What happens when the words "let's see other people" shatter everything you thought you knew about your perfect marriage?
Maisey Yates delivers a breathtaking story of rediscovery, passion, and the courage to choose love over the illusion of perfection in this unforgettable summer romance.
Cruel Summer by Maisey Yates
Publish Date: [Insert Date]
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Second Chance Romance
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Format: Ebook (NetGalley)
My Review
There are books that entertain you, and then there are books that make you want to read them again and again. Cruel Summer is absolutely the latter.
Maisey Yates has crafted something truly special here - a story that starts with every married person's nightmare scenario. Picture this: you're celebrating your anniversary, expecting romance and sweet words, and instead you hear "let's see other people." Talk about a plot twist that hits you right in the gut.
What follows is a journey of self-discovery that's as much about finding yourself as it is about finding love. When our heroine agrees to a summer apart, letting her husband "get it out of his system," what unfolds is so much more than either of them bargained for.
The road trip element absolutely made this book for me. There's something about traveling - whether it's delivering refurbished cars across states or just hitting the open road - that strips away all pretense. These characters aren't just traveling geographically; they're traveling emotionally, discovering who they really are beneath the "perfect life" they've been trying to maintain.
And can we talk about the tension? Yates builds this slow burn that starts as "a feeling of tension, a slow fire burning" and gradually becomes an absolute inferno. The chemistry between these characters who have known each other since high school - who have history, children, a whole life together - is electric in a way that only comes from deep, complicated love.
This isn't just a romance; it's a story about authenticity. About asking yourself whether your life is actually perfect or whether you're just trying to look like you have the perfect life. That distinction hit me hard, and I think it will resonate with a lot of readers.
Character Spotlight
Our Protagonists: High school sweethearts who married young when pregnancy changed their plans. She's raised three boys and has only ever dated one person - him. He's dealing with loss (his best friend's wife died of cancer) and the weight of raising his daughter alone while questioning everything about his choices.
What I loved about these characters is how real they felt. They're not twenty-somethings figuring out love for the first time - they're adults with responsibilities, histories, and complicated emotions. Their relationship has layers that only come from years together, and Yates peels them back beautifully.
My Final Thoughts
Cruel Summer is the perfect blend of emotional depth and steamy romance. It's a book about second chances - not just in love, but in life. About having the courage to choose passion over perfection, authenticity over appearance.
If you love contemporary romance with real emotional stakes, complex characters, and a slow burn that builds to an absolutely satisfying crescendo, this book needs to be on your TBR immediately.
Perfect for readers who love: Second chance romance, road trip stories, emotional depth, steamy scenes, and stories about rediscovering yourself.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Join the Conversation
Have you read Cruel Summer? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Did the road trip element work for you as much as it did for me?
And if you haven't read it yet - what draws you to second chance romance stories? There's something so compelling about love that gets a do-over.
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