"Summer Romance" is a sweet and heartwarming romance novel that will make the perfect poolside or beach read this summer. Somehow, this was my first Annabel Monaghan book, and I will definitely be reading more. I loved the charming characters and setting. Ali is a relatable main character who is facing real-life problems as a 30-something single mother in the midst of a divorce. This book tackled so many issues we women face in a thoughtful and deliberate manner. I enjoyed reading about Ali's journey of self-discovery, and you just can't help but root for her.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I fall more in love with Annabel Monaghan every time she releases a new book, and its safe to say I'm head over heels after reading Summer Romance.

The opening of this book warmed me to Ali so much. She is paying homage to her mom, "Fancy", on the second anniversary of her death by making her three kids cookies for breakfast. Recently divorced (Pete asked for a divorce on the one-year anniversary of her mothers death), Ali's life is at a standstill and she can't seem to even get out of sweatpants most days. I loved when her best friend Frannie asks in the first chapter, "Tell me what pants you're wearing and I'll tell you exactly how much of a mess you are."

Buoyed by her revelation that she doesn't like making the coffee that Pete preferred during their marriage, Ali decides one day to take off her wedding ring, place it on Pete's favorite coffee ingredient, and get dressed for the day -- in something other than sweatpants. During an excursion to the dog park, her dog Ferris pees on the shoes of a handsome stranger named Ethan, who is undeterred by the urine but very interested in Ali. A date occurs. Sparks fly. Cut to an event with Frannie's family and we find out that Ethan is Frannie's younger brother, the mess-up kid who went by Scooter and was always getting in trouble.

Even though this revelation throws Ali off for a bit, she and Ethan embark on -- you guessed it -- a summer romance. Swoon. Monaghan does romance, banter, chemistry, like she has a freaking PHD in love. I couldn't stop reading. I loved their story, and the dynamics of a single mom with three kids, a man trying to leave his past behind him, and the real life work of comingling lives. Chef's kiss! It was perfect.

May we all have a champagne summer! Five big stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I love Monaghan's romances. It's a breath of fresh air to read about romance later in life, as if your late 30s are later in life! But coming off of a romance with a 29yo protagonist, this was book was a welcome change. I do think the ending tied up a bit too nicely but otherwise it was a relatable story with great characters. Always get the dog.

4.5⭐️

Summer Romance was... the perfect summer romance! I adored this book from start to finish. I have fallen in love with Annabel Monaghan's books and writing style. This book toes the line between women's fiction and romance, blending the two genres to make such an impactful and beautiful read.

This one is my favorite of Annabel's to date. This book is a love letter to girls who are going through a change in their lives and want to get their spark back. Ali, the main character, is a superstar mom and I loved reading her story. Her character makeup and development were so wonderful to witness and handled so well!

The romance is... perfection! These two are an unlikely match that works so well. Ethan is exactly what Ali needs and Ali is exactly what Ethan has desired. The pining, the communication, the mutual understanding, and the overall chemistry were to die for!!! I love them so much and I quite literally smiled at their little moments, it feels like they got their chance at young love.

I HIGHLY recommend checking this book out. It was a beautiful summer read with so much depth and perfect for those in many different phases of life. This book will be a new go-to recommendation!

Read if you love:
- best friend's brother
- summer romance
- found family
- closed door
- banter
- single mom
- cinnamon roll MMC
- childhood crush "it's always been you"

*check trigger warnings including loss of a parent, grief, etc.*

I read this book very quickly and kind of had the feeling like nothing much was happening the whole time, but I wanted to hang out in this world anyway. I especially appreciated the FMC's believable and prioritized relationship with her kids, without them becoming moppets or cloyingly precocious as can often happen. And the way she deals with the end of her functional-but-not-actually-good-for-her marriage and subsequent coparenting is refreshing and quietly inspirational. Would recommend to just about any contemporary romance reader.

I’m gonna start this by saying that I am in my Annabel Monaghan era. I have read 2 books back to back and I have loved loved loved both. The only reason I haven’t read Nora yet is because I don’t want my Annabel summer era to end!

They way she writes is magical. I love how all her main characters are so mature, down to earth and relatable. Ali was so amazing and I was rooting for her from the start. This book tackles so many emotions from grief, to motherhood to self identity and it does it in such a special way.

If you’ve never read one of her books, do yourself a favor and go to the book store right now!

Such a cute summer read. It was so fun and keep me entertained. I wish I could Read it for the first time again.

I loved Summer Romance SO MUCH. Ethan is the BEST and this story is full of relatable and memorable moments! Our book club had the best time reading the arc and discussing it.

Thank you to Putnam for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

When you think summer beach reads, Annabel Monaghan should be at the top of your list! I loved Nora Goes Off Script and thought Same Time Next Summer was the perfect little summer read. And I am thrilled to say Summer Romance was everything I was dreaming of for AM's most recent book!

First off, can we talk about how fun this cover is?! I love! If that doesn't look you, the story certainly will :) I felt for the FMC, Ali, in those first few chapters- man has she been through it! Truthfully, I couldn't really relate to Ali as a single parent grieving both her marriage and the death of a parent, but I still felt like AM wrote Ali in a way I could still find other things to connect with her on. I loved Ali's journey as she rebuilt her life and redefined what she wanted that life to look like. And y'all know I'm instantly all in on any book that has a brother's best friend trope, so it was pretttty clear (to me at least) that I was going to love Ethan. He was the perfect mix of sweet, goofy, and laid-back and was the perfect compliment to Ali.

Seriously, if you are looking for the sweetest book to throw in your beach bag, this should be it!

Professional organizer Ali is determined not to let her grief make a mess of her life anymore following mother’s death and the dissolution of her marriage. When Ali and her dog meet a handsome stranger she feels an attraction she hasn’t felt in years. Only to find out afterwards it’s her best friend’s little brother Ethan who hasn’t come in years in order to make his own way as a lawyer. Ali and Ethan strike up a deal, she’ll help clean out his parent’s house if Ethan helps with her divorce settlement. But the attraction is too strong for them to ignore. As Ethan shows Ali she can create the life she wants, he own job and obligations out of town mean Ethan isn’t planning on sticking around for long. Can Ali and Ethan find some way to make this new and supportive relationship work?

There are so many things I loved about this book from Ali taking life into her own hands in her grief and Ethan being such a positive support for her unlike her husband. The small town communities and people for both Ali and Ethan are wonderful to picture and read about. What a great summer romance!

I so enjoyed the story of Ali and Ethan. It's wonderful to see adults traversing real life and relationships and this was just a great entertaining read. I will look forward to reading more books by Annabel Monaghan. Highly recommended!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of Summer Romance in exchange for an honest review. Summer Romance is available now.

Ok hear me out on this one… I absolutely love Annabel’s writing and the way she seems to structure these bingeable romances!!! But this is the second book where she seems to toe the line of cheating and it always makes me so uncomfortable! In Summer Romance our main female character begins dating a man when she’s STILL MARRIED!!!! This might be a hot take, but “separated” is still married. You are not divorced yet. I’m sorry if that’s inconvenient to your dating life, but let’s call a spade a spade. For that reason alone, I could get on board with this romance.

First of all, Annabel Monaghan deserves to be in all the summer romance convos because she continues to put out bangers. If you don’t know, now you know!!

Ali’s mom died two years ago. One year ago, her husband Pete asked for a divorce and it’s felt like she’s been in a fog throughout it all.

This summer she’s filing to make the divorce final and is making an effort to wear hard pants again. IYKYK🤣

Her kids are busy with summer camps all summer, so she’s at the dog park alone one morning when her dog meets someone new.

Cue all the reasons why this someone new won’t work out. But Ali goes for it anyways.

This was such an enjoyable read for me. Call me old fashioned but I love a feel-good romance with no spice 😂🤭

Do yourself a favor and add Monaghan to your summer reading list. And add her back list too! You won’t regret it. Unless you need spice in your books. Then you might 😂

Thanks to #netgalley, the publisher and the author for this e-arc!

Annabel Monaghan had become a "must read" author for me. I enjoyed "Nora Goes off Script" and I loved "Same Time Next Summer" but I think "Summer Romance" is her best one yet! Ali, our main character, is a mom of 3 kids who is navigating life, the loss of her beloved mother and a divorce. As the title of the book suggests, yes, there is romance but this is also the story of a woman finding herself after years of putting her husband and children before herself. This is a beautifully written novel and I loved the ending.

Thank you to the publisher for the digital advance copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion!

After reading Nora goes off Script, Annabel Monaghan became an auto-buy author for me. While I did not love her last one, she redeemed herself with Summer Romance!

Ali is grieving the loss of her mother and the dissolution of her marriage. Her house is a mess, and she hasn't changed out of sweatpants in 2 years when she meets a cute guy at a dog park. His name is Ethan, and turns out, he's her friends younger brother, who she hasnt seen in years.

I loved Annabels writing style. I thought the way she wrote about grief, especially the relationship you have with your mom was beautiful. I viscerally hated Ali's ex husband Pete and wanted to punch him in the face several times. I thought the banter between Ethan and Ali was realistic, albeit at times, cheesy. I loved her relationship with her elderly neighbor Phyllis.

The only reason I docked a star off was because of her relationship with Frannie. It did not read like she and Frannie were best friends. I kept waiting for Frannie to be fleshed out more and it never happened.

Annabel Monaghan has a knack for taking a summer romance and grounding it in reality with messy, real, hard, everyday life. Her characters have grown-up issues and struggles but there are also such sweet moments and funny lines. I really loved this book and spent the whole time rooting for Ali to find herself and her happiness again. A great addition for your summer reading list.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. I am required by law to disclose this.

Many people are loving this book, but I was underwhelmed by it. It was fine. I just didn’t ever feel invested in the romance and the book itself felt a little slow.

I loved Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan! This book is a great summer book, perfectly capturing the unpredictability of finding love.

The dynamic between Ali and Ethan was engaging, and I enjoyed their backstory. The summer setting was enchanting, giving the story a magical vibe.

Overall, I thought all the characters were lovable, the dialogue was entertaining, and this book was a wonderful summer read!

Sometimes it's tough to stay on top of every task and keep the house from falling into disarray while also maintaining a healthy balance of emotional availability for those who rely on you and for the one in the mirror, too. This is where we find Ali. Life gets messy but we meet her in the middle of a bonafide mess. The kids need her, the ex-ish husband needs her (to meet her expectations), and Ali needs to find solid ground to figure out what she REALLY needs for herself.

It was such a joy to journey beside Ali as she finds her voice and her countertops while also exploring the possibility of finding joy - gasp - for herself!

Annabel Monaghan has quickly asserted herself as an auto-buy author in my world. She delivered, yet again, with this easy-to-read novel that explores some of the sticky bits of life (beyond what we can see or wipe off with a bit of pledge) sprinkled with her witty humor. To top it off, you can recommend this book/read along with your mother or grandmother without blushing!

Instant 5-star and suggested add to everyone's summer TBR lists!

I 🩷 Ali and Ethan! This book not only had me smiling over the romance, it also motivated me to organize my home! Win win! This is the perfect summer romance (😉) but also explores deeper themes of grief and motherhood. I highlighted some things about being a mom that I resonated with. I like that Annabel Monaghan writes love stories with main characters who are in their 30s and 40s. She also just has a lovely writing voice.

Cheers to a champagne summer 🥂

Closed door romance but still sexy!