The Island Retreat

The Island Retreat by Cathy Kelly is contemporary women’s fiction with a gorgeous Mediterranean setting and the kind of emotional honesty that keeps you turning pages long after bedtime. Set on Corfu, it follows Rose Talisman as she stakes her future on Villa Artemis, a small wellness retreat designed for calm: sea views, wild pines and just six carefully chosen guests.

Across one high-pressure week, Rose shepherds her visitors through what they’ve been skirting around—grief, regret, and relationships that don’t fit neatly anymore—while quietly trying to hold her own life together. As the retreat routines deepen, so do the connections, and the island’s beauty can’t stop the past from surfacing.

Perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven fiction, found-family dynamics, and second-chance stories that balance warmth with bite.

Order your copy and escape to Villa Artemis—where the real work begins once the world goes quiet.