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Holiday Romance #1
One Summer in Santorini
There was something in the air that night. . .
Sarah has had enough of men. It’s time to rekindle her first true love – travel – so she books a sailing trip around the Greek islands with a group of strangers.
The very last thing Sarah wants is to meet someone new… But then a gorgeous American man boards her yacht and she knows she’s in trouble. And when she also encounters a handsome silver fox who promises her the world, she realises that trouble really does come in twos.
Will Sarah dive into a holiday fling, embark on a relationship, or stick to her plan – steer clear of men, continue her love affair with feta, and find her own way after all?
344 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2017
736 people are currently reading
2778 people want to read
About the author
Sandy Barker
20 books364 followersI’m a writer, traveller and hopeful romantic with a lengthy bucket list, and many of my travel adventures have found homes in my novels. I’m also an avid reader, a film buff, a wine lover and a coffee snob.
I am currently on a one-year sabbatical, living and writing across the world, with my partner, Ben, who I met while travelling in Greece. Our real-life love story inspired my debut novel One Summer in Santorini, the first in the five-book Holiday Romance series with One More Chapter, an imprint of HarperCollins.
Also with One More Chapter, is the Christmas Romance series, celebrating my favourite time of the year, and a stand-alone romcom, The Dating Game, set in the world of reality TV.
I am now writing for Boldwood Books, including the 5-book Ever After Agency romcom series. Next up are 5 more standalone romcoms for Boldwood.
I am represented by Lina Langlee of The North Literary Agency.
I am currently on a one-year sabbatical, living and writing across the world, with my partner, Ben, who I met while travelling in Greece. Our real-life love story inspired my debut novel One Summer in Santorini, the first in the five-book Holiday Romance series with One More Chapter, an imprint of HarperCollins.
Also with One More Chapter, is the Christmas Romance series, celebrating my favourite time of the year, and a stand-alone romcom, The Dating Game, set in the world of reality TV.
I am now writing for Boldwood Books, including the 5-book Ever After Agency romcom series. Next up are 5 more standalone romcoms for Boldwood.
I am represented by Lina Langlee of The North Literary Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 320 reviews
June 26, 2019
This book was exactly what I needed. An enjoyable, light read on a cold winters day. It was total escapism to find myself cruising around the Greek Islands with Sarah and her newfound travel mates, including sexy American Josh. Not everything goes to plan however. Sarah is sworn off men after a disastrous relationship, and Josh is determined to remain a bachelor forever. They keep sending each other mixed signals, and then another player enters the game, slick "silver fox" James.
This is a book that will keep the smile on your face. The wonderful setting of the Greek Isles really comes to life, with some memorable restaurant meals you can even taste, beaches you can feel yourself swimming in, even a wonderful canine tour guide. So, who does Sarah end up with, Josh? James? Neither? Haha, I'm not letting you in on that secret. You'll have to read it for yourselves. I'm hoping Sandy Barker has more adventures in store for Sarah, because I for one really need to know what happens next...
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a book that will keep the smile on your face. The wonderful setting of the Greek Isles really comes to life, with some memorable restaurant meals you can even taste, beaches you can feel yourself swimming in, even a wonderful canine tour guide. So, who does Sarah end up with, Josh? James? Neither? Haha, I'm not letting you in on that secret. You'll have to read it for yourselves. I'm hoping Sandy Barker has more adventures in store for Sarah, because I for one really need to know what happens next...
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2020
1 - Dire, don't waste your time or money. Juvenile, immature trash. Star.
I made the mistake of one clicking another book by and author I have already tried and not gotten along with, the lure of a 99p price tag and an intriguing blurb played me for a sucker again.
I despised the heroine Cat in the authors second book in this series; That Night in Paris, which is the first book I had read by Sandy Barker, and I found the whole storyline in that dull, immature and uninspiring, and I should definitely called it one and done.
But she pales in comparison to Sarah the annoying harpy from this equally lacklustre offering, what a juvenile, immature woman, who came across as a hormonally challenged teen a lot of the time. I'll be honest this was a character I'd happily throat punch if I had the opportunity, definitely an author who I will be avoiding in the future, the writing style and characterisations just weren't for me.
Real shame as I have discovered some absolutely stellar new authors this year, Sandy Barker not being one of them.
I made the mistake of one clicking another book by and author I have already tried and not gotten along with, the lure of a 99p price tag and an intriguing blurb played me for a sucker again.
I despised the heroine Cat in the authors second book in this series; That Night in Paris, which is the first book I had read by Sandy Barker, and I found the whole storyline in that dull, immature and uninspiring, and I should definitely called it one and done.
But she pales in comparison to Sarah the annoying harpy from this equally lacklustre offering, what a juvenile, immature woman, who came across as a hormonally challenged teen a lot of the time. I'll be honest this was a character I'd happily throat punch if I had the opportunity, definitely an author who I will be avoiding in the future, the writing style and characterisations just weren't for me.
Real shame as I have discovered some absolutely stellar new authors this year, Sandy Barker not being one of them.
August 27, 2019
100% without a doubt perfect summer holiday reading. Fabulous escapist fun in the sun with a dollop of evocative travel writing to boot.
I was there alongside the characters on this Greek Island yacht trip from Santorini to Mykonos, stopping at many smaller islands en-route.
You could feel you were in Greece, eating Greek food, seeing the pretty architecture, odd Greek words thrown in for good measure too.
It was like a love letter to the islands, and on top of the fabulous travel descriptions was the story of a holiday for a group of at the start of the trip strangers.
Told from Sarah's perspective, we get to see how the dynamics of everyone on the trip change, as well as her own thoughts as to whether she may be ready for a new man!
I loved the mix of personalities and just about everything about this book.
I love a foreign setting and one so expertly described was a joy to read.
A fabulous debut novel, and I just hope the author continues to write about fabulous locations as back drops to stories!
Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
I was there alongside the characters on this Greek Island yacht trip from Santorini to Mykonos, stopping at many smaller islands en-route.
You could feel you were in Greece, eating Greek food, seeing the pretty architecture, odd Greek words thrown in for good measure too.
It was like a love letter to the islands, and on top of the fabulous travel descriptions was the story of a holiday for a group of at the start of the trip strangers.
Told from Sarah's perspective, we get to see how the dynamics of everyone on the trip change, as well as her own thoughts as to whether she may be ready for a new man!
I loved the mix of personalities and just about everything about this book.
I love a foreign setting and one so expertly described was a joy to read.
A fabulous debut novel, and I just hope the author continues to write about fabulous locations as back drops to stories!
Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
August 24, 2020
What the other reviewers said. AWFUL BOOK.
June 25, 2019
When Sarah’s sister, Cat, joins the ‘poor Sarah’ pity party, it’s time for Sarah to talk about her ex, Neil, and acknowledge the wasted ‘year of her life’. But a trip to Santorini and sailing around the Greek islands is just the tonic Sarah needed.
But that old saying ‘be careful what you wish for’ begins to ring true! The fabulous trip might banish all thoughts of Neil, but is a bigger problem looming? Experience the scenery, the wine and some delightful Greek food... you'll wish you were there.
Sun, fun, romance and sailing – what more could you want? Draw up that sun lounger and take a trip – you’ll be so glad you did!
But that old saying ‘be careful what you wish for’ begins to ring true! The fabulous trip might banish all thoughts of Neil, but is a bigger problem looming? Experience the scenery, the wine and some delightful Greek food... you'll wish you were there.
Sun, fun, romance and sailing – what more could you want? Draw up that sun lounger and take a trip – you’ll be so glad you did!
May 18, 2019
An absolutely sweet beach read.
Sarah was coming out of a relationship when she decided to travel to Greek Isles. Romantic opportunity does meet her on the island hopping. My first book by Sandy Barker, the theme of finding oneself was brought out in a delightful, humorous manner.
Writing was superfluous, description of the landscapes had me longing to travel to Greece. Characters were real, their emotions felt genuine, had me smiling along with them.
A warm hearted read absolutely
Sarah was coming out of a relationship when she decided to travel to Greek Isles. Romantic opportunity does meet her on the island hopping. My first book by Sandy Barker, the theme of finding oneself was brought out in a delightful, humorous manner.
Writing was superfluous, description of the landscapes had me longing to travel to Greece. Characters were real, their emotions felt genuine, had me smiling along with them.
A warm hearted read absolutely
June 20, 2019
Living mainly on a diet of dark and angsty romances, this book was a change for me, and a refreshing one at that. The author brought the Greek islands vividly to life with images of stunning sunsets, whitewashed buildings and mouthwatering food. I loved the interactions between Sarah’s fellow “crewmates” on the yacht, especially the outrageous Patricia. The occasional encounters with a neighbouring sailing trip (all girls with a single male skipper which made me think of hungry lions in their camp, circling a wildebeest) had me laughing, as did many other moments.
The imagery was so vivid, I could almost feel the sun on my face and taste the tomatoes – so much so that I'm tempted to book myself a Greek holiday to see if I can find Martika and her home-made feta.
A warm, light holiday read, perfect for the Summer!
Thanks to the author and publisher for the ARC. This review will be posted on my blog on 23 June
The imagery was so vivid, I could almost feel the sun on my face and taste the tomatoes – so much so that I'm tempted to book myself a Greek holiday to see if I can find Martika and her home-made feta.
A warm, light holiday read, perfect for the Summer!
Thanks to the author and publisher for the ARC. This review will be posted on my blog on 23 June
June 25, 2019
I picked this up for the sole reason that it mentioned my home town of Santorini that made me a bit homesick. And even though I loath triangles of any kind, I made an exception this time to suffer through it. "Suffer" is the key word here. This just wasn't my cuppa tea. I was totally bored and all the characters annoyed me - especially Josh with his constant whining! We get it dude. You want to remain single! Move on already!
On the plus side (reason for 2 stars), author did a good job of describing the Greek Islands. Now if only I was there!😭
On the plus side (reason for 2 stars), author did a good job of describing the Greek Islands. Now if only I was there!😭
June 24, 2019
A fun and flirty read, PERFECT to take on holiday.
June 25, 2019
Oh, how I have been dying to read this novel!!! As soon as I saw this pop up on Netgalley, I immediately requested it. I adore the title of the novel and the cover is absolutely stunning. It's so summery and simply beautiful! I love the little houses in traditional Greek colours along the bottom, the sea in the background and the perfect ombre sky. I know this was the authors debut novel but I had high hopes and I wasn't disappointed!
At first, I was a bit unsure of the main character Sarah, she seemed a bit full of herself and a bit moany but seemed to change dramatically once we got into the story and she got onto the yacht. I then started to love her character and found her hysterical in some parts with what she came out with. I also found it so interesting and loved reading about the other characters who were also on the yacht. It's funny how you can immediately warm to some people, and others you're unsure of (Josh and Patricia!).
This novel was just as I expected however, the stunning surroundings of all of the Greek islands sounded idyllic and I just wish that it was me who was on the yacht! Some of the places which Sarah visited sounded beautiful and everywhere was so well described that I could clearly picture in my head where they were. Another thing that I adored was the descriptions of food! Warning: Probably not best to read this novel if you are hungry! I longed to eat a Greek salad or try some of the other local delicacies! It was a perfect summer novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
As well as main character Sarah, I loved reading about the other secondary characters and particularly warmed to Marie and Gary as well as Josh and I was so interested to read about where Josh and Sarah's relationship was headed as from the start Sarah was adamant that she didn't want any kind of relationship! But I have to say the thing I loved the most was the locations, it just seemed like Sandy Barker really knew what she was talking about and the descriptions just made me fall in love! It was obviously researched really well and because of that it made the novel really fantastic. Overall, an amazing first novel I've read by this author - I can't wait to read more by Sandy Barker in future! Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.
At first, I was a bit unsure of the main character Sarah, she seemed a bit full of herself and a bit moany but seemed to change dramatically once we got into the story and she got onto the yacht. I then started to love her character and found her hysterical in some parts with what she came out with. I also found it so interesting and loved reading about the other characters who were also on the yacht. It's funny how you can immediately warm to some people, and others you're unsure of (Josh and Patricia!).
This novel was just as I expected however, the stunning surroundings of all of the Greek islands sounded idyllic and I just wish that it was me who was on the yacht! Some of the places which Sarah visited sounded beautiful and everywhere was so well described that I could clearly picture in my head where they were. Another thing that I adored was the descriptions of food! Warning: Probably not best to read this novel if you are hungry! I longed to eat a Greek salad or try some of the other local delicacies! It was a perfect summer novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
As well as main character Sarah, I loved reading about the other secondary characters and particularly warmed to Marie and Gary as well as Josh and I was so interested to read about where Josh and Sarah's relationship was headed as from the start Sarah was adamant that she didn't want any kind of relationship! But I have to say the thing I loved the most was the locations, it just seemed like Sandy Barker really knew what she was talking about and the descriptions just made me fall in love! It was obviously researched really well and because of that it made the novel really fantastic. Overall, an amazing first novel I've read by this author - I can't wait to read more by Sandy Barker in future! Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.
June 28, 2019
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
‘This book began as a love letter – to one of my favourite places in the world, Greece, but mostly to my partner Ben, who I met on a pier in Santorini, just as we were to embark on a ten-day sailing trip.’
Acknowledgements, Sandy Barker, author of One Summer in Santorini
Fun, adventure, romance, friendships, culture and the warmth of an island escape combine to form the latest book penned by Australian author Sandy Barker, One Summer in Santorini. A welcoming book that provides a gentle life lesson on finding your passion and direction in life, along with indulging in a holiday dalliance, is at the heart of this seducing novel.
‘I looked out my window as the plane banked and there it was, Santorini, a crescent of rusty land in a sea of deep blue. It was stunning.’
Imagine, what could be more perfect than throwing your cares aside, in favour of a island hopping cruise on board a glamorous yacht around the Greek Islands. I feel like Greece has been on my holiday wish list for far too long and I know I physically won’t be able to get to this idyllic part of the world anytime soon. However, thanks to Sandy Barker’s new novel, One Summer in Santorini, I was able to experience the perfect armchair traveller sojourn – and my own summer in Santorini. Through the entire novel I felt like I was standing right by Sarah, the main protagonist’s side. The descriptions and sense of place was incredibly vivid within the pages of this novel.
Sarah, who takes on the star role of this novel, is likeable, bubbly and inspiring. Sarah is also touched with plenty of realism so I did find I could sympathise with her at many points of this novel. Barker’s presentation of Sarah is intuitive and honest. As Sarah grappled with her emotions and true feelings beneath the backdrop of this exotic destination, it compels the reader to turn the pages of this book at a rapid pace. In fact, I found One Summer in Santorini to be a consuming and quick read, filled with engaging characters.
Romance directs much of this novel. We are first introduced the Sarah, the lead protagonist’s relationship woes from the opening of this novel and she does carry around some baggage for the bulk of this novel. While trying to let go of a past relationship, Sarah throws caution into the wind in the love department. We watch on as Sarah grapples with her feelings for two men. These love interests are contrasted, both in age and personality. I enjoyed following along as Sarah worked out her emotions, feelings, desires and hopes in the love department. This is offset by a focus on the brief but impressionable friendships and connections we make while travelling.
As I have mentioned, I would dearly love to get to Greece one day. Sandy Barker certainly conjured all the sights, sounds, smells and highlights of this stunning European locale. This is assisted at every point by a strong depth of firsthand knowledge and the author’s clear enthusiasm for this part of the world. The food sequences were deeply authentic and mouth-watering. I also greatly appreciated the detailed descriptions of navigating your way around the streets and buildings of various Greek Islands. I thought this was a standout feature of the book.
Not only is One Summer in Santorini a passionate ode to the Greek Islands, I guarantee that it will inspire plenty of wanderlust! With a cliffhanger ending that left me begging for more, I am hoping we will see the return of Sandy Barker’s travel inspired contemporary romance writing very soon!
*I wish to thank the author, Sandy Barker, for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
One Summer in Santorini is book #90 of the 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge
‘This book began as a love letter – to one of my favourite places in the world, Greece, but mostly to my partner Ben, who I met on a pier in Santorini, just as we were to embark on a ten-day sailing trip.’
Acknowledgements, Sandy Barker, author of One Summer in Santorini
Fun, adventure, romance, friendships, culture and the warmth of an island escape combine to form the latest book penned by Australian author Sandy Barker, One Summer in Santorini. A welcoming book that provides a gentle life lesson on finding your passion and direction in life, along with indulging in a holiday dalliance, is at the heart of this seducing novel.
‘I looked out my window as the plane banked and there it was, Santorini, a crescent of rusty land in a sea of deep blue. It was stunning.’
Imagine, what could be more perfect than throwing your cares aside, in favour of a island hopping cruise on board a glamorous yacht around the Greek Islands. I feel like Greece has been on my holiday wish list for far too long and I know I physically won’t be able to get to this idyllic part of the world anytime soon. However, thanks to Sandy Barker’s new novel, One Summer in Santorini, I was able to experience the perfect armchair traveller sojourn – and my own summer in Santorini. Through the entire novel I felt like I was standing right by Sarah, the main protagonist’s side. The descriptions and sense of place was incredibly vivid within the pages of this novel.
Sarah, who takes on the star role of this novel, is likeable, bubbly and inspiring. Sarah is also touched with plenty of realism so I did find I could sympathise with her at many points of this novel. Barker’s presentation of Sarah is intuitive and honest. As Sarah grappled with her emotions and true feelings beneath the backdrop of this exotic destination, it compels the reader to turn the pages of this book at a rapid pace. In fact, I found One Summer in Santorini to be a consuming and quick read, filled with engaging characters.
Romance directs much of this novel. We are first introduced the Sarah, the lead protagonist’s relationship woes from the opening of this novel and she does carry around some baggage for the bulk of this novel. While trying to let go of a past relationship, Sarah throws caution into the wind in the love department. We watch on as Sarah grapples with her feelings for two men. These love interests are contrasted, both in age and personality. I enjoyed following along as Sarah worked out her emotions, feelings, desires and hopes in the love department. This is offset by a focus on the brief but impressionable friendships and connections we make while travelling.
As I have mentioned, I would dearly love to get to Greece one day. Sandy Barker certainly conjured all the sights, sounds, smells and highlights of this stunning European locale. This is assisted at every point by a strong depth of firsthand knowledge and the author’s clear enthusiasm for this part of the world. The food sequences were deeply authentic and mouth-watering. I also greatly appreciated the detailed descriptions of navigating your way around the streets and buildings of various Greek Islands. I thought this was a standout feature of the book.
Not only is One Summer in Santorini a passionate ode to the Greek Islands, I guarantee that it will inspire plenty of wanderlust! With a cliffhanger ending that left me begging for more, I am hoping we will see the return of Sandy Barker’s travel inspired contemporary romance writing very soon!
*I wish to thank the author, Sandy Barker, for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
One Summer in Santorini is book #90 of the 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge
June 6, 2019
Oh my word, what can I say?!
I loved this book so much, and I was craving for more!
I really felt I was there, and I wanted to be there. The descriptions were so real. I lost myself in the gorgeous Greek sunshine. I adored the sailing aspect. Not something I’ve ever done but makes me fancy it now.
The relationships between the travellers on the boat, ‘the family’, made this for me.
The meals out, the daytrips on the islands visited, and just sitting on deck added to the lovely feeling this book gave me.
I think this book will stay with me for a long time.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this, as soon as I saw the description I knew I'd love it.
PS. I call my dog Miss Sandy Barker, so it made me giggle when I saw there was an author named Sandy Barker :)
I loved this book so much, and I was craving for more!
I really felt I was there, and I wanted to be there. The descriptions were so real. I lost myself in the gorgeous Greek sunshine. I adored the sailing aspect. Not something I’ve ever done but makes me fancy it now.
The relationships between the travellers on the boat, ‘the family’, made this for me.
The meals out, the daytrips on the islands visited, and just sitting on deck added to the lovely feeling this book gave me.
I think this book will stay with me for a long time.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this, as soon as I saw the description I knew I'd love it.
PS. I call my dog Miss Sandy Barker, so it made me giggle when I saw there was an author named Sandy Barker :)
July 19, 2020
Oh boy. Where do I start?
I am glad I read this book if only for the fact that I got to escape the hell that is this pandemic and read about being somewhere far away. Greece really does sound beautiful, and I will say that Barker makes really sells taking a trip there. It was also refreshing to read something out of my comfort zone. Even I didn't love this book, it was a quick read and a distraction.
Now, onto Sarah. I haven't hated a character this much in a while. I thought she was a snob and a hypocrite. It didn't help that we really didn't get much from Sarah in terms of a backstory. She says she's not happy with her life, but we meet her on the first day of her trip, so I had a hard time empathizing with her. She scoffs at having to share a taxi in the beginning and whines too much. She also keeps complaining that Josh is too young for her with their eight year age gap, yet seems totally okay with the fifteen year gap between her and James. I also kept getting pissed off when she would describe herself as chronically single and so rusty when it comes to relationships. She had only been single for a few MONTHS. Slow your roll!
And what was the point of Patricia in the beginning? Sarah and the rest of the characters judge this woman for drinking all the time and sleeping off hangover, but that's EXACTLY what they do after they kick her off the boat! And then Sarah just causually mentions enjoying sleep meds like Ambien and sharing them with strangers.
I hated the back and forth the author kept adding in with all the characters. One minute her characters feel one way and then a few minutes later they pull a 180 and do something completely opposite. Sarah kept going back and forth about having a romance or swearing off men. Josh kept saying he was into Sarah and then he'd say something stupid about them being really good friends. One minute Hannah is friendly and the next minute she hates everyone. It got exhausting very quickly.
Did I mention I wasn't a fan of this book? I just stole that from Sarah, sorry girl. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
I am glad I read this book if only for the fact that I got to escape the hell that is this pandemic and read about being somewhere far away. Greece really does sound beautiful, and I will say that Barker makes really sells taking a trip there. It was also refreshing to read something out of my comfort zone. Even I didn't love this book, it was a quick read and a distraction.
Now, onto Sarah. I haven't hated a character this much in a while. I thought she was a snob and a hypocrite. It didn't help that we really didn't get much from Sarah in terms of a backstory. She says she's not happy with her life, but we meet her on the first day of her trip, so I had a hard time empathizing with her. She scoffs at having to share a taxi in the beginning and whines too much. She also keeps complaining that Josh is too young for her with their eight year age gap, yet seems totally okay with the fifteen year gap between her and James. I also kept getting pissed off when she would describe herself as chronically single and so rusty when it comes to relationships. She had only been single for a few MONTHS. Slow your roll!
And what was the point of Patricia in the beginning? Sarah and the rest of the characters judge this woman for drinking all the time and sleeping off hangover, but that's EXACTLY what they do after they kick her off the boat! And then Sarah just causually mentions enjoying sleep meds like Ambien and sharing them with strangers.
I hated the back and forth the author kept adding in with all the characters. One minute her characters feel one way and then a few minutes later they pull a 180 and do something completely opposite. Sarah kept going back and forth about having a romance or swearing off men. Josh kept saying he was into Sarah and then he'd say something stupid about them being really good friends. One minute Hannah is friendly and the next minute she hates everyone. It got exhausting very quickly.
Did I mention I wasn't a fan of this book? I just stole that from Sarah, sorry girl. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
June 29, 2019
If you’re ever looking for a book to help escape your own life then look no further, because Barker truly made me feel like I was in Greece myself! This was pure fun, and the ideal read for this time of year, if you aren’t taking a vacation yourself this is the next best thing.
Sarah is the kind of character that I liked right away, she’s fun and has a fantastic sense of humor and is easily the type of friend I would like to have myself. Besides a fabulous protagonist her boat family was also an endearing bunch as well. Then on top of all that she finds herself in a bit of a love triangle which is always fun and interesting. There’s Josh, a younger man who also happens to be a passenger on the boat and then there’s also James, an older and more established gentleman. Both men are charming in their own way and she’s facing a pretty tough choice, but it was highly entertaining to watch her flirt with them and try and decide what she really wanted.
Definitely recommended by me, as I said before it has an amazing setting that will sweep you away to an exotic place, it has plenty of romance and is also infused with humor and friendship, what more could a girl want?! Another book about Sarah if you’re me, because this ended on a cliffhanger and I need to know what will happen next!!
One Summer in Santorini in three words: Picturesque, Fun and Cute
Sarah is the kind of character that I liked right away, she’s fun and has a fantastic sense of humor and is easily the type of friend I would like to have myself. Besides a fabulous protagonist her boat family was also an endearing bunch as well. Then on top of all that she finds herself in a bit of a love triangle which is always fun and interesting. There’s Josh, a younger man who also happens to be a passenger on the boat and then there’s also James, an older and more established gentleman. Both men are charming in their own way and she’s facing a pretty tough choice, but it was highly entertaining to watch her flirt with them and try and decide what she really wanted.
Definitely recommended by me, as I said before it has an amazing setting that will sweep you away to an exotic place, it has plenty of romance and is also infused with humor and friendship, what more could a girl want?! Another book about Sarah if you’re me, because this ended on a cliffhanger and I need to know what will happen next!!
One Summer in Santorini in three words: Picturesque, Fun and Cute
June 29, 2019
A fun, easy read that will make you want to travel to the Greek islands. One Summer In Santorini follows Sarah, a teacher going through a breakup, who joins a European sailing trip. Also on the trip is American, Josh, who catches Sarah’s eye. They start off as friends, and just as Sarah begins to feel there might be something there, Josh tells her he’s not looking for a relationship, only to change his mind when a new stranger offers Sarah something Josh wasn’t sure he was willing to give. Through vividly described landscapes and meals you wish you could eat for yourself, Sandy Barker’s well-crafted words take you on Sarah’s journey as she tries to make sense of her feelings about love, relationships, and the kind of life she wants for herself when the vacation ends.
May 17, 2019
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for this ARC!
I spent my honeymoon in Greece and this book brought all the memories flooding back. This was a wonderful and fun romantic comedy that is perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella! This was my first introduction to Sandy Barker and I had so much fun escaping in this book. This is the perfect beach read and will have you planning a vacation to Greece!
I spent my honeymoon in Greece and this book brought all the memories flooding back. This was a wonderful and fun romantic comedy that is perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella! This was my first introduction to Sandy Barker and I had so much fun escaping in this book. This is the perfect beach read and will have you planning a vacation to Greece!
June 25, 2019
What a fantastic debut!
Sarah, the main character was wonderfully real and I adored her carefree nature. The two love interests sound delish and keep you guessing as to which one Sarah will end up with (no spoilers here! You'll just have to read it for yourself!). And OMG the setting and food descriptions! It immediately made me want to book a holiday to Greece and stuff my face with feta!
This book made me super hungry for fab Greek food and for more by this brilliant writer!
Sarah, the main character was wonderfully real and I adored her carefree nature. The two love interests sound delish and keep you guessing as to which one Sarah will end up with (no spoilers here! You'll just have to read it for yourself!). And OMG the setting and food descriptions! It immediately made me want to book a holiday to Greece and stuff my face with feta!
This book made me super hungry for fab Greek food and for more by this brilliant writer!
July 9, 2019
I really struggled to finish this book for a myriad of reasons, but a small part of me wanted to know how it ended between two of the characters. This was one of the worst endings I’ve ever read. There was nothing to it. No resolution or anything. It just ended. And I am so irritated that I wasted my time.
March 26, 2020
I am a firm believer in "if you don't have anything good to say don't say anything at all" well I shall just say that I would have enjoyed reading Patricia's adventures around the greek islands rather than Sarah's .
July 8, 2019
An island hop of escapism...
One of the most refreshing things about this story was that joyous point of view that is an Australian traveler sharing their unique perspective of Europe. It really does make a Brit like me see if with fresh eyes, which, given I have a soft spot for the Greek islands anyway, means they positively shimmered in this book. As did the wit and self-deprecating humour. All well timed and laugh out loud funny. Look (as the Ozzies say), I'm not going to pretend that I was constantly rooting for Sarah. At times her impetuous behaviour really bugged me. She was definitely a likeable protagonist, don't get me wrong... I just couldn't warm to some of her romantic antics. But I'll park that minor issue right there because this is still a 5 star story and despite wanting to slap her a couple of times, it didn't detract from me enjoying the novel immensely. The author is clearly well traveled and you feel that you pick up all sorts of Greek - and other worldly - nuggets along the way. Brilliant writing style and a refreshing ending. Barker is very much a romcom talent to watch!
One of the most refreshing things about this story was that joyous point of view that is an Australian traveler sharing their unique perspective of Europe. It really does make a Brit like me see if with fresh eyes, which, given I have a soft spot for the Greek islands anyway, means they positively shimmered in this book. As did the wit and self-deprecating humour. All well timed and laugh out loud funny. Look (as the Ozzies say), I'm not going to pretend that I was constantly rooting for Sarah. At times her impetuous behaviour really bugged me. She was definitely a likeable protagonist, don't get me wrong... I just couldn't warm to some of her romantic antics. But I'll park that minor issue right there because this is still a 5 star story and despite wanting to slap her a couple of times, it didn't detract from me enjoying the novel immensely. The author is clearly well traveled and you feel that you pick up all sorts of Greek - and other worldly - nuggets along the way. Brilliant writing style and a refreshing ending. Barker is very much a romcom talent to watch!
June 27, 2019
One Summer in Santorini follows Sarah, a somewhat newly single, mid-30’s woman from Australia as she embarks on a ten day sailing trip through Greece with a group of seven strangers. Inspiring by the author’s own life, the strangers on the boat quickly become friends, and then family, and one man in particular becomes a bit more. This book is the definition of a simple and effortless beach read. A picturesque Greece backdrop, boating, and plenty of shared food and drinks with friends and lovers fill the novel. It was an easy read, perfect for a summer day while relaxing. I requested to read this book because going to Greece would be a dream vacation, and of course reading it made me want to go even more. It’s a cute book and I’d recommend if you just want something light and fun to read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 26, 2019
Having split up with her ex, Aussie Sarah is currently on her way to London for a quick overnight stay with her sister before flying off to Santorini to sail with a bunch of strangers to Mykonos. She’s not interested in meeting anyone new but then she meets American traveller Josh and it’s lust at first sight. But then she’s also encountered ‘The Silver Fox’ - why is it when she’s not looking for love, two gorgeous men come along at once!
I loved reading this book. You are instantly transported to the Mediterranean and can almost feel the hot sun on your skin and taste the feta and ouzo. The book flows along at a good pace and kept me thoroughly entertained to the end. A fantastic holiday read that I can highly recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books and the author for the chance to review.
I loved reading this book. You are instantly transported to the Mediterranean and can almost feel the hot sun on your skin and taste the feta and ouzo. The book flows along at a good pace and kept me thoroughly entertained to the end. A fantastic holiday read that I can highly recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books and the author for the chance to review.
June 6, 2019
I really wanted to like this book. I thought the story line was a great idea and was excited to read it, but I just don’t think it was executed very well. I felt bored by about 50% of the book, and actually did put it down for about a week before I picked it up to finish it again. I felt that there was a lot of unnecessary detail that didn’t add anything to the story or lead anywhere. I am a fan of books ith lots of dialogue, and I felt that there was a lot less dialogue that didn’t feel super meaningful. Overall, this book wasn’t for me, but that doesn't mean it wasn't for everyone. I was rating it between a 2-3 stars.
July 3, 2019
This was an incredibly easy to read book, great fun with a vivacious protagonist.
The setting was dreamy and the thoughts of a Greek island fill me with a yearning of my younger carefree days. We should all do it! You can't help but like Sara and root for her with her adventures.
Perfect for your holiday read.
Thanks to Netgalley, Sandy Baker and Avon Books .
The setting was dreamy and the thoughts of a Greek island fill me with a yearning of my younger carefree days. We should all do it! You can't help but like Sara and root for her with her adventures.
Perfect for your holiday read.
Thanks to Netgalley, Sandy Baker and Avon Books .
November 10, 2019
One Summer in Santorini is a fun read that will transport you to Greece; you will literally know what it is like to sail around the Greek Islands. (I'm in!)
I loved the main character, Sarah. She definitely had me laughing with her inner thoughts. After experiencing a bad breakup, Sarah decides to go off on a sailing adventure. By herself. Most people say, "Maybe you'll meet someone!" and this felt very true to life for me--that notion that you need to find someone else to make you happy. Well, Sarah wants nothing of it, and sets out to find herself (Go Sarah!), and experience life in a way she couldn't when she was with her ex, Neil. Along the way there are fun things that happen to Sarah. I'm not going to tell you what those are, because you'll have to read it yourself!
Awesome romcom. Opa!
I loved the main character, Sarah. She definitely had me laughing with her inner thoughts. After experiencing a bad breakup, Sarah decides to go off on a sailing adventure. By herself. Most people say, "Maybe you'll meet someone!" and this felt very true to life for me--that notion that you need to find someone else to make you happy. Well, Sarah wants nothing of it, and sets out to find herself (Go Sarah!), and experience life in a way she couldn't when she was with her ex, Neil. Along the way there are fun things that happen to Sarah. I'm not going to tell you what those are, because you'll have to read it yourself!
Awesome romcom. Opa!
August 19, 2019
Amazing book!!!! I absolutely loved it and enjoyed my time with book a lot! It's so well written that I almost felt myself on vacation around the greek islands on the sailing boat with the sun kissing my skin! Such a relaxing book, really! And the story in itself is really enjoyable, fun but also full of events and the romance part of it is also very nice! I can only recommend this book if you are looking for a good quality summer feeling chicklit kind of book! It looks like there is a sequel to this book and I can't wait to read it!!!! I want to know what happens to the protagonists next!!!!
May 4, 2019
Thank you to Netgalley and @avonbooks for the advanced copy of this book, I’m return for an honest review. I found this book witty and romantic. This is a perfect romcom book and I highly recommend lovers of Sophie Kinsella, Kirsty McManus and Cecelia Ahern check this book out- but be prepared to become engrossed.
August 12, 2020
I kept reading this mainly for the descriptions of the Greek Islands and Greek food I disliked the main character most of the time.
And romance readers beware: there is NO real HEA. The main character waffles back and forth between two handsome men she meets on holiday. And at the end? No real idea what will happen.
And romance readers beware: there is NO real HEA. The main character waffles back and forth between two handsome men she meets on holiday. And at the end? No real idea what will happen.
August 11, 2023
Ani že priemer, lebo priemer má klišé veci a vieš, čo je na konci, ale tu sa stretla Julie Caplin so Sally Rooney a myslenie postáv hovorilo A, gestikulovalo B a robilo C.
A nazvem knihu leto na Santorini, ale realne je to Leto na gréckych ostrovoch... ale predalo to, takže účel to splnilo.
Toto je vhodný darček, keď niekoho chcete naštvať.
Milovníci Grécka ocenia len opisy miest a jedál.
A vraj má autorka podobné knihy, ale dúfam, že nie takéto zavádzajúce a s postavami s nastavením horším ako...
:D joj, už dávno som sa takto nenasr...
A nazvem knihu leto na Santorini, ale realne je to Leto na gréckych ostrovoch... ale predalo to, takže účel to splnilo.
Toto je vhodný darček, keď niekoho chcete naštvať.
Milovníci Grécka ocenia len opisy miest a jedál.
A vraj má autorka podobné knihy, ale dúfam, že nie takéto zavádzajúce a s postavami s nastavením horším ako...
:D joj, už dávno som sa takto nenasr...
April 16, 2020
During this time of uncertainty, when all I wanted to do was escape from the real world for a few hours, Sandy Barker’s ‘One Summer in Santorini’ gave me exactly what I was looking for. I absolutely raced through this intriguing romance and honestly felt like I was yachting through the Greek Islands with Sarah and the whole gang. The premise of being attracted to two men was interesting (don’t worry, no spoilers here!) and I honestly didn’t expect the book to end in the way it did - I am now waiting with bated breath for the follow up!
Thanks Sandy for writing a magical book full of pure escapism - your passion for Greece shines through.
Thanks Sandy for writing a magical book full of pure escapism - your passion for Greece shines through.
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