Summer Romance is a sweet story about loss and rediscovering oneself. Ali is dealing with both the loss of her mom and her husband Pete leaving her. She finally decides to out on real pants and take her dog to a dog park and she meets Ethan. He is great. Their romance is just what she needed to feel happiness again.

I felt this story was a little slow, it took me longer to get through this book than it did Annabel Monaghan’s other books. I really didn’t like the constant mentioning of her mom’s passing because it made me constantly feel sad. The story did wrap up nicely in the end and yes I would recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for an ARC ebook. I always feel lucky to be able to read an ARC.

Ali Morris's life isn't going as planned. Two years ago, her mom died who was one of her most favorite people in this world. Then a year ago, her husband asks for a divorce. Ali is spending her time taking care of her three children, wearing sweatpants, and being a professional organizer; while her own life is a mess. One day, she finally takes her best friend's advice and puts on pants with a zipper and takes off her wedding rings. While at the dog park, Ali meets Ethan who likes her just as she is. The only thing is, Ethan is only in town for the summer.
Review:
Summer Romance is a light hearted and fun read that is perfect for the summer. I love that Annabel Monaghan's characters have depth and are a little messy. It is relatable and not perfect which is always refreshing to read! I did feel like it had a slower start and I had a hard time getting into the story. I also wasn't sold on the love story between Ali and Ethan at the beginning, but was more convinced as the story and their relationship progressed. I absolutely loved the mom/daughter relationship between Ali and her mom and then Ali and her daughter, Greer. It was beautiful to see that bond and I loved the author's note at the end!
Summer Romance publishes on 6/4 and I highly recommend picking up this summer read!
Thank you to NetGalley, Annabel Monaghan, and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC of Summer Romance in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 stars (round up to 5)

I really liked the setting, the characters, & the overall vibe of this sweet love story. Annabel Monaghan has a knack for writing characters that seem so familiar to me. It is a joy to read her stories! Summer Romance is the perfect cozy summer read ☀️

“Spring is always coming, and I know for sure that I will always have a dog.” ❤️❤️❤️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Summer Romance
Author: Annabel Monaghan
Source: NetGalley
Pub Date: June 4, 2024
⛱️
Summer Romance is outrageously good, and it is in my top three romance books for 2024. EVERYONE will love this one and the romance is soft, sweet, and closed door. I read this book from start to finish in one day because the story is lovely and mesmerizing. Ali is getting a divorce and with three youngish kids and an absentee father, the burden of single parenting falls on her. Add to this is the loss of her mother two years earlier who was her guiding star. Then she meets Ethan at the dog park and sparks fly. Ali hasn’t dated in decades, but she knows that Ethan is something special and she is prepared to make it a summer romance since he is only in town for a short while. He’s worth the risk. Sometimes life is hard and sometimes life hands you a golden opportunity to make a future with just the right person. I WILL buy this book. I would like to highlight the whole darn thing. The writing is eloquent, the romance has so much loving vibes and Ali and Ethan deserve a love that lasts a lifetime BUY THIS BOOK…like, I mean buy this book ASAP. You can thank me later. #SummerRomance @annabelmonaghan @netgalley @penguinartgroup @putnambooks #romance #love #heart #family #life #loving #sweet #chicklit #womensfiction
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I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the Publisher, Netgalley, and the Author for the opportunity to read this novel.
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#book #books #bookaddict #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagramer #bookshelf #booksbooksbooks #readersofinstagram #reader #booklove #bookreader #reader #reading

In this mature romance set in the fictional coastal town of Beechwood, NY, Monaghan has crafted a beautiful story about a 38-year-old, soon-to-be divorced mother’s reawakening and the surprising man from her past who is the impetus for it. I couldn’t help but recognize the use of the changing tides as a metaphor for washing away the detritus of life. leaving a clean slate on which to forge a new path and rediscover parts of herself that were carried away by grief and loss.

On the one-year anniversary of her mother’s death, Ali Morris’s husband Pete asks for a divorce. On the two-year anniversary, she wakes up drowning in grief and decides to take her dog, Ferris, to the dog park to help clear her head. In a unique “meet-cute,” he pees on a charming, handsome stranger’s foot, and despite Ali’s embarrassment, Ethan doesn’t seem bothered by it at all. In fact, he looks at Ali as if he’s seeing the vibrant, attractive version of herself that she thought she’d lost years ago, before grief, a failed marriage, and three kids left her a shell of her former self. Even before she realizes that Ethan is her best friend Frannie’s younger brother Scooter, he’s already awakened feelings that she thought were long gone.

Since Ethan lives four hours away and is just visiting his parents, she knows the best they can expect is a summer romance with sex off the table (since, in her opinion, it can lead to complications and possible heartbreak). Having had a crush on her since high school, Ethan is happy to spend whatever time he can with Ali. So, when his parents announce that they’re retiring to Florida and leaving their home to him, he and Ali negotiate a deal that will benefit them both and allow them to have some alone time. As a part-time professional organizer (who can’t seem to keep her own house in order), Ali will help him clear the house out prior to listing it and Ethan, a lawyer who can’t seem to shake the reputation he earned as a trouble-making teen, will help Ali get the best deal in her divorce settlement. Is it any surprise that these two kind, supportive, and protective people, who feel truly seen and accepted by each other, find themselves falling?

There is so much to love about this slow burn, closed-door romance that really evokes emotional responses ranging from laughter to sadness. Ali’s “conversations” with her enthusiastic and eccentric mom provide guidance beyond the grave and her care for and friendship with her elderly neighbor Phyllis is poignant. Witnessing Ali’s casting off the cloak of grief (or, in her case, stained sweatpants and t-shirts) and reclaiming her self-reliance after a loveless marriage to a selfish man (especially while realizing that her feelings for Ethan are what she deserved all along) is really life-affirming. Her relationships with her three children are touching, especially with her pre-teen Greer who is navigating the horrors of middle school mean girl machinations. Ethan’s devotion to the skateboarding kids in his hometown and his selfless acts of kindness with his neighbors are endearing and provide a window into the wonderful man that he’s become, despite his family’s inability to see how he’s changed. It’s also worth noting that, despite there being no graphic sex scenes, Monaghan has managed to establish such tension and intimacy between Ali and Ethan that the fade-to-black scenes are not a disappointment (for those who crave them). If you’re looking for the perfect beach read, you’ll find it here. Highly recommended.

4.5/5 ⭐️, 1/5 🌶️ (implied/closed door), 0/5 💧

🚣‍♂️ Mature Contemporary Romance
🛹 Love after divorce
🚣‍♂️ Self Discovery
🛹 Single Parent
🚣‍♂️ Grief of lost loved ones
🛹 Single POV

This was a mature romance that I wasn’t sure I could relate to but ended up loving at the end. The growth of the fmc was really exceptional done. The style of writing feels more matter of fact for me so I don’t feel as emotionally invested, but the struggles and many pressures that weighed the fmc felt very real. Nothing was super dramatic and I appreciated how age appropriately the characters acted throughout. I think I wanted a tad more drama and satisfaction/closure at the end with many characters, but I’m also very happy with it too. Would recommend!

What a sweet book!

I loved that the characters in this were adults who have lived some life and dealt with real problems. I’d say this was a book with a mix of romance and women’s fiction, which I love.

This is a feel-good read that is perfect for the summer!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC.

A summer romance 💕

Lovely, fun, emotional story. Highlights the thrill and heat of a summer romance while balanced with the complexities of every-day life.

Only two things kept this from five stars for me:
1. I didn't find it believable that she didn’t recognize Ethan.
2. The beginning felt slightly underdeveloped.

Very much enjoying the best friends brother trope this summer & this made for a solid summer read. I enjoyed reading this one and tried to just let the story flow instead of thinking too much about it. I didn’t feel quite as connected to the couple as usual - I think because of the skateboarding aspect it felt a bit too immature when we were dealing with almost 40 year olds, but I understand the point it was trying to make. I loved the playful nature they had and how they handled Pete and the mediation items. The grief portion was not too much to the point of dragging the book down so all in all it worked for me! Link to review on IG coming soon.

We love an older FMC & a mother with younger children FMC!

This was right up my alley. Second chance romance (romance post-divorce), strong female lead, plus summery vibes. I won’t say too much more because I don’t want to give it away but throw this in your beach bag and enjoy yourself!

I love Monaghan’s other books so this was a no brainer.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

This novel just cemented Ms. Monaghan as an auto buy for me. Ali is every mom who struggles with multiple “identities” and figuring out how to balance all of it. Her soon to be ex husband is pretty useless and with the loss of her mom, she’s not quite sure how to move on. Then enter Ethan and that’s that. I love how they give each other space to be who they are or whom they are becoming. Plus they hold space for each other in the best ways.

Summer Romance starts off with the cutest meet cute (cue: my puzzle🐶) at the dog park. Ali has lost her mom, her husband, and her sense of self over the last few years. When her dog “greets” a cute stranger at the dog park, a budding summer romance ensues. 🥰
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What I loved:
🐶fun meet cute
🐶best friend’s brother
🐶single parent
🐶sweet MMC
🐶dreamy setting
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I appreciated an older FMC in Summer Romance, one in the middle stage of life with kids, an ex husband, and just trying to balance motherhood, adulthood, and a new relationship. It was relatable.
I am currently crushing pretty time big on Ethan. 😍
Men: take notes 🗒️
This was a sweet and heartwarming romance. Add this book to your summer TBR!
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Thank you Netgalley and G.P Putnam’s and Sons for the opportunity to read this book!
It releases June 4th!
4.5 stars!

I loved this so much. I'm always on the hunt for romance novels featuring adult women with whole lives, because so many romance novels are focused on women in their early to mid twenties, and I am decidedly no longer in that demographic. Those books are fun and great, but I truly relish the opportunity to read about women in their thirties and beyond. Anyway, I loved Ethan so much, he was the absolute perfect male lead, and I just felt for Ali as she luxuriated in her grief, feeling totally stuck after the loss of her mom and then her divorce. She was written in such a way that the reader could truly empathize with her, rather than see her as a pathetic mess who couldn't move past hard things. I got her and wanted the best for her, and as soon as she met Ethan, it was ON. I loved their romance, I loved the spice level of low to medium, and I loved the side characters. This was a true winner for me and one of the best books I've read this year.

My favorite summer read so far! Again, I hugely appreciate that this wasn’t about a 20-something finding her person, but instead about a woman in her late thirties with kids, and a marriage, and a career.

Monaghan is fantastic with witty banter, and pacing and finesse. She is up there with Henry, Jimenez, and Bailey for me. Her characters are complex and unique, and this is true of the worlds she paints too. I was impressed by how she wove death and grief into the story without making it fully sad.

If I have one piece of feedback for Monaghan, it’s to please add one or two more peppers to her spice level. Please! Your books are deeper than romcoms; so let’s fully go there!

Thank you for the arc. Can’t wait for the world to have this book in their hands.

I love Annabelle Monaghan’s books and this one is another good one. I read most of this book while on the beach. It was fast paced and so cute. It's not all fluff either. There's depth to this story. It's about Ali Morris who has three children. Her marriage is over, and her mother has passed away. She unexpectedly meets someone from her past, Ethan, and he really helps her get through some tough times. Reading about the times they spend together over the summer brought a smile to my face. This book is very relatable and enjoyable. Highly recommend picking this romance book up. There's just something about the way Monaghan writes romances that just brings joy while reading.

Out June 4.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I'm such a fan of Annabel Monaghan's books and this new one is no exception! I also love stories about how it is never too late to make changes to your life and this book describes that marvelously. It is sweet and funny and made me tear up a couple of times. The perfect poolside/beach read!

Fun-tastic (to quote Cliffy)! This is a summer beach read that hits all the right notes. Ali (Alice) is struggling to get her life together while her soon to be ex-husband is living his best life. She is juggling her business, taking care of three kids, one dog, and a house that is in serious need of being organized. One fateful day at the dog park has Ali connecting with someone from her past; someone who admired her from afar and will help her be that spontaneous and hopeful girl she once was. This story takes the reader on a roller coaster of emotions with much laughter, some tears and heartbreak and the promise for a champagne summer!

This book is a fantastic summer read. Ali is a great FMC. She has so many layers and is discovering all of them throughout the book. The side characters are just as interesting and fun. I don't want to give too much detail, so I will just say this one is worth the read. Highly recommend getting this one and putting it in your beach bag.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

I really enjoyed this summer book while on a summer vacation! It was a fun romance but also included depth that I wasn’t expecting.

This was so cute and had a deeper meaning all wrapped into one book!

The book is told from one point-of-view and it comes from Ali. She is a mother of three who lost her mother a couple years ago and has been separated from her husband for a bit and now he is ready to get the divorce going. So much was put on her place and even though she had some close friends, some more like family, she still wished her mother was around and would talk to her when she was alone. I definitely felt her pain. I have been privileged to have my mother still by my side and I can’t imagine what it would feel like to not. Her mother helped her with the kids and kept pushing her to be a better wife and have a perfect marriage, but when her mother is gone and no longer there to keep everything afloat it all shifts.

I loved seeing Ali learn who she is once again. There are times we get glimpses of what her marriage was like and I don’t know how she lasted so long. Although, it is easier to let things go than have to deal with change. Someone also comes into her life and he changes everything for her. I can’t give any clues because it would be a spoiler, but I enjoyed being surprise by Ethan. He was exactly what Ali needed and appreciated her in every way.

Both Ali and Ethan go through their own changes and jump over hurdles to be with one another and to also let each other grow even if it means this budding romance is only one that lasts the summer. I loved their moments together!

Overall, this was another great book by this author and I know I will come back to it again. This is the perfect book for summer.