I cant not grab a Monaghan book when I see one! Her writing is such a joy and bright light. I loved this one.

Ali has been going through it all with her divorce, and her ex being toxic, her mother’s death. She’s found herself in a rut. When she finally takes the step to make some changes she meets an unexpected person from her past.

I really love the way Monaghan writes romances. There is so much heart and emotion in them. Every character and story is super relatable. I enjoyed the read so much and would definitely recommend for a summer romance read!

Gosh, my heart for this book. I love SO MUCH that we got a story about being in the middle of life; messy, confusing and full of self-doubt. I know these descriptors are typically associated with 20-something’s, but it’s so REAL that people also feel this way once they’ve “made it” by all accounts, and have settled into to the expected view of what they thought their life should be. Mid-life crises are a thing for a reason. This book was so important and powerful for women and I can see it resonating with swaths of them. It’s a love story by the usual definition, but it also includes personal rediscovery and falling in love with YOURSELF again. 10/10 recommend.

I absolutely loved this book! Annabel Monaghan is a must read for me!
This story touches on so many real circumstances, and so many real "feelings," that it felt like sitting down with a good friend to catch up and share what is going on with our lives. I loved that the FMC would be ok with or without "the guy," after all- that is a lesson we all need to experience and learn for ourselves.

Fantastic romance! I loved every page of this. Monaghan knows exactly what kind of characters I want to read about.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance reader's copy of this novel.

I find Annabel Monaghan's books to feel like a the sunkissed and cozy relaxation after a day at the beach. The setting is fun, and I loved how this one was about an older woman still finding herself. The part about her mom really hit home for me as I'm close wtih my mom. I don't usually like the best friend's sibling trope, but I really enjoyed their story! They were a great couple and I love how they loved each other flaws and all.

This was a sweet book, but just didn’t really do it for me. I guess I need a little less closed door activity. But I did swoon over Ethan, regardless of his skateboarding, which made me cringe.

I absolutely loved this book. I was hesitant after her first title because it’s rare you love two titles back to back. I loved that it featured characters who are not in their 20s and have real lives. Loved the characters, writing, all of it.

This was a fun quirky story that maintained romance tropes but kept the reader engaged. I love how it added the complications of being a mother and a divorcee while maintaining the main character's individuality.

Ali might be a professional organizer, but her own life is a hot mess. Two years ago her mom died and soon after her husband left, and since then she’s been falling apart. But something happens the one day she puts on real pants - she meets someone. THir meet cute might have been a disaster (her dog peed on him), but Ali and Ethan decide to begin a summer fling.

Ali is one of the most relatable characters I’ve read, and Ethan is just what book boyfriend dreams are made of. This book is swoon worthy, funny, and full of personal growth. I also have to give a mention to the pants debate - if you’ve been around for a while you might know my husband and I got into this exact argument the day he proposed (I can see why he told me it was a hard pants day now but I also still stand by the fact that leggings ARE pants). I have loved all of Annabel Monaghan’s books, but this one is my favorite of them all - it is the perfect summer read.

Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.

I was hooked as soon as I started reading! Annabel Monaghan writes the best characters. I absolutely adored Ali and Ethan. This book had me feeling all the emotions while reading. I laughed out loud and also got a little misty when Ali talked about her mom. This book is so much more than a romance. It's about divorce, grief, and finding yourself again.

I highly recommend this book. It's the perfect summer beach read.

Loved! Perfect summer time read!! Ali is such a great character, I felt for her so much and everything she was going through. I loved how her pants reflected her “readiness” to date, and how she tried to get around the rules. Ethan is just the sweetest guy ever! Loved loved loved him! He was genuinely a nice guy and I loved the twist with him! Definitely recommend this one!

Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and G. P. Putnam’s Sons for the digital arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Summer Romance was the perfect beach read! I found it a little predictable but I am not sure if that's because I have read Annabel Monaghan's other two books. It was a lot of fun to read! I loved all the characters, especially, Ali and her kids. I'm already looking forward to Monaghan's next book.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! I really enjoyed this book and the authors writing flowed so well.
Ali is a mom to 3 and is married to Pete who wants a divorce exactly a year after her mother’s passing. As someone who has lost a parent too soon I could really relate to the main character in this book and her still grieving even though her soon to be ex husband thinks she should be over it by now. Ali meets Ethan at a dog park after her dog pees on him. Ethan isn’t fazed with Ali having 3 kids and going through a divorce while still grieving her mother. Ethan gives Ali a new outlook on life when Ali didn’t think it was possible.

Okay. Who am I kidding? Let's just go ahead and make it official that the only reason I even have social media accounts is to have a platform to sing the praises of Annabel Monaghan. In fact, I'm just going to go ahead and change my handle from @SeeBethanyWrite to @SeeBethanyObsessOverAnnabelMonaghan. ❤️ July was wild. It's not worth getting into all the details right now, but edits, travel, awards, a new agent, a birthday, and a kiddo leaving the nest all added up to a wild emotional ride. And Summer Romance was the EXACT book companion I needed through it all. Annabel Monaghan is my rom-com queen. She creates characters I care about and relate to, romances I believe in, and stories that allow my imagination to run wild while simultaneously keeping my heart grounded. Her dialogue flows, her settings shine, and her voice is so effortless that I forget to shift into writer mode to try and analyze how she did it. I don't care how she did it. I don't want to "talk shop" about Annabel Monaghan books. I just want to sit back and enjoy every moment...and I always do. With every book. Thanks for another new favorite, A.M.! (And thanks for not filing a restraining order against me. I promise my obsession is harmless and centered in love.)

Annabel Monaghan doesn't miss! I adored her first two books, and this one is no exception. What stands out in her writing is how she handles heavy topics while keeping the book's overall mood light. This sweet, enjoyable story features a mom navigating a divorce, grieving her mother's loss, and dealing with her crappy ex-husband.

"Summer Romance" might be a "beach read," but it packs a powerful punch with a main character you can root for. I appreciate Monaghan's portrayal of a female protagonist who isn’t in her 20s. As someone in my 30s, I love reading about a character who is a bit more seasoned. Ali's struggles will resonate with readers who have experienced divorce, especially when children are involved, and the emotional turmoil of figuring out logistics and moving on with life.

I also enjoyed the male protagonist, Ethan, and the multiple dimensions of his character. As her childhood friend's "kid brother," he had some ground to make up in her mind, and he rose to the occasion. He was well-educated, kind, and deeply involved in his community. While not as "swoony" as some male leads, I appreciated his realism. He was sweet, caring, and good to her without being over the top or fake.

Loved this book so much! Loved the older main character and the very real problems she was facing. I appreciated the tension that grew between the characters as well.

Ali's mother died, and then her husband moved out. She's been lost in a fog of soft pants and sorrow while focusing on keeping her kids on time for school, her elderly neighbor fed, and her fledgling organizing business up and running, all while navigating divorce. Then, at the dog park, her dog decides to pee on Ethan, who just happens to be the handsomest man there. And then there begins a whirlwind, complicated, deeply meaningful summer romance that will change both Ali and Ethan forever.

Ali is very suuccessful at helping others figure out their junk drawers and their lives, but is frozen at the thought of taking care of herself the same way. It is also a hilarious book about the chaos of life and making decisions based on whether or not you'll have to wear hard pants.

This is a fantastic romance that makes you think about what you want from life outside of your identity as a wife and mother. It also really made me want to clean out my junk drawer!

This book was such a fun read. I loved it. I loved that she didnt care what others thought and went in for love she deserved.

Truthfully, I’m not sure how to rate this. A 3 seems too low and a 4 slightly too high so I guess I’ll go with the 3 and call it a 3.49 ⭐️. I’ve been shouting from the rooftops that I want a feel-good book and this is definitely that, but at times it felt repetitive and there were word choices and phrases that were used way too many times which threw me off a bit. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed it and loved all these characters. Except Pete ofc!

*Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Putnam and NetGalley for a review copy of Summer Romance in exchange for my honest opinion. Unfortunately I got too busy in the spring with the end of school to review it on time.I breezed through the audiobook version of Summer Romance the other night while cooking dinner and cleaning up my apartment, in part because I love the narrator (Kristen DiMercurio). I think this book is bingeable to read with your eyes, too!
Summer Romance tells the story of a really adorable romance for a recently divorced older protagonist who has also recently lost her mother. I appreciated the way she spoke to her mom while driving in her car - she seemed very realistic and relatable, balancing her grief, raising her children, dealing with her ex, and trying to figure out how her life fits together after these big changes. I had to giggle every time the character Scooter was referenced because it made me think of How I Met Your Mother 🤣
I have had mixed reactions to the author’s previous books (loved one, hated one), but I’m very glad I gave her writing another chance. I will continue recommending this one after the summer ends, but it has all the summer vibes if that’s what you’re looking for in a book!