This is the latest novel from Annabel Monaghan, the bestselling author of Same Time Next Summer and Nora Goes Off Script. She grew up in Los Angeles and studied English at Duke University. She holds an MBA from The Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania and has a brief history as an investment banker. She now lives in the suburbs of New York City with her family.
Ali Morris is a professional organizer whose own life is a mess. Since her mom died two years ago, her life has been falling apart. Her husband left her, and now he’s filing for divorce. She has three kids that take up a lot of her time and not enough income to feel comfortable. No one is more surprised than Ali when she meets someone after taking off her wedding ring and putting on a proper pair of pants for the first time in a while. After her dog pees on a man named Ethan at the dog park, they strike up a flirtatious conversation. Ethan looks at her like she’s a younger, braver version of herself, and she feels alive again.
The last thing newly single mom Ali needs is to make her life messier, but afterwards she can’t stop thinking about Ethan. When they cross paths again, Ethan invites her out to a ball game, where their chemistry grows even more. But Ethan seems to be hiding something, and soon enough, Ali is in for a big surprise. When the dust settles, Ali and Ethan still have strong feelings for each other, and a heated summer romance begins. With Ethan just in town for the summer, Ali is sure she’s in for a broken heart, but she plans to enjoy every moment of their romance until the end of summer!
This is a heartfelt and funny romance, perfectly designed for a summer read. Ali is first introduced as a woman whose life is a mess. Since her mother’s death and her husband’s leaving her, she’s become a shadow of her former self. Ali’s conversations with her mother are a touching addition to the story. Although she explains that she’s talking to the part of her mother that will always live inside her, you still get the sense that her mother is somehow with her, guiding her through this difficult time in her life.
As the story moves forward, it becomes evident that Ali hasn’t been content for a very long time—for most of her marriage, in fact. Once she comes to terms with this, she’s able to remember what it feels like to be her true self again. There is a wonderful and intense chemistry between Ali and Ethan from the very onset, and their relationship quickly blossoms into something deep and meaningful. It’s very easy to root for them as a couple, especially since Ethan treats Ali with the utmost respect and they fit so well into each other’s lives.
Narrator Kristen DiMercurio does a formidable job narrating this audiobook and paces the story perfectly. Her calm and emotive tone is perfectly suited to Ali’s character, and she performs accurate and unique voices for all the different characters.
If you’re looking for a heartfelt summer romance novel with likeable characters and a memorable story, look no further than this one! It already has a lot of people talking and will likely be one of the best romance novels of the summer!
