What do you think?
Rate this book
Cruel Summer: Coastal Coconuts
This is the second book in the COASTAL COCONUTS series - a Savannah Bananas Inspired romance!
She’s the new physical therapist for the Coastal Coconuts show-ball team.
He’s the ex from 10 years ago.
& they are both totally over each other. Right?
Wrong.
Years ago, pro-baseball player Zeke Olsen left Ava Harrison broken hearted with no plans to look back—at least that’s what she thought. When Ava takes her dream job as a physical therapist for the Coastal Coconuts—a fun and quirky showball baseball team—Zeke is forced back into her life looking better than ever and very much taken.
Zeke tried to bury his heartbreak with Ava years ago in a relationship of convenience. It was everything he needed to forget about the only woman he’s ever loved. Predictable, loveless, detached, safe. Life was fine until Ava blew back into his life like a hurricane and the resistance he spent years building began to crack.
As old sparks fly and boundaries blur, Zeke struggles to find a way out of the toxic relationship keeping him from his one and only.
Can one summer be enough to save what they used to have?
CRUEL SUMMER is a standalone novel and the second book in the COASTAL COCONUTS series based off the Savannah Bananas baseball team. Cruel Summer is a swoony, second-chance romance with a curvy female main character, alpha male energy and all the found family vibes! Perfect for fans of the Savannah Bananas, Sports romances, messy exes and unexpected happy endings!
Other novels by Angela Parkhurst HYPOTHETICALLY YOURS (baseball romace!), BOMBSHELL (Celebrity/Sports romance, STARFISH (workplace romance), AFTER GLOW (hockey romance), TO GET TO YOU (theatre/best friends brother romance), A SUMMER WITH YOU (fake dating/second chance romance) and the YA fairytale series, THE FORGOTTEN FAIRYTALES.
He’s the ex from 10 years ago.
& they are both totally over each other. Right?
Wrong.
Years ago, pro-baseball player Zeke Olsen left Ava Harrison broken hearted with no plans to look back—at least that’s what she thought. When Ava takes her dream job as a physical therapist for the Coastal Coconuts—a fun and quirky showball baseball team—Zeke is forced back into her life looking better than ever and very much taken.
Zeke tried to bury his heartbreak with Ava years ago in a relationship of convenience. It was everything he needed to forget about the only woman he’s ever loved. Predictable, loveless, detached, safe. Life was fine until Ava blew back into his life like a hurricane and the resistance he spent years building began to crack.
As old sparks fly and boundaries blur, Zeke struggles to find a way out of the toxic relationship keeping him from his one and only.
Can one summer be enough to save what they used to have?
CRUEL SUMMER is a standalone novel and the second book in the COASTAL COCONUTS series based off the Savannah Bananas baseball team. Cruel Summer is a swoony, second-chance romance with a curvy female main character, alpha male energy and all the found family vibes! Perfect for fans of the Savannah Bananas, Sports romances, messy exes and unexpected happy endings!
Other novels by Angela Parkhurst HYPOTHETICALLY YOURS (baseball romace!), BOMBSHELL (Celebrity/Sports romance, STARFISH (workplace romance), AFTER GLOW (hockey romance), TO GET TO YOU (theatre/best friends brother romance), A SUMMER WITH YOU (fake dating/second chance romance) and the YA fairytale series, THE FORGOTTEN FAIRYTALES.
211 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 29, 2025
About the author
Angela Parkhurst
11 books125 followersHello from Sunny Florida!!! I am the author of the COASTAL COCONUTS series, BOMBSHELL series, WRECKING BALL series and THE FORGOTTEN FAIRYTALES series!
I love reading dirty books, drinking coffee, yelling at sports and tattoos. I'm a boy mom & I'm married to my high school sweetheart. I have an obsession with books, coffee, Disney, and hockey/football/soccer. Soccer Moms FTW.
tiktok @angelawrites87
You can follow me on Twitter @angelaparkhurst or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/angelawrites
Insta @angelawrites87
I love reading dirty books, drinking coffee, yelling at sports and tattoos. I'm a boy mom & I'm married to my high school sweetheart. I have an obsession with books, coffee, Disney, and hockey/football/soccer. Soccer Moms FTW.
tiktok @angelawrites87
You can follow me on Twitter @angelaparkhurst or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/angelawrites
Insta @angelawrites87
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 16, 2025
Angela tossed some great surprises into this one and kept the reader engaged throughout. I love the connection to entertainment baseball and I can’t wait to read the next one!
July 31, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
📖 Romance
💓 Is it possible to get over your first true love?
💬 Ava Harrison is ready to take the next step in her career as a physical therapist- that is, if she can stomach being around the only man she’s ever loved.
💓 Read if you like💓:
- Strong FMC
-Savannah Bananas
-Workplace Romance
-Baseball Romance
-Second-Chance
-Curvy FMC
We are back for book two in Angela Parkhurst’s Savannah Bananas-inspired baseball romance series about The Coastal Coconuts baseball team! I was soooo excited to read this and I definitely devoured it in one evening over a few hours!
We literally just saw the Bananas play in Philly over the weekend, so reading Cruel Summer this week was timely.
Cruel Summer follows Ava and Zeke who we met in book one, Hypothetically Yours.
The book starts out ten years prior, when Ava and Zeke officially met in Ava’s brother’s bar. Ava has balls of steel and approaches Zeke, who at the time was a baseball player in the minor leagues, and she basically propositions him. Do I blame her? Absolutely not. She has a gorgeous athlete in front of her, and she decides to shoot her shot. Zeke is like “hm this girl is crazy”, but he literally cannot say no because he is completely enchanted by her every move within seconds of meeting her.
Zeke is convinced him and Ava are end game, but Ava is determined to keep things light and fun because she knows he is about to get called up to the big leagues (and he does). We know where this is headed, right?
Ava and Zeke reunite almost a decade later, when Ava is trying to decide if she should take the dream job she’s been offered- as the PT for the Coastal Coconuts- where Zeke currently plays.
Though this is literally the perfect job for her, she cannot move past a few very large problems-
-Zeke is on the team
-Zeke and Ava do not talk
-Ava is still incredibly heart-broken over Zeke
-Zeke has hinted that he still loves Ava
-ZEKE HAS A GIRLFRIEND
Yikes.
But! Not all is as it seems.
Thankfully!
The comparisons with the real life Savanah Bananas got a little close for me at times. This didn’t turn me off, but it was more like oh, yeah, same.
I need to mention that Zeke’s parents made a small appearance in this book and they were just lovely!! I’d have loved to see more of them.
I loved Ava’s brothers, and her continued close relationship with her Cousin Cece, and some of the players, especially Jackson- I am living for his story next!!!!
Zeke and Ava were both likeable characters- extremely likeable.
Ava has this zest for life that is infectious. She goes after what she wants, and she looks adorable doing it.
Zeke is loving life on the field as a Coastal Coconut- he gets to play baseball, entertain the crowd, and not have all the pressure he had while playing in the major leagues. Zeke is a loyal friend, and I’d even say he’s devoted. He comes from a good family who values love and respect, and though he’s trying to do the right thing, he has a major roadblock in his way, and it all comes to a head in the last quarter of the story.
To be honest, I was not expecting the end at all!! The excitement kicked up a few notches, and suddenly, I was kind of scared and definitely worried that Ava and Zeke would not get their HEA.
The ending was great and really kept me super locked into the story. I remember thinking how there had to be SOMETHING coming to shake things up, and as I was reading, I thought oh- there it is! Then I kept reading and it kept getting crazier!
Oh- speaking of crazy, I tend to be a big hater on MMCs using nicknames. I think if they say it a few times, it’s cute but every-other-line makes me gag. JUST NO. Zeke called Ava crazy girl, and they way he said it just got me. It was freakin’ adorable. He did not overuse it (thank you, Angela!), and it was just perfect and so them!
I downloaded Cruel Summer on Kindle Unlimited, but I think I just may need both books as trophies for my bookshelf!
Looking forward to book three!!
📖 Romance
💓 Is it possible to get over your first true love?
💬 Ava Harrison is ready to take the next step in her career as a physical therapist- that is, if she can stomach being around the only man she’s ever loved.
💓 Read if you like💓:
- Strong FMC
-Savannah Bananas
-Workplace Romance
-Baseball Romance
-Second-Chance
-Curvy FMC
We are back for book two in Angela Parkhurst’s Savannah Bananas-inspired baseball romance series about The Coastal Coconuts baseball team! I was soooo excited to read this and I definitely devoured it in one evening over a few hours!
We literally just saw the Bananas play in Philly over the weekend, so reading Cruel Summer this week was timely.
Cruel Summer follows Ava and Zeke who we met in book one, Hypothetically Yours.
The book starts out ten years prior, when Ava and Zeke officially met in Ava’s brother’s bar. Ava has balls of steel and approaches Zeke, who at the time was a baseball player in the minor leagues, and she basically propositions him. Do I blame her? Absolutely not. She has a gorgeous athlete in front of her, and she decides to shoot her shot. Zeke is like “hm this girl is crazy”, but he literally cannot say no because he is completely enchanted by her every move within seconds of meeting her.
Zeke is convinced him and Ava are end game, but Ava is determined to keep things light and fun because she knows he is about to get called up to the big leagues (and he does). We know where this is headed, right?
Ava and Zeke reunite almost a decade later, when Ava is trying to decide if she should take the dream job she’s been offered- as the PT for the Coastal Coconuts- where Zeke currently plays.
Though this is literally the perfect job for her, she cannot move past a few very large problems-
-Zeke is on the team
-Zeke and Ava do not talk
-Ava is still incredibly heart-broken over Zeke
-Zeke has hinted that he still loves Ava
-ZEKE HAS A GIRLFRIEND
Yikes.
But! Not all is as it seems.
Thankfully!
The comparisons with the real life Savanah Bananas got a little close for me at times. This didn’t turn me off, but it was more like oh, yeah, same.
I need to mention that Zeke’s parents made a small appearance in this book and they were just lovely!! I’d have loved to see more of them.
I loved Ava’s brothers, and her continued close relationship with her Cousin Cece, and some of the players, especially Jackson- I am living for his story next!!!!
Zeke and Ava were both likeable characters- extremely likeable.
Ava has this zest for life that is infectious. She goes after what she wants, and she looks adorable doing it.
Zeke is loving life on the field as a Coastal Coconut- he gets to play baseball, entertain the crowd, and not have all the pressure he had while playing in the major leagues. Zeke is a loyal friend, and I’d even say he’s devoted. He comes from a good family who values love and respect, and though he’s trying to do the right thing, he has a major roadblock in his way, and it all comes to a head in the last quarter of the story.
To be honest, I was not expecting the end at all!! The excitement kicked up a few notches, and suddenly, I was kind of scared and definitely worried that Ava and Zeke would not get their HEA.
The ending was great and really kept me super locked into the story. I remember thinking how there had to be SOMETHING coming to shake things up, and as I was reading, I thought oh- there it is! Then I kept reading and it kept getting crazier!
Oh- speaking of crazy, I tend to be a big hater on MMCs using nicknames. I think if they say it a few times, it’s cute but every-other-line makes me gag. JUST NO. Zeke called Ava crazy girl, and they way he said it just got me. It was freakin’ adorable. He did not overuse it (thank you, Angela!), and it was just perfect and so them!
I downloaded Cruel Summer on Kindle Unlimited, but I think I just may need both books as trophies for my bookshelf!
Looking forward to book three!!
August 14, 2025
I absolutely loved the first book in this series. Even though it had some pacing and writing issues.
This one... I have no idea what happened. Not only was it full of typos, but also the sentence structure was often an issue.
This story also felt very rushed and unorganized. A lot of information seemed unnecessary, I thought it would lead us to a plot twist , and it never did. You saw everything that was coming without surprise.
We also lost the center point being the team, you don't see any game play or fun tricks, the fun is just sort of taken out of it being the Coconuts.
I will probably read the next one though and hope it's more like the first.
This one... I have no idea what happened. Not only was it full of typos, but also the sentence structure was often an issue.
This story also felt very rushed and unorganized. A lot of information seemed unnecessary, I thought it would lead us to a plot twist , and it never did. You saw everything that was coming without surprise.
We also lost the center point being the team, you don't see any game play or fun tricks, the fun is just sort of taken out of it being the Coconuts.
I will probably read the next one though and hope it's more like the first.
July 26, 2025
Cruel Summer was hands down my favorite summer read! Zeke and Ava’s story started with a bang and from
there on I was completely hooked. Their chemistry was off the charts and the spice was 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥!
I absolutely adored the witty banter and sass — not just between the main couple, but the entire cast of characters. I was rooting for Zeke and Ava through every moment that made me laugh and caught me in my feels.
If you’re looking for a steamy Savanna Banana inspired romance with unforgettable characters and dialogue, Cruel Summer delivers in every way!
**I was an ARC Reader**
there on I was completely hooked. Their chemistry was off the charts and the spice was 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥!
I absolutely adored the witty banter and sass — not just between the main couple, but the entire cast of characters. I was rooting for Zeke and Ava through every moment that made me laugh and caught me in my feels.
If you’re looking for a steamy Savanna Banana inspired romance with unforgettable characters and dialogue, Cruel Summer delivers in every way!
**I was an ARC Reader**
December 29, 2025
could not put it down
Read this. Start with the first one, Cece and Rory’s story Hypothetically Yours, then READ THIS. It’s so good, the characters are relatable and funny and sarcastic, the storyline is solid. I rarely leave reviews, only on things I really loved… so just read it!
Read this. Start with the first one, Cece and Rory’s story Hypothetically Yours, then READ THIS. It’s so good, the characters are relatable and funny and sarcastic, the storyline is solid. I rarely leave reviews, only on things I really loved… so just read it!
August 12, 2025
Wanted to read it all in one night but paced myself.
Spicy from page 1. Love filled throughout. So many twists I didn’t see coming! Excitement that kicks up toward the end and made my heart race. Parkhurst did it again! Can’t wait for book 3!
Spicy from page 1. Love filled throughout. So many twists I didn’t see coming! Excitement that kicks up toward the end and made my heart race. Parkhurst did it again! Can’t wait for book 3!
August 18, 2025
SPICY AND HILARIOUS!
the perfect mix of spice, laughs and heart. Zeke is total book-boyfriend material, and the hilarious, heartfelt banter kept me grinning between all the steamy scenes. I finished it in a day! I LOVE how Ava was a good after what she wants girl.
the perfect mix of spice, laughs and heart. Zeke is total book-boyfriend material, and the hilarious, heartfelt banter kept me grinning between all the steamy scenes. I finished it in a day! I LOVE how Ava was a good after what she wants girl.
April 19, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ This was a fun read. I did not like 10 years ago Ava, she was super annoying. There were some inconsistencies throughout with Ava and Zeke’s backstory. And this book definitely needs a lot of editing. Overall though, I did enjoy it
Did Not Finish
August 5, 2026Bleh. Ava is annoying and conceited. Zeke is just annoying. Miscommunication trope (one of my least favorites) and basically just smut. No real plot. Got to page 60 and couldn’t force myself to go on.
August 19, 2025
This is such a good, light-hearted read with some spice! I can’t wait to read more about the other Coastal Coconuts! 🥰
August 31, 2025
This one was still just as cute as the first. Some typos. I felt
Like the beginning was dragged out and the end was rushed. I LOVE Ava. She’s so fun.
Like the beginning was dragged out and the end was rushed. I LOVE Ava. She’s so fun.
November 30, 2025
Great story. Loved the added surprises!
December 31, 2025
This book is a good time. Savannah Bananas inspired. Looking forward to book 3!
June 3, 2026
Loved this book. Would’ve been 5 stars if it were edited. A lot of typos and grammatical errors- I had to read some sentences multiple times to figure them out. But very good book.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews