Taverna by the Sea

One Greek Island SummerFrom the author of Falling in Honey,

An Octopus in my Ouzo

and Wild Abandon

Taverna by the Sea is an enchanting, funny and poignant memoir about answering the call of

adventure by taking on a challenge: helping to run a taverna beside an idyllic beach.

During a walking trip on the South Aegean island of Karpathos, a chance encounter with Minas, an

unconventional Greek-American hotel owner, results in a once-in-a-lifetime experience. ‘Must be

comfortable in beachwear,’ reads Minas’ ad for a waitress. Thinking it sounds dreamily perfect, Jen

drops everything, returning with her dog to the remote bay that will be her home for the summer.

Though the season begins peacefully, life at the taverna soon becomes absurdly busy and challenging.

Days of no running water, mad guests, collapsing ceilings and and a goat tied to a tree. Yet it is

exhilarating: waking to a pink dawn over the olive grove; swimming in the moonlight; music under the

stars; feasting on freshly baked bread, local honey, warm figs – and wine on tap.

With a colourful cast of characters, Taverna by the Sea reveals what happens behind the scenes of an

apparently peaceful paradise, capturing both the difficulties and the magic of remote island life. An

inspiring call to live life to the full – and even escape the rat race – it also conveys the life-affirming

importance of trusting one’s instincts, taking risks and grasping opportunities.