5 stars ALWAYS for Annabel Monaghan! Summer Romance was my top pick for the summer, and I was beyond thrilled to receive an advanced copy. Same Time Next Summer and Nora Goes Off Script were two books I immediately fell in love with and absolutely could not put down. I read them both in one sitting. Summer Romance was different for me because I’m reading this at a time I’m experiencing grief, same as the main character, Ali. That did not deter me, but I did find I took more frequent breaks. Tugged at all my heartstrings. Overall, another 5 star read from Annabel. She is and will continue to be my favorite author to read. I can’t wait to see what’s next!! Huge thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for making my dreams come true with this one. Publication date June 4, 2024.

Oh my. I loved this book! 4.5⭐️ this is my second book by this author and I honestly can’t get enough. I love that she writes about older women and their new journeys to love.

This book had me all in my feels, from a soon to be divorced mom, a grieving daughter at the recent loss of her mother, a single mother struggling to build her relationship with her daughter, to a women trying to enjoy life and have a fun and carefree summer romance.

I adored this book and can’t wait to find more by this author!

This is the perfect summer book for 24'. It's my first book by this author and I was hooked straight from the start.
This is one of those books I wished was real it was just that good and so hard to put down!

This is probably one of the best books I have read all year. I honestly loved every single thing about it and have nothing bad to say. This is hands down my favorite Annabel Monaghan book to date! I loved all of the heavy topics that were interspersed with the cuteness of a rom-com. I loved reading this one and would definitely come back to it again! New comfort book for sure.

This is a classic Annabel Monaghan book! It leaves you feeling joyous and hopeful. This book touched on more serious subjects and emotions, but I loved the aspect of finding yourself and finding your own strength. I will always pick up an Annabel book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

The perfect summer romance!!!

Ali is a 38 year old, personal organizer, and a mother of three. Even though she helps other people organize their lives, hers is a mess. She’s dealing with the loss of her mother, her divorce, and trying to find herself. Ethan is her best friends brother who quickly becomes her summer romance. He helps her see life through a new light and shows her what happiness can look like.

I loved Annabel’s other two books, and I knew I would love this one as well. She has a wonderful writing style and her books just make you happy! I flew through this book. It was adorable and lighthearted! I cannot say enough good things about this book! Definitely recommend!

📘: Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
🗓️: June 4, 2024

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

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*Reviewed on NetGalley, Amazon, and Goodreads.

Motherhood transforms every facet of your being. It’s an extraordinary experience, but all-consuming too. One of the most fundamental changes that happens is your focus shifts from yourself to your child. Sacrifices are certainly necessary in the early days, but some moms never learn how to transition back to tending to themselves even as their kids get older. This is why many women to lose their sense of identity at some point throughout motherhood.

That’s how we find Ali when we first meet her. She sacrifices a lot for her family, which has caused her to feel out of touch with her old self. In the midst of a divorce from a self-centered and detached man, Ali gains confidence, learns how to set boundaries, and finds balance. Whether you have kids or not, I think we can all be inspired by her bravery for shaking up her life and taking chances on the people and things that fulfill her.

As a stay-at-home mom, I applaud Monaghan for opening up an honest discussion about the disparities we face in today’s society. There’s a stigma that we don’t actually work, and our “job” is easy because we sit around and do nothing all day—which is the farthest thing from the truth. When Ali recalls her marriage to Pete, she says, “I saw my work as keeping people alive. He saw my work as going to the playground and lounging through nap time, the work of a child.” This a prime example of how society grossly fails to recognize our time and value.

But not Ethan. He sees Ali’s worth and encourages her to take up more space in the world. His whimsical outlook on life and the way he lives authentically with an open heart is downright contagious. I think the most relatable part about Ethan is his search for completeness and purpose in life. I mean, don’t we all just want to fit in?

Summer Romance shows us that we won’t find ourselves overnight—it happens in layers, seasons, an infinite thread of moments woven together across time. And that sometimes, life has to fall apart before it can fall together.

What a fun summer read! The romance, the summer atmosphere, the growth of our main character… all good things! This was the perfect amount of romance mixed in with some subtle family drama that I always need in a good book by the pool. Though a large portion of the novel revolves around Ali and Ethan's romance, a significant portion is devoted to Ali’s journey of self-discovery. Ali, is easy to identify with, making it even easier to root for her. She is honest, flawed, and very realistic. Definitely add to your TBR when sitting on your back deck on a warm summer night!

I read this book in less than 24 hours because I simply could not put it down. It was painful to peel myself away. The two main characters are simply lovely. Their banter is amazing and they are so kind to one another. Reading this book just felt like I was engulfed in a warm hug.

The book is a true delight to read. Which was particularly surprising to me as I have nothing in common with the main characters and was shocked to find myself so invested in a women in the midst of a divorce navigating life with her three children. None of these sound particularly appealing for me to read about, but somehow I was so invested in the characters and story that I simply could not put the book down.

This was such a fun and heartwarming summer read. I loved how this was a romance, but it also felt so much deeper than that. This book touches on grief, loss, learning to love again - there were so many deep and relatable topics outside of just being an all around amazing romance!

I really enjoyed the setting as well. The vibes alone were perfect for summer. I would absolutely recommend this one!

4.5 stars

Love Love Loved it! this was such a great grown up story! As someone who has lost their mother it was even more meaningful for me. I could connect with this book on another level. I was so happy to read such a good wholehearted book. It was everything I needed in a summer book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read this book.

I thought this book was going to be cheesy but it really had some depth! Ali finds an unexpected romance while going through a divorce that empowers her to look at her life and decide if what she’s surrounded herself with is really hers at all. A delightful read!

Absolutely my favorite Annabel Monaghan novel this far! Loved the themes in this one; such a fun and romantic summer read.

The MMC Ethan is top tier; let’s give a handclap for no miscommunication trope!!

Would definitely recommend this one to all romance lovers; grab a chair, make your way to the beach, and settle in with “Summer Romance”!


Thank you to Netgalley and Putnam Books for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

Summer Romance is so good! Ali is dealing with grief from losing her mom and figuring out single parenting three kids since her husband left. It is A LOT for her and it was so interesting to read about her life and struggles. It all felt so real. She has a wonderful support system in her best friend, I always enjoy reading friendships in books. Ali meets a handsome stranger at the dog park one day and it changes the entire outlook of her summer and her life. I loved this story!!

Annabel Monaghan is an auto-read author for me. I love her writing and the characters she creates. Nothing too flowery or complex, but beautiful and easy to take in. I always want to keep turning the pages of her stories. Nora Goes Off Script and Same Time Next Summer are still my top favorites of hers, but Summer Romance is a solid addition to her stack!

Summer Romance is out now, grab your copy and enjoy!! Thank you Putnam Books and Netgalley for my e-arc!

I was not prepared for how much I’d enjoy Summer Romance. I devoured this book! It’s a wonderful mix of romance and women’s fiction. This book of self-discovery was a wonderful read, perfect for summertime.

What an amazing book!
This was so much richer and deeper than I expected from the title and cover. It sounds like a fun summer romance book. Just a beach read, but there was a lot of self-discovery, growth, grief, and joy.
The characters were rich and layered. The pacing was absolutely 100% perfection. The romance was a glorious slow burn that unfolded beautifully page after page.
It was one of those books that I wanted to race through to see how it would all shake out, but also didn't want to end too quickly because it was so good I wanted to keep enjoying it. (In the end I read it in two days, so the impulse to race through won out.)
This is the first book I've read by Annabel Monaghan, but she's a heck of a writer. I'll be seeking out the rest of her workI and recommending this book to my friends. What a treat.

This book was ok. The description says it’s “hilarious”. No, no it’s not. I appreciate the book being more mature but the themes have more to do with dealing with grief and loss and finding oneself through it all. I’m not really one for books that subject you to the characters every thought. I get bored. So I was kind of bored a lot reading this. It was predictable and made me feel kinda meh. The most feeling I felt was Phyllis. Dear, sweet Phyllis. I love her. Solid ok, three star read.

Thank you to the publisher and the author for providing me an advanced reader copy of this novel via NetGalley.

Ali is in the middle of a divorce, still grieving the death of her mother and learning to be a single mom to her 3 kids. Her friends insist she get out of the funk she’s been in and the day she finally does, she meets someone and ends up with a date. The next thing she knows, she’s in a whirlwind summer romance with Ethan.

This book had SO much heart. There were a lot of heavy subjects being tackled in this book but it never felt anything but lighthearted and fun. Both characters are instantly loveable and you find yourself rooting for them to come out on top. When they both give in to each other, the romance will pull at your heartstrings in the best ways imaginable. This was such an amazing, summer romance read.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Annabel Monaghan and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions in my review are honest, voluntary and my own.

Best friend’s brother, summer fling, grief, family dynamics - I really enjoyed reading this one! Ali, a professional organizer, is struggling to organize her own life amidst a divorce, raising her three kids, and still grieving the loss of her mother. When her dog picks out a handsome stranger for her at the dog park sparks start to fly. Then she finds out the handsome stranger is actually her best friend’s little brother. The two continue a summer fling but it becomes complicated when real feelings become involved. Thank you Netgalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the egalley in exchange for my honest review.

Ever since I read Nora Goes Off Script, I’ve loved Annabel Monaghan’s writing style. Summer Romance is no exception. Ali is listless and unmoored after her mother dying 2 years ago and her soon to be ex asking for a divorce on the 1 year anniversary of her mother’s death. With her kids at camp and sports, she spends her days helping her best friend, Frannie, with the accounting books at her diner and re-organizing other people’s lives when she doesn’t want to touch her own.

One day, after Ali takes her dog to the park, the dog pees on a handsome man (Ethan) making the meet-cute instantly awkward. But Ali feels something for the first time in at least a year that doesn’t have to do with anyone else. So she leans into it and goes on a date with Ethan and has grander feelings.

Ali is so relatable. She’s struggling to cope with the loss of her mom. She’s trying to repair her personal life amid the divorce decrees set by her selfish almost ex-husband. Ethan is also a lawyer and helps her with that too. Ethan has had a crush on Ali since they were in high school (unbeknownst to her) and helps her take charge of her grief and growth. This is a closed door romance but an easy one to dive in.

Thanks to NetGalley and GP Putnam’s Sons for this eARC. Summer Romance is out now.