#1 New York Times bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken delivers a sexy three-book enemies to lovers, new adult, angsty romance with a Dirty Dancing twist!
Spoiled Princess is what he used to call me.We were an inferno of hate and passion wound up with a dash of chaos.
For four years, I watched him mow my lawn.For four years, I watched my friends make fun of him.For four years, I hated myself … watched my friends make fun of him.
For four years, I hated myself for wanting him, but even more for the way I treated him.
And then I had him.
For one night, we put all labels away, and I spent the best night of my life in his arms.
Then the next day, with my secret night under lock and key, I looked the other way while my friends shamed him.
But now the joke’s on me because the scrawny lawn boy who I secretly loved from afar is now the director of Hollywood’s most exclusive summer camp.
And I’m on his staff.
Now it’s his turn to punish me.
His turn to make me pay.
His turn to take his revenge after years of humiliation.
He’s no longer a boy you can ridicule.
But a college graduate who can have any woman he wants.
I want him to look at me the way he did that one night we had together, but right now, the look in his eyes tells me he’s going to enjoy having me under him for two straight months.
I don’t know where his hatred ends, and his passion begins.
All I know is he wants revenge.
And I’m his lucky target.
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Yay!!! A box set of these amazing books. I have had these books on my TBR for too long, having them available in a box set, I picked them right up and once I started them, I couldn’t stop reading.
Things to look forward to:
– Summer Camp shenanigans
– Enemies to lovers / first time loves
– Unbelievable glow ups from scraggly teenager to built and rugged
– Don’t forget the revenge plot
Basically the perfect Summer read.
The three books that make up this box set are amazing. Putting the Cruel Summer series all together in one set was a plus. Was able to go from the first book, to the next and then the last with no interruptions. Each book takes on a journey of two friends who become enemies and then later lovers. How one minute everything’s magical and then in the next it’s hell. Marlon and Ray have a past and now they’re forced together in the future. Loved reading about them and their not so easy relationship. Rachel has once again written such an amazing series. I highly recommend!
I loved this series. It was so fun and emotional. I really wish we could get more books in this series. What about Jackson, Jen and Brax? 🙂 I really enjoyed it.
Three amazingly delicious reads in one boxset- the perfect summer-themed read. New adult, enemies to lovers, ANGST galore, and the Dirty Dancing summer camp style story? UHM YAS PLEASE!
Summer Heat (4 stars)
Our story begins as Marlon and Ray find their paths crossing several years after their complicated beginnings- at a bougie summer camp where Ray finds herself working for Marlon, who happens to be the same foster kid that worked for her family. The boy she once befriended but later ignored, a bystander to the bullying he experienced from her uppity friends. If only their complications ended there. Now they are forced to work together, the drama is about to unfold, and the attraction is still there, but can they get over the past?
This delicious beginning lays all the groundwork- lots of angst and summer magic. And a giant cliffie!
Summer Seduction (5 stars)
Now that the groundwork is laid and that dramatic finale of book 1, Marlon and Ray have a lot to work though. Trying to move on from the past, to overcome the past hurt and hostility, these two begin to heal. I really started to love Marlon in this one- not just because of his sexy dancer persona but because RVD gives him even more dimension here as he makes meaning of his feelings for Ray- past and present. This two keep dancing on that love-hate line as they work it out. And, we have more summer magic fun and more steam! This series is just yummy.
Summer Nights (5 stars)
What a finale to this delicious angsty story. Yet another dramatic ending of book 2, and we get the finale of watching Ray and Marlon expose it all, work through their issues (both with each other and with themselves), and they also have to prepare for the big show. The push-pull evolves after all the angst into a beautiful and swoony end.
This whole series made me so nostalgic- for camp, for the dreams of my childhood, for first loves and first heartbreaks- all the spirit of my childhood. And some of my favorite 80’s/early 90s movies have imprints all over it. I love it! This is a whole new RVD for me, but now I’m hungry to read more of her more NA/YA contemporaries!
I don’t know how I missed this trilogy from RVD! Dirty Dancing meets summer camp. I certainly don’t remember any counselors at my camp having anything close to this description!
I read this entire boxed set in one sitting. Got about 3 hours of sleep which hurt the next morning. But gah! Those steamy summer nights after the campers were put to bed! Fanning myself.
The take away from this is don’t judge a book by its sparkly cover. Even the brightest stars are hiding imperfections. And those people we may look past may end up being our salvation.
With mentions of two of my all-time favorite films, Dirty Dancing and The Princess Bride, the Cruel Summer series was such a fun-filled read with loads of wit and humor punctuated by moments of angst. Ray and Marlo, along with Brax, Jen, and Jackson, were the perfect companions to have this weekend. They made me laugh with their antics, and our main characters had my emotions running the gamut. This box set was very much a Rachel Van Dyken read, one that gives you all the feels while having that distinct RVD touch to it that leaves you with a satisfied smile. The Cruel Summer Box Set gets five stars.
I can’t get enough of Rachel’s books and I didn’t get the chance to read these when they release, so was so happy when I saw they were being made into a box set, Rachel really has a way of pulling you into the stories she writes. I felt part of this and loved every moment of it.
I loved this boxset. It has three books in it and it was still such a quick read. I didn’t want to put it down. But I am a sucker for a good enemies-to-lovers story. The couple in this one were thrust together after not seeing each other for years and though those years were kind in some respects in others they were not. All it took though was forcing them to talk to each other to realize that they both really could have used the best friend they once were. There were a lot of twists and turns with the characters throughout the books and I loved having them all in one box set so I could just keep going and not have to go find the next installment.
*I received an ARC for an honest review*
Summer Heat:
Reading this story felt like I was at camp myself! Honestly it read like it was a movie screening in front of me!
The characters were so believable and with Marlon and Ray both from opposite sides of the tracks, you cannot help but feel their pain and frustrations as to how things went in high school!
Now they have alot of anger and pent up tension to get out from that time long ago and I really saw that Ray hasn’t probably had the best life that Marlon thought she had!
This story was rather poignant to those that have had a rough time in high school and how they deal with things years on when they meet up again at Summer Camp!
I thoroughly enjoyed this first installment and cannot wait for more!!
Summer seduction:
Have you ever read a book where you thought, there has to be something drastic going to happen…you keep reading, reading, reading till you finish and BAM!! Hits you like a ton of bricks!!!!
I really like the characters, the funny banter between them all and the steamy times too!! I love how even though they have a love/hate relationship they are kind of living in the moment but also reminisce about things that happened in the past!!
I am literally dying for the final part of this summer camp series!!! Or more like foaming at the mouth!!! Gah you definitely need to read this series!!
Summer nights:
Summer Nights is the third and final book in the Summer series and it is a story that will allow you to leave any distractions aside and immerse yourself into the antics of Summer Camp! It starts from where Book 2 ended and oh boy are you in for a ride!
You should definitely have already read the first two books before you start this one, absolutely need to!
What the author has written is an ending that will leave you with so many feelings/ emotions that it played out in front of you! This is how the book made me feel…
Im astounded at the hearts and banter of the characters that I’ve fallen in love with & a series that has captured my heart and will forever live there!
The story has so many beautiful quotes I honestly about bookmarked the whole thing! Truly!
I came out at the end feeling love, compassion and im kinda wanting Jackson to have his own book, the mouth on that man and his comedic antics just made me smile and laugh alot! He was rather ridiculous but also endearing too!
So much to love about this book, this series really. Make sure you grab it or you are missing out on something uniquely amazing that was written with such heart by a truly talented author!! Wonder what she has in store for us next… I certainly cant wait!
Book 1: this was a great YA enemies to lover start of the series (it does end with a kind of cliffhanger) Ray and Marlo grew up together, although she was the privileged daughter and he was the foster son of the nanny. They end up at the same theater camp where Marlo is in change of the staff, which includes Ray. This is a fun, but emotional book as we start understand the trials Ray has been through and watch Marlo start to also see Ray in a somewhat different light. I can’t wait to read the othe r2 books and see what happens with this relationship!
Book 2: Another fun installment of Rae and Marlo. If picks up from the fist book and we see their relationship evolve as they continue to explore their old and current feelings towards each other and then another huge cliffhanger. So happy I get to read/listen as a group and not have to wait with this cliffhanger… it would be brutal. Can’t wait to see how it ends up. I also am really liking the side story of Jackson and Jen.
Book 3: This is the final book in the Cruel Summer series. I enjoyed watching Marlo and Ray find their way together and to fully get over their past. Great ending to the story
Summer Heat:
This story follows Ray and Marlo who have an intense love hate relationship that has grown and developed since they were kids and I have to say, Summer Heat really lived up to its name. The sexual chemistry between these two is incredible and you can really feel it.
Summer Heat was a fast paced, engulfing read. It’s packed full of angst, drama and sexual tension. There is great supporting cast that brings in the light humor to cut through the angst. This was quite a quick read and is just the first installment of a three part series for this couple and I have to say, the way things ended in this book, holy moly, bring on book 2 (which is due imminently so no long delays between books).
A great read that I would happily recommend.
Summer Seduction:
Wow wee…. this book has just left me with my mouth wide open! I can’t say much but boy oh boy, what an ending.
As we know this is, the second book in the Cruel Summer trilogy and picks up right where Summer Heat left us. I have to say that the chemistry between Ray and Marlo is even hotter in this second book but more so in this book, as they both start opening up more and more, it results on smacking us with a real emotional punch.
This was another great read and I can’t wait to find out how everything is going to conclude!
Summer Nights:
This is the third book and conclusion to the Cruel Summer series; this is part of a trilogy and cannot be read on a standalone basis.
I have to say that I have enjoyed this series and Summer Nights was a nice ending. Whilst for me, it didn’t quite have the level of angst that the previous books had, it most certainly had the same level of emotion and on more on one occasion, I found that I was really choked up by ray and Marlo’s journey.
This was a fast paced read that was sweet, sexy and with a nice emotional kick. The supporting characters added a lot of depth to these books and I hope we see more from some of these in the future.
This angsty Boxed set contains the books: Summer Heat, Summer Seductions and Summer Nights.
Marlo and Ray have a past the goes all the way back to childhood but assumptions, regrets, circumstances and peer pressure causes heart and anger through the high school years.
When they are in close proximity again. Th love/hate lures the reader in…keeps you there with heartbreak, humor and realization.
I read through all three books in one sitting because I was so enthralled!
Summer Heat
Summer Heat introduces us to Marlo and Ray, who meet up after four years apart at a prestigious and sought-after summer camp. He’s the boss. She’s part of the staff. He thinks he knew her way back when. She has no idea who he is now. And nothing is as it seems on the surface.
Ray grew up rich and was a part of the popular crowd in high school. She seemingly had it all. Marlo grew up in the foster system but was lucky enough to end up with a foster mom who loved him dearly. However, they were the hired help for Ray’s family.
Friends when they were younger, Ray shunned Marlo in high school and took part in his bullying at the worst, and turned a blind eye to his harassment at the least. Then she stole his scholarship–xadxadhis one-way ticket out of the life he grew up in–and sealed their relationship mired in hatred.
Now, he’s the director at a prestigious summer camp for rising stars and she’s…just the help. When lines are crossed and truths are revealed, will they be able to overcome their past, or will it seal their relationship as enemies?
The drama is just beginning to unfold in this story. You feel sorry for Ray, and you want to hate Marlo. Until he begins to see that there’s more to her story than he ever realized. But will that realization come too late? Is the hate too much to overcome? Or is it a fine line between love and hate that these two just might cross? Guess we’ll have to wait for books 2 & 3 to find out!
NICUnurse’s Rating: I give this book 4.5 stars. It’s Rachel Van Dyken, so the writing pulls you in from page one with a bit of a mystery as to what really went on between these two in the past. Add in loveable secondary characters, hot guys, and summer camp escapades, and I wasn’t able to stop reading until “The End”!
Summer Seduction
Marlo and Ray are back for act two in Summer Seduction. Just when you think they won’t ever figure out how to get past all the anger and hurt to move forward, they finally begin to do just that. In Summer Seduction, we are treated to more summer camp shenanigans, a pet chicken named Johnny, and of course, more sexy times. Summer just keeps heating up, and this book ends with a bang! Hold on tight everyone… we’ve got one more book to go!
NICUnurse’s Rating: Of course it’s a five-star read! Seriously, y’all… I think this is one of my more favorite series that Rachel has written to date. Save the Eagle Elite books and Sergio for later…everyone needs this series in their lives! Marlo is my second favorite character out of ALL of her characters. He’s had it rough, but he’s not above admitting when he’s been wrong. His heart beats for Ray and always has. They always say there’s a fine line between love and hate, and these two definitely jump back and forth over that line. And Marlo’s a dancer. And sexy. Siiiiiiiiighhhhhh… For someone who grew up on Fame, Flashdance, and Dirty Dancing, he’s the whole package!!
Summer Nights
Summer Nights is the conclusion of Rachel Van Dyken’s Cruel Summer boxed set.
Summer Nights picks up with the fire and explosion in one of the cabins for the campers. Which is the point where everyone wanted to throw their books or reading devices in frustration at the end of book two. Obviously, things turn out all right since book three has more than 5 pages to it! And the push and pull, love and hate, back and forth between Ray and Marlo continues. More secrets come to light as Ray has to work through her own doubts and fears and learn to love herself, all while polishing the play that is showcased for industry reps and insiders at the end of the summer. The gang’s all back…and so are the hijinks and shenanigans!
NICUnurse’s Rating: As a child of the ’80s, there were so many elements that I loved about this series. For many years, I dreamed of becoming a professional dancer. As a young girl, I binged on Fame and watched movies like Flashdance and Dirty Dancing over and over again, dreaming that one day that would be me. Spoiler alert: I became a nurse instead. Anywho…my point is that this book brought back so many great memories. Then tossed in the whole Can’t Buy Me Love feel as a bonus. And the push/pull, love/hate, rich/poor storyline would most definitely make John Hughes proud! 5 out of 5 stars for this book AND the entire series!
Cruel Summer box set is one of those summer reads that you need to have in your life. I loved every moment of these three books. I could not put this one down. I did not want summer to end. Those summer nights are about to heat up and you are going to love every moment of Marlon and Ray. What are you waiting for because you need to one click this fantastic summer read.
Summer Heat
Summer Heat is one of those reads that just draws you in. I loved this one. You know you are in for a treat with this being a Rachel Van Dyken book if you have even just read one of her books in the past. Summer Heat you will feel the heat, the passion, the drama as everything place out between Marlon and Ray. Both have assumed something about each other’s life just by the appearance as they grew up together. You feel the instant attraction yet that bitterness from the moment Marlon and Ray come face to face at the summer camp. You are given just enough to keep you sucked into the book and yet dying to see what happens next. This is a series that you won’t want to miss out on. One that will heat up your summer nights one way or another.
Summer Seduction
Summer Seduction weaves in and out the passion and the hate between Marlon and Ray. You get all those blurred lines and the big revenge in the making. You feel all the pain both Marlon and Ray have felt throughout their lives coming to the surface. You see other sides of Marlon and Ray that will just pull you in. I love how Ray and Marlon work through things. The bond between Ray and Marlon is just growing stronger as they grew closer. Nights are heating up more and more in this summer camp. You see a new light shining that is leading you into the final book of this set. I love this one just as much as the first book and cannot wait to bring on more from Summer Nights.
Summer Nights
Summer Nights just gives you those feelings. You will laugh out loud with the summer camp antics. You may shed a tear with the pain that Ray feels from her past. You will have a smile on your face with every fight Marlo and Ray have and how they make up. I started falling in love with Ray and Marlon in Summer Hear and fully feel for them in Summer Nights. Ray and Marlon will keep you in your toes and have you fanning yourself with their chemistry. The banter between Marlon and Ray is amazing as well as Brax, Jen and Jackson. This is the perfect wrap up for Marlon and Ray. I’m going to miss this crazy fun summer camp as it ends. I could not get enough of this book. Rachel Van Dyken gave me a Summer to remember with this one.
If you love enemies to lovers, then this is most definitely the boxset for you! It doesn’t get much more “hate to love and everything in between” than this.
Ray appeared to be the spoiled princess who had everything, while Marlo was the poor foster kid who was bullied. They may have been friends as kids, but middle school changed all that and then all they could see was hate for one another.
This is a story of what happens when two broken people who still carry the pain of their youth around everyday reconnect as adults and their turbulent relationship continues.
“…hey you never know, the school nerd who mows lawns for a living turns out to be a ten instead of a four, the nerd she had the best night in her memory with, but then turned her back on.”
The hate fuelled their passion, and their passion is something else! Their love was painful, yet beautiful and all consuming.
Is it possible to forgive that much hurt, escape their pasts and have a future together?
Their journey from hate to love with a roller coaster of ups and downs was heartbreaking, intense, passionate, courageous, steamy, sweet, and romantic.
You’ll be happy this is a boxset and don’t have to wait to read what happens next, I know I sure was!
Cruel Summer: The Complete Boxed Set was a great read by Rachel Van Dyken. This was a three book enemies to lovers series consisting of; Summer Heat, Summer Seduction, and Summer Nights. Marlo and Ray shared a great night together but still remained enemies during high school. That stayed the same when they met again four years later. I loved this box set and can’t wait to read more by the author.
Summer Heat is the first book in author’s series- Cruel Summer. A classic enemies to lovers romance. While close friends as children, Ray and Marlon’s relationship changes around the time they start high school. Ray transforms into the typical popular mean girl, dating the captain of the football team, leaving Marlon behind. When they meet again years later, their roles have basically reversed, since there stuck together they start to work through their issues.m eventually…