The House in the Olive Grove

By: Emma Cowell

Narrated by: Kristin Atherton

‘A glorious story that celebrates the power of love’ – Bestselling author ADRIANA TRIGIANI

‘I adored The House in the Olive Grove. It is a hymn to friendship and love, and is utterly perfect’ – Bestselling author LIZ FENWICK

Will one week in Greece change their lives for ever?

Chef Maria is running a successful cookery school in her home village of Petalidi, Greece – but she is also running from the secrets of her past.

Food journalist Kayla thought this was going to be just another work trip. But right before she leaves for Greece, she discovers that her whole life is built on a lie.

Jewellery-maker Alessandra has always lived according to her own rules – despite what it has cost her to do so. But she has just had some devastating news.

As these three very different women come together at the house in the olive grove, unlikely friendships blossom and a season of self-discovery begins. Will the sumptuous flavours, sapphire waters and golden sands of Greece give each of them the answers they so desperately seek?

The breathtaking, escapist second novel from Emma Cowell, perfect for fans of Victoria Hislop, Carol Kirkwood and Karen Swan.

©2023 Emma Cowell (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

"An enchanting treat of a book. Sunshine and friendship, broken hearts and secrets. Cowell’s exquisite writing is as delicious as the food she describes. Five honey-smothered stars from me." (Jennie Keer)

Deficious Food, Not so Tasty Story

I picked this audio book because I enjoyed the narrator on another title, but found her American accent overly dramatic and difficult to listen to. The story was sweet, but predictable, and the author relied too heavily on tedious character self reflections and repeatedly dangling each character's current or past secret in front of the reader as a device to keep them listening/reading. This plot device was so overused though, that either I guessed the secret looonngg before it was revealed, or I simply didn't care anymore when it was. So much so that I found myself completely unmoved by the pinnacle event of the book. On the plus side, her delicious descriptions of life in a little Greek village and of moreish sounding local cuisine awakened my wanderlust for a trip to Greece!