It's All Greek to Me

by Andrea Christodoulou

You can’t hurry love … unless it holds the key to a family crisis. Ismeena Eliades has hit a life stalemate. She’s bored of her job as an administrative assistant in the stuffy corporate legal world, fed up of her dried-up love life, and tired of drinking away her thirties. And then there’s her mum and her never-ending ploy to marry Isme off to a ‘Good Greek Boy’ (preferably with a healthy bank balance). It’s time for a life reboot. But just as Isme sets off on a much-needed summer holiday for some sun, sea and solace, she learns that her mum’s motivations for matchmaking go beyond Greek tradition – and when a family emergency brings responsibility to her door, a marriage proposal materialises that could solve all of their problems …

Genres: Contemporary

406 pages, Paperback

Published July 17, 2025

Reviews

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isme’s life is firmly stuck in neutral—her job is uninspiring, her love life is nonexistent, and her well-meaning but overbearing Greek mother is determined to marry her off to any eligible “Good Greek Boy” within reach. So when a work opportunity offers her a much-needed break, Isme heads to Greece, hoping for some peace, perspective, and maybe a bit of sunshine.

What she gets instead is far from the restful escape she envisioned. Her time abroad quickly spirals into a whirlwind of unexpected cooking classes, surprise hiking adventures, and a sudden family emergency that forces her to confront the very things she was trying to escape. At the heart of it all is a complicated proposal—one that seems perfect on paper but brings up more questions than answers.

What makes this story shine is how intimately we’re drawn into Isme’s internal conflict. She’s caught between cultural expectations, familial loyalty, and her own desire for something authentic. Her journey isn’t just about romance—it’s about carving out an identity in the face of tradition and obligation, and that’s where the emotional depth really lands.

Her family—though chaotic, demanding, and sometimes intrusive—feel vivid and real, anchored by love and generational tension. The dynamic with her nephews is especially touching, adding warmth and levity, and her best friend offers a grounding force when things become overwhelming.

While the romantic arc leans toward the predictable, the emotional payoff is still satisfying. Isme's story doesn’t pretend to solve every problem neatly, but it ends on a hopeful, affirming note. A heartfelt, engaging novel that blends family drama, cultural identity, and personal growth with charm and sincerity.

Thank you to UCLAN Publishing for sending me a copy to review. All opinions are my own

[Annette Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's All Greek to Me by Andrea Christodoulou follows Ismeena Eliades over the course of one rather turbulent year. Isme, as she prefers to be called, is feeling very stuck, everything in her life is stagnating, from her career to her (almost nonexistent) dating life. The one area where she thought everything was okay was with her family, but even there the cracks are starting to show. Her mother seems increasingly desperate to marry her off to any availble Greek man, though preferably a rich one, her father is acting furtively, her sister is frustrated by her husband and his lack of help with their twins and it just seems like everyone is hiding secrets rom each other. When a work rivalry goes too far and Isme is suspended she decides to join her family on a Summer trip to Greece where she learns just why her mother has been so pushy in her matchmaking attempts but also happens to meet a man that might turn out to be the man of her, and her mother's, dreams.
This book is a pleasing blend of family drama and romance but perhaps in trying to balance both it did neither particularly well, though the family drama is both funnier and more fun than the romance. I also think it is at least 50 pages too long, there is too much time spent exploring the love triangle and then the ending feels rushed and a little underwhelming. What the author did well was create a family that feels real , their interactions and dynamics were spot on , unfortunately the relationship between Isme and the man she supposedly liked enough to marry just did not feel as believable and I think the love traingle and the repeated miscommunication just did appeal to me. All that being said this would be an entertaining and escapist poolside or beach read.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

[Jenny Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book chronicles one year in the life of Isme, a 30-something woman from Liverpool. Isme has a very close family comprising a matriarchal Greek mother who rules the roost, a British father who struggles to get a look-in and a sister who is married to Mr Boring but has two delightful children. She also has a best friend called Anthony and a very dull job. At the start of the year she could never have foreseen the twists and turns which were going to assail her and change her life forever.

This is a good story, well told. The writing style is light and breezy which makes it a very easy read and it is both entertaining and humorous. The characters are well developed and seem real.
Isme’s heritage is very traditionally Greek and her family are prominent members of the Liverpool Greek community. This influences much of what she does and the way she thinks, even while she is trying to rebel against her mother’s attempts to marry her off to a nice Greek boy.

I can’t really find anything to dislike about this book, although some readers may find it too trite.

It is everything you would expect from a good romcom and I will certainly be looking out for more by this author. If you want a few hours of pure entertaining escapism, then this book would be a good choice. If you are looking for a challenging read to make you think, this is probably not for you.

[Harps · Rating 3 out of 5]

Isme’s life is going nowhere fast—stuck in a boring job, no love life to speak of, and constantly dodging her mum’s relentless attempts to marry her off to a “Good Greek Boy.” So when work gives her a chance to take a break, she heads to Greece for what’s meant to be a chilled-out reset. Instead, she ends up in random cooking classes, scaling rocks, and dealing with a family emergency that throws everything off track. And just when you think things can’t get more chaotic, a surprise proposal shows up… and it’s complicated.

I flew through this one! I really felt for Isme—between her mum’s matchmaking and her dead-end job, she needed that escape. Her family could be a bit much at times, but you could tell there was real love there (even George, her brother-in-law!).

The proposal kind of annoyed me—no spoilers, but it was pretty obvious who she should be with. Still, I get why she felt torn, trying to do the right thing for her family. Her moments with her nephews were super sweet, and her best friend was a great support too.

The ending was satisfying, even if a little predictable—but honestly, I didn’t mind that at all. It was a fun, heartwarming read overall.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy!

[Elanor Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the first half I was convinced this would be a two-star book. Isme is just so stupid and selfish and unwilling to do anything to better herself… but by the end of the novel she has improved significantly, thank goodness, so the second half was actually interesting.

The main problem is that the real love interest is completely obvious from about page one, but it somehow takes her hundreds of pages to escape from a really unsuitable relationship. For a light summer read this could be a bit of fun, but there’s no mystery or nuance at all.

One final point: I don’t understand why we’re told the debt is so big that there’s no way they can pay it off… but then apparently the £25,000 inheritance money covers it? 25k isn’t exactly pocket change, but surely if Isme gave up living in her own flat and stopped buying so much alcohol and actually took a promotion then that would indeed make a significant dent in the money?? It just all seemed a bit contrived in order to make the plot actually work.

[Nessa’s Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pure fun, sunshine, and Greek family chaos wrapped up in a book.

We’ve got Ismeena Eliades, who’s bored stiff with her corporate admin job, over her non existent dating life, and more than a little tired of her mum’s endless mission to marry her off to a Good Greek Boy. (Bonus points if he comes with a healthy bank balance.)

So, she does what any self respecting thirty something in a life rut does… books herself a much needed summer holiday for some sun, sea, and maybe a fling.

But just as she’s gearing up for cocktails by the beach, she finds out her mum’s matchmaking schemes are about more than just tradition.

Suddenly, there’s a family crisis, a surprise marriage proposal, and a whole lot of life decisions that need to be made… fast.

Sure, the romance is a bit predictable, but honestly? That’s part of its charm.
This was a fun, chaotic, laugh out loud read that had me craving Greek food and a spontaneous trip to the islands.

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 star for me,it was good debiut book.Isme’s life is complicated,job she don't like,some friends that are not friends,and meddling family who wants to marry her off to good Greek Boy.

It was bag of laugh,family dynamics chaotic and funny,but I would like to have more scenes with romantic interest she chose at the end.Getting to resolve her relationship with the wrong guy was taking too long.Still I like and recommend this book.Good summer read.


Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy!

[Gem ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book whilst in Greece made it all the more fun and appropriate (even the inappropriate bits). As characters go I found Isme hilarious, kindhearted and though struggling with feeling lost in her 30s, very likeable (& Greek food obsessed so relatable). This romcom is fun, entertaining and yes predictable but that's often the best bit about romcoms.

[Rona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ismie's life is boring with a job which doesn't fill her with delight and a mother who wants her married.
She gets the chance to go to Greece and she jumps at it. Fun ensues.
This was fun and a quick read although in the usual rom com it was enjoyable and worth a read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Vicki Sergeant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, relatable, down to earth read.

[Elliot Fox · Rating 1 out of 5]

Loved but because it is comically bad, never met such a depthless predictable cast of characters. The text messages are brilliant.

[Alexia | Books4Dreamz · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is an easy, quick read, but it struggles to stand out. The story relies heavily on familiar cultural clichés and predictable romance tropes, which feel outdated and one-dimensional. Fans of light romance or My Big Fat Greek Wedding movies–style humor might enjoy it, especially non-Greek readers who are less sensitive to the stereotypes.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Isme is the second daughter in a Greek-Liverpudlian household. Her mother is full on My Big Fat Greek Wedding whereas her father was adopted and raised as English. Her elder sister is married to George and has twin sons. Isme's mother's mission in life is to get Isme married to a 'Good Greek Boy' with lots of money and she has set her sights on Carlos the son of the local fish and chip shop entrepreneurs, never mind that Carlos takes his fashion sense from the seventies and can't talk about anything but fish and chips!

What Isme really wanted to do in life was bake cakes, but everyone (her mother) said she should get a real job, so she tried to train as a solicitor but failed and now has a job as an admin assistant at the same law firm. A colleague, Zara, is also someone Isme has known since childhood, her parents once owned the business and she is a solicitor there. Although Zara treats Isme as a friend, she isn't averse to poking fun at Isme, and Isme suspects that Zara only pretends to be friendly because she fancies Isme's best friend Anthony.

Since they were four years old, Isme and Anthony have been friends, everyone thinks they should get together but as Isme says, when you've wet your pants in front of a boy (even if you were only five) it does tend to preclude romance. Nevertheless, the two of them spend lots of time together drinking, watching Netflix, attending the same Greek church etc.

After a few home truths are spoken, Isme is put on leave and decides to go on holiday with her sister Maria, which morphs into the entire family spending the summer in Corfu at Uncle Stavros' villa, where Isme discovers that there is an ulterior motive for her mother's obsession with her getting married. Now Isme has to decide what she is willing to do for her family.

This was pleasant enough, it felt like a mash-up of multiple books/films I have seen before and what brought it down for me was that frankly there were only two characters I liked (a clue, Isme wasn't one of them). Maybe I'm too old but Isme struck me as very immature.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Bumped for release.