Honestly, this book caught me completely off guard—I wasn’t sure what to expect when I requested it, but I wanted to try something different. The story starts with 22 years of marriage suddenly hitting a major roadblock when the husband drops the bomb that he wants an open marriage. Like, what?! From the very beginning, it was impossible not to feel all the emotions. It’s a story about second chances—at love, at life, at discovering yourself—and Samantha’s journey is both tough and beautiful. Logan, the husband’s best friend, adds an interesting layer that I really enjoyed. Definitely a big fan of this one!

My first book by Maisey Yates, and I am still not sure how I feel about this book. I am a sucker for a second chance romance with a bit of spice! There's quite a few different tropes included in this book. However, something about this book fell short for me. I have mixed feelings about the tropes, the plotline, the characters. I think I would give Maisey another chance, just with a completely different book.

I want to personally thank NetGalley, as well as the author, publisher, and anyone else involved in providing copies, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Do not sleep on this book! While out on a date night, empty nester Samantha is told by her husband that he wants an open marriage. Though Samantha knows they were married young, she never knew her husband was dissatisfied within their 22 year marriage. They then agree to separate for the summer to work on their own individual journeys.

While her husband is away doing things she doesn't want to think about, Sam joins her husband's best friend Logan on his cross country deliveries of classic cars. Logan pushes her to accept truths about her marriage and herself. Soon she realizes that she has denied so many of her own wants and needs throughout the years and that includes feelings for someone other than her husband.

I loved this book with my whole heart and couldn't put it down. I recently this as a Netgalley ARC and I think this may be one of my favorite books this year. This book had my husband and I discussing different aspects of our own marriage. I truly believe this is a great book club pick, especially with an over 40 crowd. It really pushes you to reflect on yourself in relation to Samantha's story. I would've given it ten stars.

I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this book but I really enjoyed it. Sam’s entire life gets upended when Will, her husband of over two decades tells her that he wants an open marriage. Instead of agreeing, she tells him that they would spend a summer separated, and then make any decisions about their marriage at the end of the season. Will goes off, and our story stays with Sam, who goes on a road trip with Logan, her husband’s best friend, who has known them since they were teenagers.

There is a lot more to Sam and Logan’s history than meets the eye, or that anyone else really knows about, and it was really interesting reading that unravel. Sam got pregnant at a very young age, and it shaped the entire rest of her life, in the way that it does for many people. The story felt very real in that way, like it could have happened to someone I actually know. It goes very deep into very real emotions. I highly recommend!

A story that is on the relatable side of life for many. Sam is a people pleaser and getting pregnant at 17 years old of course she did what people expected. Her whole world was pleasing her husband, kids, mother, etc. So when after 20 years of marriage her first and only love asks for an open marriage she is beyond shocked. They just entered the “empty nesters” stage of life. They finally could follow their dreams, but now that was all shattered. Will and Sam came to an agreement to separate for the summer. No contact and not staying in their home. Sam decided maybe she would see some of the places she always dreamed of visiting. And when Logan, Will’s best friend offers her a job to travel cross country to deliver a classic car she jumps at the chance. Even though she never really liked him. During their travels Logan helps Sam see some hard truths and to finally learn to be honest with herself.
A story of Sam journey to finally see and accept the real person she is. There are a lot of truths in the story, but some parts did seem to drag on a bit. Was a different direction in writing for this author and I believe it was a story that was also a personal journey for her. I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

"Cruel Summer" is a captivating and thought-provoking romance that dives into the complexities of relationships in a way that few stories do. What makes this narrative truly intriguing is its exploration of a often-taboo subject: the desire for an open relationship after years of monogamy. It poses the question: do people who marry young find themselves grappling with regrets or faced with difficult choices down the line?

The story follows a female protagonist who is suddenly confronted with her husband’s wish to explore an open marriage, a request that upends her world. Anyone who has felt a sense of contentment in their life can empathize with her struggle to come to terms with this drastic change. Torn between her love for her husband and the fear of losing him, she hesitantly agrees to this new arrangement for the summer.Enter a mutual friend who offers her a welcome escape—a road trip delivering classic cars across the country. As the two embark on this journey, a beautiful bond begins to bloom. They discover unspoken truths and share confessions that they’ve held back for too long, leading to an unexpected and deeper connection than she had anticipated.

If you’re in the mood for a typical, sappy romance, this isn’t the book for you. When I picked it up, I was craving something deeper and more realistic, and "Cruel Summer" beautifully filled that void. However, I will say that if you have a cynical view of marriage or relationships, this story might not resonate with you.

Overall, it's a compelling read for anyone seeking a refreshing alternative to the usual romantic narrative—one that dives into the realities of love and relationships while still leaving room for hope and connection. If you appreciate stories that are honest and relatable, yet still warm the heart, then this book might just be the perfect fit for you.

I thought I would like this book, but I was wrong… I LOVED it. I lv been talking about it nonstop, even recommending it to my local bookseller (You HAVE to read this when it comes out!).

What I loved:
•An older protagonist (40 yo) who finds herself at a fork in the road in her life and marriage
•The humanity- our girl isn’t perfect, and our “bad guy” isn’t all bad either (though we can agree he’s making TERRIBLE choices!!!)
•The relation to religion- there’s been hurt done by the church : church people but we aren’t burning it down either.
•Road trip!!! When she goes to Boston, the way Beacon Hill (one of my favorite places on earth) is described the same way I would: the charm, how you’re in the city and yet removed, how you imagine what it’s like living there, and just the feel of wandering around. It’s clear the author has been the places she writes about and I respect that!
•The growth the characters go through in the book and how relatable and realistic they were.

Minor imperfections:
•The whole book was so perfectly paced, until the end… while the characters did what I felt they should, it seemed rushed. Or maybe it was because it was after midnight and I couldn’t put the book down and I was delirious with exhaustion… Who can tell??? :)
•”You’re Losing Me”, -Taylor Swift was going through my head (and therefore, my speakers) the whole time, but it wasn’t on the playlist! And I didn’t notice the playlist until the book was over.
•I kept wondering- wouldn’t it be better to transport the cars instead of drive them? But it was so much fun, I ignored that voice.

Overall one of my favorite reads this year - I feel like Sam is one of my friends that I might run into one day.

I enjoyed this book. Both heart wrenching and hopeful, the story was a beautiful depiction of coping with grief, accepting change, and learning to live for yourself and not just the people around you. Truly a beautiful read.

I loved this story! I think I found a new author who is an auto buy. I love that it goes through marrying young, and being alone without your kids. It’s beautiful story

I absolutely loved this book and the storyline of adventure throughout this book. Cruel Summer is about Samantha and her journey of finding herself after twenty two years of marriage and three kids. A summer of adventure, exploring and healing. This story features main characters in their 40s and showcases love is messy and complicated. Love can be so many things and we can love more than one person in our life. The story starts with Samantha’s husband, Will asking her to take a break in their marriage during the summer. Explore the country with Sam as she explores a second chance at life, loving, loss and so much more.

Thank you, Canary Street Press, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. And thank you to Netgalley for facilitating the request.

3.5 / 5

This gains an extra .5 stars for how much it hurt my feelings.

Cruel Summer is a story about a woman coming into her own later in life, when her kids are grown and her marriage is at its lowest point.

I actually loved reading a romance from the POV of a woman in her forties. So often we see early mid-twenties FMCs already struggling in the ways Sam is in this book, but to see her handle it with such maturity and grace made me respect her more as a character.

Logan and Sam's dynamic was interesting, and I liked seeing flashbacks of how they got to where they were, and why they felt like their chemistry was oozing off of them. While I had trouble connecting to them and their chemistry, I can respect that the groundwork was laid.

All that said, this was an easy, fun read that also made me feel things and think about how certain scenarios could potentially apply to my own life.

It's never too late to figure out who you are; even if it's the opposite of what you thought life would look like.

This book was a very emotional book. Sam really goes through a lot when her husband asked to see other people. Not only is she dealing with problems in her marriage, but she lost someone very special to her. She grieving both her marriage and her life before the separation.Samantha goes on a work road trip with high school friend Logan. Logan lost his wife many years ago and his daughter is grown. Logan and Sam develop old and new feelings for each other. Sam really learns about self discovery over this summer trip. She learns what she wants in her life and what makes her happy.

I absolutely love the journey Sam goes on. This is not just a romance. It’s a very heartwarming story about finding yourself after being unhappy. Logan also goes on a mini journey. He learns what it’s like to have courage and go for something you really want. ( which is Sam)
This was a very fun and enjoyable summer read!

Fell in love with this book from the first page. Definitely a 5 star must read. I couldn't put this book down once I started it. Great storyline and wonderful characters

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5-4 stars
I’ll admit, Cruel Summer didn’t hook me right away. I actually started it a few months ago and ended up setting it aside—I just couldn’t get into it at the time. But I recently decided to give it another shot and I’m so glad I did. Once I got past the first several chapters, I couldn’t put it down.

The story might be triggering for some readers, especially as it involves a husband asking his wife for a break. That said, watching the main character’s journey unfold was so powerful. What initially seemed like the end of everything for her ended up being the beginning of a beautiful transformation. She grew into someone stronger, more self-aware, and unexpectedly inspiring.

I really ended up liking this one a lot. I think my initial struggle had more to do with being in a reading rut than the book itself—but Cruel Summer helped pull me out of it. I’ll definitely be checking out more from Maisey Yates after this

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
* Second chance romance
* Open marriage & divorce
* Teen pregnancy & early marriage
* Self discovery
* Husband’s best friend

Thank you to NetGalley, Maisey Yates, and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book started with such a jolt with the first line of dialogue! I was just as gutted as Samantha multiple times while reading this. I couldn’t believe how selfish her husband Will had been for so long, and this book does a good job of showing how their relationship wasn’t as good as she thought it was.

In the end, things actually worked out best for her. She got a new chance to find herself, and a real love with someone she didn’t expect. What she finds with Logan is beautiful, because it is of her own choice and not forced. I really enjoyed reading how they fall in love, despite her pain and sadness.

The ending was empowering for her, while also the happy ending she deserved. The final conversation she has with Will felt so raw and honest, and I felt a sort of justice for her. The last chapter was a perfect way for all things to fit into its place, with a semblance of peace and understanding for the whole family. I was so happy to see Logan and Sam find their way back to each other!

Sam and Will have been together for 22 years and now he's upended all of it with a declaration that he wants to see others. So what to do? Logan, Will's pal, offers her a job helping him ferry classic cars around the county. It turns out there's more to Logan than Sam ever knew. There's also more to Sam than she understood about herself. While there's a touch of a romance here, Yates focuses as much on Sam's journey of self discovery. What will she do at the end of the summer? No spoilers from me. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. For the many fans of Yates.

Not your typical Maisey Yates novel, but I loved every minute of watching her spread her wings and deliver an angsty heartbreaker! I was instantly hooked when this devoted wife and mother was told by her husband that he wanted an open marriage ... after the kids were already raised and the fun was supposed to begin! The story is centered around Samantha and her journey of acceptance and an eye opening summer. There is sadness, heartbreak and angst ... but there is also beauty in figuring out self-worth, journeying for the tough answers of what happiness really means and a peace and happiness in the end. There is technically cheating, but during an agreed upon separation. I easily connected with Sam and enjoyed watching her learn things about herself and come into a life she could see flourishing as one chapter ends and another begins. Really enjoyed!

I wasn’t expecting this book in the very best way. Very moving about a woman’s life and what happens when her husband blows up their life together. Some interesting twists and turns and a wonderful love story at the end.

I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This review will contain spoilers. I wanted to DNF this book, but pushed through. I know every story has an audience and I may not be that audience. That is ok. My biggest problem was knowing that she was still married while everything was happening.

I am a divorced woman. My former spouse justified online affairs because it wasn't "physical." However, using another person no matter how it is done crosses a line to me. I understand that the couple was separated for the summer, but that does not mean that the divorce is happening. I do have a fear that I could start dating someone and learn that they aren't divorced yet, making me the other woman. I did not put myself into a dating situation until my divorce was finalized. I may be a bit more traditional in that thinking, but that is still important to me. If they got divorced and she fell for the best friend, cool. However, she was fully planning to go back to her husband at the end of the summer and then quickly chose to go down another route, without giving him a heads up, or opportunity to fight for the relationship. What about couples counseling before the separation? It looks like they set up reasonable boundaries for the separation, but it still felt a bit hypocritical to me.

I have this title in my plan to post about just before publication. If you prefer that I don't share, please let me know. Remember, I do believe every story has an audience.

Well, I found this to be a very interesting book. A little tooooo wordy for my taste but the premise was told in a very detailed manner. The relationship between Sam and Logan was one of a rarity. Sam finding out that her husband, Will, of twenty years wanted to try an "open marriage". Her being shocked. She goes on a journey with Logan, Will's best friend, only to find out that Logan wanted her since high school, but she was forced into a marriage because of being pregnant. I do not want to give away too much, which i already did. Readers will find this novel enjoyable. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.