“A rich, emotionally-nuanced story about a woman’s deeply held connection to her family and her past. With an evocative setting and finely-drawn characters, Corporon creates a beautiful world you won’t soon forget.” — Emily Giffin, New York Times bestselling author
On a beautiful Greek island, myths, magic, and a colorful cast of characters come together in When the Cypress Whispers, Yvette Manessis Corporon’s lushly atmospheric story about past and present, family and fate, love and dreams that poignantly captures the deep bond between an American woman and her Greek grandmother.
The daughter of Greek immigrants, Daphne aspires to the American Dream, yet feels as if she’s been sleepwalking through life. Caught between her family’s old-world traditions and the demands of a modern career, she cannot seem to find her place.
Only her beloved grandmother on Erikousa, a magical island off the coast of Greece, knows her heart. Daphne’s fondest memories are of times spent in the kitchen with Yia-yia, cooking and learning about the ancient myths. It was the thought of Yia-yia that consoled Daphne in the wake of her husband’s unexpected death.
After years of struggling to raise her child and pay the bills, Daphne now has a successful restaurant, a growing reputation as a chef, and a wealthy fiancé—everything she’s ever wanted. But across the ocean, Yia-yia can see through the storybook perfection of Daphne’s new life— and now she is calling her back to Erikousa. She has secrets about the past to share with her granddaughter— stories from the war, of loyalty and bravery in the face of death. She also has one last lesson to teach her: that security is not love, and that her life can be filled with meaning again.
On a beautiful Greek island, myths, magic, and a colorful cast of mortals come together in a lushly atmospheric debut celebrating the powerful bond between an American woman and her Greek grandmother.
The daughter of Greek immigrants, Daphne was brought up to believe in the American dream, but hers is shattered when her husband dies in a car accident. After his death, she channels everything she has into rebuilding her life as an acclaimed chef and restaurateur. She has also found a second chance at love with her wealthy, handsome fiancé.
Although American by birth, Daphne spent many blissful childhood summers on the magical Greek island of Erikousa, which her grandmother still calls home. Now, as her wedding day fast approaches, Daphne returns to Erikousa and to Yia-yia's embrace.
As they spend time together, her grandmother opens up to share remarkable memories of her life there—including stories of bravery and loyalty in the face of death during World War II. Yia-yia has more than one lesson to teach Daphne: that security is not the same as love, that her life can be filled with meaning again, and that the most important magic to believe in is the magic of herself.
"A compelling and beautiful novel."
