This is gorgeous and Annabel is a master at her craft. Her stories stick to my very bones long after I finish them. Poignant and real and achingly wonderful.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4 enthusiastic stars! Annabel Monagham has really come into her own with this story. I loved it so much that I read it twice!

I loved watching Ali regain her confidence and self worth. I loved how her relationship and belief system about her parents changed and developed over time. I loved how she cared about her kids. I totally loved Ethan who has now become one of my favorite heroes. He's kept his childlike wonder and sense of fun but is also a mature, capable adult. The supporting cast of characters were also great.

There was a sweetness to this story that I really enjoyed and, although the main characters did face some life challenges, there wasn't a lot of angst and no cringe worthy moments. The overall feeling was heartwarming without being sicky sweet and also had a great dose of snarky dialogue which I loved. And, of course, a very satisfying HEA. So good!

And then there are the adorable antics of Ferris and Brenda! So entertaining!

Some profanity and PG love scenes.

This was such a good, fun read and something different then the genre I usually read I really enjoyed it

The last two years have been tough ones for Ali - her mother who was her rock, died and then, on the first anniversary of her death, Ali’s husband, Pete, announced he wanted a divorce. Now single and raising her two kids (and dog), Ali is in a rut - she lives in her hometown, has her best friend and elderly next door neighbor for support but can’t seem to get out of her sweatpants or find the person she was before her marriage. Then she meets a new cute guy (Ethan) in the dog park (or her dog does when he pees on him), but there are a few problems with him - one is he lives in a different state (the other I’ll let you read the book to find out).

This is a novel full of second chances - including Ali’s rediscovery of self, and her second chance at love.

I love Annabel Monaghan’s books and was giddy when I got this one to review. I enjoyed the story and all of the characters (she writes great characters) in this one but for me, Ali was my least favorite of Monaghan’s main characters (I think she was the least relatable for me). Because I couldn’t connect with Ali I had a little trouble loving this novel as much as the other two (I just didn’t understand how she could put up with Pete’s behavior and it frustrated me too much). That being said I still enjoyed the love story as well as the ancillary ones. I will be eagerly awaiting the next Monaghan book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC for review

Ali is a mom of 3, a newly separated wife starting divorce proceedings, and a professional organizer. She has been surviving, and not necessarily thriving, as displayed by her lack of "hard pants" in her daily wear. One day at the dog park her dog pees on a man's shoe and it is possible that a connection is formed over this slightly disturbing event, allowing Ali to explore the options that a summer romance provides her at this phase of her life.

Ali Morris’s life has been a mess since her mom died and her husband left her. Ali is just getting by with her three kids. Then Ali meets the handsome Ethan who breathes life and love back into her. They start a summer romance that changes how Ali sees herself and her future. She steps into becoming the “architect of her own experience.”

I loved this book. All the characters were so relatable, most especially Ali and Ethan. They each had a challenge of their own to overcome. The love story between Ali and Ethan was sweet and enchanting.

I would highly recommend this book. Put it on your TBR and pre-order today. The book will be published on June 4, 2024.

Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Annabel Monaghan for the e-ARC.

The author’s writing style drew me in from the first page and I just loved this story. The character development was great too. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

I recently read Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan; it is a fun and light-hearted read. The story revolves around Ali Morris, a professional organizer whose life is a mess. Her mom died two years ago, her husband left her, and she hasn't worn pants with a zipper in a long time. However, things take an unexpected turn when she takes off her wedding ring, puts on pants with hardware, and meets a man named Ethan, whom her dog claims for her in a rather unusual way.

The book explores the benefits of a summer romance, which is always fun, brief, and doesn't break anyone's heart. The author has done an excellent job of creating relatable characters that are easy to connect with. Ali's struggles with her messy life are something that many readers will be able to relate to, and her journey towards finding a little bit of happiness is heartwarming.

Summer Romance is a well-written and engaging book that will keep you hooked until the end. The plot is well-crafted, and the pacing is perfect. The book is suitable for a wider audience and is a perfect read for anyone who loves a good romance.

Overall, I highly recommend Summer Romance to anyone who loves romantic comedies. It's a delightful book that will leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling in your heart. The characters are charming, and the story is engaging, making it a perfect read for a lazy afternoon or a weekend getaway.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for this free ARC. I absolutely loved Nora Goes Off Script and this feels like a return to that fun but not overly cute banter. Ali has lost herself in her grief, overwhelmed by single parenthood and a terrible marriage finally headed to divorce. She meets a guy at the dog park and the rest of the story unfolds from there. I love how this author writes motherhood and how she depicts kids - she portrays them as funny, regular kids vs brats, and she nails the relationships between mom and kids realistically. Summer Romance is exactly what I like about this author’s writing and with this book, she is now an auto buy author for me. I couldn’t resist requesting this ARC, but at the same time I know I will be disappointed when this goes on sale and I don’t get to pick it up in anticipation like I normally would for a new release from a favorite author! This is a perfect summer read.

I received an ARC of this book (Thank you NetGalley & Penguin Group Publishing) and then immediately went and preordered it. What else is there to say?

I loved Nora Goes Off Script, Same Time Next Summer established Monaghan as an audio-read for me, but this one might be my favorite one of hers to date.

Monaghan can establish such a substantial sense of place in her books and her writing just flows for me. I love her “all in from the jump” golden retriever MMCs and I love her jaded/sarcastic FMCs that just flourish in that love.

Ali’s journey and rediscovery of self is one I was cheering for right away and I still found her struggles so universal and relatable (and I am not a divorced mom). Her ex was one you loved to hate along with her! Although Ali isn’t quite as jaded as her others, the humor is still there. Ethan is just adorable.
She is also dealing with the death of her mom and I loved the storyline of how she came to see her mom as also a flawed human who was just doing their best.
That the 3rd act split was not in any way contrived but are just realistic life problems to overcome and it was a tear jerker!

This story packed a heck of a heartwarming emotional punch and I loved every page.

This was my first Annabel Monaghan book and it certainly will not be my last! I adored all the characters in this cozy love story. Ali was a mature, very likeable FMC which made me genuinely connected to the story from the first 10-15%.
I highly recommend this lighthearted, fun book about healing, romance, and self discovery. 4.5 ⭐️

I want to thank NetGalley & Penguin Group Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read an arc in exchange for my honest review.

The book I didn’t know I needed to read and ended up finishing within 24 hours. The characters were so relatable, and there were many things to glean from the relationships besides “just another happy ending.” I was expecting to read a quick feel good romance that sounds good in a story, but isn’t very likely in real life. What I found instead, was an accurate portrayal of grief, love, and redemption in a close-to-middle-age “coming of age” story that felt like such an accurate portrayal of real life.

"Protecting your heart is self-care."

Ali is a separated & single mama. She devotes her life to her kids & doesn't really put much effort on herself. She organizes for others to make money, but hasn't given a thought to her own organization. When her ex wants to finalize the divorce, she thinks he's doing what's best for the both of them. Then she meets a stranger who lives 250+ miles away who shows her the truth."

I have been wanting to read something by Annabel Monaghan for FOREVER now. Something about her book covers just make me want to read her books, so I was SO EXCITED when I got this & I was not disappointed.

I loved Ali & I loved Ethan so much. I loved Ali's neighbor. I even cried to this book, which normally means that I loved it because I was so connected. I don't want to give away too much in the book but I really really loved it. I would have changed the ex's story just a tad though. I thought he was unlikable, but I really wanted him to be exposed whereas I don't think that he was. I can understand why it was done the way that it was, but I also wanted know more about his motives and the shady things that I imagine he was doing to Ali.

Thank you to Netgalley & Putnam Books for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own & were not influenced in any way.

Such a beautifully written story, I could not have enjoyed it more! It was my first Annabel Monaghan book, and am most definitely planning on reading others in the very near future. Such a raw and honest story of how beautiful and messy divorce can be, especially with such relatable characters. She also showcases just how special second chances at love can be, with all the realness intertwined. Her writing style really drew me in. I just adored this story.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions are my own.

WOW. I adored this book! Ethan was such a good good MMC. Ali's self-growth and character development was amazing, especially her standing up to Pete. I instantly fell in love with this book and couldn't get enough. I breezed through it in one sitting. It was such an easy read with loveable characters! The author's note made me emotional with Annabel's personal connection to Ali and a big aspect of Ali's life.

I just adore Annabel Monaghan books and this was no exception! This might actually be my favorite book by her yet. I caught myself giggling and smiling at Ali and Ethan's interactions multiple times throughout this book. I loved how she gave so much personality to the other characters in the book which helped me feel truly connected to the story. It's a quick and fun read and perfect for summer or any other time of year!

I really enjoyed this one. It was my first time reading anything by Annabel Monaghan and I will definitely read her other books. I enjoyed that the romance was about someone older with kids.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Ah, this book is everything I want in a book. A darling meet-cute, a misunderstood adult that's still treated like a child and a woman learning her own worth.

The author did a fantastic job of weaving a lovely story of second chances and knowing who you are.

Ali & Ethan (aka Scooter) aren't expected to be a couple but they work in every way. Well, except that he lives elsewhere and she's going through a divorce. Regardless, they start a summer romance that has promises of so much more.

I enjoyed this book so much and would definitely recommend it.

Despite being a professional organizer, Ali’s life is a mess. She’s a newly single (separated 1 year) mom navigating divorce, single parenthood, and dating while still grieving her mom who passed two years ago. Ethan (Scooter) is a self-proclaimed “unreliable” man who’s trying to prove to everyone around him, but mostly himself, that he’s an adult now and not a screw up. They plan for a summer romance when they start dating, but it turns into so much more.

WOW!! This was my first Annabel Monaghan novel, but I’ve heard such high praise from so many that expectations were high, and I was still blown away. This book was incredible. Might be my favorite romance ever, easily the best romance I’ve read this year. I read it in nearly 24 hours.

Best part of this book was the characters. Every. Single. Character. Was so well developed and lovable, even the side ones. They all had their own flaws which made them so realistic and so relatable. I feel like I could meet these people. The chemistry between Ali and Ethan was unreal. It was so strong and so perfect. They made each other the best versions of themselves. They were truly meant for each other.

I could go on about this book for such a long time, not sure if I’m going to get over how amazing it was. Will recommend this book to pretty much everyone.

Annabel Monaghan is solidifying herself as a must-read romance author. "Summer Romance" is a feel-good read with enough real world problems to feel believable. This is a solid 3.5, rounded up to 4!