Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
There aren’t enough labeled glass containers to contain the mess that is Ali Morris’s life. 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. She’s a professional organizer whose pantry is a disgrace.
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 in the same way he claimed his favorite of her three children: by peeing on him. Ethan smiles at Ali like her pants are just right—like he likes what he sees. The last thing Ali needs is to make her life messier, but there’s no harm in a little Summer Romance. Is there?
Review: Ironically, Ali Morris is a professional organizer whose own life is a mess. She's still working through the grief for her mom who died two years before and has survived her first year as a single mom of three after accepting at long last that her marriage isn't working. And the very first day she finally takes off her wedding ring off, she meets a great guy named Ethan when her dog pees on his shoes.
Annabel Monoghan writes exactly the love stories I want to read - stories about real, mature people with real issues and just the right amount of romance and swoon but without far-fetched schemes or over the top miscommunication or other shenanigans. I absolutely loved that Ali is an older FMC and has kids. Her life is messy and busy and imperfect. And Ethan's life is complicated too. But their connection is not any of those things. It feels genuine and giddy and exactly what Ali deserves after marriage to a guy who never really saw her.
I really think Monaghan's writing is further proof that yearning and chemistry will always trump spice in books (not that I'm saying spice is bad!). Her books are closed door (fade to black) but yet they are so satisfying and really deliver such top-notch love stories that feel honest and authentic.
I also appreciated that this doesn't feel like solely a romance. This is Ali navigating her life and moving through grief, divorce, single motherhood, and finding love again. I loved seeing her growth and progress over the course of the book, including accepting that she's worthy of love and of someone making sacrifices or changes in order to be with her. Ali's dynamic with her mom was really interesting to me. Although her mom passes away before the opening scenes of the book, Ali still talks to her mom and spends a lot of time contemplating how her mom supported her and also how her mom encouraged her to continue on in a marriage that probably should have ended long before it did.
Honestly loved this. No notes. The perfect summer read and a wonderful love story.
Stars: 5
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