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Books Set in Greece: Armchair Travel to the Islands
By: Angela & Melissa
Updated:
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, we may earn a referral fee from qualifying purchases.With their crystal-clear waters, whitewashed villages, and sun-drenched charm, the Greek Islands offer an irresistible setting for stories across every genre. These books set in Greece capture the essence of island life, from ancient ruins to modern escapes. Whether you’re an armchair traveler looking for a book set in Santorini or you’re looking for a book to read on your very own Greek Island adventure, you’ll find a wide range of highly rated options below.
Angela honeymooned in the Greek Isles and wants everyone to have the opportunity to experience the beauty and magic of this breathtaking corner of the world. While many people immediately envision the iconic blue-domed churches of Santorini (like the photo above), the Greek Islands actually offer a stunning array of landscapes and architecture, each with its own unique charm.
Some islands feature dramatic cliffs, volcanic calderas, and whitewashed villages clinging to hillsides, while others boast lush green mountains, olive groves, and hidden waterfalls. In the Aegean Sea, you’ll find islands with dry, sunbaked terrain and deep-blue waters, perfect for postcard-worthy sunsets. Meanwhile, in the Ionian Sea, the islands are known for their verdant hills, turquoise bays, and Italian-influenced architecture.
In addition to specifying which island each book is set on, we’ve included some notes in the Book Girls’ Say section of most titles below, providing context for the geography, landscape, and architecture of each island.
The Best Books Set on Greek Islands
Summer at the Santorini Bookshop
Book Summary
Evie needs a fresh start after losing her job as a book scout. When she learns that her eccentric grandmother has just taken on a small bookshop on Santorini, she jumps at the chance to visit.
When she arrives, she quickly discovers that not everything on the island is as idyllic as it seems. Her Gran has a stormy relationship with her landlord, who is threatening to shut the shop down.
Hoping to get on the landlord’s good side, Gran asks Evie to fake a romance with the landlord’s Greek God of a grandson. Can Evie fake date her way to love and save the bookstore at the same time?
Geography Note
Santorini, in the southern Aegean Sea, is a volcanic island known for its dramatic geography and breathtaking views. Shaped by a massive eruption in ancient times, the island features towering caldera cliffs that overlook a submerged volcanic crater. Perched along the cliffs are iconic whitewashed buildings with blue domes, narrow cobblestone streets, and cave houses carved into the rock.
The House of Hidden Letters
Book Summary
Needing a change from her life in London, Skye enters a lottery for a chance to win a cottage on a Greek island for just one Euro. She is thrilled to win, but when she arrives at the cottage, it is even more run-down than she expected. Nonetheless, she immediately feels at home.
She finds her place among a community of other lottery winners who have taken over other cottages on the island, which haven’t been occupied since the 1940s. Her new, found family provides the support she needs to stand up to her abusive ex-husband, allowing her to embrace the hope of new beginnings.
When Skye begins renovating the cottage with the help of local contractor, Andrewas, they find a bundle of mysterious letters hidden in the wall. Through the contents of the letters, they begin to unravel the history of the prior residents and the truth about Katerina’s life on this picturesque island during WWII.
More About This Book
This book is described as an emotional rollercoaster, both beautiful and devastating, with plenty of suspense and surprises across both timelines. Be aware that it deals with some heavy topics, including rape and domestic abuse, though readers say nothing is described graphically.
Folegandros is a Greek island in the Cyclades, regarded as an unspoiled alternative to nearby Santorini, with similarly dramatic cliffs, whitewashed architecture, and pristine beaches along the bright blue Aegean Sea.
About the Author
British author Isabelle Broom has written many contemporary fiction novels with gorgeous settings throughout Europe, including The Summer Trip, featured on this Greek Island list. When we saw this new release from Izzy Broom, we immediately researched to confirm if it was the same author, and sure enough, we learned that she’s adopted this new pen name to coincide with a shift in genres.
The House of Hidden Letters marks her first work of dual-timeline historical fiction, and we’re excited to see it receive a US release! While we typically only include on book by each author on any given book list, we decided to include both since they are different genres.
One of the Girls
Book Summary
Lexi’s getting married – but before the big day, she’s celebrating her bachelorette weekend on a picturesque Greek island. She and her friends are soaking in the sun and ocean views while exploring the whitewashed streets and tavernas.
But things aren’t as postcard-perfect as they appear. Below the surface of the friendships, each of the six women is hiding a secret. Someone is determined to stop Lexi’s wedding, and one of them won’t leave the island alive.
Geography Note
This novel is set on the fictional Greek island of Aegos. While Aegos is not a real location, it is depicted with vivid detail, capturing the essence of the Greek islands set in the Aegean Sea, complete with sun-drenched beaches, whitewashed architecture, and azure waters.
The Island Villa
Book Summary
Despite decades of success as a romance author, Catherine’s personal love story hasn’t been as successful. Three failed marriages have strained her relationship with her daughters, but she’s counting on a family wedding on the Greek island of Corfu to bring them all back together.
Adeline isn’t sure what’s worse – that her mother is getting married for a fourth time, or that she’ll have to travel all the way to her mother’s luxury villa in Corfu to witness what is sure to be a trainwreck. She is still scarred by her parents’ divorce and her mother’s infidelity. She doesn’t blame her half-sister, Cassie, the result of that infidelity, but she’s also never bothered to get to know her.
Cassie, on the other hand, is thrilled by the news of the wedding and sees it as a sign of her mother’s resilience. And the idea of spending her summer in Corfu is a bonus.
When the sisters arrive on the island, they have very different expectations and both are keeping secrets of their own from their mother. All will be revealed before the wedding day, for better or worse.
Geography Note
They say, “Don’t judge a book by the cover,” and we’ll add, “Don’t judge an author by their cover.” While the cover of this book is beautiful, it’s not geographically accurate. We’ve read and been big fans of several Sarah Morgan books in recent years, especially enjoying how vividly she describes her settings. Therefore, we assume that the cover discrepancy reflects that Sarah was not given control over the final design decision.
The cover depicts the iconic white-washed buildings, blue domes, and perched cliffs of the island of Santorini in the Aegean Sea. While this landscape may be deemed quintessentially Greek, it does not reflect the novel’s Corfu setting. Corfu, located west of mainland Greece in the Ionian Sea, is instead known for its Venetian architecture. Take a look at these photos if you’d like to visualize the setting of the book more accurately.
Daughter of Ruins
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
90% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
This sweeping historical novel intertwines the lives of three resilient women across different eras, each striving to control her destiny amidst the rich tapestry of Greek culture and mythology.
Maria, living in a poor Greek mountain village in 1921, is sent to America as a picture bride to marry a stranger, a journey filled with fear and uncertainty as she leaves her family behind.
During Italy’s occupation of Cephalonia, Elena entertains soldiers, experiencing fleeting happiness until the German invasion in 1943 brings unforeseen challenges.
Born in America but raised on the Greek island of Cephalonia after her mother’s death, Demitra envisions her mother among the goddesses of her mythology books. In the post-WWII era, Demitra defies societal expectations by rejecting an arranged marriage, pursuing her passion for painting, and engaging in a forbidden love affair.
Geography Note
Greece has several island groups, each located in different parts of the Aegean and Ionian Seas. Cephalonia and Corfu are part of the Ionian island group, west of mainland Greece. These islands are known for their lush greenery and Venetian architecture.
Moti on the Water
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
94% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
Join one Greek family and one Indian family as they board a yacht for a wedding on the Aegean coast in this fun rom com!
Moti has felt jinxed her whole life. Take her name, for example—pronounced correctly with a soft “t” (MO-thi), it means “pearl” in Hindi. But pronounced incorrectly with a hard “t” (Mo-Tee), as most people do, it means fatty or chubby.
She’ll be joining her family to celebrate her cousin’s wedding, but to do so, she has to overcome her fear of the water. Moti is also saddled with her mother’s expectations that she find and win over Nikos – the ONE man that she’s fated to marry, and the only man her mom will approve of. But things get complicated when she meets Alexandros, the private chef aboard the yacht. His food is like magic, and Moti can’t help but fall under the spell.
Our Thoughts on This Book
We both enjoyed this laugh-out-loud funny rom-com! You’ll fall in love with Moti and find yourself craving all the food they enjoy aboard the yacht! This book gets pretty steamy and includes some open-door scenes, so skip it if that’s not your thing.
While the novel vividly captures the essence of the Greek islands, it does not specify the exact islands visited during the journey.
Book Summary
When she was younger, she spent a summer on the magical island, but then circumstances required her to return to Brighton, England. Once home, she got married and had children, but never forgot what happened that summer. She is now single and about to send her daughter, Rosie, off to university, but not before an unexpected trip to Corfu together.
It’s been 18 years since she set foot on the island. With old resentments festering, long-buried secrets lurking, and familiar feelings resurfacing, it looks set to be a holiday that will change all their lives forever. This novel combines a heavy dose of family drama and romance in a gorgeous setting.
Geography Note
Corfu, located west of mainland Greece in the Ionian Sea, is known for its Venetian architecture.
Last Seen in Santorini
Book Summary
While sightseeing near Venice, a mysterious woman in a veil approaches Miss Atalanta Ashford, asking for urgent help investigating her daughter’s mysterious death on the Greek island of Santorini. It appears that she was out for a walk alone on the idyllic island when she suddenly took a plunge from the dramatic cliffs.
Sailing to Santorini and going undercover, Miss Ashford soon discovers that her client hasn’t been completely honest with her. Someone is watching her. Can she unravel the mystery and prevent the breathtaking azure sea views from becoming the last she will ever see?
About the Series
This is the second of six titles in the Miss Ashford Investigates cozy mystery series, with each story set in a different European destination – ranging from Provence to Tuscany, and from Salzburg to the Alps.
The mysteries are self-contained, allowing readers to enjoy any installment without prior knowledge of earlier books. Of course, reading the series allows you to see the character development and recurring relationships.
The Old Ducks’ Club
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
93% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
It’s almost Sophia’s 60th birthday, and she is not thrilled with her life in Oxford. After a bad relationship, she decides a month-long trip to Greece is just what she needs to find herself. When she arrives, she finds that her rental comes with loud and gregarious neighbors. But they aren’t rambunctious kids – it’s The Old Ducks’ Club, a group of 60-something friends who live life to the fullest.
The spunky Ducks draw Sophia in despite her wishes for a quiet vacation. And once they remind her how to enjoy life, she starts looking at her handsome Greek neighbor through different eyes. While her lousy relationship and Greek relationship are covered, the book is more a story of friendship and Sophia’s transformation than a typical romance.
Thoughts on This Book
Many reviewers of this book shared that they are also 60-something and found the characters in this uplifting read relatable and entertaining. Some warn that Sophia isn’t as engaging as the other ducks initially, but if you stick with her, you’ll love her too.
Geography Note
Rhodes is located in the southeastern Aegean Sea, near the coast of Turkey, and is one of the largest and most historically significant of the Dodecanese islands. It lies farther east than most other well-known Greek islands and is much closer to Asia Minor than to mainland Greece.
You Then, Me Now
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
96% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
Becky’s father has always been a mystery to her – all she knows is that he died before she was born and that her mom, Laura, has never been willing to talk about it. When Laura books a trip to Santorini, Greece, Becky decides to join her. But what Becky thought was an impulsive vacation reveals itself to be more than that. She realizes that her mom has a history with the island, and that sunny Santorini might just help answer some of her long-held questions.
This book is written from both mother and daughter’s points of view – with Becky’s chapters set in the present day, and Laura’s chapters transporting us back to her early 20s.
What to Expect in This Book
You Then, Me Now is part summer read and part grippingly edgy, with unexpected emotional depth. Be warned that it deals with some heavy issues, including sexual violence.
A Death on Corfu
Book Summary
Minnie is an ex-pat on the island of Corfu in 1898. She didn’t expect to be raising her two children alone there but knows she needs to make a new plan for the next phase of her life.
Mystery author Stephen Dorian has just arrived from London to a neighboring villa. While Minnie is initially intrigued by her new neighbor, she quickly learns that he is a grump. While she’s determined to avoid him, that’s impossible when he offers her a high-paying job as his typist.
Soon after starting, a young maid is murdered, and local officials aren’t doing much about it. Minnie is determined to stop the maid’s life and death from being ignored, as often happens with those deemed unworthy by society. Stephen aids in her investigation as they uncover another side of Corfu.
One Summer in Santorini
Book Summary
After a painful breakup, Australian schoolteacher Sarah wants to rediscover her independent, adventurous spirit. She books a ten-day sailing trip around the Greek islands to reconnect with her first true love – travel.
She fully intends to avoid any romantic entanglements on the trip, but those plans are immediately challenged when a gorgeous American man boards the same yacht. To complicate matters further, while touring picturesque Greece, she also meets a handsome silver fox. Trouble really does come in twos.
Will Sarah choose one of the men when the trip ends, or will she return home single?
Geography Note
While the journey begins in Santorini, the yacht trip includes stops at several other islands, including Mykonos, Naxos, and Ermoupoli on the island of Syros. Barker’s writing vividly captures the essence of island-hopping in Greece, highlighting the unique charm, local cuisine, and picturesque landscapes of each destination.
About the Series
If you enjoy the writing style of this book, Angela recommends that you pick up the rest of the series. Books 1 and 3 feature Sarah; book 2 follows Sarah’s sister, Cat, as she embarks on her own adventure through Europe; book 4 whisks us off to Bali with Cat’s friend, Jaelee; and the fifth and final book in the series returns to Cat’s story as we see what comes next for her.
If you don’t want to read the full five-book series, we recommend just reading books 1 and 3.
The Island
Book Summary
Alexis Fielding, a young woman at a crossroads in her life, longs to uncover the mysteries of her mother’s past. A past her mother, Sofia, has never spoken of other than to say that she grew up on the island of Crete before moving to London. When Sofia learns that her daughter plans to visit Crete, she gives her a letter to deliver to an old friend with the promise that more will be revealed to Alexis.
Alexis’ journey takes her to Plaka, a small village on Crete’s coast, facing the now-deserted island of Spinalonga, once a leper colony. There, Alexis meets Fotini, her mother’s friend, who reveals the poignant history of Alexis’s great-grandmother Eleni and her two daughters, Anna and Maria.
Geography Note
Crete is the largest Greek island, located south of the mainland and just below the Cyclades. It has a bit of everything—mountains, beaches, olive groves, and even ancient ruins. The towns mix Venetian charm with traditional Greek vibes.
About the Author
Victoria Hislop is well-known for writing highly-rated historical sagas set throughout Europe, and The Island was her debut novel.
Love & Olives
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
95% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
Although it’s listed as #3 in the Love & Gelato series, this YA book set on the island of Santorini is a stand-alone and has no overlapping characters with the first two books in the series.
Liv’s dad left when she was just eight, but all of her memories of him involve their shared love of the lost city of Atlantis. When a postcard arrives from Santorini inviting teenage Liv to visit her dad, she doesn’t want anything to do with him, but her mom insists she take the trip. The island is beautiful, and she can’t help but be charmed by the people, but the real reason her father invited her remains as much a mystery as Atlantis itself.
Our Thoughts on This Book
If you enjoy YA novels, this is a good one! This book will completely transport you to Santorini! You’ll feel the salty breeze on your face, but by the end, that won’t be the only reason your cheeks are damp.
Murder in Mykonos
Book Summary
When Andreas Kaldis is promoted out of Athens to serve as the chief of police in the tourist haven of Mykonos, he assumes his homicide days are behind him. But he’ll soon learn that despite being known as a playground for the rich and famous, Mykonos also has a lucrative dark side.
When the remains of a young woman are found ritually bound and buried on a pile of human bones inside a remote mountain church, Kaldis will team up with a local homicide chief to find the killer before word gets out and the media attention destroys the island’s reputation.
But then another woman disappears, and the investigation becomes a rescue operation.
About the Series
There are currently 14 books in the Andreas Kaldis police procedural series, with each set throughout mainland Greece or the the Greek Isles.
Geography Note
Mykonos Town, also known as Chora, features a maze-like network of narrow, winding alleys that were designed to protect against pirate invasions in the 15th through 18th centuries. The layout made it difficult for intruders to navigate, giving locals a strategic advantage. Today, the charming streets may still confound visitors, but they add to the town’s distinctive character and historic allure.
Where the Wandering Ends
Book Summary
The Greek Civil War lasted from 1946 to 1949, between a Communist-led uprising and the established government of the Kingdom of Greece. This novel tells the story of two ten-year-old friends, Marco and Katerina, who lived in a poor community in northern Corfu during this period.
While Marco’s family may be the poorest now, his grandmother once worked for the royal family, and Marco’s mother grew up playing with Prince Philip. In fact, his mom still holds out hope that the royal family will save them. But as the war escalates, villages are further divided. Greece’s Queen Frederica opens a children’s village to keep them safe, then the Communists do the same. Entire villages are emptied, thousands of children are taken by the truckload, ripped from their mothers’ arms.
Eventually, Marco is sent to the queen’s village while Katerina and her family flee on foot, but both vow to make their way home again.
More About This Book
This novel primarily focuses on the period after World War II and leading up to the Greek Civil War, but it does continue on through the end of the 20th century, showing the long-term impacts of the war on the characters’ life trajectories.
A Greek Island Escape
Book Summary
Xanthe Fox’s life takes a dramatic turn when she unexpectedly inherits a beautiful but timeworn villa on the idyllic island of Kefalonia. Reeling from heartbreak and looking for a fresh start, she travels from London to Greece, determined to renovate Villa Aster and reconnect with her roots.
Immersed in the island’s laid-back rhythm, stunning views, and warm community, Xanthe begins to rediscover joy, purpose, and a new sense of self. As she breathes new life into the villa, she also faces long-held family secrets and unexpected romantic possibilities.
Geography Note
Kefalonia is an island in the Ionian Sea, west of mainland Greece, marked by sandy coves, dry, rugged landscapes, and lemon trees. This novel is described as a heartwarming tale of healing, second chances, and the magic of starting over.
Book Summary
Growing up, Tessa and her twin sister, Roxanne, vacationed at the same Santorini beach resort every summer. For years, Tessa crushed on a dreamy resort employee named Myles… until one year, when she returned to the resort, and he didn’t.
Now Tessa is back at the resort once again, but instead of a family vacation, this time it’s a girls’ trip to celebrate Roxanne’s impending wedding. The idyllic vacation takes a turn when Roxanne and their friends decide it’s time to make good on a high school pact. Since Tessa is 30 and still single, she must now put her love life in their hands.
When her sister and friends begin playing matchmaker, Tessa fights back… launching a vacation war. To complicate matters further, Myles is once again working at the resort while dealing with family drama of his own.
Geography Note
Many people immediately picture the cliffside towns of Oia and Fira when they think of Santorini, and while the characters in this novel do visit those towns, much of the book is set at a beach resort on the other side of the island. The island’s eastern and southern coasts have a different vibe—laid-back beach towns with black, white, and red sand beaches, seaside tavernas, and calm waves.
Book Summary
If you enjoy a series, check out The Guardians Trilogy, which was initially recommended to us by Melissa’s mother-in-law.
It features 6 mystical characters searching for the fire star on the Greek island of Corfu. Three men and three women each have different strengths and have to work together to save the world. They develop romantic relationships along the way in the fairytale-like series.
Geography Note
Set on the island of Corfu, known for its Venetian architecture. Roberts paints a vivid picture of the island’s sun-drenched landscapes, azure waters, and charming locales, immersing readers in its beauty.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
97% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
It all starts with a pair of jeans at a thrift shop. When everyone loves them, four friends decide to try on the jeans to see who they fit best. Somehow, the jeans fit everyone perfectly, so the friends decide to form the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Throughout the summer, the pants see all and keep the friends connected as they each experience the most memorable summer of their lives.
Thoughts on This Book
Neither of us read this book when it was first popular because we mistakenly thought it was just a fluffy YA book. We were surprised to read review after review that describes this book as a “deeper than you expect” coming-of-age book that deals with love, forgiveness, sex, and death, while still being squarely based in teenhood and filled with humor. This book will give you “all the feels!”
Be aware that one of the teens in the book has a brief relationship with a college sophomore. Some readers expressed concerns with this age difference.
Island lovers will want to check out our list of books set on islands and our list featuring mysterious thrillers set on islands. And if you love exploring the world through books, you can browse all of our booklists set in various regions of the world.
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