Ali and her husband settled in the town where she grew up and had a family with 3 young kids. After Ali's mother dies she's overcome with grief. She's not even sad when her husband tells her he wants a divorce. As she's trying to figure out how to live her life again, she reconnects with a man she knew from her childhood.

Although my review makes it sound depressing - it is absolutely not. Another sweet delightful book by Annabel Monaghan. Great characters. This book is just as fun as Nora Goes off Script.

It’s been a rough few years for Ali Morris. Two years ago, her mother (arguably her favorite person and biggest cheerleader) passed away. One year later (exactly one year), her husband and the father of her three young children, Pete, told her he wanted a divorce. Present day, she is still grieving her mother more than her marriage and she really starts to think about what that means. Her friends are worried that she’s completely lost herself - she’s constantly in sweatpants, her house is a mess and her mail is piling up (not a good look for a professional organizer). When her dog Ferris pees on a guy’s ankle at the dog park, it seems par for the course. But what if it ended up changing everything? What if it turned into a summer romance - arguably the best kind, because it has an end date that both parties are aware of. There are rules that can be followed and expectations that can be set. But…rules are meant to be broken, are they not?

Ms. Monaghan, you have done it again! Summer Romance is the third novel I’ve read by this author and while I didn’t think anything could top Nora Goes Off Script - this may have done it! I will never understand how someone who is not separated/divorced writes a shitty ex-husband SO well. Just chef’s kiss - Pete is the freaking worst and unfortunately reminds me of my ex-husband. Obviously I related very deeply with this novel because of my impending divorce, but I really think this could be relatable for any woman who is trying to do it all and losing themselves on the way. I love that Ali and Ethan got to be a different version of themselves around each other and it turned out to be the truest one. I love that no one had to make a gigantic sacrifice to make something work, but also for once that a man was willing to do it for Ali instead because of her having to lose herself. I love that Monaghan writes about characters my age with children and jobs and lives that I can relate to in one way or another. I found myself highlighting paragraphs on every other page because they resonated with me so deeply. This is a forever autobuy author for me and I can’t wait for everyone to read this book! Thank you you Netgalley and Putnam Books for the e-arc!

i feel horrible about rating this book 2 stars, since it has incredible arc reviews, but i was just bored for nearly the entire book! i really enjoyed the first third, but it just went downhill from there. the romance was too insta-lovey, and i just didn’t feel any chemistry between ali and ethan. it made it hard to root for them. separately, the characters still felt one-dimensional.

i’m also not a fan of characters “talking” to their dead loved ones, and this happened regularly throughout the book.

it felt like i was reading a young adult book that was tackling adult subject matter. the story felt quite repetitive at times, especially when ethan and ali were apart. it just lacked a lot of depth, magic, and connectability. the writing itself was nice, but it didn’t flow as well as i wanted it to.

i really wanted to love summer romance, but it just didn’t quite hit the spot! just because it didn’t work for me doesn’t mean it won’t work for you! it’s great if you’re looking for a closed-door, cute-ish romance that tackles deep subjects like grief, divorce, and feelings of inadequacy, and it’s short enough to read in a day or two!

thank you to netgalley and putnam for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

out june 4, 2024!

I received an eARC from NetGalley for review.

Oh how I adored this book! Annabel Monaghan is new to me but I will be without a doubt, following her future because I absolutely loved her writing style.

When people thing about a couple divorcing after years and 3 kids, they certainly don’t always think about the possibility that the entire marriage may have been built on rocky foundation that breaks down the woman’s identity so much that she has to completely find herself again after. This is a story of rebuilding, of finding the courage and unabashed boldness of youth after a series of traumas that change who you are bit by bit. It’s a story of finding a love that is supportive and honest and right after enduring years of complacency and “good enough”.

This was a perfect HEA.

Summer Romance had me giggling and kicking my feet like an idiot for 2 days straight. It is such a cute and warm romance that kept giving. I hesitated at first to pick it up because I was afraid I wouldn’t relate to a 37-year-old mother of 3 but there’s so much more to the characters and plot. There's struggling with grief, finding your confidence, and making life work for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and GP Putnam’s Sons for providing me with this ARC.

Loved this book! Annabel Monaghan does it again. Fell in love with her book Nora goes off Script, I think that this book had the same feel to the characters which I loved. The setting was perfection, it made me want to stay at the Inn & kayak off the shore. It made me long for a champagne summer. Loved the character development not just for Ali but Ethan, and the children. It was interesting how Ali worked through her grief and really learned a lot from what her mother had done & not done for her. Loved this book, can't wait to gift it this summer!

I love this light, fun, rom-com that features a main character that is very relatable for many reasons. I found this story to be realistic enough that it was very easy to become enamored with. Ali's relationship with her elderly neighbor was especially heartwarming and each character held a depth that made them each hold a place in your heart. This is a great book all around.

Monaghan is a master of emotional, satisfying stories about women with children and marriages and messy pasts with an intelligence and attention to detail that makes the story so satisfying. Summer Romance is no exception and I loved every step of Ali and Ethan's journey, both together and apart. One of her best!

This book was a warm hug. I’m sorry that seems silly, but I love this author and what she does with her books.
Everything is relatable and honest and it’s written in such a comforting way.

Ali lost her mom 2 years ago and also lost herself. On her way to divorcing her husband, she finds hope and renewal in what she thinks is just a summer romance…

I loved this book. No notes.

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Group for the ARC.

Another homerun novel from Annabel Monaghan -- this book is a joy to read. The characters and relationships are loveable and remind you of the good in your life. However, it goes without saying it's a great remind to escape the bad apples that we can get caught up with. I'll recommend to my book club and family!

This one is so highly rated, and I loved the authors previous novel, Same Time Next Summer, so I had high hopes going in.

This wasn’t it for me. The premise is fantastic. Newly divorced, best friend’s brother, a home organizer, summer fling, all fun things. But the characters were drastically underdeveloped. They both annoyed me so much. It lacked some much needed depth.

A modern fairytale romance of a mom who has lost her way in her marriage and career, disconnecting with her own identity along the way. In finding love, she finds herself and becomes the role model her children need. This was a quick and inspiring read! Don’t skip the author’s note at the end.

I'll preface this review with saying that Nora Goes Off Script was one of my favorite reads of 2022; so I was a little worried that it wouldn't live up to the hype. It's hard when an author has hit it out of the park on their freshman debut because everything else is compared against it. But Monaghan nails it again with this fresh take on a summer romance. Basic premise is that Ali Morris is trying to find her footing again after a divorce and the loss of her mom; she's the classic every woman/mom who's pulled in a million directions and just giving up on certain things. Enter Ethan who makes her think that just maybe she can find a life on the other side of the chaos. Overall the book felt authentic and the characters were very relatable with unique details and developments. So for me a solid 4.5 stars that will make for a great Summer 2024 read. SPOILER ALERT: I did feel like the issues with blending families and drama with Pete were kinda brushed over and minimized; as was how quickly Scooter gave up the life he loved in Devon. But in the end it didn't impact my overall enjoyment of the book and they're fairly standard issues with books of this genre and length.

I really enjoyed Annabel Monaghan’s first novel for adults, Nora Goes Off Script, but then was disappointed by her next, Same Time Next Summer. Fortunately her next release, Summer Romance, has recaptured much of the wit, charm, and heart that made me love “Nora” so much.
Once again we are in the upscale environs of the East Coast (Monaghan must stick to the adage of writing what you know), with an attractive mom who is separated from her jerk of a husband and at crossroads in her life. This time, it is Ali Morris,a mother of three and personal organizer by trade, although her own home is in chaos as she struggles with the crippling grief of losing her mother and the callous dismissiveness of her soon to be ex-husband.
But fear not, reader, for Ali shortly has a “meet cute” with Ethan when her dog decides to pee on his feet at the local park. Turns out hunky lawyer/skateboarder Ethan is none other but “Scooter”, the screw-up younger brother of Ali’s best friend Franny.
There isn’t much new in terms of plot, but there are some really sweet and truly touching moments in Summer Romance that will make you root for a happy ending. The novel will be released on June 4, 2024…perfect timing to throw it in your beach bag. Thanks to NetGalley
and the publisher for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my review.

Summer Romance is about Ali, who is a professional organizer, recently divorced, her mom (who she was very close with) died two years ago, and her life has been a bit of a mess. She is a mom who is constantly putting her kids first and forgetting to take care of herself. But with a little sign from her mom, she decides to make a change and be open to new things!

Ali is such a likable and relatable character, watching her learn, grieve, grow and open herself to being loved is wonderful. There were many things I personally wasn't expecting in the book and I enjoyed being a little "caught off guard". Annabel's writing style is beautiful and I can understand why she gets so much praise as an author. I also loved the length of this book. I'm excited to get my hands on the physical copy when it releases.

Thank you NetGalley!

Trigger warning: loss of a parent

Annabel Monaghan is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. I was so excited to get an advanced copy of Summer Romance, and it did not disappoint! We meet Ali exactly two years after her mother's death and one year after her separation from her husband. In order to be a better parent and role model to her children, Ali knows that she has to past the grief of her mother's death and learn to be "seen" again following the separation and subsequent divorce. Enter Ethan aka Scooter aka her best friend's younger brother.

Y'all...Scooter made me swoon. He was such a dreamy character who truly allowed Ali space while also pushing her to become the best version of herself again. The plot was wonderful, the ending was wonderful, and the supporting characters were wonderful. What can I say -- I thoroughly appreciated so many aspects of this book, and I encourage everyone to read it.

Aww this was the perfect romance to read right around Valentine’s Day! So cute! I loved getting to know Ali and was so happy to see her with someone as loving and supportive as Ethan! This was such a sweet story and was honestly inspiring to watch her grow with her job and move on from her marriage and all the grief from her mother. This was my first Annabel Monaghan book but certainly won’t be my last! I’ve already ordered Nora Goes Off Script!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. It took me a minute to get into this, but I loved it. Pete was the perfect villain, Ethan was swoony, and Ali’s character arc as a mother, ex-wife and individual was lovely! This would be a wonderful book club book - lots to discuss!

Annabel has done it again! Absolutely loved this story, perhaps most of all of her books. A must read, and it reminds everyone that every end might just have a new, even better beginning around the corner!

This book! The whole time I was reading I felt like I had a hanger in my mouth. So. Much. Smiling. There were some sad heart wrenching moments here and there but I adored every single word.

This book is seriously going to be hard to top this year. So incredibly thankful to have received this ARC from @netgalley and @penguinbooks

Ali is newly separated mom of three and quite frankly a hot mess at the moment. A former accountant turned organizer that has the most disorganized house of anyone she knows.

Ethan, known to his hometown as Scooter, is happily living away from the hometown that still sees him as a screw up until his parents decide to leave their life behind to him and his sister calling him home. But he is absolutely not staying. He has a very happy life back in Massachusetts, thank you very much.

Cue a dog park and Ali’s dog deciding he’s the one for her and marking their territory, literally. Except Ali doesn’t realize it’s her best friend’s younger brother until she’s already falling.

This is the feel good book of the summer. Release date is June 4, preorders open now.