Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
Such a great (and quick) summer beach read! The main characters were so realistic and wonderful. The side characters were so zany and genuine, they really enhanced the story! The romantic love story was realistic but it was just as much of a family love story too. The descriptions of the beach setting were fantastic, I felt like I was there! My only qualm with the story was wanting to shake the main character and tell her to WAKE UP, cause she was delusional for a majority of the book. I’m excited to read more of this author though!!
fast-paced
Want to escape to the beach this summer without having to leave your house? Then you NEED to grab a copy of Same Time Next Summer. This is such a sweet book about past teenage love and second chances. Weaved between the past and present, readers will follow the love story of Sam and Wyatt as they begin their summer love and spend every moment together until a family secret rips them apart. Years later, Sam is about to be married but seeing Wyatt again makes her realize that maybe she wants more out of life than what she currently has. And thus, the rest of the story follows her coming to terms with the past, what she wants out of life now, and how to move forward. I think Annabel Monaghan wrote this book perfectly and readers will feel so at home with it. This is NOT a love triangle book, but it is a book about a woman’s reawakening and finally going after her own dreams instead of being held back by those who prefer a more rigid and “monochrome” life. And the setting? It’s absolutely perfect! You’ll feel the breeze, hear the ocean, and smell the salt in the air just by reading through the pages. Excellent novel and I highly recommend it!
lighthearted
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
the beachy vibes were wonderful as we explored long island! the aesthetic value was truly there.
i liked sam’s character, i just wish it didn’t take her as long to realize she was unhappy with her life when it was extremely obvious from the beginning. nobody in her family realized either? i wish they would have gently nudged her too rather than helping her get further into the hole she created for herself
i think the actual romance part of it happens too deep into the book and we dont see enough of them truly together :( i wanted to see more sweet scenes with them, maybe an epilogue? i felt like i wanted more
i couldn’t stand jack either
i liked sam’s character, i just wish it didn’t take her as long to realize she was unhappy with her life when it was extremely obvious from the beginning. nobody in her family realized either? i wish they would have gently nudged her too rather than helping her get further into the hole she created for herself
i think the actual romance part of it happens too deep into the book and we dont see enough of them truly together :( i wanted to see more sweet scenes with them, maybe an epilogue? i felt like i wanted more
i couldn’t stand jack either
hopeful
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
Same Time Next Summer marks my fourth and final Annabel Monaghan book, and while it didn’t top the list for me, it still gave me that soft, warm feeling her stories are known for. Honestly, I missed the divorced energy this time around (what can I say? There's something so raw feeling about it), but I am admittedly a bit of a sucker for emotional infidelity, so I was still in.
Sam and Wyatt are adorable, and I loved the dual POV and dual timeline structure. The flashbacks to their childhood-sweetheart beginnings were super endearing and gave the whole story a real emotional arc — you see them fall in love, fall apart, and try to make sense of it all years later. It helped all the pieces click in a satisfying way. While I didn’t love Wyatt’s arc of singer-songwriter, he was still a fine love interest. The others in Monaghan’s books are just way better.
Sam’s stuck in a life she doesn’t even like — and wow, did that resonate. There’s something about watching a character realize they’ve been performing a life instead of living one that felt a little too close to my own current existential crisis. Do I hate my job? Am I just trying to pretend I have my life together? Unclear. But this book got me reflecting.
I closed the final page with two unexpected takeaways:
1. Maybe I really do want to be a teacher? And maybe that’s okay?
2. Happiness needs to be a goal, not just a byproduct.
So here’s to the rest of the summer — to friendship, to love, and to regular self check-ins to ask, “Is this really making me happy?”
Sam and Wyatt are adorable, and I loved the dual POV and dual timeline structure. The flashbacks to their childhood-sweetheart beginnings were super endearing and gave the whole story a real emotional arc — you see them fall in love, fall apart, and try to make sense of it all years later. It helped all the pieces click in a satisfying way. While I didn’t love Wyatt’s arc of singer-songwriter, he was still a fine love interest. The others in Monaghan’s books are just way better.
Sam’s stuck in a life she doesn’t even like — and wow, did that resonate. There’s something about watching a character realize they’ve been performing a life instead of living one that felt a little too close to my own current existential crisis. Do I hate my job? Am I just trying to pretend I have my life together? Unclear. But this book got me reflecting.
I closed the final page with two unexpected takeaways:
1. Maybe I really do want to be a teacher? And maybe that’s okay?
2. Happiness needs to be a goal, not just a byproduct.
So here’s to the rest of the summer — to friendship, to love, and to regular self check-ins to ask, “Is this really making me happy?”