This was amazing. I loved it from start to finish. Even the painful parts.

Having lost my mother 3 years ago, Ali's struggle with grief was so very authentic. Also, I know that when MC's have small children it is hard to have them around when starting a new relationship. I loved the way the author handled the children in this story. It felt natural rather than obvious.

For Ethan, this was a bit of a second-chance romance. I love that even years after his adolescent crush when he saw the opportunity to shoot his shot, he didn't hesitate to take aim. It also impressed me that while Ali did take a moment to think about how a relationship with Ethan might affect her friends, she didn't use it as an excuse to not explore the feelings she was having.

This book was entertaining, endearing, and at times exhilarating. I absolutely adored it.

I just love Annabel Monaghan's writing style, it's so tight and polished while still giving us all the chemistry we need. I was a little apprehensive of this premise - I just didnt see how you wouldn't recognize your best friend's brother in the modern age of social media, and the skateboarding situation just seemed like a trait i wouldnt find attractive personally? But i was able to get over both of those things, and honestly it made for a unique story which has been hard to find of late.

I loved our main characters and felt like I was craving as many moments of them together as possible, which is always a sign that it's a good book.

Overview: Ali is a single mom who is in the midst of a divorce, all while still grieving her mother’s death. She meets a handsome guy at the dog park named Ethan, who is in town visiting family. Ali agrees to go on a date with him (which turns out to be amazing), only for Ali to realize later that Ethan is the younger brother of her best friend…

Thoughts: I am becoming a big fan of Monaghan! Her books are such a nice escape (especially in the middle of winter!). As a mother myself, I could completely relate with Ali’s gradual sense of losing herself (all in the name of doing what she thought was best for her family). I always love a good pining hero, and Ethan did not disappoint here, by encouraging Ali to stand up for herself in her increasingly challenging divorce and helping her find herself again. He’s definitely my favorite lawyer/skateboarder MMC of all time! (Although I do have to say that the level of detail he was able to recall about Ali’s high school graduation speech was maybe overkill!).

Take home message:
If you’re looking for an easy-breezy beach read - this is the one for you! Readers who are moms will especially connect with Ali’s struggles, and fans of “he falls first” will love Ethan, the hero with a heart of gold.

Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for this ARC!

Another book by Annabel Monaghan that will draw you in and leave you believing in real, true love. While this tackles the tough topic of grief, it makes you really think about how all sadness is worth the happiness it brings. I loved her analogies she uses to really help the reader “get it, Great book and it will no doubt be another summer hit.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam, GP Putnam Sons and Annabel Monaghan for the Advanced Reader Copy of Summer Romance.

I have been a devoted fan of Annabel Monaghan since Nora Goes Off Script and have somehow been offered ARCs of all of her books since. Summer Romance did not let me down. Monaghans writing is witty and charming.

This adorable and relatable story follows single mom, Ali, as she navigates going through a divorce, dating again and coming to the realization that she has ‘disappeared’ from who she once was during motherhood, wifehood, etc. The best surprise is that her new love interest, Ethan, might not be so new to her after all. Ethan is able to bring Ali back to herself in many ways and helps her navigate life beyond being just a wife and mom. Ali has accepted the fact that the most her and Ethan can have is a simple ‘Summer Romance’, but things get complicated the more time they spend together.

This book is relatable in so many ways. As a mom there are times when I have found myself wondering what in the heck happened to who I once was. Monaghan is able to evoke emotions such as joy, fear, love and it is definitely my first 5 star read of the year!

Annabel Monaghan makes me feel “carbonated”! I absolutely adore her clever word play and I find myself chuckling anytime I read one of her books. I felt instantly connected to Ali while reading this book. I think she did a really great job painting a picture of a woman who is trying to rebuild herself after a life of living for others… what mom wouldn’t relate to that?! The chemistry between Ali & Ethan is palpable and I was rooting for them from the very first meet-cute! I also just LOVED Ethan and his good nature. Annabel Monaghan made it easy to love every character in the book. I’ll definitely be recommending this book to my girlfriends because I can’t wait to discuss it more in depth!!

*A sincere thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing the advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.*

Five stars, highly recommend, I loved it! Annabel Monaghan might be my favorite author. Every bit of her writing style appeals to me and while this book deals with heavy topics like the loss of a parent and divorce, it still has such a feel good quality to it. I was really cheering for Ali and Ethan. I want a love like their love.

Just because it wasn’t my preference doesn’t mean it won’t be yours!

This story felt very repetitive. There were passages that were chapters apart but I felt like I was reading the exact same thing over and over. This is my first Annabel Monaghan book, so I don’t have her others to compare it to. I also think I may be outside of the target audience with this particular story.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read it!

If you're a mom on a beach this book is for you. Annabel Monaghan has whipped up another beachy summer read. Ali is recently separated, mom of three, still griefing her mother's passing, when she (or really her dog) runs into her best friend's younger brother at the beginning of the summer. Like many divorce into new romance books, this one focuses on the means Ali's marriage failed and her relationship with her mother. Also weaved in are the dualing ideas of love and death. All love dies eventually, is it worth starting already knowing how it will end? You can probably guess the answer, but Summer Romance is worth the read.

when they help heal each other and there’s a lawyer named scooter who wears powder blue ruffled suits to the divorce hearing

"You are the Architect of your own experience" Absolutely one of the best books I've ever read. I will die on this hill that EVERYONE need to read this book. It is without a doubt, the most romantic book I've ever read, but it is so much more than that. This book, start to finish is a love letter to anyone who is struggling to find themself after going through something tragic, and for those who need to be reminded to take risks, even if you may get hurt in the end. ADOPT THE DOG!

The story follows Ali, who is getting a divorce from her loveless marriage, while trying to balance the mess that is life- grieving the loss of her mother, being a good parent to her 3 kids, taking care of her elderly next door neighbor, keeping up w. the house, etc. Things take a turn when she has an unexpected meet-cute at the dog park with a hot guy who seems pretty familiar.... but the possibility of a summer romance begins there.

I completely fell in love with Ali, Ethan, the kids, and especially, Phyllis. On the topic of Phyllis- she is Ali's 94 year od neighbor, who Ali makes eggs for every morning. Everything that came out of her mouth had me laughing, but my god, it was sooo real & insightful.

extremely well written. 10/5 book. I wish it never ended.

Wait. WHAT! I don’t even have the words to express just how much I adored this book! I found myself obsessed with Ali and Ethan’s relationship, and could resonate in so many ways with Ali as a mother. My heart hurt for her, soared for her, and cried tears of joy and sadness on and off throughout the book for her! Her children were wonderful, her ex was a d-bag and that’s just so, so relatable. Ethan was the man every woman deserves and the way he loves Ali made me feel so good inside.
This is one that I will be rereading, it read like the perfect romcom but with a depth that was needed to make it stand out in a special way. Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. I can’t wait to read other’s reviews on this perfect gem of a book!

Since reading Nora Goes Off Script, I have considered myself an Annabelle Monaghan fan. And Summer Romance did not disappoint!

Summer Romance is the story of Ali, a 38 year old woman who has recently lost her mother and is in the process of divorce from a loveless, disappointing marriage. When she mets a new man and begins a summer fling, she starts to remember who she before she disappeared into marriage and motherhood.

I loved the exploration of Ali’s relationship with her mother. Ali’s mom is the voice in her head and as Ali learns more about herself, she questions whether or not her mother may have had a hand in her losing herself in the first place. What is the line between love and interference? Between protection and silencing.

Monaghan does a great job of giving her heroine’s more to their story than just the romance. Although the romance was great! For those of us who ended up with the skateboarder or musician who is also the best and greatest of men, she gets those heroes just right as well.

I absolutely loved this romance between Ali and Ethan, it was so fun to read about a mom of three finding love again. I couldn’t put this book down and wish I could read more. I thought the author also gave us just the right amount of details without it being repetitive, can’t wait for more to enjoy when it comes out!

An easy breezy summer romance! A straightforward and fun, flirty romance about starting over and second chances. You’ll fall in love with this “carbonated” romance - the perfect beach read for summer 2024.

“You’re the architect of your own experience.” What a wonderful read. This book deserves to be read during the summer - preferably at the beach, while sunbathing.

This was my first time reading Monaghan and it won’t be my last. Her writing style is conversational in the best way. She did a fabulous job at establishing and developing all of the characters, even the minor ones.

The only aspect of the book that I didn’t love is that it seemed it took a man to get our main character out of her rut. Yes, she becomes more independent and self-sufficient because of said man, but I wish she could have done that all on her own.

Regardless, this was a delightful read I will definitely be recommending. Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Summer Romance was amazing and warmed my heart! Annabel Monaghan once again proves why she is an auto-buy author for many readers, myself included. The story revolves around Ali Morris, a recently divorced woman struggling to navigate the messiness of life - grieving her mother's death, coping with a failed marriage, and battling the chaos of an unkempt home. Ali's life takes a surprising turn when on the day she sheds her wedding ring and dares to wear something other than her comfort clothes, she meets Ethan at the dog park. Ali and Ethan’s dog park meet-cute leads to instant attraction and the potential for a much-needed summer romance.

The characters are realistic, and Monaghan's ability to infuse the narrative with swoon-worthy moments and genuine emotion makes this novel a standout in the romance genre. I was completely engrossed in Ali's world, laughing with her, empathizing with her struggles, and cheering for her newfound chance at love. Self discovery, healing, and being the architect of your own experience were themes throughout the book that made it very relatable.

Thank you, NetGalley, Annabel Monaghan, and Penguin Group Putnam for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Summer Romance releases June 4th, 2024

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Putnam books and Netgalley for the ARC.
Annabel Monaghan is an autobuy author for me. Nora goes off script is one of the best romances I’ve ever read.
Summer romance is equally good but for different reasons.
This book is about romance. But also about life and loss. And it broke my heart multiple times. I love Phyllis. I hate Pete.
It also made me constantly want to call my mom and tell her I love her.
It taught me to not wait with telling people that I love them and to hug my people every chance I get.
I feel like Summer Romance was perhaps less about a romance between a woman and a man and more of a romance with the woman herself. How she found herself again after losing her mom and her husband. How she found a way to fall in love with herself again. It was beautifully written and I loved it.

This was a fun read, well written and with very likable characters. A bit formulaic as most summer romance books are, but the main character resonated with me on the organization front and I was engaged and invested in what happened to her. I liked the other characters as well and thought that Pete was a great villain. An all-around good read that I will definitely recommend to our customers this summer!

Every. Single. Thing. Annabel. Monaghan. Writes. Is. Gold. I loved her two previous books, but this one...I don't know I just could relate to Ali so much. I cried 2% in, and I was crying at 98% in. She can just write a line that makes me instantly tear up. This story follows Ali as she navigates a divorce from a selfish partner, the loss of her mother, and three kids. You go on a journey of her slowly discovering that she lost herself along the way little by little, then she meets Ethan. I just loved the way he cheered her on while letting her find her way herself. They both discovered that maybe life is better when you have someone like the other by your side. I will recommend this book to everyone. ADD IT TO YOUR TBR. DO IT!! Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group for the ARC