Secrets of Summer

by Susan Mallery

Revisit this heartfelt second chance romance book from New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery.


Banker Adam Barrington's quiet life is disrupted when a baseball smashes his window. Intrigued by the eight-year-old culprit who recently moved next door, Adam is shocked to discover that her mother is Jane Southwick, his ex-fiancee, who left him at the altar years ago.

When Jane decided to return to her hometown and move in to her parent's old house, she knew that facing her next-door neighbour was inevitable, but when her daughter finds a window to his house - and his heart - Jane is delighted with the bond growing between Adam and the little girl. Now she must confess the secret she has been carrying in her heart for years and risk everything for a second chance at love and family.

Previously published as A Dad for Billie.

Genres: Audiobook, Romance

253 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 16, 2026

About the author

#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming and humorous novels about the relationships that define women's lives—family, friendship, romance. She's best known for putting nuanced characters into emotionally complex, real-life situations with twists that surprise readers to laughter. Because Susan is passionate about animal welfare, pets play a big role in her books. Beloved by millions of readers worldwide, her books have been translated into 28 languages.

Critics have dubbed Mallery "the new queen of romantic fiction." (Walmart) Booklist says, "Romance novels don't get much better than Mallery's expert blend of emotional nuance, humor, and superb storytelling," and RT Book Reviews puts her "in a class by herself!" It's no wonder that her books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list.

Although Susan majored in Accounting, she never worked as an accountant because she was published straight out of college with two books the same month. Sixteen prolific years and seventy-four books later, she hit the New York Times bestsellers list for the first time with Accidentally Yours in 2008. She made many appearances in the Top 10 before (finally) hitting #1 in 2015 with Thrill Me, the twentieth book in her most popular series, the Fool's Gold romances, and the fourth of five books released that year.

Susan lives in Washington state with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Her heart for animals has led Susan to become an active supporter of the Seattle Humane Society. Visit Susan online at www.SusanMallery.com.

Reviews

[Mostly Bookish Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, fast paced summer second-chance romance!

3.5 ⭐

Secrets of Summer by Susan Mallery is a quick, heartwarming read that relies on some of my absolute favorite tropes:

💛 Second Chance Romance
👧Secret Child
👨‍👩‍👧‍👧Family Meddling(which brings the perfect amount of drama and humor!)

While I did feel that Adam was a bit too tough on Jane regarding their past mistakes, their history runs deep and the connection between them was completely undeniable. Susan Mallery knows exactly how to write small-town dynamics and complex family bonds. If you are looking for a comforting, emotional, and speedy summer escape, definitely pick this one up!

[Rosi Colmenares · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

For fans of:
Second chance romance
Family secrets
Found family

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC.

This was a sweet, emotional women’s fiction read with a second chance romance at its heart.

The story follows Jane as she returns to her childhood home carrying secrets from her past, including ones involving her ex-fiancé, Adam. I really liked the setup, especially how a softball through Adam’s window ends up reconnecting lives that have been separated for years.

The romance was sweet, but I appreciated that the story also tackled heavier topics and family dynamics, which gave it more depth.

I listened to the audiobook and thought Tanya Eby did a great job with the narration. I did end up speeding it up a bit because it felt slow, but overall I enjoyed listening to it.

The pacing dragged in a few spots for me, and some of Billie’s dialogue didn’t always feel natural, but I was still invested enough to keep listening.

Overall, a heartfelt and nostalgic read about family, forgiveness, and finding your way back to the people who matter most

[Heaven (HeavenIsReading) · Rating 1 out of 5]

ALC Review.

Oh brother. This book looks like a fun, contemporary romance but it was a snooze. The characters were so flat and barely any of their backstory was truly explored or explained. The kid was aggressively annoying. The constant pushing of a heterosexual future relationship on the kid was gross. "One day you'll like boys" and "One day you'll like kissing". The kid was like, 8. And if I had to hear "I haven't a clue" one more time I was going to lose it. The narrator made the characters extra annoying.

[Gabby ( gabbykindareads ) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This felt very high schooly to me, like this is how i would write a second chance story if i was a 16yr old

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

I was in need of a lighter audiobook before bed after powering through a string of thrillers, so this ended up being the perfect palate cleanser. I had complimentary access to the ALC through The Hive Influencer Program via auto-approval through NetGalley, making it an easy choice to pick up.

The audiobook was narrated by Tanya Eby, who delivered a performance that fit the women’s fiction tone well. Her narration had a mature warmth to it while still feeling age appropriate for the characters and story. I did end up increasing the playback speed since 1x felt a bit slow for my personal preference, but overall I enjoyed her delivery.

I liked the setup surrounding Adam, the MMC, and the young girl, Billie, whose softball crashes through his window, sparking the reconnecting of lives long separated. Her mother Jane, the FMC, has returned to her childhood home carrying secrets from her past, including ones involving Adam, her ex-fiancé. The second chance romance element was sweet, but the story also explored some heavier emotional topics that gave it more depth than a typical fluffy romance.

There were moments where the pacing dragged a bit for me, and some of the dialogue, particularly from Billie, felt slightly unnatural. Still, I remained invested enough in the characters and their journey to enjoy the story overall. If you’re looking for an emotional, easy-reading women’s fiction romance with a touch of nostalgia and heart, this may be a good fit.

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Secrets of Summer (Previously published as A Dad for Billie.)
Author: Susan Mallery
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Tanya Eby
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Genre: Women's Fiction
Pub Date: June 16, 2026
My Rating: 3.4 Stars
Pages: 384

Story starts when eight-year-old Billie who is new to the neighborhood is practicing her baseball skills a wild pitch goes through the neighbor Adam Barrington’s window. Adam and Billie work out an arrangement to pay for the window when her mother walks out.
Adam is shocked to discover that Billie’s mother is Jane Southwick, his ex-fiancée, who left him at the altar years ago.
When Jane decided to return to her hometown and move into her parent’s old house, she knew that facing her next-door neighbor was inevitable.
However, a bond soon grows between Adam and her daughter which pleases Jane. Hmmm and why might that be? Yep Adam is the father, but he and Jane broke up before she knew she was expecting.

So is Jane hoping for a second chance with Adam and having the real family she has always hoped to have?
Hmmm – I am going to leave it up to you to read and find out.

Want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for granted me this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date is June 16, 2026.

[Laura W · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ Thank you to Susan Mallery, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. ✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Secrets of Summer follows Jane as she returns home carrying secrets from her past. I enjoyed the shared history between Jane and Adam and the revelations uncovered throughout the story. Adam discovers that Jane has been hiding the existence of their child, Billie. Will Adam be able to forgive Jane? And will Jane finally explain why she walked out on their wedding?

I enjoyed the story, but I struggled with the pacing of the present-day storyline. Some scenes and conversations felt longer than necessary. Narrator Tanya Eby brought each character to life and made the audiobook more engaging.

Read if you enjoy stories about family, forgiveness, and finding your way back to your people.

🌞 QOTD: If you could spend the summer anywhere, where would you go? 🏖️☀️📚

Second Chance • Family • Forgiveness • Susan Mallery • Harlequin Audio • HQN Shameless Romantics

[Mel C · Rating 3 out of 5]

ALC Review

2 Stars plot
4 Stars Audio

-3rd Person POV
-Age Gap
-Secret Child
-Second Chance
-Small Town
- Bank Owner x Teacher

Narrator did a good job, plot however...

This one was not for me.

Red flag falling for her but waiting until she was old enough to date, yuck. I am not confident what the age gap is, either it was not clear or I missed it. I think she was 12 and he was 16, when he fell for her but waited. The constant discussion about her looking young, being young, her feeling pressured, him marrying her at 19. Yikes.

Jane leaves Adam on their wedding day without a word and returns to town about nine years later with a daughter. Unfortunately, I never got past their history or Adam's attitude enough to root for their romance. Stay toxic Adam...

Their love story just didn't work for me, just glossed over too much.

The only person I was truly rooting for was Billie. I wanted her to be happy, play softball whenever she wanted, and never have to attend charm school.

[Chantal · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 out of 5: Honestly this was a case where I wished I wouldn't have gone in blind. Honestly, finding out that the original title was published in '93, definitely clarified some things didn't age well. I picked it up because it was a second chance romance which is one of my favorite tropes.

There is an age gap and normally I don't mind them, the trope is very much "Take it or leave it". That being said, the way this gap was handled and harped on throughout the book was very icky. When Adam calls Jane, "Little Girl" in the midst of an argument, was just appalling. The spice and terms that were used were very cringe. Although I did understand Jane and Adam's hestitance, the miscommunication trope was atrocious.

That being said I did enjoy the characters individually, from Billie's outgoingness, to her no filter, curiosity and energy. Also Aunt Charlene's own quirkiness, tall tales, patience, and kindness were everything.

I would be willing to read some of her more recent books, but I don't see myself going back into Mallery's older backlog.

[Reeca Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy this author’s books, but this one fell a bit short.

Banker Adam Barrington’s quiet life is disrupted when a baseball smashes his window. Intrigued by the eight-year-old culprit who recently moved next door, Adam is shocked to discover that her mother is Jane Southwick, his ex-fiancée, who left him at the altar years ago.

This is a second chance romance. And yall, I am not sure I would have had that much forgiveness to give this couple a second chance. She left him at the altar, then she had his baby and didn’t tell him for 8 years. That is a lot to forgive. And I will be honest, it has some eye roll moments in some of the dialogue.

What saved this book for me was the little girl Billie. She has some really cute antics.

The narrator, Tanya Eby, did a pretty good job. I think the story was just a bit unbelievable and it just lacked the kick needed.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

[A_Stylish_Bookworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story had so many red flags that frustrated me from a plot perspective.

First, when they were in love the first time; I thought the age gap was just too big. He waited for her to turn 18 to date her. They have a 6 year age gap I think. This just gave me all the icks.

Second, Jane returns and expects Adam to forgive her after leaving him at the altar with no explanation.

Lastly, Jane has a huge secret that she has been keeping for the last 8 years from Adam.

The saving grace to the story was Billie. She is the cutest tomboy and added a fun element to the story.

Tanya Eby did a great job on the narration with the different voices.

Thank you htpbooks_audio for the audiobook.

[Nichole - The Beauty and the Bookish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Secrets of Summer by Susan Mallery
My Rating: ★★★

This book was such a rollercoaster of a journey! It was actually super frustrating with characters who just didn’t know how to communicate and kept going around and around in circles yet at the same time had the wonderful storytelling of a typical Susan Mallery story. The audiobook was done beautifully and I do think saved this one for me. I adored the daughter and I think her fun personality was really the only thing I was hanging on to in order to see what happened with her. Sadly this one just wasn’t my favorite in the end.

[Besan Fawaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the early listen of Secrets of Summer. I really wanted to love this novel by Susan Mallery because I typically enjoy her books. Unfortunately it slightly missed the mark for me. The narrator did an excellent job of ensuring each character had a unique distinctive tone that allowed you to easily follow. The characters themselves just did not peak my interest. I struggled with the fact that the relationship between the MMC and FMC came off as toxic to me. Otherwise I did love the young child, Billy and the relationship she had with Adam and Jane.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secrets of Summer makes for a great beach read. Set in a small town, with all the small town vibes, this is a story about family. And really, what is family without a little drama and a few secrets?

I loved Jane’s daughter Bille. Tomboy to the core. She is firey and entertaining and gives the grownups a run for their money.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio for the opportunity to listen to this sweet and charming book. Narrator Tanya Eby did such a beautiful job of bringing the characters to life.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite of the summer. The trope wasn’t great and I couldn’t help but feel bad for Adam.. I also didn’t like the levels of miscommunication, plus a secret child. The pacing felt slow at first but then rushed once Billie learned the truth. I’m all for some drama but this one felt extra and over the top - not realistic. Some themes also felt a bit outdated, and in doing some research I learned this story was a retelling of a 1993 novel by the same author, “A Dad for Billie”. Also not my favorite from the author.

[Jen Houg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Secrets of Summer by Susan Mallery. The story combines complicated relationships, long-held secrets, and a satisfying second-chance romance, all of which kept me invested from beginning to end. What stood out most to me was how much I cared about the characters. They felt real and relatable, and I found myself emotionally invested in their struggles and rooting for them to find their way forward. The blend of romance, family dynamics, and hidden truths made for an engaging and heartfelt read.

[Kailey DeMars · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book should’ve taken me less than a day to read, however, it was so boring that I never wanted to pick it back up to finish it. The writing is so cringe and the characters are so blah. It would’ve been much better if written in first person instead of third. Would’ve DNF’d, but I just didn’t have it in me to DNF a book that’s only 250ish pages.

[Elizabeth Ann Hurt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely adored this audio book!!! Thank you to Harlequin Audio & Net Galley for this advanced copy of Secrets of Summer! It was such a beautiful summer escape! A story of second chances, love, and a little drama, the perfect southern summer beach read! I finished it in a day, I couldn't put it down, such a wholesome lighter book which was just what I needed!!!

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a reissue of A Dad for Billie. I enjoyed the story of the tomboy Billie whose mother has returned to her hometown to reconcile with her former fiancé. It is a story of reconciliation, showing how difficult it can be to forgive past hurts.

[Laura Ensign · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lame and predictable

[Morgan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This story has been done so many times before. So boring… I didn’t even want to finish it but I had to. Do not recommend

[K H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this book. I didn’t read it under the original name for this book. I did find it as a good quick book.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was probably the worst book I ever read / listened too. First of all Adam is an abusive pr*ck and Jane is type 5 clinger. Their romance is trash and the sex scenes were horrid

[Rosanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Predictable quick romance novel. Jane leaves Adam at the altar and returns 8 years later with their daughter.