Annabel Monaghan hits another one out of the park. Ali is still reeling from her mom’s passing two years ago and her husband announcing he wanted a divorce on the first anniversary of her mom’s death. Enter a meet-cute for the ages: Ali’s dog pees on the shoe of a hot guy at the dog park. Suddenly, Ali has the energy to put on hard pants in the hopes of crossing paths with Ethan again… turns out, he’s her best friend’s prodigal kid brother Scooter home to help his parents downsize. Everyone thinks Scooter is a screw up, but when he offers to represent her as her lawyer in her divorce negotiations in exchange for her organizing expertise at his parents’ (and some steamy makeout sessions between) Ali figures a fun summer fling with the visiting hottie is just what she needs to get on with her life. She didn’t count on Ethan being so much more.

Monaghan is a wiz at a second act story. Ali is struggling, but she’s funny and relatable and so deserving of Ethan, who turns out to be that much better for everyone underestimating him. When he shows up for her first mediation session with her ex in his dad’s ancient, powder blue tux? Priceless. But he’s also so kind and generous with his time and energy, good with kids and old people, animals like him… A+ book boyfriend. The chemistry between them was real too - and that much spicier as they had to sneak around a bit lest everyone in their small town see exactly what was going on.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group/GP Putnam’s Sons for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've read Annabel Monaghan's other books (Nora Goes Off Script and Same Time Next Summer), and although I enjoyed both of those books, her newest book Summer Romance far and away is my favorite of hers that I've read. I enjoyed the character arcs for both Ali and Ethan. Monaghan's description and complications of loss (both of Ali's mother and her marriage) were so poignant. Even the little descriptions, for example, of dead heading the geraniums, carried the story for me.
This book reminded me of the writing of Kate Clayborne (one of my favorites).
I fully recommend this one. Monaghan is on my auto read list officially now.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Putnam Books for providing the copy.

I’m a sucker for a second chance romance and boy did Annabel Monaghan deliver.

Going into a book from an author you love is like coming home. I was hooked to this story from the first chapter. I was so enthralled I read this book in one sitting.

Ali is still grieving the loss of her mom when her husband decides he wants a divorce. The grief and pain was so real it made me tear up so many times. She was just trying to survive and lost herself. The day she meets Ethan everything is about to change. It’s time to put on real pants and start living.

This is the perfect summer read. We have a MMC with a Hero complex who just steals our hearts. Ethan is definitely book boyfriend material. He had me smiling and swooning. One of my favorite reads of the year!!!!

“And now I can never unknow the truest true thing—the intensity of the love you feel will match the intensity of its loss.” 🤞🏻

Summer Romance is an undeniable triumph. I’m absolutely mindblown by Annabel Monaghan’s writing each time I open up one of her books. She makes poignant characters come to life with the simplest of sentiments. I knew this would be a five star read - I felt it in my heart before I even finished 🥹

While there are many cute & funny things like:
❤️ dog park meet-cutes
💛 a case of mistaken(ish?) identity
❤️ LOTS of eye contact
💛 mild trespassing
❤️ life lessons learned in skateboarding & canoeing
💛 silly costumes & charm bracelets
…this book also deals with some heavy themes; feelings that can weigh a person down until they completely vanish, grief & other people’s expectations. There was never a time I felt that something didn’t belong. Each perspective was so fine tuned & it allowed the story to flow naturally.

Ethan & Ali are perfect. They are witty & complex & tender & utterly relatable. Ali is navigating life without her mother in a marriage where she has disappeared. A divorce is looming, her life is not her own, she talks to her dead mom in geraniums & she can’t find a good reason to wear hard pants… until Ethan. Ethan escaped this small town where everyone saw him as “unreliable.” But, Ethan is unexpectedly back for the summer with a new superpower: showing up & meeting Ali where she is & giving her space to step into her best self.

Annabel Monaghan never disappoints & I can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on Summer Romance!!! You’ll laugh, cry & fall in love! 🤞🏻

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an early review!

Another lovely read from the wonderful Annabel Monaghan, Summer Romance should officially be on your list for the Summer of 2024. The story follows a newly divorced mother of three, Ali, as she navigates life as a single mom in her small NY town. It was refreshing for me to read a romance with a protagonist older than 25. Ali has to manage issues any divorced woman might deal with - finances, negotiating custody with her ex, and her work as a professional organizer. To make matters worse, she's still reeling from her own mom's recent death. Monaghan writes this difficult situation really well, and she also manages to give us everything we expect from a book with this title. It's a really honest and thoughtful portrayal of life at this stage, and it manages to be sweet and heartwarming too.

If you are looking for your next plane, pool, road trip, or beach read, what are you waiting for? Summer Romance is out today. Thanks to #netgalley and the publisher for the #ARC.

Single mom of three Ali needs some happiness and some fun in her life - a year after losing her mother, her less-than-remarkable husband announces that he wants a divorce. Left in the lurch of these massive life changes, she meets Ethan, a dog-loving lawyer who just might be her best friend’s little brother. A summer romance should be good for both of them, right?

This is my third Annabel Monaghan book, and I am officially a ~fan~. I found Summer Romance to be one of my favorites by her - there is substantial character growth, moments where your heart aches for the characters, and a satisfying ending that leaves a smile on your face.

In general, Monaghan’s characters are lovable and realistic, her plots are simple, yet believable, and her witty writing just makes you feel bubbly inside. Her books are GREAT summer reads and should be included in any well-rounded packing list for the beach.

I enjoyed this book. It was a nice, sweet summer read. The story was well written and the character growth for the main character Ali was great. I did a review post for this book (with another arc) that I have linked below from my Bookstagram.

"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 just to get another taste of joy. "
This book pulled on so many of my heart strings. It's not only a romance, but so much more. The struggles that Ali faces as a single mom going through a divorce while still reeling from the loss of her mother put the reader through so many emotions along side her as she wades through her new normal. I loved how Ali develops as a character as she emerges outside of her marriage and realizes she has lost pieces of herself in her marriage and motherhood journey. I especially enjoyed the scenes where she finally stood up to Pete. As a mother and wife, I understand how easy it is to lose yourself in the day to day chaos. This book portrayed that so beautifully.
I will always be rooting for a happily ever after, and Ali finding Ethan is definitely that. How he helped her see what she was capable of was so touching.
This book is not only a romance novel, but a journey of motherhood, grief and loss, finding your self worth, and stepping into who you are meant to be while taking risks even if they break your heart.
"This is Ethan's super power, I think. His ability to meet people where there are and hold the space for them to step into their best selves without and expectation of what that might be."
"I love the way summer rain comes out of nowhere and hits you hard like a love affair"

Annnabel Morgan’s writing is predictably just what this reader always needs. With wit and charms, she weaves a story with a relatable protagonist, a woman struggling against the difficulties of life. I loved seeing this woman get back in her feet and take control again. It’s a touching story of self-discovery and renewal of the human spirit. The subliminal message is that everyone can start again. Oh, and there’s a golden retriever—what a sweetheart.

Thank you to Net galley and Penguins Random House for providing me a copy of the arc of Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan. I am a fan of this author writing I think I have read all of her books, This books was a light read about a couple that is divorced and is trying to handle the children and custody issues. Ali takes off her wedding ring that is the key to finding an available guy "scooter.". Scooter and Ali have a relationship that is predictable, you will have to read the book for yourself to find out what happens. This book was definitely a summer read that was quick.

☀️ Summer Romance ☀️

“I have the sense that I have stepped into my very best self.“

Oh my WHOLE heart, this book is absolutely everything! I adored it, I devoured it, I want to hug all the characters and have them move into my house with my.

Ali is still reeling from her mom’s death two years ago and her husband walking out the door one year ago. She’s drifted into a shell of herself, single parenting three kids and trying to keep things afloat. When she meets an adorable man at the dog park who is only in town visiting and reports he’s considered unreliable, that is exactly what she does not need. But the heart wants what it wants, and off begins a champagne summer romance for the books.

Ethan, who also happens to be Scooter, Ali’s best friend’s little brother, brings light and fun back into Ali’s life and she comes back into herself. I absolutely adored watching her transformation as she took back her voice and her life. The motherhood moments were so real to me. “I want a break from my kids without missing a single minute of their lives.”

Highly recommend this one if you’re looking for:
☀️ An adorable Summer romance
☀️ Self discovery and finding your voice
☀️ Relatable motherhood themes
☀️ Dog park antics
☀️ Hilarious and supportive cast of family characters
☀️Best friend’s brother

Summer Romance is available now! Thank you to Netgalley and Putnam for this ARC. My opinions are my own.

4.5 stars rounded up

I really enjoyed this book. I felt it really showed the different stages of grief, and that a rainbow comes after the storm.

I devoured this in a day and loved every part of it, even the sad bits!

Thank you NetGalley and Annabel Monaghan for the opportunity to read an Arc of your upcoming book

This is a hard review to write because I love her other books so much. Annabelle’s writing is fantastic. The things she comes up with (that feeling of being carbonated when you feel good, the main character’s affinity for soft pants, the way she writes more seasoned characters that don’t fit into a mold and so many more) are *chefs kiss*. It’s like she writes the way I think, or at least the way I wish I thought…. witty, funny, introspective, clever. But I just didn’t connect with the story or the characters.

There is one part that seems completely absurd to me and inconsiderate and once I thought about it it kinda threw me off. The age difference between two main characters seems even more exaggerated by the guy being a skateboarder (it’s a me problem but I only associate that with teenagers) and the woman being a mom of 3 with older children so maybe mid 40s? In reality I think they are only maybe 5 years apart but it didn’t come off that way. That just gave me the ick. But mostly, I just didn’t connect with the characters. I felt they lacked chemistry and their romance felt kinda underwhelming.

But because of that, this feels like a Katherine Center book in that the story is less about the romance and more about the growth of the characters and their personal journeys. I appreciate what the author is going for here. I LOVE that the main character is older with kids and I want more of that. Drop your recs below for romances where is MFC is 30+ please!

Every single review I’ve read of this so far has been glowing so take what I’m saying with a grain of salt. I’d be so happy if my review was an outlier here. If you’ve read it, or when you read it let me know what you think!

In true Annabel form, Summer Romance made me cry in the best way. I loved all the many beautiful themes of love that were weaved through Ali and Ethan’s story: loving yourself, familial love, neighborly love, motherly love. One of the many times tears formed was at the passing of Phyllis. How much love these two sister-friends shared. How sweetly Ali took care of her.

I don’t think I have single comment of critical feedback except to say, more please. I love Annabel’s writing, her way with words, characters, place and story. And I will always want more.

Thank you Net Galley and Penguin for the opportunity to read this book.

I’ve really enjoyed Annabel Monaghan’s first two romances, and I absolutely adored her third! Summer Romance tells the story of Ali Morris, a newly single mother of two, who struggles to find herself in the wake of her divorce, and in the process, may just have stumbled across the perfect guy for her. But will their relationship last beyond the summer?

I haven’t been married, divorced or had kids but, even so, Monaghan’s main characters are so relatable and likeable – not to mention charming and compelling! I loved that both main characters, Ali and Ethan, are in their mid- 30s and that their challenges are rooted in real-life situations. The book’s Long Island setting was enjoyably summery. And I fell in love with the whole cast (excepting the terrible ex-husband, of course). Undoubtedly, Ethan will make many readers’ lists of book boyfriends.

Reading and delighting in this novel helped me crystallize what I seek out in contemporary romance novels: gentle, down-to-earth character-forward stories that explore family conflict, In all of these respects, Summer Romance was a home run. Monaghan did a particularly great job portraying Ali’s complicated feelings towards her recently deceased mother, as well as her relationship with her children.

All in all, Monaghan’s third novel is witty, heartfelt and quite moving. If you’re looking for your next beach read, look no farther!

Huge thanks to Putnam, Penguin Group and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy! Summer Romance is out tomorrow (6/4).

4.5 rounded up
Another excellent romance novel by Annabel Monaghan. I love that her novels include more mature older characters dealing with real life difficult issues. In Summer Romance we have a professional organizer who is going through a divorce from the smug unlikeable father of her 3 children. She builds a relationship with her best friend’s younger brother who ends up being her lawyer and the highlight of her summer. It’s filled with hilarious and heartfelt moments of her dating for the first time since her separation. And she’s also dealing with life’s unexpected challenges as a single mom as well as mourning the loss of her mother a couple of years ago. It’s filled with the perfect amount of laughter and tears for a good summer read!!

Oh, what do I say about this wonderful book by Annabel Monaghan? Like her books always have, the main characters are of a certain age, and they are facing real life grown-up issues. As a reader, it makes it so easy to relate to the characters and what is happening in the story. In Summer Romance, Ali is 2 years post her mom dying, 1 year post her husband asking for a divorce, and she's floundering her way through life with 3 kids trying to find what will make her feel like herself, again. Ethan is the poor man her dog, Ferris, decides he will pee on at the dog park, and instead of being upset, he looks at her like she's something special. Little does Ali know, that Ethan is her best friend's little brother, and that he's been mesmerized by her since he was 14. They embark on a "summer romance", and find who they are supposed to be along the way. I'd read this story again and again just to feel the butterflies and giddy giggles their love story gave me. I say this has taken over as my favorite Annabel Monaghan book, and I think everyone should read it!

thank you to net galley and the publishers for the e arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
honestly this was one of the most relatable and enjoyable reads of the summer so far. i enjoyed this book so much and it would have been perfect to enjoy on the beach with a cocktail. i cannot wait to annotate a physical copy on pub day!

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan is another charming rom-com!
The author has yet again created a masterpiece, and I am thoroughly impressed with her work!
It's books like this one that remind me why I love reading. It was so well-written, funny, and clever. I was immediately sucked into this book from the first chapter. The author really grabbed my attention and didn't let it go throughout the story at all! I was fully invested and trying to find time to read so I could see what was going to happen next!
I love her relatable characters.
The characters are beautifully flawed, and their emotions are real. You can literally feel their pain, their love, their heartache and heartbreak.
Ethan and Ali’s story was an amazing experience. Their journey and connection was great.

If you enjoyed Same Time Next Summer and Nora Goes Off Script like I did you’ll devour her newest amazing summer romance story.

Thank You NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

GENERAL INFO

Summer Romance-a standalone

Publication date: 6-4-24, Read 6-2-24

Format: e-Book, 368 pages

🙏🏾Source: Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam/ G.P. Putnam's Sons for this ARC💛 ! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Genre: Adult/Women's Fic, Contemporary Romance

Tropes: small town, long distance relationship, beach read, in love w/ BFF brother, age gap, single mom/divorcee, family drama


⚠️parental and found family death, grief, miscarriages mentioned (not h)

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Synopsis/Plot Summary: Alice ":Ali" Morris is going through a divorce with three kids. She is a professional organizer who falls for her BFF Franny's little brother- Ethan "Scooter" Hogan. She is still grieving her mother "Fancy/Nancy's" death two years ago, even still talking to her about her problems.

😊What I liked:

-Ali wanted to keep Ethan as a friend with benefits because her life is a little complicated now.

-Both H and h are in late 30's with careers.

-The kids give a little comic relief (love Cliffy) and more heart to the story.

😞What I didn't like:

-Pete-a narcissistic goofball who is selfish and didn't want to keep his own kids.

-How Ali acted during her marriage-she folded into herself, lost her voice. Her mother wanted her to stay with Pete even though she knew things weren't right.

AUTHOR OVERVIEW

Annabel Monaghan- new to me author

PERSONAL OVERVIEW

Overall Rating: 3.5/4 ⭐

Do You Recommend This Book: yes

Will You Re-read This Book: yes

Would You Read More Books by this Author: yes

COMMENTS/NOTES: This is a good beach read with real adult FMC & MMCs. Beechwood was picturesque. I loved how much Ali did things with her kids. She showed what a committed mother does by coming home to Greer after driving six hours to see Ethan in Devon, MA. Losing Nancy and then Phyllis was hard on Ali because they were her mothers. I loved Ali and Ethan's big confessions and their HEA.