Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan is a captivating love story set amidst the sun-soaked charm of the Hamptons. The story centers on Charlie, a sharp-witted nanny, and Henry, the alluring eldest son of the family she works for. Their relationship is filled with humor, warmth, and unexpected twists.
What I loved was Monaghan's vivid storytelling and enchanting depiction of the Hamptons' lavish lifestyle. The setting becomes a character in its own right, adding depth and texture to the story. From lavish parties to intimate beach scenes, the imagery transports readers to a world of sun-kissed romance and hidden depths.
This book is a delightful escape into the magic of summer love. Perfect for fans of feel-good romances, Monaghan's heartfelt storytelling and vibrant characters make this novel a charming addition to any reading list. Whether lounging on the beach or curling up at home, readers are sure to be swept away by the enchanting world of Summer Romance.

I absolutely devoured this one. It made me smile, gave me butterflies and had me laughing out loud. I once was a single mom and could relate to Ali SO much. This was the perfect romance. There were no spicy scenes but it didn’t need it. I just loved it. Now I want to read all of her backlist. Add this book to your tbr. You won’t be disappointed!
Pub date- 6/4/24

I fell in love with this novel. It is definitely my favorite by Annabel Monaghan. It was the most realistic romance novel I’ve ever read and left me feeling so happy. I also love the age I which Monaghan’s female main characters are. It’s so refreshing to read about women in their mid to late thirties and their journeys through motherhood, marriage and/or divorce. Summer Romance will give you butterflies and definitely have you falling in love with Ethan. I always look forward to Monaghan’s novels and this one was truly her best yet!

Annabel Monaghan writes books for women that are in a certain stage of life, usually women that are in the early stages of divorce. This one had an added component to it since the FMC had also lost her mom, so she was dealing with the complex grief of losing one's parent and best friend while going through a divorce. In this book, the 2 characters are more 2 dimensional and I really enjoyed that compared to her other books. This is a great beach/summer read.

Thanks to Net Galley for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review, as always all words are my own.

This was a gem of a book. It was sweet, it was emotional, it was full of hope and fresh starts. I really liked Same Time Next Summer but this book resonated a lot deeper for me which was unexpected. Reading this as a 28 year old with no kids had me a little worried I wouldn't be able to connect with Ali but this book held so much more than just the winding road of parenthood.

It was a journey for both of our main characters of re-finding themselves and forging a new path towards happiness while trying to trapeze through the chaos that is grief and life.

I don't want to spoil anything for readers but this book made me laugh, smile, and cry and while it may not be a "carefree" summer romance beach read it was a perfect summer read with a lot of feelings. This is definitely a book I would pick up and read again.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the author, and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for this eArc!

*3.5* stars rounded up

Ali is grieving for both her mom and her marriage. Stuck in an endless loop of trying to work and take care of her kids, Ali may organize everyone else's lives, but cannot pull herself out of her own mess. But summer is fun! And Ali is determined to have fun this summer. So when her dog quite literally marks a target for her, Ali is ready to try and step out of that drowning grief. Little does she know that this not so stranger after all is going to change her whole life.

***

Crying. I was crying by the end of this. I think the story itself started a bit slow. Ali is a very likable and sympatghetic character, and yet it just took me a while to connect with her. And look, I was skeptical of our hero here. He was in a relationship that he didn't prioritize, ALI DOES NOT NEED THAT.

However, it is almost poetic, because we start in this fog with Ali. We start to emerge just as Ali does. We start to slowly get angry with her. We start to realize we're actually in love with Ethan. It works incredibly well!

Ethan is very much the epitome of he wanted to he would!! He's not perfect, he just obviously is in love with Ali (though the kind of creepiness of him constantly reminding her that a 14 year old she didn't really even pay attention to was in love with her 18 year old self, I could do with less of that).

I do not read a lot of romance, but this is a very cute summer read for sure. I would definitely recommend to any beach reader. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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

But is that ever true? This book deals with divorce, being a single mother trying to date again, grief, old childhood friend to lover, forbidden romance and finding our who your really are as an adult.

I really enjoyed Ali and "Scooter" relationship and watching each character grow, trying to find true happiness. There were a lot of rich side characters as well, especially the one Ali had with her elderly neighbor, so sweet.

Overall, a really fun Summer read. Be sure to throw this one in your beach bag! Out June 4, 2024.

Thank you to @netgalley, @penguingroupputnam and the author for this advanced coy in exchange for my honest review.

Summer Romance is a great addition to Annabel Monaghan's collection. The story tells the journey of Ali Morris's summer as she reconnects with herself following the death of her mother and divorce from her husband. There are plenty of funny and heartwarming moments intertwined with serious moments that aid in character development. I appreciated that in the end both main characters were able to find a way to happiness while staying true to themselves. I would recommend to anyone looking for a fun summer read with just enough conflict and development to get you thinking.

Another amazing romance by Annabel Monaghan! I’ve read and loved all three of her books and I’m already looking forward to whatever she writes next! Thanks for sharing the early copy with me!

Summer Romance starts with a hilarious, though slightly awkward, meet-cute between Ali and Ethan, a fun first date and then the awkward realization that they actually already know each other. The book then follows their “summer romance” as they navigate exes, families and distance.

I loved Ali and Ethan and felt like they handled difficult situations with maturity. The whole book felt real and wholesome and I just loved it all! I highly recommend that this book gets added to everyone’s summer reading list!

Small town romance, he falls first, divorce, single mom, death of parent, low self esteem, skateboarding

Ali Morris, is going through it – she’s getting divorced and feels like she’s lost herself. She meets Scooter (Ethan) at the dog park in a very realistic meet cute and they go from there. She’s hesitant as she’s just getting out of a relationship and he’s been in love with her since high school (but she doesn’t remember him?). The fact that she doesn’t remember her best friends younger brother at all was weird to me.
Ethan is just visiting because he doesn’t feel at home in their hometown. He’s into skateboarding which is not realistic for a 36 year old.
Also, do not go on a first date on a boat with someone you don’t know when know one knows where you are going!!!!

I had a lot of issues with this book, and the author’s other 2 were favorites so take from that what you will.

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan. This is a fun story about Ali who is mourning the death of her mother and the end of her marriage. She barely leaves the house, and her best friend does her best to get her out. When she finally takes her dog for a walk, he pees on the first man she has noticed in a long time. Well, this is I guess a meet cute, if you consider this cute! Turns out he is her best friends’ little brother who she has not seen in years, and who has had a crush on her since high school. Very fun quick read, great summer beach read. #summerromance #annabelmonaghan #netgalley #advancedreadercopy #beachread #bookstagram #lovetoread #readersofinstagram

Summer Romance is Annabel Monaghan's latest romance novel and I think it is her best one yet. She is turning into a "must read" for me!

Summer Romance is not a light summer romance read as the title suggests. The author gives a raw and honest main character reeling from a divorce and the realities of being a single parent with a non-cooperative ex-spouse. The character development is well done, especially Ali's ex-husband.

The novel will make you laugh and cry! Definitely one of my favorite romances/women's fiction of the year. Highly recommend for your summer vacation.

Thank you NetGalley for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Summer Romance comes out June 4, 2024.

Thank you Penguin Group and Netgalley for the eARC.

Overall, I liked this one better than Annabel's last. This one felt to be a similar style to Nora Goes Off Script, which I loved. A soon-to-be divorced mom of three reconnects with someone from her past that she never thinks she'd like, and they start a summer romance.

What I liked:
I liked Ethan, a lot. His redemption from his younger years felt authentic and gave a lot more depth to his character.
I liked that a place and its people judged him so he left and made a career for himself elsewhere.
The relationship felt genuine and it did give me a bit of butterflies.

What I disliked:
I did not like that she kept calling him Scooter, even upon his insistent requests that she call him Ethan.
The skateboarding aspect felt a bit odd to me. It gave the characters a youthful energy but I just don't see mid-30's moms of three learning to skateboard and hanging out at a skatepark.
While it was great that Ethan was involved with the skatepark because it was a place for kids to go, they compared him taking care of it to her being a mom, not even a little bit the same.
The trope of the asshole ex-husband feels a little exhausted to me in this genre. Sometimes marriages don't work and that's ok, but why is the ex always such an asshole and yet the FMC never realized this until before?
I didn't like that Ethan gave her her confidence, especially related to her ex. She was so meek and needed his reassurance and encouragement to speak up. I would've loved a strong FMC that could make those choices on her own.

i loved same time next summer by monaghan so much and was looking forward to her third book. while i did quite enjoy it, it didn't have the same grab as the last book. there was too much focus on who ethan thought ali was back when they were young and that kind of made it feel like she could never live up to who she was back then. i also thought it was straight down the middle regarding the ex-husband drama. there either needed to be less or way more happening between ali and pete. the slight comment a daughter made about pete making fun of ali behind her back-that would have made such a great scene with ali getting her rage out.

Ali Morris, soon-to-be divorced and grieving her mother's loss, meets Ethan at the dog park, sparking an instant attraction that leads to a summer romance. As they navigate newfound love, Annabel Monaghan's skillful storytelling and realistic character development shine through. Ali's journey of self-discovery, relatable struggles, and heartwarming moments are expertly woven into a captivating plot that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. Monaghan's ability to craft lifelike characters and engaging storylines makes this book a delightful and heartening read. With a perfect blend of humor, emotion, and swoon-worthy romance, "Summer Romance" is a compelling and uplifting addition to the romance genre.

Ali’s life is a professional organizer and mom of 3, whose life is a mess. Her mom passed away 2 years ago, her husband left her last year and her home is a disaster. On the day she decides to take off her wedding ring and put on hard pants, she meets what may be the perfect guy. Now she needs to decide if she’s ready to jump feet first into a summer romance.

This was a cute read. I usually love all of Annabel Monaghan’s books but this took me a bit to get through it. I felt like it dragged a little for me. I didn’t feel connected to the characters as I usually do. There were a lot of cute parts but it was just a cute beach read for me.

Annabel Monaghan is becoming a must-read author for me. Her books are always a blend of sweet romance and heavy, real-life issues. This book is no different. I love that Monaghan also writes about women in their 30s (often their mid/late-30s), when so many other books are often about younger women. This book tackles some heavy topics -- divorce, grief -- but still manages to be a perfect summer beach read. I knew I would love this so I saved it to read until the weather started to warm up and I'm so glad I did -- this should absolutely be on your vacation reading list this summer.

When I pick up an Annabel Monaghan book, I know I’m in for a good time. But what I didn’t expect when I picked up her latest was to find myself completely immersed in not only a love story, but a self-help book in the best way possible.

Ali finds herself single again, the mother of three, grieving the loss of her mother and swimming in the detritus of everyday life. So, when she finds the gumption to put on “hard pants” at her best friend’s urging and take the family dog for a walk in the dog park, she’s prepared herself for the sympathetic glances and the well-wishers. What she didn’t bargain for was the dreamy man with the big shoulders who her dog decided to relieve himself on. And when she can’t stop thinking about this man, things get good. Really, really good.

This book will for sure be one of my top picks of the year. I adore the way in which Monaghan writes, folding you into the story and not letting you go until the very last pages. I absolutely loved all the characters, the way in which she brings everyone to life and the fun, delightfulness of it all. I felt like I was along for the ride in the best way possible.

What I wasn’t prepared for were the moments in which Ali was able to reflect upon her life, the loss of her mother and the downfall of her marriage. I have dealt with my fair share of loss over the past two years – fortunately, not of my mother – so I appreciated the way in which she would talk to her mom and the way she sought out guidance in small ways. I find myself doing that, too. What got to me most was the way in which Ali reflected upon herself and the ways in which she began to disappear in her marriage. Her self-reflection and ways in which she practiced self-care really spoke to me. At times I can feel myself slipping away, and Monaghan’s delicate way of exploring this helped me to reflect and name some of the feelings I had been grappling with.

This should be in everyone’s beach bag for the summer. You won’t regret it.

Thank you to Annabel Monaghan, Putnam and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of the book for an honest review.

This was SUCH a cute book!!!

In the midst of a divorce, Ali, a personal organizer finds herself in quite a mess (ironically enough). Enter: Ethan/Scooter, her best friend’s brother who she hasn’t seen in years and doesn’t instantly recognize. All throughout this book I had the lyrics “and I’m just getting color back into my face” circling my mind because that’s what Ethan did for Ali. He brought color into her world and helped her realize her self worth. I adored the deeper themes of belonging, being taken seriously, and loss/ grief and thought the author handled them so well! Additionally, so many hilarious moments where I literally laughed out loud.

Annabel Monaghan has done it again! She writes amazing love stories but she’s also one of the best at writing romances for women in their mid-to-late 30s. I sometimes get tired of reading romances where all the characters are in their 20s because I’m not. And Monaghan has written this beautiful love story where a woman falls in love with herself, too. And she meets a man who supports her and loves her without wanting to change her. And she has kids! But still manages to find love even though it’s hard and sometimes messy.
I was delighted with these characters. All of them. I loved Ali’s kids, too. I remember being a pre-teen girl. It’s tough and I liked seeing Greer and Ali grow together.
The small town setting was great. I want to live in Beechwood!
And Ali’s relationship with her deceased mother was handled so well. We are allowed to have complicated feelings about loved ones even after they are dead. We can love and miss them and still acknowledge they made mistakes.

From start to finish this was such a winner for me. I have loved every single one of Monaghan’s books that I have read and cannot wait to see what’s next.