“SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO THROW SHIT IN THE pantry.”

I knew instantly I was going to love this book by the first page. I’ve read this author’s other books and all were so well written. I love how relatable her book’s feel and how well I connect with the characters. If you’re looking for a summer romance that also deals with loss this is the perfect read.

“It’s funny how you’re meeting me for the first time, and I’ve known you forever,”

<bw><i>Tropes & What to Expect</b></i>
🌷it’s always been you
🌷best friend’s younger brother
🌷summer romance
🌷loss of a parent
🌷small tight knit community
🌷FMC is a recent divorcee and single mom
🌷both FMC and MMC are late 30s
🌷closed door

Overall thoughts: this is such a beautiful, tender summer romance. If you love romances in a small community you will love this one for sure.

ARC REVIEW

Summer Romance
By Annabel Monaghan

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 (5 out of 5)

Publishing Date: 6/4/2024

Ali is going through IT. Her mom died 2 years ago, and she has still not recovered (understandably). She is going through a divorce and a mom to 3 children. She helps take care of her elderly neighbor, and she can't remember the last time she has worn REAL pants. She has a lot on her plate.

While at the dog park, she has a "meet cute" with a fellow dog owner. There is a definite spark between them, and she feels things she didn't experience over the entire length of her marriage. The problem is, he is leaving at the end of summer. But perhaps this is what she needs? A no strings attached summer romance?

REVIEW:!
This was so great! I loved the evolution of the MC Ali. It's a total "coming of age" story for an adult woman.

The story tackle real life situations that we all may deal with at some point in our lives....divorce, single parenting, finances, friendship, grief, family, new love...it touches on a plethora or relatable circumstances that make it easy to connect with the characters.

It was a great length, and it kept my interest the entire time. I loved the setting. Summer love is one of my favorites, and it made this book extra appealing!

I definitely recommend checking this one out next month! I loved it!
Super appreciative of @netgalley and @putnambooks for the chance to read the ARC.

And @annabelmonaghan thanks for this gem of a story!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an e-arc!
Ali has been in a depressive rut, struggling to piece her life back together. Ali’s mom, who she was very close to, passed away two years ago. To top it off, Ali’s husband Pete asked her for a divorce last summer, on the one year anniversary of her mom’s death. Although she’s not exactly too upset about her marriage ending, she is still very much grieving her mother- so much so that her house is almost always a mess and she struggles to get dressed in the mornings, instead wearing sweatpants everywhere. Ali also has 3 kids that she is almost solely responsible for, besides when Pete picks them up for their soccer games.

One day when Ali brings her dog to the dog park, she meets a handsome stranger under mortifying circumstances. The two end up running into each other again and go out on a date, but Ali is confused when he doesn’t kiss her, doesn’t ask for her number or suggest they go out again despite how well the date went. Ali quickly learns that her new interest, Ethan, actually isn’t a stranger at all- he’s someone she’s known for years, she just didn’t recognize him.

As Ali and Ethan continue to spend time together, they are unable to deny their attraction and agree to a summer romance- Ali isn’t ready for anything serious, and Ethan lives about 4 hours away and is only in town for the summer. The more time Ali spends with Ethan, the more she realizes about herself. Coming to terms with the fact that she let herself become subdued within her marriage with Pete, Ali is finally inspired to get back to her old self.

Even though the summer is going great, Ali is scared to see the end of it and have to say goodbye to Ethan. As much as she would like him to stay, she knows he has a life elsewhere, somewhere he loves and is an important part of the community. Can it really just be a summer romance, or can it survive long past Labor Day?

I really enjoyed this book and thought the characters were so genuine and endearing. (Except for Pete) I’ve read Nora Goes off Script and Same Time Next Summer, so I was very excited to get this one early! Summer Romance is a great beach read and will be enjoyable to anyone who loves romcoms. The storyline is also so inspiring, and I think anyone who might feel like they’ve lost themselves could benefit from Ali’s journey.

I went into this one blind, without reading the premise, and it was really good!

Alice, a thirty something mom to three, is going through a divorce, grieving her own mom, and is finding herself all over again. Ethan is a lawyer, Alice’s best friend’s little brother, recently dumped, and is two years younger than Alice. Their meet cute takes place a dog park of all places (I’m sold). While Alice does not recognize Ethan as her best friend’s little brother, she agrees to a date the next time they run into each other. Once she puts the pieces together she’s already kind of enjoying time with Ethan… so she continues enjoying time with him, and I love that for her.
Their relationship builds and for some reason I had a hard time imagining Alice and Ethan as a couple. I kept imagining Alice as much older than Ethan. There was also the fact that Ethan had been pining over Alice since he was a sophomore in high school, and Alice never knew it…

The story is great. It’s cute but not overly romance, she finds herself, she finds her backbone against her ex-husband, and also finds her family again.

If you read and enjoyed Just For the Summer (Carly Fortune) you’ll also love this, as it has very similar trope (best friend’s brother and didn’t know it).

Thanks, Annabel Monaghan, NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam publishing for this eARC. Publishing June 4th, 2024! This story is a perfect summer read!

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam & NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book will be a classic summer romance read for years to come, and absolutely deserves to be made into a movie! Everything about this stony was just perfect.

The Author wrote with such raw and poignant writing, you felt like you were in the story feeling all of these emotions. She covered so many topics like divorce, the death and grief of losing a parent, being a single Mom, navigating your happiness as a Mother while also being your own purpose, dating after divorce, figuring out your worth as a woman. I mean she covered so many things and did it all so well. If you’re looking for a love story that captures the raw emotions of real life love and loss, but also has all the magic of summertime sprinkled in, please pick up this book, you will absolutely fall in love with Beechwood and these characters.

Still dealing with the grief of losing her Mother, Ali must now also deal with getting divorced, and being a Single Mom of three kids. She’s managing to barely make it through each day by surviving, but not thriving. One morning she unexpectedly meets a man named Ethan at the dog park when her dog ends up peeing on him.

The two strike up a friendship and go on a date before she discovers who he really is. But determined to give them a real shot at being a couple Ali decides she’s all in. Before she knows it every day is getting easier and brighter for her, and she knows in large part it’s thanks to Ethan.

But the stark truth is that at the end of the summer Ethan is leaving Beechwood to go back to his life in Massachusetts. Ali decides the inevitable heartbreak she will experience when he leaves is worth having a Summer romance. But when it’s time for summer to end she realizes her decision isn’t going to be so easy after all, and she begins to regret and second guess everything. Is there happily ever after for them? Or was this just a summer romance?

Fans of Emily Henry will want to devour everything Annabel Monaghan has written, and this is no exception.

Summer Romance features Ali, a mom of three who has lost her mojo since her uber-supportive mom died almost two years prior. She's been separated from her husband for a year, and he is now wanting to push ahead with the divorce. Ali just can't find the motivation to really give a damn about anything but her kids. This changes when her best friend's handsome and fun younger brother returns to their hometown. Ethan is dealing with his own family drama and has no intention of staying. Ali agrees to take this plunge, but only for the summer; then it's over.

As a mom of three, I can absolutely remember the days of overwhelm when you did a lot, but it didn't look like much to anyone outside your house. The mental load of trying to do everything and do it well is exhausting. This book is such a resounding wake-up call for women who have lost themselves in the midst of "it's just easier this way." Ali's struggle to maintain a relationship with her adolescent daughter is spot on. The cold-water-in-the-face moment when Ali's daughter shares what she's observed about her parents' relationship is such an important reminder of how much our kids need us to model what a healthy relationship looks like.

Monaghan is added to my shelf of "auto-buy" authors. This will be a fantastic summer read!

This was a fast read for me. I liked the character development and relationships in the story. Ali’s kids and family were ones you find yourself wishing were yours. There were so many memorable quotes and moments that made me pause and let sink in. Such a sweet and emotional story,

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

This book is not bad at all, but unfortunately, I found it hard to connect with the main characters -- possibly because I am not a middle aged divorced mother. (though I have enjoyed other books where the MC is a divorced mother, such as Finlay Donovan). It seems that unfortunately Annabel Monaghan's books are either a hit or miss for me, and this one while not the worst book in the world, was also not my favorite book. I am still not interested in completely abandoning this author though, as I have enjoyed some of her other books. I hope I enjoy the next book more. Also, please don't my let my iffyness about this book turn you away from reading it.




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Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

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A romance read with a little more depth. This story was about finding yourself again

Ali, a professional organizer, is dealing with a lot of grief. She is going through a divorce and grieving the loss of her mother. Her personal life couldn't be farther from organized.

Ali decided to have a 'champagne summer' and Scooter, a man she meet cutes at the dog park might just be the answer to becoming unstuck.

I think one of the best things about Annabel Monaghan’s book is how relatable they are. I’ve seen myself in bits and pieces of each of her FMCs and have understood what they are going through. For example, Ali is a mom of three kids (so am I) and there’s that season of life were your kids completely take over and somewhere along the way you lose yourself as an individual person and your priorities fall to the wayside. Ali is at that standstill in her life and to see her make the changes to grow as an individual, as a parent and co-parent was amazing. She stopped wearing “soft pants” and put on her “hard pants” again and reorganized her life to better suit herself and her family all while opening herself up to a great guy that she never expected.

Annabel Monaghan is an auto read author for me and while Summer Romance doesn’t knock Nora Goes Off Script from top spot it is a very very close second.


Thank you @annabelmonaghan and @putnambooks for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

*4.5 stars
Annabel Monaghan is an auto-buy author for me, so I was very excited to read Summer Romance. It was the perfect read for my first pool day of the year!

Monaghan’s characters are so realistic. You want to laugh with them and cry with them.

Ethan is an amazing book boyfriend, and I only wanted good things for Ali! (Pete is the worst, and you will be rooting against him). My favorite part was definitely Ethan in the powder blue suit!!

Read if you like:
•Best friend’s brother
•Meet cutes
•Forced proximity
•Single parent
•Summer romances (duh)

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the arc! Happy summer reading!

When I started reading "Summer Romance" by Annabel Monaghan, I was expecting a light, enjoyable read, but what I found was so much more—a meaningful journey of rediscovery and new beginnings, all beautifully set within the scope of a summer fling.

Ali Morris, our lead, is a professional organizer, yet ironically, her personal life is anything but organized. Since the loss of her mother and the breakdown of her marriage (to a total prick, I might add), she's steered clear of complexity, even in her wardrobe choices. But then comes a pivotal and endearing moment facilitated by her dog’s bold greeting of a stranger named Ethan. This unexpected encounter sparks something in Ali, a reminder of the vibrant woman she once was.

Annabel Monaghan excels in crafting characters that feel real and grounded. Ali is depicted with such depth and sincerity that I couldn't help but feel connected to her story. She’s more than just a character in a novel; she's a reflection of anyone who's lost themselves amidst life's challenges. The genuine portrayal of her struggles and triumphs made Ali’s journey resonate deeply with me, particularly as someone who has also felt lost at different times.

What I appreciated most about the book was its lack of clichés. The story focuses on genuine emotional growth and life lessons that are subtly infused into the narrative through thoughtful interactions and introspections. It's a tale about finding oneself amid life's chaos, brought on by the unexpected magic of a summer romance. This thematic depth transformed what could have been a straightforward romantic story into something far more substantial and meaningful.

"Summer Romance" is not just a novel; it's a mirror reflecting the joys and pains of evolving through life's unexpected turns as a women entering marriage and motherhood. Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam/G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for the ARC!

This author knows what she's doing when it comes to writing women's fictions book. I didn't like how it first started because insta love isn't my thing, but after I realized the main characters background with scooter I loved it that much more. The plot point where the main character is pulling her children into her traditions her and her mom made was so sweet. I loved this book.

ooof my heart. this hit me in the feeeeeeels. this is my first read by Annabel Monaghan and i loved it. i loved the dynamic between Ethan and Ali and how they fit together. i also enjoyed the single mom aspect with three kids and having the feeling of being stuck and can’t get out. sometimes being a mom takes away from who you are bc you’re worried about other living beings and i can relate to that. i thought the parts were Phyllis were heartbreaking and i definitely cried at the end when she died. she knew and she was ready and she had Ali there and it made my heart hurt. it was a smidge slow in some places but it was filled with ethan and ali getting to know each other and ali dealing with her life and kids and being there for them but not forgetting about herself. the ending was perfect and it was just so easy and nice to read. it was a perfect lil summer romance read and i really enjoyed it. 4.5/5 thank you netgalley and Putnam for this e arc in exchange for my honest review

My first Annabel Monaghan novel and it won’t be my last. What a beautiful story about a soon to be divorced mother overcoming grief and finding love for herself, her family, her friends and a new man. I really enjoyed the anticipation of knowing who the love interest was before the main character herself knew and I love that the story didn’t become some big secret to hide.

The character development was 10/10, especially when Ali (main character) stands up for herself in front of her scum ex-husband, LOVED it. Definitely recommend this one to all readers it was a beautiful story and has some tear jerking moments. 4⭐️

Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for an advanced readers copy of this title via NetGalley.

4.5 ⭐️

I absolutely loved this one!

The book follows a woman in her late 30s named Ali as she navigates loss: the loss of a parent and the end of her marriage. I found the writing excellent and the characters, particularly Ali, to be relatable. Every time I picked up the book, I was excited to see where the story went.

I haven’t read anything by Annabel Monaghan, but I will definitely be checking out her other books now.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for an advanced copy of this book.

OH MY HEART. This book got me. Ali is the most relatable middle aged mother, housewife, and woman. Her inner monologue is so fitting and easy to identify with. Then throw Ethan in the mix and it’s pure perfection. This sweet love story had me laughing, crying, and cheering for Ali the whole way through. A fantastic summer read.

4.5 stars. I LOVED "Nora Goes Off Script" and still think about it all the time. I didn't enjoy "Same Time Next Summer," but am so glad I came back to this author. I tore through it in a few days. Ali is such a relatable character for me; even though I am not going through a divorce or grieving my mother, we do have things in common and I saw myself. I also felt all of her joy at rediscovering herself. Just a lovely book. Perfect to kick off summer reading-- a summer romance with a summer book :-)

I was such a fan of this book! I read the majority of it on an airplane and definitely cried a ton. It’s a lot about divorce and grief from death of family, but it’s handled in what seems like a realistic way with really really lovable characters and good storytelling. Quickly becoming a favorite author for me!

CW: death of parent, death, divorce with children

Thank you to the author and publisher for the advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!

I have absolutely falling in love with Annabelle Monaghan writing! 🧡

Summer Romance follows a newly divorced mother of three Ali trying to navigate motherhood and the resounding grief of losing her mother. While I don’t relate or understand motherhood I felt like Ali’s character really encapsulated it quite well. I found her resilient + was rooting for her so hard. It was such a beautiful journey seeing her find herself again.

The love story was PERECT! I loved the meet cute between Ethan + Ali it was so so sweet and funny. Ethan is the epitome of a man down bad. He was so sweet and caring & truly met Ali where she was. His patience, kindness, and willingness to believe in her was astounding!

To me this is the perfect summer romance!!! I loved the setting of this book + that it was a small coastal town. I loved the flowers & importance of relationships and learning to love without fearing to lose.