Classic homegrown love story. You marry your high school sweetheart not because of love but because of necessity. Twenty year pass by and you are about to start your next stage in life. What happens when your husband’s next stage does not sync with yours? It’s a journey of self discovery and reinvention. Thanks to NetGalley for the read!

This book was difficult for me to read due to going through a divorce right now, but glad I stuck with it. The journey Sam goes on, personal and cross country was touching and so emotional. I loved Logan! He was just what this story & Sam needed to make her realize she matters too.

I had so many feelings about this book. It was a rollercoaster.

I was put off at first with beginning. It was REALLY emphasized about church and her religious upbringing, but she also says they don’t follow it and don’t believe it anymore, and she’s 40. It was mixed messaging how much she wants to be “good” but she’s a full grown adult with kids out of the house. It just put me off a bit, but that could also be my own issues with organized religion.

I loved a lot of Sam’s journey. As a 39 year old mom in a 10+ year marriage, who also has a mom with cancer, it really hit home. I cried at times. As much as I didn’t love where she started emotionally, I really respected her learning and opening herself up.

And Logan. Man, another emotional mess. Their trips were so great. I loved him.

This was a very slow burn, and when it gets there, it’s not *explicit* but not closed door either. It wasn’t what I thought it was originally, but a good book. I just wasn’t prepared for that emotional ride 😂

What a gem of a book! I was so surprised by how much this book affected me! So many beautiful life & relationship quotes that were so beautifully written and deep. This book follows sam whose husband asked for an open marriage in the middle of a Texas Roadhouse. Sam is so distraught and confused about her marriage and doesn't even know who her husband is. Until her husband best friend Logan tells her how incredibly stupid he thinks her husband is being and invites her on basically a cross country roadtrip. We see Sam discover things about herself and her marriage and even her husband while she's on this trip. While also getting to know Logan better. This book was so incredibly deep and all the characters felt so real and well flushed out. There were so many beautiful moments about motherhood and being in long relationships that I feel like many people can relate to. Overall this book was so wonderful and I highly recommend it! Thank you Net Galley.

This was my first Maisey Yates book, I wasn't really sure how this one was going to go. I absolutely could not imagine what this must be like. You feel like you are getting to your empty nest stage and ready to enjoy life, until everything you thought about your marriage falls apart. Her novel explores themes of self-love, healing, and personal transformation, while struggling with grief. While it includes romantic elements, the heart of the story is about rediscovering yourself after loss and learning to prioritize your own happiness and how to love yourself. Deeply relatable and emotionally resonant, the book highlights how grief is messy and non-linear, and how love—both for yourself and from others—can be healing. A powerful, heartfelt read that will leave a lasting impact on your heart. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

3.75 stars

Ooooh lordy this is a messy book full of complicated feelings and imperfect people. The book begins with Sam's husband of over 20 years informing her that he wants an open marriage. They married young, before even completing high school, because of an unexpected pregnancy. He now feels that he missed out on certain life experiences. Primarily, sleeping with other people. Sam does not feel these same regrets. In her eyes, their marriage is everything she would hope for, but she isn’t comfortable with her husband dabbling around with other women, only to come home to tell her about it. She offers him a separation for the summer to sow his wild oats and on an agreed upon date, they will reassess.

With the expectation that she will be ending the summer back with her husband, Sam agrees to be the backup driver for her husband’s longtime best friend, Logan. During trips across the US to deliver custom cars, Sam confronts difficult truths about herself, her marriage, and Logan.

This was not a comfortable read for me. The first part of the book dealt with Sam floundering in her confusion about her husband’s decision. There are also chapters interspersed with the present day, telling of family vacations of the past, with Logan and his daughter Chloe continuing to join them after the death of his wife. These chapters lead up to a big moment that changes the way both the reader and Sam view her story.

This book was an interesting ride. Having not grown up in a religious environment, I found church-related references and restrictions challenging. At one point, it felt like they used prayer as their main form of birth control (spoiler alert: it didn’t work). I liked how Sam never seemed to resent her kids, even though they led to different life choices from what she had planned. It would have been beneficial to have content warnings beforehand to better understand what to expect. Nevertheless, it ultimately developed into a compelling narrative of personal growth and self-awareness.



Thank you to Maisey Yates, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for an advanced copy of this eBook.

“...she had felt like her life had fallen apart. If she had only known…that she had needed everything to fall apart so she could put it all back together in this different shape.”

Samantha Parker, wife and mother, thinks she has the perfect life until one day her husband tells her he wants to have an open marriage for the summer. Devastated and confused, she decides she wants to go on vacation to get away from it all. Logan Martin, Samantha’s husband’s best friend and classic car restorer, needs a driver to help him deliver these cars all over the US. Samantha decides to take Logan up on his offer, even though they haven’t always seen eye to eye. Throughout the road trip, the two share and reflect on the past and their current situations and start to connect like never before.
Given a journey to find happiness that she didn’t know she needed, this is a story of self discovery, personal growth, fresh starts, living life for yourself and not for anyone else. A story about changing the illusion of a perfect life and relationship/marriage and realizing it is never too late to live your life without regrets and love yourself unapologetically, even if that means getting out of your comfort zone and/or ruffling some feathers.

The first part of the story was extremely sad and heartbreaking, but I enjoyed watching the FMC’s personal journey to self discovery and self worth. I also thought the Cruel Summer playlist was a fun addition. However, don’t judge this book by its beautiful summery cover. The title and story inside holds raw, emotional depth and realistic complexity, much deeper than the cover leads you to believe. Just know going in that this isn’t a typical lighthearted summer/beach read…it was truly a cruel summer story but had a powerful and reflective message.

The audio book narrator, Nancy Peterson, did a good job portraying all the emotions and feelings that the characters were experiencing and giving each their own unique voice. The tone and pacing helped bring the characters and story to life.

Thank you @htpbooks, @readmirabooks, @htp_hive, @htpbooks_audio, and @netgalley for the #gifted ARC and ALC.. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Cruel Summer by Maisey Yates is a thoughtful reveal of a man coming to terms with her life. Some wives do not realize that they are in love with the illusion of marriage and a perfect life. The illusion that life will continue moving forward in positive ways in their marriage, until it doesn’t. Samantha Parker thinks about her life being perfect until her husband wants to have a different type of marriage. She is shocked but trying to make her husband happy she agrees to a summer apart. What Samatha doesn’t realize is that she needs the time for her own self assessment.

Logan Martin is a classic car restorer and Samantha’s husband’s best friend. He needs a driver to help him deliver the cars. Despite their difficult relationship, she agrees to help him drive across the country stopping in unusual spots. What she didn’t expect were the conversations they would have about their lives.

The novel is one of self discovery and letting go of illusions. The novel brings the readers on an internal journey with Samantha while the characters are on an actual journey. By the way: I am not sure the title is the best for the book. Cruel Summer by Maisey Yates is a good read.

Cruel Summer was an emotional journey for Samantha Parker, wife and mother.  She went on a soul searching vacation from her marriage after her husband said he wanted an open marriage.  They were married before graduation when Samantha became pregnant at 18 in a town where she had always felt judged and came up not good enough because of her past.  They had been married for 22 years.

I liked Sam's journey and how she realized the only person  she needed to please was herself.  She didn't have to be  perfect or good enough.  I also liked how the story took place remembering past vacations with her family of five and Logan and his daughter Chloe and the current vacation she was on with Logan as he drove across the country several times delivering restored cars to their owners.  Logan's wife had died when Chloe was young.  He was also Sam's husband's best friend. Now their children are all grown up or attending college.

Samantha's vacation journey was hard, full of soul searching, and finding herself.  She fell in love all over again or maybe for the first time.  I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

Cruel Summer is a surprisingly hopeful, emotionally layered story about what happens when the life you’ve carefully built suddenly falls apart — and how that collapse might be the beginning of something better.

From the start, I was just as blindsided as Samantha. Her husband, Will, casually dropping the bombshell that he wants an open marriage after decades together? Total gut punch. Their agreed-upon separation feels messy and raw, and I braced myself for emotional chaos. But what this novel does so well is guide you through the aftermath — the shock, the grief, the uncertainty — without ever losing sight of the quiet strength that comes from letting go and starting over.

Samantha’s unexpected road trip with Logan (yes, Will’s best friend — and no, she didn’t see that coming either) becomes a slow-burning, soul-searching journey. As the miles go by, she begins to shed the expectations and identities that have defined her — wife, mother, caregiver — and starts reconnecting with the woman she used to be. Her connection with Logan is prickly, layered, and so authentic that it sneaks up on you in the best way, much like the changes happening within Sam herself.

There are a few slow spots, particularly when the narrative leans heavily into introspection or scenery. And I definitely wanted more insight into Logan — he’s a compelling character, and getting inside his head a bit more would have added even more emotional weight. Still, these are small quibbles in a story that ultimately delivers.

Cruel Summer isn’t just about heartbreak or unexpected romance — it’s about resilience. It’s about what happens when everything breaks... and you start building something new from the pieces.

Cruel Summer is not the usual story penned by author Maisey Yates. I have enjoyed every book I’ve read by Ms. Yates but none have told quite the emotional tale of this book. Samantha Parker and her husband Will are empty nesters at the age of 40. Sam is excited to begin a new phase of their lives. Having been together since they were 16 and married before they graduated from high school with their first of three sons on the way, they have since been doing what was expected of them, becoming pillars of the community and no longer the talk of the small town.

Will takes Sam to dinner, her thinking he wants to make plans for their first summer alone. Those aren’t the plans he wants to discuss, but rather he brings up his desire to try an open marriage. His stance is that they were together so young that they have no idea of the other lives they didn’t have. Devastated, Sam comes to the conclusion that if she doesn’t give him some time he will leave her but there is no way she can sit back and witness such a thing. Sam’s counter proposal is that they will separate for four months, May to September, with no contact. Neither will live at their home during this time. At the end of this period they will meet together at the house and decide their future, with her in hopes that they will be able to resume their lives together.

With a long summer ahead of her, Sam dreads slowly counting off the days until Will’s best friend Logan Martin unexpectedly comes to see her. Logan is taking her side and offering her a job to help him deliver the custom classic cars he has created to their new owners cross country. With his daughter now in college and working there for the summer he has no one to help spell him on the long trips. With four deliveries planned for the summer, this will give Sam breaks at home plus road trips with a bit of sight seeing along the way. What Sam did not expect to find on the open road was her true self.

This story was told with such heartbreaking feeling. The characters are drawn so well they could be family. The depth of emotion conveyed is intense. This well may be my very favorite Maisey Yates book to date. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

ARC Review

-Single POV (Third Person)
-Second Chance Romance
-Slow Burn
-Opposites Attract
-Husband Best Friend
-Single Dad
-Friends To Lovers
-Forced Proximity
-Road Trip Romance

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spicy: 🌶️

I enjoyed this book but at times it felt like it dragged.

Samantha (40 years old) was married to Will for 22 years. Until he asked for an open marriage, she countered by suggesting separating for the summer and letting him live his “hoe” phase and reassessing at the end. During this time period she realized her life wasn’t just rainbows and butterflies how she thought it was.

In this book she finds herself with the help of Logan (Husband Best Friend).
There is a lot of uphill battle with herself trying to figure out who she is when she’s not with Will, being Will’s wife or being a mother. Logan gives her the hard truths.

I loved how Logan was always there for her when she needed it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing & Maisey Yates for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Listen- this one might be a real thinker for a romance reader. I mean- our FMC's husband asks for an open marriage (after 3 kids and 22 years...) on the first page! This novel might make a reader think about how you move forward when a request can't be taken back. But also- when you've lived your life so long doing everything "right" are you really happy? or just happy you did it "right"?

I really liked the way the author took us on this journey- the way she blended their past, gave reason for their road trips, endeared us to Logan every step of the way. Excellent story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC of Cruel Summer! This was a solid, enjoyable read and my first Maisey Yates book. I’m definitely interested in reading more from her!

She does a wonderful job blending emotion, small-town drama, and just the right amount of steam. I especially loved the glimpses into the past that helped frame the present, showing how the characters’ histories shaped who they are now.

Sam’s growth really stood out to me. This is a heartfelt story about rediscovery and emotional healing, and I found it very relatable, especially being in my mid-30s and figuring out who I am and who I want to be.

If you’re a fan of second chances and summer drama with depth, Cruel Summer is worth picking up. Not a five-star read for me, but definitely a decent read.

I found this book to be a good blend of contemporary romance and contemporary/women’s fiction. I say that because I’m not quite certain the romance was the central theme of the story. It definitely played a large part in the second half, but Sam’s growth and her journey are the most important parts, especially in the first half of the book.

When Sam’s husband of 22 years asks for an open marriage, she is blindsided. She always felt they were the couple others envied. A solid, loving, kind couple who were good to each other and their children. As her husband’s best friend, Logan, points out pretty early on, Sam is great at denial and pretending, even to herself. She doesn’t even realize she’s doing it most of the time, which becomes obvious as this story progresses and Sam unpacks her marriage and her life.

I’ve complained before about this author’s recent books being too internal. It works with this story. Sam needs to get in her own head and figure things out. From her upbringing (somewhat strict religious), to her fears (she cares way too much about what others think about her and her family), to who she really is instead of who others want her to be. At the beginning of this story, Sam staunchly believes her husband has always split the household and parental responsibilities with her, but by the end, she has opened her eyes to how much she was taken for granted and how comfortable they had both gotten with their dynamic.

The beginning of this book is hard, I’m not going to skim around that. Sam is racking her brain to figure out where she’d gone wrong in the marriage. Why she wasn’t enough. Why their life wasn’t enough for him. It’s heartbreaking, so be warned if that’s something you have a hard time reading.

Since I did say this is also a romance, I should talk a little about Logan. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about a man who starts a relationship with his best friend’s wife, even if that best friend is acting like an idiot and had asked for the “freedom” for them each to try things out separately from one another. Somehow, it was handled in a way that worked by the end. One of the things I think helped with that is how Logan always stepped out of Sam’s way, so she was making a decision based on true feelings and not anger or fear. There was never pressure. Logan would often rile Sam up by pointing out a problem she hadn’t faced, but then he’d step back and let her come to her own conclusions. It was also obvious, but a certain point, that Sam and her husband weren’t really in love. Not in the way they thought they were. All that together helped this story work.

This was a fun, quick read with all of the summer vibes! I loved the setting, the road trip, and just the plot in general. Highly recommend as a beach read or a lay beside the pool read!

I thought this was beautifully written! I especially loved the road trip vibes and descriptive scenery. I loved the relationship that developed between the main characters. The only thing that I just didn’t like was the set up of the premise. If there was literally any other way about getting the same evolution and plot- it would have been 10/10. I also am just not a fan of “I’ll never be good enough for you”

Cruel Summer is an introspective story about love, identity, and second chances. While the pacing dragged a bit in places and I didn’t always connect with the characters’ choices, the emotional journey of self-discovery—especially during the road trip—had some really moving moments. A solid read if you enjoy messy relationships and midlife reinvention.

Shout out to Netgalley, Maisey and her team at Canary Street Press for the eARC!

What to Expect:
⭐ Marriage in Trouble
⭐ Forced Proximity
⭐ Road Trip Romance
⭐ Opposites Attract
⭐ LOADS of Emotional Conflict
⭐ Midlife Reinvention
⭐ Slow Burn Romance
⭐ Second chance at living a summer of change
⭐ Taylor Swift Easter Eggs!

TW: Discussions of adultery, open marriage, and trauma of church based childhood & expectations including marriage due to teen pregnancy.

My Thoughts:
I really wanted to love this book. I really struggled with the storyline and the trajectory it takes on the journey. That said I really enjoyed seeing main character (Sam) finally asking who she is outside of being a wife and mother. Also asking who she is outside of small town judgement, teen pregnancy and who she is now based on the trajectory of her life based on her journey in life so far. I truly feel this is something that MANY women (and yes men) go through as they hit their 40s and 50s. Its why a lot of people make career changes or have late life divorce if they're not finding themselves on the journey as it is happening. Sam taking control of her narrative, rather than being defined by others’ choices was a highlight of this story. Its the one that kept me clinging to the pages to see how she decided to take the wheel. Allowing herself a second chance at a fulfilling relationship and love. It allows herself to continue to grow and enjoy all the moments of life.

What I really struggled with was Sams husband request and the crap he pulls through the summer. To come back and say okay thats done I love you lets move forward. What an absolute joke. What else did he expect?!

All in all it wasn't my favorite type of story. I'm not personally a fan of open marriage, while I am NOT saying that isn't the case for others, it isn't something I want in my own. I knew right away how it was going to end and it just made me feel yucky. I do love that she finds herself AND a love that was sort of meant to find its way. Shoutout to the Swift Easter Eggs!!! I loved that the most!

Synopsis:
“I think we should see other people…” That one sentence unravels Samantha Parker’s perfect life. She has a loving husband, three wonderful kids and a comfortable suburban lifestyle. But on the brink of their long-awaited empty-nest chapter, Will asks Samantha for something she never dreamed an open marriage.

Desperate to keep her husband happy, Samantha proposes a summerlong separation with no contact. She knows she has to use the opportunity to find herself, but she also has no interest in being with anyone but Will. She’s confident when the season is over, they’ll get back together like this time never happened.

Then Sam gets an offer of adventure from an unlikely Logan Martin, a classic-car restorer who happens to be Will’s best friend, asks Sam to help him drive across the country to make deliveries. Logan and Sam have never had an easy relationship. He’s prickly, aloof and a little too handsome. And as they traverse the winding roads and breathtaking backdrops of North America, her changing connection with Logan challenges everything she believed she wanted in life, love and passion. When her summer with Logan is up, will she go home to the familiar stability of her past…or choose the thrilling uncertainty of her future?

I enjoyed reading Cruel Summer by Maisey Yates. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

This book seriously packed an emotional punch for me! From the very start, I felt Sam's heartbreak as her seemingly perfect marriage fell apart because her husband suddenly wanted an open relationship. But then, the story quickly shifted to Sam's amazing journey of self-discovery and growth. I was completely invested in her evolution, going through all the emotions with her—from laughter to sadness—as she dealt with grief, made tough choices, and truly transformed in her 40s. The storytelling was just so expertly crafted, with compelling internal thoughts, impactful conversations, and insightful flashbacks that really brought the characters to life.

What really stood out to me was how masterfully the story developed the conflict, tension, and Sam's personal growth, making it an incredibly rewarding read. Beyond all the emotional depth, I honestly kept wishing this book would be adapted into a binge-worthy TV series because the plot and character development are just that engaging. And while there's a blossoming romance, the book's core message goes way beyond just love; it really dives into profound themes of self-identity and navigating all of life's messy realities.

At its heart, this is a perfect read if you're a fan of complex, messy romances. It really focuses on Sam's quest to redefine herself after her entire world is flipped upside down by her husband's midlife crisis. As she heads out on a cross-country road trip with Logan, a long-time friend who secretly has feelings for her, Sam has to confront years of buried emotions and societal expectations. The narrative skillfully shows her struggle to either fight for the life she once knew or bravely embrace a future that's truly authentic to her. It made for such a compelling and thought-provoking journey.