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.

This book hit me in all the feels. 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.
Easy 5 star read. I couldn't put it down and it made my heart so full and happy.

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.

I absolutely loved the main male character in this one—Scooter was such a great part of the story! But what really stuck with me was the “reset to life” aspect and the journey of finding yourself again after life throws you some unexpected (and messy) changes.

Ali Morris is a professional organizer, but her own life? A total disaster. Between losing her mom, her husband leaving, and not even remembering the last time she wore real pants, she’s struggling. But one day, she finally takes off her wedding ring, puts on overalls (baby steps, right?), and—thanks to her dog—meets Ethan. He sees her in a way she hasn’t seen herself in a long time. And while summer romances are supposed to be fun, fleeting, and heartbreak-free, this one? Well, you’ll have to read to find out. 😉

This book had the perfect mix of humor, heart, and second chances. A great summer read that reminds you how unexpected moments can lead to the best things in life. Highly recommend! 💕

📖 Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

#SummerRomance #AnnabelMonaghan #NetGalley #Bookstagram #BookReview #RomanceReads #BookLover #SummerReads #SecondChanceRomance #ReadMoreBooks #BookishLife

I didn't love this one as much as the others. Feels hard to top her earlier work. It was still a light hearted story that I enjoyed.

ARC REVIEW:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Annabel Monaghan solidifies herself as the queen of summer romances with her latest novel!!!

Losing a mother to cancer would be difficult for anyone. But nothing prepared Ali Morris for the pain she would endure after losing her beloved mother, Fancy. Blessed with an unusually close relationship, Fancy served as a pivotal role in not only Ali’s life, but the entire Morris family. So when Ali’s husband unexpectedly drops the bomb that he wants a divorce, on the one year anniversary of Fancy’s passing, she is taken completely by surprise. Overcome with grief and a loss of identity, Ali finds herself merely going through the motions. But she is brought back to life after a brief encounter at a dog park. Will a stranger be the key to Ali reclaiming her life once and for all, or will it send her back to life in sweatpants?

If you are looking for a five-star read, with lots of heart, and a love story for the ages, then look no further than Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan. This is a slow burn, best friend’s brother romance. It is set in a small town over the course of a summer and features one of the best meet-cute ever written. In fact, Ethan and Ali’s chemistry is so off the charts, it is hard to believe the story qualifies as a closed door romance!

I loved how sensitive Monaghan was when writing a love story for a single mother. She made sure that Ali was always mindful of her children’s feelings, even at the expense of her own. In the same way I loved seeing Ethan as an understanding partner who never pressures or pushed Ali. His patience makes him the gold standard for MMCs.

It is important to note that as much as this is a romantic love story, it is also a love letter from Monaghan to her late mother. This book beautifully illustrates the importance of female relationships in a woman’s life. I was amazed at how Monaghan manages to feature female relationships between mothers and daughters, friends, and mentors to mentees. While complications are bound to arise, the wisdom and love gained is worth it.

Special thank 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 reading this and any of Annabel Monaghan’s books, they are all fabulous in their own right.

I adored this book!! The writing was smart, witty, and heartfelt. Ali is going through a divorce with an ex husband who is the most unhelpful and unsupportive person. In the midst of all of this, she has also suffered a great loss when her mother passed a couple of years before the divorce. She had become a shell of herself since she lost her mother and she finally starts trying to get herself back on her feet after meeting Ethan at the dog park. I can’t tell you how much I loved Ethan. He immediately captures Ali’s eye at the dog park and her dog decides to pee on him. They end up having some complex ties that she finds out about later but their spark is not something to be ignored. Ethan is charming, attentive, and attentive. He also comes with his own drawbacks but he is such a loveable character! I just adored their love story and all the twists and turns. Even the grief was well written and relatable. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Putnam Books for my ARC. Annabel Monaghan is always a favorite. I adore her writing and am never disappointed!!

This is the perfect beach read when you're tired of the 18 year olds in fantasy lately. The story centers around a divorced mom, grappling with the aftermath of her mom's death - and just painted this picture of a small town, beach vibes as she starts to fall in love with a man who also is dealing with his own insecurities of being seen as irresponsible and flighty. Both characters felt very real, and Annabel Monaghan writes contemporary so well because she truly delves into character growth alongside a romance.

Who doesn’t love an Annabel Monaghan romance. I lived this second chance live story. Great FMC whose growth/arc is to be envied. And that MMC!!!

I loved this book so much!! The way it depicted motherhood and the things mom’s sacrifice/would do for their children was done so well. As a mom of two I related to so many things the FMC felt and went through. I fell in love with Ali and Ethan’s dynamic together and the way Ethan was so good with the kids while also not being just thrown into their family. I had so much fun reading this one. Annabel is definitely a new favorite author of mine!

Summer Romance was an unexpected delight! When I first read the premise of this story, I wasn’t hooked. However, Annabel Monaghan is one of my favorite authors, so I gave it a try. I was pleasantly surprised to say the least. There is something about AM’s storylines and characters that make all of her books perfect. I find myself grinning, tearing up, and best of all, always wishing the story wouldn’t end.

Summer Romance will make you feel the complexity of grief and motherhood, while rooting for a romance and second chance at love.

Thank you to NetGalley and G. P. Putnam’s Sons for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I LOVE ANNABEL MONAGHAN’S BOOKS and Summer Romance is no exception to that! This book follows Ali who is now a newly single mom as her husband has decided to leave her and she is dealing with the death of her mother than occurred two years prior. As a mother, I found this book to be very relatable as Ali is now relearning how to be a woman and discover what she wants out of life while pursuing a new romance with Ethan. I loved the character of Ethan and how supportive and strong he was for Ali but did not diminish how strong she already is and was as an individual. They complimented each other very well. This was such a good book and I would highly recommend it.

4.5 stars
This book spoke to me soso much. As someone who lost her own mom only three years ago, the grief and learning to live without your parent that you loved really spoke to me. And Ali’s complicated feelings over how her mother’s live might have shaped her character more than she realized. Truly, I felt/feel all the same things. And then there was the relationship between Ali and Ethan. Ethan was such a golden retriever character and him supporting Ali through her divorce was so stinking sweet. Teaching her how to skateboard, too freaking cute. Getting to know her kids better, absolutely adorable. I thoroughly enjoyed this read!

I really enjoyed this book. Annabel Monaghan seems to be the queen at giving divorcees a second chance at love. I really enjoyed Ali's arc to find herself again after a mediocre marriage. Ethan has all the yearning you'd want in a golden retriever. He is IN IT. He has struck gold and he is going to cash in. The kids felt relatable as well. While Ali's first marriage was explained, it still seemed implausible. But I guess that's the thing about bad marriages...

⭐⭐⭐⭐ I have really loved Annabel Monaghan’s previous two books, but I think maybe my expectation for this one was just too high. This was fine - cure banter, good chemistry, just-steamy-enough - but I think it's my least favorite of the three....

Thank you to @netgalley and @putnambooks for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Annabel Monaghan's "Summer Romance" was a breath of fresh air! This beautifully crafted story captivated me with its compelling plot, relatable characters, and sweet, believable romance. It offered the depth I often crave but rarely find in contemporary romance.

"Summer Romance" isn't your typical light and breezy read. It tackles heavier themes like loss, grief, divorce, motherhood, and self-discovery. Yet, even amidst these challenges, the story is filled with heartwarming and lighthearted moments. If you're looking for a book with real, relatable characters you'll instantly connect with, and a beautiful journey to follow, this is it.

Ali and Ethan's chemistry is undeniable. Their flirty banter is fantastic, and their gentle, kind love made my heart soar. They are both wonderful, flawed individuals who grow and change throughout the story, both individually and as a couple. Their journey felt authentic and their transformations natural.

While the romance is closed-door, I honestly didn't miss the spice (and I love spice!). Ali and Ethan's relationship is strong enough to stand on its own, a testament to Monaghan's writing. That said, there are plenty of sexually tense moments that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and some PG-13 moments to enjoy.

Despite not sharing the characters' life experiences (I'm not a parent, haven't experienced loss in the same way, etc.), I was completely invested in their story. Monaghan's charming and accessible writing drew me in and wouldn't let go.

5 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #putnambooks #summerromance #annabelmonaghan

Rating: 4 ⭐️
Pub Date: June 4. 2024
How I Read It:📱

Synopsis
Ali’s life feels out of control; her mother died two years ago and she is still grieving her death, her husband wants a divorce, and her dog just peed on a very handsome guy. The guy is very nice about it, and after the incident, Ali finds herself trying to find him. A summer romance wouldn’t be so bad, would it?

My Thoughts
This was a really cute summer read! Ali’s story is emotional due to her mother’s passing and her looming divorce. She goes through some self discovery, but also meets Ethan. Ethan was patient, caring and thoughtful, and the love story that unfolded between the two of them was so cute and heartwarming. Their relationship was refreshing! I’m really big on scenes in books, and I loved how this book had those small town vibes along with a summer romance. Pick this one up if you’re looking for a cute, heartwarming love story for your next beach read.

Themes
Best Friend’s Brother
Family Death
Divorce
Single Mother
Summer Romance
Meet Cute
Beach Read

Ratings
Characters: 4 ⭐️
Pace: 3.5 ⭐️
Enjoyability: 4 ⭐️

Thank you PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

A delightful novel that captures the essence of love and self discovery. Lily’s journey is both charming and relatable and infused with warmth and wit.
Many thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.