This book was such a fun and refreshing time!! I will say this is definitely a women’s fiction book with a plot of romance in it. I am not or anywhere near being a newly divorced mom of 3, but I still really enjoyed following the main character’s story. I enjoyed following her journey about finding her identity again amidst grief and newly divorced. I think everyone can relate on some level to going through a life changing event that makes you feel like you have to find yourself again. There were some really good quotes and I really loved the quote and theme of “you are the architect of your own experience” in this book. And the analogy how we still choose to get dogs and love them even while knowing they will one day not be there but the experience and love you get from it is worth it. Overall I would definitely recommend if you’re looking for a short women’s fiction book surrounding finding yourself and love again after going through life altering experiences. The romance that was in this was very sweet and I loved reading about both of the characters lives, what they were going through and how they both grew by the end of the book. The setting also makes this book perfect for the summertime!!

I love everything Annabel Monaghan writes. I read it so quick and can’t wait to re-read this summer!

Thank you so much for allowing me to ARC read this book. I wanted to love it, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was reading a YA romance despite the fact that that characters were over the age of 30. I do think the author did a great job handling the topic of grief.

The title says it all - you want summer and romance, pick up this book! Monaghan delivers again. Might be my new favorite of her books. So good that I'll read it again this summer!

This was definitely my favorite Annabel Monaghan novel yet! Very sweet story, likable characters, but not too light or frilly, which makes it a very engaging rom com. I also love how it’s a story about a single mom falling in love again - you don’t see those as often in the rom com book world.

Thank you for the ARC!

3.5 Stars!

Thank you NetGalley, Annabel Monaghan, and G.P. Putnams Sons for letting me read an ARC of Summer Romance!

I loved this book. The character development that you can hear not only throught the inner monologue of the main character, but through her actions, was absolutley outstanding to read.

Personally my qoute of the year has been "don't spend another year doing the same things" and Ali (FMC) really embodies that. The fact that you can see her mentally working through her responses to things when an outside perspective asks her why she does responds the way she does, and then adjusting her behavior in the future, was really inspiring to read about. I am no where near in the same phase of life as Ali, but I still really related to her.

Now Ethan.... SWOON! I loved this man, would do anything for this man! His patience, his heart, his attention to detail was really something to fawn over, and everyone deserves an Ethan!

Some of the book I found a little mundane, that's why there a few points were taken off. I always appreciate when a book finds the joy in everyday life, and how you really do fall in love during those moments, but it was a lot of mundane tasks, some of it could.ve been taken out. I did enjoy Alis organzational tips, probably will use some in the future!

Overall, a nice rom com read, with heart to it. A story, no matter what phase of life you are in, you can relate / get inspired from.

Now go find yourself a Summer Romance!

I really enjoyed Annabel Monaghan's newest book! I really appreciated reading about the romance of a mother, and Monaghan brings the romance to life in such a fun way. Totally recommend this one!

I’ve said it before, but summertime second chance hometown romance has got to be my favorite genre! You know that feeling when you start a book and you know you’re not going to be able to put it down and you have to just keep reading? That’s how I felt reading this one, which I had really been looking forward to ever since I read Same Time Next Summer last year. I appreciated the maturity of the characters and how real their romance felt, and it was easy to become invested in Ethan and Ali’s romance. If you’re like me and this is your favorite genre too, this is an absolute must read when it releases on 6/4!!!

Can you say perfect summer romance?! This is the perfect book to just lay on the beach and binge. Wiring was fast paced and engaging, very similar vibes to her other two books. I think if you want something that really is wholesome and has good banter then this is perfect for you!

This was a fantastic romance that felt very realistic! I adored Scooter and appreciated that the main character had children and actual responsibilities in life. Perfect pacing and length, and I loved how everything wrapped up at the end. 4.5 stars!

Ali Morrison’s mom died two years ago, her husband left, and she hasn’t put on hard pants in god knows how long. But when an unfortunate accident at the dog park leads to a date with a cute stranger Ali decides it’s time for a summer romance. Slowly her and Ethan get closer than she ever expected, will this relationship actually go past the summer into real life?

Oh man, I didn’t know anything going into this book but I loved Monaghan’s other two so I had high hopes and it did not disappoint! I laughed, I cried, and even though it took me a little bit to get into I ended up loving this!

Things I liked:
-how Ali is with her kids, she’s a great mom the whole book
-Ethan and Ali in the divorce hearings. I loved his quirkiness and her figuring out how to stand up for herself
-the character development Ali goes through is so strong!
-Phyllis! She is easily the best character in my opinion
-the closed door romance, I’m a huge fan of how the relationship played out

Things I didn’t love as much:
-I felt like the whole first 1/3 of the book was Ali thinking about how hot Ethan was and it got a little annoying
-the ex, ugh he sucked
-Cliffy’s name (this is such a small thing which shows you how amazing this book is, I’m really grasping at straws here)

A very solid 4.5/5 stars, I genuinely enjoyed this book so much!

The characters in this book were so realistic, and the ending left me almost giddy. Plus, Ethan might just be one of my all time favorite book boyfriends yet! He was so caring, thoughtful, sweet, charming, and really just all the good bits. I also really felt for Ali, the main character, and loved the chemistry between her and Ethan. This was overall such a swoon-worthy story that I found very easy to like and appreciate.

I would encourage anyone who likes the following to give this a read:
-closed door romance
-best friend’s sibling
-forced proximity
-single mom/single parent
-main characters in their mid-to-late thirties

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC! I cannot wait to read what Annabel Monaghan writes next!

Oh my dear word - this book!! ALL the heart eyes!!! So so good! From start to finish, this was just stunning. I connected immediately to Ali and I was rooting for Ethan the whole time. Their love story was absolutely perfect - no notes! These characters were real, raw, flesh out and felt like real people with real struggles. Monaghan navigated so many hard topics and incorporated them all into the story so well, very realistic and just pulls at your heart!! I very rarely cry at books, and I cried the last 10% or so, partly due to the absolutely beautiful story and also not wanting this book to end!! 5/5 stars - one of my favorite reads of 2024 for sure!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Annabel Monaghan, and the publisher for providing me a free copy in exchange for my honest review!

Annabel Monaghan does not disappoint. I know I can always count on her to write fully fleshed out adult characters who feel like real people I know. Summer Romance is the story of a professional organizer/mom of three in the middle of a divorce who embarks on a summer only romance with her best friend’s younger brother who has come back to the small town they grew up in. Monaghan expertly explores the themes of finding yourself again after divorce, grief, and figuring out what you want outside the expectation of others. The balance between heartwarming and heavy is perfectly managed. A summer must read.

3.75/5 stars. ARC REVIEW

Thank you to the publishing company & the author for choosing me to read & publicly review this book.

This book was filled with grief, heartache, death, growing, sadness, & happiness. Ali is trying to figure out her life after her divorce & her mother’s death. She is growing & learning so much by being a single mom of 3 when she meets Ethan in the dog park. She signifies it as a “summer romance” as her mom would always say, but one thing leads to another & she doesn’t want this summer to end.

I have always enjoyed Annabel Monaghans books. This book didn’t hook me as quickly as the other ones did but I still enjoyed the last 60% of the book. I enjoyed how Ali brought herself back and fought through her grief & continued to show up for herself and her kids. I felt like some parts of the book dragged on & felt like I couldn’t really imagine things like I normally do. This book would be a great summer read/ easy to read on the beach.

Some quotes I liked:

“You get a dog and you know two things- you’re going to fall in love with it and it’s going to die one day. You knowingly walk headfirst into a heartbreak.”
“Ethan shows up, everytime, In the best possible way”

You will laugh. You will cry. You will giggle and kick your feet at how charming this love interest is. This book is PERFECTION.

Best friend’s brother except he’s the one who’s been pining? He falls first and he falls harder? A main character who is complex and has flaws and sometimes you want to hit her over the head but she also isn’t insufferable? A totally realistic and not overly drawn out third act conflict? An exploration of who we are as friends, siblings, children, and role models? It’s all here.

I cannot wait until it comes out so I can share all my favorite quotes. Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Random House, and Annabel Monaghan for this ARC! And thank you Annabel Monaghan also for writing this beautiful book.

Summer Romance is a delightful and charming read that proves even the messiest of lives can find a touch of magic in unexpected places.
Ali Morris, a professional organizer drowning in her own chaos, finds herself caught up in a whirlwind of surprises when her dog plays matchmaker and introduces her to Ethan. Despite her reluctance to dive into a summer romance, Ethan's easy smile and genuine affection offer Ali a glimmer of hope in the midst of her turmoil.
The author's witty prose and relatable characters breathe life into this sweet tale of love and self-discovery. Ali's journey from heartbreak to newfound possibility is both heartwarming and empowering, reminding readers that sometimes the best adventures come when we least expect them.
While the idea of a summer fling may seem fleeting, Summer Romance reminds us that even brief encounters can leave a lasting impact. With its endearing blend of humor, romance, and hope, this book is the perfect beach read to sweep you off your feet and leave you with a smile on your face.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Delightful! Thank you @putnambooks for this early copy of Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan. It’s just as good as her other two romances, and I absolutely inhaled it. I felt such longing between the characters as they figured out who they were and who they wanted to be, especially together. I loved that Ali is a mom, and she’s still desirable. I love Ethan and his journey of being someone different from who his family and hometown think he is.
The organizing, skateboarding, neighborly kindness—it was all so wholesome and sincere, and it made for a believable couple I couldn’t stop rooting for. Any romance fans will love this. It’s closed-door yet still gave me heart-pounding thrills. I will probably read it again someday!

Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for my (very first!!) ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. “Summer Romance” comes out June 4, 2024, and I so hope you will pick it up then ❤️

I was expecting to like this book having already read Annabel Monaghan’s first two novels, but this one blew me away. “Summer Romance” was at once poignant, funny, sweet, and also deeply genuine. I so badly wanted to savor this book, but I also couldn’t put it down and ended up staying up til the early hours of the morning til I finished it.

Ali is navigating a divorce as a mother of three and beginning to question how she has let herself disappear and how to feel like herself again. She begins a summer romance with an unexpected man (in a perfectly hilarious meet cute) who is her perfect foil, at once bringing joy, passion, fun, and a quiet, steady support to her life.

Both Ali and Ethan evolve in such beautiful ways, both together and separately, and feel so real and multi-dimensional. They are at once flawed and lovable and complicated and beautiful. I appreciated having the time to fully delve into their world and know Ali and Ethan on a deeper level. I felt like I truly understood them, why the way they were, and what they wanted.

I genuinely feel so much tenderness toward them and definitely shed a few tears while reading not out of sadness, but just feeling genuinely emotionally connected to them and so invested in their outcome. I also laughed out loud at times, which is so rare for me in a book! This book was so beautifully written, and every sentence truly counted…I’m not sure if I’ve ever had so many highlights in a book!

This book has:

- An MMC who has always noticed and crushed on the FMC (swoon!)
- A sweet, slow burn romance that will give you butterflies (though it is fade to black!)
- A true summer “feel”, set in a quaint small town on the New England coast. It made me want to have a "champagne summer" and have a big, full summer full of cookouts with my friends, beach trips, baseball games, and boat rides.
- A strong, quirky supporting cast of characters.

I hope you pick this book up when it comes out. I very well may be re-reading it right alongside you when it does because I’m dying to sneak back into this world!

Another masterpiece from the magical mind of Annabel Monaghan! Who doesn’t love a Summer Romance?! Here you’ll find all the good that comes with a summer romance: desire, excitement, lust, fun… but what happens when summer’s over and you’re not quite ready for the end?

Read this if you’re looking for a book with…
• family dynamics
• grief/loss
• divorce
• single POV
• he falls first
• mature love
• self growth

I really connect with Annabel’s writing — her books evoke such impactful and meaningful emotions. She manages to write stories that feel so real. Already an auto-buy author for me, but this sealed the deal!

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.