Annabel Monaghan gets me again with a sweet romcom with complex and beautiful relationships. I love it when people find not just love but community and self acceptance in romance novels.

Ali feels like her life is one chaotic mess. She’s just starting to feel the joy of life again after losing her mother two years ago and her husband leaving her on the first anniversary of her mother’s death. When Ali’s dog pees on a handsome stranger at the dog park she feels that spark again. After going on a date with him she finds out that he used to be the town screw up growing up and also her best friends brother. Ali feels betrayed that Ethan wasn’t up front about their history but can’t stay mad for long. Ethan’s parents leave him their house so they can retire to Florida so the pair swap services. Ethan provides Ali legal advice during her divorce and Ali uses her professional organizing skills to help Ethan get the house in order to sell.

This is a sweet story about finding love after being in a crappy marriage and overlooking your own needs to for so long. It was such a joy to watch Ali regain her sense of self and fall in love. Another banger from this author. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This book feels like so much more than a summer fling. It’s increasingly hard to find a main character nearing her 40s in romance lately, and Monaghan not only writes one but brings Ali fully to life on the page.

The characters in the story are complex and relationships feel natural. The presence of children in this novel helps to set and tell the tone and advance the plot rather than feeling like it’s competing with the love story. It’s a delicate balance to strike but feels true to life for the situation Ali finds herself in as the story unfolds.

As with any romance, the reader has to be able to accept, as the beloved Fated Mates podcasters would say, the “romance reasons,” for some of the less plausible aspects of the plot. But the story itself is so charming that you will accept any and all reasons to keep turning the page to find our if it’s really just a summer love or something more.

I really enjoyed this book and, much like a perfect summer evening, I found myself losing all track of time and ended up finishing the book within a day of starting it.

Thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons - Penguin Random House for the ARC of this great read.

This was by far one of my favorite reads, not just this year, but ever. 5/5 stars, Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan is a must read on your shelf!

Plot: Ali, single mom of three and professional organizer, faced her mom's death two years ago, and exactly one year after that, her husband told her he wanted a divorce. Now Ali, two years later, is struggling through life in stained sweatpants and her kitchen is a disaster. When her dog pees on Ethan at the dog park, they go out on a date. A few days later, she learns that her friend's brother "Scooter" is Ethan, just grown up. Ethan is home for the summer (reluctantly), and Ali and Ethan spark a Summer Romance, a simple fling and friendship to occupy their time as Ali is in the midst of a divorce and Ethan is busy putting his parents' house on the market.

Characters: Ethan was a character with a lot of depth, and though his thoughts were not seen (single POV), the author portrayed him very well. As someone who can identify with being perceived solely through a fraction of who you truly are, I understood his emotions and the reasons for his actions. I also felt like the author didn't try to make him just "instantly click" with the kids and be the dad they never had, and fit into a perfect family mold, but explored the relationship with the two of them and then having interactions with the kids at the end, though they didn't feel forced.

Ali was a beautifully written character. Ali's relationship with her mom was explored so well. Ali's personal journey from the beginning of the book where she struggles to get out of her perpetual outfit of sweatpants, is overcome to find that her relationship and marriage was not all she thought it was, partly by the doing of someone who loved her and had her best interests at mind. Looking at her relationship in hindsight, she demonstrates the frightening but far too common idea that a woman's autonomy can be restricted in her relationship, which is often due to factors such as societal pressure. In Ali's case, her mother wanted what was best for her, though caused her to lose agency due to the fact that she was not living her life, but her mother's ideal one. Ali realizes that she still has a commitment to her family, something her mom so desired, and working is not going to cause her to ignore them, it is something she should do for herself. Throughout the book, Ali reclaiming her autonomy was a gradual yet thrilling journey.

Thoughts: This was really not just a story about two people, and honestly the whole plot is not just centered around the two of them. It felt a lot deeper than that and honestly I'm not sure how I can return to a bunch of hastily put together romance tropes smooshed into a book after this.

The story was about growth and love, but not just loving in a romantic sense, but to her mother, kids, and the people that are in her life. I felt particularly moved by how she was able to view her relationship with her mother in hindsight, and recognizing that love, even wonderful love, is not always good, and that it can harm you. But also, she recognized that you don't just not get a dog because it will eventually die, you will always savor the time you had with something wonderful. It really expanded the "'tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all” quote to all things in life. This was such a beautiful story, and while I am a romance reader, this was what made it something else.

Notes: I really love Annabel Monaghan's writing style. I loved it in her other books, and I loved it in this one. I feel like a lot of the books I've been reading recently aren't well written, and I really enjoyed hearing the author's voice here. This author does not simply write a "book," or a "novel," but a true work of literature. Honestly, it's hard for me to decide between this and Nora Goes Off Script, because I am so in love with that book as well, so they'll be a tie for me. But even though the main character/narrator had semi-similar backstories (single mom, just divorced- but didn't really like the guy that much anyway), these were completely different stories, which I loved for their own unique reasons.

I've never quite read a book like one by Annabel Monaghan, who spins a gripping novel while weaving in profound themes lit by a beautiful romance. I would recommend this book with all my heart!

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

hank you NetGalley, Annabel Monaghan , and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

5 stars! This books is so amazing and the characters are the best! I LOVE Ethan and all he does to help Ali and her family as she rediscovers herself after some huge life changes. All of the characters in this book are so enjoyable. I couldn't put her book down! A really great feel good book!

This heartwarming tale follows Ali, a resilient single mother of three, on her journey to reclaiming her sense of self-worth and happiness after a painful divorce. It was inspiring to witness her realization that she deserved better than the dismissive treatment she received from her ex-husband. His lack of involvement in their children's lives highlighted the importance of not settling for a passive partner.

Ethan was a breath of fresh air in her life. I loved the fact that he had been enamored with her since their childhood. I enjoyed him as a love interest - He was so attentive, kind, and willing to put in the work to show her he's serious. The progression of their relationship was a bit too "insta-lovey" for my taste, but Ethan's unwavering support and effort to prove his commitment made their love story compelling.

While I may not have personally connected to Ali's experiences, I found myself empathizing with her journey through grief and self-discovery. The exploration of these themes added depth to her character, and her impact on Ethan's familial relationships showcased the mutual healing they provided each other. Their well-deserved happy ending left me feeling uplifted and hopeful for their future together.

After Ali's divorce, she's feeling down. But she decides to wear pants (okay, overalls) and keep moving. Maybe she will meet someone. But she didn't expect that someone to be the person her dog peed on!

This story was such a sweet summer romance. I loved Ali and Ethan's story and look forward to more books from Annabel Monaghan.

<i> Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for this eARc in exchange for my honest review. </i>

Annabel Monaghan continues to consistently write books I will fall in love with. This one reminds me of Nora Goes Off Script more than Same Time Next Summer in that we once again follow a single mother. I really love this element of Annabel's works. It gives her female characters high stakes while they make decisions that will impact more than just themselves. I loved reading how Ali interacted with her children and tried to be a better, more present mom despite struggling with her own life changes. And I also loved how you see how important it is to take care of yourself to be a role model for your children.

Ali and Ethan are so so great together. I adored how Ethan saw Ali and was so supportive of her. I thought I would be irritated by the fact that Ethan had a crush on Ali in high school but it works well here because it gives Ethan perspective on who she was before and after her marriage. Annabel writes incredibly mature relationships that develop well and feel so grounded in reality. I will always champion books that have realistic barriers and Annabel is a master of that.

This will be a really great summer read this year. Annabel Monaghan continues to be an instant read with this one.

Oh how I loved this book! I adored Nora Goes Off Script and will sing its praises to anyone who will listen, and Summer Romance brought back ALL of the feels from Nora. Another funny, sweet five-star summer romance read from Annabel Monaghan! I just love the way she writes her characters - Ali's inner monologues were spot-on for a middle-aged woman and mother. I only wish we could have also gotten Ethan's perspective. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book - I will certainly be recommending it to everyone this summer!

Annabel NEVER fails to warm my heart and think about how happy or sad I am for the main characters when I'm not reading! This book is full of happiness, laughs, grief, harsh reality, and relatability. "Summer Romance" follows Allie mid-divorce and her summer fling with her best friends brother, Scooter/Ethan. It's amazing to see how relatable from not only Allie's perspective but from Ethan's and Allie's kids as well. This is the perfect beach read and I would highly recommend to anyone who is a fan of easy reads.

Ali Moron's life is close to shambles. She spends her days getting other people's lives in order one space at a time, meanwhile her own house has spiraled. When her husband Pete asks for a divorce and her dog pees on a cute stranger in the park things are set in motion. She rediscovers herself outside of being a mom and wife, and realizes she worth so much more than what she was accepting.

Annabel Monaghan packs so much in to a story. It's beautiful and hopeful, but also deals with grief and finding yourself again after sacrificing yourself for the people you love. Watching Ali navigate raising kids, being civil to an ex-husband who has never treated her well, strike up a new romance and learn how to wear hard pants again, all while dealing with the grief of losing her mom was a rollercoaster. It definitely made me feel so so much, I laughed and had a few tears. Ultimately it left me feeling warm and fuzzy and I really enjoyed it.

4 ⭐️

Ahhh such a great summer romance — I binged this in basically one sitting. Annabel’s books always feel so mature in its plot & writing style. I adored Same Time Next Summer & Nora Goes Off Script, and while I connected with Same Time Next Summer a bit more than this one, I still had the best time. I feel like a lot of women would be able to relate to this one, especially when it comes to settling versus going for what you really want in life. I also thought the characters had the perfect amount of chemistry.

One of my favorite quotes in this is “I decided to be the architect of my own experience." I’m about to graduate college so this really resonated with me.

I enjoyed each of the characters and she wrote a super immersive setting that gives all the summer vibes — I loved the inn and small town feel. I also usually don’t love reading about kids in romances but I thought she wrote them in well!

“He smiles when he sees me, like I'm the thing he's been looking everywhere for.”

I can’t wait to get more books from Annabel Monaghan!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the advanced copy. Summer Romance releases June 4.

annabel monaghan’s summer romance is a sweet ode to the joy of summer sunsets while the waves crash over your feet mixed with the hope of finding the love we deserve. ali morris is stuck; she’s grieving her mother and moving past her broken marriage (though, i question if there was anything worth breaking to begin with). ali’s romance with ethan was so much fun. i love ethan - he was the epitome of the golden retriever dream boyfriend.

i do really wish we got to hear more from ali’s kids. cliffy, iris, and greer had really interesting perspectives and the snippets we got of them left me wishing for more.

while i did like this book, it definitely wasn’t my favorite and it took me a fair amount of time to get through. it lacked certain plot elements and also was too brief and basic in points where delving deeper could have helped. i felt like a lot happened while nothing happened. there was an odd pace to what was being read and you things just suddenly had occurred.

3.5 stars rounded up.

There was so much I really enjoyed about this book. I loved the maturity of the characters. I loved the notion of refinding yourself. And I really love the notion of making yourself lighter.

The ending felt a little rushed to me, but still a very sweet read and I am glad to have read it.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.

Although I enjoyed this book, this is my least favorite from Annabel. Ali is a newly divorced mother of three who has recently lost her own mother. She’s still coming to terms with her own divorce when she meets Ethan at the dog park. The catch? He’s only here for the summer. Ali decides to go all in and have a no strings attached summer romance with him.

I enjoyed Ali’s character growth but the first half of the book seemed very “young” to me. She seemed immature and her actions didn’t match up to what I would expect from a 38 year old divorced mother of 3. I thought her romance with Ethan was the weakest part of the book and I had a hard time rooting for them but I loved seeing how her relationships with her children grew throughout the book. Overall, I think this book is less of a romance novel and is more about grief and finding yourself.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Allll the heart eye emojis for Ethan and Ali’s Summer Romance. I have never rooted for a couple more!

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

This will be the perfect summer read! This book takes place in a small town, with sweet next-door neighbors, and a family that runs the local inn and diner. There are so many themes and life lessons around personal growth, learning the importance of self care, navigating life after loss, and divorce. I was truly rooting for Ali to find her happiness! Ali is such a strong FMC and her devotion to her children was so genuine! You’ll get to see the impact Ali’s mom had on her, her navigating being a single parent and dating again! I found myself laughing out loud a lot and there were plenty of relatable moments!

Thank you to NetGalley, Annabel Monaghan and Penguin Group Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#SummerRomance #NetGalley

"Summer Romance" by Annabel Monaghan offers a charming escape to a coastal town where Sarah navigates life's twists and turns. While the familiar plot is comfy and the pacing can be uneven, the relatable characters and picturesque setting make it a suitable addition to our collection for readers seeking a light, feel-good romance.

I really wanted to like this book more. I was a fan of Same Time Next Summer. But this one did not hit the mark for me. Something about it felt a little odd and a bit slow. I think it was 1… That the romance between Ethan and Ali was lacking. It felt insta-lovey but like Ethan was more into it than she was, however, I didn’t feel like the writing really portrayed much of a connection between them. And the meet cute could have been hilarious, but in reality, it was written so awkward. Even their first date felt awkward. 2. The writing in general felt like it did not flow well from the get-go. Maybe that’s why I felt there was a connection lacking between those two characters? Not sure, but something just did not click for me.

As someone who has lost both of my parents in my early 30s, I can completely relate to the grief aspect of this book. However, I could not at all relate to her being a mom, managing the dynamics of getting divorced and co-parenting, and trying to date along with it. I am not a huge fan of books to begin with when they are centered so much around a mom and her kids, but usually I can get enough of an idea from the blurb and get a good feel if I will like it or not before diving in. When I first read about the book and saw the cover, this felt like it was going to be centered more so around her finding love again and the relationship helping to pull her out of a rut and possibly be a fun and fast paced romance story while still touching on some heavier stuff and those family dynamics. The cover put off the playful rom-com vibe. But really it was more about her grief and the divorce and co-parenting and the impact it’s all having on her and moving through that while also kind of falling in love. More heavy than lighthearted. I also was hoping there would be some like big plot twist and kept waiting and waiting. It stayed pretty stagnant throughout and there was no moment in the plot that really had me hooked.

Annabel strikes again with another perfect romance that feels like she's wrapped you up in a warm hug! I read this in one sitting and fell HARD for Ethan. I laughed, cried, cried some more, and simply couldn't put this down. I was waiting for this one considering how much I loved her previous books, and this just might be my favorite one to date!

Thank you for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!