Ali is trying to figure out her life after the loss of her mother and her marriage. While she is a former accountant turned home organizer, organizing her own life does not come as easy for her. Juggling 3 kids and grief have taken almost everything out of her.

Her bestfriend keeps encouraging her to put on her hard pants and get herself back out there. Have the first first date again, that first kiss, the first butterflies. She pushes her to go and out and find herself again. The first day she decides to dress in more that sweats she takes her dog to the dog park and Ferris manages to find an extremely good looking guy and "marks his territory". The two hit off and decide to go on a date. Things are starting to look up for Ali and she is feeling things she hasn't felt in a long time or maybe never actually felt at all with her husband.

Who is the guy you ask? Well it is none other than her best friends brother "Scooter" who now likes to be called Ethan instead of his childhood nickname. He is a lawyer who is only in town for the summer with all intentions to go back home after he is done with his parents house.

Ali and Ethan decide to have a Summer Romance and make the most out of the time they have together.

It was so nice to watch their relationship grown while also watching Ali's journey with self discovery and taking back her own life.

I adored this book and if you want to see how this story ends pick up this book and enjoy a little bit of your own Summer Romance.

Happy Book Release Day! I was down to the finish line, so I simply devoured this book.
This book will be a great beach read book rec and perfect for the summer, afterall who doesn't love a summer romance?

It was endearing to meet this soon to be divorced mom of three (Ali) and see how she begins to embrace the changes in her life. She has recently lost her mom as well and the journey felt relatable and tender. Then we meet Ethan, via a dog park meet cute, and watch as the sparks ignite.

The author has a very descriptive writing style and the beginning had a bit of a slow start for me (though the details did help me vividly imagine this world. I enjoyed the journey and I liked Ali's personal growth along the way and the romance (though low spice) still had a good burn/tension to it. She did a good job making you crave their romance.

Grab a copy and let me know what you think!
Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and Penguin Group for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
4/5 stars
1/5 spice

Happy publication day to the always amazing Annabel Monaghan! 4.5 stars for the gem of a book that makes you feel love, grief, tender moments and raw reality so genuinely. She’s an autobuy author and will continue to be so. Even better is the demographic of her “older” female characters, nearing 40 I feel seen.

In this book we have Ali who is supposed to have it all together but she’s a mess! Let’s throw in a sexy man to make her find those butterflies again. This is a book about finding your new self after many life changes, pure magic.

Summer Romance absolutely lives up to its title. This was a delightful, quick, uplifting romance. The main character goes through so much growth on her journey of navigating grief and divorce while finding love again. I appreciated the maturity of these characters and that they had real lives that were allowed to be actual considerations in their romance. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys Katherine Center's novels, or just enjoys a good summer romance!

Relatable and real. This book was just what my 37-year-old mom heart needed.

It’s more than just a summer romance. It’s about finding yourself. Overcoming the grief that comes when you lose a parent and the end of a marriage.

I’m not going through a divorce, but I related to so much of what Ali felt.
When being a wife and mom is so much of your identity. When you lose a parent that was your best friend.

This book made me laugh and cry and want to do things for myself. To have a summer romance with myself. To do more small, simple, fun things with my kids. And to appreciate more things that “sparkle”.

☀️ Summer Romance ☀️

Oh my gosh, I absolutely adore this book. So cute, sweet, but still relatable and also deep.

I loved that the characters were actual grown adults, and not college freshman who have a ton of miscommunication. Writing characters in their 30s with relatable adult problems and who have lived full lives creates more depth and layers, and it was wonderful to read.

I love Ethan; he is so far from unreliable (IYKYK). Ali’s transformation from doormat weary housewife to badass confident working mama, while practicing self care and simultaneously falling in love, was amazing and inspiring. I genuinely loved every character in this book (except Pete), and could easily have kept reading about them.

I read this in one night. On brand for Annabel, who has cemented herself as an auto-buy author for me (I also loved Nora Goes Off Script and Same Time Next Summer). I definitely recommend this book; it will be the perfect beach read this summer.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Penguin Group Putnam, NetGalley, and Annabel Monaghan for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A great breezy read that captures the mid-life, divorce-in-progress mother vibe. I enjoyed the coastal setting, the summer aesthetic, and the strong cast of supporting characters. Nothing too out of the box here, just a quick breezy read.

Everyone should go read this sweet-as-pie, second chance SUMMER ROMANCE.

Annabel does a wonderful job portraying a later in life second chance romance. I adored the banter between these characters, and I actually wanted more as I finished the last page! Maybe we can continue their story? Nonetheless, I had a great time reading this. Huge thanks to Annabel and Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced copy.

This binge able read was a delight! Just what I hope for in a summer read.

We have a romance that involves a single mother of 3, Ali, going through divorce and a lawyer, Ethan, who’s in town visiting. A funny meet cute and things are set in motion!

This story also has some meat to it. Grief of a lost parent in a charming way. Ali’s in her 30’s with children navigating the mess of divorce which trickles into the messiness of her life. Who wouldn’t want Ethan to come in and rescue them? Ethan is a lovable MMC who knows just what to do!

A great closed door romance to start the summer reading season!
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Thank you PENGUIN GROUP Putnam via Net Galley for the opportunity to start my summer reading early!

All the swoon with this one!

There’s nothing I love more than a woman finding her confidence and power and this book delivered with that!

From heartbreak to re-creating herself, Ali made me proud with how she took control of her life after heartbreak & loss, and let herself enjoy life and love again.

Such a great book, I recommend grabbing it and diving in right away for a perfect summer read 🫶🏻

Newly divorced Ali is learning how to survive as a single parent of three kids. It’s been 2 years since the death of her mom, and 1 year since her husband asked for a divorce.

One day at the dog park, Ali’s dog pees on a someone’s leg. Ali is extremely embarrassed, but the man assures Ali it is okay and introduces himself as Ethan. When they bump into each other again later at a skatepark, they exchange numbers and Ali goes on her first date as a single woman.
The next day, Ali has dinner at her best friend Frannie’s house, and while she is telling her all about the date, Ethan shows up with a bag of ice.
Surprised to see him, it turns out that Ethan=Scooter, Frannie’s little brother who Ali hasn’t seen since he was sixteen! And he has definitely grown up..
Ethan remembers everything about Ali, even the moment he met her for the first time at his parent’s diner.
It might be a summer romance, but maybe it’s Ethan’s chance with the girl he’s always known and loved for years.

This book was adorable! I loved their meet-cute at the dog park. Fun fact: my husband and I actually met 5 years ago at the dog park pictured above! 🥰

I loved how Ethan helped Ali find her confidence again. He had always admired her confidence when they were younger. While her friends dressed as something slutty for Halloween, Ali dressed as a big pumpkin.

Ethan’s escapism is skateboarding. At first I wasn’t sure why a grown man was still skateboarding, but it actually turns out to be a really special part of Ethan’s life, and I enjoyed learning more about him.

Trope: best friends brother

Thank you NetGalley and @PutnamBooks for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

You know that feeling when books come to you at the exact right time? That's how I felt with Summer Romance. Like Ali, my mom, who I was very close to passed away just over two years ago, so I related to Ali's thoughts and feelings so much throughout the whole book. I loved the coastal setting, the wonderful cast of characters, and of course, Ferris and Brenda (the dogs!). Yes, this is absolutely a book about romance, but it's so much more than that. Often times, books with parent death are so triggering for me. But if they're done right--like this one--they are comforting and make me feel understood.

"She was a little over-the-top about everything in my life. It all mattered. Like she was so focused on all the little moments. Maybe because she was older, or maybe because it was just me."

"Because that's what life is--joy peppered by loss. It's why you get a dog, and then you get another dog. Madness repeating itself to get another taste of joy."

Don't worry--the dogs are delightfully present throughout the book.

Annabel Monaghan how do you do this with every single book of yours, you grab my heart and make me cry and smile all at the same time.

Ali Morris is in the process of going through a divorce, she has spent the last year living in a fog, mourning a marriage the really ended a long time ago and mourning the loss of her biggest supporter, her mother. Once an accountant, Ali cares for their three children, living in her sweatpants and organizing other people’s lives. While she loves her child immensely, she has come to realize that a piece of her has gone missing. The day has come to wear her “hard pants” and remove her wedding ring .. she unexpectantly meets a striking man at the dog park, Ethan. Ali’s life is about to change, time for her “champagne” summer romance, it is time to discover her voice and bring joy back into her life. After all it is only for the summer .. but can it be? Ethan makes her feel more confident about herself. He is smart, loves dog and makes her laugh. So what’s the hitch?

While I so enjoyed watching the slow burn of Ali and Ethan’s relationship and romance, I really felt Monaghan brilliantly takes Ali on self-exploration of who she is, discovering what she wants her life to look like. As with Ali, Monaghan’s characters are rich, flawed, and are people that live with everyday problems, she allows them to breath and grow.

“I made my own decisions about leaving my job and hiding from my marriage. I am also the architect of the wall I built between myself and my happy ending.”

Will Ali be brave enough try or will she panic that she might get hurt again? Well, you will just have to add this novel to you summer reading list!


Thank you, Annabel Monaghan, G.P. Putnam’s Son and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

She’s back!! Monaghan has delivered yet another sweetly perfect, but realistic, love story. She has this spectacular ability to create the most relatable female protagonists and swoon worthy male interests. I hope she never stops.

As with Nora (Nora Goes Off Script), I fell in love with the main character in Summer Romance: Ali. She was witty, selfless, and resilient. Her story really connected with me and I found myself in her through a lot of situations. Which is always the best kind of reading experience. And Ethan. My heavens! My stars! ETHAN! Straight out of a dream, that one! (Oh and I must include: Pete sucks. He’s the worst. Womp womp sounds every time he’s in a scene. When you read it you’ll understand. 😌) Dare I say this is now my favorite story from her?! I cannot wait to see others reading and reviewing all over my Instagram feed 🥹. And I cannot wait to read this again. Immediately adding this title to my comfort reads stack.

I laughed, I cried, I kicked my feet with giddy excitement. This is an absolute must read for all the fellow rom-com lovers out there. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating - 4.5 stars rounded off to 5

Your perfect summer/beach read is here!

Thanks NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC!

Synopsis –

Ali Morris is an organizer for a living, but her own life is in shambles. It’s more like chaos central. After she lost her mom 2 years ago and her husband left her, she hasn’t bothered to keep up with appearances. The day her dog ‘chooses’ a man in the dog park, is the same day she wore nice pants. Her connection with Ethan is instant. What’s the harm in a little summer romance? It’s supposed to be only fun with no heart-break right?

Review –

Monaghan knows just the right recipe for a gorgeous, fun, heart-warming romance! She chose the perfect small town setting of Beechwood, a relatable MC, Ali who’s having a rough time and the most swoon-worthy love interest Ethan. Ali’s adorable kids play a vital role as well, bringing all the joy, light-heartedness and laughter to this rom-com.

I was moved by Ali’s current circumstances, her imminent divorce and the recent grief stricken past. Monaghan portrays the most beautiful mother-daughter relationship with Ali and her mother. Learning from the author’s note at the end - it’s inspired by the author’s own life experience and I loved the idea of how Ali chooses to keep her mother close, as if she was her breath.

Meeting Ethan is the best thing that happens to Ali and although I found her meek, passive and submissive at the start, I rooted for her as the story developed. Ali’s transformation begins with her divorce and ably supported by Ethan, nothing can stop her from getting her life finally in ‘order’.

I definitely had my ‘😍' look as I watched Ali and Ethan slowly fall for each other – their love budding with easy yet strong chemistry and attraction.

The ending came together so wonderfully and I could do nothing but feel teary eyed and clutch my heart!🫶

This book is what should accompany you on your summer holidays!

Thank you Penguin Group and NetGalley for this advance copy. I absolutely adored Same Time Next Summer and Nora Goes Off Script, but Summer Romance fell flat for me. I liked the main characters, but the chemistry and drama were missing. It also felt like it took too long for the story to get going.

Although this is a romance book, it is also a grief recovery story, a how-to-be-a-better-parent story, and a divorcing-the-wrong-one story. I felt all of Ali's emotions as I read her story, from the struggle of living up to everyone else's expectations to how motherhood (even though it's what you want) can make you feel as if you've disappeared. When Ethan enters her life (and their meeting is so funny), her description of how crush/love makes her feel carbonated is so amusing. I appreciated that they had a lot of details to work through on the way to a happily ever after and really liked that he had his own past to reckon with along the way. Another wonderful book for this year and an author who I will be going back to read backlist from.

Annabel Monaghan is one of my go to summer reads. I love that she highlights female main characters who are a little older and have lived a little more! It tends to be rare that you find romances with female main characters who have children or are divorced and I love that Monaghan highlights these perspectives. Summer Romance is an entertaining read about rebuilding your life after divorce, grappling with grief, and balancing motherhood. The romance was cute and endearing, it was mostly closed door which I enjoyed. My favorite thing about this book was by far the setting. As a New England girly, I just adored all the vivid descriptions of the quintessential New England summer.

This is a fantastic quick pool or beachside read to add to your summer TBR!

I found the story to be charming and witty. I didnt connect much with the characters and the story felt like it was rushed at times.

Absolutely ADORED it!

Alice is facing divorce, and still trying to find her way out of her grief after her mother’s passing. But it’s difficult to wear hard pants, and keep everything together with three kids, all on her own. It’s a quiet, emotional story of a woman finding the love she deserves, and the life she envisions all on her own terms. All while being subtlety funny.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.