I'm not sure if I didn't vibe with the writing style or with the characters or what, but this book wasn't for me. I struggled a lot! I'm sure there are many out there that would fall in love with this book though!

A cute summer romance book, but not my favorite by this author.

Thank you Netgalley & PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this, Ali was adorably all over the place and Ethan made me swoon. Really fell in love with these characters & their story!

Really really loved this! Ali and Ethan have my heart. I love Annabel Monaghan’s writing and this one may just be my favorite. 4.5 stars!

Annabel Monaghan’s Summer Romance is a breezy, feel-good story filled with lighthearted moments and a charming romance. The chemistry between the characters is sweet, and the summer setting adds to the book’s easy, escape-from-reality vibe. However, while enjoyable, the plot feels a bit predictable, and the characters could use more depth. I'm not sure if I didn't feel connected to the characters because I'm not divorces with multiple children or just that they didn't have more depth compared to the other book I have read by Monaghan. I did love her sweet old next door neighbor though!

Perfect for a quick, relaxing read, but it doesn’t offer much beyond the typical rom-com formula.

This is such a sweet, cute read! Perfect for a beachy summer read. I loved the main characters and their relationship, and the setting was so cute as well. Truly manifesting my small town life with this one!

Annabel Monaghan once again proves herself the queen of summer romances with her latest novel, Summer Romance.

Ali Morris’ life is turned upside down after the death of her mother, Fancy, from cancer. The two shared an extraordinarily close bond, and Fancy was a cornerstone not only in Ali's life but in the lives of the entire Morris family. A year after Fancy’s passing, Ali is blindsided when her husband announces he wants a divorce. Overwhelmed by grief and struggling with a loss of identity, Ali drifts through life. But a brief encounter at a dog park ignites something in her—a spark of hope that she can reclaim her life. Will a stranger be the key to her rediscovery, or will she retreat into her old ways of hiding in sweatpants?

Summer Romance is a perfect pick for anyone craving a heartfelt, swoon-worthy summer read. This slow-burn, best friend’s brother romance is set in a charming small town over the course of one transformative summer. The meet-cute between Ethan and Ali is nothing short of magical, and their chemistry is so palpable, it’s hard to believe the book qualifies as a closed-door romance!

What stood out to me the most was Monaghan’s sensitive portrayal of Ali’s journey as a single mother. Ali’s thoughts and actions are always guided by the love and care she has for her children, even when it means putting her own needs aside. Similarly, Ethan shines as the epitome of the perfect romantic partner. His patience and understanding create a dynamic where Ali is never rushed or pressured, making him a gold standard for a male romantic lead.

While the romance is undeniably the heart of the story, Monaghan also weaves in a deeper message about the importance of female relationships—whether between mothers and daughters, friends, or mentors and mentees. The book is, in many ways, a love letter to Monaghan’s late mother, and it beautifully highlights how these relationships can shape and empower women, even in times of great hardship.

I can’t recommend Summer Romance enough! It’s a touching, heartfelt story about love, loss, and rediscovery. If you’re a fan of Annabel Monaghan’s work, or simply in search of a moving, summer read, this book is a must.

Special thanks to NetGalley, GP Putnam’s Sons, Penguin Group Putnam, and Annabel Monaghan for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review. I highly recommend this book and all of Monaghan’s work—they never disappoint!

This book hit me in all the feels. First, I love older main character romances. I'm in my early 40s and its nice to relate to the characters a bit more. They are more established with their lives and jobs, while also still going through personal struggles about where they are in their life. Sometimes reading about a 22 year feeling like they will never find love (as a single 43 year old who would love a partner and family) can make my eyes roll.
Ethan was a gem of a book boyfriend. He's trying to get his family and town to take him seriously as an adult. And he just really sees who Ali is and supports her. I loved seeing Ali's growth as a woman and a mother, while she learned what she deserved and wanted and was finally ready to ask for. While a romance, it covered the concept of grief pretty extensively, as Ali regularly talks to her mom while trying to think through things. And Ali was able to look back and still love and miss her mom while realizing her mom, while having the best of intentions, didn't always know what was best for Ali. The book wasn't all sunshine and roses. There is grief from loss, divorce, failing to be recognized for the person they grew up to be, etc. All very relatable.
Easy 5 star read. I couldn't put it down and it made my heart so full and happy.

I loved Annabel Monaghan’s previous books and this one is fantastic too! Ali’s life is a mess. Her mom died two years ago and she is still grieving for her, her husband left her, she’s a professional organizer but her house is chaos, and she hasn’t worn hard pants in a very long time. She has a chance meeting with Ethan at the dog park and it’s as embarrassing as it is fantastic. Ethan and Ali meet again unexpectedly and Ali realizes that a summer romance might be just what she needs. I loved how Ethan and Ali find a shared history and help each other in the exact way they need. It is a perfect summer romance, and maybe more.

This book is so much more than just a summer romance. I felt like there was personal growth of the MMC and FMC. I really enjoyed the romance in this story as well.

Learning to let go of expectations, the ones we have of others as well as of ourselves.

I loved the all the characters except for Pete. Ali and Ethan(scooter) were lovely.

Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN Group Putnam for the digital copy of this book.

A sweet, fun, summer romance.

Ali is struggling with the loss of her mother and learning to navigate life as a newly divorced single mom. Will a stranger from the dog park be what she needs to reclaim her life?

I enjoyed this book but It was not my favorite.

Ali is a newly single mom who has been lost since her mom died. She has been lost and needs to overhaul her life the way she overhauls and organizes for her clients. When her dog pees on Ethans shoes at a dog park, she doesn't realize how it's going to change the direction of her summer and, quite, possibly her life.

I really enjoyed the growth of Ali's character and how, as her feelings for Ethan grow, so does her self-confidence and backbone.

The characters and the development and growth throughout the book was great. I struggled with how she conveniently didn’t have her kids a majority of the time.

Losing a parent can be devastating, even if the child is actually an adult. Ali, the main character in Summer Romance, found herself barely functioning in the year following her mom’s unexpected passing. Adding insult to injury, her husband declared he wanted a divorce on the anniversary of her mom’s death. And even though her marriage was not ideal, Ali was not thinking it was at the divorce level. However, his decision did spur her into action and that combined with introspection and meeting someone who seems to value her, helps Ali find her way. A sweet love story with character development for both Ali and the male lead, Ethan, that will leave readers hopeful and happy.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and have written an objective review.

this book inspired me to go on a decluttering/organizing kick that's still going strong. I look forward to reading Annabel Monaghan's new book every summer. I can't get enough of her writing.

I am a fan of everything Annabel Monaghan writes. She knows how to make the reader feel every emotion and is so deliberate with the choices she has her characters make, it always feels realistic and relatable.

Wow I loved Ali and Ethan. Their banter and chemistry was so palpable. I completely adored them and devoured this rom-com.

Favorite quotes include:

“Spring is always coming, and I know for sure I will always have a dog.”

“When I’m quiet I can hear my heart yearning for impossible things"

**thank you to Netgalley and G.P Putnam for the ARC and a chance to read and review. All opinions expressed are my own**

Ali Morris lost her mother two years ago, separated from her husband one year back, and has been lost in the thick of both of those life events (and then some). Summer is on the horizon, she's about to be a divorced mother of three, so it's time to have a no strings summer romance (hello champagne summer), and then bam, adorable Ethan (Scooter) walks into her life at the dog park.

Yes, we love a romance book, but what I love about this book by Annabel Monaghan is that it felt like a hug, or a conversation with a friend, or just a relatable story I feel I'm telling myself as a single person in my 30s (with summer on the horizon, maybe I have to go to the dog park more often, wink!). It also reminded me warmly of my mother and her story of finding love after divorce. There needs to be more stories about finding love and dating after divorce, or finding love after putting your husband/your children first for so long.

I've loved Annabel Monaghan’s stories and characters so far because of their relatability. This book has it all - lovable character with sweet and sexy moments, it's beautifully written, and it's funny, honest, and charming.

Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cute and sweet! Annabel Monaghan is consistently enjoyable and an auto-read. Never thought I'd be rooting for an adult skateboarder but here we are.

This was a cute read! I loved the way the our heroine meet the hero in the dog park! It leans a little bit more towards women's fiction, but the romance was totally worth it in the end!

Annabel Monaghan was a new-to-me author until recently, when I read and loved "Nora Goes Off Script". Since I enjoyed that one so much, I was so excited that I was approved for this book too! I loved the realistic characters and situations, the family dynamics, and the chemistry. Ethan was such a sweet male lead! This was another 5 star book from this author for me, and I'm so excited to read what she writes next.