SUMMER ROMANCE was a lovely and heartwarming story, with the same humor and warmth as all of Annabel Monaghan’s books. Really enjoyed the character development and the ease with which the story flowed.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the opportunity to read and review SUMMER ROMANCE.

3.5 stars

“Ali has been left by her loser husband, but she doesn’t really care.”

“I usually don’t like kids in romance stories, but I found these to be charming.”

“Ethan didn’t feel fully formed. He felt like a cliche Hallmark movie hero, but I loved his puppy dog vibes.”

“The story felt a bit rushed at times and could have benefited from more character development or more dialog, but in general I found it endearing and sweet.”

These are all excerpts from my review of Nora Goes Off Script, with names changed to reflect this story. And it still works perfectly. I honestly hadn’t connected how similar they were until I looked at my past review. Unfortunately, I enjoyed this one less. The characters were even less developed, and the storyline was much more generic.

One thing this book did very well was tackle grief. I got misty-eyed at the {SPOILER ALERT} loss of a supporting character near the end. I’m a sucker for found-family.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC to review!

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan was a beautifully told story following Ali and Ethan. Wouldn’t it be fun to experience a summer romance? That’s what Ali was looking for coming off of a separation and impending divorce from her husband. She meets Ethan at the dog park and their romance blooms and develops through many connections and is so sweet to read. I loved how they helped each other through their own difficulties and found a way to make their budding relationship work.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book. 4 stars!

Ally Morris is professional organizer who can't seem to get her own life in order. Her mom died 2 years ago, her husband left shortly after, and she only worn stretchy pants since then. However, one fateful day, the day she decides to take her wedding ring off and where something other than yoga pants, she meets someone one. Or rather her dog meets someone. More specifically, her dog pees on him. Could this be the start of something? Annabel Monaghan does a great of making the reader feel like they are right there in the action, laughing and crying right along with the characters in the book, and Summer Romance did not disappoint!

That is three in a row successes for Annabel Monaghan and she will continue to be an auto read auther for me. This book had me laughing and crying and different points in the story and tugged at all the emotions. Although I have not gone through a divorce, I could really relate with Ali as she struggled through a failed marriage and the loss of her mother. The character development with the two main characters really pulled me into their story. The part about Greer and her friends hit close to home as these are similar challenges that I face with my daughter and that feeling of knowing exactly how your daughter is feeling was spot on. I flew through this one and did not want to put it down. Can't wait for next's summer book from this author.

Ali is floundering - she and her husband have agreed to finally file for divorce, her house is a mess despite her job as an organizer, and she hasn't worn "hard pants" in way too long. Her best friend Frannie prods her to wear something besides sweatpants, and so she gets dressed and takes her dog Ferris to the dog park... where he promptly pees on the attractive man there. Without spoiling anything, what follows is a sweet and endearing story of a woman who is approaching midlife and reckoning with how she wants to live her life all while being shown what love should really look like. It was definitely a feel-good tale of pulling your life together after it has seemingly fallen apart and filled with lots of longing and sweet romance. Good for fans of Katherine Center and Abby Jimenez.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Overall: 4.5/5 rounded up
Spice 0.5/3

Summer Romance isn't just a romance and I appreciated that so much about this book. This was my first book by Annabel Monaghan and won't be my last. She knew how to get me attached to these characters and hit me in all the feels. I would definitely recommend this one as a book to read out on the beach or when curled up on a rainy day!

Our main character Ali is a professional organizer, but definitely doesn't feel that way about her own life. After losing her mother, who was her best friend, and her husband divorcing her, she's happy when she keeps everything going for her kids. Things start to change for her after a surprise encounter at the dog park when her dog tried peeing on a very attractive man.

Ethan ends up being more than just a romance for Ali though. Besides slowing letting herself feel again, Ali finds a while new side of herself. I love seeing her start to believe in herself again, speak up for what she deserves and wants, and to just find happiness. The romance between these two wasn't completely easy and had some bumps in the road, but it worked. They both felt like real people with their flaws, but they loved each other and wanted to make it work.

All in all, Summer Romance was a heartwarming story with a sweet romance, great character development, and amazing side characters!

My review will also be posted on https://thebookdutchesses.com on August 15th!

Cute summer romance. I also recently lost my mom so that all hit so close to home. Ethan is so sweet. I love Annabel’s writing

I recently read all of Annabel Monaghan’s books and all of them were amazing, but Summer Romance was my favorite by far! I’m not a mother but I related to this book so much. This story was written so beautifully. I felt every emotion while reading in the best way possible!!

Ali Morris wants to be a professional organizer. How ironic then, that her life is such a mess. She has lost her mom, her husband left, and she's only worn stretchy pants since. When she finally decides to get up and get out there (really pants finally on) she meets a man at the dog park. When Ethan turns out to be more than she bargained for, Ali has to decide if he's worth adding to her mess.

This is my first by Monaghan but it won't be my last. A lovely, sweet romance with a female character that's actually closer to my age! (40). Ethan is the perfect romance boyfriend- kind, funny, but with enough of an edge to make him hot. On top of the romantic fun, this looks at grief, putting your life back together and not being the same person when you return to your hometown.

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book. My reviews can be read on my GoodReads account here: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1335387-kelly

Summer Romance is a delightful escape into the joys and complexities of love under the sun. Set against a picturesque backdrop, Monaghan weaves a charming tale that blends humor, heart, and a hint of adventure. Her characters are wonderfully relatable, each navigating their own summer dramas with authenticity and wit. The story unfolds effortlessly, drawing you in with its nostalgic charm and leaving you rooting for love in unexpected places. Perfect for anyone seeking a feel-good read that captures the magic of summer.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the second change at love. Characters were honest and relatable.

I love a good summer beach read and Annabel Monaghan's books definitely fit the bill! Summer Romance was great and I fell in love with Ali and Ethan in no time flat and was rooting for them all the way through! This book made me laugh and gave me all the good feels that a summer romance should. Definitely recommend this sweet second chance at love story!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 4 June 2024

This was another light hearted romance from Annabel Monahan. It was a fun read but a little thrown together. Some parts of the story line felt rushed.

Thank you to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam’s Sons and the author for a digital ARC of this book. Annabel Monaghan has written another delightful summer read with a very likable and relatable main character. Ali is a newly divorced mom of three struggling to adjust to life after the loss of her mother. She is a professional organizer yet her own life is (understandably) in disarray. Romance for a midlife mom is realistically portrayed as is the ageless feeling of falling in love. The writing flows smoothly, the characters are well developed and multidimensional. Highly recommend to readers who enjoy books by Katherine Center, Laura Dave and Abbi Waxman. Beautiful cover which captures the essence of the book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars!

All hail Annabel Monaghan, the queen of middle aged romance. Nora Goes Off Script is my favorite of her books but this is a close close second. Absolutely my favorite summer romance of 2024.

Summer Romance is a perfect summer romance read - it is light and cute while touching on some deeper and darker themes. Divorce, loss of a parent, reorienting your dreams and expectations are all touched upon in this best friend’s brother kind of second chance romance. The story has great small-town vibes, cute dogs and wonderful side characters.
Ali has a lot on her plate as she navigates a difficult divorce, is grieving for her deceased mother, and caring for her three kids. Meeting Ethan at the dog park in a very meet-cute kind of way is a breath of fresh air until she realizes he’s „Scooter,“ her best friend’s troubled younger brother.
Their relatable struggles make the romance between Ali and Ethan so beautiful to watch and genuine. This was a fun summer read !

In Summer Romance, Ali Morris struggles with grief from her mother's death and her failed marriage. With the encouragement of her friends, she decides to be more social. She removes her wedding ring, dresses in “real” clothes, and takes her dog to the park. There, she meets a man who could potentially help her forget her troubles for a while - a summer romance.

Highlights:
✨Swoony Romance: he falls first trope, forced proximity, witty banter, good communication (NOT miscommunication—woohoo!)
✨ Other Pros: single motherhood, small-town vibes, dogs, teen drama, self-discovery, and a realistic look at grief - I love how she “talked” with her mom after her death.
✨Narration: Kristen DiMercurio perfectly portrays Ali Morris, expressing a range of emotions—sadness, frustration, hope, and love. You genuinely understand Ali's character and can't help but cheer for her.

Is life weighing you down? This book is for you! Ali has a lot on her plate she is trying to work through and unexpectedly a childhood friend reenters the picture. Ethan has a refreshing, carefree spirit that has a way of helping set everything right in her world.

The author has such vivid descriptions of summer that will instantly relax the reader. She also integrates humor throughout which makes the book even more enjoyable. Let’s not forget the ease of bringing characters together…she has a way to motivate you to get organized while also making you feel good inside! But how will the summer close was the question I had throughout my reading journey!

Thank you Annabel Monaghan, Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for this ARC opportunity!