I’m always a fan of this author and while I definitely still enjoyed this book, it was harder to read for me as I was reading it around the anniversary of my mother’s passing. I will say that the way the main character deals with grief felt very organic to me, and I always still refuse to wear pants with zippers. I would have enjoyed it more had I identified with it less, but isn’t that the mark of a well written book? I’d still recommend, maybe I’ll revisit in a few years when it feels less fresh.

There are so many things to love about this book, and all of Annabel Monaghan's books, that make this a five star read.

She has a way of writing characters that are multidimensional in a way that feels alive - like Mr. and Mrs. Hogan, ancillary characters that you can not only envision but also hear their voice and see their mannerisms in your mind's eye.

Ali has gotten lost over the years, almost becoming a supporting character in her own life. The journey she takes from going through the motions, phoning it in for a life that was not really chosen but she let happen to her, to becoming a person who laughs again, identifies what she wants, and goes after it is a breath of fresh air.

Ethan, is a mirror, in a sense. Growing up he wasn't taken seriously and always shrunk into himself when he returned to his hometown, but the journey he takes in this book is also refreshing, learning that he can be the man he is today regardless of setting.

The attention to detail gives the setting and feeling so much gravity - notes on specific flowers or the humidity on the coast when there's no breeze really help you feel the environment of the book.

The personal growth through grief, loss, messy parenting, and new directions is wonderful and meaningful and heartfelt.

This is a closed door romance with significant themes of grief associated with the death of a parent and an unhappy first marriage. Ali and Ethan are both in their mid to late 30s, so the life stage can resonate more with people beyond their 20s.

Summer Romance made me laugh, made me cry, and made me smile. What an amazingly told story. It weaves together grief, romance, sadness, hope, joy, and family. This is my second Annabel Monaghan book and it did NOT disappoint. I highly recommend this for book clubs and anyone out there needing some self reflection.

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of Summer Romance and it was so good that I couldn’t wait to review it. The main character is named Ali (or Alice). She’s going through a separation and divorce and has recently lost her mother, and then of course she meets someone special, and her life starts to change. Here are some of the best things about it:
Ali is super relatable. Her mom experiences are so familiar, even if you have a good partnership with your spouse or significant other, but particularly if you are a single or working mom. There are multiple Costco and reading glasses references that made me laugh out loud. And her relationship with her daughter really highlights how uncomfortable it is to be a parent who has no clue if they are doing anything right with their teen.
There are so many poignant life lessons. From how we both treat and react to our family members, to how we handle feeling overwhelmed and afraid, to dealing with loss… I laughed and cried and had a few “aha” moments. There are beautifully written sentences and passages that I want to print out and hang up as reminders.
And of course, the love story is just delightful. Like many female authors, Annabel Monaghan writes charming male lead characters that make us wish they were real and out there waiting for us to stumble upon at a dog park.
If I had to give more constructive feedback, I’d say that some of the tangential relationships and snippets of back stories that pop up throughout the story could have been developed further. It’s rare that I think a book should be longer, but in this case it maybe could have been in order for the reader to really feel invested in all of the emotion that Ali is experiencing. But overall, I just loved this book and can’t wait to recommend it to friends.

ummer Romance follows newly single mom Ali as she navigates divorce, dating again, and processing the loss of her mom, leading her to remember who she was before she lost herself in marriage and motherhood.

I enjoyed the romance between Ali and Ethan. Despite relating to elements of Ali's story, Ethan's character and backstory were easier for me to connect with. I identified with him navigating people not being able to reconcile the adult life he had created for himself with who he was in their eyes growing up. I'm picky about books with single parents/books with kids, and this was handled realistically and in a believable way.


I look forward to more from this author.

5 stars. A funny, sweet romance. I couldn’t put this book down. Such a fun read! Ethan was the perfect book boyfriend and being a single mom, I could definitely relate to Ali. Another winner from Annabel Monaghan!

I’m seriously starting to wonder if there’s any story Annabel Monaghan can’t flawlessly tell. Summer Romance was beautiful. I was captured the minute I picked it up and only put it down to sleep and so I could enjoy it a little longer.

The characters were so authentic and they paired well with the dialogue and banter. I palpably felt Ali’s grief and it was surprisingly healing as I’ve recently lost a parent, too. Ali’s growth and voice finding inspired me while normalizing the path we all take at different times.

I feel so lucky to have received an ARC. I truly loved everything about this book and I can’t wait for my friends to read it too.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc of this book! 5 out of 5 stars! I read Same Time Next Summer by this author this past summer and it was amazing. I love Annabel Monaghans writing so much. She writes the perfect summer romance books!!!

3.5 stars (rounded to 4)!

I enjoy reading Annabel Monaghan's books because they remind me that love can happen to normal, non-flashy, realistic characters whose lives do not revolve completely around romance. The quality of the writing in this book was great, no different than her previous books Nora Goes Off Script and Same Time Next Summer. I felt for Ali as a character and her uncertainties/qualms about getting into a relationship with Ethan and admired how committed Ethan was to making their relationship work given Ali's obligations to her children. I think the only tradeoff that comes with a more realistic/ordinary/somewhat mundane romance book is that it's kind of hard to stay interested and I did find myself getting a little bored towards the latter half of the book. Thank you to Annabel Monaghan, Putnam, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for a digital ARC of Summer Romance.

I went into this book not expecting much, because while I loved Same Time Next Summer, Nora Goes Off Script kind of missed the mark for me. But I was SO SO wrong. This is her best book yet! I'm not going through a divorce, but I related to the aspects of motherhood and mental load. The characterization was perfection and Ethan is one of my top favorite fictional male characters. So smitten and clever. I was never annoyed with the characters (well, except the one I was supposed to be and she sure did a good job on him, too). I devoured this, pure perfection, and would recommend to any romance reader!

I loved this book! The perfect balance for a Summer Romance and quickly becoming a favorite author. Favorite book I’ve read in a while! #netgalleyreview

Summer Romance follows newly single mom Ali as she navigates divorce, dating again, and processing the loss of her mom, leading her to remember who she was before she lost herself in marriage and motherhood.

I enjoyed the romance between Ali and Ethan. Despite relating to elements of Ali's story, Ethan's character and backstory were easier for me to connect with. I identified with him navigating people not being able to reconcile the adult life he had created for himself with who he was in their eyes growing up. I'm picky about books with single parents/books with kids, and this was handled realistically and in a believable way.

Writing-wise, certain quips felt repetitive at times, and it was a bit slow-paced.

If you loved Nora Goes Off Script, I would recommend this one as it's very similar, but Same Time Next Year is still my favorite by Annabel Monaghan.

This would be a perfect summer beach read!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC! Ugh, Annabel Monaghan has done it again. Highly, highly recommend. Heartwarming and witty, this book had me from the very beginning. I will definitely re-read once summertime comes back around.

Annabel is an automatic author for me! Her books, while all so different, are just incredible.

To start: I adored the story, the characters, just everything about this book. I love how Annabel takes sad elements, but makes them into happy things in a realistic (and not cheesy at all) way.

Even more than that, I realized halfway through this book that I really just love her writing style and that regardless of the story, I will continue to come back for more. Great book, 10/10 would recommend!!

This was amazing. I loved it from start to finish. Even the painful parts.

Having lost my mother 3 years ago, Ali's struggle with grief was so very authentic. Also, I know that when MC's have small children it is hard to have them around when starting a new relationship. I loved the way the author handled the children in this story. It felt natural rather than obvious.

For Ethan, this was a bit of a second-chance romance. I love that even years after his adolescent crush when he saw the opportunity to shoot his shot, he didn't hesitate to take aim. It also impressed me that while Ali did take a moment to think about how a relationship with Ethan might affect her friends, she didn't use it as an excuse to not explore the feelings she was having.

This book was entertaining, endearing, and at times exhilarating. I absolutely adored it.

I just love Annabel Monaghan's writing style, it's so tight and polished while still giving us all the chemistry we need. I was a little apprehensive of this premise - I just didnt see how you wouldn't recognize your best friend's brother in the modern age of social media, and the skateboarding situation just seemed like a trait i wouldnt find attractive personally? But i was able to get over both of those things, and honestly it made for a unique story which has been hard to find of late.

I loved our main characters and felt like I was craving as many moments of them together as possible, which is always a sign that it's a good book.

Overview: Ali is a single mom who is in the midst of a divorce, all while still grieving her mother’s death. She meets a handsome guy at the dog park named Ethan, who is in town visiting family. Ali agrees to go on a date with him (which turns out to be amazing), only for Ali to realize later that Ethan is the younger brother of her best friend…

Thoughts: I am becoming a big fan of Monaghan! Her books are such a nice escape (especially in the middle of winter!). As a mother myself, I could completely relate with Ali’s gradual sense of losing herself (all in the name of doing what she thought was best for her family). I always love a good pining hero, and Ethan did not disappoint here, by encouraging Ali to stand up for herself in her increasingly challenging divorce and helping her find herself again. He’s definitely my favorite lawyer/skateboarder MMC of all time! (Although I do have to say that the level of detail he was able to recall about Ali’s high school graduation speech was maybe overkill!).

Take home message:
If you’re looking for an easy-breezy beach read - this is the one for you! Readers who are moms will especially connect with Ali’s struggles, and fans of “he falls first” will love Ethan, the hero with a heart of gold.

Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for this ARC!

Another book by Annabel Monaghan that will draw you in and leave you believing in real, true love. While this tackles the tough topic of grief, it makes you really think about how all sadness is worth the happiness it brings. I loved her analogies she uses to really help the reader “get it, Great book and it will no doubt be another summer hit.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam, GP Putnam Sons and Annabel Monaghan for the Advanced Reader Copy of Summer Romance.

I have been a devoted fan of Annabel Monaghan since Nora Goes Off Script and have somehow been offered ARCs of all of her books since. Summer Romance did not let me down. Monaghans writing is witty and charming.

This adorable and relatable story follows single mom, Ali, as she navigates going through a divorce, dating again and coming to the realization that she has ‘disappeared’ from who she once was during motherhood, wifehood, etc. The best surprise is that her new love interest, Ethan, might not be so new to her after all. Ethan is able to bring Ali back to herself in many ways and helps her navigate life beyond being just a wife and mom. Ali has accepted the fact that the most her and Ethan can have is a simple ‘Summer Romance’, but things get complicated the more time they spend together.

This book is relatable in so many ways. As a mom there are times when I have found myself wondering what in the heck happened to who I once was. Monaghan is able to evoke emotions such as joy, fear, love and it is definitely my first 5 star read of the year!

Annabel Monaghan makes me feel “carbonated”! I absolutely adore her clever word play and I find myself chuckling anytime I read one of her books. I felt instantly connected to Ali while reading this book. I think she did a really great job painting a picture of a woman who is trying to rebuild herself after a life of living for others… what mom wouldn’t relate to that?! The chemistry between Ali & Ethan is palpable and I was rooting for them from the very first meet-cute! I also just LOVED Ethan and his good nature. Annabel Monaghan made it easy to love every character in the book. I’ll definitely be recommending this book to my girlfriends because I can’t wait to discuss it more in depth!!

*A sincere thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing the advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.*