Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Rosie is living in the cottage that her parents lived in, on Arran. When her relationship ends, she decides to stay there and make it her home. Her friend Isobel, is coming to visit and they’ve known each other for years.

When Isobel’s daughter reads a diary she tracks down Luke, thinking he’s her father. They travel to Arran and when they meet Rosie and Isobel, it’s not the outcome Bella had hoped for.

Luke is a singer and he knows Rosie from when they met years ago.

Ben arrives afterwards and he and Bella begin to get on well together.

Then another friend of Rosie’s and Isobel’s arrives and suddenly the identity of Bella’s dad is cleared and the reasons for the secret revealed.

I recommend this book.

🌸 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 🌸
𝟑,𝟓 ⭐

This is a story about three women — a mother, her daughter, and a close friend — each carrying hidden pain and long-kept secrets. After a painful divorce, one of them returns to a peaceful island 🏝️ hoping to heal, joined by her supportive but secretive friend. Meanwhile, the daughter discovers an old diary 📖 that leads her to the island, searching for answers about her father. As they confront the past, they find unexpected truths, second chances, and the quiet strength of starting over. 🌿

⚠️ Content Warnings

• Divorce & emotional trauma
• Secrets about parentage
• Family conflict
• Cheating (emotional)
• Grief & past regrets

💫 Tropes

💔 Second chance romance
💞 Friends to lovers
📖 Hidden diary / old secret
🏝️ Small town / summer escape
👩‍👧‍👧 Three generations of women
🔍 Search for identity / lost parent
💬 Best friends with buried secrets
🌅 Self-discovery in a quiet place


This was a gentle and easy-to-read story, filled with family drama and emotional depth. I really enjoyed the cozy and peaceful atmosphere of Arran — it honestly made me wish I could escape to a place like that myself. 🌺

I loved Rosie’s character; her strength and courage after her husband’s betrayal were inspiring. Watching her reconnect with someone from her past — someone who truly shares her interests — was so heartwarming. 💖

Bella's story broke my heart. 💔 Her desperate search to know who her father is felt raw and real, and I couldn’t help but feel for her every step of the way. I also found her connection with Ben sweet and touching — I just wish there had been a few more scenes to develop their relationship further. 🥺

Overall, this was a lovely emotional journey — perfect for readers who enjoy stories about family secrets, second chances, and healing. 🌼

Bella's found something she thinks will help her find out the identity of her father and she's arrived on Aran to confront her mother Isobel. Rosie was planning to spend a quiet summer healing a bit from her divorce. She was looking forward to spending time with her friend Isobel but she was not prepared for the drama Bella's bringing. This is a tale of old secrets and friendship. There's also a bit of romance. There's also Aran. I love a story set on Aran. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's an easy enjoyable read.

A book takes you to another place, and this place was darling!!!! I could not put it down. The characters were precious. I loved every page.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for this ARC.

This is Scottish Romances Book 5 and while I have only read one other book in the series I'm confident this can be read as a standalone.

The Isle of Arran is popular - first Rosie travels there after her divorce to stay in her parents' old cottage, then her friend Isobel arrives to keep her company. The kids, Isobel's daughter Bella and Rosie's son Ben aren't far behind. Bella is looking for her biological Dad, but gets some facts wrong, which causes her to bring singer Luke along who has old ties to Rosie.

This is a sweet, clean, inoffensive, fluffy summer read about friendship and second chances. Good if you want to switch your brain off with a quick, light-hearted, feel-good book in which the romances are slow burn and nothing much happens, just a summer by the sea.

3.5 stars

At the center of the story are Rosie, Isobel, and Bella—three women, each navigating a turning point in their lives. Rosie arrives on Arran after a painful divorce, hoping the island—and her family’s old cottage—can offer the peace she’s been craving. Isobel, her lifelong friend, joins her, but brings with her long-held secrets that slowly begin to surface. And Bella, Isobel’s daughter, driven by a desire to uncover the truth about her father, finds more than just answers when she follows a hidden trail that leads her to Arran—and possibly to love. Each woman’s journey feels personal and layered, exploring themes like identity, loyalty, and the long shadows cast by the past. The relationships—especially between Rosie and Isobel—are lovingly crafted, showing how friendship can both withstand and be tested by time and truth.

Though there are romantic threads in the story, this novel is primarily about personal rediscovery. The love stories are subtle and tender, complementing the characters’ emotional growth rather than dominating it. The inclusion of mature characters navigating romance later in life adds depth and a welcome layer of realism.

What makes the story even more special is its setting. The Isle of Arran is almost a character in its own right—evocative, peaceful, and quietly transformative. Henderson brings the island to life with vivid descriptions, making it an ideal backdrop for a story rooted in reflection and renewal.

One of the key plot points—Bella’s discovery of a hidden diary—adds a bit of mystery and momentum to the narrative, though some readers might find it slightly far-fetched. Still, it serves its purpose, unlocking long-buried truths and setting the characters on their respective paths to healing.

This is a tender, multi-generational story about healing, forgiveness, and the unbreakable bonds between women. Rich in atmosphere and heart, this novel is the perfect summer escape—ideal for fans of women’s fiction that blends emotional depth with a hopeful tone. This is a beautifully written, emotionally satisfying novel about starting over, finding closure, and the courage it takes to face the truth.

Ellie Henderson is a beautiful writer. i cannot give enough justice to just how wonderful her writing is. her writing style, the stories she tells are just big warm hugs of joy. i could happily read them over and over and to be honest she cant publish fast enough for how much i want to read her work!
this one is once again a perfect addition to what im sure must be a proud shelf of her work. i hope she has them on display for all to see, because they are just brilliant. from the cover, and all the way through the book you are just overjoyed to keep coming back to read it. and you feel a little book loss when it ends.
i enjoyed getting to know every aspect of Rosie,Isobel and Bella's stories. non overshadowed the other and you both learnt of them as a group but also there own stories in equal beautiful measure.
i felt the complications that could arise from a certain story and unexpected guest and found how things played out totally relatable but also real. it didn't feel like it was either glossed over or softly done. this felt like we were seeing real woman, real friendships and real love play out. with of course some wonderful Arran and Henderson charm. the deep friendship vibes that are given off the pages are such a brilliant thing to read about. i felt like it truly did touch the heart of what friendship is and means. there are layers to each character and i felt they were each given the detail and time they deserved and i never felt confused or like i didn't know what or how was being spoken about.
can someone please now allow me my own trip to Arran. a guest, or to be adopted into the community by someone? anyone?
this was such a warming and cosy read. loved it. and a great addition to this series but can easily be read as a standalone. i do advice you go and read the others though, you wont regret choosing to do so.

Back again to the island of Arran for another visit.
Rosie loves living on the island in the cottage once belonging to her parents but when unexpectedly life throws her a curveball her future seems unsure. Her friend Isobel and her daughter Bella come to stay but they to have their own secrets.
With friends old and new this addition to the Arran family is as usual fantastic.

Rosie goes to arran after a divorce, Isobel, her best friend comes to help her. very sweet story about friendship and second chances.

I have read all the titles in this series, and this latest instalment was a solid addition to the series. It's a very safe read, as not a lot happens, aside from the initial reason Luke goes to Arran. As others have said, there is less scenic description in this story than there was in the other books. The characters were nice, as they always are. There was some romance but it was all very polite and perhaps lacking in a bit of emotion. There was lots of coffee and cake! Loved the little dog. I would continue reading this series, if there are any more instalments, but I have to say this one was my least favourite out of them all so far. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have been loving this series, the only thing that would make it better would be more interaction with characters from the previous books (mostly just because I like getting to catch up with characters I have met before). The idea of finding love in the last place you expected works really well here, even if the events that bring Luke to Arran could be considered a little over-the-top. The only reason that part really worked was because Luke was so desperate to get away from where he was when Bella found him. When it is realized that Bella had actually found Rosie's diaries you could almost feel how embarrassed everyone involved in the situation was. I liked that Rosie and Luke did not just fall right into romance and instead have a chance to reconnect as grown-ups rather than jumping right back where they had left off as young adults. That also made sense for both of them as their last serious relationships had both ended in betrayal (with Rosie's obviously being a fresher wound). I also really enjoyed following Bella's story from searching to find out the truth about her father to starting a new professional life and leaving behind everything she had known. Reconnecting with Ben after having grown apart was also really sweet. What I appreciate the most about this series is that the author does not lean into melodrama and instead just gives you stories that unfold in a natural way and characters to whom one can relate.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I couldn't put this book down – absolutely loved it.

The only problem with this series set in Arran is that each book makes me want to go to Arran a little bit more. This one is a great split between Rosie, an older woman reeling from being divorced by her cheating husband, and Bella, a younger woman who has always longed to know who her father is. A forgotten diary brings the two stories together and romance follows. Not only a great read but leaves us on the brink of the next book in the series and Isobel’s story

I adore Brotish wonens fiction. The setting is gorgeous. The characters become uojr friends and duou become heavily invested in the changes they are making to their lives. Well-]llotted and inventive. Adored it.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

An easy, pleasant summer read. I've read all of the series so far and this is probably my least favourite although it was still an enjoyable read.

What a lovely summer read! I enjoyed every moment of Rosie, Isobel, and Bella’s stories.

A Summer of Secrets on Arran is a summer romance filled with deep friendship, and a dash of mystery. Ellie Henderson does this so well!

If only I could take a trip to Arran and visit with everyone. The romantic aspect of the book was well developed, and the male characters written in a way that made me really like them. I felt connected to everyone throughout the book, which can be hard to do when there are layers to each character!

Thank you to Choc Lit/Joffe Books for the ARC via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

I just finished a great book. A Summer of Secrets on Arran by Ellie Henderson is available soon. Pick it up! You won’t regret it.

I would give this a solid 4.5 stars. I haven't read any of the previous books in this series, but it is my understanding that these are interconnected standalones. I am now tempted to go back and read the first four books. This book was so easy to read and left me feeling happy and cozy. I loved the setting and became fully invested in the characters. I do wish that the romances had a little more depth to them/that more time and focus had been spent on detailing how the relationships went from friendships to romantic relationships. I felt there was a lack of romantic dialogue. It seemed like more of a character study and novel about family drama on an island with a side of romance. I did appreciate the representation of people in their 50s finding love again as well as the story containing two love stories rather than just one.

I was intimidated by there being so many characters at the beginning, but Henderson did a wonderful job of describing each of them as well as making them unique and memorable.. I loved the short chapters. The writing style was lovely and very easy to consume. I found one plot point a bit fantastical, (How L arrives at Arran) but I suppose it is a story after all and not real life. I loved learning about the families and Arran. This would make a fantastic beach read.

Although the storyline of A Summer of Secrets On Arran is solid enough the character's dialog isn't. At times it was written overly formal and came off feeling stilted. It felt more like the way titled English converse than old friends who are Scots. There wasn't any sense of casual familiarity with each other, which one would expect after having known each other for decades.

The characters themselves were a bit one dimensional as well. They never really came alive upon the pages and I didn't feel as if they were fully developed. One wants to feel as if they live through the characters experiences, that you actually know them. Or at least want to. However, the lack of emotional depth simply failed to create the connection necessary for that to occur.

The world building lacked atmosphere as well. You truly didn't get the sense of where in the world the novel took place. There was nothing about it that conveyed the sense of "Scottish Island". Where was the charm unique to the sense of place? It felt generic, just an island, nowhere in particular. I love a novel which makes you feel as if you're there, which evokes such a strong sense of place you feel as if you'd know it anywhere. This didn't accomplish that for me.

Again, the storyline itself was solid. The execution was lacking, unfortunately.

A sweet story about second chances and revealing secrets. I enjoyed the various characters and their stories. A lovely story with a beautiful setting.