this was painfully boring!!! I was super excited after seeing such rave reviews, but this just didn’t hit any marks for me. I found the skateboarding MMC to be cringe, and the romance to be lackluster. I’m also not a fan of the talking to the deceased when it’s not a ghosty-paranormal story.

Ali’s life is turned upside down and all she wants is to move on but is struggling. In walks Ethan at the dog park and Ali sees her silver lining. Ali and Ethan decide to a summer romance is just what Ali needs until she realizes Ethan’s true identity and wonders if she can keep doing this. Love knows all and Ali and Ethan do their best to discover if love concurs all. A lovely read full of hope, resilience and of course love!

The title/cover of this book is perfect for marketing, but in my opinion, does not do this story justice at all! I was expecting a quick and fluffy summer read, little did I know that I was about to get wrecked by the brilliance that is Annabel Monaghan.

Ali lives in a small coastal town with her three kids and runs her own home organization company. She's been grieving the loss of her mother for exactly a year to the date when her husband asks her for a divorce over breakfast one day.
All is juggling her business, raising her children, managing her own home, grieving her mother, and now going through divorce proceedings - basically, her life is in shambles.

Enter Ethan, a hot skate boarding attorney who she unexpectedly runs into at the dog park. Their meet cute is one for the books, that is until she finds out Ethan is actually her best friend's brother that she hasn't seen since they were kids. This summer fling could be exactly what she needs to help her get back to who she was before she became an overwhelmed wife and a mother.

There are so many reasons why I loved this book! First of all, we have an adult romance that was realistic and healthy. Ali is 38 and Ethan is 36, and they were both working through real things on an individual level to get to be at a better place so that their relationship could work together. I love a grand sweeping romance novel, but also I love a healthy depiction of growth, communication, boundaries, and maturity. It was the perfect mixture of reality and swoony that made me never want to leave!

Ali's grief journey was also a huge part of the book and had me tearing up at multiple parts. The love and friendship she had with her mother was beautiful, and I love that Ethan saw that in her and validated her grief and emotions throughout the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and the author for sharing this book with me in exchange for my honest feedback!

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher from sending this ARC, in exchange for a honest review.

I give this a 4.5.

This was my first book I've read of Annabel Monaghan and it did not disappoint. I loved the writing and the story. It was a cute summer read.

I loved how Ali found her voice and started sticking up for herself and what she wanted out of life and for her family. Ethan (Scooter) tried to find his place in life and wanted everyone to see how well he has grown and having a career that he loves. He is a jack of all trades. He is definitely the man you strive of meeting. So loving, caring, thoughtful, knows how to listen. Ali and Ethan fit each other.

The one thing I didn't really like was Ali's mom answering her while she was talking, but then I read the Authors notes at the end and it cleared up why it was wrote like that. I also know grief and still talk to my passed loved ones and try to look for signs that are from them.

Overall, I recommend everyone read this fast paced, love story.

5 stars for Ali and Ethan! What an adorable story. I just loved how Ethan was so willing to meet Ali where she was at and how he was absolutely open and adorable about how much he adored her as well as how long she had been on his radar. Cue all the butterflies on this HEA! Loved!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5/5)

‘Summer Romance’ by Ann Monaghan was the perfect way to close out the summer. 📖☀️ It’s a beautifully written story about grief, loss, love, & finding happiness when everything seems to be falling apart. Poor Ali—she’s coping with the death of her mother, her husband suddenly announcing he wants a divorce, & the daunting task of piecing her life back together. 💔

I really enjoyed the depth of the characters, their relationships, & the introspection that came with it all. While the story was a bit predictable, it was still a heartfelt journey to watch unfold. If you’re looking for a great beach read, this is it! 🌊📚

This was my first read from Ann Monaghan, but it certainly won’t be my last.

A big thank you to #NetGalley, #SummerRomance, and @penguinrandomhouse for the ARC. My thoughts are entirely my own.

What didn't this book have. Nothing, to me it was the perfect summer read. I have enjoyed each and everyone one of Monaghan's books so going in I had high expectations.

I loved that the characters are mature, it delt with death of a parent and expectations of a wife, mother and friend that can become overwhelming.

Ali was an inspiration and you wanted nothing but the best for her. The dynamic of the children, her ex and even her father are all so well written.

I fell in love right along with Ali and Scooter ❤️

Such a cute summer book! Gave me similar vibes to happiness for beginners but the banter was so much funnier and I liked the characters more!

I'm glad I read this because I enjoyed it much more than Nora Goes Off Script. I liked the main characters, small-town setting, and short-term summer romance premise. I thought Ali was very relatable (despite not being a mom myself), and her self-realization of how her ex and even her mom treated her was really interesting to see. I think the theme of grief was explored pretty well - it was clear that she was conflicted by how she felt and navigated that. I liked Ethan, but he admittedly had some questionable lines, and his nickname got old pretty fast. I thought the inclusion of her kids was well-balanced. However, I have to say that the choice of name for her children was very odd.

Overall, this was a fun and easy read for the summer (although for me, it is the dead middle of September, three months after release...), and I recommend this to those looking for just that. Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Annabel Monaghan for the opportunity to read this!

If you are looking for a sweet, closed-door romance novel - look no further than Annabel Monaghan’s latest - Summer Romance.

Summer Romances are meant to be just that - or are they, or can they be? Ali Morris is going through a lot. Her mom recently passed away and her husband has left her with three small children. Her life is a mess, literally. Enter her best friend’s younger brother Ethan who has had a crush on her basically her whole life.

One teeny tiny problem. Ali’s best friend has said Ethan is off limits. What follows is a summer filled with Ali trying to rediscover who she really is. Ethan certainly helps the process. Along the way, the two of them form a relationship of understanding that at the end of the summer it will end. Or will it?

Another great read!

Thank you to both the publisher G.P. Putnam’s Sons and the author for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I really loved SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER, but I just could not get into this one! I started it many times but just did not connect with the characters or fall into the story. Sometimes it's just a case mood reading, so perhaps it was all me--nothing particular stood out as *why*, so I still recommend this book to others. I'd just recommend SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER first.

Huge apologies to the author & publishers as I posted my review on goodreads but it did not get posted here.

I loved this book! Is January 24th too early to have read my favorite book of 2024 already?

The way the author navigated grief of a parent, her marriage and at times, her old life and dreams, was tastefully done. I found all the characters likable and was not sure how it would end! I enjoyed her previous books and I totally recommend this one. Annabel Monaghan has become an auto-buy author for me and I can't wait to see what she publishes next!

Thank you NetGalley & the publishers for this advanced readers copy!

I absolutely LOVED watching these characters come into themselves and explore their passions. I have a deep appreciation that this “finding yourself” novel was not a YA romance. Which reminds me of the famous words of SFF "its never to late to be who you want to be. These two falling in love was magical and their chemistry was there. t’s hard to describe without giving too much away. HOWEVER, a meet cute at a dog park set my little heart on fire!!! Annabel has such a wonderful ability to write a relatable 40-something female character who is still trying to figure out her life much like the rest of us and she will forever be one of my favorites for it.

I knew I was going to love this one…I loved Nora Goes off Script and Same Time Next Summer but this might be my favorite yet!

Monaghan writes the best characters - I love reading stories of those my age too! All love stories can’t be about young 20 something’s!

This book made me laugh and cry - finding yourself after a loss of any kind isn’t easy and it was so fun getting to be part of it all!

When I tell you I almost passed on when I received this arc is an understatement. Annabel Monaghan has become one of my favorite authors and this book was great. This book follows Ali who has gone through some hardships and meets Ethan who helps her overcome some. Although this book is a romance and we get to see how their relationship unravels, I also enjoy how Monaghan develops her characters and allows us to see Ali's growth. Ali's self-growth elevates this book to something that even if you have not gone through a divorce you still reflect on your own life and see that sometimes learning how to be free and certain hardships can make you a better person.

Annabel Monaghan has become a favorite author, and I'm glad to say I've really enjoyed each of her books so far, Summer Romance included. Her books are perfect for summer; not only taking place in summer, but striking the right balance between being lighthearted and incorporating some heavier topics. I loved seeing Ali pick herself back up after losing her mom and going through a divorce, but also loved the reminder that healing doesn't take place in isolation, it happens in relationship and community with others. I also loved seeing her and Ethan's relationship develop and how they both encouraged and supported each other.

I definitely recommend the book and already can't wait for Monaghan's next book.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the eARC.

This was such a cute summer binge read. I loved the characters, the setting. Overall It was just a sweet story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the E-ARC.

All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

I ended up listening to the audiobook for this one and really liked how easy it was to listen to.

There were a lot of real life emotions and humor in this story which I really appreciated and enjoyed. It felt relatable which can be hard to do without coming off like you are trying too hard.

I will say that I wish this one wasn't as closed door in the romance department as it was. I needed just a little spice to believe in their chemistry more.

Overall, another winner from Annabel Monaghan and I look forward to her next book!

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam and Annabel Monaghan for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Summer Romance is my first book from Annabel Monaghan and I really enjoyed it.

Ali is stuck. Her mom died 2 years ago and her husband left their marriage a year ago. She’s numb and just getting by.

Ethan is in town under special circumstances and he runs into Ali.

Both of them have personal obstacles to deal with and they support each other so they can overcome them.

This was a slow burn and closed door book but it had just enough tension to show their connection. The conflict seemed understandable and realistic - the outcome was a little fairytale but I liked it.

This was my first Annabel book but won't be my last. Thank you for a book with a heroine not in her 20s or even early 3os, with kids transitioning from the end of a marriage that didn't work into this next phase of her life. My goodness I appreciated this book so much!