From the celery-green sweetheart neckline dress to the white halter-neck gown, every detail in this book is pure magic. Come for the fashion, stay for the baking and of course the romance. It is clear in the beginning that Dolly does not like the Whitfield family. Her fake-dating arrangement with Stewart Whitfield has everything and more: a "makeover" scene, a contract of sorts, sailing adventures, and quirky family characters. I don't even like fish very much, but this book made me want to eat fish (and frolic through an herb garden). There are a lot of characters in this book, but Monaghan manages to make all of them meaningful and fun. I wish I could read this book again for the first time because it was really the best.

First of all, I want to thank Annabel Monaghan and Head of Zeus Publishing for my ARC. Annabel Monaghan has turned what seems to the typical fake dating trope into a story about setting boundaries, standing up for yourself and letting go of habits and structures that weigh you down. It also clearly shows once again that no one is ever too old for romance and that love comes at the most unexpected times.

Heartwarming, just as Annabel Monaghan does best. 💓
I’m happy to say this is exactly the kind of story she knows how to tell. Not only is Dolly a special character, but her whole family as well. And knowing the reference Annabel used to create Christopher truly touched my heart. This book feels like a love letter from the author.
I can’t wait to read her next book! 😌

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

ೃ⁀➷ 4.5⭐️

This review’s in English cause this books has been offered to me by @netgalleyuk

Annabel Monaghan did it again.
I laughed and laughed and laughed and kicked my feet and spread my toes alllll the way to the end. I cried a little too cause I’m sensitive and this ending was chef’s kiss

The way Stewart learns how to be a better fake boyfriend for Dolly, the way he tries to take care of her when he never did for someone else. The way he compliments her 😩😩 how he falls for her 😩😩😩 it’s so well written that we see everything happening in front of our eyes it’s perfect.

I, however, was a bit disappointed about the whole third act breakup. Stewart really broke something in my heart too and I was really mad at him for the longest time bc it took him so long to reach back again. That being said, I forgave him 😌

I would never get bored reading Annabel’s book and she found in me a fan for her books. Will collect them all and reread them all cause each and every one of them is like FALLING IN LOVE!

Dolly Brick is a hard-working single mother. She's a teacher, an Uber driver, and the telephone answer service for a sporting goods company. Called back to her hometown of Whitfield, Rhode Island to help her father after their family home was damaged by fire, Dolly is horrified to discover that their roof is unsafe and will cost thousands of dollars to repair - money that neither she nor her father have.

Then providence shines on her. After delivering a vast quantity of shrimp to the Whitfield estate (for cocktail hour), Dolly is cycling back home when she encounters Stewart Whitfield, handsome oldest son of the family that founded the town, beside a car with a flat tyre and no phone battery. Laughing at the uselessness of the wealthy who have no idea how to change a tyre, Dolly kindly helps him out.

Later it turns out that Stewart's girlfriend has been caught publicly cheating on him with a baseball player. A paparazzi photographer has snapped a picture of Dolly changing Stewart's tyre and the Whitfield publicist has spun it as him teaching his new girlfriend to change a tyre. Stewart desperately wants to be appointed head of the family business but his family are concerned that he's a workaholic and so he suggests that he and Dolly fake-date. It will stop all the bad publicity about not being able to keep a girlfriend and appease his family.

This is like a jam-up between Mystic Pizza and Pretty Woman (and probably lots more). Its very familiar, fake dating, small-town, rich guy/poor girl, billionaire and the single mom territory. Yachts, black-tie dinners, fancy apartments, money-no-object romance with cute kids, and home renovation.

I really enjoyed it and would have given it a higher rating if it wasn't for the fact that it felt just a little bit too familiar. Not sure if it was the storyline , or Stewart's character, but I just felt like I'd read something very similar before.

Nevertheless, great summer romance reading.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

An absolute return to form for one of my must-read authors! I adore the way she writes about family, mid-life women, and romances that are too sweet to be true (but you want them to be anyway). This book felt very reminiscent of her earlier work - so not exactly new or groundbreaking - but a familiar, warm hug that will make you laugh, cry, and have a bit more hope in humanity.

Annabel Monaghan had become one of my favourite authors from the last couple of years. There is something about her writing that just works perfectly for me. Her latest release, Dolly All the Time is another 5 star read.
It follows main character Dolly as she returns home to her hometown in Rhode Island to help her father run the family fish business and ends up in a fake dating relationship. This is the perfect summer read with a great summery setting and atmosphere. I really enjoyed the family dynamics and emotional depth to this story. There are plenty of recognisable tropes in here but Annabel Monaghan writes them with such charm and emotion that it still felt unique and original. Overall another great book from Annabel Monaghan that will definitely be a popular summer read this year. A heart-warming and entertaining romance with a lovely emotional depth.

This was the most gorgeous summer romance. Annabel Monaghan creates the most detailed, beautiful settings and such a beautiful atmosphere in every book, but this one is by far my favourite. Dolly's hard work and tough love made her the perfect character to root for, and watching her fall in love with Stewart was just a masterclass in character building and development. The subtle changes in season we see throughout the book and how it mimics her feelings? Gorgeous!

I loved that whilst we had a third act breakup, we got proper resolution and not a single half assed apology in sight. The grace and care with which Dolly's family as written really resonated. This is the perfect summer romance with that gorgeous emotional depth and I cannot wait to reread it!

Annabel Monaghan has done it again! I adored Dolly. Her character really resonated with me and I greatly enjoyed her growth and journey throughout this story. Romance and love story aside, it was Dolly coming into her own and chasing what she wanted and making it happen that resonated most deeply with me. Her relationships with her family and side characters were beautiful and nuanced.
The MMC’s character fell a little flat for me, except for those rare vulnerable moments or in his interactions with Gus, Dolly’s son. All I have to say is that Dolly was a lot more forgiving of him than I would have been, but I appreciate that for the story to go where it needed to go and for Dolly to make some changes and claim what she wanted, we needed that time.
Overall, it was a beautiful story that moved me and was thoroughly enjoyable to read and maybe bumped to the top of this author’s books for me!

Dolly all the time is a beautifully written romance story with a resilient female lead that’s finally getting her happy ending. She’s been everyone else’s rock since her mother left when she was 12 but this summer she’s finally doing something for herself.

Her son Gus will always come first but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on your other ambitions in life. That’s a beautiful thing and I adore Dolly. Her pretty woman esque deal with Steward is fun but he’s not the most memorable mmc and some of his actions didn’t vibe with me. By the end he redeemed himself but I could’ve done without the third act breakup.

This one’s gets a big yes from me, Dolly might be one of my new favorites fmcs.

Read this of you like
❤️Fake dating
🛥️Single mother
💫Character growth
💰Class/money difference

4.5 ⭐️

I love Annabel Monaghan and this book was super! I love the blend of romance with women’s fiction and how there’s so much depth to the characters. Her writing is beautiful- there were so many quotes I underlined. The premise of this book was so fun and it was executed perfectly! The fake dating trope in this was great and I loved this!

I absolutely loved this book—I was hooked from the very first page until the very end. The story pulled me in completely, and I found myself genuinely invested in both the characters and their journey together.

I discovered Annabel Monaghan last year, and so far I’ve loved everything I’ve read by her—and this book was no exception. I’m determined to make my way through the rest of her backlist this year, because I love her writing. I also find it refreshing to read about slightly older main characters—both around forty— since so many romance novels tend to focus on characters in their late twenties or early thirties.

The relationship between the Dolly and Stewart developed in this book in such a gentle and natural way. Their fake dating arrangement slowly turning into something real felt believable and emotionally rewarding. As someone who loves the fake dating trope, I especially enjoyed seeing how their connection deepened and how they worked to except and overcome the clear class difference between them.

The single mom element was handled beautifully, and I loved how her son played an important role in the story rather than feeling like a side detail. Watching him form his own meaningful bond with Stewart was wonderful to see.

Overall, this was a heartfelt, genuine and engaging romance that I’ll definitely be thinking about for a long time and one that i highly recommend.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Annabel Monaghan and Aria & Aries for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review.

Dolly All the Time is a warm, character driven romance about second chances, fake dating, and learning when it is finally safe to rely on someone else. It centres on Dolly Brick, a fiercely capable single mother who returns to her hometown of Whitfield, Rhode Island for the summer to help her family keep their home from falling apart.

Dolly has spent her life fixing problems and looking after everyone else, so when she meets Stewart Whitfield at the worst possible moment of his very public breakup, stepping in feels natural. Stewart, the oldest son of an ultra wealthy family, needs a respectable girlfriend to improve his standing at work and secure a promotion. Dolly needs money to repair her father’s house. What begins as a strictly practical arrangement quickly grows into something far more complicated.

There is a clear Pretty Woman energy to the setup, but the story quickly makes it its own. The fake dating premise unfolds slowly, shifting from formal dinners and public appearances into quieter, more intimate moments that allow real feelings to develop. The progression feels natural and emotionally grounded, driven by shared vulnerability rather than forced drama.

The character development is one of the book’s greatest strengths. Dolly is thoughtful, resilient, and deeply human, shaped by years of self reliance but still open to growth. Stewart is charming and appealing for much of the story, though I did find myself frustrated with him later on. While he does redeem himself, his choices, or lack of them, were disappointing, even if they were clearly part of his own emotional learning curve.

The supporting cast is excellent. From Dolly’s best friend Naomi to Stewart’s formidable mother Victoria, every character feels well rounded and purposeful. Dolly’s son Gus is a particular highlight. His love of baseball, hockey, and sailing adds warmth and joy to the story, and his presence grounds the romance in something meaningful and real.

This is a romance that values emotional growth as much as attraction. It is funny, comforting, and thoughtful, with no flat stereotypes and plenty of heart.

A charming, satisfying book about love, family, and letting yourself be chosen when you have always done the choosing.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Annabel Monaghan has fast become one of my favourite authors and Dolly All the Time may be my favourite of hers since Nora Goes Off Script.

I loved Dolly, her friends and family, and the setting was perfect (I would like to live in Dolly’s family home and sleep on the sleeping porch). I didn’t want it to end but couldn’t stop reading.

Also, I particularly appreciated an older main character - Dolly is 39. I’d love to see more older characters in romance novels.

Annabel Monaghan is just a warm summer breeze, every time. I dove right into Dolly's life in Whitfield and loved her fierceness and loyalty and her dedication to her family. I found every character had their own nuance and I really appreciated that. While it follows the standard fake dating premise, it is a tried and true formula and this felt beautiful to read. I think this is a 4-star rating for me because I struggled with some of Stewart's decisions, but overall this was gorgeous.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for my ARC copy of Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan!

I have read three of Annabel Monaghan's titles and this one by far is my favourite! This book is a heart-warming, funny and sweet romance between Dolly and Stewart that start out in the infamous fake-dating trope. Stewart really grew as a person and discovered his boundaries and what he values in his life and how he needs to change to get those things. The relationship he developed with not only Dolly but also her son and family was just so tender and wholesome and really brought out the best sides of his character.

Although the third act breakup was hard to watch and had me also SO sad for how he treated Dolly, I think he came back from it in good fashion.

Annabel's books are always great, quick, beach reads that have that extra punch!

This author is phenomenal, they definitely know how to write a bestseller!
This book from the minute you pick it up just captures you and makes you just love it!
The story was very easy to follow and mixed with good and bad times. It was just beautiful! Absolutely loved it!