My grateful thanks to Ebury, an imprint of Penguin Random House, and Netgalley for an advanced reader copy of Single for the Summer by Mandy Baggot in return for an honest review. I have previously read and thoroughly enjoyed another of Mandy’s books, One Christmas in Paris, my review of which you can read here.

Single for the Summer will be published by Ebury on 27th July 2017 and is available for pre-order here.

Single for the Summer

Tess Parks has made up her mind: love isn’t for her.

When it comes to dating she has one rule: after six weeks with a guy, she ends it. So when her heartbroken best friend invites her for a girly getaway in Corfu, Tess is sure she can stick to their pact to stay single for the summer.

But then she meets the gorgeous restaurateur Andras…

To keep his overbearing mother off his back, Tess agrees to pretend to date him. But as the two spend time together, Tess begins to realise that this fake relationship is starting to feel like the best one she’s ever had…

My Review of Single for the Summer

Tess Parks only ever dates men for six weeks having been jilted at the altar, so she can’t see any problem in staying single when she heads on holiday to Corfu with Sonya.

Single for the Summer is the perfect summer beach read with wonderful evocative settings. Moreover, Mandy Baggot conveys the allure of Corfu so brilliantly that I want to be on a Greek beach right now. She weaves elements relating to the senses so effortlessly that I could taste sweet baklava, smell the lavender in the pots next to the taverna and feel the sand beneath my feet. I even told my husband I would have to book a holiday there.

The plot hinges around a throw away remark from Andras, and his brother Spiro’s wedding. I learnt a great deal about Greek traditions and the closeness of Greek families with strong matriarchs at the helm so that as well as enjoying a super romantic read, I felt as if I had a cultural experience too.

Alongside a panoply of vivid and credible characters that provide humour and Greek authenticity are stand out performances from Tess and Andras. Whilst this is a light hearted read with all the elements one would expect from a chick-lit style book, there is also real depth to their personalities as both deal with emotional hurt from the past. It was impossible not to believe in them completely.

What I so enjoy about Mandy Baggot’s writing is her vivacious style. She can drop in a product or cultural reference like Strictly Come Dancing and make her reader know instantly exactly what she means. She has a wicked sense of humour and a deft hand at writing sex scenes too so that reading Single for the Summer is a lovely, life affirming book that lifts the spirits and puts the reader in the right mood for summer – and maybe a little romance of their own. I loved it.

About Mandy Baggot

Mandy Baggot is an award-winning writer of romantic comedies, chick-lit and contemporary romance.

In February 2016 her romantic comedy novel, One Wish in Manhattan, was shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Romantic Novel of the Year award.

Mandy loves mashed potato, white wine, country music, World’s Strongest Man, travel and handbags. She has appeared on ITV1’s Who Dares Sings and auditioned for The X-Factor.

Mandy is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and the Society of Authors and lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK with her husband, two daughters and cats, Kravitz and Springsteen.

Find out more about Mandy by visiting her website. You can follow her on Twitter and find her on Facebook. You’ll find all Mandy’s lovely books here.