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Our Secret Summer: escape to sunshine in this sparkling summertime romance
Escape to sunshine in this sparkling summertime romance, perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Abby Jimenez.
What happens in Ibiza . . . could change everything
I've spent years stuck behind a desk, always doing the practical, predictable thing. But when my sister's untimely death leaves me with her unfinished bucket list, I have no choice but to throw caution to the wind and hop on a flight to sunny Ibiza. Attempting to carpe my diem on the shores of the Spanish Mediterranean, I waste no time making new friends and finding work at a popular nightclub.
Living out my sister's dream summer shouldn't be hard with her bucket list as my
Go surfing? Done.
Get a tattoo? If the list says so . . .
Fall in love? . . . Sorry, sis. No luck on that front.
That is, until I meet my surprisingly sexy boss Cristiano Moreno Winthrop. He's completely off limits, but we can't seem to stay away from each other. And between late-night talks, glittering parties on his yacht, and steamy stolen moments, I'm starting to think that I just might have found a way to finish that bucket list after all. But summer won't last forever. Is what Cristiano and I have just a fling, or will it last beyond the season?
Why you'll love Our Secret Summer . . .
- sun-soaked romance
- one sparkling summer in Ibiza
- hot millionaire boss
- a mission to complete her late sister's bucket list
- all the feels
What happens in Ibiza . . . could change everything
I've spent years stuck behind a desk, always doing the practical, predictable thing. But when my sister's untimely death leaves me with her unfinished bucket list, I have no choice but to throw caution to the wind and hop on a flight to sunny Ibiza. Attempting to carpe my diem on the shores of the Spanish Mediterranean, I waste no time making new friends and finding work at a popular nightclub.
Living out my sister's dream summer shouldn't be hard with her bucket list as my
Go surfing? Done.
Get a tattoo? If the list says so . . .
Fall in love? . . . Sorry, sis. No luck on that front.
That is, until I meet my surprisingly sexy boss Cristiano Moreno Winthrop. He's completely off limits, but we can't seem to stay away from each other. And between late-night talks, glittering parties on his yacht, and steamy stolen moments, I'm starting to think that I just might have found a way to finish that bucket list after all. But summer won't last forever. Is what Cristiano and I have just a fling, or will it last beyond the season?
Why you'll love Our Secret Summer . . .
- sun-soaked romance
- one sparkling summer in Ibiza
- hot millionaire boss
- a mission to complete her late sister's bucket list
- all the feels
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2026
About the author
R.S. Grey
54 books12k followersR.S. Grey is the USA Today bestselling author of over twenty-five romantic comedies. She loves books, chocolate, reality TV, and cold weather. She lives in Texas with her husband, two daughters, and dog. Visit her at rsgrey.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 718 reviews
June 10, 2026
The first few chapters were a little slow and I couldn't really connect with the story, but it was cute.
June 23, 2026
౨ৎꨄ︎ 3.5
cute, fun story and the summer vibes are on point. but the chemistry between the characters? non-existent.
the introduction to the story and the build-up is great. whilst i found some things unrealistic (like for instance why was she set on only that one club and didn’t plan to search for a job somewhere else?), i did enjoy how isabel's journey in ibiza started.
r.s. grey didn’t just focus on romance, but friendship and coping with grief are huge parts of this story and what a beautiful journey it is! i enjoyed isabel’s relationship with her new friends, how it not only helps her with her plans and hopes, but it also pushes her to realize how unhappy she truly is back home.
i actually liked isabel as a character. she might come from a rich family, but she’s so tough and sassy! she’s obviously still struggling with the loss of her sister, but i love how she honored her through the bucket list.
whilst i find cristiano hot, caring and very ambitious, i feel like layers still remained that should have been peeled in order to get to know him better. it's not just the limited povs, but i feel like not even isabel knew him that well? also not the biggest fan of his overprotectiveness. yes, it's important when men care, but his actions were sometimes too much.
which takes me to their relationship. the moments they spend together are definitely beautiful and romantic. but why does their relationship feel like an insta-love? there’s banter (which is fun), but then suddenly they’re almost like a couple. their relationship had potential, but needed a deeper connection.
i also found the ending a bit rushed. the pacing of the entire book is great and it's easy to read, but the ending had a potential to be a bit better.
but i still really enjoyed this story and some moments. it has beautiful scenes and setting, perfect for summer reading. definitely recommend if you’re looking for something cute and quick!!
────୨ৎ────
౨ৎꨄ︎ pre-read: another book set in ibiza. is this my sign to revisit lol? anywayyy this is soo exciting, i really hope this one will be a five star read !!! 😭💗
cute, fun story and the summer vibes are on point. but the chemistry between the characters? non-existent.
the introduction to the story and the build-up is great. whilst i found some things unrealistic (like for instance why was she set on only that one club and didn’t plan to search for a job somewhere else?), i did enjoy how isabel's journey in ibiza started.
r.s. grey didn’t just focus on romance, but friendship and coping with grief are huge parts of this story and what a beautiful journey it is! i enjoyed isabel’s relationship with her new friends, how it not only helps her with her plans and hopes, but it also pushes her to realize how unhappy she truly is back home.
i actually liked isabel as a character. she might come from a rich family, but she’s so tough and sassy! she’s obviously still struggling with the loss of her sister, but i love how she honored her through the bucket list.
whilst i find cristiano hot, caring and very ambitious, i feel like layers still remained that should have been peeled in order to get to know him better. it's not just the limited povs, but i feel like not even isabel knew him that well? also not the biggest fan of his overprotectiveness. yes, it's important when men care, but his actions were sometimes too much.
which takes me to their relationship. the moments they spend together are definitely beautiful and romantic. but why does their relationship feel like an insta-love? there’s banter (which is fun), but then suddenly they’re almost like a couple. their relationship had potential, but needed a deeper connection.
i also found the ending a bit rushed. the pacing of the entire book is great and it's easy to read, but the ending had a potential to be a bit better.
but i still really enjoyed this story and some moments. it has beautiful scenes and setting, perfect for summer reading. definitely recommend if you’re looking for something cute and quick!!
────୨ৎ────
౨ৎꨄ︎ pre-read: another book set in ibiza. is this my sign to revisit lol? anywayyy this is soo exciting, i really hope this one will be a five star read !!! 😭💗
May 4, 2026
This is going to be a long review, so buckle up lol.
I’ve been a huge fan of R.S. Grey for years, and she’s honestly what got me into reading in the first place, starting with Scoring Wilder back in 2014, so I was really excited going into this one.
Our Secret Summer has everything I love about her writing. The tension, the enemies to lovers dynamic, the setting, the characters… it all just worked so well for me.
I completely fell in love with Isabel and Cristiano. Isabel’s storyline was especially beautiful. Watching her travel to Ibiza, not just to escape her life but to complete her sister’s bucket list, added such an emotional layer to the story. It wasn’t just about romance. It was about grief, healing, and figuring out who she is outside of the life she’s always known. Seeing her slowly open herself up to new experiences, new places, and new people made her feel really real and easy to root for.
And then there’s Cristiano. I loved how guarded and off-limits he felt at first. That dynamic between them, especially with him being her boss, created so much tension right from the start. Their relationship had that perfect push and pull where you could feel the chemistry building in every interaction, even when they were trying to resist it.
And the romance… the slow burn was SO good. The tension between them was insane in the best way, and it just kept building and building. Every look, every conversation, every moment felt intentional. And when it finally paid off, it delivered. The chemistry, the buildup, the spice… all of it hit exactly how I wanted it to. It felt earned, not rushed, which made it even better.
I also loved how the setting played such a big role in the story. Ibiza felt like its own character. The nightlife, the scenery, the energy of the island all added to the vibe and made everything feel very immersive and very summer coded. It made me want to be there with them.
I found myself highlighting so much throughout the book, which is always a sign I’m fully invested. There were so many moments that just stuck with me, whether it was emotional, romantic, or just really well written.
Overall, this was the perfect summer read and exactly what I want from R.S. Grey. It had the fun, flirty energy she’s known for, but also had more emotional depth than I was expecting, which I loved.
If you love enemies to lovers, strong tension, emotional character growth, and a slow burn with a satisfying payoff, I would 100% recommend this one.
I’ve been a huge fan of R.S. Grey for years, and she’s honestly what got me into reading in the first place, starting with Scoring Wilder back in 2014, so I was really excited going into this one.
Our Secret Summer has everything I love about her writing. The tension, the enemies to lovers dynamic, the setting, the characters… it all just worked so well for me.
I completely fell in love with Isabel and Cristiano. Isabel’s storyline was especially beautiful. Watching her travel to Ibiza, not just to escape her life but to complete her sister’s bucket list, added such an emotional layer to the story. It wasn’t just about romance. It was about grief, healing, and figuring out who she is outside of the life she’s always known. Seeing her slowly open herself up to new experiences, new places, and new people made her feel really real and easy to root for.
And then there’s Cristiano. I loved how guarded and off-limits he felt at first. That dynamic between them, especially with him being her boss, created so much tension right from the start. Their relationship had that perfect push and pull where you could feel the chemistry building in every interaction, even when they were trying to resist it.
And the romance… the slow burn was SO good. The tension between them was insane in the best way, and it just kept building and building. Every look, every conversation, every moment felt intentional. And when it finally paid off, it delivered. The chemistry, the buildup, the spice… all of it hit exactly how I wanted it to. It felt earned, not rushed, which made it even better.
I also loved how the setting played such a big role in the story. Ibiza felt like its own character. The nightlife, the scenery, the energy of the island all added to the vibe and made everything feel very immersive and very summer coded. It made me want to be there with them.
I found myself highlighting so much throughout the book, which is always a sign I’m fully invested. There were so many moments that just stuck with me, whether it was emotional, romantic, or just really well written.
Overall, this was the perfect summer read and exactly what I want from R.S. Grey. It had the fun, flirty energy she’s known for, but also had more emotional depth than I was expecting, which I loved.
If you love enemies to lovers, strong tension, emotional character growth, and a slow burn with a satisfying payoff, I would 100% recommend this one.
June 29, 2026
After the sudden loss of her sister, Isabel leaves behind her predictable life in America and heads to Ibiza to complete the unfinished bucket list her sister never had the chance to finish. As she pushes herself beyond her comfort zone—trying new adventures, forming unexpected friendships, and embracing a completely different way of life—she finds herself falling for her charming yet emotionally guarded boss, Cristiano Moreno Winthrop. What starts as a summer of healing and self-discovery soon becomes a romance that makes Isabel question what she truly wants once the summer comes to an end.
Every romance reader knows the intoxicating pull of a perfect seasonal book cover. Our Secret Summer had exactly that effect on me. The dreamy Mediterranean vibes, the bright colors, the promise of a summer romance: it looked like the perfect escape. Since this was my first R.S. Grey book, I went in without knowing much beyond the premise, hoping for a story about grief, healing, self-discovery, and, of course, romance.
For a while, I really thought that was what I was getting.
The opening chapters pulled me in right away. Ibiza felt vibrant, and I loved the contrast between Isabel's carefully planned corporate life and the carefree atmosphere she finds in Spain. Watching her step into a completely different world full of beaches, nightlife, and new experiences was genuinely fun. It felt like the start of the kind of romance you can lose yourself in.
Unfortunately, once the story got past that initial setup, it started losing its momentum for me.
A lot of what happened afterward didn't feel like it developed naturally. Instead, it felt as though the story already knew which romance tropes it wanted to include and simply moved the characters into those situations without earning them. Emotional moments came and went before they had much impact, and by the second half I couldn't stop thinking about how much stronger those opening chapters had been.
The biggest issue was Isabel's grief.
Her sister's death is the reason this story begins in the first place. It's why she leaves America, why she decides to complete the bucket list, and why she's trying to rebuild her life in Spain. I expected that loss to be the emotional heart of the novel.
But I never really felt it.
Grief doesn't have to be loud to be moving, and I wasn't expecting constant emotional breakdowns. Quiet grief can be incredibly powerful when it's written well. Here, though, it mostly felt like I was being told Isabel was devastated instead of actually experiencing that pain with her. Because of that, I struggled to connect with the choices she made throughout the story.
The bucket list suffered because of that too. It should have felt like a meaningful way to honor her sister, but instead it often came across as a convenient reason to move Isabel from one adventure to the next. Surfing, tattoos, spontaneous outings: they were fun enough, but I never understood why these particular experiences mattered so much to her beyond the fact that the plot needed them to.
I also had a hard time connecting with Isabel herself.
Early on, we're told she doesn't want to spend the rest of her life working for her father's company, and that's a conflict I completely understood. But after deciding she wants something different, the story never really answers the obvious question: what does she want?
She spends much of the novel reacting to whatever happens around her instead of actively pursuing anything herself. By the time the ending rolled around and suddenly she owned a surf shack, it honestly caught me off guard. Surfing had never felt like this great passion of hers. She even admits she isn't very good at it, so that ending didn't feel earned. It came across more like the story needed to give her a carefree future and settled on the first option that fit the setting.
Then there's the romance.
This was probably the biggest disappointment for me because I never fully believed in Isabel and Cristiano as a couple. Cristiano spends most of the book emotionally closed off, frustrating, and, if I'm being honest, not particularly well developed.
I actually don't mind arrogant billionaire heroes. They can be a lot of fun when there's enough depth beneath the confidence. Here, though, I never felt like I truly got to know him. Even with chapters from his point of view, he remained surprisingly distant. Beyond being wealthy, overworked, and dealing with complicated family relationships, I wasn't left with a strong sense of who he was.
One thing that especially frustrated me was how he handled other women. The book uses that situation to create conflict, but he never really seems to take responsibility for it. The story moves on before those issues are properly addressed, which made it difficult for me to root for him. Then the author tries to sweep everything under the rug with a sudden, last-minute "I love you" from Cristiano in the final chapter, and I couldn't buy into it for a second. It felt completely unearned, and instead of redeeming the romance, it only reinforced why it never worked for me in the first place.
By the end, I still wasn't convinced their relationship was built on much beyond physical attraction and spending time together. I just didn't feel the emotional chemistry that the story kept telling me was there.
The pacing didn't help either. Oddly enough, the book managed to feel both slow and rushed at the same time. It spends plenty of time moving from one scene to the next, yet the conversations and emotional breakthroughs that mattered most seemed to happen almost instantly. Conflicts were resolved before they had much chance to develop, and character growth often felt implied instead of fully explored.
Neither Isabel nor Cristiano changed enough for me by the end. Their relationship seemed to progress because this is a romance book, not because I watched two people genuinely change or challenge each other for better.
That said, not everything about the book disappointed me.
I really enjoyed Isabel's group of friends. They brought warmth, humor, and energy whenever they appeared, and some of my favorite scenes involved them instead of the romance. Their friendships felt genuine, and I often found myself looking forward to those moments more than anything else.
I also listened to the audiobook, and I honestly think that made the experience better. Rhiannon Black did a wonderful job narrating Isabel's chapters. She brought emotion to scenes that sometimes felt a little flat on the page and kept me invested even when the story itself wasn't.
Alexander Cendese, unfortunately, didn't work as well for me. His delivery felt overly enthusiastic regardless of what was happening in the scene. Emotional conversations, casual dialogue, tense moments: they all seemed to have the same level of intensity, and it often pulled me out of the story. Since I was already struggling to connect with Cristiano, the narration only made that harder.
In the end, I don't think Our Secret Summer is a bad book.
That's almost what makes it so frustrating. The setting is beautiful, the premise has so much potential, and those first few chapters genuinely had me excited about where the story was going. I can easily imagine a version of this novel that worked really well for me.
Sadly, this wasn't it.
Somewhere along the way, it lost the emotional depth that had drawn me in at the beginning. It ended up being one of those books that looks absolutely stunning on the outside and starts with so much promise, but never quite delivers on what it could have been.
Every romance reader knows the intoxicating pull of a perfect seasonal book cover. Our Secret Summer had exactly that effect on me. The dreamy Mediterranean vibes, the bright colors, the promise of a summer romance: it looked like the perfect escape. Since this was my first R.S. Grey book, I went in without knowing much beyond the premise, hoping for a story about grief, healing, self-discovery, and, of course, romance.
For a while, I really thought that was what I was getting.
The opening chapters pulled me in right away. Ibiza felt vibrant, and I loved the contrast between Isabel's carefully planned corporate life and the carefree atmosphere she finds in Spain. Watching her step into a completely different world full of beaches, nightlife, and new experiences was genuinely fun. It felt like the start of the kind of romance you can lose yourself in.
Unfortunately, once the story got past that initial setup, it started losing its momentum for me.
A lot of what happened afterward didn't feel like it developed naturally. Instead, it felt as though the story already knew which romance tropes it wanted to include and simply moved the characters into those situations without earning them. Emotional moments came and went before they had much impact, and by the second half I couldn't stop thinking about how much stronger those opening chapters had been.
The biggest issue was Isabel's grief.
Her sister's death is the reason this story begins in the first place. It's why she leaves America, why she decides to complete the bucket list, and why she's trying to rebuild her life in Spain. I expected that loss to be the emotional heart of the novel.
But I never really felt it.
Grief doesn't have to be loud to be moving, and I wasn't expecting constant emotional breakdowns. Quiet grief can be incredibly powerful when it's written well. Here, though, it mostly felt like I was being told Isabel was devastated instead of actually experiencing that pain with her. Because of that, I struggled to connect with the choices she made throughout the story.
The bucket list suffered because of that too. It should have felt like a meaningful way to honor her sister, but instead it often came across as a convenient reason to move Isabel from one adventure to the next. Surfing, tattoos, spontaneous outings: they were fun enough, but I never understood why these particular experiences mattered so much to her beyond the fact that the plot needed them to.
I also had a hard time connecting with Isabel herself.
Early on, we're told she doesn't want to spend the rest of her life working for her father's company, and that's a conflict I completely understood. But after deciding she wants something different, the story never really answers the obvious question: what does she want?
She spends much of the novel reacting to whatever happens around her instead of actively pursuing anything herself. By the time the ending rolled around and suddenly she owned a surf shack, it honestly caught me off guard. Surfing had never felt like this great passion of hers. She even admits she isn't very good at it, so that ending didn't feel earned. It came across more like the story needed to give her a carefree future and settled on the first option that fit the setting.
Then there's the romance.
This was probably the biggest disappointment for me because I never fully believed in Isabel and Cristiano as a couple. Cristiano spends most of the book emotionally closed off, frustrating, and, if I'm being honest, not particularly well developed.
I actually don't mind arrogant billionaire heroes. They can be a lot of fun when there's enough depth beneath the confidence. Here, though, I never felt like I truly got to know him. Even with chapters from his point of view, he remained surprisingly distant. Beyond being wealthy, overworked, and dealing with complicated family relationships, I wasn't left with a strong sense of who he was.
One thing that especially frustrated me was how he handled other women. The book uses that situation to create conflict, but he never really seems to take responsibility for it. The story moves on before those issues are properly addressed, which made it difficult for me to root for him. Then the author tries to sweep everything under the rug with a sudden, last-minute "I love you" from Cristiano in the final chapter, and I couldn't buy into it for a second. It felt completely unearned, and instead of redeeming the romance, it only reinforced why it never worked for me in the first place.
By the end, I still wasn't convinced their relationship was built on much beyond physical attraction and spending time together. I just didn't feel the emotional chemistry that the story kept telling me was there.
The pacing didn't help either. Oddly enough, the book managed to feel both slow and rushed at the same time. It spends plenty of time moving from one scene to the next, yet the conversations and emotional breakthroughs that mattered most seemed to happen almost instantly. Conflicts were resolved before they had much chance to develop, and character growth often felt implied instead of fully explored.
Neither Isabel nor Cristiano changed enough for me by the end. Their relationship seemed to progress because this is a romance book, not because I watched two people genuinely change or challenge each other for better.
That said, not everything about the book disappointed me.
I really enjoyed Isabel's group of friends. They brought warmth, humor, and energy whenever they appeared, and some of my favorite scenes involved them instead of the romance. Their friendships felt genuine, and I often found myself looking forward to those moments more than anything else.
I also listened to the audiobook, and I honestly think that made the experience better. Rhiannon Black did a wonderful job narrating Isabel's chapters. She brought emotion to scenes that sometimes felt a little flat on the page and kept me invested even when the story itself wasn't.
Alexander Cendese, unfortunately, didn't work as well for me. His delivery felt overly enthusiastic regardless of what was happening in the scene. Emotional conversations, casual dialogue, tense moments: they all seemed to have the same level of intensity, and it often pulled me out of the story. Since I was already struggling to connect with Cristiano, the narration only made that harder.
In the end, I don't think Our Secret Summer is a bad book.
That's almost what makes it so frustrating. The setting is beautiful, the premise has so much potential, and those first few chapters genuinely had me excited about where the story was going. I can easily imagine a version of this novel that worked really well for me.
Sadly, this wasn't it.
Somewhere along the way, it lost the emotional depth that had drawn me in at the beginning. It ended up being one of those books that looks absolutely stunning on the outside and starts with so much promise, but never quite delivers on what it could have been.
June 6, 2026
4.50 stars
I loved this book! It’s a perfect Summer read.. Family, Sun, spice, fun, & romance . This was a new to me author and I definitely want to read more of her books. This was one of my most anticipated reads for the Summer and it did not disappoint!
I loved this book! It’s a perfect Summer read.. Family, Sun, spice, fun, & romance . This was a new to me author and I definitely want to read more of her books. This was one of my most anticipated reads for the Summer and it did not disappoint!
May 30, 2026
Two insanely rich people fall in love for no discernible reason besides the fact that they’re both super hot.
May 6, 2026
It isn’t often that I have a physical reaction to a book, but this one? There were definitely tears streaming down my face by the end… happy tears.
So grateful for the complimentary copy sent my way from NOVL because I genuinely might have missed this one otherwise. I ate this book up in a single day. I was completely swept away by the escapism and how perfectly it hit all the romance beats I love.
Millionaire/Billionaire Romance ✅
Vacation Romance ✅
Feisty FMC ✅
Dark, brooding MMC ✅
Plot-driven, non-cringey spice ✅
Found Family ✅
And that’s just scratching the surface.
What really stood out to me was the balance between the FMC and MMC. Neither of them needed the other in a dependency sense—there was no damsel in distress, no over-the-top “rich man fixes everything” dynamic. They both stood firmly on their own, which made their connection feel that much more genuine. It was about want, not need, and I will always eat that up.
If I had to nitpick, I would’ve loved a bit more depth when it came to Cristiano. I want to know who he is beyond the business, what really drives him. But at the same time, that slight mystery added to his allure and absolutely kept me turning the pages (which I happily did at lightning speed).
And let’s talk about the spice for a second… because yeah, there is spice, and it was completely in line with what I enjoy. It’s entirely plot-driven, never gratuitous, and hits that perfect balance of being exciting without tipping into cringe. Every scene felt intentional and connected to the emotional growth of the relationship, which made it land so much harder.
My only complaint? That I didn’t read this sooner.
So grateful for the complimentary copy sent my way from NOVL because I genuinely might have missed this one otherwise. I ate this book up in a single day. I was completely swept away by the escapism and how perfectly it hit all the romance beats I love.
Millionaire/Billionaire Romance ✅
Vacation Romance ✅
Feisty FMC ✅
Dark, brooding MMC ✅
Plot-driven, non-cringey spice ✅
Found Family ✅
And that’s just scratching the surface.
What really stood out to me was the balance between the FMC and MMC. Neither of them needed the other in a dependency sense—there was no damsel in distress, no over-the-top “rich man fixes everything” dynamic. They both stood firmly on their own, which made their connection feel that much more genuine. It was about want, not need, and I will always eat that up.
If I had to nitpick, I would’ve loved a bit more depth when it came to Cristiano. I want to know who he is beyond the business, what really drives him. But at the same time, that slight mystery added to his allure and absolutely kept me turning the pages (which I happily did at lightning speed).
And let’s talk about the spice for a second… because yeah, there is spice, and it was completely in line with what I enjoy. It’s entirely plot-driven, never gratuitous, and hits that perfect balance of being exciting without tipping into cringe. Every scene felt intentional and connected to the emotional growth of the relationship, which made it land so much harder.
My only complaint? That I didn’t read this sooner.
May 21, 2026
Ugh I just did not feel the chemistry I’m sorry
May 17, 2026
3.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The premise, the side characters, the H.
The Not-So-Good: The h was too immature for who she was supposed to be IMO.
The Bad: The ending. I felt like it was too abrupt and didn't leave me with nearly enough closure.
Overall: This was cute! I was going in writing this review thinking it was going to be 4 stars, but then once I started voicing my struggles with it, I went down to a 3.5 star review. The ending is the main reason (see closure section below). Then it's the h. I struggled with her being a 26 year old with a MBA that had to hide things from her parents. She also was rude to the H at first in a way that felt like it was supposed to be cute. I felt like she behaved immature and didn't quite get the "overly responsible" characterization of her. All that being said, I didn't hate it or anything and I still enjoyed it a good bit.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Isabel and Christiano's story. Isabel decides to take a trip her sister was planning and scratch off the bucket list items she created before she died. Only she has to go incognito because her protective and famous family doesn't know what she's planning. She instantly meets some friends and also keeps on running into her new boss, Christiano, and sparks fly. There are some sweet moments, some secrets revealed, some sexy times, and some fun side characters...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Isabel and Christiano's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good until the end. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well otherwise.
Instalove: No, but instant attraction.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Christiano. I liked how he reluctantly fell for the h and was instantly in protector mode.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Isabel. I liked her, but I also thought she was a little immature for her age/life experience at times.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Not really
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Only some mild jealousy
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Not in the typical sense
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends way too abruptly for me. All of a sudden we have a time jump in the epilogue and barely any closure right after the conflict was "resolved"?! Yeah, that was disappointing for me and while others might be fine calling it a HEA, I consider it a HFN
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The premise, the side characters, the H.
The Not-So-Good: The h was too immature for who she was supposed to be IMO.
The Bad: The ending. I felt like it was too abrupt and didn't leave me with nearly enough closure.
Overall: This was cute! I was going in writing this review thinking it was going to be 4 stars, but then once I started voicing my struggles with it, I went down to a 3.5 star review. The ending is the main reason (see closure section below). Then it's the h. I struggled with her being a 26 year old with a MBA that had to hide things from her parents. She also was rude to the H at first in a way that felt like it was supposed to be cute. I felt like she behaved immature and didn't quite get the "overly responsible" characterization of her. All that being said, I didn't hate it or anything and I still enjoyed it a good bit.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Isabel and Christiano's story. Isabel decides to take a trip her sister was planning and scratch off the bucket list items she created before she died. Only she has to go incognito because her protective and famous family doesn't know what she's planning. She instantly meets some friends and also keeps on running into her new boss, Christiano, and sparks fly. There are some sweet moments, some secrets revealed, some sexy times, and some fun side characters...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Isabel and Christiano's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good until the end. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well otherwise.
Instalove: No, but instant attraction.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Christiano. I liked how he reluctantly fell for the h and was instantly in protector mode.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Isabel. I liked her, but I also thought she was a little immature for her age/life experience at times.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Not really
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Only some mild jealousy
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Not in the typical sense
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends way too abruptly for me. All of a sudden we have a time jump in the epilogue and barely any closure right after the conflict was "resolved"?! Yeah, that was disappointing for me and while others might be fine calling it a HEA, I consider it a HFN
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
May 25, 2026
All I have to say is that on page 241 the mmc says “I’m glad you’ve been kept up on that shelf, waiting for me.” And I almost vomited lol I simply MUST stop letting sprayed edges fool me.
June 7, 2026
rich girl discovers empathy but meets rich man
June 25, 2026
since it was my first day of summer vacation, i kicked it off with buying 13 romance books
and this was one of them, and it was decent. i liked cristiano but I thought of Ronaldo the entire time kinda bc he was Spanish
i think her parents had an appropriate reaction to her lying about being in France when her grandmother got hurt (but her grandmother lied to her parents for her so i don’t really think it’s entirely Isabel’s fault)
okay now im gonna read another romance bc its summer
and this was one of them, and it was decent. i liked cristiano but I thought of Ronaldo the entire time kinda bc he was Spanish
i think her parents had an appropriate reaction to her lying about being in France when her grandmother got hurt (but her grandmother lied to her parents for her so i don’t really think it’s entirely Isabel’s fault)
okay now im gonna read another romance bc its summer
May 7, 2026
I don’t have enough stars for this one!! ⭐️ Do yourself a favour & pick this one up next time you need a beachy steamy - you’ll fall in love with the main characters - kind of read. I don’t often re-read but I just might with this one.
June 9, 2026
I had to suspend belief but also kind of a great summer read?!! It was dumb and flirty and not too long. We really missed an opportunity for a great dancing scene though. I think it was like 2-3 🌶️
May 27, 2026
Hey so I love this book and I love rs grey and I’m so glad she’s back I’ve been missing you girl. This book is so funny (as RS grey always is) but also so sweet and tender, and I love the female friendships and I love it all okay that’s it bye
June 8, 2026
Secret Summer 💙
Love that Elle decided to take a risk & stepping out of her comfort zone. That her secret turns into friendship & love.
Sometimes taking a leap of faith (or jumping off a cliff in Ibiza) will help free your mind & open new doors...
Love that Elle decided to take a risk & stepping out of her comfort zone. That her secret turns into friendship & love.
Sometimes taking a leap of faith (or jumping off a cliff in Ibiza) will help free your mind & open new doors...
June 15, 2026
Definitely not the best or worst book I’ve read. I do love when there isn’t a third act break up and when the MMC falls first but I felt there was no build up to them being attracted to each other or him falling.
Also if you want a good laugh, listen to the Spotify audiobook. The narrator for Cristiano was quite interesting especially when he had to do a female Australian accent 😂
Also if you want a good laugh, listen to the Spotify audiobook. The narrator for Cristiano was quite interesting especially when he had to do a female Australian accent 😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2026
3.5⭐️ Nice summer read. Kind of wish I’d physically read it over listening. The guy’s accent was hella annoying lol but the book was cute and fun.
June 28, 2026
This was such a cute fun summer read. I loved every minute of it. As an older sister, all the Winnie chapters twisted my heart so hard. I was invested in all the characters. 10/10 would recommend.
May 25, 2026
adding another half star to the above! deserves a 3.5
June 2, 2026
3.5 stars and 5 stars for the last chapter !
June 1, 2026
easy quick beach read. i did really like it, but ill never rate a book like this over a three🤣
May 31, 2026
thank god it's over
May 26, 2026
so cringy but I liked that it’s in Ibiza bc it made it a unique fun love story
May 16, 2026
2.5/5 -3/5 ish stars
June 28, 2026
these books are a dime a dozen. the characters BLAND, the insta love is cringey, chemistry? NONE. how many times have i read the same book?? i feel like ive read this story 100 times before. The lack of character and development of the story really had me wanting to DNF, but since it was our book club book this month i wanted to finish it. the only reason i gave it 2 stars instead of 1 was because i liked simones character. but yeah overall this sucked, i need some depth in my books and this has 0
June 26, 2026
Very cute story, with some deeply emotional moments. I loved the overall story, the newfound friendships/family, the setting. Unfortunately though, the romance wasn't as organic and tangible as I had hoped. Still a fun, light read that kept me good company while doing chores and packing for my vacay ❤️ ~ yes, I did the 🎧audiobook🎧 haha. While the female narrator was absolutely awesome, the male narrator was fairly cringe 😬 I would still recommend it though! It is free on Spotify Premium 🫶
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"Look, Winnie. Do you see? I’m in love on Ibiza. All because of you."
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"Look, Winnie. Do you see? I’m in love on Ibiza. All because of you."
Did Not Finish
June 29, 2026well….i’ve officially dnf’d my first book. i thought i could do it, but Cristiana was literally so annoying that i couldnt get passed it. the idea is fun, and i think theres more underlying things that could be explored (such as the rich girl trying to pass as normal for once), but it didnt hit the mark. the relationship is kind of trash and i had to give up. i wish i liked it bc its the perfect summer vibes but lowkey this book is what is wrong w modern romance books!!!
June 15, 2026
Written in First Person
Dual POV
Romance, loss of sibling, summer travel
Available on Kindle Unlimited
Great summer read!
Isabel has been dealing with the loss of her sister. With the help of her Grandmother she sneaks away to Ibiza to complete her sister’s bucket list. During her adventures Isabel finds her true self and true love.
Dual POV
Romance, loss of sibling, summer travel
Available on Kindle Unlimited
Great summer read!
Isabel has been dealing with the loss of her sister. With the help of her Grandmother she sneaks away to Ibiza to complete her sister’s bucket list. During her adventures Isabel finds her true self and true love.
May 4, 2026
Oh. My. God.
This is a book I was dreading for all the best reasons, I have been a fan of R.S. Grey now for over 10 years, I love her books, and I hate when her books end. I didn’t want to start this one cause then it’d be over, but I’ve been thinking about it daily and monthly since I got my copy. I think this is easily a top five R.S. Grey book for me now, I loved it with my entire body.
The banter between Cristiano and Isabel in the beginning when she gives him an attitude from the first time they met was the literal best. One thing about her background, is she isn’t going to let a man get her down, nor let a man do anything without giving it back, and I loved how much she pushed him throughout the book from the beginning to literal end. The setting of this book was absolutely beautiful, all the books I’ve read set in Ibiza describe it so vividly that I just become desperate to visit, I can so easily picture each scene and it makes the book that much more beautiful.
The spice in this book blew me away, it was some of R.S. Grey’s best, and I was heated and enjoying every moment. The chemistry, tension, push and pull between them just added so much to their desire and connection beyond the friendship also building, I lived for every scene they were in together.
Finally, the friendship in this book between Isabel, Simone, and Annika was so good. I loved the support, the joy, the laughter and just seeing them all get along with no jealously, I’m so glad that R.S. Grey didn’t make the club a toxic place to work, but instead a safe place to land after Isabel hated working for her father’s company.
Man, I’ll be sharing this book with all my friends, I cannot wait to get a physical copy for my shelves!
This is a book I was dreading for all the best reasons, I have been a fan of R.S. Grey now for over 10 years, I love her books, and I hate when her books end. I didn’t want to start this one cause then it’d be over, but I’ve been thinking about it daily and monthly since I got my copy. I think this is easily a top five R.S. Grey book for me now, I loved it with my entire body.
The banter between Cristiano and Isabel in the beginning when she gives him an attitude from the first time they met was the literal best. One thing about her background, is she isn’t going to let a man get her down, nor let a man do anything without giving it back, and I loved how much she pushed him throughout the book from the beginning to literal end. The setting of this book was absolutely beautiful, all the books I’ve read set in Ibiza describe it so vividly that I just become desperate to visit, I can so easily picture each scene and it makes the book that much more beautiful.
The spice in this book blew me away, it was some of R.S. Grey’s best, and I was heated and enjoying every moment. The chemistry, tension, push and pull between them just added so much to their desire and connection beyond the friendship also building, I lived for every scene they were in together.
Finally, the friendship in this book between Isabel, Simone, and Annika was so good. I loved the support, the joy, the laughter and just seeing them all get along with no jealously, I’m so glad that R.S. Grey didn’t make the club a toxic place to work, but instead a safe place to land after Isabel hated working for her father’s company.
Man, I’ll be sharing this book with all my friends, I cannot wait to get a physical copy for my shelves!
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