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Dolly All the Time
10 hours
From The New York Times bestselling author of Nora Goes Off Script , a romance about a single mother who’s offered a Pretty Woman -type deal that’s too good to refuse.
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 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 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?
From The New York Times bestselling author of Nora Goes Off Script , a romance about a single mother who’s offered a Pretty Woman -type deal that’s too good to refuse.
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 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 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?
Audiobook
First published May 26, 2026
About the author
Annabel Monaghan
11 books10.7k 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 2,656 reviews
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!
April 20, 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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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!
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
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).
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⋆˙⟡ — 3.75 stars
⤷⊹ started: january 23rd, finished: january 24th
𐙚 spoiler-free review ♡
♡ ⋆｡˚ thoughts
i swear annabel monaghan is one of my auto-buy authors 😌 she just has a way of writing stories that feel warm and easy to fall into, and this one really pulled me in from the beginning 🥹 dolly was such a lovable character to follow, and i loved getting to see her slowly start to choose herself instead of always putting everyone else first. one thing i kept thinking while reading this was how much the story reminded me of pretty woman. the setup was so similar to it, and that made me enjoy it even more 🤭 obviously not everything was like pretty woman!!
♡ ⋆｡˚ characters
♡ ⋆｡˚ dolly brick
i loved dolly so much 🥹 she’s the kind of character who is always thinking about everyone else before herself, and it made me want to give her the biggest hug. she cares so deeply about the people in her life, but you can also see how exhausting that becomes for her over time ☹️ i loved being able to watch her slowly start to recognize what she wants and what she deserves. she felt very real, and i loved how her growth wasn’t rushed but happened naturally as things changed around her. annabel monaghan will ALWAYS make me fall in love with her fmcs 🤭
♡ ⋆｡˚ stewart whitfield
stewart surprised me honestly. at first he was a little harder to read, but the more time we read about him the more you could see how much he was trying and how deeply he cared 🥹 he isn’t perfect, but that’s what made him feel more believable as a character. i really liked seeing how his relationship with dolly developed over time and how their connection became stronger as they started to understand each other more 🤭
♡ ⋆｡˚ dolly + stewart
ugh these two were so cute 🥹 i really liked how their relationship slowly shifted from something that felt practical into something that clearly meant so much to both of them. their chemistry felt natural, and all their moments made me fall in love with them even more 🤭 now the only thing i will complain about is how i didn’t really like how the third act breakup happened and how it was handled. i honestly wanted to slap stewart a few times 😭
♡ ⋆｡˚ final thoughts
i’m sooo glad i ended up loving this book because i will probably be picking it up again immediately after it gets released 😌
₊˚ ‿︵‿︵‿︵୨୧ · · ♡ · · ୨୧‿︵‿︵‿︵ ˚₊
— ⋆˙⟡ pre-read 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
i got the arc for this and i’m so freaking excited 😩 i’ve loved almost all of annabel monaghan’s books, so i have high hopes for this 😌 i saw that this is kinda based on pretty woman, so i think it’s gonna be a fun time 🤭
thank you netgalley, putnam, g.p. putnam’s sons, and annabel monaghan for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!!
⤷⊹ started: january 23rd, finished: january 24th
𐙚 spoiler-free review ♡
୨ৎ dolly all the time release date: may 26th, 2026
thank you netgalley, putnam, g.p. putnam’s sons, and annabel monaghan for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!!
♡ ⋆｡˚ thoughts
i swear annabel monaghan is one of my auto-buy authors 😌 she just has a way of writing stories that feel warm and easy to fall into, and this one really pulled me in from the beginning 🥹 dolly was such a lovable character to follow, and i loved getting to see her slowly start to choose herself instead of always putting everyone else first. one thing i kept thinking while reading this was how much the story reminded me of pretty woman. the setup was so similar to it, and that made me enjoy it even more 🤭 obviously not everything was like pretty woman!!
♡ ⋆｡˚ characters
♡ ⋆｡˚ dolly brick
i loved dolly so much 🥹 she’s the kind of character who is always thinking about everyone else before herself, and it made me want to give her the biggest hug. she cares so deeply about the people in her life, but you can also see how exhausting that becomes for her over time ☹️ i loved being able to watch her slowly start to recognize what she wants and what she deserves. she felt very real, and i loved how her growth wasn’t rushed but happened naturally as things changed around her. annabel monaghan will ALWAYS make me fall in love with her fmcs 🤭
♡ ⋆｡˚ stewart whitfield
stewart surprised me honestly. at first he was a little harder to read, but the more time we read about him the more you could see how much he was trying and how deeply he cared 🥹 he isn’t perfect, but that’s what made him feel more believable as a character. i really liked seeing how his relationship with dolly developed over time and how their connection became stronger as they started to understand each other more 🤭
♡ ⋆｡˚ dolly + stewart
ugh these two were so cute 🥹 i really liked how their relationship slowly shifted from something that felt practical into something that clearly meant so much to both of them. their chemistry felt natural, and all their moments made me fall in love with them even more 🤭 now the only thing i will complain about is how i didn’t really like how the third act breakup happened and how it was handled. i honestly wanted to slap stewart a few times 😭
♡ ⋆｡˚ final thoughts
i’m sooo glad i ended up loving this book because i will probably be picking it up again immediately after it gets released 😌
₊˚ ‿︵‿︵‿︵୨୧ · · ♡ · · ୨୧‿︵‿︵‿︵ ˚₊
— ⋆˙⟡ pre-read 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
i got the arc for this and i’m so freaking excited 😩 i’ve loved almost all of annabel monaghan’s books, so i have high hopes for this 😌 i saw that this is kinda based on pretty woman, so i think it’s gonna be a fun time 🤭
thank you netgalley, putnam, g.p. putnam’s sons, and annabel monaghan for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!!
May 27, 2026
┆ ⤿ 🫧 ⌗ started: may 26, finished: may 27
i LOVED this book that I finished it in 24 hours 🥹🫶🏼 full rtc
𑣲⋆ arc no. 5 of the summer! [last one for the month YAY!!]
OUT ON MAY 26!!
pre-read 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
happy release day to this beautiful book!! i'm so excited to read this one, not only because its my first book by annabel but also i'm going for her book event next week!! eek so excited 🥹
thank you putnam, annabel monaghan, and netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
i LOVED this book that I finished it in 24 hours 🥹🫶🏼 full rtc
𑣲⋆ arc no. 5 of the summer! [last one for the month YAY!!]
OUT ON MAY 26!!
pre-read 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
happy release day to this beautiful book!! i'm so excited to read this one, not only because its my first book by annabel but also i'm going for her book event next week!! eek so excited 🥹
thank you putnam, annabel monaghan, and netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
DOLLY ALL THE TIME by Annabele Monaghan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I recommend this book with my whole heart and give it all of my stars!! I’m upset this is over. My heart is happy. This was one of those books where I was forcing myself to slow down so I could savor it! I am a huge Annabele Monaghan fan and Nora has always been my favorite… but I think Dolly just took first place for me! I finished a few days ago and am still missing it.
First of all, an older FMC (late 30’s) just hits for me (I’m old). But Dolly is impossible not to love!! She has grit, puts everyone ahead of herself, is funny and witty, and so sweet with her family. Her relationship with Stewart had me swooning, and watching her stand up for herself was everything.
And HOW does the sleeping porch sound like the coziest place in the world?
Dolly is a single mom who finds time to take care of everyone but herself. Stewart, a rich businessman, meets Dolly and asks her to be his fake girlfriend to convince his family he is capable of running the family business. As they spend time together, the line between pretend and real starts to blur.
Pub. Date: May 26, 2026.
Perfect if you like:
•Middle age FMC.
•Single mom.
•Fake Dating.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Mood: 🌮🍩
🚪: 25 cracked
⚠️: explicit language (minimal).
First of all, an older FMC (late 30’s) just hits for me (I’m old). But Dolly is impossible not to love!! She has grit, puts everyone ahead of herself, is funny and witty, and so sweet with her family. Her relationship with Stewart had me swooning, and watching her stand up for herself was everything.
And HOW does the sleeping porch sound like the coziest place in the world?
Dolly is a single mom who finds time to take care of everyone but herself. Stewart, a rich businessman, meets Dolly and asks her to be his fake girlfriend to convince his family he is capable of running the family business. As they spend time together, the line between pretend and real starts to blur.
Pub. Date: May 26, 2026.
Perfect if you like:
•Middle age FMC.
•Single mom.
•Fake Dating.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Mood: 🌮🍩
🚪: 25 cracked
⚠️: explicit language (minimal).
Want to Read
January 20, 2026₊˚⊹ ᰔ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝:
i have not been doing too well on my reading goal ever since my last read put me into a mini-slump 🙈…. but i’ve been dying to try this author and this book has only AMAZING reviews!!
(it’s also an arc and my netgalley score right now is currently 37%…😭)
𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: 𝟒.𝟐𝟓
𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕: ??? ⛴️
╰┈➤ what to expect!!!
⛴️ “pretty women” like
🌊 single mom trope
⛴️ fake dating
🌊 set in city and small town
⛴️ wealthy man/working class woman
🌊 forced proximity
i have not been doing too well on my reading goal ever since my last read put me into a mini-slump 🙈…. but i’ve been dying to try this author and this book has only AMAZING reviews!!
(it’s also an arc and my netgalley score right now is currently 37%…😭)
𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: 𝟒.𝟐𝟓
𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕: ??? ⛴️
╰┈➤ what to expect!!!
⛴️ “pretty women” like
🌊 single mom trope
⛴️ fake dating
🌊 set in city and small town
⛴️ wealthy man/working class woman
🌊 forced proximity
May 26, 2026
I love this time of year and a new summer romance from Monaghan. They are such a treat! I decided to take this one on vacation with me and it was the absolute best decision!
We were on a cruise with many things to do, and I did not want to stop reading. I took every chance I could to read, and I finished it in a couple of days. It was the perfect location to read the book. 🛳️
Dolly Brick is a single mom who comes home to Whitfield, RI for the summer to help her dad with the family business, Brick Fish House. She happens to run into the town's most eligible and handsome bachelor, Stewart Whitfield. She helps him change a flat tire, because he doesn’t know how to. Lol, Someone takes their photo, which makes headlines, and soon she gets a visit from Stewart with a proposal that she can’t resist.
This book put a smile on my face. I laughed, and I cried as I felt a myriad of emotions along with the characters. I have to admit one part made me mad, but it didn’t diminish my love for the story. Although they come from vastly different worlds, I love that Dolly taught Stewart how to treat her.
Things I loved |
❤️ Swoon worthy chemistry
❤️ The Perfect best friend
❤️ Fake dating
❤️ Summer romance
❤️ Family
Dolly is one of my favorite FMC’s. I loved her spunk and how self-sufficient she was. And I think that everyone should have a best friend like Naomi. I thought that her relationship with her son Gus was really heartwarming too. She always wanted to be honest with him.
Dolly has a special link with her brother Christopher, and I felt it added to the nuanced story. Don’t miss out on this sure-fire hit. Highly recommend!
[Thanks to the publisher, G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the advance eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.]
CA | Contains a few instances of strong language and a vague love scene.
We were on a cruise with many things to do, and I did not want to stop reading. I took every chance I could to read, and I finished it in a couple of days. It was the perfect location to read the book. 🛳️
Dolly Brick is a single mom who comes home to Whitfield, RI for the summer to help her dad with the family business, Brick Fish House. She happens to run into the town's most eligible and handsome bachelor, Stewart Whitfield. She helps him change a flat tire, because he doesn’t know how to. Lol, Someone takes their photo, which makes headlines, and soon she gets a visit from Stewart with a proposal that she can’t resist.
This book put a smile on my face. I laughed, and I cried as I felt a myriad of emotions along with the characters. I have to admit one part made me mad, but it didn’t diminish my love for the story. Although they come from vastly different worlds, I love that Dolly taught Stewart how to treat her.
Things I loved |
❤️ Swoon worthy chemistry
❤️ The Perfect best friend
❤️ Fake dating
❤️ Summer romance
❤️ Family
Dolly is one of my favorite FMC’s. I loved her spunk and how self-sufficient she was. And I think that everyone should have a best friend like Naomi. I thought that her relationship with her son Gus was really heartwarming too. She always wanted to be honest with him.
Dolly has a special link with her brother Christopher, and I felt it added to the nuanced story. Don’t miss out on this sure-fire hit. Highly recommend!
[Thanks to the publisher, G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the advance eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.]
CA | Contains a few instances of strong language and a vague love scene.
December 23, 2025
4.75 stars
A huge thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the chance to read an advance copy of Dolly All The Time by Annabel Monaghan.
Dolly All The Time is the third book I’ve read by Annabel Monaghan and it may just be my favorite! (I need to go back and read her other books!)
The setting is a fictional town in Rhode Island, dominated by the Whitfield family, for whom the town is named. Dolly Brick grew up there but now works as a kindergarten teacher in Boston. Her family has owned a fish store there for a long time. We gradually get Dolly’s backstory and it’s very emotional. Her mother left the family when she was 12, after a car accident badly hurt Dolly’s young brother Christopher. (Personally, I found that hard to fathom!) As the oldest, Dolly (there’s another slightly younger sister too) immediately took on the role of substitute mother, and she’s been kind of stuck in that level of responsibility ever since (she’s 40 and a single mom of a 12-year old, Gus).
When Dolly decides to spend the summer in Whitfield to help her father after a small fire in the house, the story really gets going. Stewart Whitfield is the oldest son of the ultra-wealthy family and needs someone to pose as his fake girlfriend so that his family will think more highly of him (with a promotion in mind), after his fiancee broke things off in a public ugly way. And the rest of the book is how Stewart and Dolly’s relationship goes from a paid fake dating situation (Dolly’s father’s house needs a new roof!) to something deep and real. There’s a big Pretty Woman vibe here, but of course, Dolly is not in the same profession as the woman in that movie! There’s terrific character development, with Dolly and Stewart learning to let go of things, in their own ways.
I have to say that Stewart was terrific - until he wasn’t. (No spoilers) He did redeem himself after the third-act breakup, but I was still disappointed in his actions - or non-actions.
All the side characters were great, from Dolly’s best local friend, Naomi to Stewart’s mother Victoria, to Dolly’s wonderful son Gus. I loved how enamored he was about baseball and hockey and his new enthusiasm for sailing. No one was a cardboard cutout stereotype.
I highly recommend this book!
A huge thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the chance to read an advance copy of Dolly All The Time by Annabel Monaghan.
Dolly All The Time is the third book I’ve read by Annabel Monaghan and it may just be my favorite! (I need to go back and read her other books!)
The setting is a fictional town in Rhode Island, dominated by the Whitfield family, for whom the town is named. Dolly Brick grew up there but now works as a kindergarten teacher in Boston. Her family has owned a fish store there for a long time. We gradually get Dolly’s backstory and it’s very emotional. Her mother left the family when she was 12, after a car accident badly hurt Dolly’s young brother Christopher. (Personally, I found that hard to fathom!) As the oldest, Dolly (there’s another slightly younger sister too) immediately took on the role of substitute mother, and she’s been kind of stuck in that level of responsibility ever since (she’s 40 and a single mom of a 12-year old, Gus).
When Dolly decides to spend the summer in Whitfield to help her father after a small fire in the house, the story really gets going. Stewart Whitfield is the oldest son of the ultra-wealthy family and needs someone to pose as his fake girlfriend so that his family will think more highly of him (with a promotion in mind), after his fiancee broke things off in a public ugly way. And the rest of the book is how Stewart and Dolly’s relationship goes from a paid fake dating situation (Dolly’s father’s house needs a new roof!) to something deep and real. There’s a big Pretty Woman vibe here, but of course, Dolly is not in the same profession as the woman in that movie! There’s terrific character development, with Dolly and Stewart learning to let go of things, in their own ways.
I have to say that Stewart was terrific - until he wasn’t. (No spoilers) He did redeem himself after the third-act breakup, but I was still disappointed in his actions - or non-actions.
All the side characters were great, from Dolly’s best local friend, Naomi to Stewart’s mother Victoria, to Dolly’s wonderful son Gus. I loved how enamored he was about baseball and hockey and his new enthusiasm for sailing. No one was a cardboard cutout stereotype.
I highly recommend this book!
Read
May 25, 2026aaaand she does it again! (my third five star read from annabel & i want to give her a big kiss on the forehead for the way her books make me feel.
i had been in a bit of a slump before which may have something to do with how this book impacted me, but MAN i felt like a teenager again staying up too late reading & feeling SO invested in this story. the tension & chemistry was just so PALPABLE and REAL. like you can’t convince me these people aren’t real. it felt just like a movie in allll the best ways.
dolly actually reminded me a lot of my mom so i immediately loved her and felt for her. she does EVERYTHING for her people & i love her (dolly & my mom) for it. i love her relationship with her kid & how he became so close with stewart as well.
stewart was complicated and real & an angel man. he definitely had his flaws but i LOVED the way he lit up when dolly came into the room.
there was a brutal third act breakup & the miscommunication was REAL. the time in between when they break up & figure everything out was farrr too long & drug out. i thought about knocking off half a star for that, but i loved so much about the story & the characters & the way this made me feel that anything less feels wrong. i also felt like the miscommunication aspect made it feel more real as well. stuff like that happens in real life, as crappy as it is.
i loved the resolution as well. SUCH A GOOD ONE. i want to reread it on the beach this summer.
🔥SPICE🔥 some references & foreplay. one short, vague open door scene in chapter 25 (it’s like half a page and not detailed)
🤐LANGUAGE🤐 4 uses of the F word. occasional other swear words
i had been in a bit of a slump before which may have something to do with how this book impacted me, but MAN i felt like a teenager again staying up too late reading & feeling SO invested in this story. the tension & chemistry was just so PALPABLE and REAL. like you can’t convince me these people aren’t real. it felt just like a movie in allll the best ways.
dolly actually reminded me a lot of my mom so i immediately loved her and felt for her. she does EVERYTHING for her people & i love her (dolly & my mom) for it. i love her relationship with her kid & how he became so close with stewart as well.
stewart was complicated and real & an angel man. he definitely had his flaws but i LOVED the way he lit up when dolly came into the room.
there was a brutal third act breakup & the miscommunication was REAL. the time in between when they break up & figure everything out was farrr too long & drug out. i thought about knocking off half a star for that, but i loved so much about the story & the characters & the way this made me feel that anything less feels wrong. i also felt like the miscommunication aspect made it feel more real as well. stuff like that happens in real life, as crappy as it is.
i loved the resolution as well. SUCH A GOOD ONE. i want to reread it on the beach this summer.
🔥SPICE🔥 some references & foreplay. one short, vague open door scene in chapter 25 (it’s like half a page and not detailed)
🤐LANGUAGE🤐 4 uses of the F word. occasional other swear words
January 16, 2026
Annabel Monaghan has quickly become one of my favorite romance writers of all time. She writes it - I’m reading it, usually in 2 days.
This book is a warm hug.
This book is a warm hug.
November 30, 2025
In Annabel Monaghan’s 𝘋𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦, title character Dolly Brick is a 39-year-old kindergarten teacher and single mom who has returned to her hometown of Whitfield, Rhode Island for the summer to help out at the family fish house and assist her dad with home repairs. Very expensive home repairs that will be a struggle for them to afford… until Stewart Whitfield appears. Stewart, on track to becoming CEO of his family’s real estate empire, needs to do some PR damage control after an embarrassing break-up. Cue the fake dating and girlfriend-for-hire tropes.
Though I felt the book got off to a slow start, eventually the story fell into a good pace and I enjoyed the slow-burn interclass romance between Dolly and Stewart. Their chemistry was believable and compelling. But what I found ultimately disappointing was how the third-act break-up was executed and resolved—I’m not sure forgiveness was earned and I could fully root for the couple after that. Still, overall 𝘋𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦 is an entertaining read and I would recommend it to someone looking for a beachy romance.
4.25 stars. Thank you to G. P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Though I felt the book got off to a slow start, eventually the story fell into a good pace and I enjoyed the slow-burn interclass romance between Dolly and Stewart. Their chemistry was believable and compelling. But what I found ultimately disappointing was how the third-act break-up was executed and resolved—I’m not sure forgiveness was earned and I could fully root for the couple after that. Still, overall 𝘋𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦 is an entertaining read and I would recommend it to someone looking for a beachy romance.
4.25 stars. Thank you to G. P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2026
One of the marks of summer for me is the release of Annabel Monaghan’s newest romcom, and she never, ever disappoints. In fact, I am almost sure she is the only author to ever receive five stars from me for every book she has written.
Dolly All the Time has that same great AM vibe— coastal summer, an uber relatable FMC, a swoony romance, and loveable side characters. But Dolly, in fact, goes much deeper, bringing both more complex emotional nuance around the family dynamics for both main characters, and she pushes the envelope every so slightly more when it comes to the love scenes, a very welcome addition.
🎧 It was the best surprise to discover my all-time favorite narrator helmed the audiobook of Dolly All the Time. Julia Whelan is a master of her craft, and it definitely shows in her incredible narration of the multitude of characters, even though the story is from a single POV. She always manages to add to the characters, and her portrayal of Dolly is absolutely spot on. I highly recommend this one on audio if you are an audiobook reader.
Read if you like:
▪️romcoms
▪️fake dating
▪️Pretty Woman vibes
▪️different sides of the track
▪️family drama
▪️coastal setting
Thank you Putnam and PRH Audio for the advanced copy of this book.
Dolly All the Time has that same great AM vibe— coastal summer, an uber relatable FMC, a swoony romance, and loveable side characters. But Dolly, in fact, goes much deeper, bringing both more complex emotional nuance around the family dynamics for both main characters, and she pushes the envelope every so slightly more when it comes to the love scenes, a very welcome addition.
🎧 It was the best surprise to discover my all-time favorite narrator helmed the audiobook of Dolly All the Time. Julia Whelan is a master of her craft, and it definitely shows in her incredible narration of the multitude of characters, even though the story is from a single POV. She always manages to add to the characters, and her portrayal of Dolly is absolutely spot on. I highly recommend this one on audio if you are an audiobook reader.
Read if you like:
▪️romcoms
▪️fake dating
▪️Pretty Woman vibes
▪️different sides of the track
▪️family drama
▪️coastal setting
Thank you Putnam and PRH Audio for the advanced copy of this book.
May 28, 2026
MY FAVORITE ROMANCE OF THE YEAR.
This is an ode to eldest daughters, those who are afraid to ask for help and overuse the phrase, "nope, i've got it". Dolly All The Time, sucked me in from the first few chapters and I kept listening every chance I got. Its one of those stories that when I finished, I immediately wanted to flip to the beginning and start again.
Dolly is one of the best female leads i've read in a long time. Her maturity and the way she processed motherhood, work, heartache and personal growth felt completely authentic and relatable. This book also had amazing side characters...from Dolly's son, to her father to her amazing ride or die best friend...these relationships only added richness to each chapter. The relationship dynamics made me cry on several occasions as they dealt with complicated family ties and how worry never leaves you as a mom.
The romance is the kind of love that breathes a sigh of sweet relief. Its the kind of love that lets you know someone's got your back. The meet cute was adorable, and every moment after felt easy with the best organic chemistry. This love was imperfect, messy, realistic and needed time to grow and to heal. I loved so many sweet moments that were only amplified by the coastal setting.
I still haven't stopped thinking about this book, and I don't anticipate being over it any time soon. No notes.
This is my book recommendation of the summer!
This is an ode to eldest daughters, those who are afraid to ask for help and overuse the phrase, "nope, i've got it". Dolly All The Time, sucked me in from the first few chapters and I kept listening every chance I got. Its one of those stories that when I finished, I immediately wanted to flip to the beginning and start again.
Dolly is one of the best female leads i've read in a long time. Her maturity and the way she processed motherhood, work, heartache and personal growth felt completely authentic and relatable. This book also had amazing side characters...from Dolly's son, to her father to her amazing ride or die best friend...these relationships only added richness to each chapter. The relationship dynamics made me cry on several occasions as they dealt with complicated family ties and how worry never leaves you as a mom.
The romance is the kind of love that breathes a sigh of sweet relief. Its the kind of love that lets you know someone's got your back. The meet cute was adorable, and every moment after felt easy with the best organic chemistry. This love was imperfect, messy, realistic and needed time to grow and to heal. I loved so many sweet moments that were only amplified by the coastal setting.
I still haven't stopped thinking about this book, and I don't anticipate being over it any time soon. No notes.
This is my book recommendation of the summer!
March 8, 2026
Queen Annabel Monaghan strikes again with another five star beach read. Nobody writes charming, fictional coastal towns like she does. She always manages to capture the feeling of summer and community so perfectly that you can practically feel the ocean air while reading.
One of my favorite parts of this book was Dolly’s relationship with her son. There were so many sweet mother and son moments that really touched me. I found myself hoping I have that same kind of relationship with my boys as they grow up.
Dolly is the kind of character I immediately connected with. She quite literally does it all, which felt relatable as a mom. Her fierce independence and dry sense of humor made her impossible not to love . Over the course of the story, she learns to not only accept help but to ask for it which felt like the perfect wrap on Dolly's emotional arc.
And then there’s Stewart. What a guy. Watching him slowly come out of his shell was such a delight. He definitely had some things to work through and there were moments where I wanted to shake him and say “open your eyes,” but the journey of getting him there made it all the more satisfying.
If you love small town summer vibes, layered characters and a romance that sneaks up on you, add this one to your beach bag!
One of my favorite parts of this book was Dolly’s relationship with her son. There were so many sweet mother and son moments that really touched me. I found myself hoping I have that same kind of relationship with my boys as they grow up.
Dolly is the kind of character I immediately connected with. She quite literally does it all, which felt relatable as a mom. Her fierce independence and dry sense of humor made her impossible not to love . Over the course of the story, she learns to not only accept help but to ask for it which felt like the perfect wrap on Dolly's emotional arc.
And then there’s Stewart. What a guy. Watching him slowly come out of his shell was such a delight. He definitely had some things to work through and there were moments where I wanted to shake him and say “open your eyes,” but the journey of getting him there made it all the more satisfying.
If you love small town summer vibes, layered characters and a romance that sneaks up on you, add this one to your beach bag!
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved the "Pretty Woman" with shades of "Sabrina" characters. It was refreshing to read a romance featuring an older character and while I’m not usually a fan of the billionaire romance trope, this one wasn’t too bad. Stewart was a wonderful character, and I really felt for him trying to live up to his family's expectations. Dolly has been carrying the weight of her family since she was a young woman. It was wonderful to see her put want she wanted first for a change.
Dolly Brick is a single mom and a kindergarten teacher in Boston. She is also the caretaker for her father and disabled brother in Whitfield, RI. That doesn't leave much Dolly time, if you know what I mean. A minor fire leads to a major expense, and Dolly has no idea how her family is going to cover the cost of a new roof.
When a chance meeting with the very wealthy Stewart Whitfield leads to a proposal that could solve her money woes, she is intrigued, but more intrigued that the handsome, rich Stewart would need a fake girlfriend to begin with. With the roof literally falling in on her family, Dolly takes the deal, which turns out to be a lot more than she bargained for.
My thanks to the Publisher, and Author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
Dolly Brick is a single mom and a kindergarten teacher in Boston. She is also the caretaker for her father and disabled brother in Whitfield, RI. That doesn't leave much Dolly time, if you know what I mean. A minor fire leads to a major expense, and Dolly has no idea how her family is going to cover the cost of a new roof.
When a chance meeting with the very wealthy Stewart Whitfield leads to a proposal that could solve her money woes, she is intrigued, but more intrigued that the handsome, rich Stewart would need a fake girlfriend to begin with. With the roof literally falling in on her family, Dolly takes the deal, which turns out to be a lot more than she bargained for.
My thanks to the Publisher, and Author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
March 31, 2026
6 stars! ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(Spoiler~free~Arc review!)
[“𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦'𝘴 𝘵𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐'𝘮 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘋𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦.]
Thank you so much to Netgally for giving me access to this book early!! 🥹
We’re only three months into this year and I think I found my new favorite romance book this year.😩😭
ANNABEL MONAGHAN HAS DONE IT AGAIN!👏
HER WRITING and the characters she’s created are so beautiful in this book.
This book not only just was about love between two people and tension. But also friendships, relationships, self love, showing up for the people you love and that not only goes for your partner but for the people around you, your friends, your family, I could go on.
And I think that’s what makes this book so different to what I’ve read before.
Dolly really finds herself throughout this book, realizing what she needs isn’t too much to ask for, also trusting herself and letting herself just fall into what she’s feared for so long.
And this goes for the mmc, Stewart too! The character growth is just so loud for this book!!
And I love how we get both of their growths shown in this.
But I fear that she keeps raising my standards with the mmc’s she writes. 😅
STEWART WHITFIELD.
He is such a gentleman, with the way he kept checking in on Dolly and just showing up!
[“𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳."]
While we also connected emotionally with his character and his panic attacks. 🥲
This man was DOWN BADDD overall.
Dolly is a single mom and Stewart is litterally everything that Dolly’s ever wanted and everything she fears all at once. And I loved how we went through that fear with her of always expecting the worse.
And that’s when Stewart says this:
“𝘐’𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘥 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦.”]
Yup. That’s when I knew this was a six star read for me.
Plus the FAKE DATING trope WAS WRITTEN so well!
If a book can make me cry, laugh, swoon, and scream immediately 6 stars. 🌟
I found myself crying so much from 40% and forward 🥲
The way that the book was going at first had me HOOKED then once we were in the middle it got so MUCH BETTER. 👏
I immediately NEED her next book like rn.
She has such a way of writing and manages to make me feel so complete where I haven’t really felt with any other adult romances I read.
And the no spice in her books only add for the love I have for this!!!
Thank you, thank you for writing this masterpiece!
🌟Rating: 6/5
📚Age Rating: 15+
🔥Spice: 0/5 (closed-door)
🎧Playlist:
~Porch Light~Noah Kahan
~Season 2 Weightloss~Harry Styles
~Satellite~Harry Styles
~Coming Up Roses~Harry Styles
~Iris~The Goo Goo Dolls
~Still~Niall Horan
~Renegade~Big Red Machine, Taylor Swift
~cool about it~Boygenius
~We Can’t Be Friends~Ariana Grande
~Say Don’t Go~Taylor Swift
~Unsteady~Gracie Abrams
~this is me trying~Taylor Swift
~Savior Complex~Phoebe Bridgers
~I Remember Everything~Zach Bryan, Kacey Musgraves
~Spring Into Summer~Lizzy McApline
~Dinner With Friends~Kacey Musgraves
~LOVE LOOKS PRETTY ON YOU~Nessa Barrett
(MINOR SPOILERS) 🔽
💌Favorite Quotes:
~"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘳. 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘐 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥."
~ "𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘳𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘹𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐'𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦. 𝘐 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧, 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺." 𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘦𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵. "𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶."
"𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵?" 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨,
"𝘔𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦. 𝘔𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯."
~ "𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘹𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘵?…𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘬𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵?"
𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴, “𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐'𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥."
(Spoiler~free~Arc review!)
[“𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦'𝘴 𝘵𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐'𝘮 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘋𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦.]
Thank you so much to Netgally for giving me access to this book early!! 🥹
We’re only three months into this year and I think I found my new favorite romance book this year.😩😭
ANNABEL MONAGHAN HAS DONE IT AGAIN!👏
HER WRITING and the characters she’s created are so beautiful in this book.
This book not only just was about love between two people and tension. But also friendships, relationships, self love, showing up for the people you love and that not only goes for your partner but for the people around you, your friends, your family, I could go on.
And I think that’s what makes this book so different to what I’ve read before.
Dolly really finds herself throughout this book, realizing what she needs isn’t too much to ask for, also trusting herself and letting herself just fall into what she’s feared for so long.
And this goes for the mmc, Stewart too! The character growth is just so loud for this book!!
And I love how we get both of their growths shown in this.
But I fear that she keeps raising my standards with the mmc’s she writes. 😅
STEWART WHITFIELD.
He is such a gentleman, with the way he kept checking in on Dolly and just showing up!
[“𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳."]
While we also connected emotionally with his character and his panic attacks. 🥲
This man was DOWN BADDD overall.
Dolly is a single mom and Stewart is litterally everything that Dolly’s ever wanted and everything she fears all at once. And I loved how we went through that fear with her of always expecting the worse.
And that’s when Stewart says this:
“𝘐’𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘥 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦.”]
Yup. That’s when I knew this was a six star read for me.
Plus the FAKE DATING trope WAS WRITTEN so well!
If a book can make me cry, laugh, swoon, and scream immediately 6 stars. 🌟
I found myself crying so much from 40% and forward 🥲
The way that the book was going at first had me HOOKED then once we were in the middle it got so MUCH BETTER. 👏
I immediately NEED her next book like rn.
She has such a way of writing and manages to make me feel so complete where I haven’t really felt with any other adult romances I read.
And the no spice in her books only add for the love I have for this!!!
Thank you, thank you for writing this masterpiece!
🌟Rating: 6/5
📚Age Rating: 15+
🔥Spice: 0/5 (closed-door)
🎧Playlist:
~Porch Light~Noah Kahan
~Season 2 Weightloss~Harry Styles
~Satellite~Harry Styles
~Coming Up Roses~Harry Styles
~Iris~The Goo Goo Dolls
~Still~Niall Horan
~Renegade~Big Red Machine, Taylor Swift
~cool about it~Boygenius
~We Can’t Be Friends~Ariana Grande
~Say Don’t Go~Taylor Swift
~Unsteady~Gracie Abrams
~this is me trying~Taylor Swift
~Savior Complex~Phoebe Bridgers
~I Remember Everything~Zach Bryan, Kacey Musgraves
~Spring Into Summer~Lizzy McApline
~Dinner With Friends~Kacey Musgraves
~LOVE LOOKS PRETTY ON YOU~Nessa Barrett
(MINOR SPOILERS) 🔽
💌Favorite Quotes:
~"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘳. 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘐 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥."
~ "𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘳𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘹𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐'𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦. 𝘐 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧, 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺." 𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘦𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵. "𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶."
"𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵?" 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨,
"𝘔𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦. 𝘔𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯."
~ "𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘹𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘵?…𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘬𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵?"
𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴, “𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐'𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥."
May 30, 2026
I finally tried Annabel Monaghan and flew through this book in a few days! I loved the audiobook as it was narrated by Julia Whelan.
I really enjoyed Annabel’s writing style and her blend of humor and depth. I loved Dolly; she might be a new favorite FMC. I related to her so much as the oldest sibling. It was so refreshing reading a romance with an older main character.
I loved the strong focus on family and the relationships Dolly had with her dad, brother, and son. The side characters were equally as great; everyone needs a best friend like Naomi in their life!
I thought the romance was sweet. Stewart and Dolly had great opposites-attract chemistry, and their banter made me laugh. I’m not normally one to enjoy the fake dating trope or a wealthy MMC, but it worked for me!
There was some content I could have done without. Was it graphic or spicy? No. But there were more descriptors. You, as the reader, get a clearer sense of what’s happening. I would personally consider this fade-to-black with cracks. Not something I personally enjoy, and I thought the story didn't need it to be great.
I wanted just a bit more with the ending; it felt a little rushed, with some issues that got glossed over that I would have liked to see addressed.
I see why so many enjoy and recommend Annabel’s books, and now I want to check out and read her other books!
Content considerations:
❤️🔥 Fade-to-black (cracked door/more descriptive in CH 25; one other fade-to-black scene; between an unmarried couple), heavy kissing, some references to sex, some innuendo
🤐 Moderate language (Use of Lord & God’s name in vain, 4 F-words, and some S, H, D words around 20–30 total swears)
⛔️ Panic attack/anxiety, parental abandonment, pregnancy out of wedlock (past), family member with disabilities, family member with cancer (past)
I really enjoyed Annabel’s writing style and her blend of humor and depth. I loved Dolly; she might be a new favorite FMC. I related to her so much as the oldest sibling. It was so refreshing reading a romance with an older main character.
I loved the strong focus on family and the relationships Dolly had with her dad, brother, and son. The side characters were equally as great; everyone needs a best friend like Naomi in their life!
I thought the romance was sweet. Stewart and Dolly had great opposites-attract chemistry, and their banter made me laugh. I’m not normally one to enjoy the fake dating trope or a wealthy MMC, but it worked for me!
There was some content I could have done without. Was it graphic or spicy? No. But there were more descriptors. You, as the reader, get a clearer sense of what’s happening. I would personally consider this fade-to-black with cracks. Not something I personally enjoy, and I thought the story didn't need it to be great.
I wanted just a bit more with the ending; it felt a little rushed, with some issues that got glossed over that I would have liked to see addressed.
I see why so many enjoy and recommend Annabel’s books, and now I want to check out and read her other books!
Content considerations:
❤️🔥 Fade-to-black (cracked door/more descriptive in CH 25; one other fade-to-black scene; between an unmarried couple), heavy kissing, some references to sex, some innuendo
🤐 Moderate language (Use of Lord & God’s name in vain, 4 F-words, and some S, H, D words around 20–30 total swears)
⛔️ Panic attack/anxiety, parental abandonment, pregnancy out of wedlock (past), family member with disabilities, family member with cancer (past)
January 27, 2026
I’m delightfully snowed in given the 2026 snowmageddon, and so a cozy, beachy, romance seemed like a good idea.
I typically rate all romances as 2 or 3 stars because they are by nature not being read for much more than a distraction and most are deliberately without much depth. I picked this one up because I’ve enjoyed Annabel Monaghan’s books in the past. What I like about her writing is the exploration of psychodynamics and how early influences shape characters along with the premise that all families have challenges.
Dolly All the Time has undertones of Pretty Woman combined with financially struggling single mom vibes. Alas, the allure of a handsome, wealthy, local man is too much for this heroine to resist. (Sometimes this heroine doesn’t realize that the rich also have their own problems.)
The reader knows where this story is going and is happy to go along for the ride.
I am giving this an unusual for me 4-stars, even though it’s a romance because I think it stands out for this genre.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I typically rate all romances as 2 or 3 stars because they are by nature not being read for much more than a distraction and most are deliberately without much depth. I picked this one up because I’ve enjoyed Annabel Monaghan’s books in the past. What I like about her writing is the exploration of psychodynamics and how early influences shape characters along with the premise that all families have challenges.
Dolly All the Time has undertones of Pretty Woman combined with financially struggling single mom vibes. Alas, the allure of a handsome, wealthy, local man is too much for this heroine to resist. (Sometimes this heroine doesn’t realize that the rich also have their own problems.)
The reader knows where this story is going and is happy to go along for the ride.
I am giving this an unusual for me 4-stars, even though it’s a romance because I think it stands out for this genre.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 26, 2026
huge thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts are my own
there is nothing i love more than fake dating (okay i'm lying i love a lot of things more than fake dating) and rich characters (double lying i think i like shopping more than rich characters but someone rich can take me shopping). and when it's fake dating, small town, rich characters, and summer vibes all wrapped up into the most adorable realistic romance, yes sign me up, heres the thing, this book was so summery romance coded it honestly shoved aside the fact that it had a third act breakup. and i cannot stand third act breakups. in fact, i loathe them. curse all the third act breakups. but i do feel as if the book almost needed it for the characters to realistically work through their issues. they both needed to set aside their problems (stewart with his own and dolly too) to come forward and have a realistic relationship that wasn't just fake (not really) dating.
all in all, genuinely such a good book!
there is nothing i love more than fake dating (okay i'm lying i love a lot of things more than fake dating) and rich characters (double lying i think i like shopping more than rich characters but someone rich can take me shopping). and when it's fake dating, small town, rich characters, and summer vibes all wrapped up into the most adorable realistic romance, yes sign me up, heres the thing, this book was so summery romance coded it honestly shoved aside the fact that it had a third act breakup. and i cannot stand third act breakups. in fact, i loathe them. curse all the third act breakups. but i do feel as if the book almost needed it for the characters to realistically work through their issues. they both needed to set aside their problems (stewart with his own and dolly too) to come forward and have a realistic relationship that wasn't just fake (not really) dating.
all in all, genuinely such a good book!
May 26, 2026
Every summer I look forward to a new Annabel Monaghan book because I know her story will sweep me off my feet! That’s no different with Dolly All the Time and I absolutely adored this book. Monaghan is an exceptional writer as her stories always feel deeply relatable and emotionally honest, no matter the season. In this one, Dolly returns home to help her father after a fire and ends up not only navigating the stress of family, but the possibility of love too.
This was a fabulous read, and I highly recommend it be added to your summer TBR!
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was a fabulous read, and I highly recommend it be added to your summer TBR!
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
April 9, 2026
RTC 🩷!!!!! ALL the infinite stars ⭐️!!!!!
Read
May 23, 2026For all the rom com loving, high stakes fake dating loving, small town romance loving, Annabel Monaghan loving romance readers. Perfection. No notes.
I just love Annabel Monaghan’s books. They typically feature thirty-something women who have lived a little (and often taken some knocks in life) and that just makes you root for them ever harder.
Dolly is the glue that holds her family together. After her brother Christopher’s childhood car accident, Dolly’s mother left the family. Then her younger sister, Patsy, also distanced herself. So it’s just Dolly, her thirteen year-old son Gus, her dad, and Christopher, who has schizophrenia as a result of his accident. Her father owns a local fish shop in a charming town where Dolly and Gus also spend the summer, but money is tight and Dolly has to be resourceful.
One day Dolly helps Stewart, the son of the richest family in town, change a flat tire. Charmed by her calm resourcefulness, he offers her the money she needs to fix her roof if she’ll pretend to be his girlfriend.
This set-up sounds rom com wacky, but Monaghan makes it work. Under his rich guy veneer, Stewart is an anxious mess, certain he will be the one who plunges his family into financial ruin. With him, Dolly experiences how having enough money helps smooth the rough edges of life. The book also makes the point that hardship can strike anyone, rich or poor.
What I loved was that the book felt like fake dating with high stakes. As Dolly starts to fall for Stewart, so does her family. At the same time, his family sees what a grounding influence she has on him.
In the hands of another writer, this would be a lust and spice story, but it’s a testament to Monaghan’s skill as a writer that she 100% convinces us that these two actually need each other.
The book itself references Pretty Woman, but Dolly All The Time reminded me even more of Jerry Maguire. Stewart is not slick like Jerry, but Dolly and Gus reminded me of Dorothy and Ray, her adorable son.
My Master Post on New Summer Romance Books for 2026 has all the top summer romance books you need to know about. Be sure to check it out and then Download my Summer Romance Reading Guide
I also have two summer quizzes for you to take, my Find Your Perfect Summer Trope Quiz and my Choose Your Summer Romance Adventure Quiz. Take them both and get book recommendations based on your answers!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
I just love Annabel Monaghan’s books. They typically feature thirty-something women who have lived a little (and often taken some knocks in life) and that just makes you root for them ever harder.
Dolly is the glue that holds her family together. After her brother Christopher’s childhood car accident, Dolly’s mother left the family. Then her younger sister, Patsy, also distanced herself. So it’s just Dolly, her thirteen year-old son Gus, her dad, and Christopher, who has schizophrenia as a result of his accident. Her father owns a local fish shop in a charming town where Dolly and Gus also spend the summer, but money is tight and Dolly has to be resourceful.
One day Dolly helps Stewart, the son of the richest family in town, change a flat tire. Charmed by her calm resourcefulness, he offers her the money she needs to fix her roof if she’ll pretend to be his girlfriend.
This set-up sounds rom com wacky, but Monaghan makes it work. Under his rich guy veneer, Stewart is an anxious mess, certain he will be the one who plunges his family into financial ruin. With him, Dolly experiences how having enough money helps smooth the rough edges of life. The book also makes the point that hardship can strike anyone, rich or poor.
What I loved was that the book felt like fake dating with high stakes. As Dolly starts to fall for Stewart, so does her family. At the same time, his family sees what a grounding influence she has on him.
In the hands of another writer, this would be a lust and spice story, but it’s a testament to Monaghan’s skill as a writer that she 100% convinces us that these two actually need each other.
The book itself references Pretty Woman, but Dolly All The Time reminded me even more of Jerry Maguire. Stewart is not slick like Jerry, but Dolly and Gus reminded me of Dorothy and Ray, her adorable son.
My Master Post on New Summer Romance Books for 2026 has all the top summer romance books you need to know about. Be sure to check it out and then Download my Summer Romance Reading Guide
I also have two summer quizzes for you to take, my Find Your Perfect Summer Trope Quiz and my Choose Your Summer Romance Adventure Quiz. Take them both and get book recommendations based on your answers!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
November 10, 2025
I was absolutely thrilled for the lightning fast approval of this ARC request. Annabel Monaghan has been flirting with the top spot on my favorite author list, and her latest has secured her spot on the podium.
I devoured this tale of an eldest daughter single mom who puts everyone else above herself. The unlikelihood of her fake dating scenario took me back to Nora Goes Off Script (the Book I Will Not Shut Up About TM). Monaghan writes about motherhood, families, and relationships with such insight and candor. I loved Dolly from the jump, and I fell more in love with her as the story went on.
This book is a love story. It's a really good, lovely adorable swoony love story. But it's also SO MUCH MORE. It's about being vulnerable. Finding yourself. Asking for what you want. Accepting help. ASKING for help. Acknowledging that you don't have to be a product of your circumstances and it is NEVER too late in life to "find out who you are, and do it on purpose" (Dolly Parton by way of Mandy Moore in A Walk to Remember).
I read this in a day and a half and I WEPT through the last 20%. This book is perfect. Pre-order it now and thank me later.
Thank you @netgalley and @putnam for the ARC!
I devoured this tale of an eldest daughter single mom who puts everyone else above herself. The unlikelihood of her fake dating scenario took me back to Nora Goes Off Script (the Book I Will Not Shut Up About TM). Monaghan writes about motherhood, families, and relationships with such insight and candor. I loved Dolly from the jump, and I fell more in love with her as the story went on.
This book is a love story. It's a really good, lovely adorable swoony love story. But it's also SO MUCH MORE. It's about being vulnerable. Finding yourself. Asking for what you want. Accepting help. ASKING for help. Acknowledging that you don't have to be a product of your circumstances and it is NEVER too late in life to "find out who you are, and do it on purpose" (Dolly Parton by way of Mandy Moore in A Walk to Remember).
I read this in a day and a half and I WEPT through the last 20%. This book is perfect. Pre-order it now and thank me later.
Thank you @netgalley and @putnam for the ARC!
December 11, 2025
ೃ⁀➷ 4.5⭐️
This review’s in English cause this book has been offered to me by @netgalleyuk and Aria & Aries 🤍
I’ll definitely buy this book as soon as it gets out so I can have a physical copy to reread 🤍
Annabel Monaghan did it again.
I laughed and laughed and laughed and kicked my feet and spread my toes alllll the way to the end. I cried a little too cause I’m sensitive and this ending was chef’s kiss
The way Stewart learns how to be a better fake boyfriend for Dolly, the way he tries to take care of her when he never did for someone else. The way he compliments her 😩😩 how he falls for her 😩😩😩 it’s so well written that we see everything happening in front of our eyes it’s perfect.
I, however, was a bit disappointed about the whole third act breakup. Stewart really broke something in my heart too and I was really mad at him for the longest time bc it took him so long to reach back again. That being said, I forgave him 😌
That’s a perfect summer book and I can’t wait to see y’all opinions on it
I would never get bored reading Annabel’s book and she found in me a fan for her books. Will collect them all and reread them all cause each and every one of them is like FALLING IN LOVE!
This review’s in English cause this book has been offered to me by @netgalleyuk and Aria & Aries 🤍
I’ll definitely buy this book as soon as it gets out so I can have a physical copy to reread 🤍
Annabel Monaghan did it again.
I laughed and laughed and laughed and kicked my feet and spread my toes alllll the way to the end. I cried a little too cause I’m sensitive and this ending was chef’s kiss
The way Stewart learns how to be a better fake boyfriend for Dolly, the way he tries to take care of her when he never did for someone else. The way he compliments her 😩😩 how he falls for her 😩😩😩 it’s so well written that we see everything happening in front of our eyes it’s perfect.
I, however, was a bit disappointed about the whole third act breakup. Stewart really broke something in my heart too and I was really mad at him for the longest time bc it took him so long to reach back again. That being said, I forgave him 😌
That’s a perfect summer book and I can’t wait to see y’all opinions on it
I would never get bored reading Annabel’s book and she found in me a fan for her books. Will collect them all and reread them all cause each and every one of them is like FALLING IN LOVE!
March 8, 2026
LOVED!!!!! I love anything Annabel writes I swear! But this one was amazing! I loved the setting of Whitfield and the summery vibes this book had! But also i absolutely love how Annabel’s books always seem to make me cry and laugh and truly just leave me like giddy 😭 5/5⭐️
Thank you Netgalley for the arc!!
Thank you Netgalley for the arc!!
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