3 stars.

Emma and Julian have reached a crossroads in the marriage. He’s at a crucial, “put up or shut up” paper and she’s left her job. They are hoping that spending the summer housesitting in Greece brings them clarity. But guess what?

Then they meet Lena and she becomes entangled in their lives in ways they couldn’t have imagined.

So I’ll just tell you….people, threesomes. Never. Work. Well, unless it’s porn, I guess. Threesomes do not work unless one or more people are getting paid.

And why is it always, ALWAYS Greece or Italy? You never, ever read about all the merry threesomes of Norway.

Book was decent. Mostly went as expected. Generally well written, with Emma and Julian having very relatable arguments, I thought.

I picked up Ruins because I’m always drawn to books inspired by Greek tragedy—and this one did not disappoint. Set against the crumbling beauty of modern Greece, it follows Julian and Emma, a married couple at a crossroads after a miscarriage leaves them emotionally scarred.

Julian’s academic career has stalled, and in a desperate attempt to revive it, he brings them to Greece for research. Emma, meanwhile, has abruptly quit her job with no plan, The unraveling between them is obvious.

Enter Lena, a disruptive figure that offers an opening—perhaps a lifeline, or perhaps a trap. Like all tragedies, the story hints at inevitability. It’s a slow burn, but incredibly rewarding, especially for readers who enjoy character-driven fiction with emotional complexity.
Tragic in the most honest way. Ruins lingers.
#randomhouse #ruins #amytaylor

I was entertained while reading this book. I felt like I was getting a glimpse into the marriage of the main characters. It was as if I was on their trip to Greece with them. The writing is intimate and intriguing. A hot read for summer! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.