If they begin by pretending, can they end with something real?

Dolly Brick has never met a problem she couldn’t solve. Not when her mom left when she was twelve, and not at thirty-nine when she moved with her son back to Whitfield, Rhode Island, for the summer to keep her dad and brother from losing the family home.

So when she comes across Stewart Whitfield—annoyingly handsome scion of the Whitfield family—with a flat tire and at the wrong end of a very public, very humiliating breakup, it’s in her nature to help. But Stewart’s proposed arrangement ends up being more than either of them bargained for, because as public dinners and high society benefits turn into sunset boat rides and swinging on the porch, Dolly starts to feel something more than helpful. She’s never relied on anyone besides herself, can she really start now?

Annabel Monaghan is one of my go-to romance authors, especially when I’m in the mood for a summer romcom. I always know her books will make me smile while tugging at my heartstrings. At this point, I’ve read all of her adult romances, and if I were ranking them, this one would come in second place.

I listened to the audiobook, and Julia Whelan, one of my all-time favorite narrators, did a fabulous job as always. She truly brought the characters to life, and I especially loved the New England accent she used. It added so much charm and helped immerse me even more in the story.

As for content, there is some swearing, including a few f-bombs, along with a handful of steamy scenes. However, there is no graphic on-page content. I’d consider this fade-to-black rather than strictly closed-door and would personally give it one pepper. Readers should also know that Dolly’s brother suffered a brain injury as a child, so although he is in his 30s, he functions more like a child. And another character experiences panic attacks.

This story gave me Pretty Woman vibes, minus the prostitution. Dolly and Stewart agree to fake date for the summer, each for their own reasons, and naturally, romance and plenty of entertaining moments follow. It was such a sweet, charming love story that I couldn’t stop listening to. There were so many swoony moments, and I found myself grinning throughout the entire book while rooting for this adorable couple. Their chemistry was fantastic, and although their feelings occasionally leaned a little too close to insta-love for my taste, the story never dragged. In fact, it constantly left me wanting more.

I also appreciated that Monaghan chose to write characters in their late 30s and early 40s. They felt mature and realistic, and perhaps most importantly, they actually communicated with each other.

Dolly was easily one of my favorite parts of the book. She’s a single mother raising a teenage son while also helping her father care for her brother, supporting the family’s struggling seafood shop, and juggling what feels like four different jobs. She’s so accustomed to taking care of everyone else that she never stops to consider her own needs. She is capable, resourceful, hardworking, and fiercely independent, but she’s also carrying an enormous amount of responsibility.

What I loved most was watching Stewart come into her life and help ease some of that burden. For the first time, she had someone willing to stand beside her and share the load. Dolly has spent her entire life being everything for everyone, and despite her best intentions, she eventually has to open herself up to the support, love, and partnership growing between them. Watching her character evolve throughout the story was incredibly rewarding. I loved her character growth and development.

This book came very close to earning five stars from me, but I wasn’t a fan of the third-act breakup. It’s a common romcom trope, and while I expected it, I still wish it hadn’t been included. I also struggled a little with how quickly their feelings developed at times. They seemed to fall pretty hard, pretty fast, for a summer romance.

Still, if you enjoy romance stories featuring single parents, fake dating, wealthy heroes, heartfelt family dynamics, and meaningful character growth, I think you’ll love this one. It had me laughing, swooning, and even tearing up by the end. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

Annabel Monaghan remains an auto-read author for me, and this is the perfect beach read packed with plenty of summer vibes. Highly recommend, especially the audiobook!