Book Review: Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan

This spoiler-free book review of Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan dives into everything you need to know about this sweet contemporary romance book. I share my favorite book quotes, frequently asked questions, a brief synopsis, book club discussion questions for Summer Romance, similar romance reads, other books by Annabel Monaghan, and more!

Content warnings

Separation and divorce, death of a parent, grief and loss, toxic relationship

Thank you to Netgalley and G. P. Putnam’s Sons for gifting me this complimentary book. My review reflects my honest thoughts.

Summer Romance Book Review / Summary

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan is a sweet, closed-door romance about a woman named Ali who’s ready to change her life this summer for herself and her three kids.

Still grieving her mother’s death from two years ago and with her divorce almost finalized, Ali is ready to bring some lightness into her life. She’s ready for fun, ready to get back out there in the dating world, but how?

Even though she’s a professional organizer who helps clients get Instagram-worthy clean closets, Ali’s own home and life are an absolute mess. It all feels too overwhelming.

But at the start of summer, Ali surprises even herself when she takes off her wedding ring—just in time to meet a friendly, cute guy at the dog park who’s only visiting her charming small town on Long Island sound for a few weeks.

She’s hesitant to jump into something new, and not just because her dog pees on his leg for the most hilarious meet cute. Is she ready to do casual? Can she jump into a summer romance knowing there’s an end in sight?

As the romance unfolds, Ali learns so much about herself—as a mom, daughter, friend, professional—and she learns to let go and accept the unknowns in a big, tender way.

My Thoughts on Summer Romance

I loved this sweet, contemporary romance book. I’ve always loved Annabel Monaghan’s writing—she captures that “second act” / divorced and single mom life so unbelievably well. Just to be able to write about women of a certain age and really provide nuance and hope, love, and passion in the midst of heartache . . . it’s really quite powerful. It also gives a new dimension to the second chance romance trope.

Tropes in Summer Romance

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan has some of my favorites:

• Second chance romance / right person, wrong time trope
• It’s always been you trope
• Best friend’s little brother trope

Maybe a little bit of the fish out of water trope for Ethan, but not in the traditional sense.

Family Dynamics

I always love when romance books incorporate that family dynamic, and I fell in love with Ali’s sweet family. Her ex was a tool, of course, but just the tight-knit community, her best friend, the kids . . . they were what made this book. And the dogs! My heart!

The Setting

Also, the whole time I was reading, I wanted to retreat further and further into Beechwood. What a lovely, charming town. It really is the perfect book to read for summer.

And the way the book navigates grief and heavier topics in general reminds me a lot of Emily Henry. In fact, the love interest, Ethan, reminds me a little bit of Miles from Funny Story (here’s my book review!).

RELATED: Happy Place: Review of Emily Henry’s New Book

Closed-Door Romance

From the small-town setting to the chemistry between Ethan and Ali and all of Ali’s friends and kids—this was such a fun read for the summer. I will say, it’s closed door, so if you’re looking for more spice 🌶️ , you may want to look elsewhere. But the tension and chemistry was great, and the ending actually made me cry!

Favorite Quotes from Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan

I myself am a ball of unfocused longing. When I’m quiet I can hear my heart yearning for impossible things. I want a perfectly pared-down home, and I want to hang on to every scrap of the past. I want a break from my kids without missing a single minute of their lives. I long for a partnership, and I long for freedom. I long to be enmeshed with someone without losing myself. I want all of it.

—Annabel Monaghan, Summer Romance

The thing about motherhood is that day to day there’s no measurable outcome. The mark of a successful day is just getting everyone back in bed.

—Annabel Monaghan, summer Romance

I can feel the fury of a million mothers inside of me, and I want to roar my fiery mother breath on anyone who might steal a moment of my daughter’s happiness. I know I need to let her wade through this, but the truth is, if I could step in, I would. . . . If I could prevent her from ever suffering another loss and growing from it, I might. And it’s in this moment that I understand my mother’s love for me. I can still feel the intensity of that love and the way she walked into my home, bright as the sun, and blinded me to all the shadows. How lucky I was to be loved like that.

—Annabel Monaghan, summer Romance

So many cakes in a lifetime, I think. And also, there are never enough cakes.

—Annabel Monaghan, Summer romance

There’s a sprinkle of grace here, and sometimes that’s all it takes.

—Annabel Monaghan, Summer Romance

Because that’s what life is—joy peppered by loss. It’s why you get a dog. And then you get another dog. Madness repeating itself just to get another taste of joy.

—Annabel Monaghan, Summer Romance

Frequently Asked Questions about Summer Romance

Is Summer Romance a part of a series?

No, Summer Romance is a stand-alone contemporary romance novel.

What is Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan about?

Summer Romance is about a professional organizer who’s trying to sort out her own life post separation. Ali feels stuck in her small home town.

After several years of a marriage turned sour and three kids demanding her time in attention, she doesn’t feel like she has anything left to clean up the mess in her own life. But she’s ready to start a new chapter, and perhaps, a summer romance.

What is Annabel Monaghan’s age?

Annabel Monaghan is 54 years old.

What’s Annabel Monaghan’s best book?

I’ve read Nora Goes Off Script, Same Time Next Summer, and now Summer Romance, and I still think Nora Goes Off Script is Annabel Monaghan’s best book.

However, Summer Romance is a close second for me, and I always enjoy her writing.

Book Club Discussion Questions for Summer Romance

• Ice breaker question: If you were to hire a professional organizer, what room would you have them start with?
• Ali’s summer is full of transitions—letting go and making room for the unexpected. In what ways does Ali change from the start of the book to the end of the book?
• What did you make of Ethan’s commitment to his parents? How did his own family dynamics affect his relationship with Ali?
• What role do you think Beechwood played in Ali’s family’s lives? How do you think this small town affected her life choices?
• Which characters did you love the most? Did any surprise you?
• Ali is navigating grief over her mother’s death while finalizing her divorce. How do these two major life events affect one another?
• What did you make of Ali’s relationship with her best friend?

Other Books by Annabel Monaghan

• Nora Goes Off Script
• Same Time Next Summer
• A Girl Named Digit (Digit #1)
• Double Digit (Digit #2)
• Does This Volvo Make My Butt Look Big?
• Click!: The Girl’s Guide to Knowing What You Want and Making It Happen

Similar Books to Summer Romance

These books explore similar themes or have a similar vibe to Summer Romance in some way:

• Beach Read by Emily Henry
• Georgie All Along by Kate Clayborn
• The Beach Trap by Ali Brady
• Happy Place by Emily Henry
• Funny Story by Emily Henry
• Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

Final Thoughts

If you can’t tell by this book review of Sumer Romance by Annabel Monaghan, I recommend this lovely, tender romance book if you like a sweet, clean romance with slow but romantic chemistry, small-town charm, and blended family dynamics.

I’m not sure all romance readers will like this book, especially people sensitive to stories of divorce and separation. But I found it so heartwarming, even with the heavier topics of marital issues and grief. For this reason, I think it would be a great book club book for 2024. Let me know if you loved it, too!