The premise sounded so fun and flirty but I just really couldn’t put myself in the MC’s shoes or feel connected to the story.

Perfect summer read! A book about self-discovery and rising above people’s expectations. Its a journey of self-love but also unexpected romance when you feel like your life turned upside down and you lost it all. I enjoyed this a lot! 🫶🏻

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin publishing for this ARC. ❤️

What would you do if your spouse came to you and said you should see other people? This is exactly what happens to Samantha and she feels like her whole life has imploded. Deciding to take a break apart for the summer, Samantha fully expects to come back together with her husband in the fall. Will that happen or will she find that the grass is greener on the other side. I loved every minute of this book and was so glad to see samantha come out on the other side.

This book had me at the opening line: “I think we should see other people…” This was my first Maisey Yates book because there was no way that I could pass up a book where the husband tells his wife of 20+ years that he wants an open marriage.

As someone in her forties, it’s so refreshing to read a romance with heroines and heroes of the same age. Sam and Logan are characters who have weathered a lot of storms in their life including abandonment, loss, grief, shame and the list goes on, which I think makes them relatable in some way to readers who have lived their fair share of life.

The beginning of this book was so strong because I could understand both Sam and Will’s point of view, especially given the way their relationship and marriage started. Will loves his wife but isn’t happy and is strong enough to actually share that with his wife (versus having an affair, etc). And then there is Sam who loves her husband and her life and is devastated by his ask but who then embarks on a summer of discovery and introspection.

I was pulled into Sam’s history of shame and guilt given her teenage pregnancy and the societal expectations of her town, church and even her own mother. I think a lot of women may relate to that in some way even if they didn’t have a teen pregnancy but in how society looks upon women who own their own sexuality.

I enjoyed her initial inner exploration because it gave me a better understanding of where she was and how she might change. I even enjoyed how her girlfriends showed their own biases and judgements because I think that was so realistic.

Using the weeks for cross-country road trips was also the perfect set up to get her out of her own house and into forced proximity with Logan, Will’s best friend with whom they had history.

But while the story started off strong and intriguing – having me asking myself, what would I do in her position, I found the second half of the book a bit lacking. Her inner monologues got repetitive to the point I would skim them and I honestly felt like Logan’s complete turnaround at the end was very off character given how much he pushed her at the beginning.

I think I would have liked their romance more if they came to find their attraction and connection on the road trips as opposed to awakening something that had shown itself three years ago or that was there even longer for Logan. That just made their story a bit more “icky” which I don’t think it had to be. That honestly took away from her journey and growth and made it skirt the lines of “cheating” though it wasn’t.

Overall, this story brought up some really interesting feelings about societal expectations, personal growth, sexual awakening, and relationship growth while giving an opposites attract love story. I’m really glad that I read it for this very reason, I just wish the last half was as strong as the first.

*I received an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Cruel Summer was an absolute gem! It perfectly blends emotional depth with an engaging storyline. It’s a heartwarming journey of self-discovery and an unexpected romance. You know how sometimes we get caught up in the expectations of others and don’t even realize it? This book is a great reminder to live life on your own terms and for your own happiness.

Samantha Parker’s seemingly perfect life crumbles when her husband, Will, suggests an open marriage as they approach their empty nest. To appease him, Samantha proposes a summerlong separation with no contact, hoping they’ll reunite afterward. But an unexpected offer from Logan Martin—Will’s best friend and a classic-car restorer—leads her on a cross-country road trip. As they journey together, Samantha’s evolving relationship with Logan challenges her perceptions of love and fulfillment. By summer’s end, she must choose between returning to her familiar past or embracing an uncertain future.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read this lovely book before its publication date! A social media post will be published on June 23rd on instagram account https://www.instagram.com/abookish.labyrinth?igsh=MTJpcm1oa3o2anhiMw==

2.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Cruel Summer! I was fully ready to buckle up for a juicy ride—midlife shake-up, open marriage drama, enemies-to-lovers tension on the open road? Sign me up. But what started as a potentially bold exploration of reinvention took a few too many narrative pit stops for me to stay invested.

Samantha Parker is staring down the start of her empty-nest years when her husband, Will, casually suggests an open marriage like it’s a new dinner spot they should try. Instead of telling him to take a hike (as I shouted at my Kindle), she proposes a summer-long separation. Enter Logan—Will’s best friend, a brooding classic-car restorer with a chip on his shoulder and an open seat on his cross-country delivery route. Hijinks should ensue, right?

Well… sort of. The setup is solid, but the execution wobbles. The pacing drags in places where it should sizzle. The romantic tension never fully sparks, and Samantha’s personal growth arc—while well-intentioned—often feels muddled, like it can’t decide if it’s a love story, a self-discovery journey, or a lifetime movie with too many ad breaks. I found myself more frustrated than compelled.

That said, the travel backdrops are vivid, the cars are cool, and Logan occasionally peeks out from behind his grumpiness to deliver genuinely sweet moments. But overall, Cruel Summer felt like a book that wanted to take risks but ended up cruising in neutral.

If you enjoy quieter, introspective stories with a touch of forbidden romance and don’t mind a slower pace, this might be your jam. I just needed a little more fire, a little more focus, and a lot less Will.

Still, I appreciate the chance to read this one early—thank you again to NetGalley and the publisher!

I wasn't sure from Chapter one whether or not I was going to enjoy this one. I have a hard time relating to characters who are in gray-area relationships. This book will be a love-it or hate-it amongst readers I think. Overall, it was an enjoyable read with great pacing, plot development, and atmosphere. This one just wasn't for me!

I like that this book had a lot of summer vibes which made it perfect for this upcoming season. It was a fun read and of course drama but if I’m honest I didn’t expect myself to get annoyed or even irritated from the book. I already knew I didn’t like the husband for asking for an open relationship instead of a divorce but if I’m also honest I couldn’t get into the other male character, especially the FMC Belated i just couldn’t relate To her and her choices and because of that I found myself questioning a lot of her choices. Pretty predictable and I would say if You’re an independent woman, who knows her worth, this book isn’t for you like at all. The FMC found her marriage wonderful which it obviously wasn’t and her crying about, “how will I ever be alone?!” It just gives childish and I was screaming majority of the time GROW UPPPPPP! LIFE’S HARD, WEAR A HELMET!

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.

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.