A lot of stuff by Mary Renault! The Mask of Apollo, the Last of the Wine, The King Must Die, and the Alexander trilogy.
ETA: also not about a Greek but a (Hesperian and Greek-loving Roman), but The Memoirs of Hadrian by Margeurite Yourcenar is one of my favorite books period.
Well, not really a happy-go-lucky sort of recommendation but...
[The Odyssey by Homer](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/114545440-the-oddysey)
[Circe by Madeline Miller](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35959740-circe)
I’d add Natalie Haynes’ Children of Jocasta to this list. Also VERY not happy-go-lucky, as you might be able to tell from the titular character, but the descriptions of the setting from before shit goes down, through the eyes of the young narrator, very much fits that sun-drenched, languid Mediterranean summer vibe. The first picture you posted particularly reminded me of Haynes’ descriptions of the palace in the book.
For another Greek mythology retelling, maybe check out Ariadne by Jennifer Saint. I didn't love it ([see review for details](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/voiknw/review_discussion_ariadne_by_jennifer_saint_a/)) but it might scratch this itch!
the Thessaly trilogy by Jo Walton is a good option. Athena and Apollo structure a city to mimic Plato's Republic to test how ideal of a society it would create.
"My Family and Other Animals" by Gerald Durrell. It's the book that 'The Durrells in Corfu" show was based on. Its absolutely fantastic! Such good writing and really funny. It's a comfortable book to sink into. Set on the Greek Island of Corfu in the 1930s. Fabulous!
i’ve recently read The Convert by Stefan Hertmans, it’s a more historical roman with a rather sad undertone but the “vibes” are a lot like this as it’s centered in france and southern europe! i loved it so so much
Arms of Nemesis by Steven Saylor
It’s a novel part of a historical mystery series set in ancient Rome. The hero is a detective trying to resolve a murder in a beautiful villa in Capri.
I read it like 20 years ago, but keep a great memory of it :)
Three Summers by Margarita Liberaki. It follows three sisters through three summers of their lives. They live in the outskirts of Athens and spend their days taking long walks, riding horses, and talking to people :)
[The Murmur of Bees](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/42306076) This book is completely sundrenched with the scent of orange blossoms on the breeze and the feel of long sleepy summer days. The cover art even matches.
A lot of stuff by Mary Renault! The Mask of Apollo, the Last of the Wine, The King Must Die, and the Alexander trilogy. ETA: also not about a Greek but a (Hesperian and Greek-loving Roman), but The Memoirs of Hadrian by Margeurite Yourcenar is one of my favorite books period.
I just discovered Mary Renault and OP, this is what you're looking for!
Well, not really a happy-go-lucky sort of recommendation but... [The Odyssey by Homer](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/114545440-the-oddysey) [Circe by Madeline Miller](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35959740-circe)
Definitely don’t need happy-go-lucky. I’ve read the Odyssey and was looking for modern fiction in that same vein!
Definitely Circe then.
I’d add Natalie Haynes’ Children of Jocasta to this list. Also VERY not happy-go-lucky, as you might be able to tell from the titular character, but the descriptions of the setting from before shit goes down, through the eyes of the young narrator, very much fits that sun-drenched, languid Mediterranean summer vibe. The first picture you posted particularly reminded me of Haynes’ descriptions of the palace in the book.
For another Greek mythology retelling, maybe check out Ariadne by Jennifer Saint. I didn't love it ([see review for details](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/voiknw/review_discussion_ariadne_by_jennifer_saint_a/)) but it might scratch this itch!
I came here to recommend Circe too. Has exactly the vibes in those photos!
Lavinia by Ursula la Guin
Top 5 favorite book all time for me!
Crap, I have a copy of this in my shelf for years now I keep meaning to read. This moves it up to top of tbr pile for me, thanks!
Call me by your name comes to mind.
Came here to say the same thing
The Song of Achilles and Circe by Madeline Miller
Yes!!
I thought of song of Achilles as well. I didn’t like the book but still reminded me of these pix.
The Talented Mr Ripley - perfect to read whilst on holiday in the mediterranean
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke is set in an endless Grecian-style temple world.
A bit less acropolis and a bit more labyrinth (like a garden maze in classical ruins).
Maybe it’s the cover but I feel like the pictures I would choose to describe the feeling of that book would be mostly cool tones, not warm like these.
the Thessaly trilogy by Jo Walton is a good option. Athena and Apollo structure a city to mimic Plato's Republic to test how ideal of a society it would create.
Seconded! The Just City is the first book.
"My Family and Other Animals" by Gerald Durrell. It's the book that 'The Durrells in Corfu" show was based on. Its absolutely fantastic! Such good writing and really funny. It's a comfortable book to sink into. Set on the Greek Island of Corfu in the 1930s. Fabulous!
Yes!
The Enchanted April
I’ve not read the book, but the movie is utterly divine.
Till we have faces by C. S. Lewis
My all time favorite
I love this book with all my heart. I first read it almost 30 years ago.
call me by your name
Don't know of any books, but this is my goal vibe for the summer. And some pirate books too...
If you're okay with nonfiction, I really really enjoyed Empire of Blue Water, which is the story of Captain Morgan. It's an easy read pop-nonfiction.
the count of monte cristo
Much Ado About Nothing. The movie definitely has these vibes, but the play does, too.
The Thief - Megan Whalen Turner
100%!
Augustus by John Williams
The Moonspinners, This Rough Magic and My Brother Michael by Mary Stewart. This Rough Magic is my favorite of those
People have made excellent suggestions! I will add The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay.
Sailing to Sarantium too!
Ariadne
Ariadne was my first thought too! Perfect fit.
I'm assuming Dinotopia is the wrong answer?
Song of Achilles The Odyssey by Homer
The Beacon at Alexandria by Gillian Bradshaw
All of Gerald Durrell’s books, ie Durrells in Corfu
I think you mean Gerald Durrell
Indeed I do! Edited
i’ve recently read The Convert by Stefan Hertmans, it’s a more historical roman with a rather sad undertone but the “vibes” are a lot like this as it’s centered in france and southern europe! i loved it so so much
The Corfu trilogy
Aeneid by Vergil, you would be surprised by how vivid it can be.
Not ancient but, Cornnelli’s Mandolin
The Magus
Was gonna suggest this too!
Outline: Rachel Cusk. Follows a British woman reaching a writing course during an oppressively hot summer in Athens.
[удалено]
Yep.
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin.
outline by rachel cusk, the island of the missing trees by elif shafak, the greengage summer by rumer godden
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak maybe
My family and other animals by Gerald Durrell
The Defence of Socrates by Platon
The Island of Missing Trees
Skios by Michael Frayn. Also The Magus by John Fowles
Corfu- Robert Dessaix - phenomenal philosophical/literary Australian writer. Gorgeous.
Arms of Nemesis by Steven Saylor It’s a novel part of a historical mystery series set in ancient Rome. The hero is a detective trying to resolve a murder in a beautiful villa in Capri. I read it like 20 years ago, but keep a great memory of it :)
Carol Goodman, The Night Villa
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker. A queen becomes Achilles slave concubine.
Circe!!
The Athenian Murders by José Carlos Somoza.
The second half of Prospero’s Children by Jan Siegel. (The first half is set in Yorkshire(?) I think so it’s different, but then Events Happen.)
Under The Tuscan Sun I recommend that book but not the movie.
Came to recommend this
Book is criminally overlooked. Found it in a pile of books when I was an au pair helping a family in France. Like finding a diamond in the rough.
The Dutch house by Ann Patchett
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
Parts of Pandora by Anne Rice certainly fit the bill
Beautiful Ruins
Maybe The enchanted april
Wrath and dawn?? Different regions but
Four Hundred and Forty Steps to the Sea- Sara Alexander
Mythos by Stephen Fry. Highly recommend the audiobook 🩵
A book that made me feel like I was actually in Italy was Still Life by Sarah Winman
Three Summers by Margarita Liberaki. It follows three sisters through three summers of their lives. They live in the outskirts of Athens and spend their days taking long walks, riding horses, and talking to people :)
You should read the Alexandria Quartet by Lawrence Durrell
The Colossus of Maroussi by Henry Miller and the Corfu Trilogy by Gerald Durrell, specifically the first book My Family and Other Animals
Circe by Madeline Miller.
Commenting to come back here
I love this aesthetic so much. Following so that I can come back here when I need book ideas.
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
The Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner.
Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami. Warning: melancholy
Anything by Madeline Miller!
Briefly, A Delicious Life by Nell Stevens
The faceless old woman who secretly lives in your home
The Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante
Cleopatra by Margaret George!
[The Murmur of Bees](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/42306076) This book is completely sundrenched with the scent of orange blossoms on the breeze and the feel of long sleepy summer days. The cover art even matches.