This book follow's the story of several characters in the novel. I enjoyed the different perspectives and the author's clean and easy prose. I felt the beginning was a little slow to start, but once it picked up I really enjoyed reading it and the family drama! I would recommend this book for a day at the beach.

I very much enjoyed a new summer novel, "Honestly, We Meant Well," by Grant Ginder.  It is light, realistic, well-written, and comical, a literary novel that can double as a beach read.  Ginder is a master of fast scenes and witty dialogue in this adroit portrayal of a  family vacation in Greece.  When Sue Ellen, a classicist, accepts a gig lecturing in Greece, she isn’t entirely happy that the family is accompanying her.  She’s annoyed with her philandering husband and grieving  the death of Christos, a former lover who ran the inn where they’re staying.  Her husband, Dean a writer and creative writing professor, is worried about his next novel and, unbeknownst to her, is cheating on her again.   Their  son, Will, is in agony over a breakup with his boyfriend and has also plagiarized a short story. Then there’s  Eleni,  Christos’ daughter, about to sell the inn.  The novel is also a  kind of guide to Greece.  Delphi, Athens, Aegina…  Great fun.

Very funny and totally relatable book -- we all have messy families, or at least know a few. The setting is great as well. Really enjoyed this story.

3 stars.

The Grecian setting is gorgeous and was the main thing that attracted me to the book. But in 2019, I really don't have time for books purporting to be about regret and rebirth, when really they're about an intelligent, educated woman trying to make the best of having chosen to marry a self-indulgent narcissist who cheats on her. Although the multiple POVs illustrate how everyone is in their own world on this trip to Greece, far too much real estate is dedicated to Sue Ellen's husband Dean. For me, I'd rather have read this strictly from Sue Ellen's and Eleni's POV.

Once I read the description of this book, I knew I had to read this one. I was not disappointed. This story takes some twists and turns that I was not expecting as it shifts perspectives from the points of view of four characters, three of whom are related. There are so many scenes that will resonate with anyone who has a spouse or a child or has made a mistake that I think there will be wide appeal to this novel.

It's tough to say who is the main character of this book, unless it's the island of Aegina where much of the action takes place. Meeting Classics Professor Sue Ellen, her well-known author husband Dean and their newly graduated from college son Will, you quickly learn that everyone has kept secrets from each other. When these secrets are revealed, that's when things get dicey.

Even Eleni, the innkeeper of the tiny hotel where they're staying, learns secrets about her own family from these strangers!

This book will be published on June 11, 2019 and I look forward to putting this book into the hands of library patrons who are looking for a fun yet thoughtful summer read.

Fans of travel combined with family drama will enjoy this book. I was drawn to the cover and description. At times, the book was little slow but the ending made up for it.

This book was not for me. From the description, I wanted to laugh more but I just felt sorry for most of the characters who are kind of floundering in their lives. I wish there had been more about Sue Ellen’s time in Greece she is flashing back to which would have helped me understand her special connection to it a bit more. The theme about starting over felt kind of thrown in at the end and I wish it had been more present throughout the entire book.

There were a few things I liked. The author does a really good job of making you feel like you are there in Greece, experiencing the heat and the beautiful views. His writing is beautifully descriptive without being overly wordy. There were a few scenes where I definitely felt transported to Greece. I also appreciated the hopeful ending.

All in all, I was not super impressed with the story, but I would check out another one of this author’s books because I think he has great potential.

3.5 stars rounded up

Honestly, We Meant Well was an enjoyable read for me, but it's the kind of book that won't be super memorable for me... Though I can say it made me want to hop on a plane and go to Greece immediately (I was coincidentally reading another book that takes place in Greece at the same time as this one and now I REALLY have Greece fever!).

The book centers on an American family with all kinds of issues. The mother Sue Ellen Wright is a Classics professor who has been asked to go to Greece for a month in the summer. Her husband Dean, semi well-known author, wants to go with her. He has been cheating on her and wants to make it up to her. And they take their son Will, too. He has just graduated from college, but did so, in part, by cheating on his thesis. As you can see, they're a bit dysfunctional! They stay on the island of Aegina, in a hotel owned by the daughter of a man Sue Ellen once dates. The daughter Eleni is getting ready to sell the hotel so she can go back to living her 20-something life in Athens.

If you enjoy books about family dysfunction that take place in beautiful locations, chances are, you'll enjoy this book! Like I said, I did enjoy it, but it isn't a book that's really going to stick with me for too long. That's OK, I don't think every book has to, but it's worth pointing out. Oh, and I can definitely see this being turned into a very entertaining and beautiful movie!

I truly enjoyed this story that is very honest about the complete messes families can be! Instead of putting up a perfect front, this novel gets into the weeds of the family's issues. When it comes to infidelity, plagiarizing, love and heartbreak, the reader gets to follow the family on their trip to Greece (a beautiful and intriguing setting). The story was witty, relatable, and and enjoyable. Thanks for Netgalley and Flatiron Books for the chance to early review! A review will be posted to my book Instagram @the_infiniteTBR_list before the publication date!

So many people try to put up a front for their family - that they have everything put together. I loved that this novel dove into the lives of a family who thought they had everything put together until recently. The backdrop of a beautiful Greek island is the perfect setting, but that's about the only thing that is going well for this family. This book felt so relatable because it went in depth on the issues this family is facing - and brought it to the reader with a humorous twist! This book was truly enjoyable and I appreciate Netgalley and Flatiron Books for giving me the opportunity to early review it! I will be posting a review on my book Instagram @the_infiniteTBR_list page prior to the publication date.

I loved this. I don't have much else to say so I'm going to repeat myself. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this.

Such a great read, at moments laughable and at others sad. I really enjoyed this tale of a family in crisis. Nothing new about the mother learning that the father is a cheat....but, Ginder makes this family incredibly interesting and moves them to a wonderful setting that adds to the specialness of the novel.

Sue Ellen and Dean come back from the edge of a divorce after he is caught cheating. Just as their lives are getting back on track, Sue Ellen, a classics professor is invited to lecture in Greece and elects to return to the island where she had an earlier experience with great, memorable love.

Oh, here the pot is stirred when her husband and struggling son decide to join her. Once on the island she becomes acquainted and with her former lovers’ daughter, Eleni. who is trying to hold together the crumbling hotel.

As we read the novel, the author combines the various voices of his cast of players. The final ingredient is Ginny Polansky a student of Dean and Sue Ellen who comes to this island of tranquility and hope but hysterically brings the plot to a climax.

I truly enjoyed this novel, can’t wait to discuss it in seminar and reading groups.

Thanks for the opportunity to read and review this interesting and original novel.