The House of Hidden Letters by Izzy Broom #thehouseofhiddenletters @isabelle_broom @penguinukbooks #bookreview #greece #dualtimeline

 

For sale: Greek cottage. Price: One Euro.

Skye doesn’t make impulsive decisions. But when she sees a derelict Greek cottage for sale by lottery, she enters with dreams of a fresh start.

However, her heart sinks as she pushes open the tattered blue door weeks later. Can this wreck ever be her home?

Then Skye finds a bundle of letters hidden in the fireplace, their faded pages drawing her in with a story of long-forgotten love, tragedy, and unbelievable bravery.

But all the while, Skye’s own past is circling. No matter how far she goes, fate is never far behind…

The House of Hidden Letters by Izzy Broom was published on 26 March 2026 by Penguin. 

I am a huge fan of Izzy Broom's writing - her previous novels are published as Isabelle, rather than Izzy and are all deliciously entertaining. What I can absolutely guarantee every time after reading one of Izzy's novels is that my search history is full of holidays to the location that she's written about! She is remarkable in her descriptive writing and makes every location feel like somewhere that just has to be visited. 

In The House of Hidden Letters she returns to Greece, specifically to the island of Folengandros; a small island in the Aegean Sea tthat forms part of the southern Cyclades. I have not been there, but, of course, I now desperately want to. 

I read this book whilst holidaying in Parga - a fabulous town on mainland Greece, the sun was shining and all was well and this book added so much to my holiday, it's an absolutely perfect holiday read, especially if you are in Greece. 

Izzy Broom has always written contemporary stories and this novel sees her stray into historical fiction, it is a dual timeline (which I always love), and it's immersive, engaging and I loved it. 

Skye is looking for a fresh start, so when she spots a one-euro lottery for a derelict cottage on the remote Greek island of Folegandros, it feels like the perfect escape. Winning the cottage brings not only a crumbling home to restore but also a wonderful new circle of friends and a community she never knew she needed.

When Skye uncovers a bundle of wartime letters hidden in the cottage, and the discovery of long-buried skeletons rocks the island, the story takes on a fascinating new dimension. We are taken back to July 1940 when the house was occupied by Katerina. I was completely captivated by Katerina's story; her courage and resilience made her an unforgettable character.

The dual timeline is beautifully balanced, with both Skye and Katerina determined to forge their own paths despite the challenges they face. The author does deal with some emotionally challenging issues but she does it with skill and empathy. Rich in history and friendships, this is an absorbing and emotional novel that transported me to Greece. I finished it wishing I could book a trip to Folegandros and already looking forward to reading the next in the series. 

Izzy (Isabelle) Broom is the author of thirteen books, most recently The House of Hidden Letters, and has been published in fourteen overseas territories. 

In 2015, she won The Great British Write Off with her short story, 'The Wedding Speech', which was later adapted into a film. 

Her fifth novel, One Thousand Stars and You, was awarded Contemporary Romance Novel of the Year at the 2019 RNAs. 

Based in Suffolk, Izzy travels widely, searching the world for inspiration – a quest that led her to the Greek island of Folegandros, where her latest series of books are set. 

To find out more about her writing life, you can find her on social media under @isabelle_broom.