My Greek Books
My Greek Books is back! For the second month in a row, I’ve been able to log additional reading time. It’s been awesome! Been reading a lot of “non-Greek” books too. Check my Facebook page each week to learn more. In the meantime, here are some great “Greek” books that are perfect for the beach, or just a little down time in your backyard.
Let’s get to it!
Love is Worth Fighting For by Effie Kammenou
Independently published (June 6, 2022)
Greek-American Author Effie Kammenou is back, with the long-awaited Book 3 in the Meraki Series. Read about Book 1, Love is What You Bake of It, and Book 2, Love by Design. The series follows the Andarakis family, based on Long Island. Book 1 is the eldest sister Kally’s story, while Book 2 focuses on middle daughter Mia. Book 3 invites us into the world of the youngest sister, Krystina. Plus, we get a glimpse into Modern Greek history, as we learn the fate of the girls’ long-lost grandfather.
The story
Teen-aged Krystina loves to explore new places around her native Long Island and chronicles her adventures on her blog and Instagram. She’s excited for everything about senior year, except for dealing with Loukas, the neighbor, whose parents are best friends with hers. They’ve grown up together. And he’s done nothing but annoy her. She’s had more than enough of his taunts. He’s humiliated her countless times, just to look cool to his friends. But Loukas has been in love with Krystina as long as he can remember. And he regrets making a fool out of her. He teases her, because, well, that’s what teenaged boys do. She won’t admit it, but she likes him, too. Since his mother died, his father hasn’t been himself. He and his father have a rocky relationship, and Krystina’s parents become his surrogate parents. Loukas is always at their house—and in her way.
The siblings and their significant others, plus Loukas, pow wow about their grandfather, who fought in the Resistance against the Junta, and never returned. Yiayia feels he’s still alive. Mia’s fiancé Nicholas hires a private investigator, and they all, including Loukas, head to Greece hoping to resolve the matter once and for all. But they find more than they bargained for.
When COVID hits, Kally battles to keep her café open and everyone is enlisted to help. Krystina and Loukas have to work together. Even Yiayia pitches in. When the three contract COVID, they’re forced to quarantine together. As they care for Yiayia, who’s condition takes a turn for the worse, they have to band together. But can they finally make peace? You’ll have to read it to find out.
My Greek Books review
I was so excited for Book 3, and it does not disappoint! The Andarakis Family are now like old friends and I couldn’t wait to check in with them. I’ve enjoyed following them through this series, and how Effie weaves in Greek culture and family. And in this one, some Greek history. Here, we learn about the Junta, which took place from 1967-1974. The girls’ grandfather was among the many who fought bravely to overthrow the military regime and suffered for it.
Effie Kammenou has created this endearing family that we can’t get enough of. She brilliantly taps into Krystina’s teenaged mind, as she attends school via remote learning, and tries to balance teen drama with family, the pandemic, and more. And lucky for us, there will be a 4th book in the series, where we’ll get to learn half-brother Theo’s story. Love is Worth Fighting For is a perfect summer read. You won’t be able to put it down.
Buy it on Amazon
Learn more about Effie at effiekammenou.com
Maria A. Karamitsos is an Amazon affiliate. As an Amazon affiliate, she earns money from qualifying purchases. By clicking through the links, when you make a purchase, she will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. It helps to support her writerly endeavors Thank you!
Reinventing Amara Leventis by E.D. Hackett
Independently published (June 1, 2022)
I stumbled upon this one from an Instagram post. E.D. Hackett, a New England-based speech-language pathologist and mother of two, is the author of three other books, including An Unfinished Story: Story One of the Block Island Saga, The Havoc in My Head, and Hope Hannah Murphy. E.D. channeled the memories of a Greek family-owned bakery in her hometown and mixed in stories of a Greek-American friend to pen her latest novel, just out last month.
The story
Amaryllis Leventis hates her parents’ bakery, her humble roots, her culture, even her name. Thinks she’s above it. In college, she changes her name to Amara, and begins to build what appears to be a picture-perfect life. She drives a fancy car and wears designer clothes. She and her college roommate/best friend Bethany share an apartment in Providence, Rhode Island, far from her Connecticut hometown. Everything is going along fine until Beth meets Ryan and falls in love. At an elaborate surprise party Amara throws for Beth, Ryan proposes. Amara should be happy for her friend. But she doesn’t like him and resents his controlling nature. And she can’t keep it to herself. Before she knows it, she’s homeless, has lost her best friend, and everything else too. She’s forced to return home. Her parents let her move in under one condition—she works at the bakery.
Amara tries to fix her problems but only makes things worse. She’s going to have to figure it out the hard way. Can she get her life on track?
My Greek Books review
Sure, Amara’s spoiled and gets herself in even more hot water. You just want to shake her. But that’s what makes her so real. When we’re young, we often don’t make the right choices. None of us are perfect, and some people don’t end up on the straight path–they end up on the curvy road, and take a few detours along the way. Amara is like some Greek-American kids I knew when I was growing up—they wanted to forge their own American identity and leave behind their family’s simple beginnings. The author did a good job tapping into Greek culture. It’s a multifaceted, rich, and dynamic culture—and can be difficult for someone who isn’t Greek to portray. There are nuances, and though most things are consistent across regions, some areas and families have their own distinct version. With the help of a Greek friend, E.D. provided a snapshot of one Greek-American family, including their traditions and immigrant roots.
With a pinch of entitlement, a dash of resentment, and a cup of hope for a quick trip to the good life, E.D. Hackett serves Amara with a dose of humble pie, then leads her to assemble the ingredients to create a brand new life. And I have to admit, every time she wrote about kourambiedes, I was about to race to the kitchen to bake my favorite cookie. This one’s a quick, fun read. Pull up your chaise lounge, pour an ice-cold lemonade (spiked or not), and settle in to learn Amara’s story.
Buy it on Amazon
Learn more about E.D. at edhackettwrites.com
Are you on my email list? Get my monthly newsletter and stay up to date on all my latest news, learn about recent blog posts, and more. Click HERE to join. It’s FREE.
My Corfu Love Story by Effrosyni Moschoudi
Independently published (April 25, 2022)
Effrosyni Moschoudi is the author of more than a dozen books, including novels, poetry and a short story collection. Born and raised near Athens, she sets many of her stories on this island of Corfu, that she fell in love with after many summers in the 1980s.
Read about her first novel, The Ebb, and The Flow, part of The Lady of the Pier trilogy, in the WindyCity Greek archives.
The story
Spyri leaves her restaurant in London to visit her grandmother on Corfu. The hustle and bustle of her daily life have worn on her, and her days in the village remind her of the halcyon days of her youth—and that summer with Markos. She never saw him after that year. When she learns he’s in the village, her heart skips a beat. She hopes to see him to find out why he never came back and learn about his life. Sparks fly, but he’s got a lot to deal with it. Is it just a chance to heal wounds of the past or is it never too late to take a chance on love?
My Greek Books review
Effrosyni Moschoudi’s My Corfu Love Story is a sweet tale about family, first love, long lost friends, and the draw of a beautiful island. At 72 pages, this novella is a quick read, perfect for a day at the beach. It will make you want to book a flight to Corfu. Even better—read it on the beach in Corfu. Or if you can’t, just pull up a chair, slide on your sunglasses, and be transported. 😉
Buy it on Amazon
Learn more about Effrosyni at effrosyniwrites.com
My Greek Books—July 2022 Edition
That’s it for this month! I’ve already got some great books lined up to share with you next month. For now, Happy Reading!
More My Greek Books
Maria A. Karamitsos is an Amazon affiliate. As an Amazon affiliate, she earns money from qualifying purchases. By clicking through the links, when you make a purchase, she will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. It helps to support her writerly endeavors Thank you!
