Annabel Monaghan has become an insta-buy author for me. Summer Romance is the perfect read to kick off your summer.

This story starts with Ali, a 38 year old mother of three, deciding that today is the day her wedding band comes off. It is, after all, one year to the day after her husband left her, one year to the day after her mother died.

Absolutely nothing feels right anymore, and Ali doesn’t know how to be a person anymore. She asks her mother for a sign that things will be okay. This comes in the form of her dog, Ferris, peeing ALL OVER the most handsome man she’s seen at the dog park. The best part is, he not only takes it in stride but seems completely amused and taken by Ali.

Perhaps it’s time to wake up and start participating in her life again.

This book had me genuinely smiling and laughing at the banter and moments between Ali & Ethan (dog park man). I also felt everything SO DEEPLY as Ali deconstructs her descent into a “weary housewife” in the throes of negotiating her divorce. I feel like many moms will see part of themselves in Ali.

Annabel Monaghan writes people and characters so well that it comes as a shock to me that these aren’t real people.

Summer Romance is available on June 4th, 2024. You simply must go read it. For my friends who prefer closed door romance stories, this is TOTALLY going to be your jam. Check out Annabel’s other books.

Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC of Summer Romance in exchange for my honest review. It was a honor to get my hands on this early.

I had not read a book by Annabel Monaghan before and it is safe to say that Summer Romance will not be the last title I read by her. This book had amazing summer vibes and was fast paced. I loved how the romance felt fully developed as well as the side characters and all of the issues that the FMC was facing.

Usually, I feel like I enjoy books more when I can see myself in one of the main characters. While Ali was going through so many things that I haven't, I still felt fully connected to her and was able to relate to her in many ways. I loved how Ethan was down bad for Ali and that he never gave up on her.

I can't wait to read more books by this author and definitely recommend this book for the summer, a perfect summer read!

This book is self care for the soul.

I can’t believe how much I loved and needed this book at this moment. This book is pure sunshine on the page. This is another five star read from Annabel Monaghan!

Ali hasn’t gotten over her mother’s death of two years, and her marriage is in shambles. The only order she has in her life is the professional organizing that she does for other people. She just doesn’t know a way forward. She spends her days taking care of her three amazing children, but when is she going to find the time to take care of Ali?

Enter Ethan - the lovely man she meets at the dog park when her dog pees on him. It really is one of the most charming meet cutes. From there, Ethan and Ali start a friendship that becomes more.

This book is terrific. Ali’s neighbor Phyllis is amazing, her friend Frannie is terrific, and her kids are incredible. Then there’s her ex-husband Pete. He’s a fool. Ali also has a complicated relationship with her Mom that she has to reconcile before she can move forward. And while the story is about Ali and Ethan, I really felt like the bigger story was Ali finding out who she is and who she wants to be moving forward. Ethan has his own story to write, and his decisions take him on a journey as well. I loved both of these characters!

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the opportunity to read this one. It is the perfect book to start your summer, read on the beach, or spend a beautiful afternoon with on your porch. I adored every page! This one releases on June 4th - pick it up!

Five stars!

I adored this book. I loved seeing Ali's transformation in relation to her ex husband. I also loved seeing Ali and Ethan fall in love. The whole book just made my heart happy.

Annabel Monaghan writes it and I will read it. Although nothing will beat my love for Nora Goes Off Script, Summer Romance was a close second.

Ali and Ethan meet at the dog park and there’s an instant connection/attraction. Ali later discovers that Ethan is “Scooter”, her best friend’s brother. They make a deal that what they have will only be a summer fling as Ethan lives 4 hours away in Devon. I loved watching (reading) Ali grow and rediscover herself after the loss of her mother and pending divorce. She learned that she deserves so much better than what her ex, Pete, provided in their relationship - she deserved an equal partner. She learned to use her voice and fight for herself and her three children.

Read if you like…
- Best friends brother
- Single mom
- Acquaintances to lovers

My first exposure to Annabel Monaghan was two years ago when I got an eARC for NORA GOES OFF SCRIPT. Since then, I've been singing her praises to any person who will listen (and honestly even those who won't). The minute I read her first book, I knew she'd be THE author for women of a certain (or really any) age. I take pride in knowing Annabel's works before she debuted simply because she's THAT good.

I never thought I'd find a book that lived up to the way that NORA made me feel but SUMMER ROMANCE surprised me in the best possible way. This is Annabel's work with the most feeling yet. After stumbling a little bit with SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER, she has fully redeemed herself and then some with this novel. I loved Ethan from his first introduction, and though anyone could've predicted the way this story would've ended, I devoured every moment of the courtship between Ali and Scooter.

This book made me feel all the feelings and touches beautifully on things understood and those which I haven't experienced - the grief of losing your parent or closest loved one, divorce, parenthood, daughterhood, starting over, small town drama, and truly soul=consuming love. Annabel writes in a way that makes love stories approachable and believable. Ali's story is a real story that could be any of our stories and a story with which anyone could relate.

SUMMER ROMANCE is going to be THE book with the summer!

📚ARC Review 📚

Summer Romance ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ali Morris is a professional organizer whose own life is a mess. 2 years ago her mom passed away, then her husband left, her oldest child is about to be a teen and she hasn’t worn “hard pants” (pants with a zipper) in a long time. When she decides to take her wedding ring off and put on “hard pants” she meets someone. Well…her dog does anyways by peeing all over the guy’s leg and shoe at the dog park. Ethan laughs and looks at Ali like she’s amazing. She hasn’t dated in forever and this is last thing a newly single mom needs, to make her life messier, but there’s no harm in a little summer romance. Is there?


This is my first book from this author and it will not be my last! Y’all this book was so good. It’s one of those that will make you laugh and cry at the same time. Just the realness of it and how sometimes as a mom/wife you can lose your identity. How the right people in your life make a difference and especially how the finding the right person, that was made just for you, makes such a huge difference on how you should be treated and loved. I love how the author wrote this and how she had the 2 main characters overcome their own problems/fears together but also separately. I loved Ethan’s character and how he helped Ali find herself again and showed her she is important and can do anything she wants. But, I also like how Ali realizes this on her own as well and doesn’t settle anymore and stands up for herself. It was a great story, that of overcoming hardships and finding yourself again. Do yourself a favor and add this to your TBR list, now! This book will publish on June 4, 2024 and you don’t want to miss it.

This book is truly a gem and I’m so glad that I got to read it. So thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for my advanced readers copy. This is my honest and voluntary opinion.

☀️🛹 Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan 🛹☀️

Ali Morris is a professional organizer whose life is a complete mess. Her mother passed away two years ago, her husband asked for a divorce a year ago, and she hasn’t opened the mail in longer than she can remember. Her kitchen pantry is so messy she didn’t realize she’d accumulated four boxes of cornstarch, and her three children are the primary thing keeping her going. When Ali meets a handsome, charming man at the dog park the same day she finally takes off her wedding ring, she thinks he’s been sent to her by her mom. Ali is in no place for a long term relationship, but maybe she could handle a light and breezy summer romance with Ethan.

This book got into my heart from the very first chapter. In so many ways, I feel like I *am* Ali in this book (minus the hot romance with a younger man…so far 😏) The journey that Ali took over the summer was incredibly real, and I was cheering her on every step of the way.

Ethan is a true dream of a book boyfriend. He saw Ali for exactly who she was, and he wanted her even when she was at her lowest points. There were never any conditions involved in his affection for her, never any “if you do this, I will do this” like she experienced in her failed marriage. The way he loved both Ali and her kids was so beautiful and moving.

I can’t recommend this one highly enough for readers who love seeing someone get a second chance not just at love but at truly being the “architect of their own life.” It’s a really powerful story about all of the myriad ways we might get lost along the way, but that it’s never too late to find ourselves again.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced copy to read and review. All opinions are my own. Summer Romance is out on June 4.

I love seeing older women and mothers in romance novels, and Annabel Monaghan is writing some of the best! This is my third book from this author and definitely my favorite.

Ali lost her mother two years ago and a year ago her husband left her. Now she’s ready to sign divorce papers. One day she has an adorable meet cute at the dog park with Ethan, who turns out to be the all grown up younger brother of Ali’s best friend (who everyone locally still knows as Scooter). Ali lets herself indulge a little summer romance but it’s not long before the feelings between Ali and Ethan grow more intense. As Ali navigates raising her three kids, her divorce, her ongoing grief over her mother, and finding a life on her own she doesn’t know where Ethan can fit in.

I loved the development of the romance between Ethan and Ali. Their chemistry was electric right from the start. I also loved seeing Ali’s development and all the themes of love and loss that were woven in. Ethan was a swoon worthy lead.

I voluntarily read a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This book follows a woman whose life is a total mess. Her mother died and then her husband left her. She finally decides to move on and start a new romance.

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. It just felt too emotional but I didn’t connect with the character. Everyone felt too surface level and no one was examined very in depth.

I hope others love this one but it wasn’t for me.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Penguin for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan is the perfect read to pick up this summer.

Ali is a professional organizer but her life is a hot mess. It’s the two year anniversary of her mother’s death, one year anniversary of her husband leaving her. She decides to finally put real pants on for the first time and head to the park where she is noticed by someone, and her dog immediately takes claim by peeing on him. Her life is pure chaos, but what harm can a summer romance do?

I adored how realistic the characters were. I loved the relationship between Ali and her oldest daughter. I loved how unglamorous and normal Ali and Ethan’s relationship was portrayed. Overall, I really enjoyed this title!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Group, and Annabel Monaghan for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Summer Romance releases on June 4, 2024 and you’re going to want to add it to your beach bag!
5/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.5⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: contemporary romance 📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
A sweet and enjoyable romance

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Second chance
Realistic romance
Great side characters
Funny meet cutes
Best friends bother
It’s always been you
Summer romance
Closed door
Themes of grief and self discovery

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
Hard pants lol so relatable
The dogs
Annabel’s relationship with her kids
Fun-tastic summers
𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
Scooter felt a little too obsessed at times

I really enjoyed this sweet summer book. It was so cute and I loved the characters. I really related to Ali. I think it could have been her kids and their ages, as they are similar to my own. I enjoyed reading about Ali navigating grief, motherhood, loss, life changes, and ultimately love. I loved Ethan. He was such a perfect mmc. He also had his own personal growth journey. He was sweet, witty, and wholly devoted to Ali. Phyllis was an unexpected character that I loved.

This book was a sweet and heartwarming read about love, loss, finding yourself, gaining confidence, and becoming who you are meant to be or maybe always were but got a little lost along the way.

Summer Romance had some heavier themes, but it also carried all the feelings and nostalgia of summer and that feeling of new possibilities that summertime brings.

-closed door
-divorce/loss
-best friend’s brother
-finding love and yourself again

Thank you to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook and to Putnam for an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I've enjoyed this author's books since I first read Nora Goes Off Script. The books are part women's fiction and part romance for women over the age of 30.

Ali Morris is a separated mother of three who is still mourning the loss of her own mother. On the one-year anniversary of her mother's death, her husband states he wants a divorce. They have been separated for a year, so she's not really surprised.

With the urging of her best friend to put on "hard pants" Ali gets rid of her sweatpants and takes her dog to the dog park. It's there that she meets Ethan in a very memorable way.

I love that Ethan brought out the best in Ali. He helped her stand up to her ex in the divorce proceedings, to no longer be a doormat. Ethan and Ali's romance, though she deemed it as a summer romance, seems so much more than that.

I really can't wait to see what this author writes next!

4.5⭐️s. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found myself thinking of the characters when I wasn’t reading and wondering what was going to happen next!

Both a light, summer read and also something that tackles heavier topics (divorce, loss, grief) in such a way that feels so real.

Initially, I wasn’t here for the mid-to-late 30-year-old skateboarder but as you keep reading, it makes more sense.

I’m already eager to read Monaghan’s next book, as each has transported me to the destination and made me smile along the way. For now, take me to Beechwood and (if I wasn’t already married) find me an Ethan.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for my advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this general fiction with a romance story by Annabel Monaghan. I must have been in the right mood but I sat down and read the entire book in an afternoon. Ali, is 38 and single mom of three. She’s been separated over a year but still working out the details of a divorce. Her life is a mess so it is ironic that she finds satisfaction and in her side business of organizing other people’s home, closets etc. She is also still grieving the loss of her mom.

I think a lot of women can relate to a person who gets caught up surviving what life hands you. But I love how slowly she starts to make choices to get back to the self she once was. It helps that she has a meet cute with a handsome lawyer, Ethan. It is delightful that they go on a date before she makes the connection that he is her best friend’s younger brother. And his outfits at her divorce mediation add some whimsy.

Ethan doesn’t live in Beechwood but is spending time clearing out his parents house that they have given him. It gives her a reason to spend time with him. I love the discussion of a summer romance. Do you do something even if you know it can’t last? The comparing it to loving a pet even knowing it will eventually die is perfect. The kids act like kids. Ali and Ethan act like adults and use words to communicate. And this is a good example of showing fade to black romances are still sexy. The humor is gentle and sweet. I’m usually not a fan of people dating before they are divorced but both her and her ex agree it is fine, so I whom I to argue.

It is easy to recommend a well written story of a woman finding herself again and getting a closed door romance as a bonus. The characters, even side ones are well developed as is the setting.

Annabel Monaghan does it again! I absolutely loved this book. It is such a quick read, definitely a good beach read for the summer!! The separate evolutions of Ali and Ethan made the story just as much as the evolution of their relationship. I loved how Ethan empowered Ali throughout the book, but in a way that allowed her to come into her own on her own.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in return for my honest opinion.

Why didn’t I start this book earlier?! It’s adorable and sweet and delicious all in one. Love the “Best Friend’s Brother” trope, and Ethan is a delight 🥰
I love how strongly Ali cares for her kids.
I love how she learns to be strong and confident again after being pushed down for so long.
I love how Annabel handled grief without it weighing the story down, so wonderful!

This book is a difficult one to rate, because I really enjoy Monaghan's writing style, and the subject matter of the book was interesting, especially with Ali trying to rediscover herself amid her divorce and the loss of her mom. However, I found that I was extremely bored throughout the entire book, and picking it up felt like a chore sometimes. The romantic leads had no chemistry, and the romance itself had absolutely no stakes. He's her best friend's brother and she has to keep it hidden because of her kids, but her best friend immediately accepted him and he was always hanging out with her kids, so there were no stakes. I liked the idea of this one, and I liked certain moments, but I did not necessarily enjoy the experience of reading it, since I had to drag myself through it.

Monaghan has become one of my auto buy/read authors.

This book was very well written and targeted the older readers (not twenty something’s) in a realistic romantic HEA story.

This covers grief (loss of a parent and divorce), self awareness and improvement, second change romance

Five stars!