Annabel Monaghan's delightful second novel for adults, Same Time Next Summer, dives into the second-chance romance trope to heartbreaking and ultimately heartwarming effect. Monaghan (Nora Goes Off Script) follows a pair of neighbors through their teenage romance, a disastrous breakup, and their chance to reconnect some years later.
Spending summers next door to each other on Long Island, Sam and Wyatt fall head over heels in love: surfing, swimming, hanging out in the treehouse in Wyatt's backyard. Their sweet, sun-soaked romance contrasts with Monaghan's present-day narrative, which sees Sam and Wyatt revisiting Long Island as adults. Sam, now engaged to a type-A city guy and reeling from a major work crisis, returns to her family's beach house for the first time in years. She's almost convinced herself she's over Wyatt, until she realizes he's (again) spending the summer next door. As Sam and Wyatt encounter--and avoid--each other, the truth of the last decade comes out in pieces, until they're forced to reckon with past mistakes and find out what their adult selves really want.
Monaghan's narrative shifts between past and present, with Sam and Wyatt sharing their perspectives in the "Then" and "Now" timelines. Sam's warm, chaotic family makes multiple appearances; her younger sister, Gracie, and their grandparents are especially appealing characters. Sam's inner journey adds complexity to the narrative: she's got some personal work to do before she can straighten out her romantic tangles. Mixing summer stardust with a dose of plain truth-telling, Same Time Next Summer is a delectable romantic treat. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams