This book was everything. While I am in a stable marriage and have not experienced the loss of a parent, the way Annabel Monaghan captures raw emotion in such a tangible way while still advancing a romance is delightful and relatable. This book made me smile with its realism and the joys and heartbreak experienced through the eyes of the narrator. As a mom and a wife, I loved everything about this book. I especially appreciated the non-steamy approach to a love affair. Bravo!

Quick recap without spoilers:
Ali Morris defines herself as a mom of three and not much else as she starts navigating life as a newly single woman after her husband notifies her that their marriage is over. Add insult to injury, Ali’s mother died two years prior, leaving her in a permanent sweatpants era. That is until she meets Ethan at a dog park. With a new stranger entering her life, Ali has an awakening about her life and her role moving forward.

I enjoyed this little beach read. Light and easy, no truly unlikeable characters, and a happy (albeit unrealistic) ending. Nora Goes Off Script still holds reign as my favorite by Monaghan, but this one was cute.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC!

✨Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan✨

“Here’s to a champagne summer!”

When Ali Morris’s husband tells her he wants a divorce on the second anniversary of her mother’s death, she has even less of a reason to put on “hard pants.” Despite Ali being a professional organizer, her life is a mess. But then her dog pees on a charming man at the dog park, and so begins a “fun-tastic” summer romance. Ali learns how to stand up for herself, how to get her life back together, and how to love and be loved again.

This book was an absolute delight. I knew I was going to enjoy it from the very first page. Ali was relatable and I loved seeing how much she grew as a character over the course of the book. Annabel Monaghan has a way of making you feel all your emotions and that is why I will continue to read everything she writes.

🥂 Motherhood
🥂 Grief
🥂 Professional organizer x lawyer
🥂 A dog park meet-cute
🥂 Best friend’s brother
🥂 Skateboarding

“The taste of Ethan is narcotic, and I wonder if that’s a thing, if people actually get hooked on another person.”

First off, thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Random House for the e-Arc. I always feel honored to get advanced copies of books; to have them shared with me is such a privilege. I’m especially excited when authors I absolutely adore come out with my eagerly anticipated reads.

Summer Romance explores grief, love, friendship, family, and the journey of finding one’s self again. It’s beautifully written, the characters are impeccable, and it came to me at the perfect time…as books tend to do. My only regret is that it doesn’t come out until June. Until then, I will sing the praises of this well-thought-out, touching novel. Five stars, chef's kiss, loved it...obsessed. Highly recommend.

Annabel Monaghan does it again! Summer Romance is a funny and charming love story but feels real. The common tropes (death, grief, divorce) and the likable characters are relatable. The love story is refreshing rather than corny.

Terrific follow up to her debut!! Summer Romance hits all the right rom-com notes and more. Monaghan has a more in depth approach to characters and plot and is a welcome relief from so many more shallow books in the genre. Bravo.

It has some really great lines but it was slow and the characters didn’t feel super real to me. Sorry, Cari!

I never want Annabel Monaghan's novels to end! Great in-depth characters, deep storylines, laugh-out-loud moments, and more that pull on the heartstrings and make you want more! Keep writing, Annabel!

Thank you, NetGalley and Putnam Books for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Annabel Monaghan, author of the beloved Nora Goes Off Script, strikes gold again with this romance that is more than a romance.

In the last two years, Ali (mom of three) has lost her mother, separated from her husband, and lived in her sweatpants. Enter Ethan, the handsome man she meets at the dog park, who is just visiting family. A romance just for the summer ensues.

Likes:
*Ali's relationship with her children - she interacts with each one on an individual level.
*hard pants = pants with a zipper. I will never think of them another way.
*Ali's journey to gaining back her sense of self and independence - relationship, job, organization.
*the setting - Long Island Sound!
*There was steam but not too much - the perfect amount for me. I appreciate a fadeaway.

Dislikes:
*It seemed like I was waiting for the conflict I knew was coming the entire book and when it finally came (toward the end), it was dealt with in a couple pages, so not that big of a deal?
*Pete (the ex) - he is the worst

Perfect for readers that loved Annabel Monaghan's other titles!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Another fun sizzling read from Annabel Monaghan. I've loved Same Time Next Summer and Nora Goes Off Script, so I had high expectations and wasn't disappointed! Such a great beach read...even in the middle of winter. I was transported into the story with her ability to build and develop a story that was a light playful read but didn't feel too troupe. She excels at character development and dialogue. I couldn't put it down and read it in a day. Can't wait for her next one! Highly recommend for anyone who loves her other reads or Emily Henry.

Summer Romance was lovely. Excellent character development and a “can’t stop reading” vibe. I felt like I was a part of the family reading this one.

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I loved this as much or more than Nora Goes off Script! It is a fantastic rom com with added depth about the experiences of grief, divorce, and parenting- while somehow still being an extremely fun, unputdownable book. Read in one sitting & will read anything Anabel writes!

The description of the book seemed interesting, so I wanted to check the story out. Unfortunately, it is not working for me right now. It is nothing against the story or the author, but I couldn't get into the story/characters. I may try and find a physical copy to add the my library when it is released, though, because I think my readers could like it!

Monaghan has done it again! This book grabbed my attention because Nora Goes Off Script was one of the only romance novels I have enjoyed. Summer Romance may be my new favorite.

I found myself rooting for Ali Morris as she finds her footing after loss, divorce and keeping her family afloat. The characters were cute and quirky and I experienced all emotions while watching the story unfold. I highly recommend moving this book to the top of your TBR list.

I can't relate to this story because I am not a mother and I am not married either but I couldn't stop crying once I started this book. Ali is such a strong FMC and I respect her for that. Her resilience and the love that she has for her kids was captivating and admirable. The things that she went through and then moving on with her life and finding love again was everything she deserved. The romance between Ali and Ethan had me swooning the entire time and I couldn't stop smiling from every single interaction between these two.

Thank you to NetGalley for my latest read! Summer Romance was a wonderful winter pick-me-up and Annabel Monaghan has delivered yet again. This story explored so much in so little time: grief, navigating the end of a marriage, and more. Each character in this story had so much depth and I did not want to put this book down. This is my second read from Annabel Monaghan and I am eager to complete her collection! Add this book to your TBR now in anticipation of its 2024 release!

Wow, this book really hit it out of the park. I loved how goofy Ethan was. It was exactly what Ali needed. The moment where they say getting a dog is setting yourself up for heartbreak really pulled on my heart strings. I keep think about that and when they said how life is going to happen and get the dog. Honestly I will be thinking about those lines for a long time. I think I read this book at the best time. I was really about to feel and understand Ali. I have loved all the books by Annabel Monaghan but this one is definitely my favorite. I actually cannot stop thinking about it. It was refreshing being able to see these life lessons be presented that way. Another moment that really stuck with me was when Greer was talking to Ali about what she’s been struggling with. I’m not a mother yet, but the moment where Greer tells Ali how she saw how Ali was treated by Pete and Ali just taking it. It’s crazy to think how observant kids are and how they view certain things. It was really eye opening and something I will keep in the back of my mind. I loved this book. I can’t wait to see what else this author releases.

3.75 stars.

The question is, should I care enough about this romance between these two characters? Felt it wanted to be on the funny, sappy side but then also wanted to be sad at the same time. Didn’t always hold my attention, maybe not the way it should have.

I started feeling a little bored towards the middle. Perhaps because neither one of the main characters - Ali and Ethan had interesting storylines (he still skateboards and helps run a skate park for under priveleged kids - a story that wasn't fully fleshed out), she's an almost divorcee, with a selfish ex to boot, and is an accountant/organizer of some kid, neither stories fully discovered. Ali truly misses her mom Fancy or Nancy who passed two years ago, has three kids (one named Cliffy, which I will never understand), again back stories that are never fully developed.

Yes, this is a "summer romance", but found it lacked humor or the sweetness that most of these stories generally carry. It's neither here nor there.

I absolutely loved her past two books, especially Nora Off Script. Didn't think this latest one carried as much depth ahd humor, but Monaghan is still a great writer!

Thanks to Netgalley for the Arc!

I was drawn into this story from the very beginning and could not put it down. Following Ali through her journey from a soon to be divorced mom of 3 who's lost so much herself to grief and a bad marriage to a woman who is the architecture of her own experience was at times heartbreaking and other, heartwarming.

Ali and Ethan's romance was sweet and felt grounded even though it was a whirlwind and I couldn't stop rooting for them.

The cast of secondary characters was incredible and served to move the story along, add depth and heart, and better help us understand Ethan and Ali. They made me smile (Cliffy); they irritated me (Pete): and made my heart break (Greer and Phyllis) but the story was so much richer because of them.

I loved this book, absolutely loved it.

I started reading this book while waiting for my plane to take off and next thing I knew I had devoured the whole thing and we were getting ready to land. Annabel Monaghan’s books just keep getting better and better and this is by far and away my favorite by her.

This story focuses on Ali and finds her struggling to both deal with the death of her mother and the dissolution of her marriage. She’s 38, the mother of three, and is lost both personally and professionally. A charming meet cute at the dog park with an out of town visitor sparks something in her, ultimately leading to a summer of romance and personal change.

I seriously loved everything about this book. It was funny, heartfelt, sexy, and poignant. It was impossible to put down and bittersweet to finish because I’ll miss all of the characters so much. Can’t wait to recommend this one to everyone.

Many thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.