4.5 stars
Easily becoming one of my favorite romance authors, Annabel Monaghan knocks it out of the park with this one!
Ali's life is a mess. She is grieving her mother, dreading her upcoming divorce, all while trying to raise 3 kids. One day at the dog park, she meets Ethan and there is an immediate attraction. After a date, she finds out he is only in town for the summer...and he is NOT who she expected him to be. But as their relationship grows deeper, they are both questioning everything. Ethan has already admitted he struggles with commitment. Will they find a way to work things out?
I loved all of the characters in this book! Ali is a strong MC and loved seeing her devotion to her kids. Ali and Ethan's romance seemed so genuine and relatable. This is truly a perfect summer read that will grab your heart!
Thanks to Putnam Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

i love this book so much. it was so easy and fun and a such a joy to physically read the words Annabel strung together to make this beauty. all the sentences make sense and are satisfying to consume. there is so much fun and joy and i loved every second of it. the love & grief & power of this book are ones i will think about for a long long time. i love Ethan and Ali together so so much. and Ali is my role model. i want to only read Anabell Monahan books for the rest of my life bc they make me feel so much and so good and remember the hard things, and that it’s normal to go numb and not do anything about the hard things. i am the architect of my own experience.

and one quote because i keep thinking about it: "He smiles when he sees me, like I'm the thing he's been looking everywhere for."

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the arc.

I loved this book. This was my first book from Annabel Monaghan, and I loved it. It's a sweet story about Ali Morris, mom of three kids, professional organizer, but in her personal life, Ali is barely holding on. She's dealing with the grief of losing her mother two years prior, and a divorce from her barely there husband. Her house is a mess, and she does not see an end to her misery.

Just as Ali is questioning "how" she got herself in this literal mess of everything, someone from her past comes back to town. Ethan Hogan is the younger brother of Ali's best friend, younger by two years, and he's a breath of fresh air. He makes Ali feel empowered, feel "carbonated", just feel. And, Ethan has been in love with her since he was fourteen. It's all wonderful, right?

Well, of course not, because that's not how I like my romances, and this romance had a lot of reality grounded into it. Ali has to contend with getting her "old" self back, the person who was the valedictorian of her high school class, who worked in Manhattan and loved the grind of accounting (I loved how Ali was thrilled about seeing the cells of spreadsheets, and the fun she had in preparing her own budget, but that's because I'm an accounting geek), the person who strived to create her own joy. Monaghan does an excellent job of describing the reality of having to deal with cleaning out a loved one's living quarters while handling the grief of losing your loved one, and that although your loved one is not physically present, they are always present inside of you. I've always believed that, and it was beautiful to read it.

Ethan also has to address some issues he has with his childhood home, but he's pretty much perfect. And he make Ali feel "carbonated".

I loved this book. It's perfect as the weather warms us towards Spring and Summer, but really, it's perfect for bringing one out of the doldrums.

Monaghan's latest release once again proves to be the perfect addition to her book releases. For those familiar with her work, this book is undoubtedly another must-read. Known for her knack for crafting relatable characters and engaging narratives, Monaghan delivers yet another gem with Summer Romance.

This book is filled with laughter, love, and self-discovery. Set against the backdrop of summer, the story follows a mom, Ali, as she navigates the complexities of divorce and grief while embarking on a journey of new beginnings. Along the way, we're treated to a heartwarming love story between Ali and Ethan, as well as a deeper exploration of themes such as self-discovery and resilience.

This is a perfect summer read that seamlessly balances lightheartedness with deeper themes.

Summer Romance hit all the right notes for me. I loved the authors previous books and this one is great too! I loved that the romance was based on more mature adults with histories and flaws (more books like this please!!) and less angsty 20yr olds. I really loved the quirky side characters that added to the story. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Rating: 4.5 star
Genre: Romance

Thoughts: I have really adored all of Annabel Monghan's books, so I was so excited to read this one & it didn't disappoint!

This book follows Ali as she is navigating the grief of losing her mom a year ago, the changes that come from her separation/divorce, & finding herself among this season of life!

I enjoyed the majority of the main characters (in their 30s) and the romance storyline intertwined with loss, grief, divorce, & parenting! Annabel has a way of writing witty, captivating stories and I look forward to every one!

If you enjoy:
-summer romance
-more mature main characters
-more in depth storyline themes
then definitely add this one to your TBR!

Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.5/5⭐️
Spice: 0/5 🧼

Summary: Ali is a professional organizer who could use someone to organize her own life. She is still deeply grieving her mother and her husband has announced he wants a divorce. She’s convinced she’ll never be ready to date again but stumbles into a man who looks at her the way she’s always dreamed someone would. Their lives are in completely different places but she decides a summer romance would do them both good.

Thoughts: There is something about the way Annabel Monaghan writes that just makes me feel like I’ve stumbled and fallen into the pages and I never want to leave.

The dialogue felt so natural and witty. I loved how mature the relationship felt between the two main characters. The romance took a secondary role to the journey Ali goes through and I loved the sense of discovery it had.

I walked away from this book with such a feeling of healing. There were a lot of topics worked through that we all experience in varying degrees and I love how it was navigated. It was all so relatable and brought out all of my emotions.

I just love how this author has such a refreshing approach to writing that feels simultaneously simple and eloquent.

Thank you to the author and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. The words are all mine, this book is a treasure.

Annabel Monaghan CAN WRITE!! I loved this so much, definitely my new favorite of hers!

This story centers around Ali, a mom of three going through a divorce while still working through the grief of her mom’s death two years ago. Then comes a dog lovers dream or nightmare meet cute (youll have to read and decide for yourself) with Ethan, an easy going lawyer who is only in town for the summer. Thus ensues a beautiful summer romance.

I love that real life gets in the way of these two all the time. Their dates get interrupted by unreliable ex husbands and seventh grade girl emergencies and skate park politics. They are patient with each other and accepting of their own independent lives they had before they met, but the problem comes when trying to merge these lives come fall. Are either of them willing to give up parts of themselves to be together for the long haul or is it best to leave it in the summer??

I have no notes for this book. The writing was witty, the story was fun but also emotional, the characters were all very fleshed out, the setting was beautiful. I had a great time reading this book and I think you will too.

Sometimes putting on pants with a zipper is totally worth it…

Meet Ali. She is a professional organizer whose life is anything but put together. Her mom passed away then her husband left her. Life got messy and this single mom has been living in sweats. For a long time.

Knowing she needs to start somewhere she puts on real pants and heads to the dog park. Good thing she did because her dog meets a handsome guy named Ethan.

Ali isn’t ready for a real romance, but maybe a summer fling is what she needs to begin living again.
Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan is a great book about two people with messy, complicated lives. A must-read summer rom-com.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I LOVED this book. I’ve read and really liked both of Monaghan’s previous novels - enough that she is on my list of auto-read authors but this book went straight to the top of my Monaghan rankings. It combines all the heart, humor, and depth of her previous novels into something exceptional. The characters are rich and real. The relationships beyond the romance (especially with the next door neighbor and oldest daughter) are just as important to the main characters growth as the central relationship. I loved it all.

Absolutely adored this book. Ethan was the sweetest! I loved how selfless he was with Ali and how he challenged her to find her voice again. I loved seeing Ali come into herself in the wake of her divorce and find her voice again. I love how easy it is to connect with Ali, I felt every small triumph like I was right there in it with her. I think the complexities of grief were displayed in a very honest way through out the story. Highly recommend! Annabel Monaghan hit the mark with this one!

Summer Romance follows the story of Ali Morris, a professional organizer, whose life is still a mess 2 years after the death of her mom and 1 year after her husband asked for a divorce. After putting on “hard pants” at the insistence of her best friend, Ali runs into a handsome stranger at the dog park and begins a…. Summer Romance 🤪

This books has all the elements of a classic Annabel Monaghan novel - quirky kids, a handsome and charming male lead, and beautiful descriptions of the outdoors. Despite reading it in the dead of winter, I still felt enveloped into a summery world.

Overall, I liked the book but felt like some elements were very reminiscent of Nora Goes Off Script (which I literally read like 2 weeks prior to reading this, which was maybe my own fault for reading them so close together). I felt like the romance was a hint too insta-love (I am personally more of a fan of a slower burn). I did appreciate that there was no miscommunication really and I did appreciate how neatly the story wrapped up. If you enjoyed any of Monaghan’s other books, Emily Henry, or romance in general, you’ll definitely like this. I will definitely be recommending this book whenever someone asks for a lighthearted romance ☀️😎👙🌻⛱️

This review will be posted on my instagram @booksadithareaddy closer to publication!

I absolutely loved this book! And Ali is so relatable and loveable and Ethan is the best MMC and I loved their love story! I could not stop reading this! Loved every word of it!
I just reviewed Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan. #SummerRomance #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

I really enjoyed this book! It was a perfect mix of a fun summer romance and real life things like divorce and grief. The meaningful relationships between different sets of characters were so special! This book definitely makes you laugh and tear up all at the same time. Highly recommend picking this up over the summer!

Let me start by saying, I absolutely loved this book. Annabel Monaghan’s Summer Romance is the most relatable, fun romance.

Ali lost her mother. Her husband wants a divorce. Her kids are beginning to hit the preteen age. And while she is a professional organizer, her life is messy and falling apart. But a not-so-meet-cute at the dog park brings Ethan into her life. Ethan brings Ali out of her slump and makes her realize that maybe she doesn’t need to just survive each day.

I love that Annabel Monaghan gives us older women later in life romances that are so relatable yet so fun and warm. This book is giving me life!

Ali Morris is drowning in grief. Her mother died two years ago, her husband wants a divorce, her kids are preteens, and she’s struggling to keep her life in order. She feels like she’s just floating through her life, organizing everyone else’s homes and lives but her own. Then she meets Ethan, and she finds that maybe she doesn’t need to just get by every day. Maybe there’s joy in life still. Ethan brings Ali back to life. But what was supposed to be a summer romance feels deeper, and Ali isn’t so sure she’s going to survive the end of the relationship.

Annabel Monaghan has quickly became one of my favorite authors. Her niche is later in life love stories and I just devour each storyline. I find myself rooting for her main characters because she makes me fall in love with them.

Thank you Annabel Monaghan and Penguin Group for the ARC of this novel!

Annabel Monaghan is an auto read author for me. I absolutely loved Nora Goes Off Script and am excited for the opportunity to review Summer Romance.

In Summer Romance the main character Ali is in the process of divorcing her husband and rediscovering who she is. While she is a professional organizer, her personal life is a mess and she needs to pull things together. Following a meet cute at the dog park she quickly realizes that what she thought was a new face was actually a supporting character from her past.

This book has all of the components of an enjoyable read. Lovable main and supporting characters, light closed door romance, and a perfect balance of lighthearted moments and genuine emotion. This book is both a breath of fresh air and a ray of sunshine.

I want to start this review by thanking Net Galley and Penguin Random House for an early copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, this is the part where I have to be honest and honestly this book wasn't for me. I'm usually such a huge Annabel Monaghan fan and I loved "Nora Goes Off Script" so much. However, this book just feels like a bland, copy and paste but make it summertime reinterpretation of that first book. Single mom, dad's a loser, cute kids, and then enters the guy who's only there for a short time that she knows she shouldn't get serious about.

It was cute...the first time. It's just not the same twice and I honestly couldn't bring myself to care or connect with the characters or their story of their little island life. The main character, Alice, felt really unemotional the entire time and her voice was so stiff and awkward. The guy she's with refers to her as 'robotic' during a short scene at the end of this book and I was reading it thinking, where has he been the whole the time? The woman doesn't even speak in contractions and only says 'yes' and not 'yeah' which is kind of weird.

I think the writing style only makes it worse, too. I loved the way AM (Annabel Monaghan) wrote in "Nora Goes Off Script," but I just don't think it works for this narrative. I tried so hard to connect with Ali and her journey through her divorce, but with such a hard limit of the word count in this book it's hard to really get to know her or see her emotions in a raw, unhinged state. Everything is so quick and to the point, but we miss out on so much when AM decides to leave the details up to the reader's interpretation. The story was just vague in a way that seemed like it wanted to get readers to think more intelligently about what every small thing meant, but then it never gave you enough to really see a full picture.

Finally, I just think that there was no chemistry between Ali and Ethan. None. He was far more obsessed with her than she was with him and it really only felt like Alice loved him because she felt admired by him. He was definitely a step up from her jerk ex-husband, Pete, but I just didn't get anything passionate or emotional or romantic or anything from them. It was hyped up to be this summer romance where they make out on the beach and just live in the moment, but it just ends taking a turn for the stale and domestic again as a sort of "happily ever after." It just didn't work for me and was not what it was advertised to be.

These are my thoughts and I wish they weren't my thoughts, but here we are!

I just about devoured this book. This was one of those reads where you get lost in the story and the next thing you know it’s 2am and you need to get up for work in a few hours. But it’s totally worth the lack of sleep. Also, I swear Monaghan’s books just keep getting better.

I really enjoyed the plot. We’ve all seen the mother who is getting divorced and trying to find herself again, but this takes it a step further. Ali already knows who she is to the extent that she loves being out in nature, spending time with her friend Frannie, and being there to support her kids. The idea of finding another love doesn’t even cross her mind until Ethan enters the picture, and she needs to lean on him for support through her divorce. However, at the same time Ali is rediscovering her old self and beginning to stand up and speak up for the things she wants. The plot runs smoothly and progresses at a decent pace.

Let’s talk about the main characters:

I adored Ethan (AKA Scooter) so much. He’s so kind, patient, adventurous, and funny. He is the perfect guy, and I loved him with Ali.

Ali was a great main character. She puts her kids first, but she also makes time for herself by kayaking whenever she can and speaking to her diseased mother when she needs advice. I was rooting for her the entire time.

Best Quote:
Ali: “This isn’t a problem you can solve. To make this work, you’d have to alter the whole space-time continuum.”
Ethan: “Then that’s what I’ll do.”

Cue swooning.

I don’t have enough words to say how much I loved this novel. If I didn’t have to work I would have read this in one sitting. I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next!

*An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Annabel Monaghan has done it again! This is a perfect beach read, with likable, relatable characters who the reader feels they’ve gotten to know by the end.