As a mom of three and a stay-at-home mom, this book hit me right in the feels. Ali's experiences are so recognizable that I couldn't help but place myself in her shoes. Monaghan created such amazing characters that you can't help but feel bummed that they aren't real people. Ethan is dreamy and flawed and perfect for Ali. His need for helping her rediscover herself as someone beyond a mom and unappreciated housewife is sexier than any steamy romance out there. I finished this book with major heart eyes. I will be holding this book close to my heart for a long time to come.

I love how much love is in this book!! It made my heart so full and it was truly a joy to read. I would highly recommend reading this book if you want a feel good romance, with a woman who rediscovers herself along the way! Thank you NetGalley and Annabel Monaghan for the ARC read! ❤️
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198563734

I saw the reviews other readers made and it was a big hit for them. I would t say this book was bad by any means, but I just didn’t find myself getting into the story as much as I would’ve liked.

4.25 stars
This was a fast-paced romance and really enjoyable. At times I felt the pace was a bit too fast and it felt like some emotion was passed over but other times it was perfect. I really loved both MCs and could understand why they were the way that they were and how they worked to accept and/or change that. I also liked how both were very upfront about their feelings and intentions, no miscommunication here thankfully!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

4 ⭐️

I am so glad that Annabel is BACK!! I loved Nora Goes Off Script soooo much, but last year’s Same Time Next Summer was NOT it for me. When I was approved for an ARC of Summer Romance I was very excited and nervous at the same time. I can confidently say that Annabel Monaghan has gone back to her roots and it will be a huge success when it publishes this summer!

I enjoyed this story so much, and the setting (as always) was so gorgeous and atmospheric. I literally finished it in 48 hours. It will be the perfect summer read when it publishes in June!! ☀️

I started reading Annabel Monaghan this year and instantly fell in love with her books! They are always entertained, well written and move at a steady pace. I will definitely be recommending this to my book friends!

Readers are getting exactly what one would expect from this title and cover for large part. Summer Romance by Ammabel Monaghen is a sweet ,closed-door romance. The protagonist, Ali, is a single mom of three dealing with grief after losing her mother two years ago and also an impending divorce. She is the mom who one day looks up and realizes that the past decade she has been living in someone else's shoes and they don't fit well. Ali has a chance meeting at the local dog park in which her dog pees on a man's shoes. A little crush ensues until she realizes that her new crush, Ethan, is her bestie's lil' brother, Scooter, all grown up. It's too late though, she's all in. A further complication arises when Ali realizes that Ethan's real life is four hours away and he is only planning on being in town for the summer.

This book started a little bit slow for me, but I quickly settled in after 20% and wanted to continue. Although this isn't necessarily "deep" book, it does deal with grief and I think it balances character and plot well. This is the second book that I've read by Monaghan and I intend to read more. Pick this book up if you want a good summer read!

I absolutely adore this book. I’m now one of Annabel’s biggest fans. This had so much heart and is the perfect romance for the summer. Thank you for the opportunity to read it early.

I really enjoyed this book. I’ve never read a book by Annabel before but I loved how deep and emotional this one was. It was unlike any other romance book. If you’ve gone through grief you can definitely relate to this story, and I loved watching Ali grow as a person throughout the story. I absolutely loved Ethan’s character and how he helped Ali and her entire family. I felt like it did drag on a little bit and found myself getting bored towards the middle but overall I had a great time reading it and will be looking into her other books! 3.5 stars overall.

I read Summer Romance in two days. It was delightful, my favorite novel of Annabel Monaghan. I really like her writing because the romance is not the focus of the book, it is sprinkled in within the theme of the main character’s overall self worth and finding who she truly was meant to be. I loved the small town setting, the beech setting, the dogs and so many other things. Highly recommend, 5 stars,

Annabel Monaghan is one of those authors that never goes wrong for me. I have no notes for this book.

It's such a a perfect intersection of grief and finding yourself and finding love. I think many women know what it's like to disappear due to life. To fold in until you're taking up as little space as possible.

Everything about this book made me cry in the best way. I loved everything in this book and I have no notes.

I laughed, I cried, I swooned. I loved this book.

Ali is a recently-separated mom of three whose life has been in a holding pattern for even longer. She’s still grieving the loss of her mother, and as her divorce proceedings finally begin, she begins to take steps toward emerging from the haze. First up: real clothes and a trip to the dog park…where her dog promptly pees on a handsome stranger, Ethan, who is not quite the stranger she thinks he is. From there, Ali’s journey to regain her sense of self gains even more traction with the help of a summer romance with someone who helps remind her of who she once was.

I thought Ali was a fantastic, well-rounded character. She was relatable, real, and strong. Her grief for her mother felt like a tangible thing. Though her loss came a few years prior to the beginning of the book, it was still very clear how close they were. Ali had a lot to process that she hadn’t been ready to face and the progression of that throughout her journey felt raw and genuine. She was also a great mom herself. She had her struggles, but the love she had for her kids was obvious. I loved seeing her gradually find her voice again when it came to her ex as well. The growth she experienced as she regained her confidence was lovely.

I adored Ethan. He was a man who knew who he was, wasn’t shy about what he wanted, knew how to set and respect boundaries, and showed he could be the kind of partner who would support and uplift rather than shrink and stifle. He helped remind Ali of who she was before she lost important parts of herself in her marriage, but he never gave the impression that she needed him specifically to bring herself back. He knew she simply needed people in her corner offering perspective and having her back as she made her own moves. Ethan just wanted to add to and be a part of the life she was recreating for herself.

Ali and Ethan relationship was not without its obstacles and questions of how it could possibly work out. Despite the challenges that seemed almost insurmountable, it was so easy to root for them, both as individuals to find their personal happiness and as a couple to find a way for a slice of that happiness to be together. I loved the way everything came together. From start to finish, it felt like a gentle and natural progression that found its resolution in a way that was genuine to the hearts of these characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

“Instagram thinks I need to engage in some serious self-care to get me back to living my best life. They’re obsessed with my cortisol levels and the depth of my meditation practice, but I’m pretty sure this is a job for something bigger than the magnesium foot bath they’ve been putting in my feed all week.“- @annabelmonaghan

When a book starts with your exact instagram feed you know you’re going to love it.

Ali is an almost divorced mom of three kids who lost her mom 2 years ago and hasn’t worn “hard pants” in way too long. She’s a professional home organizer whose own house is a disaster- metaphor for her mental health, love life, work life, and family life. Ali meets Ethan in the best meet-cute way- insert dogs at a dog park- and their romance begins. History, divorce, mom/woman balance, friendship and taking chances are all themes in this romance. However, at the heart of this book is the journey and resilience to shed the old versions of yourself that others have placed upon you to live a life of happiness, purpose, and fulfillment. The author’s note made me love this story more.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pub date 6/4/24

3.5 ⭐️ - a sweet read on finding yourself all over again. Ali is a single mom who is dealing with the death of a parent and a divorce from a selfish man. I liked how she finds herself again, but it takes another man for her to see it. You kind of want to shake her. Regardless, I still enjoyed living in Beechwood, just further proved my desire to live in the northeast.

I was lucky enough to win an e-ARC of SUMMER ROMANCE by Annabel Monaghan from a Shelf Awareness giveaway. Thank you for the early look, and have a safe and happy weekend!

I will read anything and everything Annabel Monaghan writes. She writes wonderful romances that both feel real and like an escape at the same time, and this once was no exception. Great characters and enjoyable romance.

I truly enjoyed this story and that was mostly due to the beautiful characters that Annabel Monaghan created. Ali, her kids, her parents, Ethan, everyone feels so real and fully realized. I think that their vulnerabilities make them seem even more relatable and made it easier to get sucked into the story. I did feel like there wasn't a huge "plot" but I didn't miss it. It was truly an emotional journey for all involved and I really enjoyed. I would love this to turn into a series of some sort!

This romcom is so delightful and relatable. It had me smiling, giggling, and crying. This book goes beyond normal romance tropes and will leave you analyzing your own life and relationships. A must read for 2024!

Ali is a professional organizer and a (almost) divorced mother of 3 who lost her mom two years ago. Ali’s dog finds her a summer romance, which sparks joy into her currently messy life. The reader follows Ali and Ethan as they embark on their summer romance and personal rediscovery.

This story is more than a romance and all of the characters experienced a lot of growth. Love was the central theme, but not just romance; love between friends, parent/child, self-love. I normally don’t enjoy children in romance novels, but they were central to this one to demonstrate character development.

If Annabel Monaghan has a million fans, I'm one of them. If Annabel Monaghan has one fan, it's me. If Annabel Monaghan has no fans, I'm dead.

This is my third book of hers and it is yet another 5 star read. I don't know what she's putting in her books but they are addictive!

Monaghan is a master at blending heart achingly beautiful romance with all the highs and lows of real life. Her characters jump off the page. Her writing fills you with longing for wherever and whoever and whatever is in the book. I can always count on Monaghan to make me tear up in both sadness and happiness.

I highly recommend this book - and Monaghan's backlist - to literally everyone, but specifically for people wanting a beach house, people going through a change in their lives, and people searching for a *real* romance.

Thank you to the publisher for my e-copy.

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Format: E-Book

Review: Let me preface this review by saying I already LOVE Annabel Monaghan’s books largely due to their relatability. It should be no surprise that Summer Romance was no exception to this! Usually I have to be in the right mood for a romcom because I find myself oftentimes rolling my eyes at how unrealistic they are; Monaghan’s books never fail to be different!

Summer Romance follows a mother of three who is in her mid-to-late thirties going through a divorce, shortly after unexpectedly losing her mother. This book was a breath of fresh air not only because of the main character’s age and circumstances, but also because it carefully wove together humor, relationships (of all kinds), and grief in a seamless fashion. One moment you’re laughing, one moment you’re relating to the characters, and the next you’re grieving right along with them. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and highly recommend it to all the romcom lovers who might be looking for something that feels raw but realistic!

This was the first ARC I’ve received where I did a (slightly embarrassing) happy dance because of how excited I was! Thank you to NetGalley, GP Putnam’s Sons, and Annabel Monaghan for providing me with this ARC. All opinions are my own.