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Ali Morris is grieving her mother Nancy when her husband Pete asks for a divorce. Ali has become a shell of her former self. When she meets a man at a dog park. Her dog Ferris pees on his foot. She thinks it will just be a summer Romance but it becomes so much more.

Grab a box of tissues. This book will have you reaching for it. I bawled. I love this book so much. I just ordered my own copy because I loved it so much.

Another great summer romance from Annabel Monaghan! Ali is a married mom who is dealing with the loss of her mother when her husband announces that he is leaving her. She finds that for years she has put herself on the back burner caring for everyone else. Her best friend challenges her to get back to her former self and she takes her advice and finds that things start to turn around. She may have even found love. This was a fun book and I just loved the characters and her storyline. Thank you to GP Putnam and Sons and to NetGalley for an early copy. Summer Romance is available now. I loved it!

A wonderfully relatable and heartfelt story from the author of Nora Goes Off Script (2022) and Same Time Next Summer (2023). Annabel Monaghan is back with the perfect beach read for Summer 2024, Summer Romance. Ali Morris is having a bad few years. Mourning the death of her mother two years ago and the recent break up of her marriage, the professional organizer’s life is a complete mess. A former accountant and mom of three, Ali realizes she needs to pull herself together and move forward with her life. When she has an embarrassing encounter at the dog park, her life takes an unexpected turn.

This title is more than just a fun romance. Monaghan explores serious topics like: the crippling nature of grief, learning how to overcome adversity and mastering the art of standing up for yourself. This dog owner especially loved the comparison of love to dog ownership - you know you’ll eventually get hurt but the experience is worth it. A fast paced and fantastic escape read that we have come to expect from this author.

Perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Carly Fortune. Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy.

love Annabel Monaghan’s books! This was a 4.5 for me as it was a quick binge.

Alice is a mom of 3 who lost her mom 2 years ago. On the one year anniversary of her mother’s death, her husband told her she wants a divorce. Trying to cope, she puts herself into her organizing business while taking care of those around her. Until she meets Ethan… the guy her dog peed on at the dog park.

Ethan is in town for a quick trip and takes Alice on a date. He seems perfect, but doesn’t live here. Why does he look familiar?

While trying to do mediations with her future ex husband and trying to get to know Ethan as Ethan, how will Alice handle that and her 3 kids. Will she take time for herself?

This was a quick, cute rom-com with the most loveable characters! (Other than the ex, but he could be worse)

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

The perfect beach read! I love how relatable Annabel Monaghan books are. I have to admit the premise is not quite what I thought it would be, which ended up being totally okay.

While it was a romance with a mild spice level, there was also a woman searching for herself and what was going to make her happy. If you are in need of a quick summer pick me up this could be a wonderful choice.

For Readers Who Like:
- Short chapters
- Meet-cute
- Skater boys

Thank you @netgalley and @putnambooks for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Oh, what a delight! I loved Monaghan's debut, Nora Goes Off Script, and this one lived up to my expectations. It's a fun, summery romance that ticked all the boxes for me.

Ali and Ethan's dynamic was so sweet, and I liked that they were slightly older main characters. It's refreshing to read characters who can openly share their emotions, and the tension doesn't hinge on poor communication.

I also loved the setting of coastal New England and, overall, just found it enjoyable to spend time with these characters.

Ali Morris has had her life seemingly fall apart- her mom died, her marriage died and her surrogate parents decided to move. BUT her dog introduced her to a new person in town and her life starts to subtly change.

This book dealt with so much sadness and so much recovery. It was a beautiful exploration of coming back to oneself and the little things that can happen in order to put life back in order a bit. The characters were a lot of fun and it was such a satisfying read. Definitely one I'll recommend for summer!

#arc
#netgalley
#summerromance

I really enjoy Annabel Monaghan's books. I absolutely loved Nora Goes off Script and enjoyed Same Time Next Summer. Summer Romance ranks right up with Nora Goes off Script for me. This was such a fun heartwarming book. Ali is a soon to be divorced mom of three that lost her mom two years ago. She is stuck in limbo barely making it through her days when she meets Ethan at the local dog park. Little does she know where this summer romance will take her.

I enjoyed the changes that Ali went through with realizing how much she really is worth and what she deserves. Ali and Ethan were perfect together and the summer romance was fun and ended exactly how I figured it would. I do wish there was a little more spice in the book like Nora had, it was definitely implied.

Thank you NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons and Annabel Monaghan for an ARC of Summer Romance for an honest review.

I am a huge fan of Annabel Monaghan. This book was highly anticipated and did not disappoint. Ali has not been herself lately. Her mother died, her husband asked for a divorce... it's just not good. Enter Ethan/Scooter who makes her feel light and more like herself than ever. Sadly, he will only be around for the summer. This is a fun romance that will give you all the feels. 4.5 stars

This book really got me. The story and the characters were the perfect fit for me right now.

The main character, Ali Morris, is stuck. A former accountant and mom to three, Ali currently does some part-time work as a professional organizer, and volunteer accounting for family friends, but she cannot get past the grief she feels for the loss of her mom two years ago, and she is not sure how to feel about her husband moving out one year later. Now her husband wants to formalize their divorce, and she realizes that she needs to make some changes to her life, for herself and for her kids. In the middle of this, her dog pees on Ethan’s shoes at the dog park, and a summer romance is born.

The book cover is cute, but I don’t think it really fits with my reading of the book. The woman on the cover has this coy smile and her fingers crossed, like she’s lying about something? Or sneaking around? Or what? Am I reading those crossed fingers right? Is that woman hoping something will work out, crossed fingers? That’s not what Ali is like for me. Ali is trying to do the right thing in this book, all the time. She wants to support her kids. She wants to deal fairly with her estranged husband. She desperately misses her mom, with whom she had a very close relationship. At the same time, she is a little angry with her mom for never teaching her to stand up for herself. Ali knows that she was a participant in allowing her marriage to deteriorate. In fact, it seems this relationship had never been a good one for Ali, but her mom had simply taught her to deal with it rather than fighting for something better. This is some serious stuff, IMO, and it really got me. I still miss my mom, who passed away in 2016. But at the same time, I do feel a little angry with her sometimes. Like Ali, I feel a little guilty about that, but I also try not to deny what I feel.

All in all, I love this book. I love the main character and the relationship she has with her friends and her kids. The romance with Ethan feels authentic. I really appreciated the aspects of the story dealing with Ethan and his place in the community (no spoilers!). It raises great questions about what home means to all of us. This is a closed door romance, so there are plenty of feels but very little spice, which really fit for the story. 4.5 stars, rounded up because it was the exact perfect read for me this week!

Is Annabel Monaghan the queen of summer romance? I think she has joined the ranks! Her new summer romance called Summer Romance is my new favorite of hers!

I went back and forth on my rating so many times so my mind might change again after this review goes up. I really loved this one. The romance was more of a fast burn (to me) and sometimes that can bore me when I see 200 pages left in the book and we are already there. That said, the pacing was done so well that it kept me interested and engaged the whole time.

I can't find the words to describe my one gripe with the writing. It has a few current slang/phrases that "the kids are saying these days" and it kind of took me out of the story. They felt like things Ali, the FMC, wouldn't say. I know that's probably just a me thing 🤷‍♀️

Read if you like:
🩱 Middle Aged Main Characters (late 30s)
🛟 Loss/Grief
🌸 Small (beach) town romance
☀️ He fell first
⛱️ Best friend's brother

Overall, a perfect summer read and one I will be recommending to everyone!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Random House GP Putnam Sons for gifting me a copy of the latest novel by Annabel Monaghan. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Ali Morris helps people organize and declutter as her job, but her own life is in total disarray. Her husband has left her, her mom died, she's depressed, and is basically the single parent of 3 kids. The first morning she takes off her wedding ring, she meets Ethan at the local dog park. She decides that her life could maybe just handle a summer romance.

Don't think this is just a romance book or a rom com - it's so much more! It's about learning who you are when life throws you curves, about feeding your own soul by helping others, about standing of yourself, about second chances, and of course, about love and romance. I adored all these characters (except Pete, of course). Phyllis, Ali's neighbor, especially touched my heart and I loved the relationship between her and Ali; plus, the Dr. Phil quotes had me laughing out loud. Pack this one in your summer tote!

"I have the sense that I am a limb that went numb, and I am starting to tingle again."

This a lighthearted read about a newly divorced mom finding herself again; written in a way that any woman who has lost herself - in a relationship or parenthood - can likely connect to. I enjoyed the story, but felt like the character development was a bit rushed by the end. I also loved the comparison of a summer romance - and ultimately any love - to dog ownership; knowing you will eventually be hurt, but the experience is worth it.

"It's funny how you're meeting me for the first time, and I've known you forever."

☝️Single POV
🧒Best friend's brother
💞2nd chance romance
💔3rd Act Breakup

Thanks to Netgalley & Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC.

Ali Morris, a professional organizer, struggles to get her life together after two major life altering events: her mother's death and separation from her husband. Ali's life takes a turn when her dog pees on a stranger at the dog park, and she meets Ethan, a man who makes her feel seen and appreciated. Ali and Ethan start a whirlwind summer romance that changes them both. The book follows their romance, Ali's journey of self-discovery amidst grief, and her relationships with her ex-husband and children.

Annabel Monaghan piqued my interest with her first novel, Nora Goes Off Script, and solidified my trust in her as an author with her sophomore novel, Same Time Next Summer. Her third book, Summer Romance, confirms she’s most definitely an auto-read author for me! Summer Romance is an ideal beach read that I found totally bingeable. With relatable characters and solid writing, Monaghan crafts a heartfelt tale full of tangled emotions and the fleeting magic of summer. It’s definitely not just fluff, there’s actual depth to this story. I loved that the female main character had to navigate the new reality of an ex-husband and shared custody of the kids. This didn’t resonate with me personally since I’ve been happily married for twenty years, but I can see how Ali would be truly relatable for so many female readers. Be sure to add this one to your TBR ASAP, you won’t regret it!

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
Narrator: Kristin DiMercurio
Rating: 5 stars
Pub date: 6/4

Thank you so much to PRH Audio for my complimentary audiobook and Putnam Books for my physical copy.

Ali Morris, a single mother of three and a professional organizer, feels stuck after the death of her mother and her divorce. She’s struggling with her grief while trying to keep it all together for the sake of her children, when an encounter at a dog park with the charming Ethan brings a glimmer of hope and joy.

I loved this book so much and found it so wonderfully relatable. Ali’s transformation from a disheartened, overwhelmed mother to a confident woman ready to embrace life’s messiness is inspiring and poignant. The chemistry between Ali and Ethan is electric, filled with sweet, tender moments and a refreshing honesty that makes their relationship feel genuine.

The suburban beach town of Beechwood provided a picturesque backdrop to the story. The fast pace and captivating plot kept me engaged, and the well-rounded characters were easy to fall in love with. The third-act conflict was handled with finesse and only made me slightly nervous to see where Ali and Ethan would end up. Their HEA was even more satisfying after their situation was resolved.

I went back and forth between the ebook and audiobook, and Kristin DiMercurio did an amazing job with the narration, bringing all of these characters to life.

"Summer Romance" is more than just a delightful beach read. It’s an exploration of how crippling grief can be and how easy it is to feel like you’re lost. It’s also a look at the importance of self-discovery that encourages readers to embrace life’s imperfections. This is a must-read for anyone who’s looking for a romance with an emotional and relatable storyline.

Read if you like:
*best friend’s brother
*single mom
*closed-door romance
*forced proximity
*MCs in their late thirties

I loved this book more than I thought i would. This was my first Annabel Monaghan book and I now wanna go back and read more! This was a fun light hearted read that’s perfect for summer!

“Maybe that’s the essence of a summer romance: it’s the impossible thing—a love affair with no reality check.”

@annabelmonaghan does it again. The absolute quintessential summer read! I loved it. Every book I’ve read by her has been 4-5 stars. She manages to expertly suck you into a summer romance while also weaving in very relatable and real life situations like being 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘨𝘦, divorce, and kid issues as Ali has to do in this book. It can give us ladies some hope that you can find happiness, even if you’re not bikini body ready and living your best single-in-your-twenties life. So thank you for that fresh and needed perspective.

Ohhh this narration. I may not have loved the book as much as I did without it. It sucked me in. It had me invested. It had me wanting more. I did not want it to end!

“Life’s going to do what life’s going to do, Alice. You might as well have a dog.” 🫶🏻🙌🏻

Thanks for the free audiobook @PRHAudio #PRHAudioPartner and to Netgalley, Putnam Books, and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Holy, I binged this in 12 hours and only stopped so I could go to work. This was the perfect sweet summer romance and I loved every second of it

Read if you love
One POV
Best friends brother
He falls first

Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and net galley for this arc.

This book started off great. The writer is wonderful at telling a story. The amount of background information was also perfect. The FMC Ali was unique. Kind of all over the place and that made her more likable.
As the book progressed it was a little difficult to stay focused. There was a little lacking from Ethan the MMC. Like I needed more.
Overall, the book was good. Especially the relationship between Ali and her mom.

The perfect summer romance. I love Annabel and her story telling. I felt like I was a part of the story the entire time. I will be recommending this all summer long!