thanks so much for this ARC! again - my only complaint is the abysmal formatting; hyphens throughout the text and weird line breaks. it is so distracting and interrupts my reading process and my ability to follow along with what's going on. UGH.

what a wonderful story! i would give up a vital organ to get my hands on a bonus epilogue with ethan+alice. i loved the journey alice went on and watching her grow throughout the book. each relationship felt fleshed out and real. ethan seems almost too go to be true (he literally is... he is a character in a book). this book was like a firm hug. sign me up for anything by annabel Monaghan.

can't wait to see this Summer Romance out in the wild!

This was a very heartfelt novel of marriage, family, grief, and romance. I loved the representation of late-30 somethings navigating second chance romance, plus kids! This book was so relatable and speaks to anyone whose life, marriage, and grief have turned them into a shadow of their former selves. I also liked how this was about rising above the labels of childhood and how those don’t define us, but can often make it hard for us to succeed. I adored the romance between Ali and Ethan and think this book will resonate with many.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP PUTNAM/G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is the story of two very real and relatable people who fall in love with one another by finding home and happiness in each other’s arms. Brimming with Monaghan’ trademark sense of humour and wit, this light-hearted yet richly crafted tale of love, family, and a woman’s journey of letting go of self-doubt packs an emotional punch even when it’s making us giggle; quickly became one of my favourite romance read of the month.