When I received this digital copy to read, I assumed it was a lightweight summer read, timed for the vacation season. I could not have been more wrong about it.

Rachel is now in her thirties and married to a very steady, nice man who wants children. But Rachel has a dark past, going back to the summer when she was seventeen years old and working on a Greek island. This is where she begins working at a bar owned by a notorious millionaire named Henry Taylor, who always seems to have a bevy of beautiful, very young girls at his villa to "entertain" his many male friends and acquaintances. Rachel has a passionate affair with Henry Taylor's employee and right-hand man, Alistair, who is mysterious, sexy and much older than Rachel. That summer has dramatic consequences for Rachel and her friend circle on the island. Years later, Rachel and her friends come to some startling realizations about that summer and how Henry and Alistair capitalized on their youthful exuberance and inexperience for their own dark purposes.

This was an engrossing read and I definitely stayed up past my bedtime to finish it. In the post #metoo era, the subject matter is timely and relevant. The flashbacks of the Greek island setting feel dreamy and idyllic contrasted with the rainy and dreary present day English setting. This helps to imbue those distant, youthful memories with a false golden glow of happiness and romance. Rachel is still obsessed with Alistair after all those years, even after he abandoned her without a word.

My only criticism would be that Rachel's continued defence of Alistair and rationalization of his actions into her thirties were difficult to believe in and accept. A certain amount of denial about the extent of his involvement and culpability is acceptable but I felt her continued naivety was a stretch. Altogether a very enjoyable and engrossing read! Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for the copy to read.