The Summer Oath

by Claire Friedman, Maya Hawke (Narrator), KJ Apa (Narrator)

A witty, contemporary romantic comedy inspired by Shakespeare's classic Love's Labour's Lost, starring Maya Hawke, KJ Apa, Ego Nwodim, Milly Alcock, Alexandra Shipp, Gavin Casalegno, and Peri Gillpin

Bestselling romance author Livia Gaines (Maya Hawke) hasn't written a single usable sentence since her long-term boyfriend blindsided her with a breakup—an ironic twist for someone paid to make happily-ever-afters look easy. With her deadline looming and her publisher threatening to cancel her contract, Livia's agent offers a housesit a secluded Hamptons estate and finish her novel in peaceful isolation.

When her best friends catch wind of this opportunity, they quickly invite themselves along. For Zara (Ego Nwodim), the Hamptons is the perfect hunting ground to snare a wealthy husband instead of facing her career woes. For Eloise (Milly Alcock), who was recently scammed by a medium, the summer house is an ideal rent-free sanctuary where she can realign her chakras (and credit score).

Livia reluctantly agrees to their company with one non-negotiable a summer-long vow of absolutely no romantic entanglements. Easy enough—until another housesitting group arrives, claiming equal rights to the property—courtesy of the estate's other divorced owner. Among these unexpected housemates is Ezra Keats (KJ Apa), the college crush Livia never quite recovered from, the what-if she’s been fictionalizing ever since. As Livia battles both her deadline and her undeniable attraction to Ezra, her friends secretly abandon their promises, embarking on passionate affairs they clumsily hide from their oath-keeping friend.

With summer temperatures rising and her publisher's deadline hanging over her, Livia faces multiple a manuscript that refuses to materialize, a seemingly interested crush who inconveniently keeps showing up shirtless, friends sneaking around behind her back, and a looming discovery that could get them all evicted.

By Labor Day, Livia must confront the truth that the most authentic love story she could tell might be the messy, unscripted one she's living. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry, this sparkling summer escape with a star-studded cast proves that sometimes the best plots are the ones we can't control.

Genres: Audiobook, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Rom Com, Chick Lit, Summer

Audible Audio

Published April 30, 2026

Reviews

[Amy]

No. I’m too old for this nonsense.

[exploraDora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audiobook and had a really good time with it. While I understand some of the criticism and can see why it doesn't have the highest rating on Goodreads, I think it's much more enjoyable than its average rating suggests. This isn't a literary masterpiece, but it doesn't need to be. It's a light, fun summer story filled with small moments that made me smile and kept me invested in the characters.

The audiobook was a particular highlight. Having Maya Hawke and KJ Apa as part of the cast added a lot to the experience and made the story feel lively and engaging.

Overall, this was exactly the kind of easy, entertaining summer read I was in the mood for, and I enjoyed it more than I expected.

[micky :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so fun!!! I highly recommend to everyone who loves a good romance. The cast is perfect, the characters were perfect, and the whole ending concept was so cool. I want more of these types of audiobooks so if you have any recs plz share!! Perfect summer subway listen.

[Hunter Ross · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was simply horrible. If Lord of the Flies was in the Hamptons and stocked with horny teenagers (they are not that age but act like it) who were genetically modified to make them nymphomaniacs. Breaking NEWS: The FMC is Dolores Jane Umbridge's daughter. She is selfish, horribly mean, self-centered, rude, hateful, treats her friends like absolute excrement (they are not much better) and as complex and deep as water in the desert. The spoiled brats trash a house they are house-sitting, are constantly sleeping with others, and if you turn up the volume you can hear their livers' screaming for help from their alcoholic behavior. The MMC is kind, heartfelt, and happens to be rich so they take complete advantage of him and the FMC treats him like absolute shite. A ninth-inning apology and then magically everything is apparently fine. I once read a review where the reviewer said they had second hand embarrassment for a book, that is how I feel about this shambles.

[Clara · Rating 1 out of 5]

No❤️

[Dinika · Rating 1 out of 5]

I lost a few brain cells with this one. Why did I finish it, you ask? Because sometimes you indulge in something that you know is not good for you, but you continue anyway, only to be left feeling disappointed and slightly disgusted with yourself.

[Faeries& Dragons]

just no!!!!!!

[Callaway Bridgforth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want to throw tomatoes at all of these characters

[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sun, Secrets, and Seriously Good Chemistry.



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚🩷💙❤️
Spice/Heat: 🌶️🌶️
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎
Character development: 😋😉😎
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Full Cast Duet Narration

Claire Friedman’s The Summer Oath is the kind of audiobook that feels tailor-made for headphones on a warm day; light, witty, and just messy enough to keep things interesting. Inspired by Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost, the story follows romance author Livia Gaines as she escapes to the Hamptons to cure her writer’s block… and promptly vows to avoid romance altogether. Naturally, that promise doesn’t last long.

What makes this audiobook stand out immediately is its full-cast narration, and it absolutely delivers. Maya Hawke leads the performance as Livia, bringing a grounded vulnerability that makes her both relatable and frustrating in the best way. KJ Apa complements her perfectly as Ezra, the irresistible “one that got away,” and their chemistry comes through clearly in the banter and quieter emotional moments. The supporting cast—including Milly Alcock, Ego Nwodim, Alexandra Shipp, Gavin Casalegno, and Peri Gilpin—adds depth and energy, making the listening experience feel more like an audio drama than a traditional narration.

The story itself leans into classic rom-com tropes: forced proximity, second-chance romance, and the inevitable breaking of a no-dating pact. But instead of feeling predictable, it embraces the chaos. Livia’s struggle with writer’s block parallels her emotional journey, and the theme that “real life makes the best stories” lands nicely without being heavy-handed.

One of the audiobook’s strongest elements is its tone. It balances humor and heart effortlessly. The friendships feel just as important as the romance, adding warmth and a sense of found family that elevates the story beyond a simple love story. At times, the plot can feel a bit familiar, and the stakes are relatively low, but that’s also part of its charm—it’s meant to be a breezy, feel-good listen rather than something deeply intense.

If there’s a drawback, it’s that the ensemble format can occasionally feel a little busy, especially if you prefer a single narrator style. But for most listeners, the dynamic performances will be a major plus rather than a distraction.

Overall, The Summer Oath is a fun, flirty, and immersive audiobook that thrives on its stellar cast and easygoing storytelling. It’s perfect for fans of contemporary romance, especially if you enjoy authors like Emily Henry or stories with strong friendship dynamics and a summery setting.

Rating: 3.25 ⭐ out of 5
A charming, laugh-out-loud romantic escape that shines brightest in audio form

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[Brandon Gilbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fine.

[Lyna Munoz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Am I the problem? I'm sorry but the writing in this was pretty bad. It also gave me the ick a couple of times. I wanted out of a slump and I thought a cute short summery book would help get me out. As the great and wonderful Grinch said ,"WRONGO!"

[Brittany Larsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this full cast audio!! I was laughing out loud and just loving it the whole time. Nice and short too!

[R. Small · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one had some fun moments and I liked the overall vibe, but I never fully connected with the characters the way I wanted to. It felt like it was dragging a bit… but hey… the emotional moments did land pretty well. Definitely not bad, just didn’t completely wow me.

[Denise & her never ending TBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was just so darn cute 🥰.

[Takoda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I literally listened to this for KJ Apa loooool

[Stephanie St.Onge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet book
Maya Hawke narrating along with others
So good

[Bren Grijalba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute Summer rom-com Audible Original. ☀️🎧
Maya Hawke absolutely stole the show!

[Hadeer هدير · Rating 2 out of 5]

Below average book with above average production. Glad it was short.

[Holland Memmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is basically and adult barbie life in the dreamhouse if you know what I mean

[Greta Vanderham · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
Quick cutie listen! A fun little story and totally summer vibes!

[Jennifer Heltman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Predictable, short story.
Great celebrity voice actors.

[Deidra Bartley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Veryyy quick listen and definitely cheeesyyyyy lol it wasn’t terrible but it wasn’t great.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only stayed to listen to Mr Fantasy for longer 🤷‍♀️

[Jazz · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was really not good just boring unlikeable characters

[emily 𝜗𝜚 · Rating 3 out of 5]

why was jeremiah fisher in this audiobook ???

[Lucretia Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had potential. And the audible narrating was great. But the main character was insufferable IMO

[Karissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick fun listen! Maya Hawke is fantastic. Cute story.

[Anisha Patel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ there’s just something about Maya Hawke talking dirty 😅

[Macey Rainey · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 ⭐️ Quick summer listen included with Audible membership. Definitely feels like Gen Z vibes and really cheesy. The plot wasn’t terrible, just very exaggerated by narrators.

[Lauren Ishee Neider · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. Just no. Everyone is HORRIBLE in this book except the MMC who is a super mega sweetheart and the FMC absolutely does not deserve him! She and her friends are very selfish and awful to each other!!!!