Summer Romance what a fun light hearted summer read. Ali is a very relatable character with amazing character development. So many woman could completely relate to her. Married young have babies then DIVORCE. But that ok he isn’t who you should spend you life with but when you have a string of sadness then find true love. Heart!

Thank you NetGalley for another amazing book.

I think this is a good book but just not the book for me. I couldn’t get into it but maybe on a later date I’ll pick it up again.

Ali Morris decided to make oatmeal cookies for breakfast for her kids. It’s her mother’s recipe, and it has a lot of oatmeal, so it does seem appropriate for breakfast. But also, it’s the two-year anniversary of her mother’s death, and Ali wants to feel her close. It’s also the one-year anniversary of the day her husband Pete had told her that he wanted a divorce, and Ali knew that it hadn’t been easy for the kids.

She lives with her 3 kids in the small town of Beechwood, where she had grown up. She had moved away to go to college and then lived in Manhattan, working as an accountant after that. But then she met Pete and about a year in, she got pregnant, so they got married. After her second baby, the family moved back to Beechwood so Ali could be closer to her mother. And then her mother had gotten sick. And then Ali had gotten stuck.

In Beechwood, Ali worked as a professional organizer. She would go into other peoples’ homes and fix the problematic areas of their houses, the overstuffed pantries, the neglected basements, the cluttered closets. Se had a strategy for helping her clients move through the emotions that held them back from fixing their homes and left them feeling stronger and more in control of their environments. However, it had been a long time since she’d been able to do that for herself. Exhausted by grief and loneliness and ashamed of her inability to organize her own home, Ali dragged herself through her days, focusing on her kids.

And then one day, as she was letting her dog run around the local dog park, she meets a handsome stranger. Well, her dog peed on his leg, but after that she introduced herself and apologized for her dog. The man was kind enough to laugh it off, and Ali felt the first spark of attraction she’d felt in a very long time. He said his name was Ethan and asked her out. Ali was nervous—it was her first date since her husband had left—but she ended up having a really good time. But he hadn’t asked for her number. And he hadn’t kissed her. And Ali felt like she was a disappointment all over again.

The next night, at dinner at her best friend’s house, as her kids were about to jump into the pool, Ali looked up and saw Ethan. She couldn’t understand it at first, but her friend reminded Ali that it was her little brother Scooter who had come back to town for a visit. As Ali was putting the pieces together—her friend’s screwup of a little brother had become the smart, funny lawyer she’d had a great date with—Ethan came over to apologize to her. He explained that he’d always had a crush on her, and he was afraid that if she knew who he was, he’d never have a chance to spend time with her.

Ali was reluctant to see Ethan again after that, but then things changed. The amicable divorce she was looking forward to became more difficult when Pete announced that he was moving into a bigger apartment with their shared money, and he had that tell that Ali knew meant he was lying. Ali needed an attorney, fast, so she asked Ethan for help. He agrees and tags along to their first mediation in a light blue tuxedo he’d found in his dad’s closet. With Ethan’s help, Ali finds herself wanting to stand up for herself against Pete and his passive aggression.

Ali decides to give Ethan another chance, and she finds herself lightening up as she spends time with him. He knew her when she’d been a strong young woman in high school, and he encourages her to be more herself. Ali finds that her confidence is growing and her grief is easing as she uncovers this part of herself that had gotten neglected during her marriage.

But the more time she spends with Ethan, and the more her feelings grow towards him, she understands that there is only so far their relationship can go. He’s only in Beechwood for the summer, and she can’t move her kids away from their home. Can she be in a relationship only for the summer, or should she end things now, before she gets in too deep?

Summer Romance is a charming, effervescent story of a woman rediscovering herself after years in a marriage to a man who felt trapped and took it out on her. The healing that Ali finds after the years of grief and emotional neglect is a beautiful journey, as she learns to take chances and open herself up to possibility again. There are a lot of genuinely funny scenes as well as many heartfelt painful, cleansing scenes. The journey through grief is never easy, and while author Annabel Monaghan adds some humor along the way, there are also tears.

I had a lot of fun with this story. I liked these characters a lot and wanted things to work out for them. I did think that there was some awkwardness in the plotting, especially in the story of Scooter’s parents, but I still enjoyed this ride and would love to take it around again. Overall, this is a warm and revealing story, and it left me feeling hopeful and joyful, both for these characters and for myself. And also, I could really use Ali’s help with my cluttered basement. I feel like she’d know just what to say to help me get it cleaned out.

Egalleys for Summer Romance were provided by G.P. Putnam’s Sons through NetGalley, with many thanks.

All that really needs to be said about this book is that IT IS AMAZING AND WONDERFUL! This was the perfect summer read full of love, humor, emotion, grief, chemistry, family, friends and all in a beautiful setting. I wanted to live in this book and I never wanted it to end. A must read for the summer!

Annabel Monaghan’s bones are always an auto read for me! I can’t get enough of them and really enjoyed this one! I loved that it highlighted a divorced lead role and an unlikely relationship. This book was full of friendship, family, romance and also loss. I couldn’t put it down!

Summer Romance
By Annabel Monaghan

This book was such a good read. I really enjoyed getting to know Ali and Ethan in this heartwarming romance. It begins with a meet cute. I won’t tell you how it ends. While it is a romance, this book was realistic and emotional.

I have loved all of Annabel Monaghan’s books so far. I recommend them all.

Thank you @netgalley and Penguin Group Putman for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Net galley for sending me an arc copy of this gem.
I think I found a new favorite author to add to my list. Annabel Monaghan nailed it with this summer romance! It gave me all the feels! As a mom who has been previously married and then found a new better me and someone to love who genuinely loves me this book touched me in so many ways. I can tell before reading the acknowledgements that this author wrote from the heart and this was a personal story for them.
This book is a great summer read! Although I can see myself reading it again any time in the year too. It felt so good to read. It's wholesome and has appropriate spice. I loved the characters and the setting was perfect.
I can see myself buying this book for friends. I might even do that this summer and gift it in a gift basket with some wine.
If you're thinking about reading this book I can say with confidence that it's a great read.

Summer Romance follows Ali, a professional organizer whose own life could use a refresh. When we meet Ali, she has so much on her plate. She’s a single mom trying to raise three children, and she’s also grieving the loss of her mom, as well as dealing with the fallout from her recent divorce. Ali loves her children, but a chance encounter with Ethan, a handsome man at the dog park, opens Ali’s eyes to the fact that she hasn’t felt truly happy in far too long.

Even though Ali is immediately attracted to Ethan, she’s unsure if it’s really the right time for romance, but the more she thinks about it, the more she decides to just go for it, even if it just ends up being a summer fling.

The budding romance starts off on an awkward note when Ali realizes that Ethan is actually her best friend’s younger brother “Scooter” all grown up. But Ethan is so charming and so adorable that Ali soon gets past that. I loved the romance between Ethan and Ali. They have such amazing chemistry and their scenes together are just so moving. I also love how they’re able to have such frank conversations with one another. It’s easy to see how good they could be for each other if they’re willing to make this more than just a summer romance.

In addition to the romance, what I most loved about this book is Ali’s very relatable personal journey. She truly transforms throughout the course of the book and it was just so wonderful to witness.

Kristen DiMercurio’s narration of the audiobook is fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to her bring Monaghan’s writing and her characters to life. I found both the audio and ebooks equally bingeable!

If you’re looking for a heartfelt and swoony summer romance that also features an emotional journey of self discovery, be sure to pick up a copy of Summer Romance.

I absolutely loved this book! Ali was such a likable main character and I was rooting for her from the beginning. She was incredibly strong as she manages grief from losing her mother and feeling lost after her husband, Pete, divorces her. When Ali meets Ethan, she is excited to feel something for somebody new after her divorce. However, it becomes complicated when she realizes Ethan is her best friend's younger brother who is in town fixing up his parents' house. Ali makes a deal with Ethan to help him clean up his parents' house in exchange for him being her divorce lawyer. I loved the romance between Ali and Ethan, and how Ali never stopped making her kids her main priority. This book was an addictive read, and perfect for the summer.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP, Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC!

I was introduced to Annabel Monaghan last summer through another eARC I was granted, Same Time Next Summer. After reading that, I immediately read Nora Goes Off Script (another eARC, there seems to be a theme here!) As you can imagine, I was very excited to get early access to the newest Annabel Monaghan. Ali and Ethan stole my heart and by the end I felt like I was going to run into them when I was out and about. Monaghan's characters are always incredibly relatable and I completely understood the thought processes and feelings that Ethan and Ali were going through. I laughed out loud, I cried a little bit and I cheered this couple on. Monaghan's books are perfect summer reads. The plots is realistic, heartwarming and wonderful. Highly suggest when you are looking for a book to lift your heart!

Ali is a 38-year-old with 3children going through a divorce. Also grieving her mother her life seems quite a mess until Ethan comes along and what starts out as a summer fling, Ali worries about the complications of it developing into something more.
This book was so satisfying. You could feel the chemistry between Ali and Ethan and the love they have for each other. A fun lighthearted read perfect for summer!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the advanced copy.

I will read anything Annabel Monaghan writes. I've enjoyed her other books and this one didn't disappoint. She is a solid go to rom- com author. I give this five stars and highly recommend this summer read. Go get your copy now!

This story is told in first person by Ali. Ali’s the mother of three, still grieving her mother and in the middle of a divorce. Even though she’s a personal organizer, her own home is a bit of a mess. As soon as she said that she organized pantries fit for a serial killer, I was enthralled with this character. I found her very relatable. She has an embarrassing meet cute when her dog Ferris pees on a cutie in the park.

Ethan was a great character too. He’s returned home for a visit since his parents have a big announcement. His family treats him like he’s still an irresponsible teenager who will never amount to much, even though he’s a successful lawyer with his own legal practice in another state. His family is full of colorful characters that I really loved even if I was irritated by their insistence on calling Ethan a nickname he disliked.

I loved the relationship that develops between these two as they embarked on what was supposed to be a summer romance but turned into something more, leading Ali to believe that she was going to be hurt considerably when the summer ends because her life is here and Ethan’s is not. What a beautiful romance filled with good supporting characters and true to life issues.

Recommended for a great summer romance read. What an apt name!

Thank you to Netgalley and GP Putnam’s Sons for a copy provided for an honest review.

Love a heart-warming tear jerker 😍 loved the characters, loved the families, loved the town. I just really enjoy Monaghan's writing and it absolutely sucked me in!

This was such a sweet summer read! All of Annabel’s books are simply a breath of fresh air and the perfect palette cleansers! You can expect a cute scenery and even cuter MMC {highly recommend picturing Glen Powell} 🤭

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC 🫶🏼

Witty, sentimental and romantic- this story was a breath of fresh air. As always, Monaghan does an amazing job with character development, allowing readers to connect and feel a range of emotions. I loved following Ali’s journey of healing from her mom’s passing and overcoming her divorce. The unexpected meet-cute was hilarious and relatable. I loved Ali and Ethan’s love story. Helping one another to heal from their past, they brought out the best in each other- which is the true definition of love. Tender moments of vulnerability, self-discovery, playful banter and the perfect ending- made this story so enjoyable and memorable.

This was adorable! I particularly loved the main characters - Ali & Ethan - and was rooting for them every step of the way. I would put this in the romcom PLUS category because there are themes of grief and starting over after divorce in this novel that really made me care even more for our main character of Ali and what she was going through. Ethan was utterly adorable and I just wanted to hug him immediately and their "meet cute" involved two really adorable canine characters which made me love it even more!

There's nothing mind-blowing or new or different in this one but who cares?! It was adorable, fun, and emotional in all the ways I want a Summer RomCom to be!

Read This If You Love:
RomComs
Best Friend's Brother
Meet Cute
Small Town Romance
Closed Door Romance
Single Mom
Books Featuring Adorable Dogs

I listened on audio and definitely recommend it! It was an easy, breezy listen and would be a perfect read or listen laying by the pool with a cocktail in hand!

Thank you to Netgalley & Penguin Random House Audio for these advanced copies in exchange for my honest opinion.

Annabel Monaghan has done it once again with creating a perfect story that is so heartwarming and relatable, with Summer Romance. She threw it out of the park with Ali and how messy her life is when we first meet her, but with the true supporting cast she has around her, Ali is able to find out more about how to navigate life with her kids, divorce and the loss of her mom.

The perfect way to tie in the beautiful meaning of love and the meaning of being there for someone, along with dealing with grief and loss, this was a breath of fresh air. Monaghan has such a way of creating a perfect blend in romance and women's fiction in this beautiful story.

As expected, Annabel Monaghan has done it again with an amazing summer romance story! All of the characters were so well developed and relatable allowing true emotional connections to play a role in the reading experience. The love story between Ethan and Ali was admirable and I enjoyed how they each played a pivotal role in each others’ lives to help in making them the best versions of themselves. This entire story was perfection. It was funny, empathetic, real and raw and the ending was sensational! I highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for a #gifted eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Summer Romance
By: Annabel Monaghan
Review Score: 5 Stars

Boogie’s Bulletpoints
•I loved Ali’s entire evolution in this story.

•No spoilers, but man. Pete is an awful husband lol.

•Monaghan weaves life and love with grief so seamlessly; I felt allllll the emotions.

•This book was the perfect summer read.

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Summer Romance was kindly provided as an ARC by Netgalley. Thank you for allowing me to enjoy this wonderful book!

Release Date: Out Now!

You guys, this book was so wonderful.

We meet Ali, a mom of 3 who is going through a divorce all while still coming to grips with the loss of her Mom, who passed away 2 years ago. She finally comes out of the fog and meets Ethan, a man that seems perfect for a quick and fun summer fling. But, of course, it doesn’t work that way.

I loved this story. The setting, the people, yes, but also, the emotions that a family can feel as they go through a series of hard things. I really resonated with those complicated feelings.

While there is definitely some heavier stuff, this book also has fun banter, a beautiful setting, and the perfect summer vibe. I laughed, I cried, I loved this book.