The title is accurate-this is a fun book about ...you guessed it: a summer romance. Ethan and his outfits made me laugh several times, and I loved how much he empowered Ali to reclaim her life. This book has similar tones to Monaghan's first book (Nora Goes Off Script): single mom realizing what she wants in life and finding love along the way. Pub Date: June 4. Thank you Putnam Books (@putnambooks) and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review.

I fell in love with, “Summer Romance,” almost immediately. The style of writing was immersive and I felt like I bonded with every character.

Ali and Ethan were both relatable on multiple levels, and their interactions gave me butterflies. While both had so much depth and complexity, I absolutely adored Ethan.

The book touches on heavy emotional topics such as grief, separation, parenting, and self-concept which the author does an excellent job exploring.

“Summer Romance,” is the perfect beach read and should be on everyone’s summer reading list this year!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC.

Cheers to a champagne summer! 🥂🍾

… also cheers to the fact that I may have already found my top book of the year! Summer Romance had my heart overflowing with its lovable main characters, lovable (and not so lovable) side characters (ahem Pete), and the journey of finding yourself while also grieving the life you had and the people in your life that you’ve lost. This book had me laughing, it had me tearing up, it had me angry (yep, Pete again), and I finished the book just wanting to give everyone in my life a big hug

Annabel Monaghan has a way of creating a romance that is about much more than just the romance. She uses more mature main characters to open up bigger themes about life that still gives everyone the ability to relate no matter your age or circumstance.

I couldn’t recommend this book enough so please please please give Annabel Monaghan and Summer Romance all of the love because they both deserve it all 💖

Thank you Putnam Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to fall in love with a book before it even releases 🤍

☀️Mature MC’s (late 30’s)
☀️Slow burn
☀️Best friends brother
☀️Meet Cute
☀️Small town
☀️Single parent / divorce
☀️”I’ve always loved you”
☀️Closed door / fade to black

I loved this book! Ali is stuck in the biggest of ruts. Her mom died, her husband left, she doesn't want to wear things other than sweats, and she's going through the motions for her kids. She has a long list of questions she'll ask organization clients, and she can balance other people's books, but she doesn't do any of that organization for herself.
Watching her find this summer romance and use it as the catalyst to care for herself and find who she should really be and reclaim her happiness was awesome. There are laughs and groans and swoons all in one in this book. My favorite quote was that she knew Ethan loved her for her true self, which is all anyone can ask for.
Despite Ali having serious circumstances she's working through, this book was overall upbeat and a perfect summer or vacation read. Another winner from this author!

I love Annabel Monaghan books and even though I already bought a physical copy I couldn’t resist getting the audio too. I’ll save the physical one for when I hopefully meet her one day ❤️

Here are a few quotes I liked…

“It’s not time for dating until you wear hard pants.”

“She said SEXY!!!” “You did!!!?” #swoon

“Maybe I’m totally reliable when it comes to you.”

Ever have a book that makes you smirk while reading!? Ok well now is your chance…𝙂𝙊 𝙋𝙄𝘾𝙆 𝙏𝙃𝙄𝙎 𝙊𝙉𝙀 𝙐𝙋.

Alice “Ali” Morris is in a loveless marriage with Pete, a selfish, clueless man, a man who treats her like an afterthought…IF she’s lucky. The silver lining? Their beautiful children that she adores 𝙖𝙣𝙙 she’s finally getting out of her blah marriage. This is a story of tremendous growth for someone who has lost sight of who they are.

Until….her dog pees on someone…that someone is Ethan/Scooter. Ethan’s unassuming charm oozed off the pages! Faith in men restored.

Ali gets a bit stalkery, don’t worry it’s juvenile and awkwardly cute. Ali has no idea how to date. 1st things 1st shes gotta learn that dating does not involve hard pants.

This is a feel good, heartwarming story of an almost 40 year old woman who is ready to start living her life the way she wants, all while falling in love with someone worthy of it.

Note to 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹…I talk to my Mommom everyday even though she’s been gone for years I still feel that closeness to her. ❤️

I have reviewed early copies of every Monaghan book and this one was easily my favorite. I love how she has older main characters who have gone through real issues like difficult marriages, divorce, and tough children situations. It’s so nice reading these characters who feel so real find love again. This one in particular has so many winning features I love: small town setting, best friend’s brother, finding yourself, and lovable side characters. As a fan of short books, I love how Monaghan’s are not only short but so, so satisfying.

If you enjoyed her previous books or like contemporary romances with characters in their 30s, I can’t recommend this enough!

This was such a great summer read! Nora Goes Off Script remains my favorite but this one was a close second. I loved reading the growth of Ali and even her daughters and son. As someone who is also obsessed with organizing, I enjoyed that part of the book. I didn’t really care for the skateboarding aspect, but was easily able to overlook it and love the book. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

“ You’re the architect of your own experience.” The best line in this entire book! I loved everything about this book. It was funny, sad, sarcastic, and full of love. This was my first book by Annabel Monaghan and I’m now a big fan. She is going on my must-read author list. I can’t wait to read all her other books. I started reading this book as a fun early summer read but it hit home more than I could have ever imagined. I lost my dear grandmother while halfway through. Although that life altering event made me struggle to finish this book, I am so glad I did. There were so many moments in this book about love and grief that gave me the perspective I didn’t know I needed. And if this book reiterated anything to me, it’s that I will always have a dog.

3.75

Finally, a romance about a grown woman with children! I often say I don’t love the romance genre, but if I could relate more to the characters and think I would. Well I can relate to to the characters in Summer Romance. I really enjoyed myself. There is cute banter but no spice. If you are looking for a sweet love story that is also about finding yourself again after having children, this is it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced release copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ali is a newly single mom and a professional organizer whose life could not be messier. When her mom died, she couldn't get over it and her already failing marriage could not recover. Now her soon-to-be ex-husband comes and goes as he pleases and Ali is having a hard time picking up the pieces of her life.

When she meets Ethan, she decides that a summer romance would be the perfect thing for her to start the next chapter in her life. She does not realize that Ethan might turn into so much more. She also does not realize that Ethan is her best friend's brother whom everyone calls Scooter. She has not seen him in years.

Why I Love This Book: Same Time Next Summer and Nora Goes Off Script were both books I loved, so I could not wait to read this book. It's a slow-burn romance that deals with the loss of a parent, the loss of self, and how to move forward one step at a time. Throughout the book, Ali moves through the stages of grief, mourning the loss of her mother. It was poignant and moving with the HEA you expect. #gifted

I really enjoyed this! It was a super fun read! Even though I could not relate to everything the characters were going through I was still able to learn something from them, I loved that. I also loved the summer vibes.

Summer Romance, a novel by Annabel Monaghan, available June 4, 2024!

Ali is a recently separated mom of three who recently lost her mother to cancer and is navigating a fog of “who really am I?” after the end of her marriage looms. A chance meet-cute in a dog park with Ethan (aka Scooter, Ali’s friend Frannie’s brother) shifts the tide and helps Ali realize that she is someone worthy of love and speaking up under all that grief. Ethan is the “mayor” of a town four hours away in Massa Cheez-its (love it!) and isn’t thrilled to be in his hometown that treats him like the sixteen-year-old delinquent he once was. But one summer with Ali and he’s rethinking everything…

The character arcs for both in this book were so well written. Ali’s struggle with grieving her beloved mother and the anger over realizing that Ali ignored her failing marriage because her mother stepped in was such a realistic and interesting way to frame Ali’s loss of self. Ethan found a family in his hometown that he never realized could be there for him. He just needed to open his heart to it. I loved that both characters were older and had complicated lives. They dealt with their issues maturely and in a way that wasn’t overly dramatic.

I’m a sucker for “real” romances, and this delivered. It was like this could have happened to your neighbor! I’m also a huge believer in signs and messages from those who have passed and this book had all that and more. Something so many readers can relate to!

A perfect Memorial Day weekend read and start to the summer, Summer Romance is the found family, single mom, best friend’s brother story you didn’t know you needed!

Be sure to read the TW, especially if you have a hard time with grief and loss.

Thank you so much to G. P. Putnam’s Sons (Penguin Group) and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced (e-)reader copy and a chance to rate and review this book!

4 ⭐️ a whiff of 🌶

Annabel Monaghan is the queen of writing about women who have been stuck in bad/average relationships and finally are able to move on to find something actually magical. I loved her other two books and this one was another good one about a realistic middle aged single mom learning how to actually be happy. Short, sweet, emotional & bingeable. I will read anything this lady writes.

Thank you NetGalley & Putnam for the ARC <3

I wouldn't change anything about this book. It was heartfelt and mature but also had some fun summer-y themes.

I loved that the MCs were in their late 30's and the book explored navigating dating during the process of getting a divorce and juggling 3 kids. I enjoyed reading about Ali finding herself again and transitioning back to the person that she wanted to be. Also, it was wonderful that the MMC Ethan was supportive, consistent, and patient throughout the book. This really was a lovely read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Summer Romance will give you all the feels. While the story centers around a romance, it's much more than that. Ali Morris, the main character, starts out at the beginning still dealing with intense grief over losing her mother two years prior and her husband has decided to divorce her. After a chance meeting at the dog-park, she slowly begins to find herself again. I loved watching her character come alive throughout the course of the book, while finding her voice and discovering her own happiness.

I highly recommend checking this one out. It's a quick read that will warm your heart.
Thank you, Putnam Books, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The perfect summer read! I absolutely adored the author's previous books, especially Nora Goes Off Script. This one was utterly charming, well fleshed out, and I could picture myself contentedly reading it on a beach somewhere. I will definitely be recommending this one to all my friends this summer!

Ali is a almost divorced mother of 3. She is still wheeling from the death of her mother and the official end of her marriage. Then in the New England coast during summer break appears Ethan. After their meet cute, all is at her best friend, Frannie’s diner, when she realizes that Ethan is Frannie’s kid brother Scooter all grown up. They have an amazing summer romance…but will it last?

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC.

I just love Annabel Monaghan. Her books are just my happy place. I loved Ethan so much, he was so sweet.

My new mantra: Ethan 4eva, Pete 4neva.

I loved Annabel Monaghan’s most recent book, Summer Romance. She is quickly becoming a favorite author for me. In her latest book, we find Ali is just getting through the days… her beloved mother died two years prior and her husband declared their marriage should end. While Ali loves to organize others homes, she can’t seem to get out her funk to straighten her home, and is in a rut. Will a summer romance be the spark she needs to find herself again? Annabel captures grief beautifully and you find yourself rooting Ali on to put on the “hard” pants and find herself again.

Cute and heartwarming! Ali Morris, a professional organizer, is trying to make her business on Instagram “a thing”. No one would believe that her own pantry is a MESS! Ali, who is still grieving her beloved mother who passed 2 years ago, is also heading toward a divorce from her husband, Pete. Trying to be a good mom and make a living from her passion of organizing is hard enough, now her best friend thinks it’s time for her to put on “hard pants” and start dating. The first time she takes off her wedding ring and heads to the dog park with her dog, she does indeed find a man under very embarrassing circumstances. There is instant chemistry and after an official first date Ali is hoping for a “champagne summer” as her late mother used to call it. But this summer romance will turn out to be a lot more complicated than she could have anticipated!

Annabel Monaghan writes for the woman who is past the first blush of youth and gives us all hope that it’s never too late to find a second chance at love and romance. This was a very sweet story that would make a perfect beach read!

Thank you Netgalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on June 4, 2024