This was a cute non spicy romance story! Ali's mom has just died and she's in the middle of a divorce when she meets Ethan, who is only in town for the summer. I thought this book had good pacing and was actually realistic. I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened. I'd recommend if you're looking for a fun, light summer read.

I loved this book!! Annabel's writing is so sweet and poignant. It makes me feel like I'm on a beach with the breeze going through my hair. It's so refreshing!

Watching Ali find herself and accept she deserves love was so heartwarming. From the beginning Ali and Ethan's chemistry was off the charts. The angst of both of them wanting to be together and seeing their yearning for each other was beautiful.
The support Ethan showed Ali was so pure and made me tear up multiple times. I love how Annabel writes her characters mature, they actually have conversations and respect each other. Ali and Ethan deserve their happily ever after.

If you are looking for a second chance, best friend’s brother, where he falls first but she falls harder, this book is for you!

"You are the architect of your own dreams."

Annabel Monaghan is an auto-read author for me, and that's because she consistently delivers characters you want to know, root for, and befriend.

Soon to be divorced Ali Morris is struggling in life. Still grieving the loss of her mother while coming to terms with her impending divorce, and unable to organize her house and life the way she does for her clients, she doesn’t even remember the last time she wore “hard pants.” Then, on the day she removes her wedding ring and actually wears a quasi-presentable outfit, she meet cutes Ethan at the dog park. When instant attraction leads to a potential summer romance, Ali decides to go all in and see where this “champagne Summer” will take her.

This book is for readers who like:
• 30+ main characters
• single parent
• meet cutes
• forced proximity
• swoony-worthy closed-door romance

Ali lost her mother, and then one year later her husband asked for a divorce. You see her navigating the loss of both while raising three kids, and trying to find herself again. I loved this book. I loved Ali and Ethan. It is the perfect summer read.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I think it might be Annabel Monaghan's best yet and has firmly placed her in my "pre-order" author category. I loved the love story but even more, I loved watching Ali become this new version of herself. It was triumphant and made me feel giddy. I was rooting for her so much and was not disappointed.

This book made me want to organize everything. In the best possible ways. Professional organizer, Ali, is going through a divorce, raising kids and grieving her mother. She is taking care of everyone but herself. When she meets Ethan at the dog park, the idea of a short term summer romance with him feels just right.

Monaghan writes with such heart and depth that I keep coming back to her books. They are such good romance but about real feeling characters with real life struggles. I bounced back and forth between the print and the audio versions and was definitely hooked on either option. I will be here long term for her books and am so thankful to have read her work so far.

For fans of Katherine Center and Devon Daniels, this is for you.

"Love is not if you clean up, I'll help you through your grief. I'm not sure what love is, but I think it's something different from that."

Annabel Monaghan captivates me with her beautiful and witty writing yet again. While this book gave me all the summer vibes, it had so much depth and relatability to me as a 34yo woman.

On the brink of a divorce, Ali, realizes that she no longer recognizes herself and at some point relinquished having any control of her own life. She may be a professional organizer, but her own home and life are a mess, until her dog decides to pee on a man named Ethan at the dog park. Ethan helps Ali see that she is still the same girl she was before she lost herself in her marriage, parenting, and grief. While the two of them appear to be opposites, they balance each other out perfectly.

This book perfectly weaved a lighthearted romance alongside a picture of the impact grief has not only on the person trying to navigate their loss, but on those around them. 10/10 recommend you add this to your summer reading list!

"Life's going to do what life's going to do. You might as well have a dog". :)

4.5

A single mom learning and embracing her strength! I truly enjoyed this book! I am not a fan of rereading books, but this might be one that I read again and recommend often.

Ali is such a likable character. She has just been going through the motions of life and her divorce is giving her a completely new outlook on life. It touches on so many aspects of her life, single motherhood, love, loss, friendship, and more. Each character in the book stands out on their own. I went through all the emotions reading this. Yes, it's a love story... but it's so much more.

Thank you for the advance copy!

3.5-4 stars. Ali Morris is coming out of a fog of mourning - the passing of her mom, the end of her marriage and a closing to this chapter of her life. That means she is going to start dressing in regular clothes rather than loungewear or pajamas out of the house and getting back on track. Ali is a professional organizer by trade, but her personal life screams "hot mess."

I wasn't sure what to make of this story at first. The writing style and main character seemed a little quirky and kitschy at first, but as the story continued, I was able to settle into it more. I wanted to see what Ali would do with her second chance or factory reset with her new circumstances. What would it take to make her motivated to live for herself and to lean into happiness again?

I really liked Ethan. He represents second chances, too, where his current self is unlike his former self and the stereotypes associated with that. But more than anything, I enjoyed how these characters were still figuring things out for themselves, on the journey of self-discovery, but also realizing they could learn so much from each other and do it together. It started as a summer romance, but had all the ingredients for more because they did the mature thing by communicating and relying on each other in that way that supportive partners do.

Ali Morris, on the brink of divorce, finds herself grappling with life's challenges. Still mourning her mother's passing and facing the reality of her impending divorce, she struggles to maintain order in her home and personal life, neglecting even the simplest tasks like donning "hard pants." However, a chance encounter at the dog park with Ethan, on the very day she removes her wedding ring and puts on a semi-presentable outfit, sparks an instant connection and the promise of a summer romance. Embracing the possibility of a "champagne Summer," Ali dives headfirst into the unknown.

Annabel Monaghan's knack for crafting authentic characters, heartwarming romance, and stories that leave you beaming through tears solidifies her as an auto-buy author for me. Despite starting the book in a slump, I found myself devouring it in one sitting, captivated by its brilliance.

By the final page, I felt intimately acquainted with the characters, thanks to Monaghan's skill at creating lifelike personas. I laughed alongside Ali as she navigated the complexities of dating, shed tears during her relatable struggles with motherhood, and reveled in her newfound sense of belonging. Monaghan's storytelling prowess extends beyond her characters; her plots are equally engaging, never leaving room for boredom or confusion. Each page flows effortlessly, offering a renewed sense of hope and gratitude for life's joys and the people who enrich it.

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH! Annabelle Monaghan’s books are summer to me, and I think this is my favorite to date. I loved watching Ali get a new start on her life and the chemistry between her and Ethan gave me all the butterflies! This is also such a beautiful look at grief and the beauty of loving even when loss is imminent. Just a beautiful, wonderful read that I loved with all my heart!

Title: Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
Publication Date- 06/04/24
Publisher- Putnam- Penguin Group
Overall Rating- 5 out of 5 stars

Review: Review copy given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Not going to lie, this is a great Summer Romance and I hope many people enjoy it this upcoming summer. I loved every second of this novel. This is for fans of Abby Jimenez and Emily Henry. If you decide to read this make sure you all read the author's note. This was a humbling, wholesome story that for some may be a tear jerker.

This is a feel good love story that makes sense and was right up my alley. We get to know Ali as she is going through a divorce while also raising three children. Two years ago, Ali’s mother passed away and she has been living through that and learning how to grieve every sense. Now, she’s faced with a second layer of grief, her divorce. I really appreciated this story because it’s a more “mature,” romance with bigger problems but also the characters still do silly things together like skateboarding. I wouldn’t really say this book is humorous like in a rom com but it’s relatable and that’s the strength here.

I appreciated both Ali and her love interest Ethan. It wasn’t insta love, it wasn’t cringy or entirely sexual based, it made sense and felt realistic. The author writes in a way that is very readable and entertaining while also feels like she is spilling wisdom to those you haven’t experienced this and holding space for those who have. I will certainly be reading more of her books in the future.

Poignant and sweet, Summer Romance is the story of a woman finding herself again, and finding love along the way.

This was SO good. Do not confuse it with Monaghan’s other book with summer in the title, because it’s much more like Nora Goes Off Script. Monaghan should clearly only write single moms forever. 😍

In the last 2 years Ali’s mom died and her husband asked for a divorce. She’s muddling through life, trying to keep her three children alive, when her dog pees on a handsome man at the dog park, and suddenly her summer takes an unexpected turn…

Sometimes you just have to throw shit in the pantry.
From the first line of this amazing book you will be hooked. It is relatable, funny, heartfelt, and a great way to start your summer reading! There are so many lines from this story that just resonated with me at so many levels, and I know there are others out there that will feel the same. No matter where you are in life, this book is for you. It's full of lessons and reminders about love, life, and family that we all need. The only bad thing about it is that it had to end.

Annabel Monaghan writes the most perfect summer romances and you can’t change my mind about that.

This one is no different.

Best friends brother, single mom and just amazing summer vibes.

The way the romance between Ethan and Ali grows is absolutely perfect. I loved the way they joked around with each other and really I just loved them together.

I couldn’t recommend Annebels books enough, especially for that perfect summer read, with romance and a little heartbreak.

One of the easiest 5 star reads I’ve had in a while.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

When you are cheering out loud as a book is coming to a close, you know it’s a good read. Annabel Monaghan’s latest book has all the characteristic of a perfect summer read. Ali Morris is grieving the loss of her mother and a pending divorce with three children to raise. “Summer Romance” is set in an a perfect small coastal town with a fun cast of characters. Pre-order this perfect beach read coming out June 4th. Thank you to Net Galley and Putnam Books for this advance read

Summer Romance is a refreshing and utterly enjoyable read. It starts off super strong with a dog park meet cute, and I loved that both of the main characters are in their late thirties. Monaghan is truly a master at weaving the lighthearted romance with the heavier topics of grief. It is seriously bingeable and would make an excellent palate cleanser after reading something heavier or darker. I loved every minute of it!

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam/ G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such an unexpected and quiet surprise of a book that I didn’t get over for quite a while. I expected a cute little starting over type story about a single mom rediscovering herself- through a romance with her best friend’s little brother. And, while this IS that story, it is also so much more. This story is very introspective and while it sounds like a negative to say that not a whole lot happens in this book, it really was just done so perfectly I didn’t miss any kind of action-packed storyline at all. There are full pages without any dialogue at all, and usually I get bored and skip the “big paragraphs” but this time I was so drawn into Ali’s story that I loved being so deep inside her head. When we meet Ali, she is finalizing her divorce, still processing her mother’s passing, and trying to figure out her life as a single mom who has lost herself in a bad marriage. In comes Ethan, back home to help sort out some family issues and desperate to finally lose his reputation as Scooter, the unreliable bad boy of his childhood and finally be seen as an adult. While these two don’t seem a likely match, their chemistry is undeniable and instant and I was drawn into their affair immediately. While I’m normally an advocate of dual points of view, because I’m such a hound for the broody, can’t-get-her-out-of-my-head male musings, Monaghan gives us plenty of his thoughts that I didn’t really miss his side of things. This, after all, was Ali’s story of growth and finding herself in a life without a husband or her mother, and learning how to organize her own chaos.
I love the storyline of the complicated, beautiful relationship between the mothers and daughters in this book, and I was so moved at certain points that my own mother woke up to some rambly and unexpectedly emotional messages from me sent very late at night.
Ali and Ethan were inspiringly perfect partners for each other, and I loved the quiet way in which they supported each other and were able to gain the confidence to be themselves and blossom in their relationship. The ease at which Ethan fit into Ali’s family and helped her become a better mom for her kids without overstepping any boundaries was so sweet.
I loved everything about this book and hope that it will get the attention and love that it deserves.

I am so glad I stuck with this heartfelt story. I didn’t immediately vibe with Ali and almost quit. I know, I know. I stuck it out and am so happy to report that I was rewarded. This story had so much heart. I loved the relationships, the character development, the awkward dogs, all of it.

On the one-year anniversary of her mother’s death, Ali Morris’ husband Pete asks for a divorce. Ali, a part-time professional organizer and full-time mom of three, barely notices him leaving because she is so caught up in grief from losing her mom. She gets through each day by pulling on her pants/overalls and going through the motions. Until one day while taking her dog, Ferris, to the dog park, she meets Ethan. Ethan is kind, smart, funny, and he doesn’t mind when Ferris pees on him. He sets off the spark that puts Ali on the path to start living again. They embark on a summer romance that is supposed to end when the leaves change color. However, life has a way of getting messy, even for a professional organizer.

I really enjoyed Annabel Monaghan’s latest effort Summer Romance. Anyone who has lost a loved one can identify with the fog-like state Ali finds herself in after losing her mom. Monaghan navigates the slopes and valleys of Ali’s grief well, showing that while you never really stop grieving losses, you do learn ways to live with them. Ethan was an adorable man-child that offered Ali a breath of much needed fresh air. Their chemistry zipped right of the pages, and Ethan’s relationship with Ali’s kids felt organic and not forced like some novels do when introducing a new person into a divorced family. Summer Romance is a light, quick read about how the unexpected things in life tend to create the biggest impact.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for sharing this advanced review copy with me in exchange for my honest feedback!