Thanks to the information given about the book, I already knew how the story was going to start, Samantha thought she had a good marriage and was looking forward to the future, living alone with her husband in their empty nest. They had been married for years and you soon discover they "had to get married," she was pregnant before their high school graduation. Instead, her husband approaches her about an open marriage. Trying to keep her hubby happy, she proposes a summer separation, where they each move out of the family home and have no contact with each other.
At a loss of what to do, she is surprised when her husbands best friend suggests she travel across the country with him, delivering classic cars that he has restored. Apparently years ago, she had told him that she would love to join him sometime, so Logan is giving the opportunity to join him. You quickly learn that Logan has had a crush on Sam, and could never act on it, because she was with Will from high school on.
So there is no surprise when Logan and Sam end up in bed together.
Samantha is forced to look into her life, and make the decision if she wants to go back to marriage and her husband Will, be with Logan, or be alone.
There are very few surprises in this book, thanks to the book description, I knew what to expect, and every step Sam made was predictable. There are times, in the middle of a love scene or right before a moment, Sam would start "thinking" to herself and it would go on and on....just too much and I would lose the intense moment. Then the scene would go back to the moment and it was gone for me.
I did enjoy the story, I enjoyed the conflict Sam was going through, and it wasn't hard to turn against Will and fall for Logan. The ending was cute, summed it all up nicely.

When I first saw the concept of this book I was a little nervous because it seems a little messy. (Husband asks his wife of 20 plus years for an open marriage.. while they are separated she falls for his best friend!)

BUT I quickly realized I should always just have faith in Maisey! Her characters may be flawed but they always are able grow by the end of the book. I loved following Samatha's character arc, while yes, there was a romance- I think this was more about Samantha finding herself.

I great summer read! Definitely add it to your TBR if you're planning a road trip this summer!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Four-Star Review: Cruel Summer by Maisey Yates

Cruel Summer is a heartfelt and relatable story that captures the quiet unraveling of a life built on perfection, sacrifice, and people pleasing. Maisey Yates writes Samantha Parker with such care and realism that you feel like you’re reading about a close friend. Sam has spent her whole adult life trying to be the perfect wife, the perfect mom, and the perfect woman. When her husband suddenly asks for an open marriage, her entire identity is shaken. It’s a situation that feels heartbreakingly believable and all too familiar.

What really stands out is how deeply relatable Sam’s people-pleasing tendencies are. Her fear of disappointing others, her obsession with keeping everything “just right,” and her need to keep the peace even at the cost of herself—it’s something so many women will see themselves in. And yet, throughout the book, you see her slowly realize that wanting more doesn’t make her selfish. It makes her human.

Logan, her husband’s blunt and brooding best friend, is the perfect counterbalance. Their road trip across North America is filled with tension, humor, and moments of unexpected connection. You can’t help but root for Sam and Logan as they move from reluctant travel companions to something much more. Their relationship unfolds naturally, with just enough longing to keep you fully invested.

This is a quick, satisfying read that explores self-discovery, the courage it takes to walk away from what’s familiar, and the hope that something better might be waiting. With well-developed characters and a plot that feels both modern and real, Cruel Summer is a perfect pick for anyone who’s ever asked themselves, “Is this really all there is?”

So fun!
I'll admit, I read this book because I am a Swiftie and the title got me. Turns out, the author is also fairly local to me, too.
Loved the subtle references and added playlist, very nice touch.

The story:
Sam is floored when her husband of 20+ years asks for an open marriage. They're all each other has ever known and have built a family and life together. They agree to a summer apart- no rules, no contact.

I loved following Sam's journey of finding herself. The journey, which had a literal portion as she spent the summer road tripping with her husband's best friend, and a metaphorical portion as we saw her try new things, figure out who she was and make her own choices. Her character arc was tasteful, interesting, funny, and emotional.

I don't want to give too much away, although I'm sure you can see where this is going. However, while the romance portion may have been predictable,the story was lovely and worth following. It deals with heavy issues in a light but respectful way, without loosing the message or "beach-read" quality.

Another thing to highlight is how they handled Will (the husband). He could have easily been made a villain, but instead he was shown as a human, with flaws, who made mistakes and I appreciated the dimension there.

All in all, I loved it. Thank you!

Thank you Maisey Yates, Netgalley, Nancy Peterson and Harlequin Audio for the opportunity to listen to this ALC. I went into this and the first chapter had me questioning whether I was going to like this book at all but I am so so glad that I stuck it out. The premise of this book was so interesting and the character growth was wonderful. Nancy Peterson's narration was impeccable and brought every bit of the story to life brilliantly. This was a 4.5 star for me.

Cruel Summer by Maisey Yates
Format: Audio
Rating: 4 ☆

Thank you Harlequin Audio and Netgalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Cruel Summer by Maisey Yates is a refreshingly honest and emotionally grounded story about love, regret and the challenges of long-term commitment. It takes a brave and thoughtful look at what happens long after the honeymoon phase ends—especially for couples who started their journey young, with marriage and children at just 18.

What stood out to me most was how real it all felt. Yates doesn’t romanticize or gloss over the tough parts of marriage—especially the kind that’s built under pressure and over time. Instead, she dives deep into the emotional fatigue, miscommunication and unspoken resentment that can build up after years together. And yet, there's still so much tenderness, longing and hope for our FMC. That balance is hard to pull off and Yates does it beautifully.

The characters felt fully developed, with flaws and frustrations that made them feel human and relatable. The emotional journey was messy at times but that made the moments of connection even more impactful. It’s a story about rediscovering love, not just falling into it—and that perspective felt both rare and meaningful when compared to the typical romance novel "blue print".

I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 only because I couldn’t always relate or connect with the FMC and the struggles she goes through but overall, this was a deeply satisfying read that has stayed with me since I finished it.

If you’re looking for a story that digs into the emotional reality of long-term relationships—especially ones that start early and face real-life challenges—Cruel Summer is definitely worth picking up.

Summer vacations are times to treasure, but when plans go awry, is it cruelty or opportunity? Samantha's convinced that not only her summer but everything she's taken for granted for the last twenty plus years is ruined when her husband says he wants to try an open marriage. Her immediate answer to everything is NO. No, she does not want an open marriage, no, she does not want to talk about it with a good family friend, and no, she does not want to spend time driving across the country with him as an assistant. But like the marriage she thought was unshakeable, her “no”s begin to crumble, and she finds herself in the passenger seat, helping deliver newly refurbished antique cars with her rotten husband's best friend, Logan. En route, Sam sees sites she never thought to see and gradually begins to experience profound revelations about herself. She also gets to know a different Logan than the man she thought she knew. I don't love the title, but I did enjoy the book very much, even though I found Sam's character at the beginning a bit overly naive.

Cruel summer by Maisey Yates was the perfect summer book I didn’t know I needed to read. It explores the life of Sam, a woman that has been married to her husband for 22 years, her high school sweetheart and the only love she’s ever known. When her husband suggested a change in their marriage, Sam embarked on a journey of self discovery and possibly of a change that she didn’t know she needed. This book was such a powerful and very well executed story about a women struggling to accept that the life she is living is not as perfect as she thought it was and needs to learn how to give in to a new adventure. I really enjoyed the concept of this novel and about a woman trying to consider the new path she wants to take and find her true identity in the process. As a woman there are so many components that makes us who we are and what defines us as a mother, a wife and an individual. I really felt a deep connection to the FMC and her struggles with individuality and her need to always please others in spite of herself. I loved the character development that we see throughout the story and the importance of being true to oneself and enjoy life to the fullest. I highly recommend this book I really enjoyed this book and will definitely continue to read from this author.


Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the advance audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I was thinking it was going to be a cute rom com and it was so much more. I really couldn’t put the book down I enjoyed it so much. It was such an emotional story with lots of growth.

3.8⭐️ Almost 4!
This was such a cute and fun summer romance! And it has a great message to be yourself and do what makes you happy.

Samantha Parker’s marriage is on the rocks after her husband Will asks for an open marriage. They agree to spend the summer separated to figure out what they want. Sam had the intention of going back to him but when Wills best friend and Sam’s childhood crush, Logan, asks her to join him for the summer on a roadtrip for his work, things begin to change.
Throughout the summer, Sam is faced with a lot of truths and realizations. She does a lot of reflecting and soul searching to figure out who she is and what she truly wants.

In the end she will have to make a decision to stay in her past life where she was comfortable and somewhat happy. Or change her future towards the unknown for something possibly greater.

If you love:
💕 Road trip vibes
💕 Friends to Lovers
💕 Husbands Best Friend
💕 Forced Proximity &
💕 Self discovery

Then you will love this book! I listened to the Audiobook version.

The narrator did an amazing job! She perfected the personality of each character and her voice was nice to listen to.

This was a wonderful book about love and life, and I absolutely loved it!

I was hooked on the story of Sam from the first moments in the Texas Roadhouse, and I really enjoyed watching her character arc play out. Will + Logan were perfect foils for each other, + I really think Sam made the right choice at the end of the summer!

The narrator was wonderful and the audiobook was so easy to listen to.

Thank you to the author and Harlequin Audio for my advance audio copy!

Sam Parker is getting set to enjoy the first summer as empty-nesters with her husband Will when Will makes a shocking announcement. Suddenly, Sam finds herself questioning everything she thought she knew about their relationship and embarks on a series of summer road trips with Will’s best friend Logan..

I devoured this audiobook and found myself listening to it every chance I got. I thought the narrator was wonderful and the story engaging. A lovely bonus was the playlist at the end of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story was super boring for me. About a woman whose husband wants an “open” marriage after several years.
She decides they should split for the summer to think about things. She goes on a road trip with one of their mutual guy friends. The relationship between the two was odd. I felt it wasn’t a burning attraction or love, it was super cringey.
No chemistry. It was a total miss.

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! The narrator was a good match to the characters in this one.

I will be honest, this had a rough start for me. I was not happy at all with the actions of the characters. But, as this tale moved along, I became more vested in their feelings and actually started rooting for Sam and Logan.

Sam and her husband, Will have a good marriage, or so Sam thought. That is until one night Will asks Sam for an open marriage. This completely sends Sam into a tail spin.

This is a story of forbidden love, expectations, friendship and life changing decisions.

The author masterfully took a situation that is not a gray area for me, (it is strictly black and white) to a gray area for me. The way this author slowly created the relationship between Logan and Sam guides the reader through their feelings. Is it forgivable??? You read it and find out…I did end up despising Will!

This is narrated by Nancy Peterson. I thought she did a very good job. I loved her voice for Logan.

Need a tale which will have your emotions all over the place…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I can admit I was interested due to the Taylor Swift lyric title, and this both was and wasn’t what I was expecting.

First - thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin audio for the ALC! 🫶🏻

This was very different from a lot of my other reads. First, our FMC is in her 40s instead of the usual 19 year olds. While still in the romance genre, it’s much more a book about Sam’s self-discovery. It’s about how she learns to figure out what it is she wants, not what her family expects of her. Not what her husband expects of her. Not what her neighbors expect of her. There’s a decent amount of profound and thought-provoking narrative as our FMC navigates through her denial and emotional turmoil of the upheaval of her perfect life. I quite enjoyed it! And the romance? Forbidden. And therefore utterly irresistible 🤪

One thing that wasn’t ~so~ heavily touched on in the book that bothered me was the close-minded reactions to her husband’s desire for an open marriage. I understand that our FMC was blindsided and had every right to be upset, but for every other character to discuss his request with such shame and disgust? Felt a little unnecessary. To me, the husband described a deeper meaning beyond just the physical aspect. But every time the FMC discussed her predicament, she reduced it to his wanting to sleep around. And maybe that’s how the husband used his time (we don’t know) but with the open and honest communication he’d established early in the book, there wasn’t indication that that’s what he wanted or how he intended to use his freedom. I think if that the reader is to believe all he did is sleep around, there needs to be something that demonstrates that.

Okay that was a long rant for such a small part of the book. As I said, much more focused on the FMC and her self-discovery, NOT the husband 😅 Again, overall I enjoyed the story! And kudos to the narrator - she did great!

“Cruel Summer” by Maisey Yates is everything I love in a novel—heartache, secrets, emotional depth, and characters that feel so real you carry them with you long after the final page. Yates masterfully crafts a story that is equal parts poignant and powerful, with layered characters navigating the complexities of grief, guilt, and forgiveness in a small town simmering with tension and buried truths.

The story unfolds with a slow burn, rich in atmosphere and emotional nuance. The dual timelines and shifting perspectives are handled beautifully, adding intrigue and weight to the narrative. As the past and present collide, the mystery intensifies, and I found myself unable to put the book down.

Yates captures the messiness of relationships—between friends, family, and romantic partners—with honesty and empathy. The writing is sharp yet lyrical, and the emotional stakes are high without ever feeling melodramatic.

This book is a standout for fans of domestic suspense, character-driven fiction, or anyone looking for a summer read that offers more than just surface drama. Cruel Summer delivers a powerful, unforgettable story that will leave you thinking long after you finish.

Wow. This book was astoundingly good. It is well-written, realistic, gut-wrenching, and heart-tuggingly perfect. I could not stop listening. Nancy Peterson did a fantastic job narrating. This story hooked me and took me for quite the ride, and I loved every second of it.
This is the story of Samantha who has been married to her high school sweetheart, Will for 22 years. The youngest of their three sons has decided not to come home over the summer. Sam has always wanted to travel, and having her kids young has finally paid off. She's 40 with no kids. Will invites her for dinner and says instead that he wants an open marriage.
Sam is confused and upset. She doesn't understand where this is coming from. After thinking, she decides to say they are separated for the summer with no contact. During this time, Will's best friend, Logan, who restores vintage cars, offers her a job driving the finished cars to their owners across the United States. On these journeys, Sam gets to know herself, Logan, and takes a realistic view of her life.
I can't recommend this book enough. This should be a must-read. The story is so well written and the characters are so well developed. Buy it now!

I really liked this book! As an avid romance reader I liked it because it felt realistic, it feels like a plot that could happen in real life. The conflicts felt very topical to this day and age and I really liked that the main characters were all full fledged adults, so many romance novels these days revolve around college age or early 20's characters, this felt so real. I really enjoyed this book!

Rating: 4.4/5 stars
Sam was absolutely furious when her husband, Will, sat her down in a restaurant one evening and asked her for an "open marriage." Sure, they had gotten married during senior year of high school as a shotgun wedding and now they are empty-nesters, but Sam thought their marriage was good?! But apparently Will has been thinking about opening their marriage for the LAST THREE YEARS!! (Literally, I would be SO IRRATE! Straight to divorce!) Instead of agreeing, Sam compromises with Will to separate for the summer away from each other and come back together at the end to make their final decisions. While Will goes off screwing 20 year olds, Sam decides to help family friend, Logan, with his car restoration business and accompany him in delivering the completed vehicles across the country. Logan is a widower who lost his wife to cancer. He grew up and went to high school with Sam and Will, but was a few years older. What Sam doesn't know is that Logan has ALWAYS wanted her -- since high school. He was just too late. These trips together helps Sam grieve her marriage and really look at what SHE wants in life.

This was such a good summer book to read! I loved how it was a second-chance romance and an older relationship. I knew I was going to like the story based on what a strong reaction I had to Will asking for an open relationship. I really enjoy stories that cause me to feel a variety of emotions and this book did it! This book feels very different than Maisey Yates' typical novels, but I honestly loved how real and raw this story felt. I would recommend this book for others who are in need of a good beach read!

Thank. you to NetGalley for the ARC!