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Notes from a Villa in Santorini
Escape to the stunning shores of Santorini with Colette Durphey's captivating novel, Notes from a Villa in Santorini. Join protagonist Vienna as she embarks on a transformative journey filled with love, adventure, and self-discovery. Lose yourself in the vivid descriptions of the breath- taking landscapes, the vibrant culture, and the enchanting charm of the island. With Durphey's evocative storytelling and rich character development, Notes from a Villa in Santorini is a must read for anyone seeking a literary escape to the Greek paradise. Immerse yourself in this captivating tale that will transport you to the sun-drenched shores and leave you longing for your own Santorini adventure.
304 pages, Paperback
Published August 28, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 28, 2026
To be fair, and in following the rules of Goodreads, I know the author. She worked very hard on her debut book which is a romance story. The book traverses several different countries, and one can taste so very well the flavor of each one. It’s a detailed story about Vienna (Lola) and a man who adores her (from his very first childhood glimpse). But they were soon to be parted. When they meet again, years and years later, the grown child is now a man still madly in love with little Lola (Vienna), who is now a beautiful young woman with mysterious blue eyes and long, spiraling brown hair. He considers her “a poem.”
I will give some quotes to offer a glimpse into the book:
“She was different and accepted she was like no one else he had ever met. In the past, he observed her intensity listening to music. Oblivious to his presence, she inhaled the sounds, silently mouthing words, extending her fingers, and grasping the air. Her tiny waist danced in a sitting position while her hips swayed. When affected by a tune, she’d toss her hair in front of her face becoming innocently provocative.”
“Her demon was about to surface. And she chose the music while doing so; the piano notes punched on black and ivory keys wailing like an elephant whose tusks were poacher ripped away. Madly loving him created illusions and led her on an insane mind ride. Fist-clenched nails dug into her palms, and a manic brain shot shattering poetry, word shards toward him. The balcony even shuddered,”
“Desires, books to read together, and dream processing monopolized easy hours spent in melodious eye contact. Ludwig promised to tutor her in mathematics and share his scientific knowledge in quantum mechanics. Vienna portrayed a love for music and explained how the tunes affected her emotions. She also spoke of future story-writing plots. They conversed about how they met, life’s synchronicities, holograms, and the consistency of numbers.”
He writes a letter describing the horrendous torture he endured (at a place for political prisoners) since he last saw her and buries it in a hidden place in a cemetery. Will she find it?
The book is descriptive and at times a challenge to read. I appreciate that the author reviews the immense tragedy of the Persian Gulf War, describing “The Highway of Death” where many souls perished. Notable is the author’s seamless immersion of two cultures and how two families love each other. It highlights the sudden loss of happiness into its opposite, although—after years of trauma—Vienna wins and claims her spirit back in her own way:
(Page 295)
“Babe,
November
While dining this evening, the rippling brook besides my table said you’re crazy for me. Later, the water whispered in my ear of your love for me. Longing for you, I fantasized we merged in the fall winds and became spirits in the ocean […]
We are One,
Love,
Your dream girl”
There is a sense of resolution for Vienna at the book’s end:
“Touching you again would mean the clock arms on the dial stalled and reversed to our Santorini villa time, where life exalted us […] But the clock did chime the second that changed our destiny. However, I ascended into a past mind attic.”
Vienna comes to terms with her fate.
My favorite quote in this book is “Intense love is the worst and expects the most.”
I will give some quotes to offer a glimpse into the book:
“She was different and accepted she was like no one else he had ever met. In the past, he observed her intensity listening to music. Oblivious to his presence, she inhaled the sounds, silently mouthing words, extending her fingers, and grasping the air. Her tiny waist danced in a sitting position while her hips swayed. When affected by a tune, she’d toss her hair in front of her face becoming innocently provocative.”
“Her demon was about to surface. And she chose the music while doing so; the piano notes punched on black and ivory keys wailing like an elephant whose tusks were poacher ripped away. Madly loving him created illusions and led her on an insane mind ride. Fist-clenched nails dug into her palms, and a manic brain shot shattering poetry, word shards toward him. The balcony even shuddered,”
“Desires, books to read together, and dream processing monopolized easy hours spent in melodious eye contact. Ludwig promised to tutor her in mathematics and share his scientific knowledge in quantum mechanics. Vienna portrayed a love for music and explained how the tunes affected her emotions. She also spoke of future story-writing plots. They conversed about how they met, life’s synchronicities, holograms, and the consistency of numbers.”
He writes a letter describing the horrendous torture he endured (at a place for political prisoners) since he last saw her and buries it in a hidden place in a cemetery. Will she find it?
The book is descriptive and at times a challenge to read. I appreciate that the author reviews the immense tragedy of the Persian Gulf War, describing “The Highway of Death” where many souls perished. Notable is the author’s seamless immersion of two cultures and how two families love each other. It highlights the sudden loss of happiness into its opposite, although—after years of trauma—Vienna wins and claims her spirit back in her own way:
(Page 295)
“Babe,
November
While dining this evening, the rippling brook besides my table said you’re crazy for me. Later, the water whispered in my ear of your love for me. Longing for you, I fantasized we merged in the fall winds and became spirits in the ocean […]
We are One,
Love,
Your dream girl”
There is a sense of resolution for Vienna at the book’s end:
“Touching you again would mean the clock arms on the dial stalled and reversed to our Santorini villa time, where life exalted us […] But the clock did chime the second that changed our destiny. However, I ascended into a past mind attic.”
Vienna comes to terms with her fate.
My favorite quote in this book is “Intense love is the worst and expects the most.”
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February 2, 2026Note: In the interest of full disclosure, I am friends with the author.
"Notes From a Villa in Santorini" is a unique book that will appeal to lovers of poetry, cross-cultural stories, family stories, and books that unfold over decades. It is clear from reading this novel that Colette Durphey really cares about her characters, excavating their backgrounds and traumas in a thoughtful, rich way, and that this story is something she dreamed up over time with care and love.
I particularly liked young Putrus, and his train travel across Europe! It's difficult to portray children well in literature, but he comes fully alive and is funny, cute, and easy to love. There is a scene with him wreaking innocent havoc during a Mass, which I could envision so clearly.
I also appreciated the tone shifts: the delightful whimsy of childhood, the fever-dream of being in love, the blue stagnancy of mental illness, and the slow rising out of grief and depression. The Iraqi history notes were absolutely fascinating, although some readers may find it takes them out of the story. For me, it added a lot to the story; this is a perspective we rarely see in fiction, and I think that Chaldean culture (which I am familiar with) was explored thoughtfully and accurately.
There is a series of support group meetings that I found particularly interesting. Colette explores grief with sensitivity, and these scenes were all too easy to identify with. (Grief is a topic I really cleave to in literature, and I'm always interested in how it's portrayed by various writers.)
There is a small twist toward the end that I was not expecting, and I liked it a great deal.
Overall, I feel like the author's passion for her characters and story came through strongly, and the plot was expansive, and the prose was unique. In many places it felt like a poem more so than a novel, and I'd be interested to see how Colette might approach a full novel-in-verse; her talents in poetry could lend a very interesting take on a too-seldom explored structure. An idea for the future!
The two mothers are strong, lovely characters, and the friendship between the two families is portrayed in a lovely, relatable way.
There is a lot of sadness in this book, which I like, which feels real.
Congratulations on your debut, Colette!
"Notes From a Villa in Santorini" is a unique book that will appeal to lovers of poetry, cross-cultural stories, family stories, and books that unfold over decades. It is clear from reading this novel that Colette Durphey really cares about her characters, excavating their backgrounds and traumas in a thoughtful, rich way, and that this story is something she dreamed up over time with care and love.
I particularly liked young Putrus, and his train travel across Europe! It's difficult to portray children well in literature, but he comes fully alive and is funny, cute, and easy to love. There is a scene with him wreaking innocent havoc during a Mass, which I could envision so clearly.
I also appreciated the tone shifts: the delightful whimsy of childhood, the fever-dream of being in love, the blue stagnancy of mental illness, and the slow rising out of grief and depression. The Iraqi history notes were absolutely fascinating, although some readers may find it takes them out of the story. For me, it added a lot to the story; this is a perspective we rarely see in fiction, and I think that Chaldean culture (which I am familiar with) was explored thoughtfully and accurately.
There is a series of support group meetings that I found particularly interesting. Colette explores grief with sensitivity, and these scenes were all too easy to identify with. (Grief is a topic I really cleave to in literature, and I'm always interested in how it's portrayed by various writers.)
There is a small twist toward the end that I was not expecting, and I liked it a great deal.
Overall, I feel like the author's passion for her characters and story came through strongly, and the plot was expansive, and the prose was unique. In many places it felt like a poem more so than a novel, and I'd be interested to see how Colette might approach a full novel-in-verse; her talents in poetry could lend a very interesting take on a too-seldom explored structure. An idea for the future!
The two mothers are strong, lovely characters, and the friendship between the two families is portrayed in a lovely, relatable way.
There is a lot of sadness in this book, which I like, which feels real.
Congratulations on your debut, Colette!
December 19, 2025
This book unfolds like a quiet confession whispered across time and geography. From the opening pages, I felt drawn into a layered narrative that blends history, memory, and emotional inheritance with an almost lyrical restraint. The author does not rush the reader; instead, the prose allows space to breathe, to reflect, and to absorb the weight of lived experience. I found myself pausing often, not because the story lagged, but because certain passages demanded contemplation.
What struck me most was how seamlessly personal lives were woven into broader historical and cultural movements. The story never feels detached from the world; war, displacement, love, and longing are all present, but always through intimate human moments. The characters feel shaped by circumstance rather than defined by it, which made their choices feel authentic and, at times, heartbreaking. The travel across continents felt symbolic rather than decorative, each place carrying emotional residue rather than functioning as a backdrop.
By the final chapters, I realized this was not simply a novel I had read, but an experience I had absorbed. It lingered in my thoughts long after I closed the book. There is a quiet power here, one that doesn’t announce itself loudly but instead settles deep. This is a book for readers who appreciate nuance, emotional intelligence, and storytelling that trusts them to feel rather than be told what to feel.
What struck me most was how seamlessly personal lives were woven into broader historical and cultural movements. The story never feels detached from the world; war, displacement, love, and longing are all present, but always through intimate human moments. The characters feel shaped by circumstance rather than defined by it, which made their choices feel authentic and, at times, heartbreaking. The travel across continents felt symbolic rather than decorative, each place carrying emotional residue rather than functioning as a backdrop.
By the final chapters, I realized this was not simply a novel I had read, but an experience I had absorbed. It lingered in my thoughts long after I closed the book. There is a quiet power here, one that doesn’t announce itself loudly but instead settles deep. This is a book for readers who appreciate nuance, emotional intelligence, and storytelling that trusts them to feel rather than be told what to feel.
December 16, 2025
This book felt less like a novel and more like an inheritance something handed to me quietly, with gravity. Notes from a Villa in Santorini unfolds through memory, war, love, and displacement in a way that feels intimate and lived-in. From the opening image of the black rose and the mysterious journal, I knew I wasn’t reading a conventional story. I was entering layered lives.
The sections set in Baghdad, especially the Alwya District, stayed with me. Manuel and Juliet’s life so tender, domestic, and hopeful exists under the shadow of larger political and historical forces, yet the focus never leaves the human heartbeat. The writing lingers on small details: food, music, gardens, children playing. Those details make the later ruptures feel devastating.
What struck me most was the emotional continuity across generations how love, loss, and memory travel through time like an echo. The train journey with Putrus and his father felt symbolic of the entire book: movement through countries, cultures, fear, and hope, all while carrying an inner wound. This is not a fast read, but it is a profound one.
The sections set in Baghdad, especially the Alwya District, stayed with me. Manuel and Juliet’s life so tender, domestic, and hopeful exists under the shadow of larger political and historical forces, yet the focus never leaves the human heartbeat. The writing lingers on small details: food, music, gardens, children playing. Those details make the later ruptures feel devastating.
What struck me most was the emotional continuity across generations how love, loss, and memory travel through time like an echo. The train journey with Putrus and his father felt symbolic of the entire book: movement through countries, cultures, fear, and hope, all while carrying an inner wound. This is not a fast read, but it is a profound one.
December 19, 2025
There is a quiet confidence in this book that immediately drew me in. The author writes with clarity and restraint, trusting the story to unfold naturally rather than pushing it forward through excessive explanation. I appreciated how the narrative respected the reader’s intelligence, allowing themes to emerge through experience rather than exposition.
The emotional resonance of the book lies in its portrayal of ordinary moments set against extraordinary circumstances. Love, fear, hope, and endurance are all present, but they are expressed through small, human actions that feel deeply real. I found myself especially moved by the way relationships are tested by distance, time, and historical forces beyond individual control.
When I finished the book, I felt a lingering sense of reflection rather than finality. This is not a story that ends abruptly, it stays with you, encouraging you to think about how personal histories are shaped and reshaped over time. It’s a thoughtful, well-crafted novel that left a lasting impression.
The emotional resonance of the book lies in its portrayal of ordinary moments set against extraordinary circumstances. Love, fear, hope, and endurance are all present, but they are expressed through small, human actions that feel deeply real. I found myself especially moved by the way relationships are tested by distance, time, and historical forces beyond individual control.
When I finished the book, I felt a lingering sense of reflection rather than finality. This is not a story that ends abruptly, it stays with you, encouraging you to think about how personal histories are shaped and reshaped over time. It’s a thoughtful, well-crafted novel that left a lasting impression.
December 19, 2025
This book offers a deeply reflective and atmospheric reading experience. The writing is thoughtful and lyrical, often feeling closer to a personal journal than a conventional novel. I appreciated how the author allowed scenes to unfold slowly, giving space for emotion and memory to surface naturally rather than forcing dramatic moments.
At times, the pacing felt intentionally measured, which worked well for immersion but required patience. The strength of the book lies more in its emotional resonance and thematic depth than in plot momentum. I found myself most engaged in the quieter passages those moments where love, displacement, and identity were explored through subtle detail rather than overt action.
Overall, this was a rewarding read that stayed with me after I finished. While it may not appeal to readers looking for fast-paced storytelling, it will resonate strongly with those who enjoy introspective, character-driven narratives. A solid four-star book for its emotional honesty and elegant prose.
At times, the pacing felt intentionally measured, which worked well for immersion but required patience. The strength of the book lies more in its emotional resonance and thematic depth than in plot momentum. I found myself most engaged in the quieter passages those moments where love, displacement, and identity were explored through subtle detail rather than overt action.
Overall, this was a rewarding read that stayed with me after I finished. While it may not appeal to readers looking for fast-paced storytelling, it will resonate strongly with those who enjoy introspective, character-driven narratives. A solid four-star book for its emotional honesty and elegant prose.
December 19, 2025
This novel is beautifully written and clearly crafted with care. The author’s prose is evocative and calm, creating a sense of intimacy that feels intentional and sincere. I especially enjoyed how the story blends personal lives with broader historical and cultural contexts without overwhelming the narrative.
There were moments where the story felt more reflective than forward-moving, which may not suit every reader. However, I came to appreciate that this slower rhythm mirrors the book’s themes of memory and endurance. The characters feel real, shaped by circumstance rather than defined by it, and their emotional journeys are handled with sensitivity.
By the end, I felt satisfied rather than dazzled, and I mean that as a compliment. This is not a book that relies on spectacle, but one that rewards thoughtful reading. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy quiet depth and emotionally grounded storytelling.
There were moments where the story felt more reflective than forward-moving, which may not suit every reader. However, I came to appreciate that this slower rhythm mirrors the book’s themes of memory and endurance. The characters feel real, shaped by circumstance rather than defined by it, and their emotional journeys are handled with sensitivity.
By the end, I felt satisfied rather than dazzled, and I mean that as a compliment. This is not a book that relies on spectacle, but one that rewards thoughtful reading. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy quiet depth and emotionally grounded storytelling.
December 16, 2025
I finished this book slowly, intentionally, because rushing it felt disrespectful. The prose is poetic without being indulgent, and the structure, journals, correspondence, memories, mirrors how we actually remember our lives: fragmented, emotional, and nonlinear.
The Santorini framing device is beautifully done. The villa, the hidden writings, the sense of being chosen to “tell” someone else’s story it creates a haunting responsibility for the narrator and for the reader. I felt complicit in uncovering these lives.
Putrus’s storyline affected me deeply. His innocence, curiosity, and quiet devotion, especially his attachment to Lola felt heartbreakingly real. The way the author writes childhood perception during trauma is one of the book’s strongest achievements. This is a novel about war, but it is also about what war steals quietly, before explosions ever occur.
The Santorini framing device is beautifully done. The villa, the hidden writings, the sense of being chosen to “tell” someone else’s story it creates a haunting responsibility for the narrator and for the reader. I felt complicit in uncovering these lives.
Putrus’s storyline affected me deeply. His innocence, curiosity, and quiet devotion, especially his attachment to Lola felt heartbreakingly real. The way the author writes childhood perception during trauma is one of the book’s strongest achievements. This is a novel about war, but it is also about what war steals quietly, before explosions ever occur.
December 16, 2025
What I appreciated most about Notes from a Villa in Santorini is its refusal to simplify history or emotion. The cultural specificity from Iraqi family life to European train stations feels researched, respectful, and lived rather than observed.
Juliet’s immersion into Iraqi culture, food, language, and community was especially moving. Her willingness to learn, to listen, to belong, contrasts powerfully with the political instability brewing beneath daily life. These sections made the later separations feel inevitable and tragic.
The book asks difficult questions about faith, loyalty, control, and fear, particularly through Fahmi’s internal reflections. Those passages felt philosophical without becoming abstract. I found myself pausing to reread certain sections, not because they were confusing, but because they were quietly devastating.
Juliet’s immersion into Iraqi culture, food, language, and community was especially moving. Her willingness to learn, to listen, to belong, contrasts powerfully with the political instability brewing beneath daily life. These sections made the later separations feel inevitable and tragic.
The book asks difficult questions about faith, loyalty, control, and fear, particularly through Fahmi’s internal reflections. Those passages felt philosophical without becoming abstract. I found myself pausing to reread certain sections, not because they were confusing, but because they were quietly devastating.
December 16, 2025
This novel reads like a mosaic. Each chapter is a tile beautiful on its own, but devastating when the full image emerges. The author’s command of sensory detail is extraordinary: smells of food, heat on skin, sounds of trains, music threading through memory.
The train journey across continents is one of the most powerful extended sequences I’ve read in a long time. Putrus’s injured eye becomes a metaphor for partial sight, how children see the world clearly in some ways and miss the dangers adults are drowning in. His conversations with strangers, his wonder, and his vulnerability broke my heart.
By the time the story returns to Santorini, the emotional weight is immense. This book doesn’t offer easy closure, but it offers something better: truth shaped by compassion.
The train journey across continents is one of the most powerful extended sequences I’ve read in a long time. Putrus’s injured eye becomes a metaphor for partial sight, how children see the world clearly in some ways and miss the dangers adults are drowning in. His conversations with strangers, his wonder, and his vulnerability broke my heart.
By the time the story returns to Santorini, the emotional weight is immense. This book doesn’t offer easy closure, but it offers something better: truth shaped by compassion.
October 24, 2025
This book was everything I needed and more. I picked it up because I wanted something light and summery, but Notes from a Villa in Santorini ended up being so much deeper than I expected. Colette Durphey writes with such warmth and honesty that I felt like I was right there beside Vienna, walking those cobbled streets and watching the sunset over the sea. The descriptions of the island are absolutely breathtaking, and I could almost smell the ocean air and taste the Greek food. What really got me, though, was Vienna’s personal journey. Her mix of heartbreak, courage, and rediscovery felt so real. This is one of those books that leaves you both happy and a little sad that it’s over.
October 24, 2025
I fell completely in love with this story. The author does an amazing job capturing the soul of Santorini; the bright skies, the blue domes, the slow rhythm of island life. Reading this felt like taking a long, relaxing vacation without leaving my couch. I really connected with Vienna, who comes across as genuine and relatable. Watching her find herself again, and rediscover what makes her heart feel alive, was such a beautiful thing. The romance felt natural and not forced, which made it even sweeter. If you have ever dreamed about packing up your life and starting fresh somewhere beautiful, this book will speak straight to you.
October 24, 2025
As someone who loves to travel, I was completely hooked. Colette Durphey captures the charm and magic of Greece so vividly that I was ready to start planning a trip. The way she describes the views, the people, and the food makes it feel like you are right there on the island. But what surprised me most was how emotional this story turned out to be. It is not just about the beauty of Santorini, it is about healing, second chances, and finding joy again. I loved Vienna’s courage to take a chance on herself. It reminded me that sometimes you have to leave everything behind to find what you truly want.
October 24, 2025
This novel took me completely by surprise. I expected a light beach read, but it ended up being one of the most touching stories I have read this year. Colette Durphey’s writing has this effortless charm that pulls you right in. Vienna is a character you root for from the start flawed, hopeful, and brave in her own quiet way. I adored the atmosphere of Santorini, from the cozy villa to the sunlit streets filled with laughter and music. Every page felt like a little piece of paradise. This book made me want to slow down, appreciate life, and maybe even take that trip to Greece I have been dreaming about.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews