Greek Secret by Francesca Catlow

A summer romance that respects the soul of Corfu—surprisingly refreshing.

Let me preface this review with a bit of context: I approached Greek Secret with a lot of skepticism. You see, my family is from Corfu—the very island where this novel is set—and I hold it incredibly close to my heart. I’ve seen firsthand how stories set in Greece can get it all wrong, especially when they feel more like a Pinterest board than a love letter to the culture. I’m talking about works like Mamma Mia (a Greek island with no actual Greek people?) or The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Alexis Bledel saying “giagia” like she just met the word five minutes ago). These depictions often feel shallow, gentrified, or just outright inaccurate.

So I picked up Greek Secret bracing for frustration… but to my surprise, I didn’t hate it. In fact, I quite enjoyed it.

The story follows Ruby, who takes a summer trip to Corfu to work in her aunt’s taverna—a well-loved local spot run by her aunt and uncle. For Ruby, this isn’t just a holiday; it’s an escape and an opportunity to reinvent herself while learning the ropes of the restaurant world from someone she respects.

Her start on the island is rocky—particularly with Yanni, the classic grumpy-to-sweet love interest—but things quickly soften as Ruby finds her footing. The romance between them is charming and believable, filled with banter and heart. More than that, I appreciated Ruby’s internal struggles—both emotional and physical scars—that gave her depth and vulnerability.

That said, I did have issues with Ruby as a character. Her voice felt inconsistent throughout the novel, and not in a “she’s figuring herself out” kind of way, but more like the author hadn’t fully pinned her down. In the first few chapters especially, she repeatedly brings up how she’s never told anyone her “dreams” (except her ex-boyfriend), and it started to feel less like vulnerability and more like immaturity. That level of anxiety over sharing your ambitions feels more appropriate for someone fresh out of high school, not someone nearing thirty.

This age mismatch continues in other parts of the book too. Based on her experiences—long-term relationships, multiple shared apartments, and time post-breakup—Ruby should absolutely be in her late twenties or early thirties. Yet, her thoughts and behavior often read like she’s barely 22. The timeline? As the kids say, the math ain’t mathing.

Still, even with those hiccups, Greek Secret did something really important: it respected the island. Corfu isn’t just a backdrop here. It breathes. It has texture. While I do wish the audiobook narrator had a better handle on the Greek language (seriously, basic pronunciation matters), the written story itself doesn’t fall into the trap of exoticizing the culture or turning the locals into caricatures. That alone earns it points in my book.

If you're looking for a light, heartfelt read that gives you a sweet romance and a touch of island life without making a mockery of the place—this is a good one. Grab a freddo espresso (metrio, of course), settle in under the sun, and let yourself drift off to Corfu for a little while.

RATING: 3/5