Annabel Monaghan is a phenomenal romance author! I’ve read every book of hers and thoroughly enjoyed Summer Romance! It’s a must have summer read! Thank you NetGalley for an advance readers copy of this book!

Loved this one! The chemistry between Ali and Ethan is swoon worthy. The book also touches on Ali’s journey through single parenthood and discovering herself. Great summer read, 4 stars!

And I’m a sobbing mess. She does this to me EVERY time. Her characters are just so well developed that I feel like I know them. Their complex struggles, relatable issues, their heart…I felt it all. Highly recommend, especially during the summer because the setting is perfection, beach, kayaks, barbeques. 5 sparkly stars!

BOOK: Summer Romance
AUTHOR: Annabel Monaghan
PUB DATE: 6/4/2024 by G.P. Putnam Books
PAGES: 368
RATING: 5
GENRE: Contemporary Romance

AUTHOR ACCOLADES: Annabel Monaghan is the bestselling author of Same Time Next Summer and Nora Goes off Script. She is also the author of two novels for young adults, A Girl Named Digit and Double Digit.

SYNOPSIS: Benefits of a summer romance: it’s always fun, always brief, and no one gets their heart broken.

There aren’t enough labeled glass containers to contain the mess that is Ali Morris’s life. Her mom died 2 years ago, then her husband left, and she hasn’t worn pants with a zipper in longer than she cares to remember. She’s a professional organizer whose pantry is a disgrace. No one is more surprised than Ali when the first time she takes off her wedding ring and puts on pants with hardware she meets someone. Or rather, her dog claims a man for her in the same way he claimed his favorite of her three children: by peeing on him. Ethan smiles at Ali like her pants are just right—like he likes what he sees. The last thing Ali needs is to make her life messier, but there’s no harm in a little Summer Romance, is there?

QUICK & SPOILER-FREE REVIEW: It’s official! I have a new book boyfriend and his name is Ethan! This was an easy 5 stars for me! Your heart really goes out to Ali and all that she’s endured. She’s in desperate need of a little TLC from an MMC! There is closed door spice, but the relationship is beautiful to read. I really enjoyed Same Time Next Summer last year, and I own Nora Goes Off Script which I’m moving up in my TBR queue b/c Annabel can just write no wrong!

Happy Reading!

Still wiping the tears as I write this review. What a fantastic book! I love that Annabel Monaghan writes such beautifully flawed characters who are so not one dimensional and who grow so much. I appreciated how much Ali grew in her relationships with her children, her mother who has passed, her friendships and new love, and especially with herself. I think it's really important to read more books who center around women of "a certain age" and Monaghan does it so perfectly every time. It's special to read about women who have gone through things, and what coming out on the other side looks for them. This book was full of hope, of longing, of learning, and of pure joy. Ali might be my favorite female main characters and I certainly know that Ethan is my top choice for book boyfriend. I cannot recommend more, and I know this is going to be one of my top reads this year.

Thank you so incredibly much to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

Summer Romance is exactly that - the sweetest beach read that will give you all the feels. The plot takes you on such a wild ride of emotions with all the twists and turns of love - you just can't stop reading from beginning to end. It really dives deep into what it means to love again after loss, but also keeps you totally hooked with all the super exciting unpredictability along the way. The author clearly crafted this story with such attention to detail, you'll be dying to flip those pages to see what happens next. This novel is so wonderfully written - it pulls you in, making the content and relationships feel real and authentic. Not only is the relationship between the main characters touching, the journey of self-discovery is what makes it binge worthy. Overall, Summer Romance is proof that a great love story, written with passion and care, can really move people. Annabel Monaghan nails it - romance fans and anyone looking for a profoundly moving tale needs to throw this in their beach bag...along with some tissues.

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Books for an advanced copy of this book

Annabel Monaghan is great at creating relatable characters that are very lovable and easy to root for. This main character Ali Morris embarks on a summer romance with an old acquaintance Ethan, who helps her find herself after a brutal divorce and losing her mother. If you love character-driven novels that don’t rely on huge plot twists or plot devices, you’ll love this one.

This was my first book by Annabel Monaghan, and I really enjoyed it. I appreciated how real and relatable her characters were, and how easy it was to connect with them. I can see a lot of similarities between myself and Ali, which made experiencing her story that much more immersive. Annabel didn't shy away from the tough topics of grief and divorce, but rather embraced them and made them an integral part of Ali's growth.

Enter Ethan, with the epic meet-cute of her dog peeing on him at the dog park. The chemistry between Ethan and Ali was really well written, and I loved their journey.

The last thing Ali is looking for this summer is romance. She’s a newly single mom of 3 who’s just trying to stay afloat after the death of her mom and the loss of her marriage. But when her dog pees on a handsome man’s foot at the dog park, she finds herself taken aback at how this man looks at her. She feels seen like she never has by a man before and she wants to keep chasing that feeling. Before she knows it, she’s caught up in a whirlwind summer romance that she never expected.

I absolutely loved this story! I love how Annabel Monaghan writes such real characters and as a mom, I loved seeing Ali’s devotion and adoration for her kids. This story does deal with the heavy topics of grief and loss but not in a way that made me want to cry. It just reminded me how beautiful life can be and how love is always worth it. Ethan also felt like such a relatable character and I love how he always saw just how beautiful and strong Ali was and helped her get so much of her confidence back. This is the perfect summer romance that will feel like being wrapped up in a warm towel after a long day of swimming.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC!

Synopsis: Ali Morris has been struggling with her mom’s death and her husband filing for divorce while raising her three kids. On the first day she decides to go out and put on “hard pants” she runs into a man named Ethan at the dog park. He is only in town for the summer, but maybe a summer romance is just what Ali needs.

Thoughts: I adored this book! Annabel has the ability to write the most relatable characters. Similarly to Nora in Nora Goes Off Script, I really felt for Ali and her real life, adult struggles with parenting, relationships, etc. She also writes these characters with a lot of heart and humor. I found myself feeling Ali’s emotions right along with her. There were lots of emotional moments, laugh out loud moments, and of course swoony moments (I fell HARD for Ethan!). Summer Romance is the perfect summer read, and I highly recommend grabbing a copy next week!

Read this if you like:
🚤 small town
🚤 single parent
🚤 closed-door romance
🚤 self-discovery
🚤 best friend’s brother
🚤 family and found family

Ali is grieving her mother, going through a divorce, and taking care of her three kids and elderly neighbor while launching her organizing business. Her life is a mess, and she's trying to muster the strength to wear "hard pants." Then she meets the charming Ethan, and things are about to get messier. He is only in town for a short time, and their romance will be just for the summer.

This was my first time reading an Annabel Monaghan book, and I loved it! A cross between romcom and women's fiction, this was beautifully written, heartfelt, and captivating. The story had depth, and the characters, even the secondary ones, had so much personality that they lept off the page.

Ali is very relatable, and I rooted for her throughout the book. Her journey to reclaim her life and find happiness after everything she has been through was compelling. The romance, while sweet and swoon-worthy, was, for me, secondary to the poignancy of Ali's character arc.

That said, I also greatly enjoyed the romance! There's a memorable meet-cute, lots of romantic tension, and a couple who really understand each other in a mature way. Ethan is just the best. Open-hearted, thoughtful, supportive, and caring. Complex emotional topics were handled respectfully, and this was uplifting and fun. After I finished, I had the biggest book hangover and missed these characters. I will definitely read Monaghan's backlist soon.

Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Group Putnam G,P. Putnam's Sons for the free book

Thank you for arc! Ugh Annabel Monaghan’s characters are so solid. They feel so real, the chemistry is there and it makes me want to root for them. Her stories have always stuck with me and this one is no exception

Yes yes yes!

Annabel is back with another outstanding summer beach read! I am absolutely obsessed with Ethan and Ali.

This book has so much emotion, it’s starts with Ali, coming off two year after losing her mother, and one year after her husband asking for a divorce. The divorce is honestly the best thing that could happen to her because her ex is a complete tool.

Once I had an inkling of where this story was going I was so pumped to see how it unfolded, and it did not disappoint.

When Ali meets Ethan she is immediately drawn to him in a somewhat familiar feelings, as there relationship progresses Ethan helps Ali back to the girl she use to be, someone who was fiercely herself. She always is a professional organizer and she talks about how it’s easier to help others get rid of their stuff but harder for her to do it herself. I love that aspect of how she cleaned out things and the process behind it. It has me ready to do a deep clean of my house. 🤣

This is the P E R F E C T beach read that will hit you in the feels in the best way.

I loved this book!! A fellow book reviewer recommended it, and I’m so glad she did! It is a warm, sweet Summer Romance. Not a ton of spice which makes it a really sweet read. I loved that the character was in her late 30s. Definitely would recommend?!

Thank you so much Putnam and sons and net galley for allowing me to read this book early in exchange for an honest review! My reviews are linked below! I really enjoyed this book! Thank you!

I've really enjoyed reading @annabelmonaghan's previous books so I was thrilled to get an advance copy of Summer Romance through @netgalley.

This book was had a great mix of themes --
☀️Small-town romance
☀️Dating a best friend's sibling
☀️Divorce
☀️Grief
☀️Reinventing yourself
☀️Owning your own story

Ali and Ethan had the sweetest relationship, and their story flowed nicely. Summer Romance is one I'd definitely recommend adding to your summer TBR. It comes out next Tuesday!

4⭐️

Summer Romance is the perfect romance book to read this summer. It was super fast paced but such a sweet book. This was my first Annabel Monaghan novel, and I instantly fell in love with the writing. She sure knows how to write about a couple that you’ll be rooting for from the start.

While I wasn’t able to relate to the characters within this book, I found myself still being completely interested in them and their life stories. Ali’s character was very admirable. I enjoyed watching her discover who she was as her own person while falling in love with a man who allowed her to do just that. Ethan’s character was so incredibly sweet and I admired the love he had for Ali. Although Summer Romance followed two people falling in love with one another, there was so much more depth to this book regarding the two main character’s families which I really enjoyed.

I’ll definitely be reading the rest of Annabel’s books this summer as I’ve heard nothing but amazing things. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read an arc of Summer Romance.

I just couldn’t get into this book. I tried and kept pushing to read it, but it just wasn’t it, and fell off for me. I finished the book but it truly did take a while. Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for the arc in exchange for my review!

First time reading this author's work and I am instantly a fan. I love a good slow burn romance. Ethan is everything Ali has needed in her life. After losing her mother, and then her husband telling her on the anniversary of her mother's death he wants a divorce, things can only go up in her life. Her meet-cute story is exactly how she knows this is her person. Ethan is the man every woman needs in her life, a great partner and the best cheerleader. I was instantly addicted to this story. It melts my heart. It's a perfect summer read for all romance book lovers.

Ali is a professional organizer whose life is a mess. 2 years ago she lost her mother to illness, a year ago she lost her husband when he walked out on her while she was still under the haze of grief, and much longer ago she lost herself to the chaos and upheaval of mothering three children. Just about the time Ali decides she has to do something to get her life in order she has a meet cute of sorts with a hunky man at the dog park. While he may not be Mr. Right, he's Mr. Alright-For-Now and Ali is willing to add a little mess to her life in the form of a fun summer fling because she deserves a little fun! But Ali might just be in for more than she bargained for.

For the last 3 years I have had the pleasure of ushering in summer with an Annabel Monaghan book and in my opinion Summer Romance is her best yet! Ali is a heroine to cheer for with a relatable arc of struggling to find herself amidst the chaos of raising kids and managing a household. I always appreciate that Monaghan's stories feature more mature MCs; middle aged moms deserve a little romance too! I loved Ali and Ethan together and adored the New England small town setting. This story has romance, redemption, cute dogs, a quaint setting, descriptions of highly organized pantries, and grown up skater boys - truly what more can one ask for in a beach read?!