Do not be fooled by this title; this is really a book about grief and grounding in who one is-or wants to be-and how they are seen.

In classic Monaghan style, it is not a carefree take on middle age, or middle age romance, or motherhood, or death of a parent, or anything we seem to encounter late to mid-30s in general. It is partially the work of those relationships she represents so well, and the discovery of oneself that Monaghan really nails. I deeply appreciated the fact that Ali still manages a relationship and all its complications with her mother who has died.

The central romance is perhaps, for me, the weakest of her 3 books. Ethan is a good character, but I don't see him as much as Ali and all her complicated relationships. That said, he's what he needs to be for her and it ended up feeling like a light touch, but a good one. This leaves me feeling a little conflicted, with my romance expectations and general enjoyment of the book, and is probably why it wasn't more successful for me overall as a novel.

3.75. My long-standing rule of the reread applies, I will not be likely to reread this one, so 3 will be the GR rating

<i> Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC, which has not influenced my review.

This is a delightful and nostalgic coming-of-age tale that captures the essence of young love and self-discovery.

ARC review

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

4.5 stars, rounding up to 5 on Goodreads ⭐️

I was so thrilled to have the opportunity to read this ARC, Annabel Monaghan has become a favorite author of mine. This is my third book of hers, after reading Nora Goes Off Script and Same Time Next Summer, I was so excited to see she had a new book coming out. As usual, this book didn’t disappoint! Always fun and heartwarming stories, that reel you in from the start.

Ali is a mom of three, who runs an organization business but is super disorganized. She’s struggling with the death of her mom (2 years ago), while in the middle of separating from her husband. Ali is newly single and unsure of how to move forward with her life, she’s lost her voice and is trying to find herself again.

Ali meets Ethan at the dog park, where his shoe/sock have a run in with Ali’s dog, Ferris. Ali doesn’t realize it at the time, but Ethan is her best friends little brother. Ethan was the “bad kid” growing up, no one in town has let him forget it, including his family. He lives 4 hours away, where he’s not known for his past and could have a fresh start.

These two start a summer romance, thinking that’s all it will be. It quickly becomes much more, but how can they make it work?

“You are the architect of your own experience.”

This is perfect summer read, pub date is June 4th making it a perfect book for a beach day 🏖️🌼

Thank you for the ARC NetGalley and Putnam!

I absolutely loved the characters of Ali & Ethan and their relationship, they were truly perfect for each other in so many ways 🥹 this book was so emotional and heartfelt and Ali showed us what a rollercoaster grief can be. Another 5 star book from Abigail Monaghan!!! Ps. Even the author’s note had tears rolling down my face 🥲

Annabel Monaghan has solidified herself as an auto-buy go to author for not only a romance, but for a book that’s going to make me swoon, and get me ALL into my feelings.

Ali is really going through it while grieving for her mom and going through a divorce. I can’t imagine many things that would be harder. With perfect timing she meets Ethan at a DOG PARK (swoon)!!!

This book had me smiling from ear to ear and it just made me feel good. It made me happy. Ali was such a relatable character and her strugglers were so real. Everything she was going through resonated so much with me.

This book will make you smile, and it will make you feel good. I wish I could read this for the first time again. It was simply beautiful.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Annabel Monaghan is a confirmed auto-buy author for me! After reading 'Same Time Next Summer," I knew I was going to read all of her future releases. I was so excited to receive this arc and saved it for the perfect time.

This book was so healing and heartwarming. I enjoyed every second of it from the time I started it. Ethan and Ali had me rooting for them so hard throughout the book. They fit so well together and completed with the other needed in their lives. I rarely relate to characters and I felt myself relating to Ali (besides the children!). Annabel writes characters so well that portray real, true characteristics that you can find yourself in any of these characters.

Even though this book was short, I never wanted it to end! The pacing was perfect. The ending was perfect. Everything about this book was perfect.

Thank you so much for the Advanced Reader Copy!

Happy Love Week Review 💌

📖: Summer Romance
Pub Date: 6/4/24

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed @annabelmonaghan last book #SameTimeNextSummer so when I saw this 💎 on @netgalley I said to myself (I talk to myself a lot 🤭) this will be my #ARC February romance E-book!

In Summer Romance, we meet Ali, a woman adrift after the devastating loss of her mother and the disintegration of her marriage. Ali is unsure how to process her grief and anger until she has a mute cute encounter with Ethan, her best friend’s younger brother.

Read If You Like:
Books About Processing Grief
Skateboarders 🛹
Finding True Love
Friendships
Meet Cutes
Forced Proximity
Closed Door Romance
The list goes on…

This is definitely a sweet meet cute 📖🥰

Thank you @putnambooks for the ARC of #SummerRomance

I am a huge Annabel Monaghan stan! Nora Goes Off Script was in my top two of rom coms I read last year, so I was delighted to receive an ARC of Summer Romance from NetGalley.

This book had me hooked! The characters were so well developed, the romance was absolutely adorable, and the issues explored (divorce, independence, loss of a parent, parenting, ignoring labels put on you, re-writing your story) were explored SO well.

I can totally see this as a movie and I’d cast Ginnifer Goodwin and Ryan Hansen as Ali and Ethan. <3

Another cute summer love story! Scooter returns to his hometown and ends up having to clear out his parents house when they move to Florida. Ali is moving on from a divorce in which her husband basically ruled her and she stayed quiet. Scooter and Ali meet each other at the dog park when her dog pees on him. They help each other grow and become better people. But can they stay together when scooter moves back to Devon? Such a good summer book.

Annabel Monaghan’s writing is pure gold to me. Every single book of hers I’ve given 5 stars to. I think it has to be because she has SUCH a knack for writing such authentic, raw characters that a reader can relate to. Plus, I just always feel good at the end of her novels. This will be a perfect summer read!

Well, consider me carbonated! That’s a term I guarantee you’ll start to use once you read this wonderful romance. And read it you must because it’s one of the most heartwarming, fun, and fizzy novels I’ve read this year.

I’ve been a HUGE fan of Annabel Monaghan ever since reading her book Nora Goes Off Script, which tackled topics such as motherhood, work-life balance, and divorce in addition to love. Summer Romance does all that and more, weaving in a narrative about loss that makes the FMC, Ali, one to root for.

And if you’re looking for romance, then you won't be disappointed. The MMC, Ethan, is a dream! He had a personal journey of his own, which I felt tied into Ali's story seamlessly.

The book also tackled self-love on top of romantic love, and it was wonderful to see Ali and Ethan support each other in all facets of their lives, from professional pursuits to being a single parent.

In case you can’t tell, I adored this book! If you’re hoping to laugh, cry, and swoon your way through the summer, then definitely get this one on your TBR and read it the second you can on June 4, 2024!

Big thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books for an advanced copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

My kind of summer romance is one with heart and a whole lot of depth. I’ll take the swoony love stories, but I’m really here for the aspects that bring complexity, messiness, and humanity.

In SUMMER ROMANCE we meet Ali, a soon-to-be single mother grieving the loss of her mother’s death with an affinity for leggings (who can blame!?). Despite being a professional organizer, Ali’s life is anything but organized. After an embarrassing meet-cute at the dog park, Ali embarks on a summer romance she never intended to have.

I adored Ali’s character arc and her midlife self re-discovery. The meek woman she became in marriage was unrecognizable to her and watching her blossom over the course of these pages was inspiring. While NORA GOES OFF SCRIPT will remain an all-time favorite, this sweet story is so worth a read.

Don’t miss the heartfelt author’s note! It’s beautiful and adds so much.

Read this if you:
-have an affinity for home organization
-are unapologetically a dog person
-consider legging as a wardrobe essential

I am a die hard Annabel Monaghan fan so I went into this book with high expectations and had no doubt it would deliver! Within the first few pages I felt like Ali and I were bosom buddies - She is a mom doing the best she can but feels like she is always failing. She lost her mom who was also her biggest cheerleader and it still heartbroken with loss and then to top it all off, she is going through a divorce and trying to keep her head above water and on straight. Then one fateful day, she puts her big girl pants on (literally) and decides to go to the dog park where she meets a cute and interesting stranger, Ethan. But as in life, things aren't always just what they seem and hard days and realizations are on the horizon for both Ali and Ethan. Through it all, I loved rooting for them to find a way through their messy and sometimes complicated situations and find they were still holding on to each other at the end. If you love a sweet, realistic, funny and romantic read, this one is for you! Annabel Monaghan continues to be at the top of my list and I can't wait until her next novel!

Annabel Monaghan just keeps getting better and better with each book she releases!!

I was delighted to be able to get to read Summer Romance early and I binge read it in just under a day! It was quick to suck you in and kept me glued to the pages until the very end. I have a feeling this book is definitely going to be on every "must read this summer" list in due course.

This is the perfect summer read as much of it takes place during the summer and there's lots of summer-y activities abound. I really want to go kayaking now but it's a tinge cold for that in February!

Most of all though, I really enjoyed getting to know Ali. While I don't have children I can absolutely relate to being lost after a parent passes and trying to find the way through afterwards. Scooter was an absolute delight to get to know as well and it's always nice to see when the person known for being a hellraiser as a child (ahem) grows up to be not so bad ;)

Overall this was a smash hit!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the eARC copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

“Summer Romance” is a darling story about a woman who claws her way back after loss, about childhood crushes being realized and about finding love when you least expect it. The chemistry between Ali and Ethan hits from their first encounter, making the tale of their romance a delightful read right from the start.

One of my favorite things about this story is that both MC’s have similar insecurities that are expressed differently. Ethan was the child screw up who grew up but still feels insecure around his family. Ali was a strong woman growing up who’s lost that strength during a failing marriage and the loss of her mother. It makes their relationship so much believable because they get what the other is missing.

In true Annabel Monaghan fashion, the writing is witty and the story flows smoothly so the reader is never bored. Personally I also love the fact that the characters are all older and messy, which is not as common as it should be in romances like this…not everyone has it all figured out by 35. This was definitely a tougher read because there are hard discussions of loss of a parent and friend, but this reader appreciated the care taken with these topics. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am just sad that I have to wait awhile for the Annabel Monaghan book to come out because she’s quickly become one of my favorites.

I LOVED this book. Annabel Monaghan has such a beautiful, poignant, and sometimes even lyrical writing style. I adored both of her previous books, but they seem to just get better. The way she described grief in this book grabbed me over and over again- not only Ali’s grief over the loss of her mother and marriage, but her grief over the loss of herself. I would bet that every mother, married or divorced, would see themselves somewhere in Ali. Monaghan delicately shows Ali’s mind flip between “how did I get here?” and “there’s no place I’d rather be” throughout the novel. That is motherhood in a nutshell for me. Ethan is an amazing romantic lead who in a sea of romantic leads I know I will commit to memory. While I’m not sure he is very realistic, he sure is lovable. I loved him, loved Ali, love love loved this book. Did I mention that? Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc.

Thank you Putnam Books for my copy! All thoughts are my own.

Annabel Monaghan easily delivers another five star read for me. I LOVED this book like I have loved all of her books. They all have made me feel things so deeply and connect with women I may not have a ton in common with on paper, but inside, we all are connected. I finished this book in a day and if I hadn’t needed to clean my house I would have read it in one sitting. I LOVED it. Annabel has this incredible ability to write everything that needs to be on the page without it feeling like the book is missing anything. It’s an incredible talent and this book has moved up my list of favorites.

Synopsis:

“Benefits of a summer romance: It’s always fun, always brief, and no one gets their heart broken.Ali Morris is a professional organizer whose own life is a mess. 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.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. He looks at her as if she’s a version of herself she hasn’t been in a long while. The last thing newly single mom Ali needs is to make her life messier, but there’s no harm in a little summer romance. Is there?” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

The Setting—This book felt like home! It wasn’t set in Connecticut, where I grew up, but it is on Long Island Sound which is close enough to capture the vibes of my summers as a kid. I LOVED the charming town and how all the homes were described.

The Characters—I loved Ali and Ethan plus all the side characters. Cliffy is adorable and Phyllis will have my heart forever.

The Visceral Feelings—Pete SUCKS. Can we talk about how much Pete sucks? But I loved how this book made me feel things so loudly. I felt my heart clench and burst along with Ali’s as she found herself again.

What Didn’t Work:

Wanted a Little More from Frannie—I would have liked a teeeeny bit more from the side characters but I still loved this book so much.

Character Authenticity: 5/5 Spice Rating: 0/5 Overall Rating: 5/5

Content Warnings:

death of a parent, grief, divorce, toxic relationship

Thank you for giving me the chance to read this book on vacation! I understand it was an advanced copy, and things change, but the formatting and consistent hyphenating of words was incredibly distracting and frankly, a bit difficult to read. I look forward to trying to read this book again when it is published, as I adore this author.
Thanks!

Once again, Monaghan has delivered a wonderful romance, although this one was tinged with more sad aspects than the other books of hers that I’ve read.

Ali’s mom died two years ago, and Ali still talks to her for guidance. Her husband left her a year earlier, and what’s sad about that isn’t that they’re divorcing, but that they ever got married and stayed together as long as they did.

Ali is a part-time organizer, but her own house is a disaster she can’t seem to straighten out. On the day she puts on overalls, she’s proud of herself, because they are very close to being real pants. Thus, dressed in something other than stained sweatpants, she takes Ferris to the dog park, and Ferris pees on a handsome man, who appears to be new in her small town. Even though her life is messy, maybe a summer of fun before he returns home won’t be such a bad thing.

This is a fun novel. My only criticism is Monaghan overuses the word “carbonated” (to describe Ali feeling buzzy with excitement thinking about or being around Ethan). It’s a good word, but after five or six mentions it calls attention to itself.

NetGalley provided an advance copy of this book, which RELEASES JUNE 4, 2024.

My first five-star review of the year, and it is so well deserved. I loved Nora Goes Off Script from a couple years ago and don't know why I waited so long to pick up another book by this author. As with Nora, Summer Romance features thirty-something people still figuring out what they want from life, lots of children and pets, and the right man versus the wrong man for the heroine.

Ali is struggling at the start of the novel. A pending divorce from a louse of a husband and the recent death of her beloved mother has left her in a depressed state that her oldest child refers to as her "disappearance." Though she is technically an organizational specialist by career, her personal life could hardly be more disorganized. Her attempts to pacify her narcissistic husband led to a failed marriage; and worse, she no longer has confidence in herself to succeed on her own. Her home is piled with unopened mail and clutter as far as the eye can see. Her best friend thinks her worst act of self-hate though is routinely wearing sweat pants. I've often heard it said that one small change in life can escalate to many other positive changes. Ali demonstrates that perfectly when she takes her friend's advice and puts on pants with a zipper and button and takes her little dog Ferris to the dog park. Voila, she meets a cute guy, and what a guy he turns out to be. Ethan is an attorney, and the scenes where he shows up at mediation hearings as Ali's pretend lawyer are hilarious and so gratifying just for the reaction Ali's ex has to this new man in her life. Ethan is certain to be a contender for favorite hero in a romance novel this year.

The romance here is wonderful and very much in keeping with a journey Ali must undergo to reclaim her dignity and self worth. I loved too that Ethan has his own journey to take that is nearly equal in time devoted to getting to know and understand him and watch him evolve as a character. The conflict between them is apparent very early in their romance, and it kept me guessing how they would resolve it. In the end, this is ultimately a book with good people behaving maturely and kindly to each other. It does a fabulous job too of creating a vibrant setting for all the characters in this little beach community outside of Long Island. Family and friends populate this novel well and all play important roles in Ali's and Ethan's developing relationship.

For those who loved Nora Goes Off Script, I think this latest Monaghan book will be very well received.