Nora Goes Off Script was one of my very favorite romances (and a debut!), but Same Time Next Summer fell very flat for me so I was nervous for this one. Thankfully, it made me swoon just as much as Monaghan's first. The characters, the setting, the trials and tribulations -- it all worked so well and had me unable to put it down. So much so that I switched back and forth from the ebook to the audio so I could read it at every moment possible. If you've enjoyed any of her books, you'll like this one (especially if you prefer closed door romances -- there is zero steam in this one).

Ali is a mess, but a realistic mess. After getting thrown multiple life hurdles, she finally convinces herself to get out of the sweats and take control. When she finds herself at the dog park, and "re-meeting" her best friend's little brother, she eventually realizes this is the sign she's been looking for all along. Now, she just needs to figure it all out for the rest of the summer.
Monaghan leaves us with yet again another feel good romance, that is almost too real. A must read for those upcoming summer days!

3-1/2 stars
romance

Ali’s mom died two years ago and her husband left her one year ago. Her life has become a struggle but she’s decided the time has come for her to start crawling out of her shell. That’s just when she meets Ethan in the dog park and commences a summer romance.

I don’t normally read two romances in a row, but I loved Nora Goes Off Script (NGOS) so much that I jumped at the chance to read Annabel Monaghan’s next novel, Summer Romance, in advance of its publication. And there wasn’t much time before that publication date so I had to dive in immediately. Probably because I had just finished the first novel, the similarities between the two novels were the first things I noticed. The story focuses on a small-town woman whose marriage recently ended, the woman has children including a non-athletic son, plants/wildlife/animals are significant to her, there is a sunrise tradition, her romantic interest is attractive and never before married, and someone intrudes on her crossword puzzles. This book even had a reference to Leo (although it was the astrological sign in this novel as opposed to the lead character’s name).

Forcing myself to quit noticing all the similarities, I was able to enjoy this romance. In fact, this one seemed more plausible than NGOS since the guy is a normal guy as opposed to a famous movie star. Again, the characters were charming and realistic. The situation again felt (mostly) authentic. And while NGOS is still the better novel, the relationship between Ali and Ethan seemed more balanced in Summer Romance.

While I enjoyed the way the novel wrapped up, I was not a huge fan of the “conflict” leading up to the ending. It was sad and a bit pathetic. I’m not saying it was out of character for Ali who was still working on regaining her sense of control but it was just sort of boring to this reader and, obviously, not handled well on Ali’s part. In the end, it lowered my opinion of the novel overall. But if you like novels that don’t bring the reader too much anxiety and have a solid happy ending, you’ll enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the advanced galley! This book will be released on June 4, 2024.

A summer romance with maturely behaved characters making pretty wise decisions?… I’m here for it, apparently!! Very much enjoyed this.

For the sake of an honest review, I thought I would struggle with Ali at the beginning of the story. She’s going through a divorce with 3 young children, and knowing a romance would be a main focus here, I began to assume this would be another story where the effects of divorce were downplayed, particularly where children are involved. Just not my favorite to read.

Not at all! Annabel Monaghan treated the situation with respect and care. Situations that are often secretive, making them overly complicated, were brought to light quickly and handled like grown-ups 👏

Another major piece of our main character’s story is the grieving of her mother whom she was very close to. Reading along as Ali sorted through frustrating emotions regarding her mother felt honest rather than the temptation to romanticize a relationship after it’s gone. She allowed herself to feel her hurt and frustration, and then moved to forgiveness.

Summer Romance is available June 4 and huge thank you to Netgalley & Penguin Group for this advanced copy. I have loved Annabel Monaghan’s others books, Nora Goes Off Script and Same Time Next Summer just as much!

😭😭😭

I love everything Annabel Monaghan writes. I stayed up way too late finishing this book and the ending was the sweetest thing ever that left me staying up even later thinking about how good it was. Would 100% pick this up and read again, plus Monaghan writes so real and descriptively but doesn't prolong anything. Her books are the perfect length. 10/10 on the cover, too. 😍

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan is a sweet summer romance that is really about a woman rediscovering herself after grief and heartbreak.

This story starts on the two-year anniversary of Ali’s mother’s death. Her mother was her best friend and she feels lost without her. It also marks one year since her husband, Pete, announced that he no longer wanted to be married. 

Ali finds herself finally taking off her wedding ring and then taking her dog, Ferris, to the dog park. Little did she know that decision would change everything. Ferris pees on a handsome stranger at the dog park. The handsome stranger is named Ethan and he takes the whole thing very well and laughs it off. Ali is flirting with a stranger for the first time in years, and it reignites the version of herself she has lost. 

The characters in this story feel so realistic and authentic. You find yourself rooting for Ali from page one. Her house is disorganized, along with her emotions. I loved watching her reorganize her life both emotionally and physically. 

If you are in the mood for an easy summer read with a descriptive setting and authentic characters this book is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for my complimentary copy.

I loved this book! Ali is separated from her husband and she is just dragging her feet through life. Hubby has moved out and seems to enjoy his “away from the kids” life, where she is still grieving the loss of her mother and the marriage that she knows is over.
One morning, while the kids are at summer camp, she takes the dog to a dog park. There the dog pees on a stranger that sets in motion a great summer romance.
This story is about Ali finding her footing, and getting a new life.
I really enjoyed this book. The author just knows how to write great stories with likable characters that you can’t help but root for.
Thank you @netgalley for the ARC

Annabel Monaghan can do no wrong. This was my 3rd book of hers and to say she is an automatic read would be an understatement.

I fell in love with both Ali and Scooter/Ethan from the beginning and was very impressed by both of their character development over the course of the book.

This is def a must read. Thank you so much NetGalley for the ARC of Summer Romance.

FMC 38
MMC 36
First person single POV- FMC
Advance reader copy provided by NetGalley*

There are themes of grief and loss on multiple fronts, one being the loss of a very close parent. This book also deals with divorce and raising children as a single parent and the many facets that all of that entails.

There was alot going on in this book, but I actually really liked it and found alot of it to be very realistic. I don't have any personal experience with parental loss like Ali in this book, and at first it was a bit confusing and borderline annoying the way she talked to her deceased mother, while also answering for her, and then later some of the blame she placed on her for decisions she (Ali) made and things she let happen to her as an adult. But as the story went on I actually came to appreciate the depth of how it was portrayed, and the way that Ali worked through her grief and learned alot from it.

I really liked the relationship between Ali and Ethan, especially the way they met and the bit of drama that played out in who he was. I thought both of them were interesting characters that had depth and made for a good story.

I'm a sucker for cute kids and think there was a total missed opportunity to round Cliffy out more, and to have the kids interact more with Ethan- but totally understand why that couldn't be the focal point of the story and why Ali kept those two parts of her life separate for a while.

I feel like this could be a potential spoiler so bewarned and stop here if you want.....

Also, I absolutely loved that Ethan fell for Ali when she was sort of a hot mess. I wish they had excluded some mentions he made about having a crush on her from when he knew her in high school, because I feel like how he saw her would have packed an even bigger punch without a small vibe (at first) that he was living out his teenage fantasy, but I still ate it up 💕 His past is a big part of the story, so I get why it was included..just saying.

Overall this is a very enjoyable summer beach read with some deeper themes and real life experiences that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

I was provided this book as an ARC by NetGalley (which I'm appreciative of for sure) and you can find my boring disclaimer below, if you'd like 😂. However, my reviews are always honest, and I really only requested it because I read Nora Goes Off Script by this same author, liked it, and wanted earlier access to this new book of hers. I actually liked this one a bit more and read it faster (started last night, and finished today).

**Ratings and ARC disclaimer. If I review an ARC it will be listed at the top of my review. However, I'm not a professional reviewer, my reviews are always 100% my honest thoughts-  I just really like to read and mostly request ARCs for one reason: earlier access. I've got about 142 books on my physical TBR pile, another 100 or so in my Kindle Unlimited reading list, a humongous used bookstore that buys books back, and 3 different library cards. I do not rely on ARCs to obtain books, so I have no fear of angering any publisher with a review lol. Also, I prefer the Good Reads platform for my book lists and reviews, but do find them biased sometimes. There have been quite a few highly recommended books here and "booktok" that have just seemed wildly overhyped or nothing to substantiate the rating. I find Amazon reviews to be more fair- maybe because they actually pay for the books- so my hope is to help provide honest reviews here with a bit more details as to why.

I've really enjoyed Annabel Monaghan's writing. She has characters that are flawed and real. Her FMCs are fully developed and complex. She writes stories for adults about adults. The couple grows independently and together through grief, finding themselves, and finding their place. There is romance, but the naughty times are behind closed doors.

Annabel Monaghan is a phenomenal romance author! I’ve read every book of hers and thoroughly enjoyed Summer Romance! It’s a must have summer read! Thank you NetGalley for an advance readers copy of this book!

Loved this one! The chemistry between Ali and Ethan is swoon worthy. The book also touches on Ali’s journey through single parenthood and discovering herself. Great summer read, 4 stars!

And I’m a sobbing mess. She does this to me EVERY time. Her characters are just so well developed that I feel like I know them. Their complex struggles, relatable issues, their heart…I felt it all. Highly recommend, especially during the summer because the setting is perfection, beach, kayaks, barbeques. 5 sparkly stars!

BOOK: Summer Romance
AUTHOR: Annabel Monaghan
PUB DATE: 6/4/2024 by G.P. Putnam Books
PAGES: 368
RATING: 5
GENRE: Contemporary Romance

AUTHOR ACCOLADES: Annabel Monaghan is the bestselling author of Same Time Next Summer and Nora Goes off Script. She is also the author of two novels for young adults, A Girl Named Digit and Double Digit.

SYNOPSIS: Benefits of a summer romance: it’s always fun, always brief, and no one gets their heart broken.

There aren’t enough labeled glass containers to contain the mess that is Ali Morris’s life. Her mom died 2 years ago, then her husband left, and she hasn’t worn pants with a zipper in longer than she cares to remember. She’s a professional organizer whose pantry is a disgrace. No one is more surprised than Ali when the first time she takes off her wedding ring and puts on pants with hardware she meets someone. Or rather, her dog claims a man for her in the same way he claimed his favorite of her three children: by peeing on him. Ethan smiles at Ali like her pants are just right—like he likes what he sees. The last thing Ali needs is to make her life messier, but there’s no harm in a little Summer Romance, is there?

QUICK & SPOILER-FREE REVIEW: It’s official! I have a new book boyfriend and his name is Ethan! This was an easy 5 stars for me! Your heart really goes out to Ali and all that she’s endured. She’s in desperate need of a little TLC from an MMC! There is closed door spice, but the relationship is beautiful to read. I really enjoyed Same Time Next Summer last year, and I own Nora Goes Off Script which I’m moving up in my TBR queue b/c Annabel can just write no wrong!

Happy Reading!

Still wiping the tears as I write this review. What a fantastic book! I love that Annabel Monaghan writes such beautifully flawed characters who are so not one dimensional and who grow so much. I appreciated how much Ali grew in her relationships with her children, her mother who has passed, her friendships and new love, and especially with herself. I think it's really important to read more books who center around women of "a certain age" and Monaghan does it so perfectly every time. It's special to read about women who have gone through things, and what coming out on the other side looks for them. This book was full of hope, of longing, of learning, and of pure joy. Ali might be my favorite female main characters and I certainly know that Ethan is my top choice for book boyfriend. I cannot recommend more, and I know this is going to be one of my top reads this year.

Thank you so incredibly much to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

Summer Romance is exactly that - the sweetest beach read that will give you all the feels. The plot takes you on such a wild ride of emotions with all the twists and turns of love - you just can't stop reading from beginning to end. It really dives deep into what it means to love again after loss, but also keeps you totally hooked with all the super exciting unpredictability along the way. The author clearly crafted this story with such attention to detail, you'll be dying to flip those pages to see what happens next. This novel is so wonderfully written - it pulls you in, making the content and relationships feel real and authentic. Not only is the relationship between the main characters touching, the journey of self-discovery is what makes it binge worthy. Overall, Summer Romance is proof that a great love story, written with passion and care, can really move people. Annabel Monaghan nails it - romance fans and anyone looking for a profoundly moving tale needs to throw this in their beach bag...along with some tissues.

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Books for an advanced copy of this book

Annabel Monaghan is great at creating relatable characters that are very lovable and easy to root for. This main character Ali Morris embarks on a summer romance with an old acquaintance Ethan, who helps her find herself after a brutal divorce and losing her mother. If you love character-driven novels that don’t rely on huge plot twists or plot devices, you’ll love this one.

This was my first book by Annabel Monaghan, and I really enjoyed it. I appreciated how real and relatable her characters were, and how easy it was to connect with them. I can see a lot of similarities between myself and Ali, which made experiencing her story that much more immersive. Annabel didn't shy away from the tough topics of grief and divorce, but rather embraced them and made them an integral part of Ali's growth.

Enter Ethan, with the epic meet-cute of her dog peeing on him at the dog park. The chemistry between Ethan and Ali was really well written, and I loved their journey.

The last thing Ali is looking for this summer is romance. She’s a newly single mom of 3 who’s just trying to stay afloat after the death of her mom and the loss of her marriage. But when her dog pees on a handsome man’s foot at the dog park, she finds herself taken aback at how this man looks at her. She feels seen like she never has by a man before and she wants to keep chasing that feeling. Before she knows it, she’s caught up in a whirlwind summer romance that she never expected.

I absolutely loved this story! I love how Annabel Monaghan writes such real characters and as a mom, I loved seeing Ali’s devotion and adoration for her kids. This story does deal with the heavy topics of grief and loss but not in a way that made me want to cry. It just reminded me how beautiful life can be and how love is always worth it. Ethan also felt like such a relatable character and I love how he always saw just how beautiful and strong Ali was and helped her get so much of her confidence back. This is the perfect summer romance that will feel like being wrapped up in a warm towel after a long day of swimming.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC!

Synopsis: Ali Morris has been struggling with her mom’s death and her husband filing for divorce while raising her three kids. On the first day she decides to go out and put on “hard pants” she runs into a man named Ethan at the dog park. He is only in town for the summer, but maybe a summer romance is just what Ali needs.

Thoughts: I adored this book! Annabel has the ability to write the most relatable characters. Similarly to Nora in Nora Goes Off Script, I really felt for Ali and her real life, adult struggles with parenting, relationships, etc. She also writes these characters with a lot of heart and humor. I found myself feeling Ali’s emotions right along with her. There were lots of emotional moments, laugh out loud moments, and of course swoony moments (I fell HARD for Ethan!). Summer Romance is the perfect summer read, and I highly recommend grabbing a copy next week!

Read this if you like:
🚤 small town
🚤 single parent
🚤 closed-door romance
🚤 self-discovery
🚤 best friend’s brother
🚤 family and found family