I wasn’t fully sure what to expect when I picked this up but I’ve always heard good things about Rachel’s books and I can now see why.

This is written in a dual time perspective, split between the current day and 1976. With this I feel like you get drawn into the story more as you are uncovering the truth at the same time as the character. I really liked reading all of Alice’s chapters as they transported you back to another era where things were so different, mostly though I just loved how much she shone through the pages, you could tell just how happy Tristan made her and how happy they were together.

Olivia was raised by her grandparents after both of her parents died in a tragic car accident - or that’s what she’s always been told. When some photos are revealed a few days after Olivia’s gran dies from a stroke it seems that not everything she’s been told is the truth.

This book will have you hooked from the get go and you will want to find out the truth just as much as Olivia. It can get a bit emotional at times but there were also lots of light happy moments that made me smile giving the book a really nice balance. I have to say that I didn’t see the surprise at the end of the book coming again lol though - wow!

The Secrets of Summer House begins with Olivia finding out that her Grandmother Mary just passed away. Olivia was raised by her grandparents and was led to believe that both of her parents died in a car accident. Shortly after Mary’s death, Olivia discovers an envelope with her name on it. The envelope contains several pictures of her parents, and she soon learns that her mom didn’t die in the car accident. Olivia then sets out to unravel the mystery of what happened to her mother.

This was such an emotional and touching story. The emotions just poured out of the pages. I really enjoyed reading this one and look forward to reading more from this author.

Rachel Burton does an amazing job of blending together the two storylines of Olivia and Alice. Both are so interesting on their own they could have been their own book. Alice's is a little tough to read because you know her romance is not going to have the happy ending that we always want for our characters. I loved watching Alice and Tristan's love story unfold. Her struggles after losing Tristan break your heart because you can understand why she felt so overwhelmed and useless as a mother. I really liked Olivia and how level-headed she remained about everything. She has moments of feeling betrayed, lied to, abandoned, and poorly treated but she thinks things through before reacting. I also really liked that the author didn't have a storyline that her husband was unfaithful. It just seems like so many books these days think that all marriages with stresses and troubles result in infidelity - the fact that Olivia and Jacob's marriage wasn't perfect but they (mostly him with all of his traveling) never even looked at someone that way was actually quite refreshing. And the fact that they actually talked about what was wrong was something you don't get to see in a look of stories. I loved how supportive each of the couples in the story were - those are the types of relationships we should all strive for.

I thought this was a beautifully written story and was much more emotive than i expected with some truly heartwrenching moments within the book. I really liked the plotline and I found the characters relatable and likeable. I really enjoyed it.

after alice's husband dies in a car wreck she takes their baby daughter to summer house her husbands family home, and leaves the baby. olivia, belives her mother was killed in the car wreck with her father, years later olivia comes across letters that led her to believe her that is not the case

Beautifully written dual timeline book (that was easy to follow) packed with intrigue & feeling.
When Olivia's grandmother dies she returns to the large manor house that she had spent her childhood in and it starts to reveal its secrets. Unsettling revelations from Olivia's husband's father regarding her parents emerge and so much is thrown in to question.
Through present day events and flashbacks to her mother's time in Cambridge, you start to be able to piece together a timeline of passion, love, tragedy and grief, and a lifetime of secrets and struggles are revealed.
There were many well-crafted characters in this book and with a hint of the Gothic with the locked rooms, rose garden and woods of Summer House, as well as the sweltering summer heatwave, I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent in this story.

The Secrets of Summer House was definitely an emotional read for me that kept me reading from the beginning. Without giving too much away of the story's plot, Olivia discovers letters and news that changes her life forever. She had always been told both of her parents passed away in a tragic car accident, but now she is left questioning everything she has ever known. Olivia's story follows how she puts all the puzzle pieces together to solve this family mystery for her past. We also follow the story of Alice in 1976 and her romance and journey with Tristan.

I really liked reading the two different timelines and perspectives in the book. Both stories were compelling and the character's stories were complex. The story does dive into many deeper topics - grief, mental health, family, and relationships. Summer House was also a fun setting for this book, as there was so much history to the house. Though I enjoyed this book, I felt it was a fast read and it wrapped up a little bit quickly for me and wish I had some more from the ending.

Had basically no idea what this book was about before reading it. I enjoyed the dual perspectives of both women. However I didn't like either of the characters and didn't feel connected to them. The middle took way to long to get to the point and was repetitive. I wish there was a better ending. It's an interesting perfective on grief and motherhood.

A chance remark at a birthday party, and some long hidden photographs is all it takes for everything Olivia believed about her life to be thrown into question. But as pieces of the jigsaw slot into place, does she really want to know the answer. Once you know, you can never un-know...

This author appears to have a love of long, hot British summers (yes, there have been some!) and here she manages to entwine two of the most memorable in this beautiful tale of love, grief, loss and discovery. Ordinarily I'm not a fan of dual timelines as it can be hard to know where you are, but the two stories are handled so deftly and written so much in sync, that you never get lost or confused - merely kept on tenterhooks!

Get yourself a long, cold drink (or a tall, hot one depending on your weather) and escape to heady heat of 1976 and 2018 and find out what secrets are hidden at Summer House.

Thanks to Head of Zeus, Aria and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

After the death of her beloved grandmother Olivia suddenly finds herself to be not the person she thought she was. Does the Summer House hold the key? Best read it to find out!

Beautifully written book by Rachel Burton. I’ve read some of her stories, and this one doesn’t disappoint. Olivia’s grandmother dies, and with it the family history. Except - there was a photo of what is believed to be Olivia’s parents, who supposedly died when she was young. Olivia does a deep dig into a search of the truth, and unravels quite a mystery as to exactly what happened, and why she was lied to. The dual timeline works very well here. Subjects of betrayal, trust, and mental health are examined during the search. Highly recommend this lovely story.
Thank you to Netgalley, Ms. Burton, and publishers Head of Zeus, Aria, for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a lovely read, gentle and calming. The dual time line was good bringing together present and past seamlessly. The writing transported you to all the places and you felt you were part of Summer House. The characters were interesting and memorable. I will look at other books by Rachel in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Head of Zeus, Aria for an Arc in exchange for an honest opinion

Thank you to Head of Zeus, Aria and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

Wow! I loved this book! This is my first read by Rachel Burton, but I would like to read more. This story hooked me right from the beginning with lots of memorable characters. I liked the dual timeline and the way the author wove them together. I also thought the cover of the book was beautiful! This was just a great, heartwarming story!

What a delightful tale to read. As a Brit living in Virginia I can certainly relate to the stifling heat of summer that the characters lived through during the summers of 1976 and 2003 (remembered that one,). The settings were close to home for me and I loved reading about Cambridge and Suffolk - loved the shoutout to Kentwell Hall later in the book.
Burton doesn’t shy away from the tough topics and tackled grief, mental health and abandonment extremely well. Olivia was a little timid for me but I suppose she had led a very sheltered life at Summer House and was almost academically institutionalized at Cambridge University as a librarian. I think I preferred the best friends of both main characters - Stella and Tash. Both feisty, and loyal and very capable of getting stuff done. My kind of ladies,
This is the perfect book to read under a beautiful old tree, on a lazy summer day with a generous glass of G&T.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

The quality of the writing made this dual timeline novel stand out from the crowd, transporting the reader to a series of long, hot summers and a friendship group that contains too many secrets. A gentle, optimistic read

Unusual story about life unravelling after the death of her gran. Olivia finds out a few things that changes everything. A good story where you really want Olivia to find out the truth. Engaging and enjoying. Thank you netgalley for the advance copy.

I tried really hard to like this one but I swear I just couldn’t get through it! I seem to be in the minority so maybe it’s just the timing and that’s why it didn’t hold my attention,

I will chop this down to my lack of success with this book being my own fault; try as I might, I could not bring myself to care about either main character & found their dialogue to be underdeveloped, boring & vapid. I wanted to like bother characters but found Alice to be far more developed than Olivia, whom I felt incredibly annoyed about. The back-forth about 'obstacles' was not my cup of tea & I really felt as though the novel could have left ahead through much of what felt like pointless jargon for us to actually get to the girth of the plot.
Regardless, I can understand & appreciate that many people who enjoy the romance genre would find fulfillment in this book.

I received an ARC, of The Secrets of Summer House, by Rachel Burton. This is a good book, with all the feels. Going back and forth over generations at Summer House.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I have really enjoyed all this authors books and this was one of the best. Great storyline, great characters and set in a lovely location. Would recommend to others.