I love Annabel Monahan more with each book I read of hers. Truly.

Summer Romance is a fun, quick, easy to read story that still carries some big topics. I love the MMC Ethan and the way he brings Ali back to herself. I love the way he shows up and fights for her throughout the book. I just love him, okay??

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the ending, but Monahan tied it together wonderfully.

I already can't wait for her next one!

I loved this funny, touching story. Ali and Ethan's love story starts out on a bumpy path, but they soon help each other learn to move on from the past and the pigeonholing by other people, reframing perceived shortcomings into strengths and starting to believe in their own dreams. Ali's high school valedictorian declaration, "I am the architect of my own experience," becomes her adult mantra, and is also adopted by Ethan, who struggles against the outdated perception of himself that his family clings to. The pace of the story is great and kept me reading; I finished it in a couple of days. I love that Ali discovers that she can move on from grief and failure, and be a risk-taker after all when she decides to choose happiness and hope by putting her heart on the line. Ethan leads the way, putting Ali first in all his decisions and showing that he is far from the immature 'Scooter' of his past. I love the characters, the dialogue, the humor, and the story arc of the novel. Annabel Monaghan continues to write the kind of romance that I enjoy reading!

I loved this so much!! If I could give it more stars I would.

Some of my favorite things…
-both MCs-they’re so lovable
-Cliffy is adorable
-the neighbor
-the skateboard lessons

This book was fun and what you want in a summer read. It was not my favorite of hers but still a satisfying read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I was in the mood for a great beach/summer read and Summer Romance delivered! I appreciated that the main character was in her late thirties since so many romance books focus on people in their twenties. I also liked that there were some serious topics, like grief, that were addressed throughout the story. The characters were likable, I rooted for the relationship, I laughed and I cried, so overall, this was a great book in my opinion. This would be a great addition to your summer reading list!

I was so surprised at emotional I found myself at the end of this book. I loved the messy characters. I loved the town and the communities and the characters within them. I loved the way this book highlights the ways we put people (and ourselves) into boxes and limit our relationships. I loved the way this book explored mother-daughter relationships.

This will be a great beach read, but maybe finish it in a place where you’re ok crying. :)

Thank you Putnam for the review copy! I also loved listening to this via the PRH audio influencer program. this book bubbles over with joyful fizziness.! A perfect summer read.

LOVED this book, so much that I read it in one day, I started it Saturday evening, listened to a good 50% in the car the next day, and finished it tonight... and ran to write my review about how much this book clicked with me, my messy house and overwhelmed by the messiness of life and motherhood and all the things, and how very real Ali felt. I loved her self growth, valued her reflection on how things got away from her/her voice and her wants, and how she let herself open up, to feel like the puzzle pieces were coming back together for her. Scooter/Ethan was a great complement to Ali, great foil to the ex Peter, but for me this book was really all about Ali just letting herself be Ali, mom but also more than mom, wife/ex-wife but so much more than that...

Audiobook: excellent narration and a great way to really be in Ali's thoughts, recommend that format highly!

OBSESSED.

I felt so seen in this title and I'm not going through a divorce, but just a middle aged mom who feels lost so much - Annabel did a fantastic job of portraying women in this light. The dog park "meet cute" was one of my favorite scenes in a book. I 100% plan to reread this as the weather warms up and I am in my full on summer mode. Love.

4.5 Stars!

Annabel Monaghan has once again knocked it out of the park with her latest release, Summer Romance.

Summer Romance is a delicious second-chance romance that follows the story of Ali and Ethan. Ali Morris’s life is a complete and utter mess. Reeling from the loss of her mother two years ago, imagine her surprise when her husband declares he wants a divorce. Imagine Ali’s surprise when she decides to take off her rings and leave the house, she meets someone. That someone is Ethan. He makes her feel young and adored. That is until she discovers Ethan’s true identity….

Summer Romance is one of those stories that you can’t help but find yourself getting lost in. Ali’s story is real, raw, and a bit complicated. As a newly single mom, she’s trying to navigate through the new path life is taking her on, all while dealing with the loss of her mother. The last thing she expected to find was Ethan. As her best friend’s brother, Ethan should be 100% off-limits, but the more time Ali and Ethan spend together, the more they realize they have in common. Their lives are messy and complicated in their own ways, and they both have something to prove. Together, these two embark on an unforgettable summer romance and I didn’t even mind that their romance was “closed door”.

Summer Romance is a fantastic read from beginning to end. I couldn’t help but devour this book in just a single sitting and can not wait to see what this author will have in store for us readers next.

If you like romance books that also deal with harder topics like grief, parenthood, and separation, this is the book for you. In this book we meet Ali, a woman struggling to grieve her mother, be a single mom to her three kids, and navigate her divorce. After a not so meet cute at the dog park, Ali starts up a summer romance that soon becomes more. Ethan helps Ali regain her power and her self, two things she felt she lost in her grief and precious relationship. It was beautiful to see Ali and Ethan grow into the people they wanted to be. I do think this book would have hit harder for me if I was a parent myself. I would highly recommend this book to mothers and/or women who have gone through separation.

Ali is working on picking up the pieces of her life after her mother dies and her husband asks for a divorce. What more could she ask for but a summer romance with her best friend's brother.

Annabel Monaghan is one of my go to, feel good romance authors. She has a way of just sucking me in and falling in love with her characters! Here's what I loved with this one:

Ali and Ethan: Gah. These two are amazing. Both have hang ups but both also desperately want each other. I also appreciate the ages of Monaghan's characters. It's hard to find a good romcom with both MCs over the age of 35. But she always does this so well. The characters are relatable and just real.

The setting: This small town has charm and some beautiful waterside places. I wanted to live there the second it was described.

All the Feels: This book is cozy and fun and filled with love and just like a warm blanket at the end of the day. I adore books that feel like home and this one definitely does.

All in all, this was a great romance with lots of heart.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy.

Such a good book. The character development, the plot. Everyone feels as though they’re a little stuck and parts of your life are unbearable at times. Life is funny but all it takes is that one person to believe in you and you start believing in yourself. A great summer beach read

I enjoyed Annabel Monaghan’s Same Time Next Summer so I was excited to have gotten an ARC for her next book, Summer Romance.

This book would make a great beach/pool read. It’s quick, easy, has short chapters and not heavy on the heart. There were a lot of parts that made me smile. If you’re looking for spice, this might not be for you as it’s closed door. However, if you’re looking for a romance novel with characters older than late 20’s, this one’s for you.

As always, I went into this book blind. I have enjoyed reading about best friend’s older brother but I don’t remember any stories about best friend’s younger brother play out in any of the romances I have read in a while.

Ali is a professional organizer so naturally, this book made me want to clean out our house. Ethan is Ali’s best friend’s younger brother whose parents own a diner and an inn in their little town, Beechwood.

Ali is an almost divorcee and a single mom of three and a dog, Ferris. Ethan and Ali had their “meet”-cute at the dog park when Ferris picked Ethan as a favorite person. I don’t understand how Ali did not recognize Ethan however, Ethan’s absence from the town is caused by how his family makes him feel a like a failure. Ethan was immediately accepting of Ali and her story because as it turns out, they have known each other nearly all their lives. Ethan has built his own life 4 hours from his hometown Beechwood so they decided on having a summer romance. The trouble is, they both fall hard and Ali has decided that she will be in control so she broke it off with Ethan.

I have never seen a book go into grief like this book did. The realizations about your relationship with someone, in this case, Ali’s mom, but she cannot ask anymore because her mom has passed. Ali had a lot of things she wished she could still talk to her mom about however, she also wanted to confront her mom why her mom never let her build her own life and think deeply about her decisions. At times Ali’s character felt immature for sounding like she was blaming her mom and I had to remind myself it’s part of her grief from her mom’s loss and also her divorce.

I enjoyed this at first, but it started to feel monotonous and drag as it went on. Nothing really happened and I didn’t really feel myself rooting for the characters love story. I liked Ali, but I still felt her growth wasn’t as strong as I would’ve liked.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Summer Romance is impossible to put down! At the heart of the story is Ali Morris, a professional organizer whose house is a disaster. She's grieving the loss of her mother and a failed marriage. Parenting three kids with a self-absorbed soon-to-be-ex is a challenge as well. At first, the story is tinged with sadness, but the narrative takes a refreshing turn with the arrival of Ethan, the charming hero. I adored him from the start because he brought plenty of humor and sweetness to Ali's world.
Monahan's writing skillfully weaves together humor and warmth. This is a poignant story that will resonate with readers who enjoy books about second chances, coping with loss while making space for humor, and swoon-worthy romance. As Ali and Ethan's relationship moves forward, readers are treated to a heartwarming exploration of courage, self-love, and the power of embracing new beginnings.
Summer Romance is a perfect companion for lazy days at the beach or leisurely afternoons by the pool. With its engaging characters and an uplifting message, this novel is sure to leave readers with a smile on their faces and a renewed belief in the power of love. Don't miss out on this charming tale.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions shared here are my own.

A good ol’ beach read that was fun, sweet, and easy to get through. I got a little bogged down in the middle, but the ending was perfect and I loved the sense of place. I know a lot of people enjoyed Annabel Monagan’s other books and while I won’t be immediately bumping them to the top of my TBR, I’d read more from this author!

Annabel Monaghan does it again! There’s something so powerful about reclaiming your life, and that’s exactly what Ali does. I love the focus on the different relationships in her life and how they evolve throughout the story. Finding out Ethan has been crazy about Ali since they were younger was another thing I loved about this book. I really enjoyed the family dynamics and what life can look like the older you get. I loved this one!

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan (June 4, 2024)

“You can’t just keep doing what you’re doing and wait for it to turn into something happy. You kind of have to look for the happy things along the way.”

To jumpstart the summer in a delightful way, Annabel Monaghan is back! Since I devoured Nora Goes Off Script back in 2022, this author’s books are automatic reads for me.

I want to be friends with Monaghan and her novels’ characters. As always, in her latest book, the author writes in a conversational tone, with characters who are relatable, fun, and unsure of themselves. And they have lots and lots of flaws.

Ali and her three kids live in Beechwood, NY, a small coastal town wedged between Manhattan and Connecticut. They celebrate the last day of the school year with a tradition her late mom began—one I might incorporate!—“toasting” to a champagne summer.

As Ali, a professional organizer, winds her way through the summer—and divorce proceedings—she tries to figure out what’s next in her life. She takes some chances. She steps out of her comfort zone. She meets dreamy Ethan.

And she feels lighter, happier, and terrified.

A sweet, wonderful book full of laughter, drama sadness and characters that enjoy being together. Ali is a soon to be divorced mother of three, has an organizing business and seems to be at a crisis. Ethan is an attorney who lives in Devon to get away from his family, who seem to always consider him still a problem child. I loved all the characters from old to young, but I especially liked Ethan. He had a way of encouraging Ali,even though he was discouraged about the way his family treated him. He was able to have Ali see herself has a vibrant, important woman. (Should’ t we all feel that way?) A heartwarming story of second chances that made me cry, but most of all made my heart happy. Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an early copy. This review is my honest opinion.

This was such a cute and interesting story! I love how the author incorporates serious topics of grief and loss but also manages to make it a light hearted and heart felt story. I’m a sucker for a summer theme book and this is definitely one i will always recommend! I was so proud of the FMC for the confidence and courage she built through the story, not only for herself but also for her kids. The main MMC is the definition of golden retriever and I want one lol. His patience and resilience from start to finish was so well written and described. His attentiveness was on point. Overall I think the story developed so well and is perfect for those looking for a summer romance story!