Emma Burstall's "Beside the Turquoise Sea" is a sun-soaked journey to Crete that risks whisking readers away on a wave of emotion and revelation. The book revolves around Edie, whose dreams of reawakening her troubled marriage by bringing her husband Ralph and close friends to the Greek island are reshuffled upon meeting Edie's work friend, Jessica.

The breathtaking views of the Villa Ariadne make it so much more than just a backdrop; it's a catalyst for contemplation and revelation. The author masterfully weaves a tale of tattered friendships, simmering resentments, and deep, old secrets that bubble just beneath the perfectly painted facade. In the bright Greek sun, Edie is forced to confront harsh realities, not only about her friends but about herself. It's a novel that beautifully balances escapism with actual emotional depth and shows that even paradise is not immune to the fuzziness of life. It is a perfect read for someone who enjoys a balance of warm moments, common struggles, and the alluring charm of a Greek island getaway.

My rating:

Plot: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Writing: 4 out of 5 stars
Character development: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Recommended for readers of:

Women’s Fiction
General Fiction


Review:

This is an interesting nicely written story set in a beautiful location which puts you in the holiday spirit as soon as you start reading. The plot is a bit more complex and focuses on the relationships between characters the dynamic of different personalities, how relationships change over time and how this affects the friendships with friends and family. The characters are portrayed realistic, their actions were explained well.

Overall a nicely written story, that started off a bit slow but then picked up and flowed well with well developed interesting characters A great holiday read!

Review copy provided through Netgalley at no cost to me.

“Beside the Turquoise Sea” is by Emma Burstall. This book is a sequel to “Beneath the Lemon Trees,” but can be read as a stand-alone, so that’s a point in its favor. For me, this book was a bit slow - there were a lot of unnecessary details in the beginning. But, once the five people agree to go to Crete, things pick up a bit. There’s friction between the five people (as expected), and twists in the storyline are there. While I believe the author did a great job of capturing Crete, this book missed the mark for me. Overall, if you want to armchair travel to Greece and like revealed secrets in unexpected ways, this might be a book for you to pick up.

I was initially very confused and thought I’d read this book before but then realised it was the same setting as a previous book by this author. I’m always drawn to books set in Greece and the Greek islands so this book immediately appealed to me. Unfortunately I wasn't really drawn to the characters and didn't really care very much what happened to them.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

Edie decides that taking her husband Ralph, back to Crete for a holiday, may rekindle their romance now that their children have left home. She finds the beautiful Villa Ariadne and books, including their longtime friends, Mac and Hannah and a colleague, Edie works with, Jessica.

The perfect holiday seem to come undone when arguments and secrets are revealed, that will change their friendships forever.

A great read!

Beside the Turquoise Sea
by Emma Burstall

In this interesting story, Edie and her husband, Ralph, embark on a nostalgic journey back to Grete, the enchanting destination of their honeymoon decades earlier. They are joined by their cherished friends, Mac and Hannah, who have their own dynamic friendship with Edie and Ralph. Just before their departure, Edie introduces her colleague, Jessica, a vibrant and adventurous spirit, whose presence ignites a spark of curiosity in Hannah. Eager to expand their group, Hannah proposes inviting Jessica along, setting the stage for an intriguing blend of personalities.

As the five vacationers arrive at their stunning Villa Ariadne overlooking the crystalline waters of the Aegean Sea, the idyllic surroundings contrast sharply with the underlying tension simmering among them. Each character brings their own baggage—emotional strains, unspoken grievances, and hidden secrets that threaten to surface.

Throughout the story, the relationships among the group are tested, revealing a complex web of interactions filled with jealousy, love, and betrayal. As unexpected twists unfold, the characters confront their deepest fears and desires, leading to moments of anxiety and angst that grab the reader's interest

Emma Burstall's story delves much deeper than the allure of sunshine and sandy beaches; it explores themes of truth, self-discovery, and the difficult journey of letting go of illusions. Ultimately, it challenges the characters to embrace the lives they genuinely aspire to live, while navigating the complexities of friendship and love.

It felt like a vacation with secrets tucked beneath every sunset.

Edie’s story pulled at me. It’s about marriage, change, and rediscovery with just the right mix of warmth, tension, and those little life truths that sneak up on you. I loved how the villa almost became its own character, and how each guest brought something different to the table. Literally and emotionally.

If you love stories about second chances, friendship, and quiet personal transformations wrapped in a beautiful setting, this one’s for you. Perfect summer escape.

4 stars and a daydream of booking my own trip to Villa Ariadne 🏝️💙

My second Emma Burstall book featuring Villa Ariadne, and it was just as good as the first. Interesting characters and the interaction between them, good storytelling, and a real sense of place, beautifully described. Recommended.

At first I thought I had read this book before! Then I realised it was the same villa, village and local people in Crete from Beneath the Lemon Trees. The tourists who went to stay at Villa Adriane were different. It’s their story. There is friction between the five guests staying at the villa. Relationships are strained. There’s secrets that are revealed. All is not as it seems. Some twists, anxiety and angst.

i was bought to Emma via her wonderful Tremarnock books. and boy did i fall in love with them and then Emma's writing. i dont want to get to gushy over a writer or her words. but i also do. but dont want to seem too sappy but also do. because authors like Emma deserve all the praise. and i hope some authors know just how special their talent is. i cannot begin to imagine having the worlds Emma creates at the end of her fingertips. her books have helped me way more than just "a book to read". they have seen me through some times only stepping into her book could have made better. i treasure books. but some i cherish. and Emma's are those books. im in awe of talent like this. i hope she knows just how brilliant she is and goes to sleep every day smiling at what sunshine she brings to the world via her pages.( sorry. feel free to go be sick now if ive made you get the ick)
this book take us to some very gorgeous Turquoise seas. But Edie is going to face more than changing tides of the sea her. as there are things to change and face in her own life. and this holiday will become way more than she thought it would.
for now though Edie needs a break. she and her husband need a break together. they need to be together. so when the place in Crete comes to her attention she snaps up the opportunity for a holiday there. its where they had there honeymoon so what could be a better destination for happy memories and to bring back there love? she needs to connect again. because shes scared where they are going,.
but she invites others. and this brings a fair few complications she didnt see coming. so what was a vacation with friends soon becomes so much more. secrets and layers start to emerge within all on this trip. and Edie has to navigate more than she bargained for. but will it help or hinder her future.
an added bonus in this book is the villa. did you spot it. i loved this little added touch.

I’ve read and enjoyed several of the author’s previous books but hadn’t realised that this was a follow up to Beneath the Lemon Tree and at first thought it may have been a reissue. The Villa Ariadne has new guests but is just as magical and beautifully set in glorious Crete. A story of old friends and empty nesters who are joined by an independent and outspoken single woman. Sparks fly and there’s an unexpected twist but this is a tale of new beginnings and redemption in middle age. A great summer read which I recommend.

This book swept me away with its vivid setting and emotionally resonant storytelling. What begins as a hopeful escape to rekindle a fading marriage slowly unfolds into a profound journey of self-discovery, friendship, and the pivotal choices that define midlife.

Edie is a relatable and quietly courageous protagonist. Her decision to return to Crete—the place of her honeymoon—is steeped in longing: for reconnection, clarity, and a spark she fears has dimmed. The Villa Ariadne, with its dreamy views and tranquil charm, serves as both sanctuary and crucible, revealing truths that have long simmered beneath the surface.When Edie invites her bold and unpredictable colleague Jessica to join them, the trip takes an unexpected turn. Tensions simmer, long-held secrets unravel, and the emotional stakes rise. The group’s interactions are layered and authentic, adding a depth that elevates this beyond a typical sun-drenched holiday read.

More than a story of sunshine and sea, this novel is a moving reflection on letting go of illusions and choosing the life that truly fulfills you.

Beside the Turquoise Sea by Emma Burstall is a charming, feel-good read that sweeps you away to the sun-drenched coast, where new beginnings and old secrets gently collide.

Bursting with warmth, wit, and emotional insight, this novel follows the lives of women seeking refuge, clarity, and a fresh start in a picturesque Mediterranean village. Burstall has a gift for creating layered, relatable characters - each one wrestling with their own challenges yet brought together by the promise of healing and friendship,

The setting is pure escapism, brought vividly to life with Burstall's rich descriptions of coastal life, delicious food, and the rhythms of a slower, more reflective way of living. But beneath the beauty, there's real emotional depth as the characters confront grief, love, betrayal, and the courage to move forward.

If you're looking for a novel that's both uplifting and grounded in genuine human experience, Beside the Turquoise Sea is a perfect pick. It's the literary equivalent of a long, sunny afternoon - comforting, inspiring, and hard to leave behind.

Definitely a great example of "not judge a book by it's cover", not sure what I was expecting but was pleasantly surprised with the twists and intrigue! Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down and finished it within a day. Some really interesting characters and it definitely made me want to be relaxing on a Greek Island!
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read.

Edie needs a holiday and to spend some quality time with her husband Ralph. They decide to invite their good friends Mac and Hannah and unwittingly also invite one of Edie’s single work colleagues, Jessica. When Edie books Villa Ariadne located in beautiful Crete, she knows that she has done the right thing in booking a holiday, going back to the country where she and Ralph spent their honeymoon.
Not even the gorgeous views and peaceful surroundings help when cracks start to appear in Mac and Hannah’s marriage. The holiday isn’t going to be the sticking plaster they so greatly need. As the week progresses the atmosphere at the villa changes and becomes very tense, with much arguing and unpleasantness. This is compounded when Jessica goes missing. The holiday starts to unravel before their eyes, but can they pull it back before they board the plane of the return journey?
I thought I had deja vu when I started reading this book as the location and Villa Ariadne were already familiar to me. I was glad to realise that this book was a follow on to Beneath the Lemon Tree. I loved the descriptions of the villa and the area in which it is located, they are vivid and beautifully descriptive. The plot is also great with a few twists. Overall, a really enjoyable read.

Having read the author's previous book Beneath the Lemon Tree, it was nice to reconnect with the magical Villa Ariadne and the village characters.
The dynamics between the five people staying in the villa were intriguing as to how the holiday affected their relationships.
It felt like a lovely mini break with beautiful scenery and delicious food.

Edie rents a home on a beautiful Greek island hoping to reconnect with her husband, as they have grown apart..

An interesting story about empty nesters and rediscovering your marriage . A couple of real good story lines that I won’t spoil. Mainly set on a beautiful Greek island. Lovely food descriptions . A good holiday read. A neat ending.. I enjoyed it .

This was a lovely book. It did feel a little unfinished in places, particularly the end where nothing was really wrapped up, but maybe the author will revisit these characters in the future. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, I was engaged throughout and thought it made a nice change from the usual just romance type stories I normally read. Recommended this one to some friends

Reading Beside the Turquoise Sea felt like being whisked away to the sun-drenched hills of Crete. The vivid descriptions of the Villa Ariadne, with its stunning views and tranquil charm, made me feel like I was right there, soaking in the atmosphere with Edie and her guests. It’s the perfect setting for a story that explores relationships, regrets, and the hope for renewal.

Edie is a relatable and sympathetic narrator—her loneliness, quiet longing, and desire to fix what’s broken in her marriage felt so authentic. I admired her vulnerability and the way she tries to hold everything together, even as old tensions and new dynamics begin to unravel around her.

The ensemble cast adds a lot of flavor to the story. I especially enjoyed the contrast between long-time friends and the unpredictable presence of Jessica, who shakes things up in ways I didn’t quite expect. The group’s interactions felt natural, though occasionally uncomfortable—which made the emotional revelations all the more believable.

My only reason for not giving five stars is that a few parts moved a bit slowly, and I found myself wishing for slightly deeper insight into certain characters' motivations. Still, the payoff is satisfying, and the emotional honesty of the story really resonated with me.

Beside the Turquoise Sea is a beautifully written, reflective novel about love, friendship, and what it means to start over—whether that means repairing what’s broken or learning to let go. A perfect read for anyone who loves character-driven stories with heart and a strong sense of place.