Five stars, highly recommend, I loved it! Annabel Monaghan might be my favorite author. Every bit of her writing style appeals to me and while this book deals with heavy topics like the loss of a parent and divorce, it still has such a feel good quality to it. I was really cheering for Ali and Ethan. I want a love like their love.

Just because it wasn’t my preference doesn’t mean it won’t be yours!

This story felt very repetitive. There were passages that were chapters apart but I felt like I was reading the exact same thing over and over. This is my first Annabel Monaghan book, so I don’t have her others to compare it to. I also think I may be outside of the target audience with this particular story.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read it!

If you're a mom on a beach this book is for you. Annabel Monaghan has whipped up another beachy summer read. Ali is recently separated, mom of three, still griefing her mother's passing, when she (or really her dog) runs into her best friend's younger brother at the beginning of the summer. Like many divorce into new romance books, this one focuses on the means Ali's marriage failed and her relationship with her mother. Also weaved in are the dualing ideas of love and death. All love dies eventually, is it worth starting already knowing how it will end? You can probably guess the answer, but Summer Romance is worth the read.

when they help heal each other and there’s a lawyer named scooter who wears powder blue ruffled suits to the divorce hearing

"You are the Architect of your own experience" Absolutely one of the best books I've ever read. I will die on this hill that EVERYONE need to read this book. It is without a doubt, the most romantic book I've ever read, but it is so much more than that. This book, start to finish is a love letter to anyone who is struggling to find themself after going through something tragic, and for those who need to be reminded to take risks, even if you may get hurt in the end. ADOPT THE DOG!

The story follows Ali, who is getting a divorce from her loveless marriage, while trying to balance the mess that is life- grieving the loss of her mother, being a good parent to her 3 kids, taking care of her elderly next door neighbor, keeping up w. the house, etc. Things take a turn when she has an unexpected meet-cute at the dog park with a hot guy who seems pretty familiar.... but the possibility of a summer romance begins there.

I completely fell in love with Ali, Ethan, the kids, and especially, Phyllis. On the topic of Phyllis- she is Ali's 94 year od neighbor, who Ali makes eggs for every morning. Everything that came out of her mouth had me laughing, but my god, it was sooo real & insightful.

extremely well written. 10/5 book. I wish it never ended.

Wait. WHAT! I don’t even have the words to express just how much I adored this book! I found myself obsessed with Ali and Ethan’s relationship, and could resonate in so many ways with Ali as a mother. My heart hurt for her, soared for her, and cried tears of joy and sadness on and off throughout the book for her! Her children were wonderful, her ex was a d-bag and that’s just so, so relatable. Ethan was the man every woman deserves and the way he loves Ali made me feel so good inside.
This is one that I will be rereading, it read like the perfect romcom but with a depth that was needed to make it stand out in a special way. Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. I can’t wait to read other’s reviews on this perfect gem of a book!

Since reading Nora Goes Off Script, I have considered myself an Annabelle Monaghan fan. And Summer Romance did not disappoint!

Summer Romance is the story of Ali, a 38 year old woman who has recently lost her mother and is in the process of divorce from a loveless, disappointing marriage. When she mets a new man and begins a summer fling, she starts to remember who she before she disappeared into marriage and motherhood.

I loved the exploration of Ali’s relationship with her mother. Ali’s mom is the voice in her head and as Ali learns more about herself, she questions whether or not her mother may have had a hand in her losing herself in the first place. What is the line between love and interference? Between protection and silencing.

Monaghan does a great job of giving her heroine’s more to their story than just the romance. Although the romance was great! For those of us who ended up with the skateboarder or musician who is also the best and greatest of men, she gets those heroes just right as well.

I absolutely loved this romance between Ali and Ethan, it was so fun to read about a mom of three finding love again. I couldn’t put this book down and wish I could read more. I thought the author also gave us just the right amount of details without it being repetitive, can’t wait for more to enjoy when it comes out!

An easy breezy summer romance! A straightforward and fun, flirty romance about starting over and second chances. You’ll fall in love with this “carbonated” romance - the perfect beach read for summer 2024.

“You’re the architect of your own experience.” What a wonderful read. This book deserves to be read during the summer - preferably at the beach, while sunbathing.

This was my first time reading Monaghan and it won’t be my last. Her writing style is conversational in the best way. She did a fabulous job at establishing and developing all of the characters, even the minor ones.

The only aspect of the book that I didn’t love is that it seemed it took a man to get our main character out of her rut. Yes, she becomes more independent and self-sufficient because of said man, but I wish she could have done that all on her own.

Regardless, this was a delightful read I will definitely be recommending. Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Summer Romance was amazing and warmed my heart! Annabel Monaghan once again proves why she is an auto-buy author for many readers, myself included. The story revolves around Ali Morris, a recently divorced woman struggling to navigate the messiness of life - grieving her mother's death, coping with a failed marriage, and battling the chaos of an unkempt home. Ali's life takes a surprising turn when on the day she sheds her wedding ring and dares to wear something other than her comfort clothes, she meets Ethan at the dog park. Ali and Ethan’s dog park meet-cute leads to instant attraction and the potential for a much-needed summer romance.

The characters are realistic, and Monaghan's ability to infuse the narrative with swoon-worthy moments and genuine emotion makes this novel a standout in the romance genre. I was completely engrossed in Ali's world, laughing with her, empathizing with her struggles, and cheering for her newfound chance at love. Self discovery, healing, and being the architect of your own experience were themes throughout the book that made it very relatable.

Thank you, NetGalley, Annabel Monaghan, and Penguin Group Putnam for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Summer Romance releases June 4th, 2024

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Putnam books and Netgalley for the ARC.
Annabel Monaghan is an autobuy author for me. Nora goes off script is one of the best romances I’ve ever read.
Summer romance is equally good but for different reasons.
This book is about romance. But also about life and loss. And it broke my heart multiple times. I love Phyllis. I hate Pete.
It also made me constantly want to call my mom and tell her I love her.
It taught me to not wait with telling people that I love them and to hug my people every chance I get.
I feel like Summer Romance was perhaps less about a romance between a woman and a man and more of a romance with the woman herself. How she found herself again after losing her mom and her husband. How she found a way to fall in love with herself again. It was beautifully written and I loved it.

This was a fun read, well written and with very likable characters. A bit formulaic as most summer romance books are, but the main character resonated with me on the organization front and I was engaged and invested in what happened to her. I liked the other characters as well and thought that Pete was a great villain. An all-around good read that I will definitely recommend to our customers this summer!

Every. Single. Thing. Annabel. Monaghan. Writes. Is. Gold. I loved her two previous books, but this one...I don't know I just could relate to Ali so much. I cried 2% in, and I was crying at 98% in. She can just write a line that makes me instantly tear up. This story follows Ali as she navigates a divorce from a selfish partner, the loss of her mother, and three kids. You go on a journey of her slowly discovering that she lost herself along the way little by little, then she meets Ethan. I just loved the way he cheered her on while letting her find her way herself. They both discovered that maybe life is better when you have someone like the other by your side. I will recommend this book to everyone. ADD IT TO YOUR TBR. DO IT!! Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group for the ARC

I looooved Nora Goes Off Script, so I had high expectations. Summer Romance may have been even better. Annabel Monaghan writes the most authentic characters that I love and root for. The story centers around Ali, a divorced mom of three, and Ethan, her best friend's brother who has a current lawyer-former delinquent-skateboarding- swooning over her since childhood- sort of thing going on. Both Ali and Ethan were a perfect mix of complex depth and pure goodness. It was real and raw, with humorous banter, and all around beautifully written. I had tears, laughed out loud- all the things you want from a book. Annabel Monaghan, you genius. Everyone needs to get their hands on this book starting June 4, 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the ARC!!

Well, Annabel Monaghan has done it again! I couldn’t put this down but at the same time wanted to read it slowly to savor every word. I absolutely LOVED this book.

We meet single mom of three, Ali Morris, on the anniversary of not only her mother’s death but her husband asking for a divorce. She’s struggling with the next stage of her life, where she’s feeling “on her own” for the first time. Then she “meets” Ethan Hogan & suddenly she’s ready to wear “hard pants”. She wears lip gloss to the dog park. She wants that “Champagne Summer”. When he turns out to be someone from her past she prepares herself for a Summer Romance knowing he’ll be back to his life in Massachusetts by the end of it. The beautiful memories & flashbacks of her mother make you feel like you also lost her & are mourning Fancy too. As the summer (& Ali’s feelings) progresses, she becomes the person she always wished she could be but can she prevent her heart from breaking come the end of it?

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to Penguin Group Putnam & NetGalley for the ARC of this book. After devouring Nora Goes Off Script & Same Time Next Summer during the summer of 2023 I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book. I’m calling it now, this is going to be THE romance book of the summer. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ isn’t enough!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! I have loved every Annabel Monaghan book I’ve read and this one was no exception. I felt like I really knew the characters from the very beginning and rooted for Ethan and Ali throughout the book. I loved how Ethan felt so misunderstood but he was so patient and understanding and kind. I loved watching Ali progress through her grief and finding herself again. I didn’t want this one to end! Annabel Monaghan is definitely a MUST read author for me!

This book was fantastic. The characters are flawed and real, and I'm a sucker for self-deprecating humor. It was a perfect bingeable read. Ali's journey to rediscover herself after the loss of her mother and her marriage is poignant and raw, and the romance is icing on the "getting her groove back" cake. If "glow up" was a book, this would be it.

Summer Romance is such a beautiful love story. After meeting all the characters I was completely invested in the story and how it all unfolded. This is such a sweet story and discovering all the side relationships Alice has in her life was so amazing and every relationship was important and valuable to the story. I would 100% recommend is you want a romance read for the summer!
ARC was read through NetGalley

Annabel Monaghan is permanently on my "Must Read" list. Another wonderful book!

Ali lost her mom 2 years ago. One year ago, her husband asked for a divorce. She is trying to get up and function every day for her 3 kids, and that's about it.

One day, she decides to take off her wedding ring, and her dog pees on a man's leg. It's a sign, right?! What happens next is a story about a woman finding herself again, along with a little bit of a summer romance.

I always love Annabel's characters, and the way that she writes wants me to keep going (and lose sleep because I cannot put her books down). I was invested in the characters, rooting for Ali and Scooter, no matter what happened, I just loved them as people. Her books always put a smile on my face and are a fun, quick read. Highly recommend!