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, Contemporary

Audible Audio

Published April 30, 2026

Reviews

[Amy]

No. I’m too old for this nonsense.

[Faeries& Dragons]

just no!!!!!!

[Bren Grijalba · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Hannah Berthiaume · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cutie lil audible original. Easy and fun lil beach read type. I’ll listen to anything narrated by maya hawke.

[Lindsey Domokur · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute read, but it was done a little differently. I liked the cast of characters and the diverse narrators, but I didn't love that it jumped around as much as it did. I wish it just focused on the main couple, but it was quick.

[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.

[Jessie Sanders · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 ⭐️

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

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

[Callaway Bridgforth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want to throw tomatoes at all of these characters

[Julie Kabriel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an Audible Original. It's a decent enough story of friends making a pact to swear off guys for a summer so they can be super productive on their goals. Of course, it doesn't work & everyone falls in love. A modern day retelling of Love's Labour's Lost.

The main reason for the low rating is the sound quality on the audio! There are entire sections that sound like they were recorded in a cavern or echoing bathroom. To the point where it becomes so had to distinguish words that I nearly turned it off. I don't know who did the sound editing on this, but find a new job, because this is not your calling.
⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Promise Cook · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall--this was a cute story, the characters were enjoyable, the plot was a quick summer poolside vibe read. However---the audio was (to me) totally cringy. It went from periods of music louder than the narration, to dead silence, to chaotic background noises, to kissing sounds were just ick.
In truth I would have given the story a 3/5 but the audio was a solid 1/5--I almost did not finish it because it was so bad. So I've averaged them to a 2/5 stars.

[Hannah Stone Pinette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m giving this a 4 because although the story was totally predictable and the friends were a little too sex crazed. I loved the style of audiobook! I had a report I needed to finish and I listened to this while I worked on it. I really needed more of KJ though. It’s quick, it’s fun, and overall cute!

[Haileyyhelton kessinger · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was so bad that I couldn’t put it down. I spent an entire day, cursing myself for picking it up, but it sucks you in like one of those cheesy low budget drama film shorts on your reels page. 10 out of 10 everyone read this. 🤣

[Leah Brennan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little millennial cringe but cute quick paced book

[a s h · Rating 4 out of 5]

Began and finished in one day. Whoops. Super cute intro to summer book. One chapter the sound was really off but I loved the cast of actors and having a cast in a book is extremely cool.

[Mrs A]

I feel like I have massively missed out not having a summer in the Hamptons at some point in my life.

[Ashley Hesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute for a quick auto book while working!

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phenomenal audio! Cute and fun little romance but nothing standout.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun audiobook with full cast. It’s kinda like listening to an episode of Laguna beach. Nothing life changing but a fun quick romp.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was funny

[AnnMarie B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super cute, gives all the summer rom com feels. Short, easy listen. Loved the multiple narrators (that being the min reason I chose to listen in the first place)

[Nyra Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story. Nice short audio book.

[Danica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick fun listen (less than 4 hours). Loved the narration with Maya Hawke & KJ Apa and it was free on audible! It was cute.

[Hannah Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

No.

I will leave it at that.

[April Wassman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun summer feels story I enjoyed every second. Funny, flirty, witty fast and enjoyable read.

[Samantha Moody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a quick listen too. It was funny, but had its sad moments. A second chance at love type of book. Maya Hawke is an amazing narrator.

[Katie Whiteman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely only listened to this audiobook because Maya Hawke was narrorating it.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure this counts as a book. It’s more like one of those old radio programs—each character has its own voice actor, there are sound effects.

Regardless, it was cheesy and cute.

[Christina Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little predictable but fun summer romance novel!

[Coco · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s cute.