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dayoldtea's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Minor: Bullying, Miscarriage, and Sexual content
justagirlwithbooks's review against another edition
3.25
“You’re the architect of your own experience.”
Short and sweet, it reminded me a bit of Funny Story. I think I liked this more than Nora Goes Off Script but at the same time I don't really have a lot more to say than that? It was a bit boring ngl...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
sariereads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Sexual content
meeklovestoread's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I like this! But I didn't LOVE it! I had tried to read from this author before, "Nora Goes Off Script", and wasn't jelling with the writing or the MMC so I dnf it. I saw so many people giving this 4.75 and above so I decided to try this author out again. After finishing, I can totally see why people were in love with this. Her writing definitely improved from the other book I read.
I liked the story. The last 100 pages had me in an emotional chokehold. I couldn't believe I was shedding tears for this book. I like the characters, especially Ethan. He was a sweetheart. And I loved how he made it evident that he only had eyes for Ali and never got mad at her for her lifestyle (considering she has kids and all). However, something that did bother me about Scooter was how child-ish he seemed at times. It would just be certain things that he said and the way he acted sometimes that would make me forget that this guy was nearing 40. Similar to the FMC, she was fine, but she was a horny mess at times and I was just like girl "reel it in, babe". And there are a lot of quirky bits here that I found to be a little cringy, but I can see how others may find it charming.
Overall, I enjoyed the story. Like I said before the last 100 pages really made the story for me. However, I didn't rate this book too high, because I just wasn't connected to the characters that much. I don't know if it's her writing or what, but I just felt like I was observing just watching, and not really attached to what was going on.
Spice Rating: no spice (just brief mentions)
I liked the story. The last 100 pages had me in an emotional chokehold. I couldn't believe I was shedding tears for this book. I like the characters, especially Ethan. He was a sweetheart. And I loved how he made it evident that he only had eyes for Ali and never got mad at her for her lifestyle (considering she has kids and all). However, something that did bother me about Scooter was how child-ish he seemed at times. It would just be certain things that he said and the way he acted sometimes that would make me forget that this guy was nearing 40. Similar to the FMC, she was fine, but she was a horny mess at times and I was just like girl "reel it in, babe". And there are a lot of quirky bits here that I found to be a little cringy, but I can see how others may find it charming.
Overall, I enjoyed the story. Like I said before the last 100 pages really made the story for me. However, I didn't rate this book too high, because I just wasn't connected to the characters that much. I don't know if it's her writing or what, but I just felt like I was observing just watching, and not really attached to what was going on.
Spice Rating: no spice (just brief mentions)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Minor: Bullying, Miscarriage, and Sexual content
beebowbabe's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What a beautiful tribute to a woman's relationship with her mother, her children, and herself. 💛
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Gaslighting
atamano's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Body shaming, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Drug use, Sexual content, and Alcohol
gwenswoons's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I loved this so much — I always love Annabel Monaghan (loved all three so far); and I loved this as much as Nora, which is to say it is among my favorites of all favorite romances and rom-coms. I am a major romance reader! So I don’t mean this as a negative about the genre, truly: but this, and AM’s books in general for me, truly transcend their identities as romance novels and are about love in bigger and more transcendently human ways somehow. I am truly just so stunned and moved by the way in which she deals with grief in this book: in the main character’s ongoing grappling with the loss of her Mom, and the ways in which that is not at all a simple sadness; but also in Ali’s reckoning with her divorce — the breakup not in itself a source of grief, but rather mourning the ways in which she was not true to herself in a relationship that was deeply unhealthy and painful.
I love the depth of the side characters (again, an aspect of storytelling that Annabel Monaghan handles so masterfully and with such care): the layers of love and complexity in parental relationships, and the fact that the children are so thoroughly drawn and vividly themselves; and I love the ways in which these side characters and their relationships with our heroes impact the plot and arc of the story. The dogs are SO wonderful!! I love them! (And by the the way - they do NOT die! I’m not sure how that is a content warning others added here, and I want to mention it since it was worrying me a bit. Brenda and Ferris are totally ok!!)
Some of the language was so heart-stoppingly beautiful that I went back on my audio and listened a couple more times — I will definitely get a physical copy of this one since I want to hold it.
Anyway. I could go on forever, as I wish this book had. But I loved it. I will read it again someday. ❤️
I love the depth of the side characters (again, an aspect of storytelling that Annabel Monaghan handles so masterfully and with such care): the layers of love and complexity in parental relationships, and the fact that the children are so thoroughly drawn and vividly themselves; and I love the ways in which these side characters and their relationships with our heroes impact the plot and arc of the story. The dogs are SO wonderful!! I love them! (And by the the way - they do NOT die! I’m not sure how that is a content warning others added here, and I want to mention it since it was worrying me a bit. Brenda and Ferris are totally ok!!)
Some of the language was so heart-stoppingly beautiful that I went back on my audio and listened a couple more times — I will definitely get a physical copy of this one since I want to hold it.
Anyway. I could go on forever, as I wish this book had. But I loved it. I will read it again someday. ❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
sunshinekmp's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual content and Alcohol
jennastopreading's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thank you to the publisher for my eARC via Netgalley!
Annabel Monaghan doesn't miss! I fell in love with her first two books, and this one was no different. What I love about her books is the way she weaves in heavy hitting topics while still keeping the overall mood of the book as light. So while this was an enjoyable, sweet story about, it features a mom going through a divorce and trying to figure out her life while grieving the loss of her mother - and without her pernicious ex husband.
While I would consider SUMMER ROMANCE to be a "beach read", it packs a powerful punch with a MC you can root for. I greatly appreciate Monoghan's portrayal of a female protagonist that isn't in her 20's (not that there's anything wrong with MC's in that category, but as someone in my 30's, I love reading someone who is a bit more *seasoned* in life). I think Ali's struggles will hit home for readers who have gone through a divorce when they had children involved, and the emotional turmoil of trying to figure out the logistics and also a way to move on with their life.
I also really enjoyed the male protaganist, Ethan, and the multiple dimensions of his character. He had some ground to make up in her mind due to being her childhood friend's "kid brother", and he rose to the occasion. Not only was he well educated and kind, but he was involved in his community in a big way. While I didn't find him as "swoony" as some MMC's in books, I actually found I really appreciated that about him because he was realistic. He was sweet, caring, and good to her without being over the top or fake.
Again, another win from Annabel Monaghan, and I can't wait to read everything else she ever writes!
Annabel Monaghan doesn't miss! I fell in love with her first two books, and this one was no different. What I love about her books is the way she weaves in heavy hitting topics while still keeping the overall mood of the book as light. So while this was an enjoyable, sweet story about, it features a mom going through a divorce and trying to figure out her life while grieving the loss of her mother - and without her pernicious ex husband.
While I would consider SUMMER ROMANCE to be a "beach read", it packs a powerful punch with a MC you can root for. I greatly appreciate Monoghan's portrayal of a female protagonist that isn't in her 20's (not that there's anything wrong with MC's in that category, but as someone in my 30's, I love reading someone who is a bit more *seasoned* in life). I think Ali's struggles will hit home for readers who have gone through a divorce when they had children involved, and the emotional turmoil of trying to figure out the logistics and also a way to move on with their life.
I also really enjoyed the male protaganist, Ethan, and the multiple dimensions of his character. He had some ground to make up in her mind due to being her childhood friend's "kid brother", and he rose to the occasion. Not only was he well educated and kind, but he was involved in his community in a big way. While I didn't find him as "swoony" as some MMC's in books, I actually found I really appreciated that about him because he was realistic. He was sweet, caring, and good to her without being over the top or fake.
Again, another win from Annabel Monaghan, and I can't wait to read everything else she ever writes!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Death
Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
downtown_kb's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“Life’s going to do what life’s going to do, Alice. You might as well have a dog.”
I received an ARC of this book (Thank you NetGalley & Penguin Group Publishing) and then immediately went and preordered it. What else is there to say?
I loved Nora Goes Off Script, then Same Time Next Summer established Monaghan as an audio-read for me, but this one might be my favorite one of hers to date.
Ali is going through a divorce and in general feels like her life is stuck. When her dog pees on the hot guy at the dog park and it only leads him to asking her on a date, she figures a summer romance might just be what she needs to get out of her rut.
Monaghan can establish such a substantial sense of place in her books and her writing just flows for me. I love her “all in from the jump” golden retriever MMCs and I love her jaded/sarcastic FMCs that just flourish in that love.
Ali’s journey and rediscovery of self is one I was cheering for right away and I still found her struggles so universal and relatable (and I am not a divorced mom). Her ex was one you loved to hate along with her! Although Ali isn’t quite as jaded as her others, the humor is still there. Ethan is just adorable.
She is also dealing with the death of her mom and I loved the storyline of how she came to see her mom as also a flawed human who was just doing their best.
That the 3rd act split was not in any way contrived but are just realistic life problems to overcome and it was a tear jerker!
This story packed a heck of a heartwarming emotional punch and I loved every page. The perfect read for a "champagne summer".
I received an ARC of this book (Thank you NetGalley & Penguin Group Publishing) and then immediately went and preordered it. What else is there to say?
I loved Nora Goes Off Script, then Same Time Next Summer established Monaghan as an audio-read for me, but this one might be my favorite one of hers to date.
Ali is going through a divorce and in general feels like her life is stuck. When her dog pees on the hot guy at the dog park and it only leads him to asking her on a date, she figures a summer romance might just be what she needs to get out of her rut.
Monaghan can establish such a substantial sense of place in her books and her writing just flows for me. I love her “all in from the jump” golden retriever MMCs and I love her jaded/sarcastic FMCs that just flourish in that love.
Ali’s journey and rediscovery of self is one I was cheering for right away and I still found her struggles so universal and relatable (and I am not a divorced mom). Her ex was one you loved to hate along with her! Although Ali isn’t quite as jaded as her others, the humor is still there. Ethan is just adorable.
She is also dealing with the death of her mom and I loved the storyline of how she came to see her mom as also a flawed human who was just doing their best.
That the 3rd act split was not in any way contrived but are just realistic life problems to overcome and it was a tear jerker!
This story packed a heck of a heartwarming emotional punch and I loved every page. The perfect read for a "champagne summer".
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Minor: Sexual content
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