I loved Nora Goes Off Script, and Summer Romance did not disappoint! The main character, Ali, is multi-dimensional and complex; she's a woman who has spent years disappearing in her marriage. It's not until she goes through a divorce and meets a man from her past (who she doesn't remember because it's been so long!) that she finds herself again. Her chemistry and relationship with Ethan ere both wonderful; I loved seeing a positive male role model coming into her single mom family. I feel like there are not enough characters like Ethan out there. The town of Beechwood was a beautiful backdrop to the whole story. I love that this story touches on the challenges facing moms going through divorce as well as that feeling of revitalization when you meet a person who sees you for all of the wonderful things you are (and that your ex didn't see). Having been through the same situation myself, this book reminded me of how wonderful a divorce can be when you're married to the wrong person. 5 stars; I would highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC!

FIVE.FREAKING.STARS. Annabel Monaghan is quickly becoming my favorite author. Her stories are heart warming and just feel like life in a nutshell. Her characters are always a little bit older (Ali is divorced with 3 children) and the maturity of the characters and their stories is so refreshing. I loved every minute of this book and may have even shed a tear or two.

Thank you NetGalley and Annabel Monaghan for the ARC of Summer Romance.

I read a lot of books because reading relaxes me and brings me joy. Every once in a while I'm lucky enough to find a book that makes me smile when I'm reading. I want to race through it, but want to savor it at the same time. I don't want it to end. All of that to say, I LOVED THIS BOOK!! I've read and enjoyed all 3 of Ms Monaghan's adult novels, and this one is my favorite (that is high praise, as I adored Nora Goes Off Script). This is going to be your favorite book of the summer!

I loved the imperfect main character, Ali, and her realistically messy life (despite being a professional organizer). I was fully invested in her journey of healing, from the death of her beloved mother and a divorce, and self love. Her love interest is simply adorable. This book was sweet, and charming, and funny. 5 very enthusiastic stars!

Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. Summer Romance will be out June 4, 2024 but you can preorder it now!

What an absolute delight. I love every Annabel Monaghan book I've read, and always want to be BFFs with the protagonists. Ali, who is in the midst of divorce from an absolute doorknob of a man, is really in a rut. She's lost her mom, and she's lost the idea of family she thought she had. A chance dog park encounter sends her on a first date she enjoys, but when she discovers she went out with her best friend's goofy younger brother, she is thrown for a loop. Fortunately, he's a lawyer who can help her argue terms of divorce and she's a professional organizer who can help her clean out his parent's house, so they continue to spend time together. Feelings grow as Ali navigates single parenthood and her first romantic relationship built on respect. The writing is so casual and fun but there's so many deep messages buried within the text. It was such an easy read but left me thinking.

I cried in an airport finishing this book.

TW: Parental loss, divorce

Summer Romance was a beautifully written heart wrenching tale of life, love and loss. It had the comfort and support of your mothers hug. This book was similar to her previous books in terms of a second chance romance and coming home themes but also incorporated much heavier topics. Monaghan seamlessly integrated grief and the afflictions of motherhood, once again reminding us that there is no joy without pain or vice versa. Seeing Ali find herself again and pick up the pieces of her life to find peace and happiness was so satisfying. I really related to her raw sentiments in regards to motherhood and finding that balance in yourself and relationships with others. Ali and Ethan were such a great pair and the epitome of a partnership. They truly brought out the best in each other. I wish there was an epilogue so we could see a glimpse into their future but other than that, I loved this book and think it was incredibly well written.

"Life's going to do what life's going to do, Alice. You might as well have a dog."

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House and author for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

This will be the perfect book to kick off your summer reading! Coming June 4, Summer Romance is now my favorite Annabel Monaghan book!
Grieving the loss of her mother and her impending divorce, Ali Morris has been living in a haze. A professional organizer who has lost complete control of her own home and is barely caring for herself and three children. On the day she knows she needs to start pulling herself together, her dog embarrassingly forces an introduction to a man at the dog park. Ethan is visiting family and a summer romance might just be the thing Ali needs.
Ethan is a dream of a MMC and although Ali’s life might be a mess, she’s an awesome mother and devoted daughter. Over the course of the book, she must navigate her relationship with her children, her soon to be ex-husband and squeeze in some time for herself and Ethan. She navigates life as a single mother, and with some encouragement finds her voice again. And through Ethan’s eyes she can remember the woman she once was and really still is.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for my gifted arc.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars

Ali Morris is a professional organizer who is very unorganized at home. She is dealing with the death of her mother and a divorce...actually, she isn't dealing very well. It's summer time and the three kids are at camp and Ali decides to put on "hard" pants and get moving.

Such a sweet book. Ali is just the best and Ethan is even better. I just rooted for them the entire time. So many wonderful characters. Sit back, clear a few hours and enjoy.

I can 100% see the appeal and why so many people love this book (I figured I would be one of them), but it just wasn't for me. We follow Ali as she falls fro Ethan after her separation from her husband. While I enjoyed certain aspects of the book, the writing wasn't my favorite and I wasn't a massive fan of our two main characters. By no means did I think this was a bad book, I just didn't click with it.

Ali is still grieving the death of her mother while dealing with her divorce and raising three kids, so she's in a pretty vulnerable state and then she jumps right in with Ethan. I think their relationship progressed a little too quickly for my liking, but he gives her a new lease on life so I'm happy for them. I didn't connect with Ethan in any way and I'm not a mother myself so it was extra difficult to connect with Ali, which in turn made it harder to like the book deeper than surface level. I definitely think this book would be perfect for some people, but unfortunately I wasn't one of them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest testimonial.


Annabel Monaghan is a favorite of mine. I always enjoy her books. They feel like the perfect lighthearted weekend read. This book was no exception and might just be my favorite of hers.

I cheered for both Ali and Scooter the whole time. I cheered for them as individuals and as a couple. They were both so likable and deserved so much more happiness in their lives. The side characters were all great too, with the exception of Pete who just sucks. This book was full of laughs, full of real life situations, and full of love. An easy 5 stars.

‘Summer Romance’ was a delightful read. The dynamic between the two main characters gave me butterflies and was so wholesome. I loved that the FMC was in her late thirties (the new twenties, right?) with three kids, and still got to star in her own romance novel.

Even though on the surface, I don’t have a lot in common with Ali, I still found her situation and persona relatable. I was cheering for her to get her life in order the way that she organizes spreadsheets and other people’s homes. While I enjoyed Ali’s character development, I wanted her best friend Frannie to make more appearances (especially to provide more thoughts on Ali’s relationship developments).

This was the first novel that I’ve read by this author, and it surely won’t be the last!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this upcoming book. This is the second book I've read by this author and it definitely won't be the last. The beginning of it was very funny to me as it incorporated some of the relatable quirks of being a parent. The first sentence hooked me from the start! The middle and end was a little bit more sad in content but definitely still a good read. I liked the characters and the fact that it was about a happily ever after later in life.

Another homerun by this author, who has now became an automatic read author for me. The characters, Ali and Ethan, had great chemistry and dialogue. Ali was also relatable as a mom and as someone who has lost, but also as a person who learns to finally advocate for herself. This read fast, because it is that good - and when it ended for me, I just wanted more!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam/G.P. Putnam's Sons for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Allow me to begin by telling you that I am deeply in love with Summer Romance. Remember the gift Emily Henry’s Happy Place was to summer ‘23? Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan is going to own summer ‘24. Expect to see it in the hands of beach goers everywhere- it is a treasure!

Ali Morris’s life is falling apart. Two years ago she lost her mother. One year ago her husband left her. She has struggled to put the pieces of her life back together for herself and her three children, but without her mom, that often feels like an impossible task. Then her best friend’s brother, Ethan, returns to their hometown, and an unexpected romance begins. Suddenly a summer that seemed overwhelming at the beginning is one she never wants to end.

This is one of those books I loved so much that I wish I had written it myself. Absolutely Monaghan’s best yet!

Thank you to NetGalley and Annabel Monaghan for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Books Putnam Group, and Annabel Monaghan for allowing me to review this book with an ARC!

An honest review of this book would say that this book was a breath of fresh air! It is not a common thing to see characters that are in their late 30s which was nice. The story starts off with Ali, having lost her mother, juggling kids and a divorce, starting to figure out how to navigate her life newly single and unsure of herself. She runs an organization business but her life is disorganized. One day at the dog park her dog ends up "meeting" Ethan, a guy Ali knew when they were younger. Over the course of a few days, they learn things about each other and their relationship progresses. Ethan helps Ali to discover herself again, showing her how he has always seen her, strong, independent, and beautiful.

This book was such a sweet love story that unfolded very naturally. No spice necessary. An easy read that shows you can have a second chance at finding love and it may be in a very unexpected place! Will definitely recommend!

4.5 stars! I knew from the very first line I was going to love this book. Ali has had a tough couple years- first, with her mother passing, and then her husband leaving her. She is a professional organizer- but her own life is a total mess (I LOVED the irony of this). As she is putting the pieces of her life back together, she meets Ethan/Scooter and they begin a summer romance. Ali was such a great protagonist, and I could totally relate to her in many ways. I loved the playful relationship that develops between Ali and Ethan. Ethan is such a sweet (and hilarious) character and felt like the perfect match for Ali. I really enjoyed how Ali learned to stick up for herself, both with and without Ethan's help, throughout the book, and watching her heal from her toxic marriage.

Annabel Monaghan is a must-read author for me, and this was probably my favorite of her books! They just always leave me feeling happy and inspired. I always love the secondary characters in her books and this one had lots of good ones- I particularly loved reading the scenes with her kids. Overall, this was such a fun, enjoyable, and light read, and I would highly recommend!

Ali is grieving her mother's death, going through a long-overdue divorce from her apathetic ex-husband, and raising her three kids pretty much solo when she has a meet-cute that leads to a fling ... just for the summer. Summer Romance is a story of self-discovery, the intricacies of being a mother and a daughter, love, loss, identity, and the choices we make with a female main character in her late-30s (BLESS).

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as I have everything I've read by Annabel Monaghan. The characters are layered and real, the settings are immaculate, and the prose is crisp. Some of the reflections on grief hit really close to home, but in a really tender and good way. Don't pick this up expecting a light beach read, but do pick it up and savor all the feels. I highly recommend it!

Thank you to Putnam Books for gifting me with an ARC to review. All opinions are my own. I loved it!!

Annabel Monaghan does it again with the perfect romance. Alice is a wonderful character that so many readers will have an immediate kinship with. Her family, and the family she has chosen, makes you want to move to Beechwood and partake in dinners and canoe rides. Monaghan’s character development is perfect for the each of the characters and their rolls in the story. I always had the perfect picture of where the story was taking place, even Phyllis’ house.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC!!

I love Annabel Monaghan! Ever since reading Nora Goes off Script, I have looked forward to her books. This one did not disappoint. It was a great story of getting through life after loss and how there’s still happiness after heartbreak.

4.5 ⭐️

I can't relate to this story because I am not a mother and I am not married either but I couldn't stop crying once I started this book.

This was raw and so beautiful. I loved "Same time next summer" by this author and I haven't read "Nora goes off script" yet but I definitely will. Annabel has become one of my auto-buy authors and I would read anything she writes.

Ali is such a strong FMC and I respect her for that. Her resilience and the love that she has for her kids was captivating and admirable. The things that she went through and then moving on with her life and finding love again was everything she deserved. The romance between Ali and Ethan had me swooning the entire time and I couldn't stop smiling from every single interaction between these two. 🥹

This is such a beautiful, short romance read. I can't wait to get my hands in the physical copy this next summer!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the advance reader copy.

Annabel Monaghan does it again! Everything she writes has me in love with her characters, no matter how messy they may be, and has me rooting for them from the start to find their happiness. This is another book from her where she takes a fun plot, such as a messy organizer, and transforms it in a way that makes you feel all the feels for the characters. I couldn't stop reading this one and it has me craving the summer months while enduring the cold ... highly recommend!