Ali is grieving her mother's death, going through a long-overdue divorce from her apathetic ex-husband, and raising her three kids pretty much solo when she has a meet-cute that leads to a fling ... just for the summer. Summer Romance is a story of self-discovery, the intricacies of being a mother and a daughter, love, loss, identity, and the choices we make with a female main character in her late-30s (BLESS).

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as I have everything I've read by Annabel Monaghan. The characters are layered and real, the settings are immaculate, and the prose is crisp. Some of the reflections on grief hit really close to home, but in a really tender and good way. Don't pick this up expecting a light beach read, but do pick it up and savor all the feels. I highly recommend it!

Thank you to Putnam Books for gifting me with an ARC to review. All opinions are my own. I loved it!!

Annabel Monaghan does it again with the perfect romance. Alice is a wonderful character that so many readers will have an immediate kinship with. Her family, and the family she has chosen, makes you want to move to Beechwood and partake in dinners and canoe rides. Monaghan’s character development is perfect for the each of the characters and their rolls in the story. I always had the perfect picture of where the story was taking place, even Phyllis’ house.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC!!

I love Annabel Monaghan! Ever since reading Nora Goes off Script, I have looked forward to her books. This one did not disappoint. It was a great story of getting through life after loss and how there’s still happiness after heartbreak.

4.5 ⭐️

I can't relate to this story because I am not a mother and I am not married either but I couldn't stop crying once I started this book.

This was raw and so beautiful. I loved "Same time next summer" by this author and I haven't read "Nora goes off script" yet but I definitely will. Annabel has become one of my auto-buy authors and I would read anything she writes.

Ali is such a strong FMC and I respect her for that. Her resilience and the love that she has for her kids was captivating and admirable. The things that she went through and then moving on with her life and finding love again was everything she deserved. The romance between Ali and Ethan had me swooning the entire time and I couldn't stop smiling from every single interaction between these two. 🥹

This is such a beautiful, short romance read. I can't wait to get my hands in the physical copy this next summer!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the advance reader copy.

Annabel Monaghan does it again! Everything she writes has me in love with her characters, no matter how messy they may be, and has me rooting for them from the start to find their happiness. This is another book from her where she takes a fun plot, such as a messy organizer, and transforms it in a way that makes you feel all the feels for the characters. I couldn't stop reading this one and it has me craving the summer months while enduring the cold ... highly recommend!

This was a fluffy, sweet summer romance that I read at the perfect time.

Yes, it’s sweet and fluffy, but there is so much more! Ali is struggling still with the death of her mother. Since she lost her two years go, her husband has left her and she feels like she is just drifting.

Girlie decides to take off that dreaded wedding band and happens to meet a really cute guy in the same day. She didn’t expect this guy to be someone she has already met. That poses some problems, but what is wrong with a little summer romance?

Not much can be said about this book without giving spoilers (like anything not in the synopsis), but know that this book is freaking adorable! I am finding that I enjoy romance with characters in their 30s, more and more. There is just something more realistic and relatable. This is my second read from this author and my second five star, so it’s safe to say Annabel Monaghan is an auto-buy/auto-read for me!

this is EASILY my favorite of annabel monaghan's books thus far. i loved it so, so much, probably because it felt too relatable (falling in love again after a marriage falls apart, finding yourself again, rebuilding after divorce, other things i won't post publicly) and it genuinely just made me feel a lot of things.

I loved this book! The writing was beautiful and the author did a great job with the romance and buildup.

A easy summer read. I really enjoyed, Ali & Ethan were adorable together and I loved the dynamic Ethan had with Ali’s kids. The story was easy to follow and I liked reading about Ali’s journey of self discovery after her divorce and feel like a lot of people could relate to the story. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys:

-he falls first
-best friends brother
-divorce/single parent rep
-navigating grief


Thank you to NetGallary and Putnam for the arc in exchange for a honest review.

Oh, my heart. This book does not hold back. Alice’s relationship with her mother, her grief and processing genuinely spoke to me. I was already crying in chapter 1. Alice had such a beautiful storyline. I related to her as a daughter and a fiercely-loving mother.. I loved her self-reflection, rediscovering her talents and interests, and discovering new joys in life post-divorce, childbirth, and burying her mother. I loved that Alice’s self-talk never sounded cliche, lazy, or redundant. She was a mess at times, but always let the reader in, and I thought she was fantastic!
Ethan was a great match for Alice. I loved them so much.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thank you #NetGalley and #PutnamBooks for the arc e-book.

Love love loved! Annabel Monaghan just keeps getting better and better. I just loved this story. As a 42 year old mom of three I appreciate that she is writing relatable stories. I loved Ali’s growth and finding her voice. I loved how swoony Ethan was. 5 solid stars!

Having read all of Annabel Monaghan's book and loving them all, I think SUMMER ROMANCE may be my absolute favorite of hers! I love and admire how the author can take the themes of feeling light-hearted, easy and fun and still incorporate such emotional depth and realness to the story and characters. The whole time I read this, I also felt alive and giddy when reading it and what a joy it was!

A professional organizer Ali can help put others' lives in order, but when it comes to her own "mess," she struggles. After a divorce, Ali finds ways to feel bubbly and light by dressing better and having a summer romance that includes skateboarding and making out with her friend's little brother Scooter who had a mullet back in the day. It was inspiring to see Ali find her confidence again, speaking up for herself, and setting boundaries to make sure her plans are made because they work for you and not for her ex-husband.

I loved how Ali talks out loud to her mother who's passed... a beautiful way to even learn and understand more about Ali and her relationship with her mother. It added such a beautiful layer. Another thing this author is brilliant at in her work, is the pacing of the story unfolding and the realness and believability of the characters and storyline. I"m never reminded that I'm reading fiction book when reading her work is something I truly respect.

I appreciated the reminders that the risk of love is worth it (just like when you get a dog), to notice what lights you up and makes you feel good, and that it's okay to not know how something will work out but focusing on feeling good for when you do know what it is that you want. I loved the idea that when looking at our past decisions, it was our future self that was setting us up for how we are feeling right now.

Oh how I love and adore Ali and Ethan (Scooter) and their relationship... my heart is so incredibly happy to have witnessed their love!!! I love their teasing, humor, connection, and intensity. I loved how Ethan has been in love with Ali this whole time ever since they were in high-school which tastefully added to the tension between the two. I loved Ethan's ridiculous lawyer attire, and most of all, loved how moved and impacted Ethan was by Ali's high school graduation speech all those years ago and would recite phrases that reflect how he lives his life even today. I'm about to faint I'm swooning so hard!!!

So much gratitude to Penguin Group Putnam/G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

Oh my goodness, this book was so entertaining right from the beginning! I loved the characters minus the ex-husband, ha! Such a delight to read this book and to stay up late to finish it. When an author can do that with a story I know it deserves five stars. I see this book becoming a big hit in 2024! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

"Summer Romance" is my current favorite from Annabel Monaghan! A must read!
We follow Ali's journey from disarray to unexpected life bliss. She is coping with the loss of her best friend, her Mother, while going through a divorce, all while raising 3 kids (1 being a full on teenager!) The witty narrative weaves a tale of rediscovery, featuring lovable dogs, beautiful scenery and a man who sees beyond the mess. With its perfect blend of laughter and poignant moments, this book captures the essence of a summer romance—fun, hot and surprisingly healing. Ali's quirks make her endearing, and Ethan's smile is the sunshine readers crave. A heartwarming, five-star read that leaves you believing in second chances.

A blend of best friend’s brother/single mom romance and women’s lit about a daughter mourning her mother. I adored the author’s “Same Time Next Summer,” but this is more “Nora Goes Off Script.” I love her writing, and if the themes sound interesting to you, you should definitely check it out.

Summer Romance is lovely. Annabel Monaghan has become one of my favorite authors for writing books I can relate to in this season of my life. Her characters are a bit older than a lot of the early 20’s heroines features in a lot of rom-com books and with that I feel I can find some wisdom from them about love, parenting, self-worth and feeling comfortable in your skin in your 30’s.

In this book Ali is great at organizing other people’s messes, but has a hard time dealing with her own messy life. Her champagne summer gives her more than just a romance - she gets her sense of self back too. This book is packed with perspective on setting examples, being there for others, and the love a mother has for her children.

I loved this book and Annabel’s writing. Her stories are so immersive. This is my favorite of her books so far.

A smart romance that has depth and characters that you fall in love with! There were so many quotes and lessons in this book that I will remember forever.

Ali Morris is a soon to be divorced mother of three, who is grieving the loss of her mother, but balancing work, kids, and taking care of everyone around her. While taking her dog to the dog park, her dog walks over to a hot guy and pees on his shoe. This funny twist of events throws Ali into a Summer Romance that is charming, sweet and also proves that there are relationships that may be for a short time, but still worth the memories.

I enjoyed Annabel Monaghan's writing in her book, Nora Goes Off Script, so much that when I saw her latest book, I immediately requested it from the publisher. So thank you Putnam Books and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy. #NetGalley #SummerRomance @PutnamBooks

I’m pretty sure I just read my favourite book by this author, and if you know me then you know I absolutely adored both Nora Goes Off Script and Same Time Next Summer.

This book has all of the feels, it made me smile so much throughout the storyline, though I also felt anger (at Pete) I felt hope, I felt sad, I felt angst and it made me cry at the end however it made me so so happy.

Ali was one heck of a woman, she was an amazing mother and was a very strong person, she had just forgot that. Some of us have been in her position where we have been in a marriage where we completely loose ourselves as our partner drowns us. You know what though, she picked herself up and she came out stronger than ever. Meeting Ethan/Scooter definitely helped her, he pushed her to remember the person she was before Pete, and being together brought the absolute best out on her. Like Ali I found my scooter and life has never been so good.

Ethan/Scooter was the most amazing guy, I absolutely adored him. He had quite a crazy few years as a teenager but he found his way and really worked out who he was as a person. He was super patient with a total heart of gold.

I loved all of the other characters too, it was a great community and they all helped bring this storyline to life.

This pair together were brilliant and I adored the ending, it was absolute perfection.

Reading the authors note really brought the whole thing together, I love how much of herself she put in there and her relationship with her mother, it really just made what I already loved that little bit more special.

This book honestly filled my heart with so much joy, and I’m so happy I have read it.

Thank you so much to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book, all thoughts are my own.

First of all, I'm a big fan of Annabel Monaghan, but this didn't grab me. Ali is a complicated character, dealing with some heavy issues. The whole grieving phase is well-crafted, and the way the protagonist tries to overcome this sadness shows just how strong she is.

I snagged the ARC (thanks to the publisher for that) because I thought it would be more fun. Towards the end of the first part and in the middle, there are some funny scenes with Ethan, but the humor felt a bit forced at times. It seemed like the author wanted to write a heavier, overcoming kind of book, and it has more drama, with the comedy feeling a bit out of sync with the scenes.

Perfect for those looking to move beyond the shallowness of romance novels.

I grew fond of Ali throughout the book; her divorce and determination were impressive, and in the end, her transformation felt convincing.

The writing had a lot of details on more trivial things and the other characters themselves; I couldn't picture them very well at first. However, the writing improved as the chapters progressed (which are short, a definite positive).

The development is slow, meaning you need patience. I found myself quite bored in the early chapters, but it was worth waiting for Ali and Ethan's encounter; it gets more interesting from there. Still, I missed some tension in their interactions.

I recommend this book for those seeking a mature romance with a summer backdrop and a life lesson.

I adored Nora Goes Off Script; It was one of my favorite books of last year. And Monaghan’s new book baby gives me all the Nora feels and then some. I’m grateful to have been chosen to read an ARC via Netgalley, but my copy wasn’t in final release shape, and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get past the confusing formatting. But one page in, it didn’t matter. It could have been written by hand on post-it notes, and I would have devoured it.

I found it refreshing that it’s the hero, not the heroine, who has to overcome a troubled high school experience. My heart broke for the way his family overlooks him time and again, always seeing him as the boy he used to be and never the man he’s become. But the heroine sees through it all, and it’s absolutely swoon-worthy. If you’re in need of a Nora and Leo fix, add Summer Romance to your TBR. Ali and Ethan won’t let you down.