When I first started this book, I was pulled into the plot as it was set up to be really interesting and unique. However, the main character didn't interest me and I started to loose interest at the book went on. I'm sure some people will love this book, but it just wasn't for me

This book was EVERYTHING!!! Saying I LOVED it, does not even do it justice! I don't even know where to begin. This book is 5 stars, without a doubt! I cried through at least the first 6% of this book, and then many more times throughout...this may sound like a bad thing, but it's NOT! This book spoke to me on SO MANY levels! It might have something to do with the fact that she is around the same age as me and is also a people pleaser to her own detriment but ya know! Someone in another review had mentioned that this was not your typical rom-com, which I agree it was not at all, it was such a nice change of pace! But that it was also very thought-provoking, which I couldn't think of a better way to describe it. Seeing the FMC Samantha have her own self-actualization made such a huge impact on me. Talking about this made me think of the hierarchy of needs, starting with our basic needs of food, water, shelter, safety, then moving up to our psychological needs like intimate relationships, self esteem and a sense of accomplishment, and finally to self actualization where you achieve your full potential. I mention this because Sam (and me) spent so much of her adult life focusing on everyone else's basic needs while also providing an environment for them to thrive in the higher needs. The only thing is that she forgot about herself. But this Cruel Summer could change everything for her!
When Sam's husband Will asked her for an open marriage, I wanted to punch him in the face! Instead of working through their problems, his first reaction is to have an open marriage, I mean screw you buddy!
And last but certainly not least, the spice in this book was so sweet and perfect!
Moral of the story is READ THIS BOOK...YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT! Be prepared with your tissues but don't worry, it will be WORTH IT! This was my first Maisey Yates book, but it will not be my last! Bravo Maisey!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!*

Will, Samantha’s husband of 22 years, announced he thought they should have an open marriage. Will was the only boy she ever kissed or dated, and she was pregnant then married at 18. She was devastated, but when he said he was not happy she agreed to live apart for the summer. Logan was Will’s best friend. He restored cars then delivered them to the owners. He asked Samantha to be his relief driver. Samantha had not traveled much and the thought of seeing the countryside was intriguing. Logan and his daughter, Chloe, had taken several trips with Samantha’s family and it sounded fun. Logan’s wife died of cancer, and she always admired Logan’s love for his wife and how he cared for Chloe growing up. This is a wonderful book about love and loss. Samantha begins to be honest with herself and realizes that she was always a people pleaser. She had never done things just for herself. Logan and Samantha's trips across the country were filled with soul searching, exciting attractions, and humor. Great book with a lot of important life issues.

I am a big Maisey Yates fan. I love her Four Corners Ranch series so much, so getting to read this book was a win! While I did enjoy the writing, because Maisey is amazing, I can't fully get on with the main elephant in the room. There was so much growth and self discovery, that part was so excellent, but the fact that they were still married was not ideal for me. I do think this book was written so well and I can't wait to see what else Maisey writes next.

Thank you netgalley for an arc of Cruel Summer by Maisey Yates

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the free e-arc.

Cruel Summer is an emotionally poignant romance that delves deeply into themes of trauma and grief, offering a story that resonates with weight and authenticity. Maisey excels at crafting a genuine and compelling connection between the two love interests, making their journey feel both natural and deeply earned. She also developed such a rich and layered bond between the leading lady and leading man that it almost feels too vivid, as though their connection leaps off the page with an intensity that stays with you long after the final chapter.

I love this story. The ability to find yourself when you didn’t even know you were lost. I rated it four stars for some of the repetitiveness, but I couldn’t put it down. The character building made this book so much more interesting. If you’re looking for an emotional road trip this is the book for you.

While Samantha’s inner monologues could get a bit tedious at times, I still enjoyed this book. All it took was one conversation with her husband Will for her life to change considerably. Though Sam being able to discover new things about herself despite her age is a powerful thing we could all learn a lesson from.

This book was hilarious. I really enjoyed the characters and their personalities. I would definitely recommend this book!

Loved loved loved! Sam has been married her whole adult life - since before graduation from high school- with a baby on the way three children followed and now when they are out of house on their own she's excited for the vacation her and Will have always talked about he takes her out she thunks to discuss the what nots of vacation only he throws down the news that he wants to open their marriage she doesn't know what hit her, they decide to spend the summer apart- she ends up working with Wills best friend Logan- delivering restored classic cars across the country while doing so she learns who she is and what she wants- at the end of the summer does she want what she did at the beginning? This was so good read it in one evening- definitely check out more from this author- thus was my first.

will decides to open the relationship but she is having a tough time with it. she find love and herself with Logan, who is his best friend. she ends up find herself and love on these trips with logan.

I’m thankful I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley.
In her 40s - Samantha’s life gets turned upside down when her husband asks for an open marriage.
That launches her into a journey of self discovery. The book plays out in the present but also has flashbacks where we see Sam deal with the grief of losing her mother but we also catch glimpses of a person who was there for her in the toughest of times.
I enjoyed the flashbacks in the book. It gave me more insight into her new situationship with Logan.
In the end Samantha learns to advocate for herself and her happiness.

BTW the end of the book has a playlist with lots of Taylor Swift songs

I'm excited to read more of Yates' books because I liked the story and her writing style. Fun and relatable. I thought the story was mostly entertaining and had a nice writing style. Anyone searching for a tale that encapsulates the essence of summer love and the intricacies of the human heart should read this one.

Cruel Summer is a book of second chances. Second chance at living, loving, loss, and more. Samantha’s journey is a hard and beautiful one. There was some repetitiveness and maybe a little too much detail when it came to the road trips and internal dialogue that could have sped up the story and kept it engaging. This is definitely a slow burn romance so buckle in for the journey! The jumps between the present and past were a great addition. I would have loved to get a chapter or two of Logan giving his perspective or more dialogue between Sam and Logan. Overall great read and will definitely look for more of Yates’ writing.

Thank you Net Galley and Maisey Yates for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A huge thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. Sam’s comfortable life was turned upside down by one sentence from her husband of 22 years, which led her to a summer of self-reflection and growth as she worked through what she viewed as a tough time. While initially slow, I found myself hooked and couldn’t put the book down. I originally thought that it was going to be a typical rom-com, and instead I found it to be very thought provoking and beyond enjoyable to see the character come into herself and realize what she wanted, and find happiness along the way. Don’t pass up on what is sure to be an amazing Summer 2025 read!

Samatha Parker’s feel that she has it all. A loving husband and her kids. But suddenly her husband Will is telling her that he wants an open marriage and she is devastated. After thinking about it she de ides they should spend the summer apart and revisit their relationship after that. Sam de ides that she will take a job with her husbands best friend Logan and travel with him to deliver cars he customizes. She has always been attracted to him so thought it would be a fun summer. Was a great read!


Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Maisey Yates

actual rating: 1.5. i am going to be honest: i only picked up this book for the title. i saw a Taylor Swift song and i clicked. i simply didn’t vibe with the premise. i liked reading about how Sam found herself over the summer, i just didn’t like Sam herself. she was giving very much “woe is me” vibes and i did not like it. plus i could not get over the fact that she and her husband were essentially cheating on each other over the summer! major ick.

Cruel Summer by Maisey Yates is a beautiful story of heartbreak and second chances. When Samantha Parker’s idyllic suburban life is upended by her husband Will’s request for an open marriage, she embarks on a summer long journey that forces her to confront her identity and desires. This novel explores complex emotions as Samantha struggles to reconcile her love for her family with her own needs. The tension between stability and freedom, and between the past and future will keep you hooked!

Maisey Yates writes a thoughtful and heartwarming story of finding yourself - and romance - when your world is upended in a way that was not ever anticipated. I like the growth of the FMC and the travel the main characters experienced - it was fun to travel along. Thank you to @NetGalley and @Harlequin for this intriguing ARC, the opinions are all my own.

I LOVED THIS! Reading this in the fall was like sitting on a beach in Cancun when the rest of my family is at home with 12" of snow. Sweet, poignant, and fiercely independent! Job well done!!

4.25/5.0

I had the opportunity to read Cruel Summer by Maisey Yates as an ARC by Net Gallery. This was my first time reading a book by Yates, but it certainly won't be the last.

Samantha's longtime husband and father of her children tells her the words no wife wants to hear: he wants an open marriage.

She is understandably devastated, and they spend the summer apart. I love that the author wrote an emotional story about adults in their forties finding out what they truly want in life.

Samantha spends the summer delivering classic cars with her husband's best friend. She takes the time to reflect on her life and where she wants the rest of it to lead.

I enjoyed the story and Yates' writing style; I look forward to reading more of her books.

#CruelSummer #NetGalley