At first it was hard to keep track of who was whom character wise with the different POVs (Jen, Kittie, Cynthia and the POV of someone that gets abducted) as the story keeps unfolding more drama keeps piling up and keeps sucking you in! This was a great thriller/ mystery. The pages are definitely filled with drama, lust and some desperate housewives.

My Summer Darlings by May Cobb is a suspenseful mystery thriller that pulls you in from the beginning and holds your attention until the very end. This is an extremely entertaining book, and May Cobb didn’t disappoint. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Sometimes you just have to go there. My Summer Darlings is a delicious read. Three friends get together weekly and gossip about the neighborhood. Until Will moves in. Each friend has the hots for him. Will is a true fiend and lothario. Just how much is revealed slowly. Which friend lies to which other friend? Who scores with Will and who doesn’t? And just when the crescendo is about to occur, a new fly in the ointment emerges.
I enjoyed this devilish read. It’s a great summer beach read.

OMG this book was amazing!!! I seriously was not able to put it down. I love May Cobb's writing style and her characters. This book so so entertaining and such a great drama. I thought Will was an interesting character the way her could 'read' the women. Anyways, read this book!!!

Oh my gosh I could not put this book down! I absolutely needed to know what happened next! There were some really shocking twists thrown in and I thoroughly enjoyed every delicious page! May Cobb has turned into a total auto buy author!!!

I loved this book!!!

Do you ever read a book and as you're reading you just think to yourself "this author gets me"?

Well that is definitely the case for me with May Cobb!

Jen, Kittie and Cynthia have been friends since high school and they have the history and the drama to prove it. Cynthia and Kittie lead privileged lives, often day drinking by their pools and hosting extravagant wine nights. When Jen moves back after a failed marriage, she's all but destitute and is in need of a morale boost so it's perfect timing when Will - a ridiculously good looking European bachelor - moves into the community and starts to show an interest in her. However, Will's attraction is magnetizing and soon, Jen's so called friends are quick to fall under his spell and push aside their years of friendship for a hot new guy.

The book starts out with a dramatic scene of someone hurt in the woods, so already, you know this book is about a whole lot more than women behaving badly (but oh how fun that is!). I love plots with strong female characters who flaunt their privilege, drink their days away, refuse to act their age, and aren't all that likeable. While the bored "housewife" storyline has been done many times, Cobb really nails it and adds new and racy layers every time.

Will's character was fascinating to me and I loved how easily and clearly he could read each of the women. I wish we had learned a bit more about his character and motivations but sometimes filling in the blanks can be just as fun.

Hunting Wives was such a fun read for me last year and I think I enjoyed My Summer Darlings even more! While this book was certainly different from Hunting Wives, if that one wasn't for you, I probably wouldn't recommend My Summer Darlings.

There are definitely racy scenes (nothing overly explicit in my opinion) and some controversial material that will put off some readers. But if you enjoy a saucy read that occasionally makes you blush and are okay with an author toeing (or maybe even crossing) a line here and there, you CANNOT miss this one! Definitely a favorite of the year for me so far!!!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel.

Unpopular opinion coming your way. I didn’t love it. Jen, Kittie and Cynthia have been lifelong friends. Now in their late 30’s, they mostly spend their time drinking wine by the pool and discussing their children, husbands and Jen’s recent divorce until a hot new man moves to their small East Texas town.

The plot was flimsy and almost nonexistent. The way these women were tripping over themselves and each other to get close to the mysterious new neighbor gave me a serious case of vicarious embarrassment. The only remotely likeable character was Jen, everyone else felt like a charactour. Mysterious new neighbor Will’s vaguely European accent and model good looks, Kittie’s over the top former it girl persona complete with cleavage for days and bitchy teenage daughter, Cynthia’s buttoned up seemingly perfect life when she’s actually longing for some spice. Barf. The twist fell flat for me and the explanation given was absolutely laughable. Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for my eARC of this book.

If you're looking for a steamy summer romp with a little mystery on the side, I recommend checking out May Cobb's My Summer Darlings. I devoured it. .The story follows three friends, Jen, Cynthia, and Kittie, and their mysterious new neighbor, Will.

The steam factor is HIGH on this one folks. It reads more like a fun romance, except everyone is betraying each other. Much like The Hunting Wives, you'll love to hate most of the characters, if not all, making it even more fun to read. Throughout the book, you know there is something up with Will, but it's not until the last 20% or so, chaos truly ensues.

A perfect summer beach read.

4.5/5 stars
Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Well well well ….May Cobb likes the spice does she?! This one was filled with sex, lies, deceit and some nasty lady on lady booze fueled backstabbing. (No I am not talking about reality tv) Most who know me know that I am not a fan of reality tv however, something about reading it is just naughty and I like it.

I have yet to read The Hunting Wives (don’t @ me) but, I couldn’t resist reading this one. First off-big props to the cover because it is perfect for summer. I will say I would never want to be friends with these women. They are weak, backstabbing bitches who only care about themselves. I think that is why it worked so well with the drama. I especially disliked Jenn. She was so meek and pathetic I wanted to slap her lol Sometimes characters are just meant to be hated and boy did she bug me so I think May did a great job there.

Now, this is marked as a thriller. I don’t know if I would deem it as such. It was more of a drama with some suspense thrown in. I thought it was a perfect beach read full of entertainment and juicy spectacles that will make your jaw drop.

Thank you Netgalley for my advance copy in exchange for my review!

This was a fun thriller that is similar to The Hunting Wives. There's friend's that aren't really friends. I however, really felt for the main heroine Jen and wish we could have seen more of her after. Children of the friends that are involved in things way too advanced. However the plot in this story was more fun. There's a central character that pulls everyone in and it is a little incredulous the reaction but think Desperate Housewives. Will is the new person on the block that turns this tiny town on its head. Everyone is clamoring to get to know this mysterious new man and so was I because I read this in one sitting. It's perfect for summer and something that keeps you entertained.

Whew, this is the quintessential guilty pleasure read.

Jenn, Kittie, and Cynthia are childhood best friends all approaching forty now. Jenn, newly divorced with a teenage son, has just returned to the tiny neighborhood of her youth, where Kittie and Cynthia have stayed to raise their families. The three friends spend a lot of time drinking wine and bonding over their ungrateful teens and their nonexistent love lives.
Then the gorgeous and mysterious stranger Will Harding arrives in the neighborhood to stir up desire … and trouble.
It’s not long before lust turns into hot and heavy encounters for all three women, who are doing their best to keep it a secret from each other.

This story is a hot mess that I couldn’t stop reading. I love to hate stories like this. The women are all shallow, vapid, bored housewives lusting after a sexy guy who they know nothing about except that he is raising major red flags at every turn that they choose to ignore.
Even when things get twisty and betrayal is obvious, they are somehow blaming each other rather than the douchey new guy who doesn’t have to do any work to get them into bed or come up with any remotely plausible story to cover the truth.
My Summer Darlings is a steamy popcorn read that's superficial ...but still juicy.

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. My Summer Darlings is scheduled for release on May 17, 2022.

May Cobb might just be the queen of writing misbehaving housewives that you love to hate and I am here for it. In My Summer Darlings, we meet 3 high school friends, back to living in the same neighborhood they grew up in. All 3 are interested in the same man, their neighbor Will, but only one of the women is actually single. The other two are having separate affairs with him and each are keeping it a secret for their husbands and their friends.

I loved The Hunting Wives and was pleased to see May Cobb did it again with another wild ride. From the beginning, you know something goes terribly wrong thanks to some flash forward chapters, but it is unclear at first who is involved and what exactly happened. Not only was I flying through the pages of this one wanting to see what the main characters would do next, the thriller aspect of this with those flash forward scenes were so suspenseful and I NEEDED more details. This book had some very unsettling moments including some mentions of an adult having a sexual relationship with a minor, and other parts that had me feeling very uncomfortable. But in a way that discomfort and uneasiness throughout is part of what kept me so invested. This page turner would be a fantastic twisty poolside read this summer.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the advanced copy!

My Summer Darlings by May Cobb is a 2022 Berkley publication.

Ha! I went into this one blind, thinking it was a beach read about three female friends, etc., - the usual women’s fiction type of drama…

Oh boy-

Well, this book is NOT that.

I’m not even going to spend time on the synopsis. I’m just going to dive in with my opinion- which is that this book is the very definition of empty calories. There is no substance to this story whatsoever, the characters are shallow, morally bankrupt, rich, bored, and unlikeable- and the same goes for their teenage kids. Jen, of course, is the one possible exception, though she is still frustrating.

The mystery/thriller portions are very simple and if you are paying attention, even just a little, you’ll figure out early on who the victim and perpetrator are. This leaves one turning pages just to see who, amongst these twisted characters will come out of this whole sordid mess, and what the fallout will be.

All that said, I blew through this one in one sitting. That’s not really saying much, I suppose, considering how thin the plot was, but despite all those things, I kept right on eagerly flipping the pages.

I hate the thought of women throwing themselves at a man like that or that they would throw away a lifelong friendship over a man- not to mention the adultery, on top of that. In fact, the more I think about it, the more disgusted I am with most of these characters.

Even so, this book is meant to be entertaining, in my opinion, and surely was never intended to be taken too seriously. If one approaches it that way, it is a fun, entertaining romp, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, whatsoever... Especially while at the beach or on vacation- so lighten up and go with it- and enjoy!

Overall, though this was not the type of beach read I was anticipating, it would still be a terrific poolside romp and I promise you will never get bored!

*This one is super steamy- for those who might want to be prepared in advance.

3 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

My Summer Darlings was a fun mystery/thriller with a sexy twist. The story revolves around 3 lifelong best friends and a mysterious new man in town, that leave all three women intrigued.

This book would be perfect for a vacation read or sitting out by the beach or pool. I really enjoyed the writing style, the steamy scenes, and the characters. I devoured this book in one sitting.

The definition of a beach read thriller. This is very similar to her first book, THE HUNTING WIVES, so if you enjoyed that one pick this up. There’s copious amounts of drinking, neighborhood drama, salacious affairs, and major gossip.

The issue I had with it was that there were too many things that weren’t wrapped up. It felt like things were included just to have “sexy” scenes and they didn’t actually make sense with the story behind the big twist. I’m also kind of over the grown women acting like teenagers trope 🤷🏻‍♀️

Honestly, it was not the most creative but I couldn’t stop reading it (like a train wreck you can’t look away from).

Kittie, Jen, and Cynthia were all childhood best friends. Now they all live in the same neighborhood and have fun wine nights together. Until handsome, elusive Will moves into the neighborhood and they all are struck by his good looks.

This was a soapy drama that was entertaining from cover to end! I started it in the morning and finished at bed time. I couldn’t put it down. It’s pretty dramatic, almost to the point of satire, but it’s so darn fun. I got the women mixed up at first but they quickly evolved into their own messy characters. I enjoyed this one even more than the Hunting Wives!

“From this moment, I can feel his lips against mine, his fingers tracing my curves. But instead of the anticipation I used to feel, all I feel now is dread, disgust.”

My Summer Darlings comes out 5/17.

Another juicy, saucy Domestic Thriller!

It’s about three women living in a small East Texas town, that have been close friends since they were kids.

They hangout all the time, drinking wine and gossiping about the neighbors.

One day, a handsome stranger moves into the neighborhood and turns all their lives upside down 👀
___________________________________

This is the perfect book to lay by the pool and read this Summer ☀️
I’m not going to lie, some parts are basically soft porn, but it’s freaking entertaining! May definitely likes her stories spicy 🌶

Y’all I have a little confession to make. Desperate Housewives type thrillers are a guilty pleasure for me. That being said, My Summer Darlings definitely meets that criteria. Three bored suburban moms who are trying to make the best of yet another summer in their little Texas town when a hot, attractive, and single man moves into the neighborhood. It’s not long before the cattiness and backstabbing come out as they all start trying to get his attention. Things take a turn for the worse when people start to get obsessed. None of the characters are loveable at all and none of them really know the definition of what a friend is. There’s so much drama here and I devoured every minute of it. I read the book in less than 24 hrs. However, this is marketed as a thriller when I would say at least the first half of the book reads straight up like a romance novel. I love romance and thrillers so I still really liked this one. This is a perfect read for summer! Can’t wait to read more by this author.

Um… I will never get the time it took to read this back… and while it wasn’t great, it was addictive to the point I HAD to know how it would all play out.

This was just a bunch of rich white folk basking in their luxury lives, not wanting for anything, but still being absolute trash at the same time. Rich women with loving husbands who all simp after the same new guy in town and practically trample over one another in their race to sleep with him? Yuck!

But I couldn’t put it down. I’m having trouble with this because I hated it but I didn’t… As a whole, the story deserves a two star rating. There was no substance. There are no redeemable characters. Maybe Kacey, or Gerald… poor Gerald… yeesh. There are VERY few innocents in this book. The plot was legit just women going out of their way to be terrible friends to one another and then turning around and feeling sorry for themselves as they drown themselves in booze. It I gave it that extra star because I D.E.V.O.U.R.E.D. IT!

I read this in like two hours. And honestly, I can’t wait to see what this author writes next.

Once again, May Cobb delivers a highly addictive and spicy thriller, and you want to add this to your TBR! I thoroughly enjoyed The Hunting Wives and this one was as wild and entertaining as her previous book!

My Summer Darlings follows the stories of three lifelong friends - Kittie, Cynthia and Jen. Their friendship is about to be put to the test when the mysterious and charming, Will Harding moves into one of the finest homes in the neighborhood.

I can't say much about the plot without spoilers but this was one messed up story with morally gray and flawed characters. There is not one character I like but these characters' imperfections fit into the story so well. Obsession, high drama and betrayal are ubiquitous in the plot and definitely the driving force in the story. It was fun to read yet there are times I just want to knock some sense into the characters!

Although there are parts I personally felt needed more explanation, I still ended up enjoying this book. The suspense and flawed characters kept me invested in this wild story!



Pub. Date: May 17th, 2022

***Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this gifted review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.***