Fabulous classic feel good tale!
Martha feels hopeless and chaotic in life, being a teacher in London and spending time with her family near the coast in Devon. With the upcoming wedding of one of her sisters her uneasy feelings with her own love life bubble up.
This book takes us from London to Devon and then to the beautiful island of Paxos in Greece. The characters and family are brilliantly portrayed, loved her best friend Joanie!
Slightly far fetched and unrealistic at times this story is however great fun and an enjoyable read.
Not my favourite of Helen McGinn’s books, but has given me some inspiration for Greek wines and a taste for island life.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood books for the early read.

A good book to read in winter transport me to Greece is a nice easy to read book about two sister I did find it a bit slow in places the I thought it was rushed but it was nice easy to read book plot was good I did enjoy thank you for letting me read

A nice story with some very warm vibes both from the plot and the island of Paxos. Martha is the youngest of three sisters who has already called off a wedding previously. She has an opportunity to take up a holiday on the island of Paxos and meets up with Harry and his son Milo. A great advertisement for Greece

A perfect read for the winter months when you just want to feel the warmth of the sun on your face. Escape to the beautiful island of Paxos, along with Martha.
She's not had the easiest time, called off her own wedding and the feeling guilty about breakdown of her sisters relationship. Instead of going on her honeymoon, her sister Iris sends Martha instead, knowing that Martha's needs the break more than she does. Once there the relaxed vibe, the people and scenery soon have Martha feeling chilled. And the arrival of Harry may encourage her to feel love again.
This novel is pure escapism, vivid descriptions of Paxos, the food and surroundings enticing the reader to drop everything and book that holiday. A lighthearted read perfect for the beach

A nice tale of love entering two hearts on a Greek island. The backstories are repetitious at times, developing the story of each life. Parts seemed rushed while other parts dragged.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Martha is the youngest of three sisters, she is not good with relationships, her sister calls off her wedding and gifts Martha a trip to the island of Paxos. There she meets a single father. sweet story

A nice easy escapist read, started very slowly, raced a bit in the middle and then ended fairly abruptly for me.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

There is a lot to like about The Island of Dreams. The author paints a vivid picture of the Greek island of Paxos. Her description of the lush flora, sparkling waters, and big hearted residents transport the reader to a magical place.

Martha is an English schoolteacher who has a poor track record with relationships. After her sister calls off her wedding, she gifts Martha with her planned and now unnecessary honeymoon. Upon arriving in Greece, Martha meets a delightful boy named Milo and they strike up an immediate friendship. Soon she finds herself embraced by the locals and falling in love. That’s when things get complicated.

The book started slowly, picked up in the middle, and seemed to come to an abrupt end. I found myself wanting more substance at the conclusion of the book. Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book got off to a slow start for me but then was over before I wanted it to be. A delightful romance story. An adorable child adds to the tale. Take a trip to a Greek island. Very enjoyable place to be. Many wonderful characters and a couple of ones that it is fun to dislike. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

I read The Island of Dreams over a few days. It follows the story of Martha, a teacher. She’s the youngest of three sisters and feels she will be single forever. When she’s given the chance to escape to the beautiful Greek island of Paxos, it feels too good to be true but she spins finds herself arriving in the island. She quickly makes new friends and the island and residents start to work their magic on her, but is it all too good to be true? This is a pleasant enough novel, with a plot that flows well and some nice characters. I can’t say it totally grabbed me but it was an enjoyable read. Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the chance to review.

I really adored this book for the very beginning. It is a heartwarming romance and from the first few chapters I was rooting for a happy ending!

I loved majority of the characters particularly Milo and Harry. The description of the Greece and the boat trip around the island was beautifully done, making it really easy to picture the story as I read.

Romance books can be a bit samey but this one was unique and filled me with joy and I found it unique. I would love to have a part 2 to this one - what happens in the future? Where do they live? Doe's Milo ever find out more about his mum? (please please please!)

This is my first experience of a Helen McGinn book but it certainly won't be my last - I have already downloaded another one!

I loved the premise of the book but the execution not so much which is unfortunate because it had a ton of potential.

After breaking off an engagement Martha has sworn off love. She buries herself in her work as a teacher. But when her sister gifts her a solo trip to Greece, she finds way more than a tan and some relaxation. I loved the beautiful description of the island. It made me feel like I was there with Martha.
This would make a wonderful movie - just saying 😀

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

Iris’ wedding is called off last minute and she sends her sister Martha to the island of Paris to the honeymoon she had booked. A chance encounter at the ferry is the beginning of an opportunity to make new friends and maybe love…

I really enjoyed this book; light, with a bit of romantic drama; easy to read.

*2.75

one of my goals for this year is to explore more the women’s fiction genre, so here we are!

this story held my interest pretty consistently, and considering this is a genre i’m not very used to that was very positive to me. i believe that’s because of all these different characters and their relationships with each other. and of course, greece!

with that said, i do believe some aspects of those relationships were not done in a way i would’ve liked, as in the whole situation with martha’s sister at the beginning and the third act drama. these were both two points that genuinely frustrated me and had a huge impact on my overall enjoyment of this story. specially the third act because oh my god…

the highlight: milo!!! i loved that kid. since the start he brought a very appreciated by me layer to the book. however, i do wish we had more scenes of him with harry to get a bigger understanding of how their relationship is, and how it differentiates from milo and his grandmother’s.

i say the same to martha and harry. i really liked them, but it felt too rushed to me. just a few more scenes of them bonding and talking to each other about their lives would’ve easily helped me with believing how fast their feelings progressed.

all that to say, i still had a fun time! but i know that i’ll honestly forget about this story pretty quickly.

Good story, 3.5 rounded up

When Martha’s sister Iris called off her wedding and offered the prepaid honeymoon in Greece to Martha, she hesitantly agrees. After all, it’s summer and her new job as department head at her school won’t start for a couple of months.

Greece means new adventures and letting go of the tension that teaching, the city and her own cancelled wedding held. Martha swims at sunrise, eats new foods and makes friends in the village. Along the trip she takes a small boy under her wing and escorts him to the island, winning the respect of his family and friends. When she meets his father Harry, she feels an attraction but when she learns more about Milos’ mother she is confused.

I liked the story, the setting is beautiful but I found Martha to be somewhat immature. I can’t give specifics because it would include spoilers. Overall a decent read and definitely for lovers of Greece.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book but my opinions are my own.

Captivating from start to finish, this romance novel weaves a spellbinding tale of love and self-discovery. The characters are richly developed, and the author's vivid prose brings their emotions to life. A perfect blend of passion and heart, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking a delightful escape into the world of love and romance.

This was a story full of surprises, decisions that were made, and doing what was right for themselves. Oh, it did take courage, and there was doubt, but once decisions were made, they found out what was going to happen because of the decisions.
The story kept me reading, the writing made the emotions, the places, and the people come alive, so I felt it. This is a book that will take you on an adventure, that makes you feel like you are there. If you are like me and your vacations are through reading, then this is a must-read book.
I received an ARC from Boldwood Books through NetGalley.

4* An excellent book to blow away the winter blues

In the middle of winter I couldn't resist this gorgeous book cover, the contents inside were pretty good as well. Expecting the rain outside my window to become snow, I whisked myself away to sunny Paxos. A good plot and believable characters, a Greek island with sandy beaches and friendly welcoming people. And the descriptions of all that glorious food - I now can’t stop thinking about taramasalata.

I loved the story and didn’t want to put the book down. So why only a 4* rating? Because the ending was so abrupt, a solution found within the last few pages. For once I'd have liked an epilogue.

eARC generously supplied by Boldwood Books and NetGalley, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

I had never heard of Helen McGinn and, quite by chance, she appeared on a TV quiz show while I was reading this book - spooky! "The Island of Dreams" is an enjoyable romance / family drama set in London, Devon and on the Greek island of Paxos. There are great characters and locations, misunderstandings / wrong assumptions a-plenty, and an interesting storyline. A good holiday read.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.