Summer Romance

I read this book in 24 hours, I could not put it down. The writing is just so easy and smart and the characters are so likable , except for Pete of course. A strong mom who puts her children first and then finally finds happiness just made me feel good . I loved Nora goes off script and this was just as good. There is hope , fun, romance and sadness over loosing your mother. This book is like a warm hug. I really really loved this book!!

I binged this at a pace that had me confident that I was going to rate it as 5 stars, but I turned the final page and felt like a few things were unresolved, so I can’t quite get there. It’s a strong read overall though, with a complex, layered storyline that bridges the gap between women’s fiction and romance. I particularly loved the sweetheart of a hero, who stole more of my heart with every little piece of him that was revealed. I can’t relate to a newly single mom of three kids grappling with the effects of grief, but I could understand the feeling of losing yourself one day at a time. It’s an emotional story that’s lightened up by a sweet and sentimental romance, with some impactful themes along the way. The quieter, introspective feel won’t be for every reader, but it’s sure to resonate with many.The story follows Ali (38), a woman who hasn’t been herself for a while. She lost her mom two years ago and is currently going through a divorce, which has left her foggy, overwhelmed, and questioning some things about herself. So when she meets a cute guy with a light, vibrant personality, Ali is immediately smitten. The only problem? Ethan (36) is apparently the guy she once knew as Scooter… her best friend’s troublemaking little brother. They haven’t seen each other since high school, and Ethan has spent those years finding himself in all the best ways. When Ethan asks for Ali’s help organizing the chaos of his parents’ house, they find themselves connecting in a way neither anticipated. As Ali slowly rediscovers herself, she gives into a summer romance that is meant to be carefree and temporary.There’s a lot going on here, with Ali’s personal journey, her divorce, the small town setting, and the romance. I was mainly interested in the romance, but I found the other components interesting too. I think if I had been in a different mood, it’s entirely possible that I’d have felt bored by the women’s fiction vibes, but it worked for me. There’s something about Monaghan’s writing style that is just compulsively bingeable. I felt the same way about her debut, though I’m happy to see this story is significantly longer. I actually think another 50-100 pages would’ve done wonders for the romance - I sincerely enjoyed it, but I would’ve loved to have dipped further beneath the surface. That’s really the only reason I can’t give this a full 5 stars. I loved everything about Ethan’s character and the concept of meeting someone as if for the first time. While Ethan crushed on his older sister’s best friend, Ali only vaguely remembers him as a 16-year-old with a mullet, a skateboard, and a penchant for getting into trouble. I found Ethan’s journey to be more interesting than Ali’s, actually, and wanted to see his character fleshed out even further. Little tweaks here and there would’ve taken this from a high 4/low 5-star read to an absolute knockout, but that’s just my opinion. It was still a great read, and perfect for bingeing in a single day.Audio note: The audio is good! Since the story is told exclusively from Ali’s perspective, we only get one narrator, but Kristen DeMercurio does a good job. Her soft, tender voice was ideal for the vibe. Maybe a little more sedate than my usual, but so is the story. At 8-9 hours, it’s the kind of book that’s easy to get through quickly, and it truly did fly by. It’s fade to black with a very small amount of heat, so it would also be a good choice as a workday listen. Though the vibes were emotional, it wasn’t nearly as angsty as it could’ve been. So it works well in the format, and I’m glad I experienced it that way.

Annabel Monaghan has become one of my favorite romance novelists so far. "Summer Romance" is her best work yet. I loved "Nora Goes Off Script" such good writing, but it got bogged down in the middle with too much time devoted to maudlin wallowing. None of that in "Summer Romance."The dialogue between Ali and Ethan is sharp and witty. I actually read this book twice because I loved their verbal connection so much. You really cheer for this couple, and then when it becomes time for them to fall apart (for some reason always mandatory) they find their way back together rather quickly. I applaud this, thank you very much. It makes for a happier read. And isn't that why we read these rom-coms, for escape and fun. When we want pain and deep suffering, we'll read the heavy books.Kudos to Annabel for not trying to be anything else but a fun read.

Very disappointed after reading other of her books. This one didn’t have the ooomphh and slow story line. Highly recommend Nora goes off script.

Nora Goes Off Script remains my favorite Annabel Monaghan but I really loved diving into Summer Romance, the story of Ali, a separated mom-of-two and a professional organizer whose own life is anything but organized. Her soon-to-be ex-husband is fed up with the stacks of mail, the crammed cabinets, and the grief that has enveloped her since her mother died although she’ll soon realize that their problems started long before that. It’s hard to describe without giving too much away but she has a meet cute with Ethan at a dog park, as well as an excellent first date but he doesn’t ask for her number. She’s written him off when she runs into him again and realizes she already knows him. He’s only in town for the summer and they agree to keep it simple with an expiration date but things are never that simple. He can’t see himself moving to where she lives and she has two kids and too many roots to change her life. Annabel has such a wonderful ability to write a relatable 40-something female character who is still trying to figure out her life much like the rest of us and she will forever be one of my favorites for it.

This novel is just so beautiful!! This was my first Annabel Monaghan book, but it won’t be the last. I adored the characters and found their on-page vulnerability so well written. Reading this novel is like chatting with an old friend and being there for them as they experience all of life's ups and downs. The central trope for our heroine, Ali, was love after loss. Loss of loved ones, of a marriage, of time, of the woman she once was. It was learning to love herself, her life, and others again. I never thought I would relate to a book where our main character is divorced and has three children, but here we are! I never wanted to put “Summer Romance” down and always looked forward to the next time I could read a few chapters. I highly recommend this beautiful and honest love story.

Ali’s mother died two years ago and now her marriage is ending. As her marriage ends, she finds herself again and finds the type of love that will stand the test of time….the love of someone who loves her just the way she is. But love can be scary and Ali has to decide if she is ready to risk her heart.I loved this book and I will watch for Annabel’s next one. She writes absolutely beautiful stories.

Such a good book with well developed characters

Ali’s mum died two years ago, a year later her husband left her and she’s been trying to keep her head above water ever since juggling her kids and her career as a professional organiser. But the first time she put proper clothes (ie not joggers and a baggy t shirt) on in months to take the dog to the dog park she meets a man who she is fairly sure is flirting with her. And the more she gets to know Ethan, the more she likes him. But he’s only in town for the summer, so it’s just a summer romance – isn’t it?This was lovely. I really enjoyed Monaghan's adult debut Nora Goes off Script but didn’t love the follow-up Same Time Next Summer the same way (although it was still good). This however was a lovely return to what I wanted/was hoping for.It’s pretty low stakes and low conflict between the romantic leads, but there is plenty of stuff to work through for the heroine to get her happy ending. And I was rooting for her the whole time. My only real complaint is that I wanted something bad to happen to Ali’s ex husband for being so horrid and dismissive of her. But she’s definitely the winner in the end - and she does it herself too. Delightful.

I think I said it all in the title. This was a lovely read and something about it was so believable, so normal and the fact it was well-written and had wonderful characters made it so easy to like. A good read.

Consumed this book in a day, a lovely little summer read that had comedy an a feel good happy ending!

So much in here to strike a chord - losing your mum, the overwhelming domestic chaos, the balancing act of parenting, getting out of your comfort clothing, regaining belief in yourself and trusting again.Leave me smiling and hopeful . Result! ☑️