May Cobb is one of the best domestic thrillers writers ever to pick up a pen. She never disappoints and I'm always hanging on her every word.

The Hunting Wives was amongst my favourite reads last year so this was easily one of my most anticipated books and it did not disappoint!

Told from multiple POVs and even some intriguing diary entries, it was very entertaining to observe the juicy neighbourhood drama from all the different angles!

I wouldn’t classify this one as a thriller alone, but I’d say it definitely can be categorized as a sexy thriller! I even saw someone call it a “Soapy Thriller” and I’ve never seen anything so perfect! It gave me total Real Housewives vibes with a cast of truly devious and conniving woman! These woman were honestly despicable but I enjoy a good love to hate lead and this one had three! All aboard the hot mess express, but in a good way! 😉

If you’re looking to satisfy a guilty pleasure, this fun and wicked read is for you! I can’t wait to see what Cobb comes up with next!

This novel was very entertaining but goodness gracious these ladies are messed up! I really enjoyed the book but I couldn’t help but feel like I was wrapped up in a bad episode of real housewives! There were some parts the were pretty slow and then the last 100 pages really picked up. I would recommend this if you’re a fan of high drama!

My Summer Darlings by May Cobb is a delicious domestic thriller set in a Texas neighborhood. A stranger rolls into town and completely disrupts what has been a quiet town. He stirs up trouble and jealousy and it all comes to a thrilling and satisfying end. Read and enjoy!

I read My Summer Darlings by May Cobb after falling head over heels for The Hunting Wives. She has a way of writing about Texas women in such a way that I want move in next door to raise a glass with them. This book has secrets, questionable behavior, lots of alcohol, friendships being tested, a hunky new neighbor, and a plot twist that will have saying… OMG!

Jen, Cynthia, and Kittie have been friends their whole lives. Their bond was slightly broken when Jen married and moved to Austin, but when her marriage broke down she moved back to her small Texas hometown and reconnected with her friends. The three friends are nearing 40 and each has a teen child. When a handsome new man, Will, moves into the neighborhood, the ladies begin to vie for his attention. While he is alternatively flirtatious and dismissive of each of them, eventually they discover that his gorgeous exterior might be hiding a dark secret. Told in alternating chapters from each woman's point of view, we get to see exactly how manipulative Will is. It's very exciting to try to work out just what is going on and if the women are all just lonely and bored or if he really is interested in a romantic attachment. The book begins with someone apparently injured and fearful, but we don't find out who that is until the fateful conclusion. The story is certainly a page-turner that holds the reader's interest. The only thing I had a slight problem with was how silly the three women came off, swooning and giggling and dissecting every word and look from Will. If you can set aside that small quibble, the book is a fast-paced and enjoyable read.

May Cobb, 'My Summer Darlings'
Women who do what they want – no matter the cost – populate Austinite May Cobb’s dishy, twisty thrillers, and “My Summer Darlings” (Berkley, $27) is no exception. Cobb sets her sultry new tale in East Texas, where a trio of friends grapples with their relationships with each other and their children. The arrival of swoony (very) bad boy Will Harding stretches their sometimes-tenuous bonds to a breaking point.

This isn't an easy review for me to write. I had difficulty pinning down my final thoughts on this book. My Summer Darlings has a bit of a desperate housewives vibe and I felt like I had the way this book was going to end all figured out.

This book has multiple unlikeable characters, short chapters, several narrators, and journal entries which keep the plot moving. If you are able to put aside rational thinking and logic and just read, then you will like this book. Some readers may have to get past certain aspects of this book. This would be perfect to read at the pool, relaxing on the deck for a weekend read, or at the beach.

I liked the ending with the way May Cobb left it kinda open, like what happens now.

I’m a sucker for May Cobb. She is my Queen of rich women behaving badly. I loved 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 and 𝐌𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 did not disappoint. Out of control neighbors, the kind of characters you love to hate, secrets, misdeeds and over the top, even controversial behavior! This kind of read isn’t for everyone but I find it thoroughly entertaining and I can’t wait to see what she brings us next.

https://www.tiktok.com/@bettysbooklist/video/7097704725142850858?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1&lang=en

My Summer Darlings is a solid beach read thriller with plenty of drama and an exploration of female friendship. Think Desperate Housewives. The story is soapy and set in a neighborhood featuring three lifelong friends when a sexy, mysterious new guy moves into the neighborhood and immediately intrigues the friend group. The plot is filled with unlikable characters, a heavy dose of drama, secrets, lies, and gossip. The friendship is intriguing to follow. There are plenty of twists throughout to keep readers glued to their seats. Highly recommended!! Be sure to check out My Summer Darlings today.

May Cobb has cemented her place as a must-read for summer thrillers, I have looked forward to them each year since starting bookstagram and could not wait to read MY SUMMER DARLINGS. I was approved for an eARC right before pub day and managed to hold out on reading it until I could sit poolside and devour it in a single sitting and I have NO regrets.

If you were a fan of THE HUNTING WIVES, Cobb nails female friendships and their dynamics again in her newest release and I was here for it. There's something about her characters that just speak to me, even when I have little in common with them. As a female, I think we ALL know someone in our life who reminds us of the stereotypes these characters are stemmed from, and Cobb adds in delicious, twisted plots that make me want to keep turning the pages to find out where it ends.

A stranger moving to town uproots the lives of three friends, as their childhood friendship is tested by his charming looks and deceitful ways.

The book kicks off near the end of the plot, and then dives into the story that gets us there, and even when you think you know, there is so much MORE to the story. Add in some steam, betrayal and family drama all in one small town and you have an incredible summer thriller.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing + NetGalley for the eARC to read and review, I think Cobb nailed another summer hit and I really enjoyed it, 4.5 stars for me.

MY SUMMER DARLINGS BOOK REVIEW

Drink rec: Texas Ranch Water
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Last summer, I really enjoyed The Hunting Wives so I couldn’t wait to pick up MY SUMMER DARLINGS this summer! This book revolves around three women who have been friends for years, live in a small Texas town, and love poolside happy hours filled with gossip. All is well until a new man moves into the neighborhood and causes all sorts of drama👀

This was a juicy popcorn thriller to read at the beach or pool and is perfect if you’re looking for a fast paced book to devour in a day or two. That being said, I felt like it lacked some substance and I preferred The Hunting Wives over this book because it was a bit more scandalous and shocking in my opinion.

Thank you to @berkleypub for my gifted copy!

Ahhhh, the age-old question of "whose zoomin' who"???? In the case of this hoity toity East Texas neighborhood, allllllll of the gals have their sights set on new addition Will. And he’s more than willing to accommodate. But of course there’s more to the new neighbor than just his pretty face, hot bod and sexual proclivity.

I was soooooo excited to land a copy of this new release after last year’s <i>The Hunting Wives</i>. I am all about “Desperate Housewives” kind of drama and May Cobb delivered just that in her previous offering. Unfortunately, this was a total fail for me. There’s farfetched and over-the-top and then there’s this. Not great, Bob.

My Summer Darlings was an easy and engaging read to pick up during our fast paced spring.
⁣
The twists were bold and I liked the mix of friendships, drama and mysterious neighbor! This book is a soapy neighborhood drama on steroids, and author May Cobb doesn't hold back.

Unlikeable characters mixed with drama and secrets you have to unravel as you go. This book is juicy to it's core and also might not be for everyone...so heads up there!

I find Cobb's writing to be escape reading at it's finest and it makes your life seem quite calm and peaceful when you compare, LOL.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my gifted copy to read and review. All thoughts are my own.

May Cobb can write an addicting story, I will give her that, but something about both this book and The Hunting Wives just has not sat well with me. The stories are unputdownable because they are such a train wreck. There is a time and place for that, and I enjoy that aspect. Where the author has gone wrong for me both times is how she portrays women and mothers. It’s pretty disappointing to read about all these women who “have it all” and are constantly drunk, horrible wives and mother, and making disgusting choices. I think there is a better way to write and additive story without portraying women in such a negative light. There’s not a single character in this book that I liked.

I really enjoyed last year's The Hunting Wives even though it was a little fantastical and insane, it was a fun ride. My Summer Darlings just didn't do it for me. First, about half the book is just porn. Not what folks are calling steamy these days, but outright porn. It was too over the top and too unnecessary to the plot. We could have had the same build of drama without it being so graphic. A few times I wanted to DNF but I was interested in figuring out who the girl in the woods was so instead, I skimmed *those* scenes and some of the catty bickering. I'd say now that I've finished it, it wasn't worth it. I didn't get the explanation I wanted in the end.

Just because I didn't love this one, doesn't mean you won't but go in knowing what to expect. Lots of gratuitous sex and violence.

Thanks to Netgalley for advanced access to this novel. All opinions above are my own.

I just don’t think this author is one for me. DNF’d her previous book because of inappropriate relationships between an adult and a teenager. This one is a DNF from sheer boredom.

I really liked The Hunting Wives but this was just so far fetched - one guy everyone lusted after who turned out to be a psycho. And they continued to lust after him when he was gone. The women were shallow, entitled, and were childhood friends, I wouldn’t want any of them for my friend. This almost was a DNF but I wanted to find out who was in the forest. Not a book I’ll recommend.

I loved the Hunting Wives and just could not get into this book. With multiple POVs and then no warning on the pedophilia I truly struggled with this book.