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PRODUCT
Summer Romance
Product Description:
Price:
$12.99
Detailed description:
AN INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER
“A BINGEABLE FIVE-STAR READ.” —ABBY JIMENEZ, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“I loved it—brims with heart, wit, and longing.”—CARLEY FORTUNE, #1 New York Times bestselling author
The romantic and hilarious story of a professional organizer whose life is a mess, and the summer she gets unstuck with the help of someone unexpected from her past, by the bestselling author of Nora Goes Off Script.
Benefits of a summer romance: It’s always fun, always brief, and no one gets their heart broken.
Ali Morris is a professional organizer whose own life is a mess. Her mom died two years ago, then her husband left, and she hasn’t worn pants with a zipper in longer than she cares to remember.
No one is more surprised than Ali when the first time she takes off her wedding ring and puts on pants with hardware—overalls count, right?—she meets someone. Or rather, her dog claims a man for her…by peeing on him. Ethan smiles at Ali like her pants are just right—like he likes what he sees. He looks at her like she’s a younger, braver version of herself. The last thing newly single mom Ali needs is to make her life messier, but there’s no harm in a little summer romance. Is there?
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Product group:
Categories: Best Books of 2024 So Far
Product name:
Summer Romance
Price:
$12.99
Verity Reads Books (a lot of them) –
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.
@BookSmartKate –
My favorite romance novels are those that have a compelling story but also get under your skin and make you think about some aspects of your life. Summer Romance was a fantastic romance that made me think about what I want from life outside of my identity as a wife and mother. It also really made me want to clean out my junk drawer.
Ali’s mother died, and then her husband moved out. She’s been lost in a fog of sweatpants and sorrow while focusing on keeping her girls on time for school, her elderly neighbor fed, and her fledgling organizing business up and running, all while navigating divorce. While at the dog park, her dog decides to pee on Ethan, the handsomest man there. Thus begins a whirlwind, complicated, deeply meaningful summer romance that will change Ali and Ethan forever.
There is so much to love about this book. Ali is incredibly relatable as a person adept at helping others figure out their lives (and junk drawers) while in paralysis to care for her own life in the same way. There’s also a very thoughtful storyline about how our choices as adults are viewed through the eyes of our children and that sometimes, knowing what we are subconsciously teaching them can be a catalyst for change. It is also a hilarious book about the chaos of life and making decisions based on whether or not you’ll have to wear hard pants.
JulieS –
I didn’t really enjoy this story. I thought it was average.
Shannon –
Romance may be in the title but this is more of a woman’s journey to finding herself again. Sure there is romance and a sweet relationship but this book is mostly about Ali finding herself at the lowest point and finding the courage and strength to rise from it and to build a new future. The story was very sweet but I was looking for more from the relationship and less about the personal growth. I would say this is much more a women’s fiction novel. I prefer a full fledged romance.
Lyn Thomas –
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.
Jeeves Reads Romance –
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.