Summer Romance

Title: Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
Release Date: July, 4th, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars


"Summer Romance" by Annabel Monaghan is a heartfelt and beautifully written tale of life, love, and loss.

Ali Morris, a professional organizer grappling with the messiness of her own life, unexpectedly finds herself drawn to Ethan after a chance encounter involving her dog. Despite her reservations, Ali embarks on a summer romance with Ethan, finding comfort and support in their budding relationship.

Monaghan expertly crafts the dynamic between Ali and Ethan, portraying them as a perfect partnership who bring out the best in each other.

Their journey together is both heartwarming and poignant, touching on themes of grief, love, and resilience. The book weaves together humour, relationships, and moments of raw emotion, captivating readers from start to finish.

While the story may tug at your heartstrings, it also leaves you with a sense of hope and optimism. Though I wished for an epilogue to glimpse into Ali and Ethan's future, I found the book incredibly satisfying and well-written overall.

"Summer Romance" is a must-read for romcom lovers seeking a story that feels authentic and relatable, with moments that will make you swoon, gasp, smile, and cry.

Thank you to The Publisher Aria & Aries | Aria, The Author Annabel Monaghan & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

Thank to #NetGalley for an #ARC of #SummerRomance.

Synopsis: Ali Morris's life is a mess, with her mother's death, a divorce, and a chaotic pantry. Surprisingly, when she decides to take off her wedding ring and wear proper pants, her dog introduces her to Ethan. Despite her reservations, Ali considers a summer romance.

Rating: ☆☆☆.5

Getting another book by Annabel Monaghan was exciting, especially after how much I loved Nora Goes Off Script last year—I rated it five stars. I admire how Annabel creates romances for women who've given up on love. In this story, I appreciated the protagonist's journey as she dealt with loss and moved forward with the support of friends like Frannie and Ethan. Although I didn't sense a strong bond between the main couple, I still found the book delightful and quick-paced, and I'd definitely suggest it to others.

Ali Morris isn't coping well after the death of her beloved mother and the collapse of her marriage, showering, washing her hair, trousers with a zip, emptying the dishwasher etc are all beyond her most days. The irony is that she is a professional organiser (like those two women who scream a lot on that TV show).

Then whilst walking her dog in the park he introduces her to this gorgeous guy, by peeing on his foot! Nevertheless he seems interested in Ali and asks her on a date, which seems to be going swimmingly, until he suddenly becomes a bit 'off' and seems to lose interest.

Despite the unhappy ending to their date, Ali is bubbling over with new feelings. Until she discovers that her date, Ethan, is none other than her best friend's irritating little brother Scooter. Scooter lives a three hour drive away and is very clear that he never wants to return to his home town, his parents still think he's unreliable and his big sister thinks he's a loser whereas he has created a new life for himself upstate where he is a valued member of the community. Ali can't leave town, all her memories are here and she needs to be close to her ex-husband for when he deigns to take their three children (if he isn't busy doing something else).

But with those clear parameters set, there's no harm in a summer romance is there? The trouble is, Ethan makes himself indispensable to Ali and when the summer ends will she be able to let him go?

I love Annabel Monaghan, I love her heroines and they truly deserve the wonderful heroes she gives them and this was no different. Loved it, loved it, loved it.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria for allowing me access to an ARC of Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan.

As usual, Monaghan's writing is gentle, conscientious, and immersive. The town of Beechwood is charming, made vivid by Monaghan's skilled descriptions of the diner, the spinster sister houses, the creek at the bottom of Ali's home. I am in love with this town, and I want to move there!

As ever, Monaghan's love interests are charming, and incredibly kind. Ethan is immensely loveable. He listens, he cares, and he adores Ali. He loves dogs, he cares for his community, he's intelligent, and responsible. He's delicious!

I'm always up for a coastal romance, with idyllic locations, and a gentle story. Monaghan consistently delivers an elevated version of this, and Summer Romance lands on top. This elevated summer romance is sure to warm hearts! Time for a reread...

Ali Morris was once happily married with a family surrounding her. Now, her mother has passed over 2 years ago and her husband marriage is over. The one day she decides to get dressed properly and takes off her wedding ring, she runs into an admirer at the local park, in rather embarrassing circumstances. Slowly, things in her life begins to change but is a Summer Romance what Ali needs? Or will it just lead to heartbreak?

Like any fabulous romance, this one was full of hope and joy and while there were plenty of setbacks, this was just so fun and delightful! I cried, sad and happy tears and flew through this one in a day. Highly recommend. 4.5* This author has become a firm favourite.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this wonderful novel. It was a gifted copy, in exchange for my honest review.

I read Annabel’s second novel last year and loved it. It’s called Same Time Next Summer and it swept me up in its setting and characters. I decided to give Nora Goes Off Script a try - Annabel’s first book and I didn’t finish it. I already had Summer Romance in my Netgalley queue and I was so hoping I’d love it when I started it. Turns out third one’s a charm! I loved this one so much I even set my alarm to get up before work to finish it!

The story is about newly-ish single mother Ali. She’s at a bit of a standstill in her life after the death of her mother and the subsequent death of her marriage that followed. Going into divorce proceedings she finds herself in need of a lawyer and turns to her best friend’s brother. Who just so happens to have turned up for the summer looking and acting nothing like his former goofy troublesome teenager self.

The story really focuses on the relationship between Ali and Ethan (Scooter) and Ali’s relationship with herself as a mother and a woman. It challenges her to reflect on everything she does and helps her to live more purposefully for herself and her family. Ethan is the perfect antidote to Ali’s ex and at points his impact was very comical. It was also profound though and one particular quote I loved was this -

“His ability to meet people where they are and just hold the space for them to step into their best selves without any expectation of what that might be.”

It just totally summed Ethan up, it’s described as his superpower and I couldn’t agree more. I think he’s got to be up there now as one of my favourite boon boyfriends. I already can’t wait to reread this one and think I probably will before the end of the summer.

Sigh. A dreamy, summer romance. I absolutely love this authors writing style. It sucks you straight in and is just so clever and witty and realistic. Her characters are relatable and flawed and the breakdown of Ali’s marriage took my breath away with its simplicity and the fact the author didn’t use infidelity or some other trauma to end it. Sometimes it really is as simple as realising you’re no longer in love with the one you’re with. The sentence where Ali said her husband’s complaints were basically white noise in the background of her life was poetic and so, so realistic. As you can tell, I’m a huge fan of this author. I would class this as more women’s fiction than romance, and any romance does take place behind closed doors so if you’re looking for spice this is not the book for you. But read it anyway, because you’ll love it. Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read and review this.

A lovely summer read that deals very carefully with some tricky topics. I enjoyed reading it and would read others by this author.

Thank you, Aria & Aries and NetGalley for this digital arc in exchange for an honest opinion.

This was my first Annabel Monaghan book and I wasn't sure what to expect. It took some time for me to get into the story, probably because I'm in my early 20s and don't have a lot in common with a 38-year old single mom, but that wasn't the book's fault.
Still, I got into it after about 40% and liked how real and imperfect the fmc was. The book did a great job at showing that life doesn't end just because a marriage ended and that a divorce doesn't make a woman undesirable or weak. I loved Ali's character development, how she started taking control of her life and figured out what she wanted.
The meet-cute between her and Ethan was really funny and the side characters, especially Cliffy and Phyllis really entertained me.
Ethan was a good mmc and the way the two supported and understood each other was nicely written. However, I would've wished for a little more tension and angst.

All in all, I'd recommend this book to everyone who's looking for a closed-door summer romance book in a family and small-town environment.

Annabel Monaghan consistently creates likable and relatable characters, and Summer Romance is no different. Ali’s organization and mess is almost like a separate character in the book, and it’s fun to see different characters go through their life belongings together with her. Ethan is the perfect combination of a skateboarding lawyer, and the relationship between Ethan and Ali crackles with chemistry. The ending felt a bit abrupt, because the book was so enjoyable.

I was very kindly given the ARC of this book by Aria and NetGalley and I was so excited!

I’ve read Nora Goes Off Script and Same Time Next Summer so I knew I loved Annabel’s writing style and this book sounded right up my street. I wasn’t disappointed!

This book follows Ali, two years after the loss of her mother and one year after her husband left her. Her life is in disarray and she’s holding on by a thread. Then enters Ethan, who is in town temporarily and shows Ali what it’s like to be noticed. Maybe a summer romance is just what she needs?

Oh my word. I absolutely LOVED this book. I can honestly say that there wasn’t one thing I didn’t like. Ali was perfectly imperfect. She was a bit of a mess, she’d deprioritised herself and she has relinquished control of her own life. Her humour in this was brilliant, and her inner (and outer!) monologues made me laugh out loud.

Ethan was just… incredible. The way he was with Ali had me grinning like a fool. I was actively swooning every time he made an appearance.

This book felt perfect for me. I felt like I was engaging with it on a deeper level, like I was invested in Ali as a woman, as a mother and as someone who finds comfort in solving others problems above her own.

This book is out on 4th July. Please read it! It’s incredible.

This was another bit from Annabel Monaghan. I liked the two leads, and the B-plot was great. She was a great main character and I really appreciated the romance and her finding her own identity.

4.5 ⭐️ This book was something special. After reading Nora Goes off Script, I knew I wanted to read every book ever written by Annabel Monaghan!

Summer Romance was a beautifully introspective, romantic, and heartwarming read. From the ‘soft pants’ to her love for chocolate coated pretzels and the four boxes of cornstarch in her pantry, Ali is such a relatable main character (although I haven’t had the same life experiences, I still found myself relating to her in so many ways!).

I love how raw and honest Ali is with herself as she journeys through motherhood, family, friendship, divorce, grief, love, and life. It’s a beautiful story about trying new things, being courageous, and staying true to yourself, while having a whole lot of fun in the process!

I also really liked the author’s note, and thought Annabel was very authentic and vulnerable in sharing a piece of her own story with us.

This book has a whole lot of heart and I can’t wait to read more of Annabel Monaghan’s books in the future!

Read if you like:
☀️ homemade cookies for breakfast
☀️ eggs as a love language
☀️ love after divorce
☀️ getting unstuck & finding yourself
☀️ small town setting
☀️ loveable characters (and lots of them!)
☀️ summer read
☀️ closed door romance

I’m so thankful to have received an early copy of this book prior to its release on June 4. Huge thank you to NetGalley, Putnam Books and Annabel Monaghan for the advanced copy!

I loved Annabel Monaghan's previous books and I had high expectations for this latest release and I'm so happy to say that it did not disappoint in the slightest. This latest book follows single mum Ali as she begins to move on from the death of her mother and separation from her husband. She meets Ethan who is back home temporarily visiting family despite never feeling accepted in his home town. I absolutely loved the development of the relationship between Ali and Ethan. It was realistic and comforting and really developed to show them both as the best versions of themselves. To me this is a perfect romance book and I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a sweet, realistic romance to read.

Ah, if there was ever an author that can be relied on for a good summer romance book, then it's Annabel Monaghan. I absolutely loved Nora Goes Off Script and eagerly followed it up with Same Time Next Summer, so I had high hopes for Summer Romance. Whilst it's pretty predictable, and the stakes don't seem to really get raised very high, I thoroughly enjoyed it and will continue to read everything the author writes in future.

Thank you for the E-Arc! this was my first book by Annabel and what can I say I really enjoyed it! The FMC is a woman in her mid-late 30's and is struggling following the death of her mother and from being separated from her husband. I've not read many books with a FMC in her 30's struggling following a divorce so I really enjoyed this perspective a lot. Ethan was like a breath of fresh air into Ali's life and he also brought her back to life. the only thing that slightly bothered make about this book was the overuse of the word carbonated when describing how Ali felt about/around Ethan. I will definitely read more by Annabel.

summer romance by annabel monaghan

my first read by annabel and i absolutely loved it!!

summer romance was such a light, fun and heartwarming romance which i devoured in two days!!🤭
when i wasn’t reading i was thinking about the book and what might happen next - i haven’t had that in a LONG time!!

* meet cute
* best friends brother
* small town romance
* closed door romance
* found family
* summer love

i really enjoyed ali’s character, she was so honest with herself and was even able to be witty as she struggled through her divorce, recent grief and motherhood whilst in her mid 30s - i think she made such a relatable character that you don’t find very often in romances💫

the fact her love language was eggs is just🫶🏼

perhaps a summer romance was just what she needed…maybe even more than she realised?☀️

ethan was her love interest, just temporarily visiting family in town but as they met (meet cute or what?!) he was just a breath of fresh air, and literally brought ali back to life again🥹

their chemistry through the pages was amazing to read, the way they absolutely adored each other just made me smile🥰

the ending was just what i needed to have closure on this book - if it ended the way i thought it was going to as i got to the last few chapters, i might have cried - no, i would have cried😭🥹

the feelings i got from this book:
am i about to start skateboarding? maybe…👀
do i crave eggs and chocolate covered pretzels? yes - but not at the same time🍫

all i can say is i’ll definitely be looking to buy her other books to read!!🤭

thank you to netgalley, aria and annabel for an early copy of summer romance!!🫶🏼

Ali is getting divorced, and she's slowly realising that her ex Pete wasn't a great husband. She's still stumbling through life a little on autopilot after the death of her mother 2 years ago and keeping up with three kids, dealing with Pete being a jerk and working on her home organisation business is all she can manage. Her friend Frannie is constantly encouraging her to get out of her sweats and into "hard pants". Set in coastal Connecticut in a small seaside town, I felt that I was there with Ali paddling kayaks with her kids in the sound and admiring the view to Long Island.

When love-interest Ethan appears in Ali's life at the dog park one day - a lovely man who is her friend's brother and who apparently has been crushing on her since high school but she never noticed - things start to change. Ali feels lighter for the first time in a long time and though it sounds a bit like "the love of a good man will fix her" I can assure you that Monaghan is a better writer than this. Ali has to fight her way free of a lot of grief and old preconceptions, emotional baggage and self-doubt to see her a future life where she can be happy again.

Ethan has his own hang-ups and has built a life as a lawyer away from his hometown. At home, he fights to be seen as his own man - someone quite different from his old "Scooter" nickname, his rebellious and unreliable reputation as a teen and the "never going to grow up" box that his family and others still place him in. I loved the way that family relationships are explored in this book, with the author showing us all different shapes and sizes and not shying away from slightly heavier emotional themes like what happens when parents get old, the overwhelming grief felt when people die and leave us, and how ultimately we can move forward with what they've taught us.

The book has a great sense of place and captures that feeling of your hometown being where your loved ones are whilst also being that suffocating place where everybody thinks they know you. Though this is definitely a romance with the love story being the focal point, the book skirts close to that sub-genre of contemporary fiction I reluctantly call "women's fiction" in that it's about finding yourself and your happiness etc. I didn't enjoy it any less because of this, and in fact am now a fan of Monghan's writing, and will be seeking out her backlist.

Summer Romance is about a newly single mother of three who is dealing with the grief of losing her mother and parts of herself in the process. While I realy can't relate to Ali in any aspect since i am not married or divorced, don't have kids and don't have a deceased mother, Annabel's characters carry some sense of familiarity and reliabilty with them. I could feel and understand what her characters were going through, and i rooted for them from the start. Ali's journey of self discovery and self love was the most beautiful thing to witness.

I adored Ali's personal story and internal growth but also her journey of dating again after a failed marriage, it was so fun. Never was it cringe or uncomfortable. Ethan and the freaking man that he is 😮‍💨🧎🏻‍♀️🧎🏻‍♀️ Her and Ethan made me so giddy! They were so sweet and adorbale together. He is so caring and kind and supportive and truly met Ali where she was at!

I cannot wait to have the phyiscal copy and read it again and annotate it! This is the perfect summer romance! The small coastal town setting with the flowers and books made for the perfect overall story. I adore this book and its emphasis on relationship and loving with no fears.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the advance reader copy.

This was such a perfect book for the summer! It was so sweet and addictive I couldn’t stop reading. This book has a beautiful setting and really relatable characters, I had the best time reading it. Along with the romance between Ali and Ethan, this book also shows grief, self discovery and motherhood. Loved every second of it.

4 stars

Another win by Annabel Monaghan. This book was so sweet and emotional and heartwarming.
The discussion of grief and feelings lost after a divorce but also feeling lost because you don't know where you are in life and you're in your 30s and society tells you you should know by now who you are and what you should be doing BUT realizing its not a competition and everyone's time is different and thats okay... it was amazing.
Also, the fact that it's not too late to start over?! Fantastic!
I love Annabel Monaghan books because they always left me thinking about my own life, like in a positive way.
The romance was super sweet, and the main characters and side characters were amazing.
Overall, it was a fantastic read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Well this was lovely. I really enjoyed Nora Goes off Script but didn’t love Monaghan’s last novel the same way. This however was a lovely return to what I wanted. It’s pretty low stakes and low conflict between the romantic leads, but there is plenty of stuff to work through for the heroine to get her happy ending. And I was rooting for her the whole time. My only real complaint is that I wanted something bad to happen to Ali’s ex husband for being so horrid and dismissive of her. But she’s definitely the winner in the end - and she does it herself too. Delightful.

I am a massive Annabelle Monaghan fan and Summer Romance did not disappoint. Ali is about to start divorce proceedings with her husband after they separated on the year anniversary of her mum’s death. They have three kids together and whilst she is a professional organiser in her job, she is struggling in her own personal life. If anyone deserves a hot man in her life….enter Ethan in the dog park. I loved this so much - the setting, the friendships, the family dynamics and, of course, the ridiculous chemistry between Ali and Ethan - and it all feels so authentic. 5 🌟

I really enjoyed this book. I absolutely loved Annabel Monaghan's first book 'Nora goes off script' and recommend it all the time to library customers, her second novel, 'Same time next summer' whilst good, didn't quite match up to her first and this, her third book comes somewhere between the two in my ranking of them!

Recently separated and soon to be divorced the main character Ali is also still grieving the loss of her much loved mother. With two children to look after and a struggling business, life is pretty tough for Ali who seems to have become stuck in her own life, unable to make decisions or wear anything but 'soft clothing'. Enter, Ethan, the handsome man at the dog park who might be just the person to get Ali back into 'hard' clothes and start living her life again, but is there something complicating this new romance? Of course! Will it end well? Of course!

This was a heart warming, fun read but with depth of character in both the main and side characters. Yes, a bit predictable but that's what you read this sort of book for!

So fun and cute - the perfect summer story. I honestly loved it from start to finish.

Though a large portion of the book is focused on Ali and Ethan's romance, it also revolves a lot around Ali's journey of self discovery. Ali, whose loss of her beloved mother is still raw, is navigating her way through her marriage falling apart, only to realise that maybe she wasn't happy all along.

By chance, she encounters Ethan 'Scooter' whilst they're both out walking their dogs, and they soon form a strong connection. Not wanting to get her heart broken again, Ali decides she needs to let off some steam and embrace a fun summer romance - and her relationship with Ethan takes off.

However, she soon realises she's fallen harder than she could have ever imagined. However, with Ethan having a life in a different state four hours away, will this summer romance break her heart all over again?

This was such a sweet and fun summer romance! It is my first of the authors and I will definitely be returning. I really enjoyed the characters and the premise, I was completely rooting for our lead female the whole through and was satisfied with the ending.

Ali is trying to find herself again after her mothers passing and her divorce, and then comes along Ethan Their relationship was so heart warming and I loved their banter and the way he took care of her. I cried through the last few chapters, which showed me how much I had grown to love this book and all its characters.
Perfect for fans of Emily Henry!

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Ares for the ARC

Is this the book of the summer? It surely is one of them! A really entertaining book I devoured in a few hours. Perfect to read on vacation

I loved reading this. Annabel always produces the cutest romance books.I think this book is intended for an older audience than me, I don’t relate to the stuff that Ali is going through but still enjoying nonetheless.

Ali and Ethan’s meet cute made me laugh. Ferris is a good wingman haha!

There are obviously obstacles that get in the way of them being together in the long run and I honestly thought this book might not have had a happy ending. Other than this, it didn’t really have much of a plot but I didn’t mind this as the character development was perfect.

This book is a perfect summer romcom. It is so easy to read and you get completely lost in the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
Release Date: 4 July 2024
Rating: 4/5

Benefits of a summer romance: it’s always fun, always brief, and no one gets their heart broken.

Ali Morris’s life is a mess. Two years after her mother’s death, her husband left, and she hasn’t worn anything with a zipper in ages. Despite being a professional organiser, her pantry is a disaster.

When Ali finally takes off her wedding ring and dons overalls, she unexpectedly meets someone new. Her dog introduces her to Ethan in an unusual way—by peeing on him, just like he did with her favourite child. Ethan smiles at her as if her overalls are perfect, and Ali finds herself intrigued. Though she’s wary of adding more complications to her life, she wonders if a little summer romance could be just what she needs.

I was buzzed when I saw another book by Annabel Monaghan being released, especially after adoring "Nora Goes Off Script" last year. Annabel's knack for crafting romances for women who've lost faith in love impresses me.

In this tale, I admired the protagonist's evolution as she navigated grief, aided by friends like Frannie and Ethan.

Though I didn't feel a profound connection between the main couple, the book's charm and brisk pace made it a delightful read. Monaghan expertly portrays Ali and Ethan as an ideal partnership, highlighting how they bring out the best in each other. Their journey is a touching blend of warmth and sorrow, exploring themes such as grief, love, and resilience, keeping readers engaged throughout.

"Summer Romance" is a must-read for romantic comedy fans who enjoy authentic, relatable stories filled with emotional highs and lows.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Aria & Aries, and the author, Annabel Monaghan, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Annabel Monaghan is quickly cementing herself as one of my favourite romance authors. This book was a gorgeous romantic read with great character depth and scenes that had me both near tears and squealing and kicking my feet. It is more than just a summer romance, it is a summer of healing and change. You could say this book has left me feeling carbonated. I can't wait for her next release!

(4.5 stars)

This was my first Annabel Monaghan book

AND LET ME TELL YOU IT WAS AMAZING!!!
this book is the embodiment of summer
I loved it!!!! so much!!!!

𝟒.𝟓 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 ❀˖°

this book was just so refreshing to read!
i love stories of people finding love again!

this book deals with some heavy topics but its still able to handle them in the best way possible. the book has, divorce, grief & loss and we follow our main character Ali as she tackles all of these difficult emotions while simultaneously & unexpectedly beginning to fall in love again.

i loved all the diverse plot lines and complex characters, besides pete, i loved everyone. they were all written with such realistic characteristics which i really enjoy reading in a book especially when there are so many characters to keep track of, it really helps when they can be easily identifiable to the reader.

this is actually my first annabel monaghan book so you can bet that im about to go read all the other books i’ve missed out on!

I read Nora Goes Of Script by this author at the beginning of the month and thoroughly enjoyed! I was lucky enough to receive an early copy from NetGallery which came at the prefect time for my holiday. I fell in love with the characters straight away and I specifically loved how they met. Ali was an amazing relatable character who I loved seeing rediscover love and herself. She was honest, realistic and her situation I’m sure lots of readers can relate to. The pace of the book and their relationship was just right making the story easy to read but also never wanting to put the book down. They just hit it off straight away and I loved their chemistry. I loved all the side characters in this book and I loved the kids! I think they were the perfect edition to the story and development of the relationship.

I really liked how the story was a lighthearted romance but had so many deeper storylines and parts to the book. It took us through grief, divorce and healing (not a spoiler) which was written beautifully. It had so many tropes I love such as small town romance, slow burn, single mum, best friends brother. It had me giggling and kicking my feet. The only thing I felt this book was missing was duel pov, I would have loved to have known what was going through Ethan’s head!

It was the perfect summer read, fun, quick, easy, loveable characters and the ideal beach read

4 ⭐️, this book took me by surprise, it was a well written heart felt romance.

this book was a cute very easy summer binge, I liked the setting and I also liked how it was an older romance sp the characters felt more mature.

I had read Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan and thought this book was going to be a similar vibe to that one, being the same author. I didn't have issues with Nora Goes off Script but it definitely wasn't my favourite romance I've read.

This book, however, might get closer to that title. I love how Annabel Monaghan focuses on women in their late 30s in her fiction, and how she manages to blend the plot with important topics like grief and parenting.

Summer Romance is perfect for the summer but, be warned, it's no summer romance - this book will have you feeling everything Ali is experiencing.
You might giggle and smile at the romance plot which is, if I say so myself, so amazing. You might also read this book in a day, which is what I did.

Once I started, I simply couldn't put it down. I didn't want to let Ali and Ethan go.

I am now a turned Annabel Monaghan fan and I am so glad I got to read this!

4.25⭐️

A beautiful summer romance that hits you hard. This is what I want in a romance book. I want depth and emotions, I want to feel like I know and understand the characters. I want it all to feel real. (Or at least could be real).

I also really love getting just the females pov and feeling like it’s her story rather than solely romance based. It delved very much into her as a person, the divorce she’s going through, the grief with her mother passing, and navigating co parenting and being a newly single mother.

The writing was beautiful. I loved Ethan. Just overall a really great balance of romance and general fiction, which will tug on your heart strings.

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan swept me along. It's easy-reading with a core of real-life truth. Ali's life is falling apart and taking her with it. Exactly a year after her mother's death, her husband announced he was leaving and a year on again he initiated divorce proceedings. Timing anyone? And then, as she's struggling to pull herself out of the mire that is her life and maintain stability of a sort for her three children, fate sends her Ethan. Is Ali brave enough to take a chance on life?

Such a cute book!
I loved following the FMC Ali on her journey of self discovery & taking back control of her life!
Ethan (Scooter) was all in from the off and makes for a swoon worthy MMC.

“You are the architect of your own experience “
This has got to be one of my favourite quotes from the whole book 👌🏼

thank you netgalley for the advance reader copy of this book! i loved this so so so much it has easily become one of my favourites! 5 ⭐️

3.75 Stars

A heartwarming and emotional journey of love, loss and self discovery.

Grieving the loss of her mother and in the process of getting a divorce, we see our FMC Ali struggling with her motivation. Despite her struggles, she’s such a strong and caring character, who is fiercely protective of her children and looks out for her elderly neighbour, Phyllis. I loved the scenes of the family together, as they were so wholesome. She reflects on her past relationship with her ex-husband and also on her mother’s heavy involvement in her life. This was really interesting, especially as she talks to her mother in her car, as part of her grieving. Whilst the topic is serious, Annabel weaves it throughout the book in a way that gets you to reflect and doesn’t weigh down the story. I loved seeing her gain back her confidence and personal growth over time.

The MMC, Ethan, has a difficult relationship with his family, as they have a fixed image of him in his more rebellious teenage years, which is why he moved away. Seeing the life he has built, whether it be the friendships he formed with his local townspeople or particularly his love of skateboarding, was truly heartwarming. I would loved to have the arc of him wanting acceptance from his family to be developed more, as this was only touched upon. His caring nature and constant support of Ali was so beautiful to see.

Both Ali and Ethan knew each other in high school, and Ethan often references Ali’s graduation speech - “You’re the architect of your own experience.” I loved this being included as many years have passed, and people change a lot over time. We get to see Ali take the wisdom of her past self and apply it to her present life. Their summer romance had tender and emotional moments, and it was lovely as we get to see their connection form organically.

The themes throughout this book about taking risks, control, grief and interpersonal relationships were developed really well. The descriptions of the town and even the clothes the characters were wearing really helped set the scene of the summer season. There were a lot of little everyday moments between characters, so the pacing did feel a bit slow at times. However, this was an enjoyable summer read with a heartfelt romance and deeper life lessons weaved throughout.

What to expect:
- Summer romance
- Best friend’s brother
- Small town/community

This was such a lovely book. The main characters growth throughout the novel was so delightful to see and the rest of the characters were really well written. Highly recommended.

‘Summer Romance’ by Annabel Monaghan is a heartwarming and empowering novel about home organiser Ari who is soon-to-be-divorced and trying to figure out her identity outside of being a mother to her three children (and one very cute dog!) Enter a mysterious handsome stranger who feels comfortably familiar, encouraging friends, and the promise of her first “first date” in over a decade… When it turns out the guy she is crushing on is both more and less connected to her hometown than she thought, cutting short hopes for the future, a summer romance can’t help but blossom!

I adored the characters in this book. Ali was incredibly relatable with her warmth, emotional openness and determination, and Ethan was a wonderful romantic hero whose character development shone brightly throughout. Ali’s family, ex-husband and best friend Frannie were all realistically portrayed, and I fell in love with her wise old neighbour Phyllis (honestly, I think every book needs a witty, experienced and blunt elderly neighbour to counsel the main character through trials and tribulations).

The setting was also beautifully described, and I could definitely imagine reading as a vacation novel under a blue sky full of sun. I wish there had been a little more chemistry between the two leads - for much of the novel the vibes were more “sweet crush” than “burning desire”, but I appreciated the way Ali and Ethan supported and understood each other, and adored the ending so darn much!

Overall, this gets four stars from m me. If you want the joyful vibes of a summer romance and a strong single mother character searching for herself and her power, pick this up and pack it for your vacation reading!

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Aria and Aries via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Ali Morris’ life is not how she imagined it would be. Her mother died two years ago and her husband announced he wanted a divorce, one year later. She has not worn pants that have a zip and her professional career as an organiser is not reflected in her home life. Yet when she meets Ethan, she begins to feel that her life might have a chance.
I loved this book. Even having finished it, I would like to start it all over again as there were so many phrases that I found myself highlighting, the prose was so beautiful. I also found myself crying at times, it was so magical. I felt part of Ali’s life with the chaos of her children and a husband, who treats her poorly. Yet with Ethan, it felt like she had a chance to fall in love for the first time. All of the characters in the book are explored with depth and meaning, from Ethan to her friendship with her elderly neighbour and her eldest daughter. I also loved how she would talk to her deceased mother to try and overcome a problem. This was an amazing read!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

There is something about this authors writing which captures you and has you hooked on the story.

I love both characters, they feel real, Ali’s life is changing and she meets Ethan one day, well her dog does and is attracted to him. Ethan is a man who’s got family troubles and finds Ali to be someone he could have a summer romance with.

This book although a romance does deal with more deeper issues, grief, separation and community spirit. I thought it was superb, very relatable and the romance was perfect.

Another great read from this author.

Summer Romance, by Annabel Monaghan, is a dream of a summer read. This was such a glorious novel that struck the perfect balance between the gorgeous romance at its centre and the heavier themes it explored.

Summer Romance is Ali Morris’ story and we find her at a really tough stage of her life. Two years ago her beloved mother passed away and on the first anniversary of her death her husband asked for a divorce. Now a year later Ali finds herself a single mother of three who hasn’t worn trousers with a zipper or button in too long. So no one is more surprised than Ali when the first day she takes off her ring and dons actual clothes, that she meets someone at the dark park. Or atleast her dog does when he pees all over said handsome stranger. Ethan smiles at Ali like her pants are just right —like he likes what he sees. The last thing Ali needs is to make her life messier, but there’s no harm in a little summer romance. Is there?

As with Monaghan’s last novel, Same Time Next Summer, I loved how central to the story is the FMCs growth arc, that we get to see her rediscovering herself after feeling lost for some time. Ali had lost a part of herself to grief, but comes to realise that she lost even more of herself in her marriage. As you would expect grief plays a huge part in Ali’s story but it was handled so well be Monaghan. Her self discovery arc and the rediscovery of her spark and joy was so wonderful, and of course was helped in no small part by the wonderful Ethan.

Both Ali and Ethan are wonderfully rich and complex characters. They each have their own issues but are so caring and considered. There blossoming relationship worked so well and felt so authentic and natural. I also thought the wider cast of characters including Ali’s children, her neighbour Phyllis and Ali’s friend Frannie were brilliant.

This was such a great read and one I’d highly recommend.

Summer Romance is a warm, romantic, and heartfelt read which perfectly captures the possibilities of a relaxed summer.

I love Annabel Monaghan’s writing style, which flows beautiful and dances between sweet romance and also tugs at the heartstrings. Ethan was the perfect golden retriever boyfriend, and I loved his steady self assurance throughout.

The book handled heavier topics such as grief and loss, separation and loss of identity with sensitivity and a light hand. I loved Ali’s introspection and her sense of personal responsibility. The messages woven throughout about the way our loved ones live on through us, and the way our relationships can act as a mirror were beautifully crafted and reflective.

I enjoyed this just as much as Nora Goes off Script and would highly recommend it as the perfect summer read with swoon-worthy romance, relatable characters and the perfect small beach town setting.

Thank you Aria & Aries and NetGalley for this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

yes, yes and more yes.

immediately obsessed, Annabel Monaghan is going to take the book community over soon. Brilliantly done.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Plot summary:
This book follows Ali, 2 years on from the loss of her mother. SInce losing her mother, Ali's husband left her and Ali has found herself in a 'rut' trying to navigate her new life with her children. She's barely functioning and really struggling to look after herself and her three children.

The day she finally takes off her wedding ring and puts on 'normal trousers', coincidentally is also the day she meets Ethan. Or rather, Ali's dog decides to 'claim' Ethan by peeing on him. Despite this, Ethan and Ali hit it off, and they indulge in 'just a summer romance'. But what starts as a summer romance, gets messier as feelings start to develop...

My thoughts:
I absolutely loved this book!!! The dynamic between Ethan and Ali was amazing, I loved that it wasn't just about a romantic relationship, it was so much more than this. It was about finding yourself again after feeling so low and forgetting who you are. it was about how the best romantic relationships are really born off a strong friendship. It was about how relationships only work with compromise. It covered how scary and reckless falling in love can be, but equally how beautiful it is.

I loved that even when things were tough, both characters were so mature about things, it was such a breath of fresh air. There was no miscommunication between them! The 3rd act breakup felt like a very realistic scenario, and I loved how it was all resolved in the end. I loved the side characters and would looove to see another book in this universe.

4/5 stars

An engaging read with a fresh summer feel.

Nevertheless, it's a serious book too (but not so much to weigh you down).

It begins when main character Ali Morris is grieving - her mother died two years ago, and her husband left her on the one-year anniversary. She organizes people's home as a business, but her own is falling apart. She gets the kids ready for school but barely thinks about what she wears. So she's not in a good place and not thinking about romance until... she meets someone in an almost-cliched but definitely still cute meet-cute. That someone is Ethan, who has good reason to hang around for the summer, but who really needs to head off afterwards...

I think this book worked for me particularly as I'm a similar age to the main character and could easily empathise with what she was going through. The romance was sweet and I believed in Ali's inner turmoil and the internal insights she discovered just by allowing herself to love again. I wasn't sure if I missed a final reveal about the ex's secrets but maybe I was just reading too quickly by that point!

I couldn’t put this down, it’s the perfect summer read.
I loved that Ali was older than the typical romance main characters, single mum, life’s a bit of a mess - it’s just all so relatable.

★★★★½ ROUNDED UP ⬆️⭐️
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Thank you NetGalley and Aria & Aries for the opportunity to review this book.