Another fantastic book by Emma Burstall.
A perfect holiday read of romance, mystery, and intrigue.

When a pair of married couples go on holiday together but invite an extra ‘single’ person it can only end in trouble, jealousy and drunken comments being taken wrongly or disagreeing on the daily plans will only end in tears.

When a gifted lady gives one of the married women a cryptic comment regarding their holiday, it leaves them all thinking it’s a load of gossip to build the intrigue of the villa they are staying in - how wrong they are when her comments become true.

Will they leave the holiday together and live happily ever after or will it reveal
cracks in the relationships and friendships?

Will it be the enjoyable holiday they envisioned when planning the trip, sometimes LESS is MORE

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. It was lovely to return to Villa Adriane. I enjoyed this installment more than the previous one. I was brought into the characters' worlds and the beautiful setting, and I liked that background characters from the previous book returned. Burstall tackled challenging topics skillfully, creating a richly written and three-dimension cast of characters.

Empty nesters Edie and Ralph decide to go to Crete where they had their honeymoon to rekindle their relationship. They find the Villa Ariadne online and invite close friends Hannah and Mac. At the last minute Edie asks colleague Jessica along.

A nice mix of beach read, mystery and women’s fiction. The villa setting and island of Crete sounded delightful, I loved the descriptions and side characters from the Villa owner to the expats who lived there. However, the trip soon turns into the holiday from hell when all the guests start fighting and Jessica goes missing. I loved how the author set it up- painting a gorgeous pictured and then slowly seeing it unravel. Exploring the theme of domestic violence from a different angle to the usual. Some of the characters became very unlikeable and there were a few twists along the way.

The second novel based at the magical Villa Ariadne .A Villa which chooses its occupants in order to right their lives. Edie and Ralph need to rediscover the romance in their marriage, was it a mistake to invite friends Hannah and Mac to accompany them and loner Jessica? As enjoyable as the first, ideal summer reading.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I had thought it would be the ‘typical’ chick lit - but it wasn’t anything like that. The main characters were all mature, either married or happily single and all had problems. This explored this problems and followed them to their conclusion. A book I’ll happily recommend and an author who’s books I enjoy.

"Beside the Turquoise Sea" is a story of personal revelations which are outed by a week in an isolated Cretan villa. Assumptions are turned on their heads and one person turns out to be completely different outside of the work environment. The setting is lovingly described and there is a lovely mix of Greek and British locals. A good, escapist read to make you think of romantic, sun-soaked breaks.

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

Beside the Turquoise Sea swept me away with its vivid setting and emotionally resonant story. What begins as a hopeful getaway to rekindle a fading marriage slowly unfolds into a deeper exploration of friendship, truth, and the turning points we all face in midlife.

Edie is a relatable and quietly brave protagonist. Her decision to return to Crete, the site of her honeymoon, is full of longing—for connection, for clarity, and for a spark she fears may be gone. The Villa Ariadne, with its dreamy views and tranquil charm, becomes the perfect backdrop for both healing and upheaval.

The group dynamics are wonderfully drawn, especially when Edie invites her bold and unpredictable colleague Jessica to join them. Tensions simmer and secrets emerge, adding a rich emotional layer to what might otherwise have been a light vacation tale.

This book is about more than sunshine and sea—it’s about facing truths, letting go of illusions, and embracing the life you truly want. Perfect for fans of character-driven fiction with a strong sense of place.

I struggled my way through this flat read with underdeveloped characters and setting. There wasn't much to grasp onto and with a setting like Crete that was a missed opportunity. Each time something happened, and I would think we're finally going to see Crete up close. Nope, just more dry dialogue. I could give you basic stats for characters, but honestly, I'm never looking for cold bullet points. I read for characters that get my emotions shaken or stirred. 🍸I didn't feel so much as a dull rattle. I was bored from beginning to end and if you're wondering if I finished it. I did. My thoughts didn't change.

The premise is two longtime couples who have been friends for years decide to vacation together in Crete along with a co-worker. The marriages are under stress and the characters are hoping the trip will be a fresh start. There are some predictable twists and issues that arise which brought nothing of note to the table. Creating a luscious setting to explore would have been better than adding weak plot devices.

It's possible I am not the right audience for this novel. So be sure to take other reviews under consideration.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Edie hopes returning to Crete with her husband and friends Mac and Hannah will bring back their life to what it was. Unfortunately she takes pity on a colleague Jessica with disastrous results.

I was slightly confused when I started reading this as had deja vue as the Greek villa was the same in Emma's previous book! However I realised that the cast of characters were new despite the setting being the same! I did enjoy this, it is an easy accessible read. Maybe does not capture the essence of Greece quite as much as others in the genre however I enjoyed the dynamics of the characters and how the story played out. Good beach read.