I wanted to love this one but I think the second chance trope is rarely done right. We live too much in the past and the what if’s just take over the story. The development was just too slow and we all knew how it was going to end. I cannot get over the fact that Sam didn’t google Wyatt in all the years since they were together. 12 years and not one google search??? Ugh. I’m sorry but everyone does google searches…especially on the “could have been” boy. I think this will be a fun one to read during the summer but it cannot hold up to Nora Goes Off Script.

I just adored this story! From young love to confusion, to rejection ,to heartbreak, to healing, to rediscovering self identity and yes, to being vulnerable again.

It was truly a journey for Wyatt and Sam. I love the setting! A summer home on Long Island where two young people meet and experience many emotions throughout their lives! I was hooked instantly within the first five to six pages of the book. Yes, although a bit predictable, it was a great story of a second chance romance.

I also enjoyed Annabel's Morgan writing that has a good balance of humor. With the dual Point of Views in the book, we get a better understanding of Sam and Wyatt feelings, how they act, and also how they fell apart..

I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of second chance romance and also excellent character development. I am looking forward to the author's next novel!

Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited to read this after enjoying Monaghan’s last book but I just could get into this one.

This is a personal preference but I really hate reading a romance when one of the characters is still with someone else and we’re just told all the reasons why he’s not “the one”. It’s too hard to get invested in the actual one and just sort of drives me crazy. I had the same issue with The Layover.

For this reason I had to DNF but if this doesn’t bother you than give it a try bc her writing is breezy and perfect for summer

Same Time Next Summer is a second-chance-at-love romance with a summery feel. It reminded me of Sleepless in Seattle, with a main character engaged to a dull guy while pining away for another one. (The situation is not terrible as love triangles go.) I've seen another reviewer compare it to The Summer I Turned Pretty, and I can totally see that.

The setting is a summer beach town, there is a strong emphasis on family, and a past/present storyline that shows the origins of this star-crossed couple.

Perfect for those who want a summery romance!

This book is the perfect read for a relaxing summery evening with some outdoor reading and a fruity drink … this book set on Long Island and it is giving all the summery beach vacation vibes - reading on the porch, barbecues, late nights, swimming in the ocean, boat trips, seaweed … the setting is dreamy and the second chance romance flows effortlessly and genuinely - this is a joy to read !

I loved this book so much and I didn’t want it to end… Sam and her fiancée, Jack, are headed to Long Island, the scene of all Sam’s magical childhood summers until the one summer that everything went wrong and she stopped going back with her family. With a setup like that, you know it’s going to be a juicy read, and this didn’t disappoint. Of course all Sam’s best-laid plans to live her life on the straight and narrow — work in HR, live in a perfectly decorated grey-toned apartment, adhere to her dermatologist fiancée’s careful exercise and activity plans, don’t get too much sun (or have too much fun) — fall apart as soon as she gets to the beach. And of course Wyatt, her first love, the one who disappeared and broke her heart ,is waiting for her in his family’s house next door. The story is told in alternating chapters about the past, watching Sam & Wyatt grow up together over a series of summers until that final summer; and the present, as Sam plans her wedding to Jack and starts to wonder if the life she’s chosen for herself is the one she really wants. I loved watching this unfold, and while at times Wyatt really irked me (I don’t think he’s quite as amazing as everyone else does, and I think he could use some therapy to help him be a better friend/boyfriend), the romance was undeniably sweet. An absolutely perfect summer read.

I love Annabel Monaghan's characters. Sam Holloway And Wyatt Pope. This book is a perfect summer read! Definitely can’t wait for more from this author.

Same Time Next Summer
Author Annabel Monaghan
Available now!

This is the summer novel that I didn't even know that I needed! Highly recommended by @annissabookishjoy once again, I just loved this second chance romance (who and I reading another romance?!) set in Long Island.

I loved the connections between these characters and the back and forth timelines that brought us to the beginning of Sam and Wyatt's relationship and how they got to where they are today. It felt so real and intimate and brought back all the nostalgia of how falling in love evolves into something so much greater and wonderfully unexpected.

In a nutshell: Sam returns to LI to check out a possible wedding venue - she's engaged to Jack, and they are seemingly a perfect match. But all of her teenage memories come flooding back, and then, there's Wyatt - unexpectedly right where they left each other over a decade ago. What caused their sad breakup, and did they ever really get over each other? Sam will have to face the past in order to decide what her future holds.

I just bought Nora Goes Off Script because I am now a huge fan!
4.5 stars!

I loved this book! I can totally see it being the book of summer 2023. I really enjoyed the dual timeline, the character development, and teenage beach romance turned adult romance, and the lovable side characters!

Great read! I am pleasantly surprised by Annabel Monaghan's books. I like that they are still romance and women's fiction, but there's an extra layer to it.

Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for the advanced read of Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan.

This is such a perfect summer read! I totally understand why this is being named a best book of summer.

Sam’s life is seemingly on track. She is engaged, has a good job, and has worked hard to get over her first love, Wyatt. But everything starts to unravel when she returns to her family’s Long Island beach house and Wyatt is there. Her Wyatt.

From the beach setting to the first love romance. From the entwined family dynamics to the difficult self discovery. This book is a true beach read, but with complexities that leave you feeling for the characters and hoping for that HEA.

I really enjoyed the is book and recommend adding it to your summer reads list!

Same Time Next Summer was a perfect summer read! I really loved everything about it! Sam and her fiance Jack go to Long Island to check out a wedding venue her parents suggested. They stay with her parents where Sam spent every summer while she was growing up. To her surprise her first love Wyatt is also there and happens to be their neighbor. With so many memories coming back about her childhood Sam starts to question everything about her life and her upcoming marriage. Just loved these characters and how the story made me feel like I was at the beach myself! Highly recommend!

Automatic buy for me from Annabel Monaghan going forward… automatic 5 star read. This is going to be the book of the summer.

Title: An Average Rating for "Same Time Next Summer" by Annabel Monaghan

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review:
"Same Time Next Summer" by Annabel Monaghan offers an enjoyable reading experience with its charming storytelling and relatable characters. The narrative follows two individuals who reunite every summer to reflect on their lives and the changes that have occurred. While the book succeeds in capturing the essence of summer and evoking a sense of nostalgia, there is one notable aspect that could have been improved.

One aspect worth mentioning is the character development of the male protagonist. Although the story primarily revolves around the female lead, it would have been intriguing to witness more growth and transformation in the male character. Exploring his experiences and personal journey would have added depth to the overall narrative and strengthened the connection between the two protagonists.

Overall, "Same Time Next Summer" is a pleasant read that beautifully captures the essence of summer and the complexities of human relationships. While it falls slightly short in terms of the male character's development, the book still manages to deliver a heartwarming story that resonates with readers.

I read the author’s previous novel, 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘢 𝘎𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘖𝘧𝘧 𝘚𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘵 and loved it so much that I decided to read this book, even though it features a little twist in this second-chance trope I’m not fond of. This book centers around 𝗦𝗮𝗺 visiting her family’s beach house with her fiancé to check for possible wedding venues. As luck would have it, her childhood friend and ex-boyfriend 𝗪𝘆𝗮𝘁𝘁, who lived next door to their house, was also in town. She suddenly finds herself at a midpoint as her past and present collide, not only the memories but her personality.

It’s really due to Annabel Monaghan’s writing that made this book an enjoyable read for me. You can’t help but empathize with the characters in this book - the main characters and the people they love. It’s written with a good balance of wistfulness and humor. With the dual POV set up of the book, we can commiserate more with Sam and Wyatt, their feelings, and how they act, especially given their ages before they fell apart. This second-chance romance book works for me because of how their relationship ended. It made sense that they acted the way they did. Though during the period of moving forward, I did wish Wyatt’s activities were explored just as deeply as Sam’s. I really like Sam’s family and how they interacted. The way the story delved into Sam’s relationship with each of her family members is one of the reasons why I love this book. The same can be said for Wyatt with Sam’s family. That’s why the ending of this book is so satisfying for me.

Great beach read!!

Sam returns to her family's beach house for a short trip with her fiance, Alex. You know right away that there was something between her and Wyatt, the "boy next door". As the story slowly unfolds with what came between them many years ago, you feel connected with the characters. I was afraid that the storyline would be something cliche or unbelievable, but it totally wasn't and I felt that the author did a good job showing the progression of Sam's feelings over the years. Until the reveal of what came between them, you are left guessing which was part of the great pacing of the book.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the characters, I enjoyed the feelings evoked by being at the beach. I even enjoyed the dual-timeline. Highly recommend for a beach read this summer.

I received an ARC of this book as a reviewer for NetGalley. #sponsored

This was a great, well-paced, summer romance read!

Sam is busy planning her wedding and searching for venues with Jack, her strait-laced and predictable fiancé. They decide to take a short trip to the beach house where her family spends their summers. Shortly after arriving she finds out that the neighbor, Wyatt, is also in town. There’s a reason Sam hasn’t returned to the beach for the summer until now and if she’s going to stay, she will have to confront her past, in the form of her dear neighbor. For Sam, Wyatt was the once in a lifetime love, the one that felt like they were inexplicably a part of you. But that kind of love comes with risk. It changes you.

The nostalgia of first love and young summer romance was addicting. Hopping between the past and the present we learn about Sam and Wyatt and their deep connection. We also get to see where the years have taken them into their adult life and watch as they try to avoid confronting the past and the gravitational pull towards one another. I loved the character development from all the main and side characters here. It took time to create and was easy to believe. I highly recommend this book for a great summer romance read and for lovers of second chance romance!

Thank you, @netgalley @penguinrandomhouse and @putnambooks , for the eARC!

I posted this review to my Bookstagram, Goodreads, Bookbub, and Amazon all on 6/21/23. See the links provided below.

Sam loves her eclectic parents but her fiancé Jack can only tolerate their “artsy fartsy” ways in small doses. As artists/teachers they live in Manhattan and spend summers at their longtime Long Island beach house. Sam cherished her idyllic summers spent there when she was a kid. Back then, as the youngest of the group she was shy and often on her own until she met the boy next door, Wyatt. His family also summered at the beach and the two became inseparable. As the years passed Sam and Wyatt fell in love. First time romance can be hard on the heart, especially when it ends without closure. Over a decade later Sam and Jack venture out to the beach house searching for the perfect wedding venue. With their lives and schedules perfectly organized, Sam and Jack are rather rigid compared to beach life and hippie habits of mom and dad. Already nervous about the outcome, Sam is shocked when she hears guitar music coming from next door. After all these years Wyatt is back. She never imagined seeing him again after he moved to California. She never thought her heart would beat so loudly. Maybe she needs closure to go forward with the wedding. Maybe she still has feelings for her first love. As Sam painstakingly selects every detail for her wedding, the real question haunts her - is she marrying the right guy. This read is quick and fun. It does not have the sharp wit of Nora Goes Off Script but its a solid, sweet beach read.

This is the beach read of the summer. It took everything I love about this subgenre of romance books and elevated it. I'm a sucker for twists that the reader sees coming but is unknown to our protagonist, and this book does it in a way that is just lovely. I enjoyed the way that the cliches in this book were dissected and put back together in a way to make them feel new and fresh, as if this was the first time this trope had ever been done. Although the premise feels close to Carley Fortune's Every Summer After, I like this book much much more. The Inevitable Very Bad No Good Thing was entirely understandable and forgivable, which was my main gripe with Fortune's book. This book will definitely get a re-read again this summer- I find myself still thinking about it.

*Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for an ARC of this book*

I LOVED this book. It was a quick read but was filled with so much good stuff. I loved how we got to watch Sam figure out what she truly wanted in life. I feel like that part of this book was so special. I literally couldn't stand her fiancé so it's safe to say I was pumped when she finally gave him the boot. And WYATT. Ugh imagine going on vacation every summer with him there?? I would never want to leave. He is so swoony & I just love how he made sure to get back into Sam's life. Their story is so special and I absolutely loved it!