This book was a page turning delight! 4.4 stars!!

If you love books that are going to pull on your heartstrings, then keep reading, because this might be for you. Ali is a soon to be divorced mother trying to make it one day at a time, but that does not include pants with buckles. (Relatable!)

Cue Scooter, her best friend’s younger brother. (Score!!)

This book is full of other fabulous tropes like forced proximity, characters in their 30’s, and closed door romance.

It is a fantastic read!

I really related to Ali, the female main character. She’s described as a professional organizer whose life is a mess and she often comments on how she can help others but can’t seem to help herself. I love how this book shows her growth and how she processes things as she has a summer romance with Ethan. I really enjoy how she comes to realizations and it feels realistic and gradual. The way her children are woven into it is also so realistic. I love the relationship she has with Ethan and the story is full of heart and cozy moments!

2 stars

I believe this author is just not for me. This is the second book I've read by Annabel Monaghan and I just haven't vibed with her writing style. I also feel like the more I read into this story, the more and more I felt uninterested in what happened with the characters. I'm totally admitting that I know this is a me problem because several of my friends have read this one and the author's other work and have loved it.

Another great book by Annabel Monaghan! Summer Romance is a heartwarming novel about a newly single mother grappling with grief and rediscovering love. A charming setting with loveable characters. The perfect summer read! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

Annabel Managhan’s books really hit the spot for me!
My ranking after reading Summer Romance:
1. Nora Goes off Script
2. Summer Romance
3. Same Time Next Summer
She writes such incredible characters and I love when the MC is a bit older. This isn’t just a fluffy summer book. Read if you like your romances with a little depth.

loved it!!! I was crying happy tears and sad tears all throughout. I love second chance romance and/or older leads. I really enjoying the setting of this as well I really want to visit the area. Great closed door romance!

What a sweet summer read! I have really enjoyed all the other Annabel Monaghan books I've read and this one is yet another hit for me. I love that her characters are always actual adults and have very real, relatable life problems. This book tackles the grief of losing a parent, divorce, raising children, rediscovering yourself and finding new love in such a beautiful way. The FMC feels like someone you know and love and her journey to finding herself again throughout the book is so well depicted through Monaghan's writing. I would describe the romance piece of this just like her other novels where it is just a hint of spice while always keeping it PG-13. There's also an adorable meet-cute with a dog which I'm forever a total sucker for.

If you're looking for a light, breezy, summer romance read, look no further!

A heart warming and feel good summer read. This is my first novel by Monaghan and it definitely won’t be my last. Her characters were beautifully written and I fell in love with Ethan immediately. I love a romance where the whole book by the end is just wrapped up in a perfect little bow.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Summer Romance follows Ali Morris's life. Right off the bat we are introduced to so many heavy topics such as grief and divorce. As a wife and mother I really appreciated how the author was able to go over these tough topics. I think that Ethan was the perfect MMC. Ali and Ethan had the greatest communication system and it was a breath of fresh air!

Woman gets divorced. Woman becomes smitten with a handsome man only to later learn it's her BFF's brother, who went away and came back to the hometown extremely handsome and sexy. It's a trope, sure, but a fun one. Annabel Monaghan's latest has more depth than your typical summertime romance read, and it was enjoyable start to finish. Trigger warning for grief - but those sections were among the most poignant.

After her husband leaves her, Ali decides to put herself back out there. She meets Ethan at a dog park when her dog actually pees on him. She's only looking for a summer romance, but Ethan is so much more than that. I really enjoyed this story and Ali's journey after divorce and losing her mother. This is the 3rd book I have read by Annabel Monaghan, and I have really enjoyed them all!

This romance was beautiful and so sweet. the perfect summer romance indeed. Ali finding love and choosing herself was such a beautiful thing to read about and experience. Loved it.

Romance may be in the title but this is more of a woman’s journey to finding herself again. Sure there is romance and a sweet relationship but this book is mostly about Ali finding herself at the lowest point and finding the courage and strength to rise from it and to build a new future. The story was very sweet but I was looking for more from the relationship and less about the personal growth. I would say this is much more a women’s fiction novel. I prefer a full fledged romance.

I would say this is more women's fiction than romance, and while a well written book I found I could not relate to the main character. As someone much younger and childless, I just could not connect. However, if you are in that stage of life I would imagine this would be a very comforting read and I am glad Annabel Monaghan is writing books for more people, not just young carefree 20 somethings that most romances are about.

*Summer Romance* by Annabel Monaghan has quickly become my second favorite book by the author, only slightly trailing behind *Nora Goes Off Script*. Honestly, both books are probably tied for the top spot, but I have a soft spot for author debuts.

*Summer Romance* was an absolute delight to read. I binged the audiobook and finished it within 24 hours.

As a thirty-something mom myself, I really connected with the main character, Ali, who is a newly single mom learning to prioritize herself.

Ethan, the male lead, is an adult who can't seem to shake off the lazy teenager reputation he earned in high school. I loved how Ali sees beyond that, and how, over time, others begin to reconsider their preconceived notions of him as well.

If you’re a fan of the best friend’s brother trope or long-distance relationships, this is a rom-com you’ll likely enjoy. And if you haven’t read any of Annabel Monaghan’s novels yet, be sure to add them to your TBR list!

Thank you to NetGalley & Penguin Group Putnam for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I adore Annabel Monaghan and everything she writes. I love that she centers her books around women in their 30s just trying to find themselves and find love — and this book was no different.

The theme of grief is explored delicately but truthfully throughout the book in a way I haven't seen since I read One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle. There is something so special about a mother's love, even when they're no longer physically here, and I love that Annabel didn't shy away from including Ali's mom as a sort of character in the story.

Nothing feels sweeter than reading a book where the MMC has your fiancé's name, and Ethan proved to be just as wonderful as my real life Ethan is. I always knew he exuded the energy of a man written by a woman.

I loved Ali and Ethan together. They never held each other back and always cheered each other on. There's something so beautiful about finding love while you're healing, or reinventing/discovering parts of yourself. It reminds us that we are worthy of love at any stage of life, even if we're going through a divorce, or mourning the loss of a parent, or simply trying to be a good mom. Those things did not make Ali unworthy of love, and Ethan was man enough to recognize that and pursue her the way she deserved to be pursued.

I'll read anything and everything Annabel Monaghan writes because I love the way she approaches romance, and I definitely recommend Summer Romance to anyone who needs to be reminded that they are deserving of love no matter how 'messy' their life is.

I adore Annabel Monaghan and will read anything she writes. So i was thrilled to receive the advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley.

Swoony, summertime romance at its finest. Highly recommend.

This story is definitely perfect for summer, but also has deeper themes you’ll love. This was a beautiful love story, there was so many beautiful quotes in this story!! The character development was chef's kiss. You felt Ethan's love in every interaction. He loved her with his all and prioritized making her feel safe and such a good communicator. This is definitely an amazing book club read with themes outside of the main romance i.e motherhood, grief, building confidence, coparenting, etc. I enjoy this author's writing style and super excited for her next release.

My favorite thing about this book was that it was a love story for a demographic that doesn't often get to have their happily ever afters. I did not expect the book to be as melancholy as it was but overall it was a very sweet story of a women taking her power back even if it was hard for me to relate to.