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Dolly All the Time
Listening Length: 9 hours and 10 minutes
If they start 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 moves 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 kisses that hit her bloodstream like a ghost pepper, Dolly starts to feel something more than helpful. She’s never relied on anyone besides herself—can she really start now?
If they start 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 moves 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 kisses that hit her bloodstream like a ghost pepper, Dolly starts to feel something more than helpful. She’s never relied on anyone besides herself—can she really start now?
10 pages, Audible Audio
First published May 26, 2026
About the author
Annabel Monaghan
12 books13.3k followersAnnabel Monaghan is the New York Times bestselling author of IT'S A LOVE STORY, SUMMER ROMANCE, SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER and NORA GOES OFF SCRIPT. She is also the author of two novels for young adults, A Girl Named Digit and Double Digit.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 18,955 reviews
June 20, 2026
so I was LOVING this so much, it was heading towards a 4.5 but then the third act conflict happened...
mind you, a 3 is good for me! the only reason this can’t be higher is because that third act was SO immature.. I have no words. and these characters are supposed to be in their 40s. i’m sorry the entire book u hope it doesn’t happen and then it does and in the most inconsiderate way too??? no i’m mad.
I don’t wanna say too much because I don’t wanna spoil it for you but the story was really good, and I loved loved dolly. again, only the last 80% ruined it for me.
“i’d be honored if you’d raise your expectations for me”
“I love you in your kitchen too”
“I was thinking that someone who saw you drink tea every morning would be lucky”
mind you, a 3 is good for me! the only reason this can’t be higher is because that third act was SO immature.. I have no words. and these characters are supposed to be in their 40s. i’m sorry the entire book u hope it doesn’t happen and then it does and in the most inconsiderate way too??? no i’m mad.
I don’t wanna say too much because I don’t wanna spoil it for you but the story was really good, and I loved loved dolly. again, only the last 80% ruined it for me.
“i’d be honored if you’d raise your expectations for me”
“I love you in your kitchen too”
“I was thinking that someone who saw you drink tea every morning would be lucky”
August 21, 2026
4.5 ⭐️!!!!
Omg I loved this one!!!!! Dolly's spending the summer back in Rhode Island where she grew up, she's a single mom & an eldest daughter who always takes care of others - she starts fake dating Stewart (his family basically owns the town they live in)
I absolutely loved following Dolly as she starts putting herself first & could really feel all the giddy feelings of falling in love and going on first dates. The only reason it wasn't a 5 star was from the end of the book, I didn't love part of the 3rd act situation, BUT it's a PERFECT summer romance!!!!!
Omg I loved this one!!!!! Dolly's spending the summer back in Rhode Island where she grew up, she's a single mom & an eldest daughter who always takes care of others - she starts fake dating Stewart (his family basically owns the town they live in)
I absolutely loved following Dolly as she starts putting herself first & could really feel all the giddy feelings of falling in love and going on first dates. The only reason it wasn't a 5 star was from the end of the book, I didn't love part of the 3rd act situation, BUT it's a PERFECT summer romance!!!!!
June 16, 2026
5 not perfect but I loved it ⭐️s
Finally, a book synopsis that tells you exactly what you need to know without giving too much away. I'm not going to rehash it here since this is one of those rare books that's safe to go into without spoilers, which is often not the case.
Annabel Monaghan is my favorite romance author, and every summer I look forward to her new release. Dolly All the Time didn't disappoint. I devoured this book and got absolutely nothing accomplished on Saturday because all I wanted to do was read. It's been a while since I've felt that way. Her characters have realistic flaws and are written in such a mature, relatable way that you can't help but want the best for them.
I loved Dolly and could relate to her need to be the strong one for everyone else and keep everything together. Stewart, despite his awkwardness and flaws, was a wonderful MMC in my opinion. I don't care about grand gestures. For me, it was all in the details. The everyday, small acts of thoughtfulness were the moments I found truly swoon worthy.
I'm also a sucker for side characters, and this book delivered on that front as well. I adored Dolly's family and Stewart's sister, Busy, but my favorite was Dolly's best friend, Naomi. She reminded me so much of my own closest friends, those ride or die people who would do anything for you but also aren't afraid to call you out when you need it. Everyone deserves a friend like Naomi.
I laughed, I shed a few tears, and I was completely swept up in this story. There was one thing that happened toward the end that I'm typically not a fan of, so the fact that this still earned all the stars from me says a lot. Highly recommend.
Now available! My thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons via NetGalley for my digital ARC.
Finally, a book synopsis that tells you exactly what you need to know without giving too much away. I'm not going to rehash it here since this is one of those rare books that's safe to go into without spoilers, which is often not the case.
Annabel Monaghan is my favorite romance author, and every summer I look forward to her new release. Dolly All the Time didn't disappoint. I devoured this book and got absolutely nothing accomplished on Saturday because all I wanted to do was read. It's been a while since I've felt that way. Her characters have realistic flaws and are written in such a mature, relatable way that you can't help but want the best for them.
I loved Dolly and could relate to her need to be the strong one for everyone else and keep everything together. Stewart, despite his awkwardness and flaws, was a wonderful MMC in my opinion. I don't care about grand gestures. For me, it was all in the details. The everyday, small acts of thoughtfulness were the moments I found truly swoon worthy.
I'm also a sucker for side characters, and this book delivered on that front as well. I adored Dolly's family and Stewart's sister, Busy, but my favorite was Dolly's best friend, Naomi. She reminded me so much of my own closest friends, those ride or die people who would do anything for you but also aren't afraid to call you out when you need it. Everyone deserves a friend like Naomi.
I laughed, I shed a few tears, and I was completely swept up in this story. There was one thing that happened toward the end that I'm typically not a fan of, so the fact that this still earned all the stars from me says a lot. Highly recommend.
Now available! My thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons via NetGalley for my digital ARC.
May 19, 2026
i am a little bit torn on this one - the summer atmosphere was absolutely wonderful, and i always adore annabel monaghan, but something was missing with this.
one of my favourite movies ever is pretty woman, which i know a lot of people have related this book to, and as someone who adores fake dating plot lines, this definitely hit the mark. i really liked the son character in this (dolly is a single mother), and i felt he added a lot to the story and i really liked his personality. the romance in and of itself was sweet - stewart was a sweetie pie at heart and i do feel like they worked well together. however, the last 20-30% of this book rubbed me the wrong way in terms of his actions. it made sense to the story, so i wasn’t necessarily surprised, but i was annoyed. these characters are also meant to be approx. 40 years old, and i feel like (stewart especially) did not act this way.
overall - this is a really sweet, summery romance, with the typical annabel monaghan writing that you can fly through. i would recommend, but it’s sadly not my favourite from her!
one of my favourite movies ever is pretty woman, which i know a lot of people have related this book to, and as someone who adores fake dating plot lines, this definitely hit the mark. i really liked the son character in this (dolly is a single mother), and i felt he added a lot to the story and i really liked his personality. the romance in and of itself was sweet - stewart was a sweetie pie at heart and i do feel like they worked well together. however, the last 20-30% of this book rubbed me the wrong way in terms of his actions. it made sense to the story, so i wasn’t necessarily surprised, but i was annoyed. these characters are also meant to be approx. 40 years old, and i feel like (stewart especially) did not act this way.
overall - this is a really sweet, summery romance, with the typical annabel monaghan writing that you can fly through. i would recommend, but it’s sadly not my favourite from her!
August 6, 2026
Another auto-approved author I've fallen in love with! Ever since I devoured Nora Goes Off Script, I've been hooked on Annabel Monaghan's stories and her strong, inspirational leading female characters. Can I tell you a secret? I wish all of Annabel's characters were real people, especially Dolly—she'd absolutely be my all-time best friend.
Dolly is an incredible human being who always puts others first. She's capable of so many things: fixing homes, changing tires, baking amazing sweets, working honestly and diligently at the fish house, riding her bike everywhere to skip parking fees—she's even a perfect delivery person! She takes care of all her boys: not only her 13-year-old son Gus, but also her widowed father and her brother Christopher, who needs special care after a car accident he had with their mother (who abandoned them to start another family—yes, you can easily hate her). Dolly shoulders all the responsibility to make everyone happy while working as a kindergarten teacher, part-time Uber driver, and call assistant for a sports company in Boston. When she hears there's been a small fire in her childhood home in Rhode Island where her brother and father live, she decides to spend the summer with them, bringing along Gus, who's also having a hard time with friends at school.
Her return, plus a parent-guide version of the Pretty Woman trope, changes everything when she runs into Stewart Whitfield—the eldest son of the town's wealthy and powerful Whitfield family that everyone loves to gossip about. Stewart is reeling from discovering his fiancée's cheating through the tabloids, and on top of that, he doesn't even know how to change a flat tire! (At least he can drive a stick—one point to Stewart, zero to silver fox Edward from Pretty Woman!) Thankfully, Dolly is in the right place at the right time to help him out. But when another tabloid publishes that Dolly might be Stewart's new love interest, things take a turn, and he makes her an offer she can't refuse. Don't worry—this selfless woman only wants the money to fix her family house's roof! In exchange, she becomes his pretend girlfriend. Yes, the fake dating trope enters the picture!
As these two people from completely different worlds spend more time together, they realize how much they have in common—like being an Atlas carrying the entire weight of their families, putting everyone else's needs first and losing themselves under the burden until their shoulders protest. They discover they can be open and vulnerable with each other, breaking down their walls, which leads them both on a journey of self-discovery. But when things get complicated, who will they choose—their loved ones' happiness or their own? Can they find space for their own happiness? Or are they too afraid to try?
Overall: I think I could start a fan club for Dolly as the best fictional character everyone wants in their life! She might be my favorite Monaghan character! Unfortunately, I can't say the same for Stewart, starting with his name. I didn't find any Gere-level charm in him (I'm comparing because of the Pretty Woman vibes the book advertises, but aside from some negotiations about money, I didn't find much similarity). I found him a bit flat, even boring at times, though he did earn some points with his interactions with Gus and his vulnerable moments. But he disappointed me, and I'm not as easily forgiving as Dolly! (My ascendant is in Scorpio and my ruling planet Mars is in Aquarius, so you can imagine the ice queen energy.) That's why I didn't give this book five stars, even though I absolutely loved Dolly's storyline, her character's growth, and her self-discovery journey as she learns what she needs, how to put herself first, and how to ask for help. Stewart just fell a little flat for me.
This is still an amazing read I wholeheartedly recommend! The supporting characters are wonderful—everyone needs a sidekick like Naomi, and I also adored Busy and Christopher, who are the most lovable siblings. Nora Goes Off Script is still my number one book by this author, but this one comes so close, and I have to admit—Dolly is even more lovable than Nora!
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for sharing this heartfelt romance's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Dolly is an incredible human being who always puts others first. She's capable of so many things: fixing homes, changing tires, baking amazing sweets, working honestly and diligently at the fish house, riding her bike everywhere to skip parking fees—she's even a perfect delivery person! She takes care of all her boys: not only her 13-year-old son Gus, but also her widowed father and her brother Christopher, who needs special care after a car accident he had with their mother (who abandoned them to start another family—yes, you can easily hate her). Dolly shoulders all the responsibility to make everyone happy while working as a kindergarten teacher, part-time Uber driver, and call assistant for a sports company in Boston. When she hears there's been a small fire in her childhood home in Rhode Island where her brother and father live, she decides to spend the summer with them, bringing along Gus, who's also having a hard time with friends at school.
Her return, plus a parent-guide version of the Pretty Woman trope, changes everything when she runs into Stewart Whitfield—the eldest son of the town's wealthy and powerful Whitfield family that everyone loves to gossip about. Stewart is reeling from discovering his fiancée's cheating through the tabloids, and on top of that, he doesn't even know how to change a flat tire! (At least he can drive a stick—one point to Stewart, zero to silver fox Edward from Pretty Woman!) Thankfully, Dolly is in the right place at the right time to help him out. But when another tabloid publishes that Dolly might be Stewart's new love interest, things take a turn, and he makes her an offer she can't refuse. Don't worry—this selfless woman only wants the money to fix her family house's roof! In exchange, she becomes his pretend girlfriend. Yes, the fake dating trope enters the picture!
As these two people from completely different worlds spend more time together, they realize how much they have in common—like being an Atlas carrying the entire weight of their families, putting everyone else's needs first and losing themselves under the burden until their shoulders protest. They discover they can be open and vulnerable with each other, breaking down their walls, which leads them both on a journey of self-discovery. But when things get complicated, who will they choose—their loved ones' happiness or their own? Can they find space for their own happiness? Or are they too afraid to try?
Overall: I think I could start a fan club for Dolly as the best fictional character everyone wants in their life! She might be my favorite Monaghan character! Unfortunately, I can't say the same for Stewart, starting with his name. I didn't find any Gere-level charm in him (I'm comparing because of the Pretty Woman vibes the book advertises, but aside from some negotiations about money, I didn't find much similarity). I found him a bit flat, even boring at times, though he did earn some points with his interactions with Gus and his vulnerable moments. But he disappointed me, and I'm not as easily forgiving as Dolly! (My ascendant is in Scorpio and my ruling planet Mars is in Aquarius, so you can imagine the ice queen energy.) That's why I didn't give this book five stars, even though I absolutely loved Dolly's storyline, her character's growth, and her self-discovery journey as she learns what she needs, how to put herself first, and how to ask for help. Stewart just fell a little flat for me.
This is still an amazing read I wholeheartedly recommend! The supporting characters are wonderful—everyone needs a sidekick like Naomi, and I also adored Busy and Christopher, who are the most lovable siblings. Nora Goes Off Script is still my number one book by this author, but this one comes so close, and I have to admit—Dolly is even more lovable than Nora!
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for sharing this heartfelt romance's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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July 18, 2026
I absolutely loved this story! So I must sing and shout to everyone reading this review. It’s not without its flaws- there were a few - but this just sang to my heart.
This was a whimsical, fun read - a pretty woman 2.0.
Dolly is 39, returns to her small town in Rhode Island with her 13 year old son, to help her dad run his fish business. When she runs into the Stewart Whitfield of the town, she changes his flat tire for him and they devise a plan. She negotiates a price, and for the summer, she becomes his 'gal'. But of course things get complicated as real feelings begin to develop.
You’ll have to read this one to find out what happens. But, Dolly is an independent woman who is a mother, handyman, seamstress and baker. I would date her if I could!! And she has a brother, Christopher, who reminded me so much of my own brother.
This is a 5⭐️ read for me but it’s definitely far from perfect. It is lighthearted and a most wonderful guilty pleasure! I think I may need to check out more Monaghan in the near future.
This was a whimsical, fun read - a pretty woman 2.0.
Dolly is 39, returns to her small town in Rhode Island with her 13 year old son, to help her dad run his fish business. When she runs into the Stewart Whitfield of the town, she changes his flat tire for him and they devise a plan. She negotiates a price, and for the summer, she becomes his 'gal'. But of course things get complicated as real feelings begin to develop.
You’ll have to read this one to find out what happens. But, Dolly is an independent woman who is a mother, handyman, seamstress and baker. I would date her if I could!! And she has a brother, Christopher, who reminded me so much of my own brother.
This is a 5⭐️ read for me but it’s definitely far from perfect. It is lighthearted and a most wonderful guilty pleasure! I think I may need to check out more Monaghan in the near future.
May 26, 2026
4.5 rounded to 5 for GR! this is by far my fave book of hers and one of my fave reads of 2026 so far!
so cute, laugh out loud funny, awesome on audio, mature characters, loved the side plots just as much as the romance… chefs kiss!!!!👏🏼❤️
fake dating tropes are always hit or miss for me but this one was done so well. what’s not to love about a normal gal fake dating one of the richest guys in town?! loved her glow up and all their adventures (the boat/yacht vibes… helllooooo!!!?!?!) throughout the cutest setting. and this fake dating was super believable too, i totally felt the tension and angst and their friendship first before the romance.
so much to love!!!! deff a perfect beach read this summer. and Julia Whalen does the audio, so ofc that’s the way to go!! made it so much funnier and enjoyable 🎧
thanks to Putnam for the gifted early copy!
so cute, laugh out loud funny, awesome on audio, mature characters, loved the side plots just as much as the romance… chefs kiss!!!!👏🏼❤️
fake dating tropes are always hit or miss for me but this one was done so well. what’s not to love about a normal gal fake dating one of the richest guys in town?! loved her glow up and all their adventures (the boat/yacht vibes… helllooooo!!!?!?!) throughout the cutest setting. and this fake dating was super believable too, i totally felt the tension and angst and their friendship first before the romance.
so much to love!!!! deff a perfect beach read this summer. and Julia Whalen does the audio, so ofc that’s the way to go!! made it so much funnier and enjoyable 🎧
thanks to Putnam for the gifted early copy!
June 14, 2026
4.5 stars (rounding up)! ⛵️🦀 this book is a warm summer hug!! funny, heartwarming, atmospheric, fake dating by the coast… truly the perfect beach read!
a high-functioning single mom accidentally ends up fake dating one of the richest guys in her hometown? immediately yes 😌 i loved Dolly’s little glow up, all her fish-out-of-water adventures, and especially the boat moments!!! the coastal setting was so charming, and the romance had the perfect friendship-first foundation. you really got to feel the tension build before either of them was fully ready to admit what’s happening!!
what made this book really work for me was Dolly herself!! this is for all the stubbornly independent eldest children. the way Dolly processes motherhood, heartache, family responsibility, and personal growth felt so authentic and grounded. i also loved the side characters. her son, her dad, her brother, her best friend… every relationship added so much warmth to the story!
i know the conflict with Stewart near the end seems to be a sticking point for some people, and don’t get me wrong, i was annoyed too. but i actually think it gave Dolly such a strong moment of realizing she was done taking scraps from people and was ready to take charge of what she could control in her own life! (i do think he should’ve had to grovel a little more) but ultimately i loved them.
it was such a delight! warm, funny, romantic, and full of heart. do yourself a favor and pack it in your beach bag this summer!!! 🏖️📖
a high-functioning single mom accidentally ends up fake dating one of the richest guys in her hometown? immediately yes 😌 i loved Dolly’s little glow up, all her fish-out-of-water adventures, and especially the boat moments!!! the coastal setting was so charming, and the romance had the perfect friendship-first foundation. you really got to feel the tension build before either of them was fully ready to admit what’s happening!!
what made this book really work for me was Dolly herself!! this is for all the stubbornly independent eldest children. the way Dolly processes motherhood, heartache, family responsibility, and personal growth felt so authentic and grounded. i also loved the side characters. her son, her dad, her brother, her best friend… every relationship added so much warmth to the story!
i know the conflict with Stewart near the end seems to be a sticking point for some people, and don’t get me wrong, i was annoyed too. but i actually think it gave Dolly such a strong moment of realizing she was done taking scraps from people and was ready to take charge of what she could control in her own life! (i do think he should’ve had to grovel a little more) but ultimately i loved them.
it was such a delight! warm, funny, romantic, and full of heart. do yourself a favor and pack it in your beach bag this summer!!! 🏖️📖
June 15, 2026
So cute!! I loved this! ❤️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️ 4 ⭐️ A way into a single mother's heart is through her child. If a man loves and spends time with your child, his actions speak louder than words!
Fake dating can be overdone. Nope, not here! It's actually really sweet in Dolly All the Time and realistic (and mature!!) enough that it's enjoyable. We also have quirky characters, like Dolly's best friend Naomi and even her brother, Christopher. A sweet 13 year old son, Gus, who is a ray of sunshine and the main characters--Dolly and Stewart, both adults, entering into an outrageous proposal that turns into a slow-burn romance.
Dolly is a hard working single mom who does it all. She returns to her seaside hometown to help her father with house repairs and also look over her brother Christopher. They own a fish store/restaurant but all the repairs are draining their pockets. She's an elementary teacher in Boston, so she doesn't make a lot as it is and they are struggling in some ways to keep up financially. One day shhe basically stumbles across a wealthy workaholic scion, Stewart Whitfield, when his tire goes flat and he needs help. Stewarts life is a mess--his fiancé broke up with him and her pictures with another man are all over the newspapers. He's kind of having runs ins with family-- a lot of pressure there--and over all is pretty closed off. He realized that Dolly can help him in the long run with his broken image, so he strikes up a deal with her. With time, the summer deal and secrets turn into feelings and int he process they are both caught up in love, but has this love arrived late or just at a wrong time?
This is my first Monaghan romance novel and what struck me the most was the ease with which I immediately connected with Dolly's character. She is so relatable as a mom--she's independent, strong, a good parent. There was so much lightness to her character, it was hard to look away. She has a great sense of humor and reading about her made me smile. She's also around my age, so there was a lot of 'personal' connect there. Stewart was also a delight. Initially coming off as distant, Dolly's presence softened him. He sort of turned into a cinnamon bun roll for me, despite the meh third break up act, I still adored all his interactions with her son Gus and the entire 'handsome prince' energy about him.
I love second chances and summer romances because I feel like the romance just sneaks up on you and it's one that you can enjoy from all angles. Its like drinking a cold glass of lemonade on a burning hot summer day! This one is especially enjoyable because it's full of heart, it's lighthearted and charming. Can I also say that Stewarts pinning was a sweet perfection?
Many thanks to NetGalley, Putnam Publisher and the author Annabel Monaghan for sending me this eARC!
Publication date: May 26, 2026
Fake dating can be overdone. Nope, not here! It's actually really sweet in Dolly All the Time and realistic (and mature!!) enough that it's enjoyable. We also have quirky characters, like Dolly's best friend Naomi and even her brother, Christopher. A sweet 13 year old son, Gus, who is a ray of sunshine and the main characters--Dolly and Stewart, both adults, entering into an outrageous proposal that turns into a slow-burn romance.
Dolly is a hard working single mom who does it all. She returns to her seaside hometown to help her father with house repairs and also look over her brother Christopher. They own a fish store/restaurant but all the repairs are draining their pockets. She's an elementary teacher in Boston, so she doesn't make a lot as it is and they are struggling in some ways to keep up financially. One day shhe basically stumbles across a wealthy workaholic scion, Stewart Whitfield, when his tire goes flat and he needs help. Stewarts life is a mess--his fiancé broke up with him and her pictures with another man are all over the newspapers. He's kind of having runs ins with family-- a lot of pressure there--and over all is pretty closed off. He realized that Dolly can help him in the long run with his broken image, so he strikes up a deal with her. With time, the summer deal and secrets turn into feelings and int he process they are both caught up in love, but has this love arrived late or just at a wrong time?
This is my first Monaghan romance novel and what struck me the most was the ease with which I immediately connected with Dolly's character. She is so relatable as a mom--she's independent, strong, a good parent. There was so much lightness to her character, it was hard to look away. She has a great sense of humor and reading about her made me smile. She's also around my age, so there was a lot of 'personal' connect there. Stewart was also a delight. Initially coming off as distant, Dolly's presence softened him. He sort of turned into a cinnamon bun roll for me, despite the meh third break up act, I still adored all his interactions with her son Gus and the entire 'handsome prince' energy about him.
I love second chances and summer romances because I feel like the romance just sneaks up on you and it's one that you can enjoy from all angles. Its like drinking a cold glass of lemonade on a burning hot summer day! This one is especially enjoyable because it's full of heart, it's lighthearted and charming. Can I also say that Stewarts pinning was a sweet perfection?
Many thanks to NetGalley, Putnam Publisher and the author Annabel Monaghan for sending me this eARC!
Publication date: May 26, 2026
June 30, 2026
4.5/5
This was such a fun read! Really love reading romance books with women in their 40s that also dive into themes of family & learning how to let love in. This one was an easy read that you’ll really love if you’re the type that always does everything on your own and you never ask for help. Seeing the mmc show up for the fmc really warmed my heart!
This was such a fun read! Really love reading romance books with women in their 40s that also dive into themes of family & learning how to let love in. This one was an easy read that you’ll really love if you’re the type that always does everything on your own and you never ask for help. Seeing the mmc show up for the fmc really warmed my heart!
May 31, 2026
Beautifully written, lovely story and fun and serious at the same time. My only reservations were how infuriating Stuart was in the end, Dolly is a better person than me I guess. But I liked everything else, even shedding some tears.
July 17, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
The PERFECT summer beach book, Dolly All the Time, is a contract relationship reminiscent of the iconic romance movie Pretty Woman!
When the rich heir-to-be of one of the wealthiest families in her small seaside town, Stewart Whitfield, offers $60,000 to fake-date him for a couple of months, 39-year-old single mom Dolly’s life goes from juggling four jobs to yachting and attending galas in designer dresses!
Of course, as expected in any good romance novel, things have a hard time sticking strictly to business for long!
Dolly is this hyper-independent woman who puts her needs second to take care of everyone else. At 39 years old, she's BOTH mother and father to her teenage son, Gus. She's the handyman of her crumbling childhood home and a pseudo-parent to her younger siblings, having stepped in after their mother left them.
Dolly is so used to taking care of everything and being on her own that Stewart showing interest and making an effort is met with INTENSE skepticism. Because "Stewart Whitfield stays at the Four Seasons. In case you're not following, I'm the Comfort Inn. I'm there in a pinch, right where you expect me to be, by the side of the highway. I'll take you in and give you tea. But Stewart Whitefield doesn't stay at the Comfort Inn."
What was truly refreshing to read in this novel was the fact that even with the rich guy-poor girl trope in play, Dolly and Stewart had a slow burn and believable transition from strangers to lovers. Over the course of fulfilling their contractual obligations, both leads begin to reveal bits and pieces of themselves—the highs and lows, from him having panic attacks to why she's a single parent. And it felt believable!
Hell, there was more tension in a scene with her teaching him how to properly hold someone's hand than most romance novels' first kiss scene!
The third-act break-up was frustrating. And I wasn't the biggest fan of just HOW LONG they spent apart. But…most romance novels have a third-act breakup, so it's excusable.
Honorable mention to Dolly's sweet son Gus; when his mama thinks of herself as "less than" the far richer Stewart, he says this gem:
"Are you saying he's too good for you? Because I don't think you'd say anyone was too good for me."
Overall, Dolly All the Time was a breath of fresh air. What a healthy and beautiful love story! Dolly made for a strong FMC that you rooted for to finally find her happily ever after.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own!
The PERFECT summer beach book, Dolly All the Time, is a contract relationship reminiscent of the iconic romance movie Pretty Woman!
When the rich heir-to-be of one of the wealthiest families in her small seaside town, Stewart Whitfield, offers $60,000 to fake-date him for a couple of months, 39-year-old single mom Dolly’s life goes from juggling four jobs to yachting and attending galas in designer dresses!
Of course, as expected in any good romance novel, things have a hard time sticking strictly to business for long!
Dolly is this hyper-independent woman who puts her needs second to take care of everyone else. At 39 years old, she's BOTH mother and father to her teenage son, Gus. She's the handyman of her crumbling childhood home and a pseudo-parent to her younger siblings, having stepped in after their mother left them.
Dolly is so used to taking care of everything and being on her own that Stewart showing interest and making an effort is met with INTENSE skepticism. Because "Stewart Whitfield stays at the Four Seasons. In case you're not following, I'm the Comfort Inn. I'm there in a pinch, right where you expect me to be, by the side of the highway. I'll take you in and give you tea. But Stewart Whitefield doesn't stay at the Comfort Inn."
What was truly refreshing to read in this novel was the fact that even with the rich guy-poor girl trope in play, Dolly and Stewart had a slow burn and believable transition from strangers to lovers. Over the course of fulfilling their contractual obligations, both leads begin to reveal bits and pieces of themselves—the highs and lows, from him having panic attacks to why she's a single parent. And it felt believable!
Hell, there was more tension in a scene with her teaching him how to properly hold someone's hand than most romance novels' first kiss scene!
The third-act break-up was frustrating. And I wasn't the biggest fan of just HOW LONG they spent apart. But…most romance novels have a third-act breakup, so it's excusable.
Honorable mention to Dolly's sweet son Gus; when his mama thinks of herself as "less than" the far richer Stewart, he says this gem:
"Are you saying he's too good for you? Because I don't think you'd say anyone was too good for me."
Overall, Dolly All the Time was a breath of fresh air. What a healthy and beautiful love story! Dolly made for a strong FMC that you rooted for to finally find her happily ever after.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own!
July 18, 2026
Absolute cinema. The perfect summer romance. Five shining acorns!
July 20, 2026
Wow!! I loved this book so much! Dolly may be one of my favorite FMCs EVER!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
August 1, 2026
4.25 stars
November 8, 2025
So, um, that took a turn.
I was obsessed with this up until the 65% mark when, something I knew was going to happen, happened and I still said what the actual fuck are we doing right now?
We spent the whole book saying “don’t do this. It’s very important we don’t do this.”
And then said, “yeah, you know what? Let’s do this. At this very big event. In front of everyone. Where everything could go wrong.”
I mean what could go possibly wrong, right?
Slight spoiler:
I’m sorry, at 40 years old, if a man (who is also 40) straight up ghosts me and my kid, I’m not going to his office unannounced with my one-dimensional best friend who acts like she’s still a sophomore in high school to essentially say, “talk to the hand.”
I’d say read up until the grand ball at 65% and then call it quits. Because before that point, it’s a lovely five star book with amazing coastal summertime vibes.
I was obsessed with this up until the 65% mark when, something I knew was going to happen, happened and I still said what the actual fuck are we doing right now?
We spent the whole book saying “don’t do this. It’s very important we don’t do this.”
And then said, “yeah, you know what? Let’s do this. At this very big event. In front of everyone. Where everything could go wrong.”
I mean what could go possibly wrong, right?
Slight spoiler:
I’m sorry, at 40 years old, if a man (who is also 40) straight up ghosts me and my kid, I’m not going to his office unannounced with my one-dimensional best friend who acts like she’s still a sophomore in high school to essentially say, “talk to the hand.”
I’d say read up until the grand ball at 65% and then call it quits. Because before that point, it’s a lovely five star book with amazing coastal summertime vibes.
May 23, 2026
She didn’t disappoint, I was nervous going into this book due to her last one being disappointing but I had so much fun with this book if we were to ignore the conflict. She really has an amazing way of writing her stories.
Dolly is such an amazing character that I see myself in her. She’s the kind of person who thinks of everyone else before her, and takes care of everything around her. She literally puts everyone first before her. She deserves the warmest hug as she is the eldest sibling who took care of everyone once her mother abandoned them as kids. It’s always the eldest kids picking up the slack.
Stewart, I personally enjoyed until the last conflict which ruined him completely for me. It hurts to say that but it did. If we were to ignore the conflict, Stewart was such a caring person to Dolly and her son. He took his time to get to know her son and become friends with him, which I personally admire about him.
I will die on the hill if someone was to say that the chemistry doesn’t exist like yes it does. As the book progressed we were able to see how smitten Stewart was with Dolly.
The conflict at the end ruined the book for me. Like what do you mean it took him a whole year to apologies just for her to just forgive him like no thank you. He should had grovelled for her for a long time instead of just apologising.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
————
𐙚⋆°. preread
I’m so happy that I got an arc for this as this is one of my most anticipated releases but I’m also scared to read it as her last book was disappointing. Also it’s finals season so I probably won’t have time to read a lot of this book but I’m going to try.
Dolly is such an amazing character that I see myself in her. She’s the kind of person who thinks of everyone else before her, and takes care of everything around her. She literally puts everyone first before her. She deserves the warmest hug as she is the eldest sibling who took care of everyone once her mother abandoned them as kids. It’s always the eldest kids picking up the slack.
Stewart, I personally enjoyed until the last conflict which ruined him completely for me. It hurts to say that but it did. If we were to ignore the conflict, Stewart was such a caring person to Dolly and her son. He took his time to get to know her son and become friends with him, which I personally admire about him.
I will die on the hill if someone was to say that the chemistry doesn’t exist like yes it does. As the book progressed we were able to see how smitten Stewart was with Dolly.
The conflict at the end ruined the book for me. Like what do you mean it took him a whole year to apologies just for her to just forgive him like no thank you. He should had grovelled for her for a long time instead of just apologising.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
————
𐙚⋆°. preread
I’m so happy that I got an arc for this as this is one of my most anticipated releases but I’m also scared to read it as her last book was disappointing. Also it’s finals season so I probably won’t have time to read a lot of this book but I’m going to try.
July 19, 2026
4.5 LOVEEE
July 19, 2026
╰┈➤ 𝟹.𝟽𝟻 ✰ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ
RTC.
RTC.
August 20, 2026
me 🤝 dolly, sewing curtains.
this was very wholesome, dolly is the besttt. i love her she is always there for everyone. the resolution though...dare i say she deserved better?
and also i want to start acotar and fourth wing but am stuck on which one first ?.
this was very wholesome, dolly is the besttt. i love her she is always there for everyone. the resolution though...dare i say she deserved better?
and also i want to start acotar and fourth wing but am stuck on which one first ?.
August 20, 2026
this was lovely in parts but overall, it was missing a little razzle dazzle for me 🥲. i couldn’t help but feel that i should have loved it more than i ultimately did. on paper, this has a lot of things i would typically salivate over but it was just an ok read for me. nothing bad for the lane that it’s in (well…except for that third act), but nothing i’d write home about either. i really thought this would be a slam dunk hit.
the fake dating and rich man combo?! usually a winner. dolly, a 39 y/o single mom, moves home from the city for the summer to help her dad out after a series of unfortunate events. after getting photographed aiding stewart, the heir-apparent to a multi-million dollar empire (the family that the small town her dad still lives in is named after) with an impromptu roadside tyre change, this launches a mutually beneficial fake dating arrangement between them. he asks her to help him so that he can save face after being cheated on and discarded (in order to keep himself in the running for CEO, you know how it goes) and she gets some much-needed financial assistance to keep their family home.
i’m usually very easy to please when you have a rich man on the scene and if he’s dropping stacks (which this one was). throw in a fake relationship trope of sorts, and the odds are doubling that i’m walking away a happy customer because the pretending makes me giddy. however, things didn’t quite come together for me in full on this one, i fear.
the main letdown was the writing style: it came across very mechanical to me. this made me not really feel the chemistry between the mcs and the flow of the book felt a bit jerky to me at times, especially in the first half. the beginning of the book was very jarring. their whole meet-cute and the segue into the arrangement that serves the plot of the book didn’t feel very organic. at first, i wanted to chalk up the awkwardness i was feeling from the stiff dynamic between the characters as an attempt to simulate some sort of realism — that two almost-40 y/o’s WOULD feel awkward and robotic doing something like this, as badly as they both needed it. i thought the unnatural feel was intentional. however, that awkwardness didn’t quite dissipate as soon as i would have liked it to have…it persisted. this made it take a while for me to get invested and feel comfortable in the romance.
the banter felt forced, not only between the two mcs but even between the mcs and side characters, like between dolly and her best friend, and dolly and stewart’s sister especially. something just didn’t sit right with me and i wanted it to so badly ☹️.
as time went on, i did find myself softening to the dynamic and feeling something for their relationship. there was some solid communication and displays of healthy connection in the mix here up to the third act. it just wasn’t as strong a cocktail as i would have liked. also, if you are a spice enthusiast, this author writes with that “door ajar” style (trademark attributable to youssra 😂) — you are in the room but it’s over before you blink and it’s not very descriptive. in adult romances, this can go left pretty quickly if not enough time is spent on some foreplay, just to get me feeling a little heady from the physical compatibility and how it translates to their intimacy…so this was a missed opportunity to convert the sporadic sparks of electricity that were there for me in the second half to something tangible in the lead-up to the tension breaking between dolly and stewart.
having said all of this though, i did really like dolly. i felt for her at various points of the story. she’d been through some things and was always trying to keep her head up. as someone who constantly had to be a caretaker and had been let down in life from key people in the past, her optimism and overall attitude was admirable. i loved her independence and her can-do spirit. she was always trying her best. i wanted her to have everything she wanted out of life because she deserved it. further, watching her learn to advocate for herself and demand the best from people and life as the book went on (and passing those lessons onto her son), was one of the most rewarding things about this experience for me. she was a wonderful mother, sister, daughter and friend. my girl, for real.
i think stewart had a meaningful arc in the book, and his issues made him human beyond the typical emotionally-constipated rich man archetype…but i can’t quite forgive his behaviour in the last stretch of the book. i was disappointed with how he handled things and i think the whole third act could have been executed a lot better than it was. he had me there for a sec (much like he did dolly) with how caring and attentive and present he was, especially when someone like dolly was so used to keeping her guard up (rightfully so) and doing everything on her own…but then he went and did the very thing a woman like her was afraid of, knowing her history. i wish he did better here, so so much. i loved his communication throughout the book until allathis nonsense. and why was it for so long???
i really liked the storyline with christopher, dolly’s disabled adult brother. somehow, the change in him from start to finish had me feeling a little achy by the end 🥹. this was a nice touch.
finally, i wish that the atmosphere was more summer-y, given the setting. again, i attribute this to the writing style being a bit perfunctory and matter-of-fact. if it was a touch more lyrical and paid some mind to being descriptive about the small-town waterfront locale, i could have felt transported into the book. alas, i was not and always felt like i was on the edges rather than being immersed in the read.
i don’t want to discourage anyone from picking this one up because there are so many wonderful reviews and it seems like this was a success for many this past summer. it was nice but lacked some staying power for me, personally. i don’t think i’ll remember this one beyond today.
the fake dating and rich man combo?! usually a winner. dolly, a 39 y/o single mom, moves home from the city for the summer to help her dad out after a series of unfortunate events. after getting photographed aiding stewart, the heir-apparent to a multi-million dollar empire (the family that the small town her dad still lives in is named after) with an impromptu roadside tyre change, this launches a mutually beneficial fake dating arrangement between them. he asks her to help him so that he can save face after being cheated on and discarded (in order to keep himself in the running for CEO, you know how it goes) and she gets some much-needed financial assistance to keep their family home.
i’m usually very easy to please when you have a rich man on the scene and if he’s dropping stacks (which this one was). throw in a fake relationship trope of sorts, and the odds are doubling that i’m walking away a happy customer because the pretending makes me giddy. however, things didn’t quite come together for me in full on this one, i fear.
the main letdown was the writing style: it came across very mechanical to me. this made me not really feel the chemistry between the mcs and the flow of the book felt a bit jerky to me at times, especially in the first half. the beginning of the book was very jarring. their whole meet-cute and the segue into the arrangement that serves the plot of the book didn’t feel very organic. at first, i wanted to chalk up the awkwardness i was feeling from the stiff dynamic between the characters as an attempt to simulate some sort of realism — that two almost-40 y/o’s WOULD feel awkward and robotic doing something like this, as badly as they both needed it. i thought the unnatural feel was intentional. however, that awkwardness didn’t quite dissipate as soon as i would have liked it to have…it persisted. this made it take a while for me to get invested and feel comfortable in the romance.
the banter felt forced, not only between the two mcs but even between the mcs and side characters, like between dolly and her best friend, and dolly and stewart’s sister especially. something just didn’t sit right with me and i wanted it to so badly ☹️.
as time went on, i did find myself softening to the dynamic and feeling something for their relationship. there was some solid communication and displays of healthy connection in the mix here up to the third act. it just wasn’t as strong a cocktail as i would have liked. also, if you are a spice enthusiast, this author writes with that “door ajar” style (trademark attributable to youssra 😂) — you are in the room but it’s over before you blink and it’s not very descriptive. in adult romances, this can go left pretty quickly if not enough time is spent on some foreplay, just to get me feeling a little heady from the physical compatibility and how it translates to their intimacy…so this was a missed opportunity to convert the sporadic sparks of electricity that were there for me in the second half to something tangible in the lead-up to the tension breaking between dolly and stewart.
having said all of this though, i did really like dolly. i felt for her at various points of the story. she’d been through some things and was always trying to keep her head up. as someone who constantly had to be a caretaker and had been let down in life from key people in the past, her optimism and overall attitude was admirable. i loved her independence and her can-do spirit. she was always trying her best. i wanted her to have everything she wanted out of life because she deserved it. further, watching her learn to advocate for herself and demand the best from people and life as the book went on (and passing those lessons onto her son), was one of the most rewarding things about this experience for me. she was a wonderful mother, sister, daughter and friend. my girl, for real.
i think stewart had a meaningful arc in the book, and his issues made him human beyond the typical emotionally-constipated rich man archetype…but i can’t quite forgive his behaviour in the last stretch of the book. i was disappointed with how he handled things and i think the whole third act could have been executed a lot better than it was. he had me there for a sec (much like he did dolly) with how caring and attentive and present he was, especially when someone like dolly was so used to keeping her guard up (rightfully so) and doing everything on her own…but then he went and did the very thing a woman like her was afraid of, knowing her history. i wish he did better here, so so much. i loved his communication throughout the book until allathis nonsense. and why was it for so long???
i really liked the storyline with christopher, dolly’s disabled adult brother. somehow, the change in him from start to finish had me feeling a little achy by the end 🥹. this was a nice touch.
finally, i wish that the atmosphere was more summer-y, given the setting. again, i attribute this to the writing style being a bit perfunctory and matter-of-fact. if it was a touch more lyrical and paid some mind to being descriptive about the small-town waterfront locale, i could have felt transported into the book. alas, i was not and always felt like i was on the edges rather than being immersed in the read.
i don’t want to discourage anyone from picking this one up because there are so many wonderful reviews and it seems like this was a success for many this past summer. it was nice but lacked some staying power for me, personally. i don’t think i’ll remember this one beyond today.
March 5, 2026
Annabel’s books are always a joy to read! While I didn’t love it as much as Its a Love Story, I still really loved the plot development. There was quite a bit of drama towards the end, but I think the romance was really natural and well done (multiple open door, but not graphic and also short sex scenes).
July 18, 2026
This was the fast read that I needed.
I related to the main female character big time. She is the oldest daughter and every issue she had, I have. I really loved reading from her perspective.
Something interesting happened while I was reading this. I was reading and randomly started crying. Because I felt seen. I understood Dolly deeply and that made me cry. Which made me ask God what was wrong because it came out of nowhere. I thought I had healed from a lot of oldest daughter stuff but the hurt was still in my heart I guess. It was good. I needed it.
Another interesting thing was how often Dolly referenced prayer and God. She is in no way a Christian, but in a crisis, she prayed. She tried bargaining with God. I related to that too. I'm a Christian and think that I can bargain with God sometimes too. I loved how realistic this character was for that. She even said "God has a great sense of humor." Also "If I were to say a prayer right now, it would be a prayer of thanks for that extra time and this good hair day." Fascinating, right?
One of my favourite parts was how mature and communicative the characters were. They are 37 and it shows. Nothing about their behaviour towards each other was childish. They acted their age and I loved that. Finally realistic mature characters! Their issues were also realistic. Their conflict made sense to me. Their make up was real and sweet. I really liked that.
There's language. Not a lot but there are f-words, s-words, and others I can't remember.
There's a lot of talk about the word sex and attraction and lust.
They call sex "making love" a few times.
There is a cracked door scene in Chapter 25. It was subtle just enough for me to skim over it and move on. From then on the wording is very very vague about what they are doing.
One note I also want to make is that this author seems to write sex in a very positive, easy, natural way. I wish the awkwardness of it was talked about more. Even a reference to using protection. Without these things, I rolled my eyes a bit because I know that it's not usually that simple and clean.
I think this is a pretty good place to start with this author if you want to try her. I liked Summer Romance just a touch more, but the way I related to Dolly will stick with me for a while I think.
I related to the main female character big time. She is the oldest daughter and every issue she had, I have. I really loved reading from her perspective.
Something interesting happened while I was reading this. I was reading and randomly started crying. Because I felt seen. I understood Dolly deeply and that made me cry. Which made me ask God what was wrong because it came out of nowhere. I thought I had healed from a lot of oldest daughter stuff but the hurt was still in my heart I guess. It was good. I needed it.
Another interesting thing was how often Dolly referenced prayer and God. She is in no way a Christian, but in a crisis, she prayed. She tried bargaining with God. I related to that too. I'm a Christian and think that I can bargain with God sometimes too. I loved how realistic this character was for that. She even said "God has a great sense of humor." Also "If I were to say a prayer right now, it would be a prayer of thanks for that extra time and this good hair day." Fascinating, right?
One of my favourite parts was how mature and communicative the characters were. They are 37 and it shows. Nothing about their behaviour towards each other was childish. They acted their age and I loved that. Finally realistic mature characters! Their issues were also realistic. Their conflict made sense to me. Their make up was real and sweet. I really liked that.
There's language. Not a lot but there are f-words, s-words, and others I can't remember.
There's a lot of talk about the word sex and attraction and lust.
They call sex "making love" a few times.
There is a cracked door scene in Chapter 25. It was subtle just enough for me to skim over it and move on. From then on the wording is very very vague about what they are doing.
One note I also want to make is that this author seems to write sex in a very positive, easy, natural way. I wish the awkwardness of it was talked about more. Even a reference to using protection. Without these things, I rolled my eyes a bit because I know that it's not usually that simple and clean.
I think this is a pretty good place to start with this author if you want to try her. I liked Summer Romance just a touch more, but the way I related to Dolly will stick with me for a while I think.
August 9, 2026
I typically enjoy this author’s books and was looking forward to this one—until I noticed the mixed reviews. I wondered what my own experience would be.
Dolly Brick has spent her entire life taking care of everyone else. Ever since her mother left when she was a child, she has shouldered the responsibility of caring for her family. Now, at 39, she is raising her own son while helping her aging father and her mentally disabled brother, all while becoming entangled in a fake-dating arrangement.
Will someone ever take care of Dolly?
Charming, thoughtful, witty, and heartfelt, this is a slow-moving but easy-to-read rom-com. While the story is fairly predictable, its warmth and likable characters make it an enjoyable read that will likely appeal to fans of feel-good contemporary romance.
🌟🌟🌟.5 Stars
Dolly Brick has spent her entire life taking care of everyone else. Ever since her mother left when she was a child, she has shouldered the responsibility of caring for her family. Now, at 39, she is raising her own son while helping her aging father and her mentally disabled brother, all while becoming entangled in a fake-dating arrangement.
Will someone ever take care of Dolly?
Charming, thoughtful, witty, and heartfelt, this is a slow-moving but easy-to-read rom-com. While the story is fairly predictable, its warmth and likable characters make it an enjoyable read that will likely appeal to fans of feel-good contemporary romance.
🌟🌟🌟.5 Stars
July 13, 2026
2 ⭐ As a fan of Annabel Monaghan’s books, this one really surprised me and not in a good way. I went into it excited, but unfortunately it ended up being a disappointment for me.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ small town romance
✨ rich man x struggling financially woman
✨ Pretty Woman but it's PG
✨ fake dating
✨ single mother
✨ complicated family dynamics
✨ single POV
✨ closed door romance
✨ HEA
My Thoughts:
Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with this story on multiple levels. I didn’t feel the chemistry between Dolly and Stewart, which made it hard to stay invested in their relationship as the story went on.
I also struggled with the “pay-to-date” arrangement. Given the characters’ ages and circumstances - both are nearly 40 years old, set in a small Rhode Island town, and the female lead is a single mother - the trope felt out of place and difficult to believe within this context. Because of that, I never fully bought into what was happening between them, and it took me out of the emotional parts of the book. I kept wanting to feel more convinced by their connection, but it just didn’t get there for me.
The pacing also felt uneven at times, and I found myself putting the book down more than I usually do with her work. Granted I moved continents, but it still took me almost two months to finish. Instead of being pulled into the story, I had to push through to keep going, which is never a great sign for me personally with a romance.
Overall, this just wasn’t an enjoyable read for me. I appreciate what it was trying to do, but it didn’t land in the way I hoped it would. I’m glad it’s resonating with other readers, even though it didn’t work for me.
PS: I need to rant about that ending so ***SPOILER****
The end is when I truly started hating this book. When shit inevitably hits the fan with their fake dating scheme (and after all the trauma Dolly goes through with her ex), Stewart just walks away and doesn’t contact her. AT ALL. And his reasoning was utter bullshit. (Can you tell I'm angry? lol) And we only find out his reason because SHE goes to visit him to tell him off after 6 months of no contact. And then it takes him another 6 MONTHS to speak to her again and actually apologize. WTF??? Get that man out of here! I have zero respect for Stewart because what do you mean you love this woman but you completely cut her out of your life with little to no explanation??? I don't care what his excuse is, that is an unforgivable thing to do! You don't hurt people you love. Period. I also don't have respect for Dolly either for even taking him back and accepting that kind of treatment.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ small town romance
✨ rich man x struggling financially woman
✨ Pretty Woman but it's PG
✨ fake dating
✨ single mother
✨ complicated family dynamics
✨ single POV
✨ closed door romance
✨ HEA
My Thoughts:
Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with this story on multiple levels. I didn’t feel the chemistry between Dolly and Stewart, which made it hard to stay invested in their relationship as the story went on.
I also struggled with the “pay-to-date” arrangement. Given the characters’ ages and circumstances - both are nearly 40 years old, set in a small Rhode Island town, and the female lead is a single mother - the trope felt out of place and difficult to believe within this context. Because of that, I never fully bought into what was happening between them, and it took me out of the emotional parts of the book. I kept wanting to feel more convinced by their connection, but it just didn’t get there for me.
The pacing also felt uneven at times, and I found myself putting the book down more than I usually do with her work. Granted I moved continents, but it still took me almost two months to finish. Instead of being pulled into the story, I had to push through to keep going, which is never a great sign for me personally with a romance.
Overall, this just wasn’t an enjoyable read for me. I appreciate what it was trying to do, but it didn’t land in the way I hoped it would. I’m glad it’s resonating with other readers, even though it didn’t work for me.
PS: I need to rant about that ending so ***SPOILER****
The end is when I truly started hating this book. When shit inevitably hits the fan with their fake dating scheme (and after all the trauma Dolly goes through with her ex), Stewart just walks away and doesn’t contact her. AT ALL. And his reasoning was utter bullshit. (Can you tell I'm angry? lol) And we only find out his reason because SHE goes to visit him to tell him off after 6 months of no contact. And then it takes him another 6 MONTHS to speak to her again and actually apologize. WTF??? Get that man out of here! I have zero respect for Stewart because what do you mean you love this woman but you completely cut her out of your life with little to no explanation??? I don't care what his excuse is, that is an unforgivable thing to do! You don't hurt people you love. Period. I also don't have respect for Dolly either for even taking him back and accepting that kind of treatment.
Read
June 1, 2026This is the Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club June 2026 selection and a 2026 Summer Reading Guide Minimalist Pick. The author will join us for a live discussion!
In this smart, sweet, and soulful tale, a big-hearted, deeply loyal woman named Dolly returns to her coastal hometown for the summer to help her struggling family. But their struggles go from bad to worse when a house fire damages their roof, and they need cash, fast. When Dolly crosses paths with Stewart Whitfield, handsome local “royalty” who has struggles of his own, an unconventional solution to both their problems presents itself: they’ll fake date for the summer and everybody will be happy. But then Dolly catches feelings. I loved the irrepressible Dolly, her rapport with her bestie, the slow-burning love story, the family fish business. This one goes down easy in the best sense.
In this smart, sweet, and soulful tale, a big-hearted, deeply loyal woman named Dolly returns to her coastal hometown for the summer to help her struggling family. But their struggles go from bad to worse when a house fire damages their roof, and they need cash, fast. When Dolly crosses paths with Stewart Whitfield, handsome local “royalty” who has struggles of his own, an unconventional solution to both their problems presents itself: they’ll fake date for the summer and everybody will be happy. But then Dolly catches feelings. I loved the irrepressible Dolly, her rapport with her bestie, the slow-burning love story, the family fish business. This one goes down easy in the best sense.
Read
June 19, 2026dare i say my favorite book of the year!?!? I’ll be spending the summer reading all of Annabel’s backlist!!
August 4, 2026
Dolly All the Time is a summer romance, following an independent single mother who lands a fake dating deal with a rich man to help her family. Dolly has always done it all; she stepped in to raise her siblings when their mother left, she raised her son-Gus, now aged 13- and moved to Boston to be a kindergarten teacher. But when a fire breaks out at her family home, she swoops in to save the day, driving back to her hometown of coastal Whitfield, Rhode Island.
Immediately Dolly steps in, taking shifts at the family seafood shop and caring for her brother, Christopher, who requires constant support after a traumatic brain injury left him intellectually disabled as a child. But the fire chief soon comes with bad news: the roof must be replaced or the house will be condemned.
A solution miraculously comes in the form of Stewart Whitfield, wealthy scion of the Whitfields. He proposes a fake dating arrangement. He will pay her to pretend to be his girlfriend, and in exchange he will be able to prove to his parents that he has enough work life balance to get the CEO position at Whitfield Industries. As with all fake dating rom coms, the line between real and pretend becomes thin.
I really appreciated Dolly's character. She was older than you see with most contemporary romance lead women, being aged 39, but her strength was all the more apparent. Not much is touched on her son's father, who left before being involved. Instead, we learn how much effort Dolly put in growing up to watch her father and younger siblings after their mother left. I do think the storyline behind her mother's abandonment could have been explained better, or even more details on her brother's accident. However, we still got a good base sense of how tough Dolly was.
More so, I liked the coastal setting. The family shop seemed so comforting and familiar. Stewart was fine throughout the bulk of the story. Though a workaholic, you could see the romance develop between them. My issue lies in the last chunk of the story, where the timing seems to go out the window. Of course, we have the third act break up, only it was really drawn out. We still get our happy end, some of it just rubbed me the wrong way. As a whole, this was still such a cute read, filled with summer vibes, romance, and family.
Immediately Dolly steps in, taking shifts at the family seafood shop and caring for her brother, Christopher, who requires constant support after a traumatic brain injury left him intellectually disabled as a child. But the fire chief soon comes with bad news: the roof must be replaced or the house will be condemned.
A solution miraculously comes in the form of Stewart Whitfield, wealthy scion of the Whitfields. He proposes a fake dating arrangement. He will pay her to pretend to be his girlfriend, and in exchange he will be able to prove to his parents that he has enough work life balance to get the CEO position at Whitfield Industries. As with all fake dating rom coms, the line between real and pretend becomes thin.
I really appreciated Dolly's character. She was older than you see with most contemporary romance lead women, being aged 39, but her strength was all the more apparent. Not much is touched on her son's father, who left before being involved. Instead, we learn how much effort Dolly put in growing up to watch her father and younger siblings after their mother left. I do think the storyline behind her mother's abandonment could have been explained better, or even more details on her brother's accident. However, we still got a good base sense of how tough Dolly was.
More so, I liked the coastal setting. The family shop seemed so comforting and familiar. Stewart was fine throughout the bulk of the story. Though a workaholic, you could see the romance develop between them. My issue lies in the last chunk of the story, where the timing seems to go out the window. Of course, we have the third act break up, only it was really drawn out. We still get our happy end, some of it just rubbed me the wrong way. As a whole, this was still such a cute read, filled with summer vibes, romance, and family.
June 8, 2026
Very cute and heartwarming. I really love Annabel Monaghan's books as they are very delightful romantic comedies, and usually feature older characters, as this one does as well.
Thirty-nine year old school teacher Dolly Brick and her teenage son Gus move back to her hometown of Whitfield, Rhode Island to help out for the summer. There she happens to encounter Stewart Whitfield (yes, one of those Whitfields) who is going through a very public breakup that might harm his potential promotion to CEO of his family company. Dolly agrees to accompany him on some dates, posing as his girlfriend. But as per usual with fake dating tropes in a book, the sparks fly between our two main characters but their relationship is also not without its pitfalls as well.
This is a very fun take on the Pretty Woman/Fake dating trope, and with Mongahan's skilled writing the reader immediately falls in love with Dolly, Stewart, Gus, and all of the other characters. I loved how each character helped the others to break free of the molds they had cast themselves in, helping them to learn to let go and to grow.
The characters are easy to connect with and relate to and the storyline is developed well and flows smoothly. I didn't feel anything dragging about this book, it's the perfect summer romance read. Highly recommended!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Thirty-nine year old school teacher Dolly Brick and her teenage son Gus move back to her hometown of Whitfield, Rhode Island to help out for the summer. There she happens to encounter Stewart Whitfield (yes, one of those Whitfields) who is going through a very public breakup that might harm his potential promotion to CEO of his family company. Dolly agrees to accompany him on some dates, posing as his girlfriend. But as per usual with fake dating tropes in a book, the sparks fly between our two main characters but their relationship is also not without its pitfalls as well.
This is a very fun take on the Pretty Woman/Fake dating trope, and with Mongahan's skilled writing the reader immediately falls in love with Dolly, Stewart, Gus, and all of the other characters. I loved how each character helped the others to break free of the molds they had cast themselves in, helping them to learn to let go and to grow.
The characters are easy to connect with and relate to and the storyline is developed well and flows smoothly. I didn't feel anything dragging about this book, it's the perfect summer romance read. Highly recommended!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
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