I had a lot of fun reading and listening to this story. It was a refreshing, heartwarming read and as a middle aged woman myself; I found it super relatable, especially during the self-discovery moments.
Ali’s moments of trying to get back into the dating game and embarrassing herself had me chuckling out loud. She gets nervous and proceeds to have “diarrhea of the mouth.” One line I highlighted in my Kindle was: “I wish someone would shove a sandwich in my mouth to shut me up.” LOL
There were a couple of things that I was not a fan of. One, there was some repetitive use of the same words when describing things. The one that comes to mind is “Costco-sized.” Two, during the audio it was difficult to tell if Ali was having inner dialogue or actually speaking out loud. I had to go back to the e-book to double-check. Lastly, I felt the story was too long for what it was and it could have been shortened by about 75 pages or so. Even so, I enjoyed the read and will likely pick up another book by her. I would recommend this book if you’re looking for a light and/or palette cleanser read.

Annabel Monaghan has been a favorite of mine since her first book, and Summer Romance has delivered again! I love that she centers her books on older characters, which gets rid of a lot of the miscommunication or childish antics that usually irk me. It also shows that no matter your age love is possible and hard. And that you are never too old to grow as a person. Great balance of family, romance, small town vibes, and personal discovery that all build into one of my favorite reads this year.

Summer Romance was yet again, such an enjoyable romance read for me, just like Monaghan's other novels. I loved all of these characters from the get-go and found myself rooting for them after the very first chapter. While the overall ending was probably just as you'd expect it to be, I absolutely loved the pages read to get to that satisfying ending, and still enjoyed many of the surprises along the way too.

Monaghan has easily become an auto-read author for me, as I have truly enjoyed every single one of her novels thus far, and will continue to read everything that she writes! If you are looking for your next summery read, I think this is a safe bet to be exactly that!

Wanted to love this more, but the pacing felt too slow to really get behind the main love story. Still an enjoyable story, but didn’t live up to the hype for me.

I loved this book! It was the perfect balance of plot, good characters, and romance. Loved how the main character grew throughout the book.

This was such a cute and lovely story to read.
Thank you Penguin for the oportunity to read this book, i enjoyed a lot.

Absolutely loved this one! I love reading romances where the MCs are closer to my age and this one really delivered. I hated Pete and I know we’re supposed to but man, he really sucked. I loved the twist with this with who Ethan was this was just such a good closed door romance

Such a quiet and charming romance. It’s about learning to love and take risks, even when you can’t be sure how long things will last and know first hand that nothing is forever. Annabel’s writing is simple in the best possible way, even down to the sentence structure it’s so easy and pleasant to consume. I really loved Ali and I fell for Ethan quick. Watching Ali struggle with her grief of missing her mom while also being angry with her was a vulnerability I didn’t know I needed. The addition of her kids and knowing Ali through her relationship with Ethan but also as a mother helped truly understand who she was. In all of Ethan’s relationships, he meets the other where they are. He’s supportive and encouraging but allows his people to simply exist as they are. The way he shows up for Ali is really something else, and every time he puts on his costume for his lawyer gig had me kicking my feet. This book manages to take a no strings attached fling and add so much heart and depth with these characters.

I did not enjoy this book, I pushed through reading it because I normally love this author but the tropes felt too forced and I did not feel a connection to any of the characters

4.5 stars

Ali is a stay at home mother of three who lost her mother, and then her marriage—but she’s only upset about one of those things. It’s a very dark two years for Ali, but she finally makes the decision to start finding ways to dig herself out of her misery. Enter the good looking man at the dog park! Except it turns out…Ali already knows him…or knew him, back when they were teenagers.

While an unlikely pairing, Ali finds that Ethan is helping her to rediscover who she is and the spark that she long ago lost. There’s only one problem…Ali lives in New York and Ethan lives in Massachusetts. Ali must decide if this is really going to be just a summer romance, or something more.

I have really enjoyed everything I’ve read by Annabel Monaghan! I really enjoyed this book because Ali really went through a transformation in an effort to not only find herself again, but to also set an example for her daughters.

Thank you, Net Galley and Penguin Random House for giving me the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Fun summer read! This is the perfect book to throw in your beach bag. I enjoyed the older main characters and a second chance at love and happiness.

This book was absolutely amazing and beautiful. The story was so so wonderfully written, and truly left me wanting more and loving each and every one of the stories characters.

This book was just what the title says: a perfect summer romance read. I didn't love it as much as her other summer read but I loved how there was more depth than expected in a summer romance.

Ali's journey is inspiring, and I loved this one just as I loved Same Time Last Summer! It's realistic and beautiful, with a dash of romance and spice. The characters are delightful and I enjoyed the plot of a second chance of finding happiness and joy after heartbreak.
Thank you to the author and publishing house for this arc.

Summer Romance is a heartwarming novel about a newly single mother grappling with grief and rediscovering love.

Ali, a former accountant turned home organizer, is in a tough spot. Her husband has left her, and she’s mourning the loss of her mother, who was her biggest supporter. Her three children bring her happiness, but it’s been hard to cope with her grief, feelings of low self-worth, and inability to move forward. When her dog finds a new guy at the dog park to mark his claim on by peeing on him, Ali meets Ethan. It's when she starts to get to know him that she begins to find her own voice again and the spark of joy in her begins to flame up again.

I loved the gentle romance, but also the storyline of Ali's self-discovery. Seeing her start to regain her confidence in herself and her strength to be the person that he is meant to be is just wonderful. The conversations are funny, witty, and endearing. I loved how "real" the story is because life isn't just a fantasy - the real world has to deal with things like ex-husbands, kids schedules, finding your footing again after losing a parent, and trying to make two careers in different places work. This book touches on the reality of relationships in today's day and age.

This was a great read and a fun vacation treat to myself! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this Advance Copy in consideration for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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.