Ali, the main character, goes through some big changes in this book, but for the reader it's a low-drama story about nice people. This is the perfect book for when you want to read about some grownups handling things well.

Ethan, the male lead in this book, read as comforting, steady, and helpful. That's not un-sexy, but I wanted to see more sides of the characters. I generally don't care if a book is open or closed door, but would have loved a tone shift. Whenever something romantic started to happen, the door would slam shut and the characters would revert back to their kind, supportive, non-tearing-eachother's-clothes-off selves. Even Ali's ex-husband, Pete, caused conflict mostly because of his self-absorbed absence.

I guess the main antagonist in the book is death. Either the death of a relationship through divorce or the loss of a beloved person. The book was too spot-on for me to really dig into right now, containing both a death from old age after a wonderful life and the too-soon loss of a parent. I have experienced both incredibly recently, so I kind of skated over those parts.

I absolutely loved it. I was rooting for her from page one and couldn’t put the book down until she got her HEA. Loved the growth journey for both main characters. So good

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan is an absolute gem! With its picturesque setting and charming characters, this book captures the essence of summer love perfectly. Whether you're lounging on the beach or cozied up at home, this sweet romance is the perfect companion for a sunny day. Five stars without a doubt!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC! I loved Nora Goes Off Script and this book had a similar spark. I loved the relationship between Ali and her late mother and thought that it was a really special as she re-examined the ways her mom influenced her failing marriage and her relationship to her kids, eventually letting her grief go. Ethan is a perfect rom com lead in this - endearing and quirky but reliable for Ali and her life with her kids. I rooted for them the whole time and really wasn’t sure how the author was going to wrap everything up. This book made me want to move to a small town, fall in love, and maybe run the family business of the man I marry (how every rom com should make one feel).

Another wonderful summer read from Annabel Moaghan. Summer Romance is full of complex well rounded characters doing their best to make it through tough transitions. I found Ali to be super relatable in her frustrations and her self reflection of how she ended up in such a funk. I also loved Ethan's struggle to find a place for himself that isn't overshadowed by his past and his familial obligations.

A sweet summer story filled with emotion and humor and heart. Even the kids come off as well rounded fully former characters, a rare thing in romance/women's fic. This is the perfect story to devour in a couple afternoons at the pool.

Loved it.

Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 🌶️

I laughed, I cried, it left me wanting more.

This was such a great, well written story. I loved the POV, being from a late 30-something divorced mom (Ali) getting back into the world outside of being a stay at home mom. All the while, she deals with the grief of losing her mother, coming to terms with being divorced and reentering the dating world. Fortunately for her, her dog Ferris has a great picker!

This is a must read for fans of Abby Jimenez!

Pub date: 6/4/24

I didn’t want to put this book down! This special novel is my third five star review for Annabel Monaghan and she has become one of my favorite authors. Annabel has a way of writing a sparkling, feel good story, while sharing the reality romance can bring with its hills, plateaus and quicksand. Life and family happen and one can lose themselves along the way, as priorities change. Ali has a career in organization and cleaning up messes, but she’s been brushing things under the carpet for quite some time now, until an unexpected visitor shows her that sometimes you need to move back to go forward! This book gave me all the feels .. laughing, crying, butterflies, and heat! Summer Romance is a book about love, loss, family ties, and reinvention. I absolutely loved it!

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024. I personally loved Nora Goes Off Script and Same Time Next Summer (I know they missed the mark for some, but not me!) so I was thrilled to receive an early copy of Monaghan's latest (and truly!) greatest. I loved Ethan and Ali full stop. The messiness of grief (especially w/mother daughter) and the ups and downs of love later in life are perfectly depicted. And it's always nice when a book can remind you that sometimes people really are just that lovely to each other. This is a must-read and Monaghan's best work to date!
Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! This book was one of my most anticipated reads for 2024, and it did not disappoint! I loved Ethan and Ali! No one does late 30s romance like Annabel Monaghan. It’s raw and real, yet somehow so sexy at the same time! Without cheesiness or artificial steam. I don’t know how she does it. This book is also a beautiful look into the messiness of grief, specifically a mother-daughter relationship. Will be forever cheering for Ali!

Annabel Monaghan does it again. I loved this book. Finished it in a day. Thank you so much for allowing me to read early! I was hooked from the beginning.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in return for a review.

Annabel Monaghan is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. This is the second novel of hers that I’ve picked up by chance, and wasn’t able to put down until I was done reading.

Summer Romance introduces us to Ali. A mom in her late 30’s, doing it all, while her soon to be ex husband is living a life uninterrupted by their starting a family. I quickly found myself as Ali’s cheerleader when she met Ethan, a blast from her past. Ethan was everything Ali needed and would need throughout the summer - which was the exact opposite of her ex husband.

Monaghan had me wondering through the entire novel, will Ali let herself be loved as much as she loves her family and friends. This novel did not disappoint. Highly recommend.

This is going to be such a fantastic summer read! I love seeing more romance stories with older main characters, and having kids in great as well. The tension between the main characters was great, I loved their banter and instant connection. The main character’s life with grief was an interesting change of pace. I will definitely be recommending it to my friends!

Ali keeps it all together as an organizer, but at home things are not nearly so tidy. She’s grieving the loss of her mom, her marriage finally fell apart, and she hasn’t really been herself lately. When she meets a cute guy at the dog park, Ali is excited at the possibility of a summer romance, but could this turn out to be more?

Summer Romance is a perfect summer read! It is easy to root for Ali and Scooter, and I love that Monaghan continues to focus her romances on women outside of the narrow early twenty something dating bracket. Beyond the central romance, I loved seeing Ali find her footing again in parenting as she was navigating her divorce and grieving her mother. There’s a lot to love in Summer Romance, and I imagine it’ll be a popular beach read this summer!

Thanks to NetGalley and GP Putnam for the ARC!

Annabel Monaghan writes the most heartwarming and hopeful stories, and this might be her best yet. I loved Summer Romance, and I think many others will too.

Is Beechwood a real place? Because I want to move there asap.

I think this book will particularly speak to moms who might feel like they're not allowed to be fun anymore. If I were a parent stuck in a rut, this would have made me sob even more than it did! I adored Ali's personal growth throughout the book. It was so nice to watch her start to stand up for herself, stand up to Pete, enjoy life again after the death of her mom, and figure out how best to be there for her kids.

The soft pants/hard pants dispute had me cracking up. I am definitely a soft pants person--my hard pants only come out when I leave the house (aka rarely).

Thank you Annabel for this gorgeous book! I can't wait to read what you write next.

This was a sweet romance, and I love that Annabel Monaghan writes main characters with real lives. This one was missing a bit of the spark of her first two novels for me, and I got a little bored in the middle, but I still enjoyed it.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is such a good one! Funny and sweet. Don't hesitate to read it.

I was disappointed by this one and I had been looking forward to it so much because I loved Nora Goes Off Script.

Ali is in the middle of a divorce and is dealing with the death of her mother. She's found herself on autopilot. Ethan is her friend's brother she knew in high school, yet she doesn't recognize him on their first date. Everyone has low expectations of Ethan due to his behavior in high school, even though he's doing well.

Due to Ethan being in town only for the summer, they commit to a summer romance, but get serious right away and ignore the end of the summer approaching. I was frustrated with them both for just pretending summer would never end and not discussing it like adults.

I did like seeing Ali find herself and connect better with her children. It just didn't feel realistic and the miscommunication could have been easily avoided.

I absolutely loved this book. Admittedly it took a little to get into, but I think that was my fault for reading like I was sipping room temperature water rather than enjoying a glass of cool lemonade in the summer because when I really dove it & committed to reading this book I was drawn into to Beechwood & Ali’s world. Absolutely wonderful & enjoyable beach read, but not light & fluffy. It has just the right amount of lightness & depth.
Monaghan paints such a beautiful picture of real life, grief, recovery, & second chances. I have heard great things about her writing but this was my first book of hers, but it won’t be the last.

SUMMER ROMANCE 👩‍👧‍👦💗🏡

4.5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Annabel Monaghan has recently become one of my favorite authors - Nora Goes Off Script is a FAV of mine and this one did not disappoint! Ali - a newly divorced mom of three, who is also grieving the loss of her mom, finds out what it’s like to put her self first. Ali & Ethan’s love was a picturesque summer romance - and her character from the start to the end of the book sat so well with me. She showed her kids how strong and independent she could be and finally stood up for herself. Although I am not in these situations currently, Ali was still such a relatable character and I had many laugh out loud moments. 🤣

📆 Summer Romance comes out June 4th, you’ll defenitly want to bring this one to the beach this summer.

🫶🏻Thank you @netgalley for this ARC - there’s nothing better than reading a book in two sittings.

READ IF YOU ENJOY: Nora Goes Off Script📚 by Annabel Monaghan or Beach Read by Emily Henry📚

📚2024 Book 14/52

#summerromance #annabelmonaghan #bookstagram #books #booksbooksbooks

I so thoroughly enjoyed this book! I loved how Ali “finds herself “ again after losing her mother and filing for divorce. Both such huge losses in life that can effect you in such harmful ways- Ali rises above, rebuilds, rediscovers herself and chooses a vibrant life again. Sweet sweet book 💕