Summer Romance - by Annabel Monaghan (Paperback)

Light-hearted and fun!

I wanted to love this book but it was just too slow for me. I made it to chapter 10 and just couldn’t read on anymore. It was so boring up to that point I gave up.

Such bad writing. The first few chapters were sooo boring. I was misled by the positive reviews. I guess if you're a white middle aged woman who is excited by middle school crushes and cheesy lines, this is for you.

Throughly enjoyed this one just like her two previous novels! Annabel’s writing is just right, light enough to binge read but full enough to create connections with the characters, all while simply enjoying the story.

“Life’s going to do what life’s going to do, Alice. You might as well have a dog” Thank you to Putnam Books for this gifted e-arc. All opinions are my own. The title gives it away but this is the perfect “Summer Romance” Ali Morris is a professional organizer whose life and quite frankly, pantry is completely falling apart. After years of an unhappy marriage and the recent death of her mom Ali has lost her way and even worse, she’s lost her voice. She and her sweatpants are stuck in a rut until the day she meets Ethan at the dog park and he smiles at her in a way that feels so right. Ali decides that there’s no harm in giving a summer romance with Ethan a chance -- no strings, no heartbreak, just fun. But what happens when the guy you choose happens to be your best friend's brother and what do you do when the summer sun fades but the feelings don’t. Summer Romance is about second chances. It’s about what you do when the person who was supposed to be the love of your life isn’t even close to being the person you are meant to be with. It’s about losing your guidepost and realizing that you have to find the voice that lives inside of you. It’s about recognizing when your forever love is standing right in front of you and having the courage to love them back. Most importantly it's about being a risk taker and knowingly doing the thing that you fear may lead to heartbreak because you know that there is power in the little moments and loving someone one and being loved is worth the risk. I fell hard for this book and I think that you will too!

Best thing about this book? Ethan, hands down. The way he pined for Ali since high school? Swoon. I will say, I feel like Ali moved on really quick from her marriage. Also, the fact that her kids were unbothered by it all seemed a little bit unrealistic as well. But the romance was on point, and I am here for all the romance! Once again, Annabel Monaghan had me staying up late to finish her book. Great read. I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Have you ever felt like you are stuck in a rut? This is how Ali Morris felt. Still grief ridden from her mother’s death 2 years ago. Her husband left her 1 year ago, and she has her kids to raise as a single parent. Instagram reminds her of self-care. With juggling a divorce, an ex, and kids, can she pull it together and have a little fun with a summer romance? A heartfelt, fun, and entertaining Rom-Com! I love how Annabel Monaghan’s writing just draws you into an entertaining and enjoyable story with laugh-out-loud and heartfelt moments. Annabel captures the emotions and stresses of everyday life that evolve around relationships, parenting, family, and friendships. This book will have you turning the pages to find if Ali can juggle it all while having a little fun! Is she able to create a life that makes her happy? A refreshing read that leaves you feeling satisfied in the end! A great book to take on vacation or to read by the pool!