𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐲 𝐘𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★★

I just adored this book full of a summertime romance, second chances and new beginnings!

I honestly wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book much when the main character Sam’s husband asked for an open marriage. I cringed a bit but continued on, and I’m so glad I did! I felt this story was truly inspiring for Sam, the 40 year mom to 3 college students, going out into the world and learning to find herself again. I just loved that it was of course with her husband’s hot best friend Logan! That does sound a lot more scandalous than the story truly is, but believe me you will appreciate the beauty that unfolds with these two.

The summer of road trips, driving classic cars to Logan’s clients and learning to discover one’s true self along the way was beautiful and very relatable which I think that was my favorite part of the story!

I listened to the audiobook and read the ebook in tandem and I loved the way Nancy Peterson brought this story to life with her narration.

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
Road Trips
40+ MC
Self Discovery
Second Chances
Slow Burn
Summer Vibes

This book started with what felt like a real slap in the face from the first chapter it had me gripped. I wouldn’t quite believe at points what was happening. I’ve never read a romance from the perspective of someone married for 20 plus years in their 40s and showing what life can be like in that world and I feel like this was a great representation.

I really liked the changes through the FMCs view point on she realised that she was truly just living for other people creating no conflict and pleasing other people and watching her find herself and change was great. I personally was a fan of the falling in love with the best friend and that story route, however I know that part might be mixed feelings for people.

It was a fun summer book, and I enjoyed the trip aspect of it and feeling like you were exploring the cities with them when you were listening.

Really enjoyed the narrator and thought it was a great audiobook. Thank you so much to the author and NetGalley for an early copy of the ALC.

Right away, the book starts with a breakup and “we should see other people” after 22 years of marriage. Sam married her husband, Will, after an early pregnancy in their relationship. They just became empty nesters when this bomb drops. What’s most infuriating is that Will is being kind and considerate about his request, but expected Sam to also go along with this open marriage concept, even though she loved their life.

She blames Logan, his charming best friend who lost his wife tragically years ago and has chosen to live the single life. When Logan approaches Sam after hearing the news, he is appalled and Sam thinks maybe she got him all wrong. Sam and Will decide to take a summer to live separately, Sam knows she won’t seek out any others and is sure Will will decide he wants to stay with her.

Instead of doing nothing, Logan hires her to help with his work as he travels around the country. She is torn between striving for her relationship and normalcy, but also enjoying the spontaneous life Logan tends to lead.

This summer romance novel was very real, unique themes and very much will be relatable to those older couples who maybe married due to society pressure or just settled because it’s what everyone else expected.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. Release date 6/24/25!

Rating⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice🌶️🌶️

Wow!! Wow wow that was amazing! The way this story hit you from the very start was so impactful. I was in tears within the first few chapters and that is when I knew this was a five star read! And the Audi was fabulous! The narrator was perfect for the character!

Thank you to #NetGalley and #HarlequinAudio for an advance listening copy of #CruelSummer. A woman goes on a road trip of self discovery. 4 stars.

☀️ALC 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠☀️

𝓒𝓻𝓾𝓮𝓵 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓮𝓻 by @maiseyyates

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

🗓️ 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟰, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱

📄 320

𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕖𝕩𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕥:
💔Marriage in Trouble
🚘Road Trip
💕Self-Discovery
☀️Grief Journey

“𝘚𝘢𝘮 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨.”

When Sam’s husband of 22 years asks for an open marriage, Sam’s perfect world comes crashing down. Will and Sam agree to go no contact and spend the summer apart. When an unexpected offer of adventure presents itself, Sam soon finds herself riding in classic cars with top down… seeing new places with her husband’s best friend, Logan.

𝕄𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:
Cruel Summer was a delightful read. A story of healing, self-discovery, and the beauty that can be discovered in the most unlikely places.

This one pulled me in from the start. Sam is such a relatable character, like many women, her husband and children became her identity over the years. Seeing her break out and truly live life for the first time was so rewarding. From riding a mechanical bull in a Honky Tonk in Texas to getting her first tattoo, Sam truly discovered who she was and what exactly she wanted out of life. This was a beautiful and emotional journey that was so well written. It was such an enjoyable read, I was cheering for Sam the entire way and read it in one day.

Logan, her husband’s best friend.. It sounds terrible but it is so tastefully written. The way he supported, listened, and cared for Sam truly showed his character and I loved him.

“𝒴𝑜𝓊’𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓂𝓎 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒. 𝑀𝓎 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓁 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒.”

I was so excited to get to listen to this story again and the narrators did an amazing job bringing this book to life!
💋 @netgalley @htp_books @htp_hive @harpercollins360