3.5 Stars
This is my first time reading anything by this author, and It was entertaining, and enjoyable. This is the first book in the Cruel Summer series, and the story of Marlon, and Ray. Secretly crushing on Marlon in private, Ray, and her friends would torment Marlon, bullying him in public. Now years later, Ray, and Marlon's paths cross, but Marlon is not the same boy her use to be, and he's looking for revenge. This was a great read, ends on a cliffhanger, and we have so much more to learn about Ray, and I want to explore more of the chemistry these 2 characters have, I look forward to reading the next in the series.

This is definitely a fun summer read with such great characters. I found that Rachel Van Dyken books are really fast reads.

***I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Van Dyken and Social Butterfly PR.***

Summer Heat, by Rachel Van Dyken, is a enemies-to-lovers story. Ray and Marlo went to high school together. She was rich and privileged; he was the son of the help. Ray ignores him following one night together and he never forgives her for it. Years later they cross paths at a summer camp which Marlo runs. The hatred and resentment is still there, but so is the attraction and passion.

The hatred in this story was so real that I struggled to make sense of the passionate side of their relationship. Both characters had so much baggage and the way the treated one another was not only unprofessional but often mean and cruel. Their intimate moments felt almost wrong to me; I couldn’t understand how they put their hatred aside and be vulnerable with the other. I tried really hard to understand the depth of Marlo’s pain, but his reaction to and negative feelings toward Ray seemed exaggerated.

I liked that the book was short. The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger so I’ll definitely read the next book, hoping to find understanding.

I am so happy that this is book one in a series! Rachel Van Dyken writes amazing chemistry between two people that you wouldn’t think would have chemistry. I loved every page of this one and am anxiously awaiting book two.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

I had high hopes for this book as I read the authors other work but for some reason this one fell flat. I DNFed it by 20%. I may look for other work from the author as she has some hits for me.

I feel like this author writes the same stories repeatedly. I would love to see her write something different.

This is a fun, sexy, quick yet highly entertaining summer adventure filled with a great enemies to so much more journey that will have you laughing out loud and emotional all at the same time... Loved this fun and romantic adventure.

I received this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I did not thoroughly read the description, selecting this book because I’ve heard great things about the author Rachel Van Dyken. I started this book and was disappointed when the prologue references the princess. My first thought was oh, this is going to be corny and cliche. Boy was I wrong. The read was quick and entertaining. The story draws you in because the author has mastered tension building. So glad I selected this book and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

This is mixed bag, is it seconds chances, unrequited love, revenge against the one who wronged you... I'm still not sure where Marlon and Ray fit together. And you likely won't know either as this is a super short glimpse into what appears to be a three book (read novella) series. Likely to be redistributed as a full length novel at some point.
Yet the power has turned to Marlon, who was the orphaned boy to Ray's rich girl. And they have two months to figure things out at Drama camp. But things aren't always as they seem and neither of them can see past the hate to see the hurt. But the store are combustible.

"I had no self-control when it came to him. Maybe I never did. Because even all those years ago. I'd always wanted him to want me."

I fell into the Rachel Van Dyken vortex. I just saw her name on the cover and stopped thinking, started clicking. She never disappoints and I wanted a taste of her word wizardry.

I devoured Summer Heat from start to finish without realizing it was a trilogy. You should have seen my face when I got to the last page and tried to turn it, repeatedly. Yeah, I'm sure it was funny. Dont' get me wrong, I'm not complaining. I loved every word. I could smell the campfire and taste the marshmallow on the end of my stick. I enjoyed the hell out of being at summer camp. I was very entertained by the colorful support characters. I felt the sexual tension between the sworn enemies and couldn't wait for them to give in to their lust.

I can't wait to get my hands on Summer Seduction. The line forms here...

Provided kindly with an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review......

I very much enjoy Rachel's work so went into this read quite optimistic !!!. Rachel did not disappoint !!!. Ray and Marlon have quite the complex history......surface wise, its your rich family employing the help and the don't get along !! - UNDERSTATEMENT!!.
There was a lovely thread of unrequited puppy love on the part of Ray.....was that why it was doomed or were other forces at work ?!!!!.
We fast forward int adulthood and Marlon is no longer the same skinny youth. He is in a job of authority and when his and Ray's paths cross again he seems hell bent on making her life hell.....but why?.
I hate cliff hangers but I must admit I am intrigued to see where their story goes.
Very good frenemies story line.....role on book 2. I certainly be there....kindle at the ready xx

Many thanks for this opportunity. Well done Rachel....great read. 5 " I want you two to work out so bad Stars" from me x
Later Peeps xx

You’re freaking kidding me!!!!! That was the most unpredictable cliffhanger ever!!!! I mean I did not see that coming!!!!!! I am dying. Now wait another month for the other two books to come to Sri Lanka? Nice I would forget the whole story by then -.- I started not liking the book cuz I really couldn’t sympathize with Ray. Like Marlo I felt like she had everything and made no sense that she stole his scholarship but by the end I felt like there’s something more to her family. Now I’m dying to know the rest. God give me the strength till the books are delivered to my doorstep

I really enjoyed this well written Y/A romance by one of my favourite authors. Ray and Marlo (aka Marlon) grew up together in the same large mansion/rich person's estate. He was the foster son of a maid and she was the spoiled 'Princess' of the family. They meet again after four years - at an acting summer camp (as staff) - and sparks literally fly. This is a slow burn romance, with flashbacks to the one night they spent together as the driving force behind their attraction. I loved their push pull relationship and their banter and also reading about the camp - it was extremely fun and interesting. This is the first part of a trilogy and I will be reading the other two parts asap, because I love the story and I want to know what happens!! All three instalments are now available on Amazon/KU. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. 4.5 stars.

I normally love RVD's stuff, but I tried three or so times and just couldn't get into this one. I might come back to it later and try again. It just really didn't hold my interest the way her writing normally does!

Summer Heat is a modern-day Dirty Dancing story. Boy and Girl meet. The boy is from the wrong side of the tracks. Boy and Girl are attracted to each other even though they know its a bad idea. Tension and hijinx ensue. Rachel Van Dyken pulls off this new adult story flawlessly, with just the right amount of angst to be appropriate for this age group, but without being frustrating to get through as a reader. This book ends with enough of a cliffhanger you will definitely want to read the next... and then the next... and you will not be disappointed.

I died. This was such a great book. The perfect quick read for summer time, I was excited once I learned this was the first book in a series!
Incredibly well written with a story that keeps you on your seat at all points in the book.

Can’t wait to see what the author does next

3.5*

Summer Heat was an angsty, but easy, read. It's building to a true frenemies-to-lovers story, but for now we're really just getting to know Marlon and Ray, and their history. Although we do get a bit of a pay-off at the end, we're left hanging just as things are about to get good! Or bad, really bad.
Marlon has such a deep-seated hatred for Ray, it's making me sad for him. But she isn't the spoiled little rich girl he once thought, her life is not all sunshine and rainbows as he's assumed.
Things really aren't what they seem with these two, and I'm very interested in learning more about both of them. I want to know more about them as teens, what happened in the time between them graduating high school, what led them to where they are now. I can't wait to get more answers!

I loved this book from start to finish. It's the perfect story of falling in love with someone that has a completely different background. Love comes at the strangest times. It has no prejudice. It doesn't matter if you are rich, poor or from mars you can't control who you fall in love with. The writing was perfect and I loved the pace of the book. I can't wait to read the next installment to see what path these characters take in their lives.

Be prepared for a cliffhanger, as this is the first in a series. This is enemies to lovers and second chance wrapped up into one story. Both Marlo and Ray were interested in the other in high school. The only problem: she was popular and had everything he didn't. Just when he thought things were changing, she proved to him that he was right about her all the long. What he didn't and still doesn't know is that her life wasn't what everyone believed.
When she shows up at the camp that he is the lead of, roles are reversed. His friends and coworkers all talk him into getting revenge by making her fall for him and dumping her. He decides he is going to, but as he starts hanging out with her more, he realizes that those old feelings haven't really died.
Ms. Van Dyken knows how to weave a story together so you don't know who you are rooting for to have the final laught. All I know for sure is that I understood both points of view when they were in high school and I can even understand Marlo's frustration years later. I can't wait to see how Marlo and Ray come back from the cliffhanger, or if they can.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.

I don’t know about you guys, but I love getting lost in an RVD read. And Summer Heat needs to be added to your TBR asap, it’s part 1 of her Cruel Summer series, they’re all short reads and you’ll devour every single one.

RVD’s Cruel Summer series is finally making its way to Kindle Unlimited, when she first released these to iBooks, I was a bit bummed out about it. And snagged my mom’s ipad for a day to get through this series. Now that they’re on KU, I’m doing a re-read and just loving Ray and Marlon’s story even more this time around.

I know that it’s being categorized as a bullying romance, but it didn’t feel like one to me. Or maybe I just have my definition of a bully romance all wrong. It’s definitely a strong enemies-to-lovers. These two have a lot of history stemming from when they were just kids. She grew up with the silver spoon in her mouth and lived the life many would dream about. And he was their lawn boy … and none of Ray’s friends made it easy for him. But they shared the best night together, only to have things go wayward not long afterwards.

I remember seeing this in a previous review, but their history is essentially “young kids doing stupid things”, the hate and regret carried on for years. And these two are thrown back into each other’s lives again.

No matter what they currently feel towards each other, I’ve never seen so much hate coming off of Marlon like it does whenever he runs into Ray. Seeing her again, he just wants to make her life a living hell. And we all know that love and hate are strong feelings, which just fuels the indefinite passion between them.

Yes, Ray may have grown up getting everything she wanted, but when it comes to someone to truly love and cherish her. It was something she never had, not even from her parents. And Marlon is in for a rude awakening when he realizes revenge isn’t so sweet after all, especially when it comes to obliterating someone’s heart.

I can’t recommend this read enough and it’s definitely one of my favorite series from RVD! So, are you ready for a little enemies-to-romance and a whole lot of angst?! And of course, the crazy fire blazing between these two? Totally worth the read!