Thank you #NetGalley for the eARC of #CruelSummer by Maisey Yates!

Cruel Summer is a surprisingly hopeful story about what happens when the life you carefully built suddenly crumbles.

At first, I was just as stunned as Samantha was. Her husband, Will, asking for an open marriage after decades together? WTF. The separation they agree on feels desperate, and honestly, I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that kind of emotional chaos. But what Cruel Summer does so beautifully is walks you through the mess — the confusion, the anger, the ache — without ever losing sight of the possibility that sometimes change is not always bad. Samantha’s unexpected road trip with Logan, Will’s best friend (of all people?), becomes the catalyst for her to rediscover herself outside of her roles as wife and mother. I loved watching Sam slowly come back to life, peeling back the layers she’s built up over the years. The connection between her and Logan is slow-burn, a little prickly, and so genuine it sneaks up on you — just like real life.

That said, there were a few stretches where the inner monologue got repetitive and the pacing slowed, especially during the more scenic parts of the road trip. I also found myself wishing we had a little more depth from Logan’s perspective—he was fascinating, but I wanted to know even more about what was going on inside that grumpy exterior. Still, by the time summer ends, I was fully invested. Samantha’s journey isn’t just about finding new love — it’s about finding herself.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Cruel Summer by Maisey Yates is the story of Samantha, whose husband rocks her world when he asks to have an open marriage. While she wants to keep her family together and her husband happy, she proposes a separation for the summer, which allows her to reflect upon her marriage herself, and what's important in life. Overall, I really liked this book and the premise was very different from other "romance" books I've read. I would suggest this to readers looking for an opportunity to think of relationships in a different way, while keeping an open mind and remembering that at the end of the day, you need to be happiest with yourself before all others.

Thank you to the author, Maisey Yates, Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Samantha is a character I can get behind. When her husband suggests an open marriage my heart sank for her.

What should have been a book about her “overcoming” things I think was more about finding herself in this odd situation and discovering her identity without needing her husband attached to her.

Yes, some dialogue was a bit redundant but overall I enjoyed watching their journey. You have to be open to the idea that not everyone has the same idea of marriage and it can evolve while still loving each other.

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I’m heavy on monogamy and these relationships have me the ick from the beginning. There is a very particular audience this book is written for.

Samantha’s husband has asked for an open marriage and she decided they should separate for the summer where she ends up spending a road trip with her husbands best friend, who’s had a crush on her since high school (ick).

There weren’t any redeeming qualities for me in this book unfortunately

⭐⭐⭐⭐½ — 4.5 Stars!

If you’re in the mood for a juicy, emotional, soul-searching summer read, Cruel Summer delivers in all the best ways. This isn’t just a story about marriage or infidelity — it’s about identity, freedom, and figuring out who you are when the life you built starts to crack beneath your feet. Samantha’s journey feels raw and real as she faces the heartbreak of her husband asking for an open marriage, and what follows is a beautifully messy exploration of love, choice, and self-worth. The twist? The person who helps her rediscover herself is none other than her husband’s grumpy, rough-around-the-edges best friend, Logan. Their slow-burn chemistry, mixed with their rocky history, makes every scene between them feel electric.

What makes this book stand out is how it handles complex emotions without judgment. It doesn’t offer easy answers but instead gives readers an honest look at how relationships evolve — and how sometimes the person we need to find most is ourselves. With its road trip vibes, scenic backdrops, and deep character growth, Cruel Summer is perfect for fans of emotional women’s fiction and second-chance stories with a twist. Grab this one for your next beach day or cozy weekend — it’s a page-turner with heart.

I really enjoyed this book. As someone who likes the challenges of life, to get to see the character Samantha find herself through the whole story makes me feel like I do not myself have to have everything figured out. Life has its up and its down just like how Samantha had to deal with those same ups and downs. The story does well to balance the character's life and her passions, similar to someone in real-life struggling with their own life. On a different note, this book had a lot of summer to spring vibes for those other readers that mood or season read. I would give this story a 3.5/5 since I am a sap for a romance story.

Thank you NetGalley and Canary Street Press for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sam starts off this cruel summer being told by her husband that he wants an open marriage. This was not expected. But to keep her husband happy she suggests to separate for the summer. Sam teams up with Logan, her husband’s best friend, on a roadtrip to deliver restored cars to their owners. She plans to use this time to find herself now that she’s about to enter that empty nest stage. Not the take part in an open marriage. But spending all this time together has her seeing Logan in a new light.

This would be a good summer read. It started off slow and there was some repetitive inner dialogue that made me want to skim some parts, and that bull riding scene…but overall I enjoyed it.

First, thank you to the author, Maisey Yates, Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press, and NetGalley for the ARC.

I enjoyed reading this book. At first, I was incredibly frustrated by what Samantha's husband, Will, proposed—an open marriage. I was mad for her, even angry. But as the story progressed, my feelings changed, just as Samantha’s did. She slowly began to rediscover herself and face the truths she had long denied.

From a woman who was raised by her mother to be a pleaser and always put others first, Samantha learned to reclaim her identity. She realized it’s okay to put herself first. It's okay not to be okay. She doesn’t have to live her life for others to approve of—she can live for her own happiness, her own feelings. She embraced being just herself. Not someone’s wife. Not someone’s mother. Just Samantha.

This book gave me perspective that resonated with things I’ve learned in my own life. I truly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

A beautiful, emotional journey about second chances, self-discovery, and unexpected love.

When Samantha’s husband, Will, asks for an open marriage, she agrees to a summerlong separation, thinking they’ll reunite afterward. But when Will’s best friend, Logan, offers her a cross-country road trip, things take an unexpected turn. As they spend time together, Samantha finds herself rethinking everything she thought she wanted.

This is a slow-burn romance that takes its time, with alternating timelines that enrich the story. There were moments where the pacing felt a bit slow, especially during the road-trip details and internal dialogue. I also wished for more of Logan’s perspective, as his character felt intriguing but underdeveloped.

And every time I see Cruel Summer in the title, I can't help but start singing Cruel Summer by Taylor Swift!

Thanks to NetGalley and Maisey Yates for the ARC.

A shocked wife was told by her husband that he wants to have an open marriage! Even more shocking is that it was her that was in need of the separation. This was a book of self realization and self acceptance. Hard to put down once you get into the book. Recommend.

This book was a journey. In the beginning I was on the same page as Sam thinking ‘Absolutely Not!’ The author did a great job of laying out Sam’s thought process on every aspect of this choice. I do wish we had a little more perspective of Wills side and more dialogue when they finally met up again. By the end I understood Sam’s choice and enjoyed the journey.

Cruel Summer was certainly a beach read. I got through it rather quickly. I want to thank Maisey Yates, Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

I feel as though this book is great; however, I struggled to love it. I think I am not in the demographic that it is meant for, which is completely fine! Overall, I did enjoy the story and the writing, but I struggled with some portions of it.

I had to DNF this book around 30% percent!
I had a really hard time with where the storyline was heading and couldn’t get past that her and her husband had basically a deal/free pass to cheat on each other. My heart couldn’t take that…
Thank you so much NetGalley and publisher for my arc 🩵

Overall this was a good book! I think maybe if I were a little older I might have liked it/related to it more. I thought the beginning was a little rushed, but overall it was a really cute story!

Cruel Summer was an interesting exploration of love, identity, and second chances, but it didn’t quite hit the emotional depth I was hoping for. The premise is definitely compelling—a woman in the midst of a marital crisis sets off on a road trip with her husband’s best friend? There’s plenty of room for tension, growth, and juicy drama, and the book delivers on some of that.

Samantha is a relatable lead, and her struggle to rediscover herself after years of being a wife and mom felt genuine. The cross-country setting added a nice backdrop to her journey, and Logan, while gruff, had his swoony moments. Their chemistry grew on me, even if it felt a little forced at times.

Where it fell flat for me was in the pacing and the emotional payoff. Some scenes dragged, and others skimmed over important turning points that could’ve added depth. The ending was satisfying enough, but also a bit predictable.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠☀️

𝓒𝓻𝓾𝓮𝓵 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓮𝓻 by @maiseyyates

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

🗓️ 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟰, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱

📄 320

𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕖𝕩𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕥:
💔Marriage in Trouble
🚘Road Trip
💕Self-Discovery
☀️Grief Journey

“𝘚𝘢𝘮 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨.”

When Sam’s husband of 22 years asks for an open marriage, Sam’s perfect world comes crashing down. Will and Sam agree to go no contact and spend the summer apart. When an unexpected offer of adventure presents itself, Sam soon finds herself riding in classic cars with top down… seeing new places with her husband’s best friend, Logan.

𝕄𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:
Cruel Summer was a delightful read. A story of healing, self-discovery, and the beauty that can be discovered in the most unlikely places.

This one pulled me in from the start. Sam is such a relatable character, like many women, her husband and children became her identity over the years. Seeing her break out and truly live life for the first time was so rewarding. From riding a mechanical bull in a Honky Tonk in Texas to getting her first tattoo, Sam truly discovered who she was and what exactly she wanted out of life. This was a beautiful and emotional journey that was so well written. It was such an enjoyable read, I was cheering for Sam the entire way and read it in one day.

Logan, her husband’s best friend.. It sounds terrible but it is so tastefully written. The way he supported, listened, and cared for Sam truly showed his character and I loved him.

“𝒴𝑜𝓊’𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓂𝓎 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒. 𝑀𝓎 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓁 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒.”

💋 @netgalley @htp_books @htp_hive

When Samantha’s husband of 22 years, Will, tells her during what was a romantic dinner, that he is not happy and wants her to consider an open marriage, she is shocked to say the least.

They agree to a 4 month separation so Will can explore his “options” and this break leads Samantha down a road she never saw coming.

Life can change in the blink of an eye….