Cruel Summer

by Maisey Yates

There are no rules this cruel summer…

“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?

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary, Forced Proximity, Road Trip, Fiction

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 24, 2025

About the author

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit. In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book.

Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.

She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.

Reviews

[ari [gin’s vrsn 🩵] [semi ia]]

hehehe i dnfed this book bc i did not vibe with it
also i didn’t like how her and her husband had sex at 17 mentioning they went against their church upbringing 😭
like i would’ve been fine if they just did it but why bring church into it??

thank you netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!


pre-read

i got the arc???

i don’t even know what this book is but i got an email saying it was added to my shelf 😭🥖

[☆EmilyEverAfter☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story pretty well. The narration was good. Easy to listen to! This is a book about finding yourself after losing yourself time and time again in everyone else, taking care of everyone except yourself, and juggling life, motherhood, being a wife, and making a house a home.

The cover of this book seems fun/flirty, but this deals with some heavy, real-life stuff, like growing out of love with your spouse and having an empty nest with no kids at home. Who are you when all of that is gone? I think it's something you probably don't think about until it's staring you in the face. I loved that she got her happily ever after, though. 🙂

With all that being said, there was a ton of inner monologue that felt really repetitive. I get it. Those things kept going through her head, but man, it was a whole lot of the same thoughts..

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.
~~~
I have to say this story started out so sad. Within the first several chapters, I was rolling in tears. With a start like that, I was questioning the author’s direction.

The entire book ended up being something I was not expecting. As the author unraveled this amazing story, it was hard to not feel emotions. It was hard to not look at your own life in a different way and examine the choices made. It was hard to wonder if you see yourself differently than how other people see you.

I love Logan’s progression through their travels and how he challenged Sam with the status quo. Was there an ulterior motive? Eventually, the truth comes through, and it is an amazing connection. Sparks fly between them throughout the story as it changes from challenges and introspection to a true match that is both emotional and steamy.

Cruel Summer is an intense deep dive into self-discovery. This one will make you feel something. It’s such an amazing story!

~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/cruel-summer...

[Tabatha (tab.talks.books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

* 4.25⭐️3🌶️
* Wow if you want to talk about an opposites attraction with so much angst and pining and just giving someone the space to find themselves without any pressure than you would talk about this book. And Logan, Logan Logan Logan. What a swoon worthy patient so romantic man. Both Logan and Samantha’s lives are complicated for their own different reasons. And how they came together. Chefs kiss. First book I’ve read by this author but definitely not even close to the last!
* Samantha Parker's seemingly perfect life is shattered when her husband asks for an open marriage. To process this betrayal, Sam proposes a summer separation, during which she embarks on a cross-country road trip with her husband's best friend, Logan. This journey forces Sam to confront her own desires and identity outside of her marriage, leading to unexpected self-discovery and a potential new romance. 
* Read this if you like: opposites attraction, forced proximity, road trips, angst, self discovery and second chances

[Bre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Canary Street Press and Maisey Yates for this arc. The following is my honest review.

I went into Cruel Summer expecting a slow burn summer read — what I didn’t anticipate was how sharp and captivating Maisey Yates’ storytelling would be, even when it felt like trying to drink from a firehose in the opening chapters. At first, the pacing felt overwhelming, sentences packed with information and emotion, but then I realized it was a reflection of the heroine’s reality — drowning in the shock of a suddenly imploded marriage. The style mirrors the state of mind, and that choice ends up working beautifully.
This is a book about rediscovering yourself when life takes an unexpected left turn. It shines when exploring the tensions between who you are, who you’ve been, and who you deserve to be. The characters aren’t fresh out of college or fumbling through early adulthood — and that felt like a gift. These are people in their forties grappling with questions about belonging, desire, and belonging to themselves first.
I loved how openly the story explores the weight of expectations — from society, from spouses, and from ourselves — and how liberating it can be to shed them. The scene where Samantha is in a dressing room choosing an outfit for herself, making a decision rooted in her own opinion, felt like a quiet revolution. The banter and sparks between her and Logan — from arguing over music to trading stories on long drives — captured that magical “you feel like summer” energy that’s hard to forget.
The second-chance romance here is layered and messy in a very adult, very real way. It doesn’t shy away from the blurred lines between loyalty and betrayal, or the fact that life doesn’t fit into neat binaries. And while some moments felt like they could have been tightened — instances where I found myself thinking, “I get it, can we move on?” — the depth of the inner monologues ultimately paid off. I came away knowing these characters like friends.
Logan is an absolute scene-stealer. The dynamic between him and Samantha felt reminiscent of some of my favorite book boyfriends — broody but nurturing, gruff but kind. The intimacy here crackles (and whew, the spice delivers), but it’s also grounded in trust and vulnerability, making those moments feel earned.
If I had one qualm, it’s that the ending felt a bit ambiguous, leaving questions about where these characters landed long term. But in a way, that suits the nature of this book — a story about finding belonging and beauty in the undefined spaces, about making peace with life being a work in progress.
In the end, Cruel Summer is a compelling, poignant exploration of second acts and second chances. Maisey Yates delivers a memorable summer read that celebrates resilience, reinvention, and rediscovering joy when the roadmap you’ve been following goes up in flames.

[Mandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!!!

It now has a special place in my heart. I think as a woman you’re always expected to be a certain way and always think about what others might say and always always ALWAYS put everyone else’s needs before your own, those are topics that are really highlighted in this book.

It was so relatable in that aspect as well as how messy grief is. How it shatters you. How you have to learn to deal with it, process it. How healing is not linear and some days are better than others.

This book also touched on allowing yourself to be as you are and be happy with just you.

Finding yourself again after you’ve allowed yourself to be lost in everyone else.

There was relationship love in this book but more than anything it was about loving you, falling in love with yourself and choosing yourself and your happiness because YOU MATTER!

Also highlights how healing love is and how you can become the best version of yourself when you’re loved completely as you are and as you transform into who you’re meant to be.

This was a wonderfully written book. I loved every bit of it. I see myself reading this again in the future. It was so beautiful.

The author’s note mentioned her real life battle with loss and grief and as someone that struggles with that, it was so palpable how realistic it was that I didn’t need to read that to know this author knows what it’s like to lose someone.

I could go on endlessly about this book but I’ll stop here.

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press and Maisey Yates for giving me an ARC of this spectacular book!

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon.

[Natalia🌙 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

*A review for a NetGalley unpublished advanced copy*

A story of a woman learning to define herself outside of her relationship- with help from her husband’s hot widower bestie. I found this premise pretty promising, definitely intriguing where I wanted to see how things came together and where the relationship ended up by the conclusion of the summer. While I think most of us who subscribe to the idea of monogamy would be devastated if our partner presented the idea of an open marriage to us, this book was almost the perfect way to play out what could happen without ever having to tread such waters. It was also a great exploration of the norms placed on us by society and how shame is a powerful motivator, for better or worse.

While I was captivated enough to keep reading, I was left wanting more in the way of background with Will and more time developing Logan and Sam’s tension until they had no choice but to act.

One thing of note is that this is HEAVY on introspection and inner strife about what is good and what is bad, what rules we have to follow as part of a society and especially the norms in a small, conservative town. Honestly I’m not sure I like Sam; I found her annoying and a bit ridiculous at times. I overthink but she takes it to new places. Like the amount of dialogue pushing the plot forward was missing and was replaced by Sam’s thoughts for long, long periods of time, and it was often repetitive where you could skip over it. The dialogue wasn’t witty, didn’t rise to the level of banter that I’ve enjoyed in other books; rather it was choppy and disjointed. It kind of felt more realistic because Sam didn’t have a 10/10 comeback or retort or couldn’t express her feelings when pressed by Logan, but also completely unrealistic in that it was phrased somewhat formally.

********Thoughts as I go*********

Holy cow my heart hurts for Sam. As a newly-ish wed, I can’t imagine my husband asking for what Will is. Just like Sam, there’s no way I could wrap my head around what he’s saying without 1. Taking it personally and 2. Wondering how I could fix it.

Sam’s friends are great, so supportive and willing to be whatever type of friend she needs. Whether it’s the devil’s advocate to help her open her mind or just to be outraged with her, they’re present and genuine.

Logan taking her side?! Okay having read the description of the book, I knew there had to be a way they ended up on the road trip together, but this was honestly unexpected. Knowing his marriage’s sad ending, it makes more sense that he would be so against ever ruining a healthy, lasting marriage, especially with the thought that it was his singleness that inspired it.

Seeing Sam slowly take back parts of her individual self: try on a bikini and realize her body was wholly hers and no one else’s; learning to pump her own gas; going out to dinner alone and talking to a guy; getting a tattoo!!

OKAY, LOGAN!! Claim what you want!! (Granted, I’m not sure how this is all going to resolve itself but the vibe I’m getting right now is that Logan and Sam end up together.) It’s such a nice foil to Will who apparently wasn’t all Sam thought he was. That someone could offer her more, take care of her instead of solely caring for him.

Now… the mechanical bull thing is weird. I guess I understand it’s sort of an Everest for her to conquer but for real, to do it on another guy’s dime FIVE times is a bit much. As much as the inner dialogue has given me insight to Sam, I wouldn’t think she’s that naive (especially that she understood the dangers of talking to and dancing with a stranger previously) and that much in her own little world. Even more confusing at this point is Logan’s declaration that she’s in denial about THEM?!

Okay the flashback helped. However I just don’t think we have quite enough built up to believe that Logan’s been waiting for sam this whole time. Maybe there’s more flashbacks we need? He’s freaking tf out about this though.

Their follow up conversations aren’t very productive either. Sam comes to the conclusion that she needs to figure out how she’s made her marriage wrong and unfulfilling- which she blames herself for. So like half good, half bad. Then the trip unceremoniously ends. Onto the next for more plot!!

Second trip is a doozy. Zip line and tattoos to help Sam realize she’s her own person. I’m glad she’s thinking that she might not end up with Will. But I’m not glad she might’ve screwed things up with Logan just because she wants a new experience.
HE LEFT HER IN BOSTON? Okay extreme, Logan!!?

Now to the steamy parts- FINALLY! It is kind of a weird switch that was flipped when Logan at first is like, no, not until you say your marriage is over. But then they both just can’t handle it and throw caution to the wind? Sure. And now, they’re in an expensive hotel and she’s just getting naked because she can and she just feels comfortable about it now? They’re definitely in the honeymoon phase of this.. situation.. and I’m prepping myself mentally for the anguish I’m going to feel with whatever plot climax comes along.

Voicing her decision and feelings to her friends makes it feel official. She’s not happy with Will and she feels for Logan.

Why’s he being weird? She’s way more into him I guess. Would love his perspective leading up to her confession. Don’t like how he’s so enlightened when it comes to other people, supposedly due to his work in therapy, but won’t extend that to his own actions and line of thinking. “I’m better when there’s an end.” I get it, but I really don’t get it.

The ending was quickly tying a haphazard bow on a nonissue. I don’t think Sam ever really had to sit in the strife of wondering whether Logan would come around to the idea of being in a full fledged relationship. It seemed to all happen rather quickly, even in the epilogue where they said they waited to move things along, but it’s only been a year. Not sure about Oregon, but some states take at least that long for divorce proceedings, whether amicable or not.

I liked the tie in at the end with the scene from an earlier trip where Sam is overcome by the vastness of the world and the endless possibilities that are available to her.

Finally, and honestly, I partially requested this book because of the title (I’m a casual swiftie) but had no clue how many references to her songs there would be, like with the FLORIDA!!! mention and finally the official playlist following the epilogue. Guilty as Sin truly the best song for Sam for most of this book!!

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

CRUEL SUMMER is long on introspection and full of inner dialogue as Sam, the FMC, finds herself at a crossroads. Her nest is about to empty and she’s struggling with her changing role as a mother. When her husband proposes they try an open marriage, she is stunned. They agree to a summer apart with no contact.

When her husband’s best friend offers her the opportunity to accompany him on a cross country drive, she throws caution to the wind and accepts.

This is the story of Sam reclaiming her life and redefining her identity. There are many poignant moments and LOTS of repetitive reflections.

Thanks to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

[Renae · Rating 5 out of 5]

A huge thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. Sam’s comfortable life was turned upside down by one sentence from her husband of 22 years, which led her to a summer of self-reflection and growth as she worked through what she viewed as a tough time. While initially slow, I found myself hooked and couldn’t put the book down. I originally thought that it was going to be a typical rom-com, and instead I found it to be very thought provoking and beyond enjoyable to see the character come into herself and realize what she wanted, and find happiness along the way. Don’t pass up on what is sure to be an amazing Summer 2025 read!

[Abby G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m thankful I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley.
In her 40s - Samantha’s life gets turned upside down when her husband asks for an open marriage.
That launches her into a journey of self discovery. The book plays out in the present but also has flashbacks where we see Sam deal with the grief of losing her mother but we also catch glimpses of a person who was there for her in the toughest of times.
I enjoyed the flashbacks in the book. It gave me more insight into her new situationship with Logan.
In the end Samantha learns to advocate for herself and her happiness.

BTW the end of the book has a playlist with lots of Taylor Swift songs

[Bekah Groop · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this might be a spicy summer romance but it ended up being about rediscovering yourself, falling out of love with your spouse, empty nesting, grief, denial, cancer, and why not throw in some religious baggage, too? This poor woman is going through it! This is like a giant therapy session inside Samantha’s head so it gets messy and repetitive, but it’s very listenable.

[The Sewist's Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐ (Story) 5
⭐ (Narrator) 5
🌶️ 1.5
🥵 Spicy Chapters: 22, 23, 27
📚 Tropes/Themes: road trip, love triangle-ish, flashbacks, it's always been you, friends to lovers, finding yourself
👀 Single POV 3rd person
🎙️ Single narration ( Nancy Peterson)
⏰ Approx 10 hours
💔 Triggers: mentions of parental death, terminal illness, cheating-ish
🛍️ Available: Now

💬 God I freaking love Maisey Yates' writing. 😩This book was phenomenal, and I went feral for it. This sucked me in right away with the emotions around her husband's request for an open marriage, I think probably because I'm of a similar age as the MCS. It's not that I've experienced this, just that I have been married a long time and I feel like I would have a very similar reaction to what Sam had.

"Because they made their marriage such a safe place it couldn't support anything difficult" 🥺

There is so much emotion packed into this story, from the initial separation from her husband, to the long talks, experiences on their road trip, and just Sam and her journey of taking stock of her life and finding herself as a 40 yo empty nester. It's definitely more chick lit than romance and I 👏🏼 am 👏🏼 here👏🏼 for 👏🏼 it👏🏼

I will say, for me it was a little bit of a weird headspace to be in because I'm the same age as the MC's (which please, authors, I'm begging you there needs to be more books about 40+ yos), and to consider the life I've lived, my marriage and the choices I've made as well as to get kind of an up close and personal /raw view of someone else's (admittedly fictional) life. To consider the choices that they made, what they lived through. I'm sure people would enjoy this story on a surface level, but it was kind of introspective for me as well.

I also think the narrator did a fantastic job. She really helped bring to life the emotions that Sam was going through. I also didn't hate the voices she used for Logan and Will 😂🤪

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropes
- Marriage in crisis 💔
- Road trip romance 🚗
- Best friend’s ex 😬
- Self-discovery glow-up ✨
- Emotional second chance 💞

Samantha Parker thought she had it all the husband, kids, stability. But when Will, her husband, drops the “open marriage” bomb, Sam doesn’t spiral, well not a lot. She pauses, reflects, and then chooses herself. This isn’t a meltdown it’s more like a masterclass in emotional evolution.

Logan Martin, Will’s best friend, steps in with a classic car and a whole lot of unresolved tension. Their road trip across North America becomes the perfect backdrop for Sam’s transformation. She’s not chasing romance she’s rediscovering her voice, her desires, and her worth.

Why It Works:
- Sam’s growth is subtle but powerful. She doesn’t burn it all down she rebuilds with intention.
- Will’s honesty is uncomfortable but necessary. It’s a reminder that even painful truths can lead to healing.
- Logan is emotionally guarded, but their connection is built on mutual respect and slow-burn chemistry.
- The story doesn’t promise easy answers it offers clarity, forgiveness, and the freedom to choose your own path.

Final Take:
Cruel Summer is a story for anyone who’s ever asked, “Is this all there is?” It’s about stepping out of the shadows, embracing discomfort, and realizing that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is rewrite your own story. If you're married I think the story will resonate with you in some way.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

For the complexity of being a woman and how everyone expects you to be a certain way, I really applaud this book. Especially throwing in religion and how it shapes your life because it tells you something is wrong if you don’t get married, it intrigued me.

However, the writing left a lot to be desired. Sam is a very complex character and I didn’t find her inner thoughts interesting enough to care. However, I did find relatable the moments when she started questioning everything she had done and finding out she wasn’t doing it for herself but because she had been told that’s the way she was supposed to be. Plus how she went through the grief of losing her mom made me sad for her.

Another part that weirded me out a bit was her having attraction to Logan for a while before Will asked for an open marriage. The entire situation felt a bit messy but that’s okay. Sam and Logan were good for each other. I loved seeing them come together to what they ended up being. Just wish there was more of a depth to them. Things did get a bit spicy so I give it a 2 🌶️ out of 5.

Thank you NetGalley, Canary Street Press and Maisey Yates for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

[Jazz .☘︎ ݁˖ · Rating 3 out of 5]

♬ “Mr. steal your girl, then make her cry…”

A fun, romantic journey about finding love in unexpected places, new adventures, and living for yourself, being unapologetically you.

THE ROMANCE WARMED MY COLD, COLD HEART!!! No, because the tension and chemistry between Logan and Sam was insanely intense, like I'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WEREN'T TOGETHER TO BEGIN WITH. Logan truly saw the deepest, rawest parts of Sam like Will never could. He was the push she needed to start living her life the way SHE wanted.

The audiobook was delightful! I love to pair the audio with the actual book and follow along; it makes it feel cinematic. I do think that the narrator lacked the emotions needed in her voice, but aside from that I can’t complain!

Yes, there are things I’d say need improvement, but I’m happy with how this read turned out, and I 100% recommend it. Especially to my Swifties!

⛐ 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀
Single dad
Widower MMC
Husbands best friend (NO CHEATING!)
Slow burn
HE fell first
Enemies to lovers (kind of???)

Book itself: 2.7 ★
Audiobook: 3.6 ★

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾 & 𝙖𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙤𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠!

[vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

I love love love reading books about women finding love again, especially after being in an eye opening past relationship. Our characters were so realistic and honestly enjoyable. I really appreciated how fleshed out this book felt.

This book was charming, witty and just overall really enjoyable. Our narrator Nancy Peterson did an amazing job of bringing this book and its characters to life.

[Logen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars rounded up to 4

I enjoyed this book a lot! It’s not often that a romance novel involves characters in their 40s, which is a refreshing change of pace. I love a romance that involves a road trip and this did not disappoint. I liked how mature the MCs were and how the FMC learned so much about herself throughout the book. I wasn’t a huge fan of the third act breakup, but the conclusion of the book was still good!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review!

[Michelle Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

[Bex D · Rating 5 out of 5]

TW - cancer and death x2

But still 5 stars because I raced through this book and it was exactly what I needed

[✨Priscilla✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cruel Summer is a book of second chances. Second chance at living, loving, loss, and more. Samantha’s journey is a hard and beautiful one. There was some repetitiveness and maybe a little too much detail when it came to the road trips and internal dialogue that could have sped up the story and kept it engaging. This is definitely a slow burn romance so buckle in for the journey! The jumps between the present and past were a great addition. I would have loved to get a chapter or two of Logan giving his perspective or more dialogue between Sam and Logan. Overall great read and will definitely look for more of Yates’ writing.

Thank you Net Galley and Maisey Yates for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[E-Reader Addict · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm….this one has my thoughts all over the place.

I’ve read a handful of Maisey Yates books, but I wasn’t expecting this one. And I’m still thinking about it several days after finishing it.

Heads up…this review is gonna have spoilers. I usually stay away from revealing key parts of a story, but this time I need this review to also help me sort out my thoughts and feelings - which can’t be done if I don’t “discuss” some spoiler-type items. But before I tell you to leave if you want to avoid my spoilers, I will say this: Cruel Summer was much deeper and more nuanced than I usually expect from a Maisey Yates book. As someone who has been married over 30 years, I could easily relate to the heroine. Did I totally like how things went in the book? No. But I’m always going to appreciate a book that grapples with the messiness of life and marriage.

Okay, now is the time to go away if you don’t want messy details!

Cruel Summer is about Samantha Parker - whose husband of 20 years tells her he’d like to have an open marriage, and Logan Martin - the best friend of Sam’s husband.

Sam, who feels happy and satisfied with her life, is naturally hurt and upset when her husband announces - over dinner - he’d like to open their marriage. She very reluctantly agrees to the scheme for the summer.

Enter Logan…who right away lets Sam know he thinks his best friend has climbed to the very top of a super tall stupid tree and is going to hit every branch on his fall down. Because Logan has his own perspective: 10 years ago he lost his wife after a battle with cancer and he would do just about anything to have her back. Or, at least that’s what you think… At any rate, Logan proposes Sam spend the summer helping him deliver the classic cars he’s restored all across the country.

Of course, the more time they spend together, the closer they become.

And here’s the messy part of this book…long story short, Logan loved his wife, but he lost Sam to his best friend when they were in high school. Also, several years after Logan’s wife had died, and shortly after Sam was reeling from her mother’s death, Logan and Sam almost kissed while their families were on vacation together. So instead of Logan being this stand-up guy who was there for his best friend’s wife when her husband decided to be an idiot and just happened to develop feelings for her, he was really just this guy who was ready to take advantage of the situation to get the girl he’s always wanted.

And that took a lot of the wind out of this romance reader’s sail. Apparently I am okay with messy, but I’m less okay with the shades of gray I felt surrounded Sam and Logan’s relationship.

Still, I DO love a book that makes me think. And I liked how things ended. So I’m considering that a win.

thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[January · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cruel Summer by Maisey Yates (2025)
10h 38m narrated by Nancy Peterson, 320 pages

Genre: Adult Fiction > Polyamory, Marriage & Divorce

Featuring: Texas Roadhouse, Life After Teen Pregnancy, High School Sweethearts, Empty-Nesters, Over 20 Years of Marriage, Quadragenarians, Open Marriage Trope, Long Chapters, Marital Conflict, Widower, Unexpected Love Trope - Spouse's Best Friend, Cross Country Road Trips, Classic Cars, Jacksonville, Oregon; Medford, Oregon; Church Folk, Opposites Attract Trope, Bakersfield, California; Multiple US Cities, Sex - Detailed, Writer, Adult Children, Gossip, Guilt, Self-Actualization, Playlist

Rating as a movie: NC-17/ X for adult content and language

Songs for the soundtrack: "Dance, Dance" by Fall Out Boy, "Down With The Sickness" by Disturbed, "Bad Day" by Fuel, "HOT TO GO!" by Chappell Roan, "Fat Juicy & Wet" by Bruno Mars and Sexyy Red, "Lost in This Moment" by Big & Rich, "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac,
"Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’" by Michael Jackson, "A Little Less Conversation" by Elvis Presley, "Florida!!!" by Taylor Swift, "Glory Days" by Bruce Springsteen

Books and Authors mentioned: Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💔🚘🛣

My thoughts: 📱16% 1:46:43 Chapter 4 - I predict this will not end well, but he asked for it.

I had high hopes for this one even after I discovered its plot however Logan got on my nerves during the second half. I agree that Will was a jerk and I knew how it was going to end, messy, after the first 2 chapters but I felt that Logan had been manipulative from day one down to when he befriended Will 20 years ago and I wasn't a fan of how the relationship between him and Sam developed at all.

Recommend to others: I'm not sure, maybe.


Memorable Quotes: “I like our life too. But I see our life as limited. We have barriers and walls built up around what we do, and maybe it isn’t even because it’s what we want. It’s because we learned a set of rules a long time ago, and we’re following them without questioning them. Are we…normal because it’s what we want or because it’s what we were taught to do?” “I don’t get it.” “Monogamy isn’t the only way to do marriage.” Suddenly she was just…mad. Because she had seen this summer stretching before them like so many other summers. She’d thought they might go to the beach or maybe go camping. Go to dinner, sit on the back deck and drink wine at night. Instead he’d detonated this bomb between them, and yes, he was being honest. Yes, he’d done this instead of sneaking around. But she hadn’t been ready for it, and it felt brutal. “You want to fuck other women,” she said, the language she so rarely used hard and echoing in the car, like she’d slapped him. “Sam…” “No, like, let’s be really clear about this. You want to have sex with other women.” She realized there was another aspect she’d never considered. Because he had been talking so much about the things you did just because they were the accepted things to do. Maybe there was more to it. “Or is it men? Are you like… Have I been holding you back from…” “No. Not men.” “So just…you want to sleep with other women.” That was worse. At least if it was men, she’d know what they had that she didn’t. She’d still feel upset she wasn’t enough for her husband, but she wouldn’t have to wonder if it was just about her stretch marks and her forehead wrinkles. “Yes.”

[Mallory Moureau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publication and Maisey Yates for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was ok for me. The storyline was interesting but also unappealing. A marriage in crisis is a hard sell for me but I was intrigued enough to read it.

The writing was fine but then felt like it was trying too hard in parts. So much of their conversations felt like regurgitated therapy that it didn’t feel realistic.

There were times I was cheering for Samantha and times I wanted to tell her to go home, be quiet for a minute and enjoy time by herself. There were times I was swooning over Logan and times he really was doing too much.

The religious shame and guilt was frustrating but I tried to remember it was the characters perspective, not the authors opinion but it felt repetitive.

I know this was an ARC, but I was surprised at the number of incorrect words, names, etc. Those issues are not impacting my rating but thought it should be mentioned.

[Lydia M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!

“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.”

Cruel Summer starts off with Sam and Will taking a summer off from their marriage - which is crushing for Sam. We follow her through the summer where she grows and learns so much about herself.

Heads up that this book is definitely not a cute romcom, but more of an emotional love story with growth and rediscovery.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Kayla_Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Cruel Summer
Author: Maisey Yates
Narrated by: Nancy Peterson
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Length: Approximately 10 hours and 38 minutes
Source: Thank you @netgalley for the review copy.

What is your favorite song of the summer? I do love the song “Cruel Summer” by Bananarama so this title caught my eye. I finished this book up at the start of last week, which is perfect with summer coming to an official end today. Our weather in Northeast Wisconsin also warmed back up this week so we have more summer weather.

Samantha Parker has a comfortable life with marriage to her high school sweetheart, Will, and three kids. They are ready to start on their empty nest phase when Samantha is blindsided by Will stating that he wants an open marriage. She proposes that they have a summer apart with no contact to determine how they want to move forward. Samantha wants to spend summer finding herself. Will’s best friend, Logan, asks her to go with him to deliver restored class cars across the country as a part time summer job. Will Samantha find herself? Will she and Will reunite?

My thoughts on this novel:
• The audiobook was good. The Narrator was pleasant to listen to and the story was engaging. I just had a hard time listening to it at the end when it took a turn into steamy romance.

• This was not a breezy summer book as it tackled many hard topics.

• I can’t imagine my husband coming home one day and asking for an open marriage. What a shock – especially are they are just coming empty nesters with more time to spend together.

• It was really Will wanting cake and to eat it too. He didn’t want a divorce, but wanted to screw around since they married so young and never had another relationship.

• I had a hard time with the romance. On her adventures with Logan, it comes out that Logan has loved her since high school and she was attracted to him too. How does this work?

• Overall, in the book, Samantha is working on finding herself and what she wants in life instead of trying to please everyone else.

• I love vintage cars so the descriptions of the cars and taking them cross country was fun for me.

• This book had spicy scenes, forced proximity, 2nd chance romance, and opposites attract.

Overall, Cruel Summer by Maisey Yates was an interesting summer read that tackled a lot of hard topics.

This review was first posted on my blog at: https://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2025...

[Drew | pawsitivelybookish9 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️

So, I’m going to start off with saying that I loved the premise of this book. The idea of the couple being married for 22 years and their kids are grown and out of the house and now the husband wants an open marriage. I think the idea had real potential. The follow through and writing could’ve been so much better.

Normally, I love Maisey Yates books. This one was a near miss for me. I am not a fan of the insta-love trope and that is exactly what this was. It is termed a forced proximity and yes that is technically what it was. However, it was of her own choosing. She choose to go on the road trips with her husbands best friend because she had nothing else to do while her husband went and sowed his wild oats in Hawaii.

The whole following the church and her upbringing was a negative for me also. I feel like we were being force fed her beliefs and upbringing. If they were discussed as a flashback, that would be one thing. But it continued to come up over and over again even though she is no longer a minor; she is a 40 year old woman. Also, at one point the MMC told her that he wouldn’t have sex with her until she was sure that she wasn’t going to go back to her husband and then 5 pagesish later he was taking her to bed. Have him stick to his guns and hit us with the slow burn that comes in at the end. Finally, I felt like a lot of the FMC’s inner dialogue was very repetitive. She kept telling herself the same things over and over. This book could’ve been 100 pages less if some editing had taken place.

I did like the fact that the FMC developed and grew throughout the course of the book. It was nice to see that growth and it was nice to see the best friend support her and help her develop. I also enjoyed how the book started out. Like I said at the beginning, the premise of the book was a great idea. I was drawn in when the FMC’s husband sat her down and told her he wanted an open marriage. I was like, “Oh shit!” However, from that point on, it kinda died for me.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to ARC read this book in return for an honest review.

[Jaylee Swanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!