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Dolly All the Time
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?
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?
366 pages, Hardcover
First published May 26, 2026
About the author
Annabel Monaghan
10 books11.4k 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 6,550 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”
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!
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.
June 17, 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!
June 15, 2026
So cute!! I loved this! ❤️
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!!! 🏖️📖
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
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
Read
June 19, 2026dare i say my favorite book of the year!?!? I’ll be spending the summer reading all of Annabel’s backlist!!
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!!
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).
June 17, 2026
✨ Rating: 5⭐️
🫧 Vibes: learning to putting yourself first
🎶 Song: carry you home - alex warren
📖 Favourite Quote: "I'd be honored if you'd raised your expectations for me."
📚 Would I recommend? YES
💬 tldr thoughts: my first book by this author and it wont be my last!
In the package:
📦 single mom x wealthy MMC
📦 fake dating
📦 characters in their 30s
Plot: Dolly is the problem solver in her family. She's a single mom to a teen boy and she just moved back to Whitfield, Rhode Island, with her son for the summer to keep her dad and brother from losing the family home. When she comes across Stewart Whitfield, heir of the Whitfield family, who's in need of help because of a flat tire, they are photographed together which stirs some rumours. Stewart proposes the fake date and he turns out to be the perfect gentleman Dolly can rely on.
Thoughts: I love a book with heart in it, and this was exactly that! Dolly was just such a great FMC and I was rooting for her until the end. She deserves all the great things after putting herself second her entire life. The progression of their relationship felt genuine, natural and mature. It wasn't surface level and you could genuinely feel their love through the pages. The third act breakup broke my heart, especially with the fact that he refused to reach out to Dolly, she deserved so much better than that. I was so happy when she confronted him about it.
Thank you BookSparks for the gifted finished copy!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
🫧 Vibes: learning to putting yourself first
🎶 Song: carry you home - alex warren
📖 Favourite Quote: "I'd be honored if you'd raised your expectations for me."
📚 Would I recommend? YES
💬 tldr thoughts: my first book by this author and it wont be my last!
In the package:
📦 single mom x wealthy MMC
📦 fake dating
📦 characters in their 30s
Plot: Dolly is the problem solver in her family. She's a single mom to a teen boy and she just moved back to Whitfield, Rhode Island, with her son for the summer to keep her dad and brother from losing the family home. When she comes across Stewart Whitfield, heir of the Whitfield family, who's in need of help because of a flat tire, they are photographed together which stirs some rumours. Stewart proposes the fake date and he turns out to be the perfect gentleman Dolly can rely on.
Thoughts: I love a book with heart in it, and this was exactly that! Dolly was just such a great FMC and I was rooting for her until the end. She deserves all the great things after putting herself second her entire life. The progression of their relationship felt genuine, natural and mature. It wasn't surface level and you could genuinely feel their love through the pages. The third act breakup broke my heart, especially with the fact that he refused to reach out to Dolly, she deserved so much better than that. I was so happy when she confronted him about it.
Thank you BookSparks for the gifted finished copy!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
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.
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!
June 1, 2026
Close enough, welcome back Pretty Woman
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
June 8, 2026
aaaand 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
June 10, 2026
this was such a cute, addictive romance and i absolutely flew through it. dolly was easy to root for, the chemistry was there and i was fully prepared to give this 5 stars. unfortunately, stewart kept making choices that had me wanting to throw a flipflop at his head. every time he redeemed himself, he’d turn around and do something that made me go “oh, brother.” i still loved the story and was rooting for them the whole time, but that man personally walked off with one of my stars.
thank you netgalley for the arc!
thank you netgalley for the arc!
June 16, 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 this time.
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 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 this time.
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 accepting that kind of treatment.
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!
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!
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.
June 4, 2026
Annabel does it again. I swear I am the biggest unabashed Annabel Monaghan fangirl. Her books hit the sweet spot for me every single time. I adored the characters and their very real problems, I adored the love story and the friendships and the familial love. And man this made me miss living in Rhode Island. Sheer perfection.
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.
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