Thank you to NetGalley, Edelweiss, and G.P Putnam's Sons to providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
This is my third book by Monaghan and I swear each book I read gets better than the last. A few months ago I picked up Nora Goes Off Script, because all my book buddies in my book groups told me it was fantastic. And guess what? They were right. I loved it and tore through it and ended up picking up Same Time Next Summer and liking just as much if not more. So, given the chance to read this one early, I jumped on it and I'm so glad I did.
Monaghan has a way of taking her stories and infusing tension that pulls you along and makes you feel like you never want to stop. I feel this often with Christina Lauren books. Like something heavy is sitting on my chest waiting to burst and it won't happen until I get to the end of the story. I love a story with this type of tension. It makes me want to keep reading. I really give a lot of props to the author that she can keep this up throughout the entire book. There was not a point that I wanted to put this book down. The pacing was that good for me. I ended up reading it in less than 24 hours!
This is women's fiction at it's finest. Monaghan chooses to write to a certain age group with her adult fiction and it just works. While I'm older than her characters, I still find them immensely relatable. They bring me back to that time in my life and that feeling of nostalgia is so soothing and right.
The book also infuses one of my favorite tropes, which I'm not sure I even knew about going in: best friend's brother. But unlike some books I've read where there is a hard line that cannot be crossed, this one is more blurry. The characters are older than what I usually see for this trope, mid to late thirties.
This book is a closed door romance. I do love my spice but sometimes it's nice to just have the story be the story and not worry about all the sexy scenes. I think this plays well with the single parent vibe Monaghan sets up. And it allows the characters time to get to know each other without worrying about always being naked together.
Ali never had a chance to find true love. Pregnant within a year of dating her boyfriend, they end up married. But after three kids and moving back to the town where she grew up, Ali loses herself in the marriage and becomes complacent with what she has been handed. She loses who she is. And she is still grieving the loss, even after two years, of the one person she had counted on to make her feel grounded, her mother. Add to that an ex who continues to step all over her and always put his own needs first and you have a recipe for someone who loses their self-esteem. Plus, she's now a single parent because her ex doesn't make his kids a priority. Juggling all of this takes it toll on her mentally. When she's presented with a chance at Summer romance, something that is fleeting and will give her just what she needs, she jumps in without hesitation. She craves to feel that feeling of romance and being cared for. I loved the growth this character went through. I love how she was able to find herself again and start to see all the parts of her she had buried deep for someone else. I also love how she can see that even though she was close with her mom, there were things her mom did to keep her complacent in her marriage.
Ethan, aka "Scooter", has so many fabulous elements as a MMC. He's a bit younger than Ali, but not by much. But it's his own life experience that has shaped him into a loving and caring human being. I love how Monaghan made him so involved in his community. At the same time, you could see he was running away from trauma he experienced as a teen. He has his own issues with understanding his own self worth and, like Ali, has to work through them. What I think I loved most about him was his compassion and ability to just listen, even if that listening was to silence. He was able to be in the moment and express his own wants and needs easily. He also has the best sense of humor and uses it to break up a lot of tense moments in this book that would otherwise have sent Ali off the rails. Above all, he shows Ali that she is a strong and capable woman who has so much to give the world if she would just be her true authentic self.
I do wish this book would have been dual point of view. On the one hand, I understand Monaghan's choice to really tell Ali's story. I can see she didn't want Ethan's to get in the way. At the same time, I wanted to truly see Ethan in his own element: interacting with his family, interacting with his community, making life decisions. And I didn't get that as much as I would have just seeing him through Ali's eyes. But I also know this is women's fiction and Monaghan for sure wanted to give Ali a true and honest voice without having it overshadowed by anyone else.
My favorite quote in the book: "And now I can never un-know the truest thing - the intensity of the love you feel will match the intensity of it's loss."
Monaghan is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and her books will automatically be added to my TBR before I even know what they are about. As soon as I was done with this one, I wanted to go back and be able to read it again for the first time. She makes me laugh, and cry, and clutch at my heart and then gives me everything I want in the end. I'm looking forward to what she puts on paper next!

The previous books I've read by this author were a 5 and 4 star read for me so I was excited when I got approved for her newest book. I struggled with the first quarter of the book, it felt like I was reading the second book in a series where I hadn't read the first, there were big life events that were just "there" with little backstory; it made the book easy to put down. Once I got through that, the plot picked up and felt much more like her previous books. I really liked Ali, how she realized you can love and be mad at someone at the same time, that there isn't growth without some uncomfortableness and the messages you might be sending with your subconscious actions. The last 45 minutes of the book had me in all the feels, I stayed up past my bedtime with tears in my eyes. Fans of Annabel Monaghan should not miss Summer Romance!
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Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wow, I absolutely adored this book! The main male character was a total sweetheart, just like a cinnamon roll. Ali's character was both authentic and funny. Personally, as I'm dealing with my father's passing, this book offered the perfect solace. I would definitely rate it five out of five stars!

My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I love this author’s ability to connect with the reader so quickly in the book. The characters’ vulnerabilities make me relate to them more. I’m not sure 🤔 f it was intentional, but I felt this book had some Gilmore Girl themes- maybe just the region and small town quirky stuff but that’s always a check in the Pro column for me!!

Summer Romance☀️
Single parent ✨
Professional organizer 🧺
Skater Boy 🛹
Dog parks 🐕
Long Distance 🗺️
Best friends brother 🖤

I’m over here just adoring every thing Annabel Monaghan writes… and Summer Romance was just the comfort read I needed. Though be prepared because the main character ✨✨Ali ✨✨is struggling, her mom passed away, she’s in the middle of a divorce and she is just trying to get herself back to wearing “Hard Pants” 👖

One day she decides to put on said “Hard Pants” and went to the dog park where she meets Ethan, and there the summer romance begins…

In ways I really related to Ali’s character and found the whole book to be realistic. Which I think is true for all of her books. I’ll have to go back and listen to the part in the audio describing her and her neighbors house because it seemed truly magical.

This would make for excellent beach/pool side reading.

Thank you Putnam & PRH Audio
Releases 7/4

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I loved this story so much! I wish it was longer because I wanted more of Ali and Ethan. But I know the story was about.. a summer romance.

I laughed, I gasped, I kicked my feet like a teenage girl, and of course, I cried!

Ali is going thru a tough time after her mom passed away and caused her marriage to end. She is a 35 year old mom of 3 that doesn’t even know where or how to even start dating, until something funny happens at the dog park. (Moral of the story, get a dog!)

“You are the architect of your own experience!”

Such a sweet summer read!

Honestly how dare Annabel Monaghan call this book Summer Romance and then proceed to write so poignantly about navigating grief, finding yourself, and dog ownership (iykyk). I wanted to punch Pete in his stupid face, but seeing Ali bloom throughout the story was worth his presence. This was tender, complex, and hopeful, which feels very on brand for this author.

thank you @netgalley @penguinrandomhouse and @annabelmonaghan for the advanced readers copy of this book!

i thoroughly enjoyed reading this book- i was entertained, swooning, and rooting for the main characters! it had everything you need in a summery romcom with a title that fits perfectly.

my 3.5 star rating is because the tropes weren’t my absolute favorite- we have some skateboarding and an unrecognizable best friends brother!

i was rooting for the main character to progress in her grief process and start living for herself and it was a great journey of character growth to follow.

i absolutely recommend this book to those looking for a fun, easy summer romance! Annabel Monaghan continues to be an author that i will always recommend!

Thank you Penguin Group Putnam for my #gifted advanced copy and thank you PRH Audio for my #gifted listening copy of Summer Romance! #PRHAInfluencer #PRHAudioPartner

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐧
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

★★★★★

Annabel Monaghan has done it again! Her books hold a special place in my heart, but I felt such a strong connection with Ali, the main character in Summer Romance, and this book truly stole my heart! It was such a delightful book and one that you are going to want to add to your summer reading list!

Ali helps other people organize their lives, but her life is anything but organized. She lost her mother two years ago, and her husband left her exactly one year after that. She doesn’t even remember the last time she’s worn “hard pants,” but the first time she puts herself together, she has a meet-cute at a dog park with a man named Ethan. Ali doesn’t need to add anything to her life right now, but a little summer romance wouldn’t hurt, right?

Monaghan creates the best characters. I loved Ali so much and found her to just feel so real. I lost my father almost two years ago, and I was so close with him and I could really relate to Ali and her experience with losing her mother. I loved Ethan and found him to be so likable. He was such a great support to Ali as a lawyer and more. He was just so charming and I adored him!

🎧I alternated between the ebook and the audiobook, narrated by Kristen DiMercurio. I LOVED DiMercurio as the narrator and found myself getting lost in this audiobook. She was perfect for the role of Ali and I think she did an amazing job bringing Ali and the other characters to life.

🩷Single Parent
🩷Meet Cute
🩷Best Friends Brother
🩷Grief - Loss of a Parent
🩷Closed Door Romance
🩷Navigating Divorce

Posted on Goodreads on April 30, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around June 4, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on June 4, 2024
**-will post on designated date

Annabel Monaghan is my kind of romance author! She writes stories that feel mature and realistic. I loved the chemistry between Ethan and Ali, and I also appreciated Ali's motherhood struggles. Another positive was the summery vibes!
This novel was a huge hit for me! Highly recommended.

The way this author writes is for all the 40+ women out there. I love a good rom com but sometimes I feel like they are all too young for me. Loved the banter, the roles the kids played in this book and unpacking a marriage of hurt, some grief and adulting. I think this is my favorite book of hers so far!

AHHHHHHHH when i got this arc i was so excited because ive read her other books and loved them!! they’re always such the perfect light but also you’re so emotionally connected!! i just loved this romance book so much!! highly recommend!

Summer Romance

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m a little late to the game with Annabel Monaghan’s books I feel like. Rest assured I’ve already got at least one of her other books downloaded on my kindle!

Ali is going through a divorce and needs to sort out her life when a summer romance lands on her doorstep. As a mother of three, she learns to navigate single motherhood while still taking care of herself.

I really liked Ethan in this story. Ali had so much growth as a character and he was there for it all. Cute way to kick off the summer when this comes out in June!

Thanks to @netgalley for this arc!

This book started out very slow for me, I had a hard time getting into it. The first three chapters felt slower than molasses in January, then of a sudden it's like you're on the freeway and you realize that your brakes don't work. Ok, not that extreme because this obviously isn't a thriller but this book is like mainlining dopamine from Chapter 4 and beyond. I was literally blushing on my living room couch, eating Goldfish in my sweatpants and a messy bun like I myself was having a summer romance.

The FMC starts out sad. Her life is full of endings and she can't seem to get her shit together. She's 38, she has 3 kids, and btw, Fuck Peter. That's all that I have to say about that. I like that the MCs are in their late 30's. They're full-on fucking grown ups and isn't that refreshing.

This is a fade to black romance so if it's smut you're searching for, search elsewhere. It is meaningful with a hint of sadness. It's got the vibe of a 2nd chance romance but it's not.

What happens when the guy you date after the divorce "just for the summer" turns into someone you catch feelings for? Why do we get a dog when we know they're going to die and break our hearts? What happens when the pages of a book are laced with crack cocaine? Ok, I'm KIDDING. Can this book be serious and discuss some sad topics? Yes. Can it makes you do damn happy anyways? Abso-fucking-lutely.

Other reasons to read this book:
Skateboarding lessons
Carbonation
Pelican Island
Charm bracelets
Powder blue tuxedos

I promise you, this book feels very light, happy and airy somehow. I can't explain it other than Annabel must be magic. I finished this book in less than 24 hours. Just read it. You won't regret it because you'll close this book with a smile on your face.

This was so sweet. I love when the main characters like each other right away, and I loved that this was a personal growth story mixed with a romance. Again, lots of nature and imagery mixed with a quirky cast of characters-the author’s trademark. I’ll read anything she writes. She has such a poignant way with words, and this is the perfect book for the summer.

4.5 give me a summer romance stars

This one gives us a complex and realistic main character, Ali Morris. She’s still feeling off-kilter after her mother's death and her pending divorce. And as many women can relate, none of her pants have zippers. Her three kids keep her hopping.

Then, one day at the dog park, her dog decides it’s time she meets someone. After a memorable introduction, Ethan and Ali embark on a summer romance. The beauty of a summer romance is that you know it’s a short-term thing; there's no need to get emotionally attached.

I enjoyed that Ali’s career was organizing other people’s things, yet her house was a mess. Her character was perfectly believable, and I liked the writing in this one. There are some realistic parenting scenarios in this one and I loved how Ali cared for her aging neighbor. I grew to root for staying power for Ali and Ethan.

There were even some skateboarding parts of this book and cute dogs!

I had to round up my rating in this one because I shed a few tears at the end.

This is my second book by Annabel Monaghan, and she is quickly becoming a favorite. In fact, I liked this one so much that I bought her first book, “Nora Goes Off Script.”

Cute story but I think this author just may not be for me. I never was captivated by the story although I did love and feel sympathy for the FMC but that’s just about it. I did love Ethan— he is a complete cinnamon roll but other than that, I just wasn’t amazed.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publishing house for an advanced copy of this book!

I couldn’t put this book down. Ali’s journey through grief, her marriage ending, and allowing herself to open up to love again was beautiful. The emotions were real and relatable. Loved!

A great quick Romance read!

This was just ok for me. The story kind of meandered along and I wasn’t surprised or shocked by anything that happened. Cute story, albeit a bit boring.

Not all authors are for everyone and even though I loved Nora Goes Off Script, Annabel’s last book and this one were unfortunately not a fit for me. I do think people will really enjoy it, but I had a hard time with it and ultimately DNF’ed it at 40%,