well, i really wanted to enjoy this book more than i did. i tried so hard. i read the entire thing and it just still wasn't for me. tragic, but it happens! so. that's that. thank you so much, netgalley! you're the bees knees!!!

Bella is excited about her new position as lead stewardess on a private cruise line. Until she meets her second in command, and roommate, Mel, who seems to have a grudge against her. Their first group of passengers includes actress Felicia Kennedy and her friends and family. Nerve wracking enough, as Bella is a huge fan of Felicia's, but her nephew, Leo, immediately catches Bella's eye. An unrequited crush is one thing, but Leo reciprocates Bella's interest and fraternization with passengers is strictly forbidden.

This is classic escapist reading, with beautiful scenery, fabulously rich characters, and traditional conflicts. It could be trite, but the setting and characters elevate it. #ASummerontheRiviera #NetGalley

How the other half live !
Bella has just landed her dream job as chief stewardess on a luxury yacht for the rich and famous. All is going fairly well if you ignore the 2nd stewardess who feels the job should have been hers so isn't going to go out of her way to make life easy ! until she starts to become friendly with one of the handsome guests. Despite warnings not to become involved with the guests she tries her hardest to stay away but he feels the same.
When the captain finds out he tells her to choose, him or her job.
What will Bella's decision be ?
Plenty twists and turns

This was pure escapism for me. Bella gets a job as chief stewardess on a luxury liner. It's her job to make sure that the very wealthy customers have a dream holiday. She meets opposition from the 2nd steward which could make the summer difficult
Their first charter includes movie stars and a great storyline. The characters are well rounded and the love interest sounds wonderful
I can't wait to read more.

Great story with so many twists and turns along the way. As well as a will they, won't they. Will keep you hooked in.

Bella has always worked in high end hotels, but she wants to travel and see the world. So she takes a job as first stewardess on a yacht. Bella’s first charter is with a famous actress Felicia with her family and friends. Secrets are held back and mysteries are to be solved of the heart and many other things.

I enjoyed the storytelling of this book and the perspectives of several of the characters. I was cheering Bella on every step of the way.

Thank you#NetGalley for the advance copy

After the initial pages, I found myself not connecting with the story or characters, so I decided to pass on this book. Did not finish

New author for me but all in all I enjoyed the book. Good characters and an interesting view into the world of the rich and famous. One of those easy reads with a cuppa and a comfy chair !
My thanks as always to NetGalley and to Embla books for the early read.

What a nice summer read. I thought it was a little slow in the beginning but I continued reading and I'm glad I did.
Bella kept me wanting more and asking did she chose the job or love? You will have to read to find out.
I highly recommend this one.
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read/review this book.

Fancy an escape to the French Riviera this summer? Look no further than between the pages of A Summer on the Riviera by Rachel Barnett. Released this week; it is currently free on Amazon Kindle. This is a beautiful heartwarming read exploring friendship, forbidden love, and family secrets. The book hosts a range of great characters including protagonist Bella, who dreams of a bigger life beyond her small town existence and cannot believe how her world expand when she lands a job on board a luxurious yacht. Her life is about to collide with the famous but jaded actress Felicity, who is dreaming of an escape of her own and seeks some sunshine, sea air, and a cocktail her hand. This was the perfect read to tempt me into summer. Nonl yacht for me, but a sunny spot and book in hand had me there is a flash! #asummerontheriviera #rachelbarnett #embla #thefrenchriviera #romcom #lightreads#summerreads #summerreading2023

Lovely story line set aboard a charter super yacht in the Mediterranean.
People who watch the tv show Below Deck’s will love this and recognise the rivalry between crew members.
Bella has never worked on a super yacht before but her previous hospitality experience has earned her the position of Chief Stewardess on the yacht the Blue Sky however she soon encounters Mel an experienced member of the crew who resents Bella because she felt she should have been appointed Chief Stewardess and will do anything to ensure Bella fails.
We watch as Bella establishes her position on the yacht and welcomes the first charter party on board .
Brilliant read with lots of rivalry from both the crew and guests intertwined with secrets and a love story.

Enjoyable read, loved the description of the yacht and places visited, characters were pleasant and a cute little romance. The perfect holiday read!!

Read how the super rich enjoy a cruise on a super yacht in the med. Plenty of twists and turns abound. Well written and a real pleasure to read. Fantastic for the summer bookshelf. 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this RC

Set aboard a super yacht cruising the Mediterranean, this book follows the loves, ambitions and secrets of both the super rich guests and the crew. There are twists, turns, grudges and double dealing mixed in with romance. There are some unexpected surprises (maybe because I’ve never been on a super yacht) and a slightly claustrophobic atmosphere on board. All in all a great beach read which I recommend.

This is my first book by Rachel Barnett which is an excellent light read for the summer months. A good story line which kept the pages turning quickly. Looking forward to reading more of Rachel's works.

I hadn’t seen other stories written from the point of view of the staff on a super yacht so I was excited by the premise of this book and looked forward to reading it. However, I have started reading this book three separate times and what I have determined is that this is not the book for me. I couldn’t connect with the author’s voice, I did not like any of the characters and found some of their actions frustrating and annoying (Would Bella really not pack sea sick medication, knowing she would be on the water for weeks when she had never worked on a boat before?). I have read some other reviews that said the book was slow to start but picked up at about the halfway point and turned out to be a can’t-put-down read, but I have not been able to get to that point in the story that makes me want to keep reading. I just don’t think this was the right book for me at this time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Embla Books for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy.

A good light summer read to escape with on holiday. Set on a luxury yacht sailing in the Mediterranean with a good cast of diverse characters, a mix of the haves and the have nots. Many ups and downs in both camps with secrets and subterfuge. Some unresolved parts of the story which could've been settled but on the whole an easy escape book.

A great summer read! A glimpse into the life of the very rich who charter a super yacht but told in a very warm, human way. Beautiful setting and likeable characters make this one to read on the beach!

A Summer on the Riviera by Rachel Barnett is a light-hearted, cosy and escapist read. From the get go, it reminded me of the TV show "Below Deck" with vivid and not overtly done descriptions. Rachel Barnett has created a great mix of characters and their secrets and motivations are deciphered extremely well throughout the book.

The protagonist Bella comes from humble beginnings and is driven to establish a name for herself in a new industry. But when the heart wants what it wants, will she choose love or her career? About 40% in, the realm of possibilities and the danger of secrets being unearthed, gave this a surprising element of tension and suspense. I was engaged throughout and found myself turning pages to see how the ending unfolds. Speaking of which, the ending had a few loose ends which made it a tad underwhelming, but overall, it was realistic and well done. If you're looking for a book which has elements of suspense and romance, do not skip this one!

Thank you NetGalley & Embla Books for inviting me to read this ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.

I really enjoyed this book a perfect summer read.I enjoyed the characters the places they visited.A charming story I enjoyed from first to last page.#netgalley #emblabooks