I adored this fresh, heartfelt take on summer rom coms! The characters felt real and fleshed out, and I loved the way tough topics were approached with the appropriate levity while the book overall remained optomistic and fun.

I love all of Annabel Monaghans books. She writes such raw and real characters that me as a single mom can easily relate to. I will continue to read anything she writes.

The perfect beach read! I mean… if I liked going to the beach… way too ginger for that! Cute love story and great chemistry. It’s a little predictable, but honestly, sometimes that’s exactly what i need!

I really enjoyed this women’s fiction romance, the romance was so wholesome and heart warming. The characters were likable and the pacing was engaging throughout. However the third act conflict I was not a huge fan of it didn’t make sense to me why it was such a big deal I felt like there were ways around it. I’ve enjoyed books from this author in the past and this is no exception can’t wait to read more from this author in the future. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

This was my first book by Annabel Monaghan, and it definitely won't be my last! She has such a way with words, and it was far more than just a regular "romance" it was heartfelt and left me rooting for the MCs. I cannot wait to read more by her!!

I’m not a HUGE fan of the “didn’t know it was my friend’s brother” thing, but I was happy it got resolved quickly. One thing I have appreciated about Monaghan’s books is the characters have something that feels realistic keeping them apart, and this one was no exception. I did feel like that resolution was a little rushed, but satisfying in the romantic way that I wanted.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. Our main character is going through the process of a divorce and is trying to piece her life back together. A meet-cute in the dog park and subsequent date turn sour when she realizes her new guy is actually someone she knows--her best friend's kid brother Scooter. But Ethan (Scooter) pulls through when he gives her some legal advice and helps her have a great summer romance. The prose is simple, but the story has a great pace and the romance sparks. I gave this book a four-star rating because I enjoyed it and would recommend it to a friend.

I devoured this book in one sitting. It had me laughing and crying- such a great romance and a new favorite author. I can’t wait to read more!

Annabel Monaghan is quickly becoming an autobuy author for me! I love how realistic her stories are and how approachable the characters are in terms of depth, growth and humanity. I always feel like these characters could be real people, and SUMMER ROMANCE is no different.

I think what separates Monaghan’s books and characters apart is their maturity. Sure, they go through situations that many would struggle to navigate, but they do so with grace and humility, and even if were peppered with some miscommunication, it’s done so in a way that is believable and realistic.

I loved the case of side characters in SUMMER ROMANCE, how effortlessly the plot moved, the romance itself, and the growth of the characters, but individually and in their relationships. This is a must read for all romance readers!

First, thank you so very much to Annabel Monaghan and Aria and Aries for the advanced copy this amazing book. One thing I have learned about Annabel Monaghan is that she is the absolute master of placing you right in the atmosphere of her stories. I always end up with a strong desire to pack up and move to whatever area she is writing about, and Summer Romance was no different.

Summer Romance is the story of Ali, a women who is amazing at organizing everyone else's mess, but her own. The death of her mother and the separation from her husband has left feeling stuck in rut where she seems to only exist to take care of her kids, talk to her dead mom, and find the most elastic waist banded pants available. After a hilarious encounter with Ethan at the dog park, she finds herself wondering if a summer romance might be just what she needs to find herself again and snap out of the haze she seems to have been living in.

I absolutely loved this book. The relationship between Ali and Ethan checked every box for a swoon worthy and heart achingly wholesome read. I loved the care that Ethan had for Ali had for each other because it had the perfect balance of picking each other up where they needed it, but never in a way that made one side feel more important than the other...although I may have cheered out loud when Ethan acted as her divorce attorney :) I loved the small town feel and all the characters that came with it. I flew through this book because the pacing was spot on and it kept you entertained all the way through.

All in all, this was an absolute perfect summer read. It filled to the brim with summer vibes and well, summer romance. The title couldn't be more fitting, and I can not wait for the next Annabel Monaghan book to come out so I can binge it like I did this one!

I really enjoyed Summer Romance. I always think Annabel Monaghan does a great job of creating characters that are a little more complex than the typical rom-com that has become popular in the rise of booktok.

I was approved of this book after I had already purchased/read it and didn't receive the notification that I had been approved of it. Apologies for the late/limited review. I read it months ago when it was released and don't remember enough specifics to write in detail.

Thank you to Mrs. Monaghan and Penguin Group Putnam for giving me the opportunity to read the book!

This wasn't my favorite Annabel Monaghan novel but I'm not sure if it's because I read it in March and not during the summer or if I just didn't like the story. I love Annabel's writing style and the uniqueness of her books but I just didn't love the how the FMC's personal development was rushed. It went from everything is terrible to everything is amazing, which left the ending wrapped up too nicely and too quickly. Personally, I would recommend "Nora Goes Off Script" or "Same Time Next Summer" before recommending "Summer Romance".

This story was so sweet but it didn’t feel like a romance as much as it felt like a story of self growth and discovering oneself. I liked it a lot and the character of the next door neighbor I loved that beautiful friendship. While there is a romance element it left as it wasn’t just a cute romance but so much more so I loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am going to start this off by saying as a 35 year old woman, how much I adore and appreciate romances with slightly more mature and experienced MCs. In this case, our FMC, Ali, is an almost 40 year old woman with three children who is going through a divorce. She is a former accountant who is now realizing she slowly, bit by bit, gave up herself, her life, and her passions to her ex-husband Pete. Having lost her mother two years prior, Ali has found herself in a rut of grief and the endless routine of caring for everyone but herself. Her best friend, Fannie, encourages her to take little steps to get back out and find her groove. First step, putting on pants that aren't sweat pants.

Then, she has a meet cute with a stranger at the dog park (Her dog pees on his foot, but it's a sign of love from the dog. It's a whole thing.) When she sees this stranger again later, it feels like a sign and she agrees to go out on a date with him. The stranger, Ethan, is sexy and charming and Ali finds herself really enjoying their time together. Ethan is a lawyer who lives 4 hours away and is only in town visiting his family for the summer. The two agree to a "summer romance", no feelings involved, but all the fun, nobody gets hurt. Right?

Most of the novel is centered around Ethan and Ali's romance. They spend time together cleaning out his parent's house to get ready to sell. He helps her with legal stuff for her divorce. But there is more to the story than just their romance. Throughout the summer, Ali is also on a journey of finding herself again. Finding her voice. Standing up to her flaky ex-husband (He honestly complains about having to take the kids for more than 24 hours in a row. Says he will take them overnight, then changes his mind when a "better offer" comes along. He's the worst.) As the summer goes along, Ali finds who Ali is. And I really enjoyed watching her change and flourish.

I enjoyed Ethan and Ali together as a couple. Ethan allowed space for Ali to be herself, listened to her, no - he really ACTIVELY listened to her, met Ali where she was, understood that her obligations to her children would always come first, made her smile and laugh. Honestly, they were so great for one another.

The pace is a bit slow as compared to some other books of the genre, but it honestly felt right for the story. Overall, Summer Romance is a charming, relatable, feel-good read that I am recommending to all my friends.

Summer Romance begins with a low point for Ali, our FMC. She is dealing with some pretty heavy life changes and working through them when she meets Ethan. Ethan is in town for a short time, but they connect immediately. Knowing that their summer romance is not permanent, as Ethan lives 4 hours away, they have some tough decisions to make.

For me, anything by Annabel Monaghan is an automatic must read. She writes characters in such a real way, and you can’t help but relate to them. She also has a tendency to break your heart (even if it’s just temporary), and this title was no exception. I loved all the characters, and the route the story took.

A couple things I didn’t love was 1. Ethan being seemingly obsessed with her from high school, and 2. the fact that she didn’t even recognize him. I feel like it’s ok for him to have a crush on her or even admire her but it’s brought up a few times throughout the story.
Overall this was such a bingeable book, I absolutely loved it. Will definitely recommend!

Summer Romances are supposed to be fun with no strings attached. Ali’s life is a mess, it’s ironic because she is a professional organizer and yet that’s the reality. Her mother died, she is newly divorced and she doesn’t wear pants with buttons, often. Yet, when she finally decides to go, not in sweatpants she finally meets someone. Actually her dog runs into someone, Ethan, this summer romance just might get started. He is younger, she’s a single mom and she doesn’t think she is ready. But whoever is? Does Ali jump in head first? Does she throw caution to the wind? Can she make a commitment, even for the summer? This was a sweet, fun beach read. It has everything a beach read should have. This was a four star read for me. I want to thank Netgalley, Annabel Monaghan & Penguin Group Putnam for my copy of Summer Romance for an honest review. It was my pleasure to read and review this book.

One of my most favorite books of the summer. I’m not sure how I missed leaving this review. I’ve enjoyed Annabel Monaghan since her first book Nora Goes Off Script. Delightful summer read and I highly recommend.

4.5 ⭐️

Ali Morris is in the midst of finding herself after her mother’s death and the breakdown of her marriage. She inadvertently makes a romantic connection at the dog park. From that point on, Ali finds her confidence and begins a path towards happiness again.

This was an adorable book! The characters were easy to connect with and cheer on throughout the story. Annabel Monaghan’s style of writing is always a favorite of mine. She knows how to mix in the right amount of humor, emotion, and sweetness to result in a great read!

Thank you to @netgalley and @putnambooks for an ARC copy of this title.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I love the serious and adult nature of the romance in this book. Annabel really tugs at my heartstrings because it's obvious that she has experienced life and really gets motherhood, and all of that really shines through in her stories. The children were adorable, Ethan was the perfect cinnamon roll love interest, and her settings are always so cozy and warm. Annabel writes such realistic character growth in her characters too. I can always envision her stories playing out in real life. I absolutely recommend this book to my family and friends.