Okay I LOVED this.
This is by far her best one yet. I’ve liked but not loved her other books (sorry Annabel!) I couldn’t put it down.

The characters and scene setting were really well done. Lots of mid life issues—grief, love, self-love, friendships, parent relationships—tackled thoughtfully. There is so much here that’s relatable for those of us in midlife or who find themselves disappearing in mid life. This is especially for women in that regard—how we can be conditioned to disappear because of others, and how we can find ourselves again.

I love the proverbial and literal village of people she built in this book, and I loved the relationships. They’re painted authentically, which is to say they’re beautifully complicated.

This comes out June 4, add it to your summer reading list!

Thank you @netgalley and @penguinbooks for the ARC.

Thank you Annabel Monaghan for this lovely little world.

FIRST OFF THANK YOU NETGALLEY for this ARC <3
I really enjoyed this summer read — during winter. I loved Ali’s character development throughout mourning her mother’s death, her divorce, and being torn between choosing her kids or her love. I cried, laughed, and could really relate to Ali’s character. Beautiful must read!

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for my ARC!

Well, it’s perfect. If you’re not sure if the new Annabel Monaghan can possibly live up to Nora Goes Off Script or Same Time Next Summer, get excited because yes yes yes.

Ali is a newly divorced mom of three, navigating life after losing her beloved mom. Enter her best friend’s kid brother (well, he’s 36 and a lawyer, definitely a grownup) who’s ready to sweep her off her feet. What harm can a little summer romance do?

I swooned. I didn’t want it to end. I loved the personal development that kept pace with the romance and I was cheering for Ali herself just as much as her summer fling. The author’s note at the end made me cry.

This book is sunshine and warmth and it’s so beautiful. I loved it.

I loved this book! It was incredibly relatable, and you immediately love the main character, Ali Morris. Ali has had a rough couple of years. Her mother passed away and now she is going through a divorce. Though she excels at professionally organizing her clients’ lives, her own home is a chaotic mess. Enter Scooter, Ali’s best friend’s brother who has a reputation for being unreliable and immature. Together, Scooter and Ali embark on a summer romance that turns out to be much more. Ultimately, Ali has to decide whether loving someone even though you may lose them is worth the risk.

I really enjoyed watching Ali’s confidence and sense of self grow over the course of this book. From Ali and Scooter’s “meet cute” to the hiccups that come with the start of a new relationship, this book was both hilarious and poignant. Annabel Monaghan’s writing was on point—both easy to read and at times beautifully descriptive. Her author’s note brought me to tears as she described some of the events in her own life that served as inspiration for the book.

Many thanks to Annabel Monaghan and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

Annabel Monaghan strikes again with a delightful romance that encapsulates the experience of divorce, life after divorce, and finding new love. Flipping relationship stereotypes on their head, Monaghan creates a world where men sacrifice just as much, if not more, for the women they love.

4.5 stars!

What a lovely, emotional romance! The characters were so lovable and real, and everything felt very natural.

This will be such a lovely summer read :)

Such a cute story! A fantastic read and it was so well written. I loved the way Monaghan wrote about motherhood. Loved the second chance romance — Ethan is the best book boyfriend. Add this one to your to be read pile!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Wow. Annabel Monaghan has done it again. The author of Nora Goes Off Script and Same Time Next Summer has a new book that must be placed on your to be read list! Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan is a wonderful story of a woman in need of figuring herself out and oh, yeah, a great romance thrown into the mix, too. Ali Morris who is in the midst of a some major life events. It’s been one year since Ali and her husband separated and two years since her mom passed away. Her best friend knows Ali has been struggling and so do her kids. The unexpected meeting of a guy at the Dog Park puts Ali on the road to a romance with limits and the evolving clarity of what her marriage structure was and in search of her own identity and happiness. Along the way there are many parts of Ali that I was able to identify with and I was cheering her on and also finding motivation for myself. Well done (again), Annabel Monaghan!

My goodness… This book has so much heart!!! I absolutely loved it. I am officially obsessed with @annabelmonaghan. I loved both Nora Goes Off Script and Same Time Next Summer, but this was next level. This felt closer in style to Nora so if you enjoyed that you’ll love this as well.

What I loved:
- Literally everything!!!
- Second Chance Romance 👏🏼
- The way she writes about motherhood. It made me so appreciative of the stage my kids are in and to cherish every moment. My future teenage girls scare me so much 😂
- Falling in love. Oh Ethan.
- Ali’s relationship with her mom. As someone who has lost a parent I loved the moments they share. My dad’s voice pops into my head occasionally and I just loved this aspect of the book. And the authors note ❤️❤️❤️
- How much the main character cares about everyone else in her life. I absolutely loved her relationship with her neighbor Phyllis and the beautiful moments they shared together.
- Honestly I think I fell in love with every character… well except one.

What I didn’t love:
- Pete 😡 there were definitely some moments I think a lot of married women with kids will relate to. It made me momentarily hate my own husband until I realized Pete was a million times worse 😂
- Back to Ethan … a skateboarder? Seriously? Ok Annabel, you took a character I thought I would despise (I literally rolled my eyes when I read the word skateboard) and turned him into my FAVORITE book boyfriend of all time. I think I fell in love. Well done 👏🏼

If you’re looking for a heartfelt-slow burn-closed door romance this summer, make sure to preorder this asap 🥰 I really hope you get your hands on it this summer!

Lastly, thanks for helping me get a jump start on spring cleaning. Ali the professional organizer inspired me to clean out every closet in our house and it feels oh so good 😂 PS: RIP soft pants

What a sweet book. I liked reading this because it was a story about love—loving yourself, loving your life, loving those around you well, becoming yourself again after life felt like too much. The writing was excellent and the story was so well done.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my opinion.

A light hearted story that covers some topics that aren't so light hearted: a divorce, raising preteens/teens, depression, death of a family member. Through all of this, Ali Morris tries to stay positive and does the best she can for her kids while putting herself last. Then she reconnects with someone unexpected and starts prioritizing her needs and wants. Beautiful story about love, getting what you deserve in life and not being afraid to start over

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to Net Galley for my copy of this book in exchange for my review. Ali Morris is on the brink of divorce while mourning her mom’s death.
She is a professional organizer who has no time to take care of her own needs. She has three wonderful kids and has a summer fling with a man who remembers her from high school.
I found this to be a heartwarming tale of love and family. It was an easy read and fun.

I enjoyed this book, maybe not as much as her first two, but still a compulsive, character driven novel. The characters were great and I loved the love story.

SUCH A GOOD ONE! A heart warming rom com that reminds you that it’s worth getting a dog even though you know they’ll break your heart. I have loved Annabel Monaghan’s previous books and this one does not disappoint!

I loved this book. It was heartwarming and cute and everything you could want in a summer romance. Perfect choice for a summer/vacation/beach read.

Ali & Ethan were two characters who you can't help but root for. Ali is super relatable - her life is chaotic, she loves dogs, she buys her underwear at Costco, and despite being a professional organizer - she admits that sometimes you just have to throw shit in the pantry. And everyone should have an Ethan.

Thank you Netgalley and Putnam Putnam books for this eARC.

Arc review

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
Coming out June 4, 2024
4.5 stars

“Ethan is something I never thought possible – a partner with whom I am totally free to be myself. A summer romance that doesn’t have to end.”

Read if you like:
- Single parent
- Closed door romance
- Best friend’s brother


Spoilers below:

Having enjoyed "Nora Goes Off Script" last year, I was excited to read this one, and it lived up to my expectations.

"Summer Romance" follows Ali Morris, dealing with divorce, grief, and the challenges of raising three kids. Her interactions with her late mother, seeking guidance and signs, add a nice touch. When her dog introduces her to Ethan/Scooter, her best friend’s younger brother, they start a summer romance. Ethan helps Ali rediscover herself, revealing the strength, independence, and beauty he's always seen in her.

Watching their journey to open up and face their fears was delightful. "Summer Romance" is a heartwarming story where love knows no bounds. I can't wait to hold the physical copy this summer. The cover looks fantastic! I really love the colours.

Thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Definitely add this to your TBR!

I absolutely adore Annabel Monaghan! Her books are gentle and true, filled with real emotion and meaningful depth, and her characters jump off the page. I loved every minute of Andi and Ethan's story, and especially connected with Andi and her darling kids. I could feel her heart and her struggle, and was cheering when she got the happy ending she deserved. Will read again!!

Ali Morris is a professional organizer whose own life is a mess. Her mom died two years ago, then her husband left, and now Ali is trying to raise her 3 children, mainly alone, and is having a rough time. Until, she meets a man at the dog park who may just help her begin to wear pants with zippers again!
I loved this book. I thought it was a perfect adult summer read. For fans of Monaghan’s previously books, this one will not disappoint. Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam books for giving me an ARC copy in exchange for a review. 4 ⭐️

“Summer Romance” was such a delightful read. Ali Morris is in a rut following the death of her mom and pending divorce from her ex husband, Pete. She meets an attractive man named Ethan at the dog park who is in town for the summer. Sounds like a perfect summer romance, but the book is so much more than that. The character development was superb - Ali was relatable (down to her Costco underwear), flawed and likable. There were many family dynamics covered, death, divorce, friendships, teen drama, feelings with parents, etc. I especially loved how beautifully the mother/daughter dynamics were woven in with both Ali and her deceased mom, and Ali with her own daughters. The character development of Ali and Ethan was done so well that I was invested in them, it felt authentic and I laughed/cried with them. The only thing I wanted more of was the friendship with Ali and Frannie, which dipped off heavily after the first quarter of the book. This book was superb and easily my favorite Annabel Monaghan book to date!

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the ARC!

This was a light and easy read that made the reader really connect with the main characters. I was really rooting for them in the end. The beginning of the story was relatively heavy but ultimately the details were helpful further on to wrap up the story. While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I did enjoy the author’s previous books a little more. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review!