There is something very special about the women of Naxos, a small village in the Greek Isles; they all have very unique gifts.

Jory, raised by her mother and eschewing her father’s wealth, loves to travel and has always found home wherever she goes. Cressida’s plans to open a guest house and taverna on Naxos with her beloved husband are crushed when he dies unexpectedly. She has done nothing to make the dream go forward and now faces financial ruin. When Jory travels to Naxos, her developing friendship with Cress and the other villagers is the catalyst to revive that dream.

What a pleasant surprise reading this book. I chose it solely on the basis of its title; I loved all the alluring little Greek tavernas we ate at when we visited there for a month. Part travelogue, food journey, magic, female bonding, and romance, this story totally charmed me. I am not typically a fan of magical realism, but this tale won me over. All the pleasures of a visit to a Greek Isle are here….the landscape, the history, the wine, the culinary delights, the climate, the beaches. I was enchanted with this very fast read. Foodies and romantics will love it. It is a perfect vacation escape read.

Thanks to @NetGalley and @GrandCentralPub for the DRC.
18 s Dana Light (dlight_reads)183 10

What a gorgeous warm read! This book made me feel starved for delicious Greek bread, exploring new places, traveling and feeling at home with friends and the land. I loved the touch of magic that was presented during baking and the unexpected twist from the seemingly perfect love interest. Such an easy read that I imagine anyone who enjoy travel, food and romance will enjoy. arc authors-i-ve-met i-own ...more3 s Sarah (sarahs_shelves_sc)289 3

This magical realism read brought all the cozy found family vibes, and it felt a warm hug to read.

The women of Naxos have special gifts. When a woman named Jory gets a feeling that she must travel to Naxos, she changes several of the women's lives forever with her own gift of making everywhere feel home.

This is a book for foodies, as one of the women has a gift for cooking emotions and feelings into meals and many of her dishes are described in delectable detail. It had me craving all the Greek foods as I read, wishing I could feel the breeze from the sea while enjoying Cressida's dolmades.

There is a secondary love story involved, but the main story is really about the gifts women have to make others feel at ease, to become family to one another, and to make others feel joyful or appreciated. I loved the little magical touches and the sweet and zany characters and enjoyed my little mini break on the island of Naxos!

Thank you to Hatchette for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.2 s Denise Chojnacki369 12

Drawn to this book by the whole arm chair traveler thing, I was looking forward to it. The overall were good as well. However, it was not my cup of tea. The things I d were, the setting and the theme of friendship. The author, with her restaurant/culinary background, does a great job with that part. Beyond that, it was your typical rom com. One of the main characters Cressida baking magic into the recipes was just a little too cheesy for me. Not to mention the two main love interests moved into knowing they were the one waaaaaaaay to fast for me. They barely knew each other. The storyline as a whole was pretty predictable as well so all in all, though the writing kept things moving, which is a plus, this story just didn't do much for me. fiction1 2 comments Whitney M.87 25

We follow Jory to a small Greek village called Patamia where small magic takes place. This was such a fun, cozy travel story. Jory gets a feeling in her gut that tells her to leave and she goes on an adventure. In this adventure she not only makes lasting friends but finds a man with her same need to travel. I loved the relationships that formed and the small village life. The ending tied up everything nicely.
I also really enjoyed the travel guide and places and adventures that the author shared. The recipe at the end was also a fun touch. Overall this was a fun read that I would recommend.

What to expect:
*Adventure
*Found family
*Romance (light)

**Thank you NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing and Erin Palmisano for this arc.arcs1 Abbey Gatewood6 1 follower

One of my favorite books this year! I felt I was right there with Marjory, and Cressida, and all the other wonderfully quirky characters of Potamia. Such a great escape. The perfect book to read any time any where, just be sure to have delicious Greek food in your fridge, because after such wonderful descriptions of the Tavernas food, it’s all you will want! Erin Palmisano is a wonderfully gifted author and I can not wait for her next book, bring it on!! 1 Tania Woodward11

I really enjoyed this book - a great holiday read that warms the heart about friendship, love, cooking and travel. 1 Krystal Wilson6 3

Everything I didn’t know I needed. Over the past year I have read 33 books; mostly psychological thrillers and a few self help books/ educational book however by the first 50 pages of ‘The secrets of the little Greek tavern’ I knew that it was going to take the #1 spot.

This book is the most beautiful, magical and enchanting book that encompasses all my favourite things - travel, food, friendship, romance, and the perfect amount magic.

I didn’t want it to end. I hope it is made into a movie. I loved every page. Thank you to Erin the author for creating something so special.



1 Nomadic Librarian413 10

If you Chocolát and Water for Chocolate, you’ll thoroughly enjoy this debut novel with a vein of magical realism running through it. A few generations back, a group of women in the village of Potamia on the small Greek island of Naxos drank from an elusive spring and magical things began to happen. This is the story of their female descendants.

Although she doesn’t believe in fate, American Marjory (Jory) finds herself in Potamia after a brochure with a beautiful wooden yacht calls to her. There she meets Cressida, a young widow who owns the guesthouse and taverna (that never opened following her husband’s tragic death) who has a gift for imbuing her baked goods with whatever emotion she’s feeling at the time, her older neighbor Mago who sews stunning garments and other pieces based on the color waves that speak to her and guide her hand, the surly, but beautiful Nefeli who has a sixth sense that allows her to anticipate future events (although she’s incapable of seeing the truth in her own marriage), and a bevy of friendly and quirky villagers who add color and a certain mystique. In this story, this group of women, with help from Jory who travels when inspiration strikes and creates a sense of home wherever she lands, form an unexpected friendship and work together to finally open the taverna and guesthouse. And then there’s the mysterious Shane, the handsome, charming American Jory meets and instantly feels a “sizzle” with.

Over the course of one summer, Cressida moves beyond her profound grief, Mago faces her fears and embraces her future, Nefeli reaches her breaking point, and Jory learns the true meaning of home and wrestles with her instinct to leave. Although the closed door romance between Jory and Shane is the primary one, the focus is on the unly female friendships and the over-riding sense of “home.” Personally, I would have preferred multiple narrators (Cressida, Jory, and Mago) rather than third person since, many times, the narrative became bogged down with descriptions, but this was a minor flaw in an otherwise delightful, delicious tale.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Grand Central Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Tags: #MagicalRealism, #Friendship, #Grief, #Greece, #Chefs, #Restaurants, #ClosedDoorRomance, #Romance, #Gastronomy, #WomensLit

2024-net-galley-read adult-fiction-read magical-realism-fantasy ...more Karen Axnick342 9

Magical realism is one of my favorite genres. The women featured in this novel all have gifts – ones that touch on magic but could easily be demonstrated in so-called “real life.” The gifts add dimension to their characters and to the storyline itself. Overall, this charming novel is entertaining and kept me engaged throughout.

Cressida and Leo had a dream – to create the best guest house (boutique hotel) and taverna on the Greek island of Naxos. Tragically, Leo died and three years later his widow is still struggling with her grief and is about to lose the property and their dream. Until…Marjory, aka Jory, St James arrives on the island and serendipitously is guided to the guest house. After a bit of a rocky start, the two women begin to forge a friendship that leads to new possibilities for each of them. Rounding out the cast of characters are several interesting villagers that enhance the appeal of the novel.

This is a refreshing read that blends a bit of romance with the dominant theme of strength fostered by the bonds of female relationships. The descriptions of the food and wine enhance the story and are sure to please “foodie” readers. It is a satisfying read, a great escape to a beautiful island with a feel-good ending.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication. Michelle1,513 22

This book has been compared to Chocolat which is on my list of favorite books of all time. So of course I had to read this. It is both foodie fiction and magical realism. Two of my favorite genres.

I love the storyline.
Jory gets the urge to go to Greece for an extended stay. Her mom always encouraged her that when she gets the feeling she’s supposed to go somewhere she needs to go. She’ll figure out why after she gets there.

When Jory arrives she immediately meets Cressida. Cressida happens to have a room available at her inn.

It turns out Cressida always wanted to open a bed and breakfast/ taverna with her husband Leo but he unexpectedly passed away. It’s been about a year and Cress is miserable.

But Jory’s arrival changes everything. Suddenly Cress has a guest.
So she starts cooking again.
But Cress cooks her emotions into her food.

After bonding with Jory, Cress starts to reconsider her dream of the B&b.

My small constructive criticism with the book was Jory’s attitude towards rich people that she claim was because of some awful treatment by her dad. But there was really only one scene that explained Joey’s relationship with her dad and I can’t figure out how she held such a grudge against all rich people as a result of him wanting to send her to boarding school.

I enjoyed this story. It’s reasonably light and definitely happy. Loved the foodie talk and the magical realism.foodie-fiction-nonfiction magical-realism-books Melissa (Trying to Catch Up)4,793 2,524

This is a cute book, but not particularly deep or memorable to me. I love books set in Greece so I was excited to pick this one up. There's a touch of magical realism which is fun too.

Marjory "Jory" St James travels the world, going where she can be of help and then moving on to the next place. When she feels the island of Naxos calling, she leaves her phone and guidebook behind and heads off. She ends up as the first guest at Cressida's guest house, and maybe the answer to what Cressida needs to pull herself up and out of her grief after the loss of her husband. With the help (and hindrance) of some of the other residents, Jory helps Cressida move towards opening her taverna. And what about the handsome man she meets? Is he the one that might make Jory stay in one place?

I never really warmed to any of the characters, I didn't think they were extremely well developed. There were too many of them, and we brush from one to the next without really knowing the depth of their stories. Honestly, I never really d Jory either. She seemed way too full of herself and used her "calling" as an excuse to not get too close to anyone for too long. The real reasons behind this were brushed on, but never fully fleshed out. The food descriptions were delectable, I wanted to jump in and eat along with the characters!

If you're looking for a light, fun beach read, then this is it. Just don't expect anything particularly deep.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.10 s Michele Ktistou173

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central for the opportunity to read this title.

Marjory St. James never stays in one place for very long. Her newest adventure takes her to the idyllic Greek island of Naxos. While there, she forms friendships with women who've been touched by magic and might even find some of her own.

The book had all the ingredients for a fantastic story, but it fell flat for me. I didn't feel a strong connection with any of the characters. There were many characters involved in the story and I think they all could have used more background and development. I wish more time was given to their magic. Their gifts are discussed but we never learn why they have them or see them put to use in a way that felt plot altering. The love story within the novel also didn't work for me. Their days on the boat weren't given book time and neither were their email exchanges. If that is where their love grew, the readers couldn't witness it. What we did read didn't give deep feelings.

I loved the discussion of Greek dishes and and many quirky aspects of Greek culture. This would make a nice beach read for those looking to escape to the Greek Isles. Susan McKone57 1 follower

What a bright little happy book. If you're looking for a read to take you away from the day to day, uplift you in times of the woes of the world then this is the book. Jory St James has the "wanderlust" and rarely settles anywhere for any length of time, making home where she finds herself before her calling to leave. Her calling takes her to Naxos, Greece. On this little island she finds herself at Cressida's traverna as a guest for the night... what turns into a one night late night accommodation rescue turns into the rest of the tale. The women of Naxos are a little... different. They all have special skills, almost magical, or is it just because the location itself is magical. While the men in Naxos are also characters, it's the strength of the women and their community and friendships that control this tale, that is full of wonderful food, laughter and oh, a bit of romance thrown in for good measure! A great debut by Erin Palmisano - her background in food comes to the fore... I was quite hungry and thirsty at times reading this delight. It would have been a 5 star if there had been a recipe or two included! Rachel Gilbey2,986 542

What a really special little book this is, what a stunning story all about the magic of female friendship, and finding your way in life.

And mixed in what that there is a lot of truly delicious sounding food and some simply amazing characters, each of which has their own special gift.

With a stunning setting of Naxos, the little village of Potamia is a brilliant place for the stories of all of these wonderful women to merge and intertwine.

We have Cressida who bakes feelings into her food, Mago who is able to see just how fabrics go together, there is Jory who comes to Naxos and has the ability to draw people together and make people feel at home. It's is these three specifically that come together to start a new chapter in all of their lives.

There really is a touch of magical realism in this, mixed with a rather enjoyable writing style which really lifts this story to one that touched my heart and had me devouring reading it.

A really enjoyable debut novel and I'm already interested in seeing what this author writes next.

Thank you to Headline Accent and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. Maria Espadinha1,069 446

Uma Vontade de Ir…


Algures numa exótica ilha grega, uma mulher findou a leitura duma carta que a fez soltar um prolongado suspiro. O dito suspiro foi duma potência tal que viajou milhares de quilómetros, aterrando em Los Angeles, California no preciso local onde se encontrava uma jovem americana de nome Marjory St. James. No instante dessa ocorrência, a dita jovem foi assaltada por aquela sensação que sempre a inquietava quando era tempo de partir — por motivos que lhe eram alheios, estava na hora de voar até Atenas…

E assim começa a nossa história — uma história onde os perdidos tendem a encontrar-se e os encontrados tendem a perder-se um pouco! Quanto a mim, creio que me perdi um pouco e me encontrei outro tanto…
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