This is my first read by author Annabel Monaghan, and I’m kind of mad about it. How am I just now discovering her???
Summer Romance is the perfect summer read. The main character, Ali, shows so much growth over one summer. She finally puts her soon-to-be ex-husband in his place by no longer being a doormat, comes out of deep depression after losing her mother two years prior, and takes a chance at love again with the best guy. As someone who has lost a close loved one, Ali's journey through grief is relatable and tugs at the heart strings.
I definitely recommend grabbing Summer Romance as your next beach read or your next lazy, rainy day read…you get the point, just grab it ASAP.

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Annabel Monaghan for this ARC, in exchange for my honest review.

Summer Romances are just that a "summer romance" until the heart gets in the way.

Ali's life is so disorganized, unlike how she leaves her clients homes. Her mom died, her husband left her a single Mom and zipper pants are just too much work. Out for the first time with her dog at the park, the dog literally marks the man, Ethan, who will make her heart feel again.

This novel is emotionally romantic with mature adults letting their hearts lead the way. There's also humor, tenderness and swoon-worthy moments. The secondary cast of characters in this little beach town are the exact support Ali needs to uplift her life.

Ali and Ethan are simply the best! This is my new favorite by Annabel Monaghan.

Thank you, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons

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 two 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—overalls count, right?—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?

So you want a Best Friend's Brother, Friends to Lovers, Small Town Romance? Look no further than Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan. I've loved every book she's written so far, and this one did not disappoint! I was cautious when I started this book because Ali focused a lot on her mother's death and I hate a parental death in books. It's a big fear of mine that I know I'll have to face one day, but I don't wanna think about it now, especially in books. But anyway, I digress. This turned out to be a fantastic book! I was so taken in by it, that I couldn't put it down. Ethan is such a sweet hero. He doesn't play games, he is upfront with his feelings about Ali and is just such a cinnamon roll hero. I loved it when he came in to help Ali with her divorce and really took her ex down a peg. He was such an unlikeable foil to Ethan. Ali grows so much as a heroin. I love seeing a character who is depressed or down on her luck get a redemptive character ARC. As someone who had gone through that hard work, I appreciate how much it shows on the page with Ali. The small-town secondary characters were a hoot. I loved Ali's kids and how they interacted with Ethan. I just can't say enough good things about this one!

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 6/4!

I really enjoyed this story about Ali ,who has two children and is getting a divorce, . She meets Ethan in the dog park when her dog pees on him. Shortly after that they start meeting at the dog park and that leads to dating. Ali and her children are invited to her best friend's house for dinner and Ethan is there. That is when she finds out that he is Scooter , her best friend's brother . Read this story to find out what happens.. Is this just another summer romance for Ali or the real thing.? A VERY GOOD READ.

In "Ali Morris: A Summer of Hope," Annabel Monaghan took me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions as they delve into the life of Ali Morris, a woman facing numerous challenges. Ali's world is turned upside down as she navigates the painful process of divorce while still grieving the loss of her beloved mother. The weight of these burdens makes it difficult for Ali to find stability and order in her home and personal life.

However, amidst the chaos, a chance encounter with Ethan at the local dog park brings a glimmer of hope into Ali's life. Their summer romance blossoms, offering Ali a much-needed respite from her troubles. Monaghan's vivid storytelling captures the essence of their relationship, making readers laugh, cry, and swoon as they witness the ups and downs of Ali's journey.

Monaghan's ability to create realistic and relatable characters is a standout feature of this novel. Ali's struggles and triumphs resonate with readers, allowing them to connect with her on a deep level. As Ali embarks on a journey of self-discovery, readers are taken along for the ride, experiencing her growth and transformation firsthand.

The compelling plot kept me engaged from start to finish, as they eagerly turn the pages to uncover what lies ahead for Ali. Monaghan's writing style is both captivating and heartwarming, making it impossible to put the book down. With each chapter, I became more invested in Ali's story, rooting for her happiness and eagerly anticipating the resolution of her challenges.

This book is a heartwarming story that left me with a sense of optimism and a renewed belief in the power of love and self-discovery. Monaghan's ability to weave together a tale of resilience and hope is truly remarkable. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking a captivating story with elemnets like late 30s MCs, and tropes such as single parent, best friends brother, meet cutes, forced proximity and looking for a closed door romance!

I am eagerly anticipating Monaghan's next literary masterpiece. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

After enjoying the author’s previous 2 books I was very excited to be gifted an advance copy of Summer Romance! I think this may have been my favorite of all of her books.

It follows Ali, a 38 year old single mom in the middle of a divorce. I loved that this was an older MC whose life was a little messy- it felt more relatable to me than all the romances focusing on women in their 20’s. I also really enjoyed that there were multiple threads in this book- Ali is grieving the loss of her mom and that is a huge part of the storyline as well. I felt like it was all so well done. I also loved the friendship between Ali and her neighbor. So many good morsels in this one!

I would have loved an epilogue but otherwise was very satisfied with how it ended. It even made me cry and I’m not a big crier. 4.5 rounded up

Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

As a mom of three and a stay-at-home mom, this book hit me right in the feels. Ali's experiences are so recognizable that I couldn't help but place myself in her shoes. Monaghan created such amazing characters that you can't help but feel bummed that they aren't real people. Ethan is dreamy and flawed and perfect for Ali. His need for helping her rediscover herself as someone beyond a mom and unappreciated housewife is sexier than any steamy romance out there. I finished this book with major heart eyes. I will be holding this book close to my heart for a long time to come.

I love how much love is in this book!! It made my heart so full and it was truly a joy to read. I would highly recommend reading this book if you want a feel good romance, with a woman who rediscovers herself along the way! Thank you NetGalley and Annabel Monaghan for the ARC read! ❤️
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198563734

I saw the reviews other readers made and it was a big hit for them. I would t say this book was bad by any means, but I just didn’t find myself getting into the story as much as I would’ve liked.

4.25 stars
This was a fast-paced romance and really enjoyable. At times I felt the pace was a bit too fast and it felt like some emotion was passed over but other times it was perfect. I really loved both MCs and could understand why they were the way that they were and how they worked to accept and/or change that. I also liked how both were very upfront about their feelings and intentions, no miscommunication here thankfully!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

4 ⭐️

I am so glad that Annabel is BACK!! I loved Nora Goes Off Script soooo much, but last year’s Same Time Next Summer was NOT it for me. When I was approved for an ARC of Summer Romance I was very excited and nervous at the same time. I can confidently say that Annabel Monaghan has gone back to her roots and it will be a huge success when it publishes this summer!

I enjoyed this story so much, and the setting (as always) was so gorgeous and atmospheric. I literally finished it in 48 hours. It will be the perfect summer read when it publishes in June!! ☀️

I started reading Annabel Monaghan this year and instantly fell in love with her books! They are always entertained, well written and move at a steady pace. I will definitely be recommending this to my book friends!

Readers are getting exactly what one would expect from this title and cover for large part. Summer Romance by Ammabel Monaghen is a sweet ,closed-door romance. The protagonist, Ali, is a single mom of three dealing with grief after losing her mother two years ago and also an impending divorce. She is the mom who one day looks up and realizes that the past decade she has been living in someone else's shoes and they don't fit well. Ali has a chance meeting at the local dog park in which her dog pees on a man's shoes. A little crush ensues until she realizes that her new crush, Ethan, is her bestie's lil' brother, Scooter, all grown up. It's too late though, she's all in. A further complication arises when Ali realizes that Ethan's real life is four hours away and he is only planning on being in town for the summer.

This book started a little bit slow for me, but I quickly settled in after 20% and wanted to continue. Although this isn't necessarily "deep" book, it does deal with grief and I think it balances character and plot well. This is the second book that I've read by Monaghan and I intend to read more. Pick this book up if you want a good summer read!

I absolutely adore this book. I’m now one of Annabel’s biggest fans. This had so much heart and is the perfect romance for the summer. Thank you for the opportunity to read it early.

I really enjoyed this book. I’ve never read a book by Annabel before but I loved how deep and emotional this one was. It was unlike any other romance book. If you’ve gone through grief you can definitely relate to this story, and I loved watching Ali grow as a person throughout the story. I absolutely loved Ethan’s character and how he helped Ali and her entire family. I felt like it did drag on a little bit and found myself getting bored towards the middle but overall I had a great time reading it and will be looking into her other books! 3.5 stars overall.

I read Summer Romance in two days. It was delightful, my favorite novel of Annabel Monaghan. I really like her writing because the romance is not the focus of the book, it is sprinkled in within the theme of the main character’s overall self worth and finding who she truly was meant to be. I loved the small town setting, the beech setting, the dogs and so many other things. Highly recommend, 5 stars,

Annabel Monaghan is one of those authors that never goes wrong for me. I have no notes for this book.

It's such a a perfect intersection of grief and finding yourself and finding love. I think many women know what it's like to disappear due to life. To fold in until you're taking up as little space as possible.

Everything about this book made me cry in the best way. I loved everything in this book and I have no notes.

I laughed, I cried, I swooned. I loved this book.

Ali is a recently-separated mom of three whose life has been in a holding pattern for even longer. She’s still grieving the loss of her mother, and as her divorce proceedings finally begin, she begins to take steps toward emerging from the haze. First up: real clothes and a trip to the dog park…where her dog promptly pees on a handsome stranger, Ethan, who is not quite the stranger she thinks he is. From there, Ali’s journey to regain her sense of self gains even more traction with the help of a summer romance with someone who helps remind her of who she once was.

I thought Ali was a fantastic, well-rounded character. She was relatable, real, and strong. Her grief for her mother felt like a tangible thing. Though her loss came a few years prior to the beginning of the book, it was still very clear how close they were. Ali had a lot to process that she hadn’t been ready to face and the progression of that throughout her journey felt raw and genuine. She was also a great mom herself. She had her struggles, but the love she had for her kids was obvious. I loved seeing her gradually find her voice again when it came to her ex as well. The growth she experienced as she regained her confidence was lovely.

I adored Ethan. He was a man who knew who he was, wasn’t shy about what he wanted, knew how to set and respect boundaries, and showed he could be the kind of partner who would support and uplift rather than shrink and stifle. He helped remind Ali of who she was before she lost important parts of herself in her marriage, but he never gave the impression that she needed him specifically to bring herself back. He knew she simply needed people in her corner offering perspective and having her back as she made her own moves. Ethan just wanted to add to and be a part of the life she was recreating for herself.

Ali and Ethan relationship was not without its obstacles and questions of how it could possibly work out. Despite the challenges that seemed almost insurmountable, it was so easy to root for them, both as individuals to find their personal happiness and as a couple to find a way for a slice of that happiness to be together. I loved the way everything came together. From start to finish, it felt like a gentle and natural progression that found its resolution in a way that was genuine to the hearts of these characters.

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

“Instagram thinks I need to engage in some serious self-care to get me back to living my best life. They’re obsessed with my cortisol levels and the depth of my meditation practice, but I’m pretty sure this is a job for something bigger than the magnesium foot bath they’ve been putting in my feed all week.“- @annabelmonaghan

When a book starts with your exact instagram feed you know you’re going to love it.

Ali is an almost divorced mom of three kids who lost her mom 2 years ago and hasn’t worn “hard pants” in way too long. She’s a professional home organizer whose own house is a disaster- metaphor for her mental health, love life, work life, and family life. Ali meets Ethan in the best meet-cute way- insert dogs at a dog park- and their romance begins. History, divorce, mom/woman balance, friendship and taking chances are all themes in this romance. However, at the heart of this book is the journey and resilience to shed the old versions of yourself that others have placed upon you to live a life of happiness, purpose, and fulfillment. The author’s note made me love this story more.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pub date 6/4/24

3.5 ⭐️ - a sweet read on finding yourself all over again. Ali is a single mom who is dealing with the death of a parent and a divorce from a selfish man. I liked how she finds herself again, but it takes another man for her to see it. You kind of want to shake her. Regardless, I still enjoyed living in Beechwood, just further proved my desire to live in the northeast.