Another great book from Annabel Monaghan. Ali Morris is deep in the weeds with raising kids, a divorce, losing her mom, and trying to keep her career afloat. It is nice to watch the underdog turn their life around. I am recommending this to readers of women's fiction and those looking for a solid beach/pool book. I look forward to what is next from Anabel Monaghan.

This was my second Annabel book. It was a heartwarming novel about a recently single mother dealing with grief and finding love. I found Ali's relationship with Ethan to be endearing. I would consider it a rom-com as there were some fun moments and tension with Ethan. I will recommend this as a fun summer read to others.

This is the third summer I’ve spent with Annabel Monaghan and it’s something I’ve come to look forward to each year.

Reading Summer Romance was a great way to spend the day! Ali’s life has been a bit crap lately, and as the second anniversary of her mother’s passing comes along, she’s still finding herself stuck in a life rut. Her best friend’s jokes about her stretchy pants are becoming a bit much though, so she ditches them for a slightly less stretchy pair. It almost feels like fate when she meets a handsome stranger in the dog park that very same day. Only that man isn’t quite a stranger after all, and suddenly Ali’s summer becomes a lot more complicated (and exciting) than expected.

This was the perfect summer read. Monaghan manages to transport you to this beautiful, coastal town and I really felt like I was there. I loved watching the romance between Ali and Ethan develop. There were so many romantic and swoony moments, but it didn’t feel unrealistic, which is one of the things I love most about this author’s writing. All of her characters always feel so real. I love how we see so much of their day to day lives and all of the struggles they face. Even though I don’t really have anything in common with Ali, I still managed to find her so relatable because I grew to “know” her so well.

Thank you to Putnam and Netgalley for a review copy.

This took me way too long to get into, I’m talking like almost a month. But once I did I enjoyed it so much. Annabel’s characters are always so dimensional and have so much depth. Her plots are always well fleshed out. They feel so real and ordinary, but it the best way. I will always pick up her books.

A refreshing rom-com about a single Mom in her 30s going through a tough divorce and the reality of what that looks like - to find yourself again. Usually rom-coms are about younger main characters but this was not and I enjoyed that.

I absolutely loved this one from Annabel Monaghan. The story centers around 38-year-old Ali, who is in the midst of a divorce one year after the passing of her mom. Ali may be one of my favorite FMCs I’ve read this year. She’s strong, yet broken. Honest, yet guarded. The arc of her own growth and rediscovering herself was incredibly beautiful to read.

And Ethan? YES, PLEASE. I always love the “best friend’s brother” trope and this one delivered. I also loved that Monaghan didn’t delay the best friend finding out. I think it added a certain something to the storyline as we watched their relationship evolve.

If you’re looking for a wonderfully well-done book about second chances, I highly recommend this one from Monaghan.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE ROMANCES OF THE YEAR!!!

First off - there's just something so special about Annabel Monaghan's writing style. She crafts such human characters with amazing chemistry as well as settings that are so vivid you feel like you're in a movie. Her stories are short and to-the-point, every single word feeling intentional. Her ability to craft such seemingly simple stories that hit you in the feels every time is masterful.

SUMMER ROMANCE might just be my favorite Monaghan book so far. Both Ali and Ethan were perfectly crafted characters who I loved rooting for, and being alongside Ali on her journey was such a gift. I feel like I learned so much just by accompanying her on this "coming-of-self" journey. This book tackled so many tough subjects with grace, and I never felt bogged down by the serious moments because they were so well-balanced with moments of levity and happiness.

And the romance??? I was obsessed with the way Ali and Ethan connected. It felt a little insta-love-y, but not in a bad way. I love a best friend's brother trope, but I loved it even more seeing it played out with older characters who really know themselves and what they want.

Overall, a five star read that I will be convincing everyone I know to pick up!

Beach Read season is here! We’ll have a slew of beach approved romance reads for the summer and the first of our recs is Summer Romance from @annabelmonaghan
Every summer I’ve looked forward to a beach ready read from Annabel. Always a great sweet story and beautifully written. This year’s summer read appropriately titled Summer Read checked all the boxes for the {chef’s kiss} of a summer read.

Ali’s been living in a bit of a fog after the loss of her mom and her husband declaring the need for a divorce. As Ali tries to pull herself out of the fog she has a hilarious meet cute with Ethan. The meeting sparks some semblance of light through the fog for Ali. In the realization that what started as a summer romance Ethan and Ali are forced to question whether they can actually let each other go at the end of the summer.

Another home run of a perfect beach read. And not only because it takes place in a small beach town. Annabel writes characters that are so relatable you can actually draw similarities to people in real life. Ali is this. The story of Ali having lost herself is real life business. It’s hard not to especially when you become a wife then a mom and lose your previous career minded aspirations. I loved the reincarnation of Ali as she delves into her relationship with Ethan and he helps to bring her out of her fog.

This will be on all the beach reads of 2024 lists and rightfully so. A 5 ⭐️ read that I’ve already been recommending to anyone that’s been asking for recommendations!

Thanks to @netgalley and @annabelmonaghan for a chance to ARC read this in exchange for my honest review!

Touching, fun and relatable. I fell in love with Ali and the cast of characters. Would recommend for a summer read!

I loved Nora Goes Off Script, and Annabel Monaghan's new novel, Summer Romance, is getting a lot of buzz. This one has a cute plot and is a great lighthearted book for the summer. I really loved how the main female character was in her late 30s. So may rom-coms have young characters, so this was refreshing

I appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

Sigh. Why can’t every book be this good? Five stars rounded up and up. Just like Same Time Next Summer was last year, I suspect Summer Romance will end up being one of my favorite books I read this summer.

Cute. Kismet, childhood crush, second chances, and so much more. There's death, learning from it, failed marriage, self discovery, healthy outlets. Ugh, great summer read. Quick and easy to finish!

This book was so good! The cover drew me in from the beginning and I was so excited to read it! So thankful I was given a copy. If you are wanting the perfect summer read, this will be it. This book showed the chaos of life and truly making the best of it.

Another great summer romance from Annabel Monaghan! Ali and Ethan had great chemistry and I loved watching their "just for summer" romance turn into something more. The small town setting was great, as was Ali's self discovery of life, love, and single motherhood following her divorce.

I rated this book 4.75 stars. This was such a cute, quick, summer read. Ali is such a girlboss and the author does such a good job at portraying the ways grief can affect your life. I now want me a man like Ethan. He is such a sweet guy and it's so cute of how well he gets along with all the kids like they are his own. I loved this book. I was laughing and giggling the whole time while reading this. I would 100% recommend this book to everyone.

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This is a wonderful summer read! Ali is a single mom of 3 kiddos who is going through a divorce and grieving her mother when *enters love interest* Ethan waltzes in and not only does a romance build but so does so much trust and love!!

This book was a smooth read and kept me interested! If you’re looking for a summer romance feel but with some strong emotions, this is the book for you! Also if you despise a miscommunication trope (like me 🙋🏽‍♀️) you will also like this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. So happy this book is finally out. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

Thanks to Penguin Books and Netgalley for this advanced copy.

What a wonderful and perfect summer book! Monaghan has really nailed the summer romance. Ali is coming out of the fog of a bad marriage and runs into a hot guy, who just happens to be her best friend's little brother and from there we get a great tale of Ali coming into her own and knowing what support and love can do for you. I loved the characters and the pacing of this. The story kept moving, but not so fast I couldn't keep up or needed to pause.

Monaghan is a must read at this point and it's a perfect book for the beach or pool, or really anywhere.

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book! Ali is navigating grief for her mother and her marriage, although less so for the latter. Ethan is unwillingly back in his hometown after his parents announce they're moving to Florida and leaving their house and inn to him, but he doesn't want any part of it. When they meet at the dog park after her dog pees on his foot, she doesn't realize that she used to know him. As their relationship develops (as you knew it would!), she has to juggle single motherhood, a belittling ex, and her own business. Ethan has a lot of things pulling him back to the town he lives in, including being a mentor and friend to a group of teens. Figuring out for themselves what they each want rather than being at the whims of other people is at the center of this story. I liked the character development and growth as well as the dose of humor. Their issues were not trivial or juvenile, and Ali's kids were a welcome and important part of the story rather than just cardboard cutout children. All the pieces came together very effectively and enjoyably.

I loved this book! I devoured it in less than 48 hours. The characters were well developed and the story line was one that kept me wanting to read more.