A romance read with a little more depth. This story was about finding yourself again

Ali, a professional organizer, is dealing with a lot of grief. She is going through a divorce and grieving the loss of her mother. Her personal life couldn't be farther from organized.

Ali decided to have a 'champagne summer' and Scooter, a man she meet cutes at the dog park might just be the answer to becoming unstuck.

I think one of the best things about Annabel Monaghan’s book is how relatable they are. I’ve seen myself in bits and pieces of each of her FMCs and have understood what they are going through. For example, Ali is a mom of three kids (so am I) and there’s that season of life were your kids completely take over and somewhere along the way you lose yourself as an individual person and your priorities fall to the wayside. Ali is at that standstill in her life and to see her make the changes to grow as an individual, as a parent and co-parent was amazing. She stopped wearing “soft pants” and put on her “hard pants” again and reorganized her life to better suit herself and her family all while opening herself up to a great guy that she never expected.

Annabel Monaghan is an auto read author for me and while Summer Romance doesn’t knock Nora Goes Off Script from top spot it is a very very close second.


Thank you @annabelmonaghan and @putnambooks for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

*4.5 stars
Annabel Monaghan is an auto-buy author for me, so I was very excited to read Summer Romance. It was the perfect read for my first pool day of the year!

Monaghan’s characters are so realistic. You want to laugh with them and cry with them.

Ethan is an amazing book boyfriend, and I only wanted good things for Ali! (Pete is the worst, and you will be rooting against him). My favorite part was definitely Ethan in the powder blue suit!!

Read if you like:
•Best friend’s brother
•Meet cutes
•Forced proximity
•Single parent
•Summer romances (duh)

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the arc! Happy summer reading!

When I started reading "Summer Romance" by Annabel Monaghan, I was expecting a light, enjoyable read, but what I found was so much more—a meaningful journey of rediscovery and new beginnings, all beautifully set within the scope of a summer fling.

Ali Morris, our lead, is a professional organizer, yet ironically, her personal life is anything but organized. Since the loss of her mother and the breakdown of her marriage (to a total prick, I might add), she's steered clear of complexity, even in her wardrobe choices. But then comes a pivotal and endearing moment facilitated by her dog’s bold greeting of a stranger named Ethan. This unexpected encounter sparks something in Ali, a reminder of the vibrant woman she once was.

Annabel Monaghan excels in crafting characters that feel real and grounded. Ali is depicted with such depth and sincerity that I couldn't help but feel connected to her story. She’s more than just a character in a novel; she's a reflection of anyone who's lost themselves amidst life's challenges. The genuine portrayal of her struggles and triumphs made Ali’s journey resonate deeply with me, particularly as someone who has also felt lost at different times.

What I appreciated most about the book was its lack of clichés. The story focuses on genuine emotional growth and life lessons that are subtly infused into the narrative through thoughtful interactions and introspections. It's a tale about finding oneself amid life's chaos, brought on by the unexpected magic of a summer romance. This thematic depth transformed what could have been a straightforward romantic story into something far more substantial and meaningful.

"Summer Romance" is not just a novel; it's a mirror reflecting the joys and pains of evolving through life's unexpected turns as a women entering marriage and motherhood. Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam/G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for the ARC!

This author knows what she's doing when it comes to writing women's fictions book. I didn't like how it first started because insta love isn't my thing, but after I realized the main characters background with scooter I loved it that much more. The plot point where the main character is pulling her children into her traditions her and her mom made was so sweet. I loved this book.

ooof my heart. this hit me in the feeeeeeels. this is my first read by Annabel Monaghan and i loved it. i loved the dynamic between Ethan and Ali and how they fit together. i also enjoyed the single mom aspect with three kids and having the feeling of being stuck and can’t get out. sometimes being a mom takes away from who you are bc you’re worried about other living beings and i can relate to that. i thought the parts were Phyllis were heartbreaking and i definitely cried at the end when she died. she knew and she was ready and she had Ali there and it made my heart hurt. it was a smidge slow in some places but it was filled with ethan and ali getting to know each other and ali dealing with her life and kids and being there for them but not forgetting about herself. the ending was perfect and it was just so easy and nice to read. it was a perfect lil summer romance read and i really enjoyed it. 4.5/5 thank you netgalley and Putnam for this e arc in exchange for my honest review

My first Annabel Monaghan novel and it won’t be my last. What a beautiful story about a soon to be divorced mother overcoming grief and finding love for herself, her family, her friends and a new man. I really enjoyed the anticipation of knowing who the love interest was before the main character herself knew and I love that the story didn’t become some big secret to hide.

The character development was 10/10, especially when Ali (main character) stands up for herself in front of her scum ex-husband, LOVED it. Definitely recommend this one to all readers it was a beautiful story and has some tear jerking moments. 4⭐️

Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for an advanced readers copy of this title via NetGalley.

4.5 ⭐️

I absolutely loved this one!

The book follows a woman in her late 30s named Ali as she navigates loss: the loss of a parent and the end of her marriage. I found the writing excellent and the characters, particularly Ali, to be relatable. Every time I picked up the book, I was excited to see where the story went.

I haven’t read anything by Annabel Monaghan, but I will definitely be checking out her other books now.

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

OH MY HEART. This book got me. Ali is the most relatable middle aged mother, housewife, and woman. Her inner monologue is so fitting and easy to identify with. Then throw Ethan in the mix and it’s pure perfection. This sweet love story had me laughing, crying, and cheering for Ali the whole way through. A fantastic summer read.

4.5 stars. I LOVED "Nora Goes Off Script" and still think about it all the time. I didn't enjoy "Same Time Next Summer," but am so glad I came back to this author. I tore through it in a few days. Ali is such a relatable character for me; even though I am not going through a divorce or grieving my mother, we do have things in common and I saw myself. I also felt all of her joy at rediscovering herself. Just a lovely book. Perfect to kick off summer reading-- a summer romance with a summer book :-)

I was such a fan of this book! I read the majority of it on an airplane and definitely cried a ton. It’s a lot about divorce and grief from death of family, but it’s handled in what seems like a realistic way with really really lovable characters and good storytelling. Quickly becoming a favorite author for me!

CW: death of parent, death, divorce with children

Thank you to the author and publisher for the advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!

I have absolutely falling in love with Annabelle Monaghan writing! 🧡

Summer Romance follows a newly divorced mother of three Ali trying to navigate motherhood and the resounding grief of losing her mother. While I don’t relate or understand motherhood I felt like Ali’s character really encapsulated it quite well. I found her resilient + was rooting for her so hard. It was such a beautiful journey seeing her find herself again.

The love story was PERECT! I loved the meet cute between Ethan + Ali it was so so sweet and funny. Ethan is the epitome of a man down bad. He was so sweet and caring & truly met Ali where she was. His patience, kindness, and willingness to believe in her was astounding!

To me this is the perfect summer romance!!! I loved the setting of this book + that it was a small coastal town. I loved the flowers & importance of relationships and learning to love without fearing to lose.

💥 Pub Date: 6/4/2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

• romance/women's fiction
• heavier topics like grief, divorce, parenting
• self discovery

This wasn't super summer-y to me and I'm not a huge fan of kids in my romance books, but I did enjoy the characters and writing. I love an HEA as much as anyone, but the ending wrapped up a little too neatly for me. Overall, it was enjoyable but my favorite is still Same Time Next Summer (the nostalgic/unrequited love vibe = my jam!).

🗣 Thank you to netgalley and Putnam Books for the opportunity to read and review this book via gifted eARC! All opinions are honest and my own.

This story about professional organizer Ali Morris finding herself and true love after divorce touched my heart.

Ali may be extremely organized at work, but her home life is a mess. A drawn out separation/divorce, preteen daughters with all the feelings, grief over her mother’s recent passing, and a supremely messy kitchen all threaten to pull her under. Then one day she meets a handsome man, feels some butterflies, decides to wear ‘hard pants’ again, and slowly finds her way back to herself.

I’ve read all of Monaghan’s adult books and they all feel like a warm hug. Her writing is beautiful, and it feels like she is dispersing universal truths about things like parenting being hard or how grief can be a drawn out process. I will always happily grab her books as soon as they are available.

In this case, Ali is closer to my age than the female protagonists in many romances, and the way she has lost part of herself in motherhood feels authentic. I felt seen in so many lines about her kids, like when she wonders when her six year old son will stop looking at her with all the love in his eyes or how she was still on her own to-do list prior to having children. It is so easy to lose yourself in the care of little people, and she hits in right on the mark in this story,

The love story is beautiful and realistic. Ali dithers a bit, trying to decide whether she can actually put herself and her feelings first or what she is allowed to ask for for herself. It feels like her emotions have been repressed for years along with her own wants, and it all finally explodes out of her during this summer romance.

I also thought Annabel touched on grief beautifully, and she brought tears to my eyes a few times.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

If I could give this more than 5 stars I would. How is this the same author that wrote “Same Time Next Summer”???? This one had so much depth and joy and purpose, whereas “Same Time Next Summer” was 2 stars at best. As a lifelong mommas girl myself, I loved the relationship the FMC had with her mom, even after her mom had died…the way she talked to her and felt the responses? Tears. I loved the relationship, I loved that she was a mom who was finding herself again and I love that the whole point was that the joy is worth the pain. Love love love.

Finished this book with the absolute biggest smile on my face. This was beautiful. Ali was a quirky and oh so relatable heroine, a mother of three who was struggling in the aftermath of her mother's death and the divorce that followed. An unexpected run in with her best friend's little brother that has always held a torch for her is what it takes to turn her summer completely around. They come to an agreement to keep things casual because her kids are her priority of course and he's only there for the summer, but what is planned to be only a summer fling deepens into something greater. While the romance of this was absolutely beautiful, I found every little detail about navigating motherhood and coping with grief to be so very thought provoking and lovely as well.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy of “Summer Romance.”

This was a sweetly romantic story. I loved the development of Ali and Ethan’s relationship and also the personal journey that Ali went on over the course of the story. I also enjoyed the secondary characters - Phyllis and Cliffy especially. I wish there was an epilogue so I could get a peak into the future of these characters but I fully believed in their HEA. I wholeheartedly recommend this one, it might be my favorite of Annabel Monaghan’s books. 5 stars.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Annabel Monaghan is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine! She is three for three when it comes to 5 star books for me. I loved Nora Goes Off Script and also loved Same Time Next Summer….and now I can add Summer Romance to my list of “favorite romcom books”.

I specifically picked this book to read because I had just finished a pretty disturbing horror/thriller type book and I desperately needed to read something that would make me happy. This book checked all the boxes for a perfect romcom. I truly loved everything about this book. I absolutely adored Ethan. And I loved him with Ali. Both characters were so likable. It’s pretty much like every romcom….funny, happy, romance and some drama with “relationship complications”…it was predictable but not in a bad way! I loved the ending and I do think a sequel to this book would be a wonderful thing! I would love to read more about Ali and Ethan and see what their future holds.

The pub date for this one is right around the corner (June 4th) so I highly recommend hitting a bookstore on that day and picking up a copy!

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putman and to this amazing author, Annabel Monaghan, for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

To see other reviews I’ve left, please see my Instagram and Goodreads pages:
*Instagram - bookworm_traveler808
*Goodreads - Cherihy808

Annabel Monaghan is an auto-read summer author for me. Her books often hit on the same reliable topics: selling the family home full of memories, a younger love interest and family dynamics. Summer Romance ticks all of those boxes. Ali’s big conflict is that she tends to just give in when things get hard instead of standing up for herself and what she wants. Even knowing that, I was still disappointed that she tries to give up on her relationship with Ethan so easily. Ali does end up getting her happy ending, but it felt harder than it needed to be.

If you are working on your summer reading list, this is one to throw in your beach or pool bag.

Wonderful novel! The author is expert at writing realistic relationships. The challenges this couple faced were not gratuitous, they seemed completely plausible for what each person had experienced. An easy recommendation to any romance or women's fiction reader!