Our Secret Summer

by Harper Bliss

They promised themselves it was only for the summer…

Raffo retreats to a lake house in Big Bear, desperate to heal her broken heart. But peace and quiet prove impossible when she discovers Dylan—her best friend’s mother—already staying at the house, hiding from her own mistakes.

Dylan is everything Raffo doesn’t older, off-limits, and utterly captivating.

What starts as a shared summer sanctuary quickly turns into something far more dangerous when their undeniable chemistry ignites. As their bond deepens, passion blossoms into a love neither woman saw coming.

But summer can't last forever. With Dylan's son waiting in Los Angeles, their growing love risks destroying the very relationships they cherish most.

Our Secret Summer is a steamy sapphic age-gap romance about forbidden desire, irresistible connections, and the risk of following your heart when the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Lesbian, Lesbian Fiction, LGBT, Contemporary, Queer

274 pages, Paperback

Published March 9, 2025

About the author

Harper Bliss is a best-selling lesbian romance author. Among her most-loved books are the highly dramatic French Kissing and the often thought-provoking Pink Bean series. She is the co-founder of My LesFic, a weekly newsletter offering discount deals on lesbian fiction.

Harper lived in Hong Kong for 7 years, travelled the world for a bit, and has now settled in Brussels (Belgium) with her wife and photogenic cat, Dolly Purrton.

Together with her wife, she hosts a weekly podcast called Harper Bliss & Her Mrs.

Reviews

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️

[currentlyreadingbynat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our Secret Summer is another emotional, character-driven forbidden romance from Harper Bliss that delivers exactly what she’s known for—angst, intimacy, and complex characters navigating life and love. The setup is familiar—two women escaping their own heartbreaks end up unexpectedly sharing a secluded lake house—but Bliss keeps it fresh with lots of emotional depth. The age gap (26 years) is handled thoughtfully, never overshadowing the connection between Raffo and Dylan.

The romance sparks quickly, maybe a little too fast, but their emotional vulnerability makes it believable. What really hooked me was the shift from a steamy connection to full-on Bliss-style angst, with difficult choices, self-doubt, and emotional push-pull as both women try to protect themselves and others. The middle of the book pulled me in the most—I couldn’t stop reading once the hard decisions started piling up. It’s less about the age difference and more about two adults figuring out if love can happen when timing and loyalty pull them in different directions.

With some familiar nods to characters from Bliss’s LA world and her signature intimate scenes, this is definitely one for fans of emotional, slow-burn romances that aren’t afraid to dig into the messy side of falling in love. A satisfying, heartfelt read.

Many thanks to Harper Bliss for providing me a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars for Our Secret Summer (audiobook) by Harper Bliss read by Abby Craden.

A young and upcoming painter has just had her world rocked by a break up and a close friend offers to let her stay at their mother’s summer house. But come to find out the house isn’t empty like the friend thought. The mother is there suffering through her own problems. And slowly the two spark a relationship as they help each other get through their ordeals.

[Guerunche · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

The ebook wasn’t really working for me so I switched to the audiobook version. With Abby Craden’s Magic I enjoyed it more, but the story left me wanting.

While I found the attraction completely believable, the insta-love was a bit harder to swallow. It never seemed to be about much more than lust between them. There needed to be a bit more development than a few conversations.

I also found the son’s/best friend’s immaturity really annoying. While being shocked that your best friend is sleeping with your mother, I get an initial “freaked out” reaction. But it going on and on and refusing to accept it in spite of there being genuine feelings on both sides? Silly.

I’m a big fan of Harper Bliss and especially her collaborations with Abby Craden. I’ll continue to support her work even though this one didn’t work as well for me.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Netgyrl (Laura)]

DNF- started the sample and it is just not working for me. Writing doesn’t seem to be at her usual level.

[Fran Sappharc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great start, yes it’s a scenario others have done before, but Bliss manages to keep everything fresh. I’m looking forward to learning more about the mains and seeing them discover each other. The perfect start to a book! I wasn’t quite sure of the age gap, I knew one main was 59 quite quickly and about 19% we find out it is a 26 year gap as the other main is about 33. There certainty, so far is nothing that indicates a gap other than the best friends mum references. It’s just two adults getting on.
Interestingly the first time the mains “get together” it is the younger one that seems body conscious.
Blistering intimate scenes are a hallmark of this writer. I wasn’t swept along but I am sure many will be. However once the mains had to part, for other peoples sake, the other trademark blissism was in full display. Angst, decisions to make others happy, tough love! Oh boy. I could not put the book down. I'm beginning to think I am drawn to a misery memoir rather than a joyful journey!!
A happy ending and a few name checks for other Bliss characters.

[Gaja · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF
It didn’t seem Harper’s writing at all

[Teddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found a lot of this to be too abrupt. I understand a connection can be immediate between people, but when they’re 30ish years apart and one is your best friend’s mom…I guess I just expected a bit of a slower burn. I also had a hard time believing someone who’d just gotten out of a 10year relationship and was so devastated she’s still regularly crying about it- would jump into bed again…with her best friend’s mom. And that the mom wouldn’t have better self control where her son was concerned. …So believability was challenging all the way through. But did I keep reading? You know I did. The chemistry was there, and I also loved Murray.

Short summary: fresh off heartbreak, Raffo has lost her painting mojo so her best friend sends her to his mom’s lake house…who’s supposed to be away in Europe but is very much present, and quite a bit naked.

[Tori Huggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why does every age gap romance have to be their best friends mom?? (It might be my bad pickings but I’m not ready to admit that yet)

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another brilliant story by Harper Bliss, I have been a Hugh fan of this author for quite a while now getting through almost all of her books.

In this sapphic story we discover a forbidden love story between a woman and her son’s best friend. Unexpectedly thrown together in the same place for the summer both Dylan and Raffo develop an incredible connection and find themselves falling in love with each other, but once there secret summer romance is over could there love transition into the real world, and just how will Dylan’s son react. I loved this one especially how it ended.

[Sophie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very fast pace, like, immediately starts in chapter one.
It wasn't particularly bad or anything, just, not my thing. Also, I didn't feel the chemistry at all, to be honest.
Overall, it was fine.
Also also, what's up with these names?

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favourite one of hers I've read (for the love of god, please stop saying "mojo"), but it's always a fun read regardless.

[Sara Saab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I was braced for another contemporary romance car crash, this actually wasn’t bad at all. It got in, was pretty utilitarian and real in its setup and project without getting whiny or eyegougingly, endlessly interior. The crises and conflict were even handed. No one was virtue-washed. Raffo and Dylan were well sketched and the age gap wasn’t the subject of (much) teeth-gnashing. The audiobook narration was solid.

[Siddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raffo is an up-and-coming artist in LA, but has just had her heart broken and has lost all painting inspiration. Mia, her girlfriend of ten years has just dumped her, and so Raffo’s best friend and gallery owner Connor has given her the key to his mother’s lake house, two hours from LA. His mother is meant to be away on a retreat in Europe.
Dylan is licking her wounds in her lake house after losing a lot of money on a bad investment. She doesn’t have the courage to tell her son Connor, and so she is in hiding because she can’t now afford her planned European trip.
After Raffo finds Dylan half naked, she wants to find somewhere else to go, but Dylan persuades her to stay. The romance between them is slow burn with lots of introspection by both women, and because of their age difference and because of thoughts of Connor it almost never happens.
This is a lovely book, in typical Harper Bliss style. She writes some of the best slow burn deep stories.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my! What a great story! I will be re-reading this one as the MCs are just wonderful!!! And SPICY!!!

[Rey Hawke · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

[Mikaila✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Completely rational crash out from the son. If my 30 year old best friend started dating my mom, I'd be upset too. lmao

[pears ✧ ☽ ☼ ଳ]

Dnf @ 8%
I hateeee the writing style. It feels so robotic and not engaging at all.

[Caitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This really ended up being a flop for me. There was hardly any depth or personality. The plot was pretty weak and the friend that freaked out was so obnoxious.

[Lyss Chiampi · Rating 4 out of 5]

my first age gap romance book, of course it was queer. I loved following this one. Not my typical read, but I really did enjoy learning about Dylan and Raffo and their summer at Big Bear.

[Cari Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

mmmmm back at it like a cr*** a*****
Age-Gap is forever my fave. Best Friends mom? CHEFS KISSSSSSSS

[Scriptmonkey · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I hear "Raffo" one more time, I may go insane. Over the course of the book, time and space lost meaning. It was like hearing "Jellicle" in Cats. What does it all mean?!? (They don't have an option for an audiobook format for some reason, but that's what I had.)

Is that really the most important thing you can say about this book? Pretty much. The book was fine. "it was ok" to quote the Goodreads 2-star-rating description. However, I gave it three because of bits of honesty by Harper. It's a low-stakes and low-worry book--appropriate enough for a book with "summer" in the title.

Harper references using an editor. Props to that. Many in this genre don't know how to use spellcheck, thesaurus, or even a dictionary. However, I think an editor on their game might have advised, "Maybe don't say the character's name in every sentence?" Also, I assume "Raffo" was shortened from "Rafaela", though I don't recall any indication of this. I think the full name is rather charming. If I had that name and was to shorten it, I'd probably go with "Rafe", but I can see how that could be problematic with poor enunciation or a typo. Raffo, as a first name on the other hand, sounds like the name of a clown--an actual circus clown I mean.

There are indications that Raffo is also a POC (the cover art for one), at the least someone of Mediterranean heritage, but no time is spent to that possible aspect of her identity. Dylan, a white, blonde woman gets more time devoted to her ethnic characteristics.

The first part of the book is set in Big Bear, California. Having been several times, I was disappointed that she captured none of it. It could be any lake house by any lake. For one, Dylan swims in the lake. While you can swim there, dedicated swimming is a rarity. Maybe at the public beaches, but private docks, like Dylan's have a 20-foot swimming area restriction. They gape at the natural beauty but don't indicate anything they actually see. When they left the house/cabin, it was off-page. No reference to strolling the downtown strip. Nothing of the quaint local shops and eateries. Definitely no reference to a super-majority of the population being Trump-loving right-wing troglodytes who would despise Raffo.

As to the story, the book feels short, and the rushed nature of the romance reflects that. I thought I had missed a chapter or two when the characters were suddenly making out and stripping each other. Granted there were indications of attraction, but I would have preferred it simmer for a little bit before exploding.

Raffo, an amazingly talented artist, perhaps the greatest living painter of her time (the standard Harper Bliss protagonist when a creative) has lost her mojo because of a bad breakup with a woman (Mia) who deserves to be reviled because she fell out of love with the amazing Raffo and made a clumsy (okay, rather sleazy) exit by saying it should be an open relationship. There is debate in the book as to whether Mia had decided it was an open relationship prior to suggesting it, but it is never resolved.

Dylan, on the other hand, who is nearly 60--a year away from being 60--almost 60--- (you will hear this--a lot) blew her savings, a half a million on Crypto. My first thought was, "Ha! Idiot!" and to Harper's credit, she acknowledges as much. Dylan realizes she thought she was smarter than she was and made stupid choices. I much prefer that to characters acting as if their choices were great, but circumstances bedeviled them.

The entirety of the conflict of this story, trifling asides to the age-gap notwithstanding, is how will Dylan's son (Raffo's bestie and business partner) react to the news. This isn't the first, and I suspect it will not be the last, "My gay son pitched a fit over my relationship with their best lesbian friend" story. It is always the same. Shock. Outrage. Hypocrisy. A semblance of rationality. Love conquers all--son finagles a way to get the two to meet. It was good to see Connor's romantic partner, Murray, point these things out to him (though some version of this always happens too) and that despite Connor's anger, he didn't forsake his friend or mother in a full-on hissy.

The Age-Gap aspect was not a true stumbling block to romance here. Harper made a nod to reality and devoted a few lines to Dylan's concerns and even a sentence to how Raffo understood that Dylan was considerably older and showing signs of aging--but none of this dimmed the fires of passion for either of them.

Now, Age-Gap is not my favorite. It is in Harper's wheelhouse...heck that is her wheelhouse even when it's not a virtual necessity (such as falling in love with a bestie's mother). Often, the character is older so that the character can be older--not that it's essential to the story. Harper hints at problems ahead, but doesn't dwell on them for the sake of a happy ending. Indeed, that this is a HFN not an HEA, is stated by Dylan.

Maybe that's my issue with Age-Gap romances. The escapism inherent in reading such works is thwarted. The illusion of HEA is shown for the HOC it is (House of Cards). In all statistical likelihood, even if they don't fall out of love, Raffo will be single by the time she is Dylan's age in the book. No love is truly forever but there's an implicit sadness and limitation when the age gap is nearly 28 years. For that matter, while Dylan joked about needing lube and from being too tired to have sex after being at work, that will only get more pronounced over time. This goes back to the implicit sadness--especially in a book with such a significant sexual component.

Dylan is also saddled with, what seems to be almost requisite, soulless job--even more so when compared to Raffo's artistic pursuits. But an advertising executive? Advertising seems like one of the banes of civilization. A profession, in the modern sense, that arose out of the desire to push propaganda, and the focus of which is to convince people to buy something--often something they don't need. Despite that, Dylan is clearly one of the best in the world at--whatever it is she does--and everyone knows it, even if they can't describe what it is she does.

Lastly, while I know many like when connections are made to the Blissverse, this one felt forced (perhaps like the romance, the rushed nature of it contributed to the feeling). Of course, Raffo was at Rainbow House. Sure, Dylan is listening to some lesbian erotica read by Ida Burton (an actress in the Blissverse of Meryl Streep standing except she's won a ludicrous four Oscars and her partner, Faye won three in a row. No. Sorry. no. Those books couldn't afford to pay for a narrator of that standing. Maybe she does it pro bono and I forgot that part in About that Kiss) and of course Raffo's art will be shown at the gallery of Dolores from In the Distance There is Light. Dolores happens to be the best most important art gallery owner in the United States in case you didn't know.

Speaking of advertising, that's what these connections feel like. Advertising by way of "fan service". Of course, Harper wants people to read her other books, but the Blissverse's Secret Lesbian Network is staggering. Everyone knows everyone (or they soon will). It feels like in trying to show the characters are part of a wider world; it somehow makes it a smaller world.

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

the pacing of this was really goofy to me. stuff happened so fast that if felt unbelievable and i couldn't get very invested. it became very repetitive and the second half was especiallt tedious. honestly not much actually happened it was mostly the main characters thinking or talking about their feelings and their predicament and it felt like a broken record a lot of the time.

[Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

2⭐

I never thought an age-gap romance could disappoint me this much. It’s usually exactly my kind of book, yet this one didn’t work for me.

The story follows Raffo, an artist struggling creatively after a breakup. Her best friend Conner offers her the use of his family’s summer house so she can reset and find her inspiration again. What Raffo doesn’t know is that Conner’s mother, Dylan, is already staying there, hiding out after losing a large amount of money in a failed investment and feeling too ashamed to face her son.

On paper, this had everything going for it: the secluded summer house, the best friend’s mom trope, the age gap, the emotional vulnerability. It should have worked. Instead, it fell flat on almost every level.

Raffo and Dylan fall in love almost immediately, and I genuinely didn’t see it coming—not because it was subtle, but because there was no emotional buildup. Outside of the sex scenes, there were barely any interactions that suggested a real connection. Dylan was kind to Raffo and offered support, but their conversations never moved beyond Raffo’s breakup and Dylan’s financial loss. That’s not enough to convince me two people are in love.

The age gap is the entire premise of the book, yet it’s barely explored. Dylan occasionally mentions that she’s much older, but Raffo doesn’t seem to care at all. They are nearly thirty years apart, and Dylan is also Conner’s mother, yet the story avoids engaging with any of the complexity that should come with that. Even Conner’s reaction feels too easy. He’s upset for a short while, then quickly comes to terms with it, which removes almost all potential conflict.

There’s also a complete lack of chemistry and tension. No meaningful conversations, no emotional intimacy, no sense that these two women actually got to know each other. It often feels like the author is afraid to let characters talk about anything beyond their single defining problem. Instead of developing a relationship, the book relies on lust and shared venting.

I went into this book with high expectations and genuine excitement, which only made the disappointment worse. The characters were likable enough, and that’s the only reason this ends up as a two-star read instead of one.

[Shula McCann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good age gap romance and Harper Bliss does write them well. Raffo has just been dumped by her longtime girlfriend of 10 years, and her best friend Connor (who is also the owner of the gallery where she shows her art) tells her to stay at his moms cabin until she gets her art mojo back, and heals her heart. What no one is expecting is for the cabin to be occupied already. Dylan (Connor’s mom) is too ashamed to tell her son that she didn’t take her vacation to Europe, and she’s hiding out in her cabin. When Raffo walks in one her naked in bed taking a nap, they both get a shock. But it turns out that the best thing to heal hearts is the right company.

The relationship builds quite quickly, but from the start you know it can’t last the way it is because they’re hiding everything from Connor. Raffo doesn’t want to lie to her best friend, and Dylan is too ashamed by her previous choices to even contact Connor. In the end they both have to return to their separate lives in LA. This is where Harper Bliss shines by testing this relationship. Is it even a relationship? It’s definitely feelings. By having the characters have conversations with each other, with Connor (who I did want to shake repeatedly), and his boyfriend Murray who I preferred over Connor for his mature love is love attitude.

I loved how Raffo didn’t care at all about how much older Dylan was than her. I feel the same way about the age gap between my wife and I. And I always love when other characters from the Blissverse appear in books. I really liked how sure Dylan was about how she felt, despite only having 2 relationships with women before, she doesn’t ever doubt that she does love a woman so strongly. Yes, I wanted to shake Connor because as a gay adult he should have had empathy for his best friend and his own mother, but it was immensely satisfying for Raffo and Murray in particular do this for me. Overall this is a very satisfying story with a happy ending.

[TheLisaD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harper Bliss delivers a beautifully written, steamy, and emotionally rich romance in Our Secret Summer, crafting a story that is as heartfelt as it is passionate. This novel goes beyond the typical summer fling, exploring the complexities of love, self-discovery, and the courage it takes to follow one’s heart, even when the circumstances aren’t ideal.

At the core of the story is the relationship between Dylan and Raffo, a connection that is both forbidden and undeniably magnetic. As Dylan’s son’s best friend, Raffo presents an element of tension that keeps the stakes high throughout the novel. The age gap between them, though small, adds another layer of intrigue, making every moment between them charged with anticipation. Bliss does a remarkable job of portraying their evolving bond—not just as a physical attraction, but as something much deeper and more meaningful.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its character development. Bliss’s writing allows readers to fully immerse themselves in the emotions, fears, and desires of Dylan and Raffo. Their chemistry is palpable, but more importantly, their relationship feels authentic. As the story unfolds, it’s easy to feel their emotions lifting right off the pages, making their journey all the more compelling.

Beyond the romance, Our Secret Summer is a story of self-acceptance and taking risks in the name of love. It’s a book that balances spice with emotional depth, making it an engaging and satisfying read from start to finish. Fans of forbidden romance, well-developed characters, and passionate storytelling will find themselves captivated.

This was my first book by Harper Bliss, and after such an engaging read, I am excited to explore more of her work in the future.

[Cara Ramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raffo is an up and coming painter who works closely with her best friend and art gallery owner, Connor. When Raffo has a bad breakup with the woman she's been dating for a few years, Connor offers her the use of his family's lake house, a few hours out from Los Angeles. It's a quiet, beautiful place where she's been told she can relax, unwind, forget about her ex, and hopefully find her artistic inspiration again, because after the heartbreak of that loss, she's blocked and hasn't had any painting ideas she's wanted to do for a while now.

However, when Raffo arrives at the lake house, it's not empty. Connor's mother, Dylan, a stunning 59 year old, is staying there even though she told Connor she'd be traveling through Europe for the summer. And why is she staying there? She lost a lot of money in a bad crypto investment. So she's hiding out at the lake house, ashamed of herself and not yet willing to face her son and his presumed judgment of her bad choices.

Raffo and Dylan hit it off easily enough, but the sexual tension just builds between them. And one night, late at night, it finally boils over. The bulk of this novel is both Raffo and Dylan fighting their own desires because of the age gap between them, 25 years, and because Dylan is Connor's mother.

The rest of the book is the two of them fighting this irresistible attraction between them and worrying about how Connor will react when he inevitably finds out what's happened between his best friend who is also his star artist and his own mother.

But fear not! This is a Harper Bliss novel, so in addition to all the spice, there's an HEA but you'll have to read it to experience the entire wonderful story.

[Mari Stark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Beautiful and Engaging Love Story – Another Brilliant Work by Harper Bliss

Harper Bliss has done it again with this captivating novel. The story is excellent and thoroughly engaging, with every page drawing me deeper into the characters' lives. It's a beautiful and sexy journey that I couldn't put down, and I found myself completely invested in the love story between Raffo and Dylan.

Their relationship is beautifully written and developed – it feels real, raw, and incredibly heartfelt. I loved seeing them grow together, and their chemistry is undeniable. Harper Bliss has a knack for crafting characters who feel like they could leap off the page. The allure of forbidden love beckons us, igniting a powerful desire.

That said, I do have to mention that I felt the ending was a bit too short. It left me wanting more, but perhaps that’s because I was so emotionally connected to Raffo and Dylan. I truly didn’t want their story to end, and I can’t help but hope for a follow-up. I believe, there’s so much more to explore in their journey together, and I’d love to see where it goes next.

One of the things I loved about this book was how deep the story goes. The characters are so well-rounded and multi-dimensional, making it easy to become emotionally invested in them. Their struggles, triumphs, and love for each other are portrayed in a way that leaves a lasting impression.

In short, this is another outstanding read by Harper Bliss. A compelling, sexy, and emotionally rich love story that you won’t want to miss!

I received an ARC for an honest review.

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our Secret Summer - Harper Bliss

No one quite does age-gap romances like Harper Bliss. Raffo is a successful and up and coming artist who gets her heart broken when her partner of ten years finds new love. Her best friend and art promoter sends her to get her mojo back at his mother’s cabin in Big Bear. His mother is supposed to be traveling in Europe. But Raffo is surprised when his mother Dylan is actually hiding out at her own cabin. Dylan is 59 and isn’t ready to tell her son she has made poor financial decisions that may cost her the chance to open her own advertising agency. The two agree to stay on at the cabin and Raffo finds a muse in Dylan who gives her inspiration to paint again. And when things progress between the pair they agree to a summer fling. But when summer is over the attraction and feelings are still there.

I enjoyed listening to the audio book narrated by Abby Craden. She always enhances the stories. The 26 year age gap is a lot but it is handled well. I thought the best friend was obnoxious but that is intentional. It got repetitive to keep hearing the phrase “my best friend’s mom” but that is the angst of the story. This is thoughtful, not light, and I liked them getting to know about each other. It has spice and I liked that Dylan was never self conscious about her body or its needs.
And I like that Bliss books share the same world. So mentioning characters from other books, like a famous actress, are fun Easter eggs for Bliss readers.