Taverna by the Sea
One Greek Island Summer
From 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.
JENNIFER BARCLAY
