A great summer romance for us all to enjoy! I loved this sweet love story. It was full of self exploration and growth but was fun a focused on finding joy! I loved the characters and their community. It was closed door and very mild spice but had enough depth that it wasn’t too sugary sweet/cheesy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts expressed are mine alone.

Summer Romance follows Ali, a freshly single mom off her divorce and her journey to rediscovering who she is after her marriage, reclaiming her youth, and truly learning what makes her happy. Although I couldn't personally relate with Ali's journey, I felt like Annabel Monaghan's ability to write depth into Ali's character and reveal the reasons why her previous marriage fell apart, allowed me as the reader a lot of space to empathize and honestly feel very invested in her self discovery journey. I wish I could've got into more details of Ali's personality, at times I felt like I never fully got to know her, but regardless I did appreciate her character.

The love interest in Summer Romance, Ethan, was a delight to read about. I absolutely love when romantic leads have lengthy history between them, in this case Ethan and Ali have history spanning back to childhood. I definitely felt the chemistry between Ethan and Ali, but at times I struggled to really buy into them being "perfect for each other" because their relationship did develop rather quickly. I think I would've enjoyed more of a slow burn given the context of the divorce and seeing Ethan support her in her self discovery then deciding to explore something romantically. Regardless, I loved how Ethan became a rock for Ali and I found the scenes with Ali's ex husband and Ethan to be very entertaining.

The thing I potentially enjoyed the most about this book was the setting. To me Summer Romance read as the perfect, atmospheric beach read. The imagery painted practically had me tasting the salt water air at home and made me wish I was reading this on the beach somewhere.

Summer Romance did lack a little bit of depth and believability in the romance for me to see it as a favorite, but I would absolutely recommend Summer Romance for your next beach read!

Thank you so much GP Putnam’s Sons for the ARC.

Rating: 4/5
Warning: divorce
Steam: closed door

Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I did love this book! Summer Romance was such a feel good book that brought together women’s fiction with a romance. It gives similar vibes to Nora Goes Off Script, our heroine is starting over at the end of her marriage. Figuring out who she is outside of her identity as a mother, wife and daughter.

Things I loved: I found the hard pants storyline so funny. Ethan is someone I was routing for so hard and I do wish I got a bit of his perspective. I loved the relationship Ali had with her kids. All the organizing.

Annabel Monaghan is someone who writes books that are so relatable and realistic. This is also one you could gift your mom (or grandma) when they inevitably ask for a rec this summer.

✨ Pub Day: June 4, 2024 ✨

“Worrying about someone is sorta expecting them to fail.”

Ali was grieving the loss of her mother when her husband announced he wanted a divorce. A year later, Ali is still wearing sweat pants and barely holding it together for her three kids. As romance novels go, Ali meets a cute stranger named “Ethan” at the dog park and discovers he just might be what she needs this summer, but he comes with a secret.

Aww, this was one of my favorite romances. @annabelmonaghan is an amazing author. I think this is my favorite of her three books.

I adore Ali and Ethan. They’re for sure one of my favorite fictional couples now. I flew through this book and couldn’t put it down. Told from Ali’s perspective - she struggles pulling herself up from the extreme grief caused from the loss of her mother. Watching Ali build back her selfesteem was heartwarming. I loved Ali’s support system too- her friends and family. Good character development and likable characters made this romance better than most.

✨ Genre: Romance
💛 Steamy rating: Mild
🤬 Profanity: Mild

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Perfect summer read! I loved Nora Goes Off Script and this follows the same vein. Well built characters, emotional without being a tear jerker. Highly recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
Pub date: 6/4/24

Annabel Monaghan is always a win for me! This was a great slow burn, best friend's brother romance. I loved the small town vibes. I love her writing style and highly recommend this one to anyone looking for a short and sweet romance read

This is a new to me author, and I’m a big fan. I really enjoyed this story of a single mom, best friends brother romance. The writing was lovely and flowed so naturally. The characters and development were so good. There is zero “spice” in this but that was not missed. It was overall a really lovely beach read.

Lo amé, sentí el sufrimiento de Ali y me alegre cuando era feliz, sólo quería que tuviera una buena vida.

Este libro es viaje por el autodecubrimiento de Ali, una mujer de 38 años recién divorciada, mamá de tres niños que sigue de luto por la muerte de su mamá. Ella se da cuenta que su vida no es como la imagino, a lo largo del libro vemos como fue que llegó a ese punto y como dejar de ser observadora y toma el mando de su vida. Además hay romance, ¿qué más se puede pedir? No diré nada más sobre Ali porque vale la pena ir a ciegas.

Todo esta narrado por Ali y aunque prefiero que este narrado por ambos, en este libro es necesario que ella sea la única protagonista para que veamos todo su desarrollo y crecimiento, pero me gustaría otro libro narrado por Ethan. La historia es perfecta para tener dos libros sin importar que se repitieran algunas partes porque se verían detalles que no se pueden apreciar en este, además lo conoceríamos más afondo y no sólo como el interés amoroso de; podríamos ver como superó lo que le pasó en la adolescencia, en como se convirtió en abogado hasta que lo abandonó y empezó a trabajar en lo que ama, como sobrelleva 3l sentirse una decepción para sus padres, en como el skate lo salvo y que ahora es un maestro para muchos niños, ufff hay tantas cosas que no sabemos y me encantaría ver. Annabel, ojalá puedas escribir el libro de Ethan.



It’s funny, what you’ll do for your kids but not for yourself.


I myself am a ball of unfocused longing. When I’m quiet I can hear my heart yearning for impossible things. I want a perfectly pared-down home, and I want to hang on to every scrap of the past. I want a break from my kids without missing a single minute of their lives. I long for a partnership, and I long for freedom. I long to be enmeshed with someone without losing myself. I want all of it.



Not for the first time today, I try to retrace my steps to figure out how I got from being the girl Ethan remembers to being the woman sitting in this place right here. The most disturbing part of the balance of power in my relationship with Pete is that I was complicit, chipping off pieces of myself and offering them to him until all that was left is who I am now.



I open my mouth to speak and nothing comes out. I’ve had nightmares like this where I’m trying to scream but I’m not able. There’s just too much anger behind every word. I’ve kept my mouth shut for so long, it’s almost like my body knows that if I start I won’t stop.


He pulls me close and we watch my kids laugh with his parents. I feel all of it. The love for my kids that sometimes feels like it could engulf me in flames. The burning love I can still feel coming from my mom, like it’s something alive inside of me. And the way Ethan feels like a thing I have been waiting for my entire life.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP for an advanced copy of this book.
This was so sweet! I love a second chance romance and a terrible ex-husband. I'm a little over the 3rd act break up but we all knew how this one was going to end. Very clean and fun read!

****Publishing June 4, 2024****

Have you ever felt like you are stuck in a rut? This is how Ali Morris felt. Still grief ridden from her mother’s death 2 years ago. Her husband left her 1 year ago, and she has her kids to raise as a single parent. Instagram reminds her of self-care. With juggling a divorce, an ex, and kids, can she pull it together and have a little fun with a summer romance?

A heartfelt, fun, and entertaining Rom-Com! I love how Annabel Monaghan’s writing just draws you into an entertaining and enjoyable story with laugh-out-loud and heartfelt moments. Annabel captures the emotions and stresses of everyday life that evolve around relationships, parenting, family, and friendships. This book will have you turning the pages to find if Ali can juggle it all while having a little fun! Is she able to create a life that makes her happy? A refreshing read that leaves you feeling satisfied in the end! A great book to take on vacation or to read by the pool!

Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam (G.P. Putnam's Sons) , I was provided an ARC of Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so cute and fun! Annabel Monaghan does a great job of creating such likable but real characters that you automatically cheer for. Ethan was so swoon worthy! I was so sad when this was over. An automatic add to beach bag read.

This was such a great read. The fact that it was a best friend’s brother romance was a given that I was going to enjoy it. I just didn’t know how much. Ali has really been through it and let herself fall to last place in her failed marriage. Scooter shows up as Ethan and surprises her. He makes her feel loved and appreciated and like she is back on top of the world. I just couldn’t get enough of their adorable romance. Almost like they were back in high school together. It was truly adorable. This was definitely a binge read and the audio was great. It was fast paced and even the third act breakup didn’t bother me that much.

Synopsis: We meet Ali Morris on the two-year anniversary of her mother’s death and the one-year anniversary of the day her husband says he doesn't want to be married anymore. Ali is stuck – she’s paralyzed with grief over the passing of her mom and the uprooting of her life by her soon-to-be ex, she's stuck in a small town where everyone knows and pities her, and she's plagued with an absolute disaster of a home, even though she's a professional organizer. After a urine-soaked meet cute with Ethan, the cute guy at the dog park, Ali finally starts to get unstuck. The problem? Ethan's only around for the summer, clearing out his parents’ home after their move to Florida. Oh, and he's her best friend's brother who she hasn't seen since high school and who's known for his unreliability (every single mother’s dream!). Ali tells herself it's okay, she and Ethan are just having a summer romance… It's just for the summer. Famous last words – I bet you know what happens next!

Review TLDR: Summer Romance is an absolute delight from start to finish, but the characters MAKE this book. Ali is relatable, Ethan is dreamy, and the townsfolk are charming. The town of Beechwood is featured so prominently and written so vividly that it feels like a character as well. Ali and Ethan’s families are great as well - they feel so real! The struggles they face are realistic and relatable, and the growth they show in the face of these challenges feels authentic. The romance between Ali and Ethan is sweet and swoonworthy. The only complaint I have about this book is that it ended. It’s the perfect summer read!

Narration Review: The audiobook is narrated by Kristen DiMercurio – she’s the voice behind The Love Wager and and You, Again, among many. Before I listened, I was disappointed that Hillary Huber wasn’t involved, as she’s flawless in Nora Goes Off Script. But Kristen nails it. Her voice is fairly similar to Annabel’s and it made me feel like the author was reading her book to me. She brings Ali to life and does a nice job differentiating the various characters. Highly recommend checking out the audiobook!

Detailed Review:

Characters (5/5)
If I could give this more than 5/5, I would.

Ali experiences significant personal growth throughout the story. She transitions from idolizing her mother to realizing that maybe her mom was too protective of her, to Ali’s own detriment. She focuses on avoiding this mistake with her own children. She acknowledges her role in losing herself and becoming overly dependent on her husband and takes steps to get her power back. Finally, she comes to understand the old adage, grief is the price we pay for love. Life, according to Ali, is “joy peppered by loss” and the madness of it all is that we pick joy despite the risk every single time.

Ethan also develops throughout the story, though less dramatically. His major growth moment comes before the story begins, but we see him dealing with family and old friends who don't realize how much he's changed. He confronts his family about how they treat him and ultimately realizes that he isn’t defined by his past, even if others try to put him into a box.

Ali is relatable and I feel deeply connected to her. Feeling lost, letting yourself depend on someone else in a life you assume will never change, that you accept even though it's not the best version of your life. How do you recover when the rug is pulled out from under you? She wonders whether it would have made a difference if she had only decluttered the kitchen sooner – would she still be married? Even though the answer is obviously no and she doesn’t even want to be married to him anymore, the thought still crosses her mind. I thought I was the only one who thought this way and it’s comforting to know I’m not alone. I related to her loving her mom so much that she can't handle that she's gone and to being paralyzed with fear about losing someone else. The beauty of this book is that everyone is going to find something to relate to in Ali.

Atmosphere/Setting (4.5/5)
After reading Summer Romance, I feel like I'd been to Beechwood! So much of the story happens outdoors in town, which helps. We're constantly moving between Ali's house, the inn, the diner, the beach, the dog park. I feel like a local already.

Writing (5/5)
Flawless, no notes.

Plot (3.5/5)
It's not a wildly unique plot. I’d call it This Summer Will Be Different meets Just For the Summer meets Nora Goes Off Script. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that, and there's nothing I didn't love about the plot… but it's not groundbreaking. It's the characters in the plot and how brilliantly executed it is that make this novel great.

Intrigue (5/5)
It's not that I couldn't put it down, it's that I forgot I was reading it until it was over.

Logic (5/5)
No notes.

Emotion (5/5)
The only thing I didn't enjoy was that it ended.

I highly recommend this book. Love the relationship development between Ali and Ethan! The topics- such as parenting after divorce- I love that they handled it well.

I loved this book! Ethan made me swoon big time and I appreciated the thoughtful writing around divorce plus parenting. Ali’s journey was highlighted artfully and the narrative filled me with optimism for rediscovering self as life progresses. The author used loving pets to align with grieving and it really hit home.

Annabel Monaghan is such a wonderful writer. She weaves such a story with complex characters and relationships that you are ROOTING for until the very end. Every book I have read of hers has been a five star read and this one was no exception. The chemistry between Ali and Ethan jumped off the pages and I could see this playing out in my head as I read.

I can’t wait for the next stories to come from Annabel, I know they will be superior.

Thank you NetGalley and PUTNAM for an ARC!

When I first came across “Summer Romance,” I was looking for a light-hearted escape, but what I found was so much more. Annabel Monaghan has a gift for crafting stories that feel like they’re speaking directly to you, and this book was no exception.

Ali Morris’s journey hit close to home for me. Her struggles with grief and finding her footing after life’s unexpected blows mirrored my own experiences in ways that were both comforting and inspiring. The messiness of her life, with all its imperfections, was a reminder that it’s okay not to have everything figured out.

Ethan’s entrance into Ali’s world was like a breath of fresh air. His easy smile and acceptance of Ali, just as she was, reminded me of the joy that comes from meeting someone who sees you for who you truly are. Their romance wasn’t just a summer fling; it was a testament to the healing power of love.

The setting of the book, with its coastal charm and sense of community, made me nostalgic for my own childhood summers. Monaghan’s vivid descriptions transported me to a place where the sound of the waves and the warmth of the sun felt incredibly real.

“Summer Romance” was more than just a book for me; it was a companion during a time when I needed it most. It made me laugh, it brought tears to my eyes, and ultimately, it left me with a sense of hope. The message that it’s never too late to rediscover yourself and open your heart to new possibilities resonated deeply.

In sharing this review, I’m not just recommending a book; I’m sharing a piece of my heart. “Summer Romance” is a novel that will stay with me for a long time, and I’m grateful to Annabel Monaghan for writing a story that feels like it was meant just for me.

I. Love. This. Book. It’s not just a summer read, I have a feeling I’ll be revisiting this when I need a warm hug in book form.

I've loved a couple of this author's other books (same time next summer was a favorite last year!) And couldn't wait to dive into this one!! I feel like this had all the things I loved about her last two books combined into one and it was just a perfect, summer, one sitting read.

Best friends brother, one heck of a meet cute, small town side characters straight out of gilmore girls, Ethan and Ali's story was a fun little escape on a rainy PNW day. There was plenty of butterflies, laugh out loud scenes, swoon worthy glances, and heart melting moments. I wanted a bit more of an epilogue but that's truly just a personal preference, I feel like the third act was realistic, both generally and for the story itself, and truly can't wait for the release to put a copy of this one on the shelf!!



Thank you Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the ARC in exchange for my review!

I think this might be my new favorite from Annabel Monaghan! Annabel has this incredible ability to perfectly capture all the magic, dreaminess, and nostalgia of summertime while also writing characters and stories that are complex and realistic, while beautifully entwined with tenderness and vulnerability that will fill your heart with hope. One of the things I love most about Annabel’s stories is that the MCs are their late 30s and 40s. All love stories make me swoon, BUT I love a love story where the MCs are closer to my age.

This story reached right into my chest and left an imprint on my heart. As a mother raising young children, one being a strong but tenderhearted daughter, I related so deeply with Ali. There were so many parts I highlighted and I found myself tearing up over the shared understanding and challenge of finding the balance between wanting to protect your kids from the a-holes at school or painful experiences BUT also wanting to give them the space to make their own decisions and grow as humans. I felt Ali’s struggle over what to say to her kids when they were navigating challenges at home and school and was so encouraged by her transparency and vulnerability - letting them know that they would face the unknown together. At the end of the day, loving our kids and giving them a safe space to land and ask questions is what’s most important and it’s that love that will empower them throughout life.

The medley of friends to lovers, second chance, “it’s always been you” made my heart SOAR! If you want an achingly tender and precious love story that will sweep you right off your feet, this is it! Ali and Ethan were so gosh darn sweet with each other and even though this isn’t dual POV, Ethan didn’t hold back in sharing his heart with Ali, so there was no wondering what was going on in his head. For reals, Ethan has a heart of solid gold, is always championing and encouraging others to be their best selves and chase after what will fulfill them, and is the sweetest cinnamon roll you’ll ever meet. The romance is closed door, but Annabel so perfectly brings tension and heat to the story that you don’t mind the door being closed.

I loved this story from start to finish and am always in awe of Annabel’s gift to write stories that feel like coming home and realistic characters that so many can relate to. This story is breathtaking and beautiful and I love how through Ali and Ethan we’re reminded to kick those influences that diminish our spark or quiet our voice to the curb (Pete’s the worst), and to surround ourselves with people who love unconditionally, stand in our corner, and bolster our dreams. You can feel the love Annabel infuses into her stories, but Summer Romance felt so personal and her note at the end had me teary all over again.