My favorite romance novels are those that have a compelling story but also get under your skin and make you think about some aspects of your life. Summer Romance was a fantastic romance that made me think about what I want from life outside of my identity as a wife and mother. It also really made me want to clean out my junk drawer.

Ali's mother died, and then her husband moved out. She's been lost in a fog of sweatpants and sorrow while focusing on keeping her girls on time for school, her elderly neighbor fed, and her fledgling organizing business up and running, all while navigating divorce. While at the dog park, her dog decides to pee on Ethan, the handsomest man there. Thus begins a whirlwind, complicated, deeply meaningful summer romance that will change Ali and Ethan forever.

There is so much to love about this book. Ali is incredibly relatable as a person adept at helping others figure out their lives (and junk drawers) while in paralysis to care for her own life in the same way. There's also a very thoughtful storyline about how our choices as adults are viewed through the eyes of our children and that sometimes, knowing what we are subconsciously teaching them can be a catalyst for change. It is also a hilarious book about the chaos of life and making decisions based on whether or not you'll have to wear hard pants.

A huge thank you to @netgalley @putnambooks and @annabelmonaghan for the opportunity to read Summer Romance, which will be available on June 4, 2024 in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
I loved Nora Goes Off Script and thought Same Time Next Summer was just okay. Luckily this is much more Nora and way less Same Time. Another recently divorced mom finding her way, similar themes as Nora, but also somewhat original. I really enjoyed this one.

The thing that I love about Annabel Monaghan’s novels is that they ring so true that you can feel the emotions and believe the happily ever after. This book has Happiness for Beginner vibes in that the FMC is drawn to the younger brother of her best friend, who has been pining for her for years - but this story shows the messiness of life and how love brings out the best in everyone. I also love that Monaghan’s books feature women who have lived a bit of life and carry that forward in their thoughts and choices. Her well-written books feature compelling complex characters that you will miss when the story ends. She remains an auto-read for me. Thank you to @Netgalley and @Putnambooks for the ARC - the opinions are all mine.

This book was really cute and fun! This book really hit on the mom-life vibe.

Real issues and funny problems made this novel unique. This was a really good romance book and Annabel is definitely a good writer. I’ll be watching for more from her!

I loved this book. On paper, the FMC Ali and I couldn’t be more different- I’ve never been married, I’m child-free by choice, and I most definitely am NOT a professional organizer - but still I found her - and all the characters really- so very relatable. Monaghan excels at this- her characters, her stories, they’re all so specific and well-drawn and yes, relatable. I flew right through this book and will undoubtedly re-read this and her other two books while I do my best to wait for her to produce a fourth and likely just as lovely, moving, humorous, and engaging book.

Thank you Annabel Monaghan, Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

I loved this!! It was a quick and easy read. It took a couple chapters for me to get into it, but once she met Ethan I couldn’t put it down. You could really feel the chemistry between Ali and Ethan, especially in contrast to her relationship with Pete.

The character development of Ali and her growth throughout the book was written very well. I really felt for her and understood her struggles despite not being able to relate to her experiences personally. While all of the side characters were great, I do wish there was a little more development to side of them, like Frannie and Iris. Although they were mentioned frequently, I didn’t feel like I really got to know them even though they were close to the main character.

Overall, I definitely would recommend this book! It was such a sweet and enjoyable read. This is definitely one I would pick up again.

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC!

It's a pull at your heart strings kind of romance book but deals with life after separation and finding love again. But also dealing with death, long distance relationships and life with kids.

Thank you to NetGallery and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

5⭐️ Highly recommend! This book warmed my heart so much. I laughed, cried, and felt butterflies (Ethan was a fantastic book boyfriend.) I loved the how the story unfolded for Ethan and Ali, and appreciated the beautifully poignant life lessons that were woven in. The analogy about getting a dog cracked my heart right open. 😭

Spice: 🌶️ Closed door
Swearing: None

This is a really beautiful, engrossing romance that will have you rooting for Ali and Ethan to make it work and for Ali to find her voice again with her ex. I immediately liked Ali as a character, but the introduction of Ethan is a bit bumpy.

I had a really hard time believing that they grew up in such a small town, and he was the brother of her best friend, yet neither of them recognized the other. Depending on how much the person has changed, this might take a few minutes, but there would be at least some recognition or familiarity.

The only way this is believable is if Ethan and Ali only knew each other in elementary school, but Ethan was in love with her in high school and can quote her valedictorian speech, so at least one of them would've recognized the other soon after meeting again.

The whole conflict around this almost made me lose interest in the story, because it just wasn't believable. Once you get past that part, though, it does have more depth and lots of heart, so it's worth pushing through.

I looove Annabel Monaghan’s Summer Romance! Such wonderful writing and storyline. You feel so much for Ali. I love it!!!

I loved this book! Annabel is most definitely an auto buy author for me. It gave be all the feels as I, like the main character, am in my 40s. No edits - just loved! Will be posting tiktok shortly

I absolutely loved this book! I've read and enjoyed all of Annabel Monaghan's books, but this one is my favorite. Ali Morris might be a professional organizer, but she's struggling to contain the messiness of her own life. She's still grieving the loss of her mom, is in the midst of getting divorced and leaving an unfulfilling marriage, and she just feels stuck, wanting to find herself again but not sure where to start. That is, until she meets Ethan, who's in town for the summer visiting his family—and who just might be a life-altering blast from Ali's past. There's no harm in a summer romance...but could what Ali and Ethan have become something even more?

Summer Romance is the perfect summer read! Monaghan effortlessly balances the lighthearted tone of the story and the swoon-worthy romance that develops between Ali and Ethan, with some heavier, more emotional topics, like coping with grief, learning how to discover who you are beyond others' expectations of you, and opening yourself up to love and happiness, even when you risk potential loss or heartbreak in the process. The writing was engaging and witty, the characters were super enjoyable to follow, and I loved all of the different relationships the story explores (my personal favorites were definitely Ali and Ethan's love story and Ali's bond with her kids). I also really enjoyed the small-town setting—it truly felt like Beechwood was a real place, and it was so easy to get drawn into Ali's everyday life. Overall, I'd highly recommend Summer Romance! It's a bittersweet, tender story that will tug at your heartstrings and give you a warm, comforting hug all at once. I already can't wait to reread it soon, and I look forward to seeing what Annabel Monaghan writes next! Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was super cute and fun! Loved the sweet moments and really love the "mom vibe" of the story. Real issues and funny problems really made the book special. This was a really good summer romance book (cute title hehe), but I don't see it leaving a last impression on me. I really loved her second novel. Annabel is definitely a good writer and I've enjoyed all her books!

4 ⭐️. This was my first Annabel Monaghan book and it certainly won't be my last. This book tackles grief (loss of a parent), divorce and the struggles of raising kids entering teenage years... all while finding yourself again. This was a beautiful book, Ali was so relatable since we are nearly the same age and I have two kids (not 3 thank goodness) and even though I am not in the same situation, a lot of her personal struggles and feelings towards her parents and kids are 100% relatable.

It is a closed door romance, so if you go into this expecting spice, I hate to disappoint you but you won't find any here. My only gripe with this book would be that Ethan is a little TOO perfect, this magical unicorn of a man, but I truly did love this story. The banter was adorable and I literally LOLed or gasped a few too many times. I also cried for the last 30 pages of this book, it is so heartwarming and wraps up very tidy (pun on the organization business Ali owns? Maybe).

So when this books comes out in June of 2024 - run if this sounds like your kind of Summer Romance read. Thank you to Netgalley, Annabel Monaghan and Penguin Group Putnum for this eArc in exchange for my honest review.

I knew from the first page that I was going to 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 this book. I was right.

𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 (PUB 06.04) is a story about life, love, and being the architect of your own experience. Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for early access. I had zero chill and read this as soon as the approval came through.

After losing her mom 2 years ago and separating from her husband a year ago, single mom Ali is ready to shake off the haze. When she is finally shamed into putting on hard pants, (you know, those pesky pant with a zipper) she meets someone who not only catches her eye, but her heart as well.

- Fresh and snappy dialogue that creates a brisk pace.
- The writing has an uplifting, evocative and light feel to it, but never schmaltzy. - The story and characters delve into heavier, real-life topics.
- It just sparkles.
- Leans more towards women's fiction with a closed door romance.
- I loved seeing older characters (38) with kids.
- Ethan is the perfect match for Ali and I loved everything about him. So easy to root for.

This is tied for my favorite Annabel Monaghan book alongside 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘢 𝘎𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘖𝘧𝘧 𝘚𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘵. I just want to reread it all over again. I just might.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Summer Romance! I love Annabel Monaghan's female characters, and Summer Romance was no different. Ali is messy and real and her problems are so relatable. Her transformation is realistic and inspiring. And Ethan is perfection. I loved the friendships in this book as well. As with all of Monaghan's books, I devoured this one in a day!

I was so excited to get an ARC of this book as I’ve loved all of Annabel Monaghans books. This one may have been my favorite of all, and that’s saying a lot because I LOVED Nora Goes Off Script. She has a way of writing that pulls you in from the start. You feel like you know these characters. Ali’s transformation through the book was so great. I was rooting for her to get her life back and be happy again. The town, the characters, the connections, the history, the growth….everything in this book was perfect. Don’t want to spoil it, so I’ll just say this is a must read! You’ll find yourself smiling, tearing up and smiling again.

[3.5 stars] A heartwarming story of a divorced single parent going through grief and finding love again in a somewhat second-chance romance. The story starts off slow and it took me a while to connect with the characters, and I couldn't relate that much to Ali as a person since her life is so different from my own, but the romance is so sweet and it's impossible to not root for her and Ethan's HEA. I appreciated all the thought and care that went into writing every character, even the side characters, making no one seem like an afterthought.

I recently read and enjoyed 'Same Time Next Summer' - if you loved it too, definitely give this one a chance!

I loved this book so much!! Everyone seems to think Norah off Script is her best, but I think this one is by far my favorite. So sweet and good romance. Can’t wait for her next.

I loved Nora Goes Off Script, liked Same Time Next Summer, and with Summer Romance, I'm back to love. This was an excellent rom-com. Maybe divorced moms with kids is Annabel Monaghan's sweet spot?

In this one, Ali — a mother and accountant-turned-home organizer is struggling to find herself after the death of her old mom two years before and her husband's announcement that he wants a divorce. The divorce is welcome, but Ali is stuck...until she meets Ethan, a handsome slightly younger man who seems oddly familiar and who actually listens to her and encourages her, something her soon-to-be-ex-husband couldn't be arsed to do.

The two embark on a summer romance. No strings (at least that's Ali's plan) — just dates, organizing the home he inherited from his parents, and lots of makeout sessions. But, pfft, we all know that's not how it's going to play out, and as it does, there is so much great banter. The soon-to-be-ex-husband gets some comeuppance, Ali starts to figure out who she is, and Ethan proves to be just the best.

Actually, my only criticism is that Ethan was too perfect. He has no discernable flaws. They don't really ever even argue. But hey, it's a rom-com!