Ali’s life is in shambles. Her mom died and her husband asked for a divorce. She takes her dog to the dog park and her dog pees on an Ethan’s shoe. They keep meeting around town when he asks her out on a date but he’s hiding a secret.

Ethan is only on town for the summer and Ali decides that maybe a summer romance is just what she needs. Throughout the summer Ali realizes how much her marriage changed her and starts to transform herself back to her former self.

I absolutely loved Summer Romance. It was cute and relatively light book. I loved the characters and how they overcame being stuck in their lives and find true happiness.

I’d definitely recommend Summer Romance!

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Putnam for a copy of Summer Romance for an honest review

Annabel Monaghan writes some of my favorite summer romance reads, which inevitably become some of my favorite reads of the ENTIRE year. Summer Romance is no exception. This book brought out all the feels. There is alot to unpack in this book and it pulls an emotional punch as Ali tries to recapture her true self while balancing her kids and her controlling ex. There are alot of themes about family relationship and grief over a loss of a parent, that were authentically written (as someone who has recently lost a parent). But more than that, Summer romance is about finding the life you want to live...and the joy that comes with authentic living. And Ethan is the perfect partner for bringing out the best in Ali. I simply loved Summer Romance and would recommend it to anybody whose beach bag needs feeling. It's a MUST READ this summer season!
Thanks to #NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the ARC.

I loved this! I felt the details in the writing set the scene so clearly that within the first few pages. I was fully immersed. This was a really well done divorced but finds love again story. Characters were great and their motivations were clear

✨ Review ✨ Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan; Narrated by Kristen DiMercurio

Thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons, PRH Audio and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

I loved Nora Goes Off Script because it brought an older character with kids looking for love in a different era of her life. This again brings us a character in her 30s, recently separated/going through a divorce, finding love. From the meet cute of her dog peeing on his shoes to the reveal of who the MMC was, this was just a delight of a book. The MMC showing up to her divorce hearing in a powder blue suit was just 🔥 . The book is tender and funny and filled with love and adventure.

I especially appreciate how the characters were able to bring their full selves to this story and grow together in ways that felt really special, putting aside some of their baggage and past hurts in ways that made sense to their characters. Loved this one!

🎧 Amazing audio narration as always by Kristen DiMercurio! The perfect audiobook to take with you to the beach!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: f/m romance, women's fiction
Setting: small town east coast summer
Length: 8 hours 27 minutes
Reminds me of: Nora Goes Off Script
Pub Date: Jun 04 2024

Read this if you like:
⭕️ single mom finds love
⭕️ beach town adventures
⭕️ dogs
⭕️ home organizing

I have long been a lover of romance, but what's really special is when you find a romance with real depth and character growth. Annabel Monaghan's books really do this and Summer Romance is no exception. This one features Ali. Ali is truly struggling. She is in the midst of a divorce, has three children, and is still processing the loss of her mother. She feels lost and alone. On a trip to the dog park, she runs into Ethan and she feels the first small glimmer of a spark. What she doesn't realize at first is that Ethan knows her through her best friend, Frannie.

Watching Ali grow out of her grief and rediscover herself and her own strength was beautiful. I love how it's not truly Ethan who does this but it's more that he sees her before she sees herself and he supports her, mess and all. I loved seeing his view of her. Ethan has his own past that he prefers to avoid which is why he is rarely in Ali's hometown, where he grew up. The two decide on a summer romance knowing that it will end when Ethan heads back home at the end of the season. Romance where there are children involved can be tricky but this book is done so well. They are never intrusive or annoying but also there is natural room for the romance itself separate from Ali's children. The town and characters in the book complete the whole picture and give the reader that summer town, summery feel. While there is true grief and loss in the pages it never gets too heavy. There are also some beautiful conversations about motherhood and what it is to love your children. I just adored it from start to end.

If you want a romance with true character growth, real communication, and heartwarming moments this would be a great book to add to your bag. I continue to be a massive fan of Monaghan's writing and cannot wait for the next one.

I enjoyed reading Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

I loved this book so much - yes, it was a summer romance but it was so much more. I could relate to Ali as a middle aged mom and how you feel like you give up yourself for your family. I loved watching her grow and take back her own life. Making herself important and a priority overall helped her entire family. And her relationship with Scooter… swoon! It was a good pace, had conflicts and questioning without feeling like it wasn’t going to work out. Very relatable but in a fun and uplifting way.

This was my first book by this author, and I loved her writing style from the very first page. It was just a little something extra that I don't really know how to explain.

I loved so much about this book! It had so much going for it. There is a meet cute involving dogs. There is a best friend's younger brother who has turned into a total hunk. There is a little boy that still likes to snuggle with his mom. There's a teenager who wants nothing to do with her mom until she needs her to help heal her teenage hurt. I absolutely loved how Ethan and Ali both helped their neighbors. I loved it all!
The thing I loved the most was how deeply Ethan fell in love with Ali and how the love she feels for him gives her back the parts of her she lost during her marriage.

I definitely teared up some reading this story.. I'm going to go back and read her previous books.

Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

Ahhhh! I absolutely adored this book! I’ve loved each of her books that I’ve read, but think this may be my favorite of hers. Ethan is a true gem, and I just loved him. The character growth was everything I could have hoped for, the setting and descriptions were a dream, and I loved the mix of love, grief and growth throughout the story. I would have loved a bit more spice since the characters had such incredible chemistry, but it is perfect if you prefer a more closed door approach.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for my ARC in exchange for my honest feedback!

A sweet, light-hearted summer read about grief, second chances, and rediscovering yourself. Another good read from Annabel Monaghan.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advance review copy.

Thank you @netgalley for the advanced copy of Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan. Summer Romance is an excellent choice for the summer months. Ali is a strong main character with who grows and gets stronger throughout the story. The supporting cast is equally engaging and charming. I highly recommend this book as a must-read, but I don’t want to spoil too much. I suggest grabbing a copy and adding it to your beach bag.

This book is a fantasy. I mean that in the best way. It’s the kind of book that has real life struggles; Ali is in the process of a divorce barely making it out of the house in “hard” pants, caring for her three kids. But the easy going perfect man that is Ethan, helps Ali find her voice. Ethan is every middle-aged, stuck-in-a-rut, mom’s fantasy. He looks at Ali as if she’s 22, he takes incentive without being pushy, he gives her his whole attention and makes her feel valuable, desired, and seen. He’s not perfect, but he definitely wants the girl and gets a huge E for effort. What woman doesn’t want to be treated like they’re special and worthy? And makes connections with your kids?! Sign me up. What makes this even better is that Ethan has desired Ali since he was 14 and she barely registered he existed, so when the tables are flipped and she sees him in a new light as a grown man, it’s the best possible second chance romance.
Summer romance flirts with the notion of a quick no strings attached romance that’s fleeting and not meant to last, but the BIG feelings in it are anything but. I laughed a lot while reading; Monaghan loves her characters and everything from Ethan’s crazy suits, to the “fun-tastic” party get ups, to the playful banter between Ali and Ethan, and the meet cute involving dog urine (yep, you read that correctly). I also cried. There’s a moment late in the book between Ali and her 7th grade daughter that just felt so raw and real—ahh the hormones! Mother/daughter relationships are a big part of this book and the realization Ali has as to how she is seen by her daughter is life altering for her. So grab some tissues!
All of Monaghan’s books have a similar feeling of anticipation and desire for love that make her an autobuy author for me. I easily could have read this in a day with how quickly I became entrenched in Ali and her family’s life. If you want a summer book with all the feels, love the second time around, and big laughs, I’d highly recommend Summer Romance. I received an early copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This was a fun read! I've enjoyed Monaghan's previous books - this one wasn't an instant love for me like Nora Goes Off Script, but it was charming, funny, and relatable, even though I'm not a mom or divorced. I like that all of Monaghan's characters have depth and relatable life experience that makes them feel three-dimensional and as you read, feel like your friends and neighbors. This will be a good summer read for folks into the rom-com genre!

Thank you to Putnam books and netgalley for this advanced e-arc copy in exchange for my honest review!

Summer Romance tells the story of Ali Morris, a professional organizer whose own life is a mess. After losing her mom and going through a divorce, Ali hasn't felt like herself. Her life is in shambles, right down to her disorganized pantry and preference for pants without zippers. Things start to change when Ali takes off her wedding ring and puts on a pair of overalls. She meets Ethan, a man her dog takes an immediate liking to (in a very funny way). Ethan's kind smile and acceptance of her quirky style make Ali think that maybe a little romance wouldn’t be so bad.

I've read all of Annabel Monaghan's books, and she is now one of my favorite authors, definitely an autobuy author. Her books have been 5-star reads. The plot, the setting, and the characters are all fantastic. Themes like divorce, single motherhood, best friend's brother, old friends becoming lovers, and dealing with grief are all wonderfully handled. Annabel Monaghan always delivers a warm, funny, and easy-to-read story. Summer Romance is a delightful mix of humor and heart, perfect for anyone looking for a story about love and personal growth in the midst of life's chaos.

I really wanted to like this, but I DNFed at 20%. I'm just not a stay-at-home/part time mom going through a divorce, etc.. and I felt like I couldn't really connect to the main character at all other than my obsessive need to organize. And the talking to her dead mom thing.. a little strange and felt kitschy.

SUMMER ROMANCE probably wasn’t written to make you stop and take stock, but it did for me. I think sometimes when we let go of our individual roles in life for the collective role as a mom, we don’t realize how we have shelved some of the best parts of ourselves, even if the job we are doing is of the greatest importance and we are grateful to be able to do it. This book made me think about how to get back some of that and that makes me like it more than maybe someone that can’t relate to that piece. Making Ali a consultant who helps other declutter their lives was a great decision – it helps hit home that sometimes it’s easier to do something for others than it is to do for ourselves. Ethan is a great character, one of those fictional people you remember for a while, and I loved the way he interacts with her complicated world and how well-rounded his character is as well. The romance is great without any intimacy being graphic and there are some great humorous parts. This book was really enjoyable and I am glad I let myself binge read it. Self care. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.

This book feels so real! Although I have not gone through the experiences that the FMC has, there were many aspects I could relate to as a mother.

Professional organizer, former accountant, and a mother of 3, Ali is the main character. We find Ali at a low point in life. Although she organizes homes for a living, her house is anything but tidy. Stacks of mail, not a clean spot on the counter, piles of clothes everywhere. Ali is dealing with the loss of her mother and the loss of her marriage. She has been separated from her spouse for a year and is moving forward with a divorce.

As the reader, we get to follow along on Ali's journey of finding herself again. She finally starts to see what a mess her life has been and decides to make some changes. One day she decides to put on some "hard pants" and has a funny meet-cute with Ethan (aka Scooter, aka her best friend's brother).

Ethan is a wonderful man. He is sweet and adores Ali - always has. So Ali decides to have a summer romance. Her happiness and life start to turn around. Watching her organize her life is very satisfying to read.

This book has some heavy topics - loss of mother, divorce - but also remains light. It doesn't feel too heavy and the topics are addressed and navigated in a very "real" way.

I am a mother of 2 girls, and reading Ali's internal struggle of wanting to have a small break from her children to have a moment for herself and then feeling guilty for even thinking that is sooooo relatable.

In addition to the 2 main characters involved in the "summer romance" the other characters are fantastic as well.

This book was well written and I think many readers will find it relatable. Maybe to not all aspects of Ali's life, but bits and pieces like I did.

Thank you Penguin Group and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a 10/10 for me! The characters were so likeable and the chemistry felt authentic and effervescent. This is one of those rare "beach reads" where the conflict doesn't feel like going through the motions. I wish I could read this book again and again! Heartfelt, warm, funny, and delightful.

Another great book from Monaghan. This book definitely has heavier concepts in it but that’s what I love about it. The characters are mature and have problems that the reader can relate to. As a mother of three kids I can see myself in Ali. Being a mother and a daughter is hard and Monaghan explained it all beautifully. I would have given this book 5 stars but I felt it dragged on a bit so I took one point off but I would definitely recommend this to a friend.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

3.5 ✨

This book was heartfelt, and about l handling grief as well as learning to take charge of your life.

To me it wasn’t a comedy or super romantic. It was more fiction with a sub genre of romance in a sense that the romance didn’t seem like the main character.

I just felt like I couldn’t feel strongly about the characters because their relationship felt rushed although Ethan was super understanding, supportive and patient!

I liked how Ali parented her 3 kids and they were super sweet.

Read if you like-
- 1st person POV
- small town vibes
- handling grief
- summer romance
- second chance
- finding new love