Member Reviews

Same Time Next Summer ☀️

This book is perfect for anyone who doesn’t have it all figured out quite yet. Sam is getting married to Jack; but doesn’t really have an interest in wedding planning. She’s recently made a big mistake at work and she’s still trying to understand the consequences.

They go to her family’s beach house out in Long Island and she’s worried over Jack’s reaction. He likes neatness and order and her family is full of artists and love to collect things. Once she arrives, she finds out Wyatt is next door; he was her first love and it ended terribly. Sam has spent a lot of time thinking about him over the years after they lost contact. She’s with Jack now; she can’t think about Wyatt.

Wyatt is back in LI for the week and he’s now a big shot music writer in Los Angeles. But funny how being home reminds you of when you’re 17, and your first love. The book flashes back to the summer they got together and the present day. It’s clear Sam and Jack don’t have much in common and that Wyatt is her true love. I will say the driving event of their breakup was a little bit of a letdown and I had an alternate plot (that didn’t happen) that would have stirred up more drama. All in all, I thought it was a cute and fast book perfect for the beach.

Many thanks to @putnambooks and @annabelmonaghan for my gifted copy.

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Ooh the finest of the fine - wish I had been on the beach when I read this. Much of the book takes place in Long Island, NY and that just upped the ante for me - familiar and relatable. Love the now and then of the telling - it added sense and maturity to what might otherwise have been syrupy and sophomoric. Can you feel the heat? Can you feel the burn? Can you feel the pain? Yeah, I could and that is really good writing.

The humor is so perfect - reading the same sex scene six times and wondering about the position of body parts and how many hands are there groping around - you had to be there - you can’t help but snort. But the heartbreak and angst were equally gripping and hollowing - really good writing.

Love the characters, especially the ones who just had to throw in their whatever’s. Loved Sam and her ability to disassemble and reassemble and get lost and then found. So in love with Wyatt and what is wrong SamIam - open your eyes, figure it out - we all have.

Annabel Monaghan is going to the top of my list. Thank you G.P Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for a copy.

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This was an enjoyable book. However I didn’t feel the connection as heavily as I was hoping to between the two MC.

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I loved Nora Goes off Script. This book didn’t land in the same way. The reader is rooting for Sam and Wyatt, but there’s a lot of backstory. I wanted more present. Jack was so dull- I think it would have been interesting if it was more of a triangle. It was a fun summer read.

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Another hit from Annabel Monaghan! Sam and Wyatt found a place in my heart almost immediately. The characters are so fleshed out and the beach house so real that I was right there along with them. Just a story full of perfectly imperfect people who made mistakes and are living with them.

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Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy. This was such a sweet coming home book. I liked that the main character had to really take a look at herself and push herself out of her comfort zone to decide what was important to her.

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I was excited to read Same Time Next Summer because it has a seaside/beach setting and one of my favorite tropes, second chance romance. It sounded like a perfect summer read. I liked the book, but I didn't love it. The second chance romance was underwhelming, and there was not much relationship growth. Because the book is mostly written from Sam's POV, we don't get to know what Wyatt feels or thinks. So at times, it felt like he wasn't interested in rekindling his relationship with Sam. I enjoyed reading chapters from the past when Sam and Wyatt were teenagers. They were more romantic than the present timeline. I recommend this Same Time Next Summer to those who enjoy low angst, closed-door romance.

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I thoroughly enjoyed Annabel Monaghan's latest book, SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER. Once again, Monaghan skillfully weaves together captivating romantic tales set in charming locations. In this new story, Sam Holloway and her fiancé embark on a trip to her family's beach house on Long Island to make arrangements for their upcoming wedding. Unexpectedly, Sam's former high school flame, who now resides in Los Angeles, returns to town for a local music festival. The combination of the picturesque setting, memorable characters, and the beautifully crafted storyline makes this book a wonderful choice for a summer vacation read!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

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I was very excited to get a copy of Annabel Monaghan’s newest novel because her debut Nora Goes Off Script was one of my favorites from 2022. This is the story of Sam and Wyatt who grew up going to neighboring beach houses on Long Island. They thought their summer romance would turn into a lifelong love until one event changed everything. Flash forward to when they’re thirty years old and Sam returns to the beach with her fiancé Jack to check out wedding venues. You guessed it…Wyatt just happens to be visiting at the same time. Reconnecting with Wyatt makes Sam reevaluate everything about her life as she relives those teenage summer memories.

This was a quick read that I enjoyed but probably won’t really remember. It was well written and I liked the characters but the storyline just seemed too cliche. It didn’t seem to have the same zing as Nora did. It would still make for a great beach read if you’re looking for something light and fun. This hardly had any language but then she would throw in a random f bomb here and there (why?🤷🏼‍♀️), mild steam.

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Sam and Wyatt had a terrible breakup as teens. Sam's avoided her favorite place since, her family's beach house. She only stays a few days a year and refuses to stay for a longer duration. She's also refused to bring her fiancé, Jack along, until now. But Wyatt unexpectedly shows up and Sam isn't sure she can handle the situation.

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If you are looking for a great summer read then look no further. Same Time Next Summer is the perfect second chance romance that would be great to take to the beach or lounging next to the pool!

This book perfectly captures the feel of that first love, summers at the beach, first heartbreak and what it means to stand up for what you really want out of life.

I loved Sam and Wyatt❤️. Their chemistry was undeniable but it was grounded in a true friendship that was wonderful to see play out. And let’s talk about the setting! I loved the summer vibes, days at the beach and the small town atmosphere.

This will definitely be one of my favorites of the summer!

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If you find yourself in search of a light romance for vacation give Annabel Monaghan's books a try. Her latest has a flawed main character who is a little problematic. The main focus of the book is Samantha's return to her family's lake house with her fiancée in tow to scope out a possible wedding venue on Long Island. Of course, it wouldn't be a romance without the long-lost love living next door. Monaghan does a good job building the tension between the two guys and Samantha and there is a good amount of humor mixed in to keep it light. I could relate to the feeling of nostalgia when she returns to her childhood escape and the memories she had with her first love, Wyatt. There was a "will they or won't they" vibe as she navigated the feelings his return brought back into the mix. It's got both the teenage love story and the adult romance for all readers' preferences. I think I liked Nora Goes Off Script just a tiny bit more, but this book is pretty good.

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Same Time Next Summer was a really cute read, but I didn’t think there was anything too special about it. It was cute and entertaining but I don’t think it’s a book that will stay in my memory for too long. Thank you netgalley for my free review copy.

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☀️THE summer read you NEED!☀️

Same Time Next Summer by @annabelmonaghan was EVERYTHING! Just like Nora Goes Off Script, I could not put this down! Totally compulsive read. I was a little nervous going into this because I held Nora on a pedal stool, but this did not disappoint. It gave me major Every Summer After vibes, so I definitely recommend for anyone who enjoyed that one. Annabel Monaghan has officially claimed a spot as a go-to author for me!

I’m a sucker for second chance romance and first love stories. I also loved that this was closed door and very little language. Definitely recommend!

Thank you @putnambooks for my #gifted copy!

#meetmeinthestacks

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I just finished Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan. This was my first Annabel Monaghan book and I enjoyed it! I thought the end slightly predictable, but I find that is often the case for romance books. It was a light, summer read that would be perfect to take on vacation or for by the pool reading. I will definitely add other Annabel Monaghan books to my TBR pile for my next beach vacation!

Thanks NetGalley and Libro.fm for the advanced reader copies!

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Who needs a slow burn, second change romance for the beach this summer?!?! Well then Same Time Next Summer is for you! I am a fan of Annabel Monahan so I was excited to get this book. Annabel fills pages with amazing and honorable characters and a plot that will leave you wanting more. The childhood sweethearts and beach setting will be perfect for reading ocean or pool side!

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Sam grew up spending summers at her parents’ second home on Long Island Beach, until Wyatt broke her heart. Now 30 years old with the perfect life - doctor fiance, comfortable HR job, and predictable routine - Sam and her fiancé head to her parents’ summer home to consider getting married there and hopefully finally set a wedding date. When Wyatt’s guitar melodies drift in from the treehouse next door, Sam must consider whether she has truly moved on from her first love.

I wish this book had been 100-150 pages longer. I really enjoyed the slow burn second chance romance, and I wanted it to never end! The love triangle continued longer than I would have liked, but I genuinely appreciate that Annabel illustrated that sometimes someone isn’t a villain, they’re just not the ideal fit for you.

I really really appreciated how honorable Wyatt was. Where this book could have easily have drifted into territory that I wouldn’t have been a fan of, Annabel did a fantastic job with the story.

I thought that Sam had great character development, especially considering the book length. I am such a fan of Annabel’s settings and storytelling, and Same Time Next Summer is a book I will definitely share with friends and re-read.

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This was a great second chance/childhood sweethearts romance, with a beach setting. I enjoyed Monaghan's first book slightly more but this was still a solid summer read for me.

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If you remember your first love fondly, this is the book for you. Sam and Wyatt experienced first love as teenagers at their adjacent beach houses on Long Island many years ago. Their parents were good friends. After several years of long-distance romance followed and summers together, an unfortunate event tore them apart. Now many years later Sam has returned to her family’s beach home from NYC with her doctor fiancée to look at a wedding venue. She is on a leave from her HR job after providing a client with advice that angered her boss. Wyatt has returned from CA to work on his family’s house. As Sam spends time with her artsy parents and renews her love of the beach, she questions her life choices and goals. This is a wonderful beach read. I loved some of the characters and hated others. Annabel Monaghan’s first book Nora Goes off Script was excellent and this one may be even better! I thank Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

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Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

I loved Annabel Monaghan's book "Nora Goes Off Script" and her latest is also a winner. This is the perfect beach read! Partly showcasing the past and first love and then the current timeline with a potential 2nd chance romance (even though the lead is engaged to another! Boo Jack!!) Okay, you know how the story is going to go...but honestly, who cares! lol The storyline is fun and so sweet, and the characters keep you invested beyond just the main couple. The glimpses into Wyatt and Sam's past were so pure...and the event leading to their separation was absolutely heartbreaking. The way everything comes full circle was perfect and felt so real! There is forgiveness, healing, finding your true self and your true love...happy sigh.

5 stars

I can hardly wait to see what the author creates next!

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