We chat with author R.S. Grey about Our Secret Summer, which is a swoony escape to the beaches of Ibiza, where 20-something Isabel De Vere falls for an off-limits millionaire club owne
Hi, R.S.! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! I’m Rachel, longtime reader and author. I dreamed of being an author long before I actually did it. Like many, I went to school for a much different (more serious) route and ended up writing at night and in my spare time. I imagined my first story in 2011 and I’ve been writing ever since. I love love stories.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I fell in love with reading in high school. I remember holing up in my room all day during the summer months, tearing through books in one sitting.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Harry Potter was the book when I was in elementary school. I remember reading the books in the fourth grade and I felt so connected to Harry because I was his same age as each of the subsequent books were released in the United States.
- The one that made you want to become an author: There was no one book but there was a group of popular young adult authors writing in the early 2000s (like Rachel Hawthorne). I was walk into Barnes and Noble and find their books on a specific endcap. Their covers were colourful, illustrated, and simple. They were all stories of late teens finding themselves through adventurous love stories. I ate them up! I think these books really got me inspired to write a story of my own.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Your latest novel, Our Secret Summer, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Warm, sincere, funny, daring, indulgent
What can readers expect?
On the surface this story is a fast-paced beach read. But below the glittery island setting, I delved into complex themes of grief and identity, the weight of family expectations, and the guilt that can come with carving your own path in life.
Where did the inspiration for Our Secret Summer come from?
I’ve always been enamored with the island of Ibiza! I mean how many iconic pop songs feature this island?! The idea of a sun-drenched locale, in the middle of the summer, packed with young people looking to have fun and escape their normal lives.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
It was really fun to flesh out all of the side characters that Isabel meets working at Aura. She has friends from all over Europe and beyond and I loved creating her posse of friends.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
My struggle with writing this book was born more out of how startling different it was compared to where I was act mentally and physically in my real life. I worked on the first draft of this story while I was pregnant with my third daughter. I was looking for an escape (and easy breezy island day) as much as the main character!
What’s next for you?
Another summer romance! There’s something so special about characters setting off to parts unknown! I love exploring new settings and researching fun destinations.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
The Land and Its People by David Sedaris comes out later this month and I can’t contain my excitement. His books are such an absolute pleasure to read. I comb through them so slowly because there’s so much nuance in every sentence. He’s one of my all-time favorite writers.
