayal, and the courage to move forward.
If you're looking for a novel that's both uplifting and grounded in genuine human experience, Beside the Turquoise Sea is a perfect pick. It's the literary equivalent of a long, sunny afternoon - comforting, inspiring, and hard to leave behind.

Definitely a great example of "not judge a book by it's cover", not sure what I was expecting but was pleasantly surprised with the twists and intrigue! Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down and finished it within a day. Some really interesting characters and it definitely made me want to be relaxing on a Greek Island!
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read.

Edie needs a holiday and to spend some quality time with her husband Ralph. They decide to invite their good friends Mac and Hannah and unwittingly also invite one of Edie’s single work colleagues, Jessica. When Edie books Villa Ariadne located in beautiful Crete, she knows that she has done the right thing in booking a holiday, going back to the country where she and Ralph spent their honeymoon.
Not even the gorgeous views and peaceful surroundings help when cracks start to appear in Mac and Hannah’s marriage. The holiday isn’t going to be the sticking plaster they so greatly need. As the week progresses the atmosphere at the villa changes and becomes very tense, with much arguing and unpleasantness. This is compounded when Jessica goes missing. The holiday starts to unravel before their eyes, but can they pull it back before they board the plane of the return journey?
I thought I had deja vu when I started reading this book as the location and Villa Ariadne were already familiar to me. I was glad to realise that this book was a follow on to Beneath the Lemon Tree. I loved the descriptions of the villa and the area in which it is located, they are vivid and beautifully descriptive. The plot is also great with a few twists. Overall, a really enjoyable read.

Having read the author's previous book Beneath the Lemon Tree, it was nice to reconnect with the magical Villa Ariadne and the village characters.
The dynamics between the five people staying in the villa were intriguing as to how the holiday affected their relationships.
It felt like a lovely mini break with beautiful scenery and delicious food.

Edie rents a home on a beautiful Greek island hoping to reconnect with her husband, as they have grown apart..

An interesting story about empty nesters and rediscovering your marriage . A couple of real good story lines that I won’t spoil. Mainly set on a beautiful Greek island. Lovely food descriptions . A good holiday read. A neat ending.. I enjoyed it .

This was a lovely book. It did feel a little unfinished in places, particularly the end where nothing was really wrapped up, but maybe the author will revisit these characters in the future. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, I was engaged throughout and thought it made a nice change from the usual just romance type stories I normally read. Recommended this one to some friends

Reading Beside the Turquoise Sea felt like being whisked away to the sun-drenched hills of Crete. The vivid descriptions of the Villa Ariadne, with its stunning views and tranquil charm, made me feel like I was right there, soaking in the atmosphere with Edie and her guests. It’s the perfect setting for a story that explores relationships, regrets, and the hope for renewal.
Edie is a relatable and sympathetic narrator—her loneliness, quiet longing, and desire to fix what’s broken in her marriage felt so authentic. I admired her vulnerability and the way she tries to hold everything together, even as old tensions and new dynamics begin to unravel around her.
The ensemble cast adds a lot of flavor to the story. I especially enjoyed the contrast between long-time friends and the unpredictable presence of Jessica, who shakes things up in ways I didn’t quite expect. The group’s interactions felt natural, though occasionally uncomfortable—which made the emotional revelations all the more believable.
My only reason for not giving five stars is that a few parts moved a bit slowly, and I found myself wishing for slightly deeper insight into certain characters' motivations. Still, the payoff is satisfying, and the emotional honesty of the story really resonated with me.
Beside the Turquoise Sea is a beautifully written, reflective novel about love, friendship, and what it means to start over—whether that means repairing what’s broken or learning to let go. A perfect read for anyone who loves character-driven stories with heart and a strong sense of place.

I have read and enjoyed this author previously but sadly not this book. The main character , Edie, was two dimensional and not well drawn and the storyline very thin. Sorry but not one I'd recommend.
*

Another fantastic book by Emma Burstall.
A perfect holiday read of romance, mystery, and intrigue.
When a pair of married couples go on holiday together but invite an extra ‘single’ person it can only end in trouble, jealousy and drunken comments being taken wrongly or disagreeing on the daily plans will only end in tears.
When a gifted lady gives one of the married women a cryptic comment regarding their holiday, it leaves them all thinking it’s a load of gossip to build the intrigue of the villa they are staying in - how wrong they are when her comments become true.
Will they leave the holiday together and live happily ever after or will it reveal
cracks in the relationships and friendships?
Will it be the enjoyable holiday they envisioned when planning the trip, sometimes LESS is MORE

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. It was lovely to return to Villa Adriane. I enjoyed this installment more than the previous one. I was brought into the characters' worlds and the beautiful setting, and I liked that background characters from the previous book returned. Burstall tackled challenging topics skillfully, creating a richly written and three-dimension cast of characters.

Empty nesters Edie and Ralph decide to go to Crete where they had their honeymoon to rekindle their relationship. They find the Villa Ariadne online and invite close friends Hannah and Mac. At the last minute Edie asks colleague Jessica along.
A nice mix of beach read, mystery and women’s fiction. The villa setting and island of Crete sounded delightful, I loved the descriptions and side characters from the Villa owner to the expats who lived there. However, the trip soon turns into the holiday from hell when all the guests start fighting and Jessica goes missing. I loved how the author set it up- painting a gorgeous pictured and then slowly seeing it unravel. Exploring the theme of domestic violence from a different angle to the usual. Some of the characters became very unlikeable and there were a few twists along the way.

The second novel based at the magical Villa Ariadne .A Villa which chooses its occupants in order to right their lives. Edie and Ralph need to rediscover the romance in their marriage, was it a mistake to invite friends Hannah and Mac to accompany them and loner Jessica? As enjoyable as the first, ideal summer reading.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I had thought it would be the ‘typical’ chick lit - but it wasn’t anything like that. The main characters were all mature, either married or happily single and all had problems. This explored this problems and followed them to their conclusion. A book I’ll happily recommend and an author who’s books I enjoy.

"Beside the Turquoise Sea" is a story of personal revelations which are outed by a week in an isolated Cretan villa. Assumptions are turned on their heads and one person turns out to be completely different outside of the work environment. The setting is lovingly described and there is a lovely mix of Greek and British locals. A good, escapist read to make you think of romantic, sun-soaked breaks.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Beside the Turquoise Sea swept me away with its vivid setting and emotionally resonant story. What begins as a hopeful getaway to rekindle a fading marriage slowly unfolds into a deeper exploration of friendship, truth, and the turning points we all face in midlife.
Edie is a relatable and quietly brave protagonist. Her decision to return to Crete, the site of her honeymoon, is full of longing—for connection, for clarity, and for a spark she fears may be gone. The Villa Ariadne, with its dreamy views and tranquil charm, becomes the perfect backdrop for both healing and upheaval.
The group dynamics are wonderfully drawn, especially when Edie invites her bold and unpredictable colleague Jessica to join them. Tensions simmer and secrets emerge, adding a rich emotional layer to what might otherwise have been a light vacation tale.
This book is about more than sunshine and sea—it’s about facing truths, letting go of illusions, and embracing the life you truly want. Perfect for fans of character-driven fiction with a strong sense of place.

I struggled my way through this flat read with underdeveloped characters and setting. There wasn't much to grasp onto and with a setting like Crete that was a missed opportunity. Each time something happened, and I would think we're finally going to see Crete up close. Nope, just more dry dialogue. I could give you basic stats for characters, but honestly, I'm never looking for cold bullet points. I read for characters that get my emotions shaken or stirred. 🍸I didn't feel so much as a dull rattle. I was bored from beginning to end and if you're wondering if I finished it. I did. My thoughts didn't change.
The premise is two longtime couples who have been friends for years decide to vacation together in Crete along with a co-worker. The marriages are under stress and the characters are hoping the trip will be a fresh start. There are some predictable twists and issues that arise which brought nothing of note to the table. Creating a luscious setting to explore would have been better than adding weak plot devices.
It's possible I am not the right audience for this novel. So be sure to take other reviews under consideration.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Edie hopes returning to Crete with her husband and friends Mac and Hannah will bring back their life to what it was. Unfortunately she takes pity on a colleague Jessica with disastrous results.

I was slightly confused when I started reading this as had deja vue as the Greek villa was the same in Emma's previous book! However I realised that the cast of characters were new despite the setting being the same! I did enjoy this, it is an easy accessible read. Maybe does not capture the essence of Greece quite as much as others in the genre however I enjoyed the dynamics of the characters and how the story played out. Good beach read.