My Review:

Annie adopted her sisters pen pal who lives in Greece, after her sister Roz passed away. Finding comfort in the exchange. She strikes up a strong bond and tight friendship with Kas.

Exchanging stories of their two different worlds and lives, both women long to meet.

Annie lives in New Zealand with her fiancé Tony, her bestie Carl gives her some food for thought about her relationship.

After finally reaching the end of her rope, Annie up ends her whole life including her job and sets off for Greece so her and her sisters dreams can take flight.

Welcomed into the bosom of Greek friends family and life with natural ease. Her healing process begins and life affirming adventure begins.

The Greek experience and the people she encounters are fun and heart-warming.

Could this be the beginning of a life she never thought or hoped for? Dive in and enjoy. 5 Stars

 

Michelle Vernal is a New Zealand author who writes stories that will take you onto the page with her characters and make you feel part of their lives. She writes with humour and warmth, and her readers describe her books as unputdownable, feel good and funny. Her writing has been likened to Maeve Binchy but with a modern-day vernacular. In 2015 she was shortlisted for the Love Stories Award. In 2020 she won the Reader’s Favorite Gold Medal Award for Chick lit, and in 2021 was shortlisted for the Page Turner Book Awards.

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The Greek Guesthouse
Michelle Vernal
Amazon: https://geni.us/B0H3796XH4social
Dropping my suitcase at my feet, I stare up at the Greek guesthouse with its faded blue shutters, clambering purple bougainvillea and wrought-iron balconies spilling pink and red geraniums. I haven’t felt truly at home anywhere since I lost my sister. But maybe Eleni’s is different. I have a feeling that anything is possible here…

Annie always has a plan, always knows where her life is headed. But this summer, heartbroken after her sister’s death, she just feels untethered and alone. An invitation to stay at her old friend Kassia’s family guesthouse on the island of Crete comes at the perfect time – an excuse to get on a plane and leave her crumbling life behind for a few weeks.

Before she even finishes unpacking, Annie is wrapped up in the noisy warmth of Kassia’s chaotic, loving family. She soon finds herself cooking with Kassia’s mother, playing with the children under the orange trees… and meeting Kassia’s handsome brother-in-law Alexandros over dinner. Romance is the last thing on her mind, but the night she spends with him, swimming by moonlight and gazing at the stars in the lavender-scented air, heals something in her that she didn’t know was broken.

This was only supposed to be a temporary stay, but the longer Annie spends on Crete, the more she feels that this magical place might hold the key to her future. And as this life-changing summer draws to a close, can she leave her old plans behind her and find the courage to let her life make a map all of its own?

Fans of Kate Frost, Jenny Colgan and My Mamma Mia Summer willadore this gorgeous novel about love, friendship and fresh starts in the Greek sunshine.

Previously published as Staying at Eleni’s.

What readers are saying about The Greek Guesthouse:

‘Completely stole my heart… I felt like I was there, soaking up the sunshine… Absolutely gorgeous… full of heart, hope, and new beginnings… Uplifting… I didn’t want it to end… Will leave you smiling and dreaming of the Greek islands.’ alejandraslife, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I absolutely loved this!… Laced with warmth, friendship, charm and lots of giggles… I finished this book with the biggest smile on my face and checking out holidays to Crete!… Sunshine in book form!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I LOVED this!… I felt like I was there… Wow… Thank goodness I read this whilst I was holiday, or I would have been booking a flight myself!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Brilliant… I absolutely loved!I was gripped from the very first page… Wonderful.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘The perfect beach read…The ultimate feel-good escape… makes you want to book a flight to Greece immediately.’ fullybookedbeth

‘A gorgeoussummer read! Made me want to pack my suitcase and jet off to Greece! So stunning.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘The perfect summer escape… Beautiful… I finished the book feeling like I’d been welcomed into this wonderful Greek family myself… I wasn’t ready to leave.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Sun-soaked… Uplifting… a moving story of healing, hope, and belonging… leaving readers wishing they could stay on the island just a little longer.’ mysanctuary

‘Wow. Just amazing… A balm for the soul.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I loved this!… The perfect beach read… It made me laugh and it made me cry… I read it in almost one sitting.’ review_with_a_view, ⭐⭐⭐⭐


ISBN: 9781836189374
Publication Date: 23 July 2026