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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, Paperback
First published May 26, 2026
About the author
Annabel Monaghan
11 books12.4k 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 13,018 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”
June 16, 2026
5 not perfect but I loved it ⭐️s
Finally, a book synopsis that tells you exactly what you need to know without giving too much away. I'm not going to rehash it here since this is one of those rare books that's safe to go into without spoilers, which is often not the case.
Annabel Monaghan is my favorite romance author, and every summer I look forward to her new release. Dolly All the Time didn't disappoint. I devoured this book and got absolutely nothing accomplished on Saturday because all I wanted to do was read. It's been a while since I've felt that way. Her characters have realistic flaws and are written in such a mature, relatable way that you can't help but want the best for them.
I loved Dolly and could relate to her need to be the strong one for everyone else and keep everything together. Stewart, despite his awkwardness and flaws, was a wonderful MMC in my opinion. I don't care about grand gestures. For me, it was all in the details. The everyday, small acts of thoughtfulness were the moments I found truly swoon worthy.
I'm also a sucker for side characters, and this book delivered on that front as well. I adored Dolly's family and Stewart's sister, Busy, but my favorite was Dolly's best friend, Naomi. She reminded me so much of my own closest friends, those ride or die people who would do anything for you but also aren't afraid to call you out when you need it. Everyone deserves a friend like Naomi.
I laughed, I shed a few tears, and I was completely swept up in this story. There was one thing that happened toward the end that I'm typically not a fan of, so the fact that this still earned all the stars from me says a lot. Highly recommend.
Now available! My thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons via NetGalley for my digital ARC.
Finally, a book synopsis that tells you exactly what you need to know without giving too much away. I'm not going to rehash it here since this is one of those rare books that's safe to go into without spoilers, which is often not the case.
Annabel Monaghan is my favorite romance author, and every summer I look forward to her new release. Dolly All the Time didn't disappoint. I devoured this book and got absolutely nothing accomplished on Saturday because all I wanted to do was read. It's been a while since I've felt that way. Her characters have realistic flaws and are written in such a mature, relatable way that you can't help but want the best for them.
I loved Dolly and could relate to her need to be the strong one for everyone else and keep everything together. Stewart, despite his awkwardness and flaws, was a wonderful MMC in my opinion. I don't care about grand gestures. For me, it was all in the details. The everyday, small acts of thoughtfulness were the moments I found truly swoon worthy.
I'm also a sucker for side characters, and this book delivered on that front as well. I adored Dolly's family and Stewart's sister, Busy, but my favorite was Dolly's best friend, Naomi. She reminded me so much of my own closest friends, those ride or die people who would do anything for you but also aren't afraid to call you out when you need it. Everyone deserves a friend like Naomi.
I laughed, I shed a few tears, and I was completely swept up in this story. There was one thing that happened toward the end that I'm typically not a fan of, so the fact that this still earned all the stars from me says a lot. Highly recommend.
Now available! My thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons via NetGalley for my digital ARC.
May 19, 2026
i am a little bit torn on this one - the summer atmosphere was absolutely wonderful, and i always adore annabel monaghan, but something was missing with this.
one of my favourite movies ever is pretty woman, which i know a lot of people have related this book to, and as someone who adores fake dating plot lines, this definitely hit the mark. i really liked the son character in this (dolly is a single mother), and i felt he added a lot to the story and i really liked his personality. the romance in and of itself was sweet - stewart was a sweetie pie at heart and i do feel like they worked well together. however, the last 20-30% of this book rubbed me the wrong way in terms of his actions. it made sense to the story, so i wasn’t necessarily surprised, but i was annoyed. these characters are also meant to be approx. 40 years old, and i feel like (stewart especially) did not act this way.
overall - this is a really sweet, summery romance, with the typical annabel monaghan writing that you can fly through. i would recommend, but it’s sadly not my favourite from her!
one of my favourite movies ever is pretty woman, which i know a lot of people have related this book to, and as someone who adores fake dating plot lines, this definitely hit the mark. i really liked the son character in this (dolly is a single mother), and i felt he added a lot to the story and i really liked his personality. the romance in and of itself was sweet - stewart was a sweetie pie at heart and i do feel like they worked well together. however, the last 20-30% of this book rubbed me the wrong way in terms of his actions. it made sense to the story, so i wasn’t necessarily surprised, but i was annoyed. these characters are also meant to be approx. 40 years old, and i feel like (stewart especially) did not act this way.
overall - this is a really sweet, summery romance, with the typical annabel monaghan writing that you can fly through. i would recommend, but it’s sadly not my favourite from her!
July 16, 2026
Another auto-approved author I've fallen in love with! Ever since I devoured Nora Goes Off Script, I've been hooked on Annabel Monaghan's stories and her strong, inspirational leading female characters. Can I tell you a secret? I wish all of Annabel's characters were real people, especially Dolly—she'd absolutely be my all-time best friend.
Dolly is an incredible human being who always puts others first. She's capable of so many things: fixing homes, changing tires, baking amazing sweets, working honestly and diligently at the fish house, riding her bike everywhere to skip parking fees—she's even a perfect delivery person! She takes care of all her boys: not only her 13-year-old son Gus, but also her widowed father and her brother Christopher, who needs special care after a car accident he had with their mother (who abandoned them to start another family—yes, you can easily hate her). Dolly shoulders all the responsibility to make everyone happy while working as a kindergarten teacher, part-time Uber driver, and call assistant for a sports company in Boston. When she hears there's been a small fire in her childhood home in Rhode Island where her brother and father live, she decides to spend the summer with them, bringing along Gus, who's also having a hard time with friends at school.
Her return, plus a parent-guide version of the Pretty Woman trope, changes everything when she runs into Stewart Whitfield—the eldest son of the town's wealthy and powerful Whitfield family that everyone loves to gossip about. Stewart is reeling from discovering his fiancée's cheating through the tabloids, and on top of that, he doesn't even know how to change a flat tire! (At least he can drive a stick—one point to Stewart, zero to silver fox Edward from Pretty Woman!) Thankfully, Dolly is in the right place at the right time to help him out. But when another tabloid publishes that Dolly might be Stewart's new love interest, things take a turn, and he makes her an offer she can't refuse. Don't worry—this selfless woman only wants the money to fix her family house's roof! In exchange, she becomes his pretend girlfriend. Yes, the fake dating trope enters the picture!
As these two people from completely different worlds spend more time together, they realize how much they have in common—like being an Atlas carrying the entire weight of their families, putting everyone else's needs first and losing themselves under the burden until their shoulders protest. They discover they can be open and vulnerable with each other, breaking down their walls, which leads them both on a journey of self-discovery. But when things get complicated, who will they choose—their loved ones' happiness or their own? Can they find space for their own happiness? Or are they too afraid to try?
Overall: I think I could start a fan club for Dolly as the best fictional character everyone wants in their life! She might be my favorite Monaghan character! Unfortunately, I can't say the same for Stewart, starting with his name. I didn't find any Gere-level charm in him (I'm comparing because of the Pretty Woman vibes the book advertises, but aside from some negotiations about money, I didn't find much similarity). I found him a bit flat, even boring at times, though he did earn some points with his interactions with Gus and his vulnerable moments. But he disappointed me, and I'm not as easily forgiving as Dolly! (My ascendant is in Scorpio and my ruling planet Mars is in Aquarius, so you can imagine the ice queen energy.) That's why I didn't give this book five stars, even though I absolutely loved Dolly's storyline, her character's growth, and her self-discovery journey as she learns what she needs, how to put herself first, and how to ask for help. Stewart just fell a little flat for me.
This is still an amazing read I wholeheartedly recommend! The supporting characters are wonderful—everyone needs a sidekick like Naomi, and I also adored Busy and Christopher, who are the most lovable siblings. Nora Goes Off Script is still my number one book by this author, but this one comes so close, and I have to admit—Dolly is even more lovable than Nora!
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for sharing this heartfelt romance's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Dolly is an incredible human being who always puts others first. She's capable of so many things: fixing homes, changing tires, baking amazing sweets, working honestly and diligently at the fish house, riding her bike everywhere to skip parking fees—she's even a perfect delivery person! She takes care of all her boys: not only her 13-year-old son Gus, but also her widowed father and her brother Christopher, who needs special care after a car accident he had with their mother (who abandoned them to start another family—yes, you can easily hate her). Dolly shoulders all the responsibility to make everyone happy while working as a kindergarten teacher, part-time Uber driver, and call assistant for a sports company in Boston. When she hears there's been a small fire in her childhood home in Rhode Island where her brother and father live, she decides to spend the summer with them, bringing along Gus, who's also having a hard time with friends at school.
Her return, plus a parent-guide version of the Pretty Woman trope, changes everything when she runs into Stewart Whitfield—the eldest son of the town's wealthy and powerful Whitfield family that everyone loves to gossip about. Stewart is reeling from discovering his fiancée's cheating through the tabloids, and on top of that, he doesn't even know how to change a flat tire! (At least he can drive a stick—one point to Stewart, zero to silver fox Edward from Pretty Woman!) Thankfully, Dolly is in the right place at the right time to help him out. But when another tabloid publishes that Dolly might be Stewart's new love interest, things take a turn, and he makes her an offer she can't refuse. Don't worry—this selfless woman only wants the money to fix her family house's roof! In exchange, she becomes his pretend girlfriend. Yes, the fake dating trope enters the picture!
As these two people from completely different worlds spend more time together, they realize how much they have in common—like being an Atlas carrying the entire weight of their families, putting everyone else's needs first and losing themselves under the burden until their shoulders protest. They discover they can be open and vulnerable with each other, breaking down their walls, which leads them both on a journey of self-discovery. But when things get complicated, who will they choose—their loved ones' happiness or their own? Can they find space for their own happiness? Or are they too afraid to try?
Overall: I think I could start a fan club for Dolly as the best fictional character everyone wants in their life! She might be my favorite Monaghan character! Unfortunately, I can't say the same for Stewart, starting with his name. I didn't find any Gere-level charm in him (I'm comparing because of the Pretty Woman vibes the book advertises, but aside from some negotiations about money, I didn't find much similarity). I found him a bit flat, even boring at times, though he did earn some points with his interactions with Gus and his vulnerable moments. But he disappointed me, and I'm not as easily forgiving as Dolly! (My ascendant is in Scorpio and my ruling planet Mars is in Aquarius, so you can imagine the ice queen energy.) That's why I didn't give this book five stars, even though I absolutely loved Dolly's storyline, her character's growth, and her self-discovery journey as she learns what she needs, how to put herself first, and how to ask for help. Stewart just fell a little flat for me.
This is still an amazing read I wholeheartedly recommend! The supporting characters are wonderful—everyone needs a sidekick like Naomi, and I also adored Busy and Christopher, who are the most lovable siblings. Nora Goes Off Script is still my number one book by this author, but this one comes so close, and I have to admit—Dolly is even more lovable than Nora!
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for sharing this heartfelt romance's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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July 18, 2026
I absolutely loved this story! So I must sing and shout to everyone reading this review. It’s not without its flaws- there were a few - but this just sang to my heart.
This was a whimsical, fun read - a pretty woman 2.0.
Dolly is 39, returns to her small town in Rhode Island with her 13 year old son, to help her dad run his fish business. When she runs into the Stewart Whitfield of the town, she changes his flat tire for him and they devise a plan. She negotiates a price, and for the summer, she becomes his 'gal'. But of course things get complicated as real feelings begin to develop.
You’ll have to read this one to find out what happens. But, Dolly is an independent woman who is a mother, handyman, seamstress and baker. I would date her if I could!! And she has a brother, Christopher, who reminded me so much of my own brother.
This is a 5⭐️ read for me but it’s definitely far from perfect. It is lighthearted and a most wonderful guilty pleasure! I think I may need to check out more Monaghan in the near future.
This was a whimsical, fun read - a pretty woman 2.0.
Dolly is 39, returns to her small town in Rhode Island with her 13 year old son, to help her dad run his fish business. When she runs into the Stewart Whitfield of the town, she changes his flat tire for him and they devise a plan. She negotiates a price, and for the summer, she becomes his 'gal'. But of course things get complicated as real feelings begin to develop.
You’ll have to read this one to find out what happens. But, Dolly is an independent woman who is a mother, handyman, seamstress and baker. I would date her if I could!! And she has a brother, Christopher, who reminded me so much of my own brother.
This is a 5⭐️ read for me but it’s definitely far from perfect. It is lighthearted and a most wonderful guilty pleasure! I think I may need to check out more Monaghan in the near future.
May 26, 2026
4.5 rounded to 5 for GR! this is by far my fave book of hers and one of my fave reads of 2026 so far!
so cute, laugh out loud funny, awesome on audio, mature characters, loved the side plots just as much as the romance… chefs kiss!!!!👏🏼❤️
fake dating tropes are always hit or miss for me but this one was done so well. what’s not to love about a normal gal fake dating one of the richest guys in town?! loved her glow up and all their adventures (the boat/yacht vibes… helllooooo!!!?!?!) throughout the cutest setting. and this fake dating was super believable too, i totally felt the tension and angst and their friendship first before the romance.
so much to love!!!! deff a perfect beach read this summer. and Julia Whalen does the audio, so ofc that’s the way to go!! made it so much funnier and enjoyable 🎧
thanks to Putnam for the gifted early copy!
so cute, laugh out loud funny, awesome on audio, mature characters, loved the side plots just as much as the romance… chefs kiss!!!!👏🏼❤️
fake dating tropes are always hit or miss for me but this one was done so well. what’s not to love about a normal gal fake dating one of the richest guys in town?! loved her glow up and all their adventures (the boat/yacht vibes… helllooooo!!!?!?!) throughout the cutest setting. and this fake dating was super believable too, i totally felt the tension and angst and their friendship first before the romance.
so much to love!!!! deff a perfect beach read this summer. and Julia Whalen does the audio, so ofc that’s the way to go!! made it so much funnier and enjoyable 🎧
thanks to Putnam for the gifted early copy!
June 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
June 30, 2026
4.5/5
This was such a fun read! Really love reading romance books with women in their 40s that also dive into themes of family & learning how to let love in. This one was an easy read that you’ll really love if you’re the type that always does everything on your own and you never ask for help. Seeing the mmc show up for the fmc really warmed my heart!
This was such a fun read! Really love reading romance books with women in their 40s that also dive into themes of family & learning how to let love in. This one was an easy read that you’ll really love if you’re the type that always does everything on your own and you never ask for help. Seeing the mmc show up for the fmc really warmed my heart!
July 17, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
The PERFECT summer beach book, Dolly All the Time, is a contract relationship reminiscent of the iconic romance movie Pretty Woman!
When the rich heir-to-be of one of the wealthiest families in her small seaside town, Stewart Whitfield, offers $60,000 to fake-date him for a couple of months, 39-year-old single mom Dolly’s life goes from juggling four jobs to yachting and attending galas in designer dresses!
Of course, as expected in any good romance novel, things have a hard time sticking strictly to business for long!
Dolly is this hyper-independent woman who puts her needs second to take care of everyone else. At 39 years old, she's BOTH mother and father to her teenage son, Gus. She's the handyman of her crumbling childhood home and a pseudo-parent to her younger siblings, having stepped in after their mother left them.
Dolly is so used to taking care of everything and being on her own that Stewart showing interest and making an effort is met with INTENSE skepticism. Because "Stewart Whitfield stays at the Four Seasons. In case you're not following, I'm the Comfort Inn. I'm there in a pinch, right where you expect me to be, by the side of the highway. I'll take you in and give you tea. But Stewart Whitefield doesn't stay at the Comfort Inn."
What was truly refreshing to read in this novel was the fact that even with the rich guy-poor girl trope in play, Dolly and Stewart had a slow burn and believable transition from strangers to lovers. Over the course of fulfilling their contractual obligations, both leads begin to reveal bits and pieces of themselves—the highs and lows, from him having panic attacks to why she's a single parent. And it felt believable!
Hell, there was more tension in a scene with her teaching him how to properly hold someone's hand than most romance novels' first kiss scene!
The third-act break-up was frustrating. And I wasn't the biggest fan of just HOW LONG they spent apart. But…most romance novels have a third-act breakup, so it's excusable.
Honorable mention to Dolly's sweet son Gus; when his mama thinks of herself as "less than" the far richer Stewart, he says this gem:
"Are you saying he's too good for you? Because I don't think you'd say anyone was too good for me."
Overall, Dolly All the Time was a breath of fresh air. What a healthy and beautiful love story! Dolly made for a strong FMC that you rooted for to finally find her happily ever after.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own!
The PERFECT summer beach book, Dolly All the Time, is a contract relationship reminiscent of the iconic romance movie Pretty Woman!
When the rich heir-to-be of one of the wealthiest families in her small seaside town, Stewart Whitfield, offers $60,000 to fake-date him for a couple of months, 39-year-old single mom Dolly’s life goes from juggling four jobs to yachting and attending galas in designer dresses!
Of course, as expected in any good romance novel, things have a hard time sticking strictly to business for long!
Dolly is this hyper-independent woman who puts her needs second to take care of everyone else. At 39 years old, she's BOTH mother and father to her teenage son, Gus. She's the handyman of her crumbling childhood home and a pseudo-parent to her younger siblings, having stepped in after their mother left them.
Dolly is so used to taking care of everything and being on her own that Stewart showing interest and making an effort is met with INTENSE skepticism. Because "Stewart Whitfield stays at the Four Seasons. In case you're not following, I'm the Comfort Inn. I'm there in a pinch, right where you expect me to be, by the side of the highway. I'll take you in and give you tea. But Stewart Whitefield doesn't stay at the Comfort Inn."
What was truly refreshing to read in this novel was the fact that even with the rich guy-poor girl trope in play, Dolly and Stewart had a slow burn and believable transition from strangers to lovers. Over the course of fulfilling their contractual obligations, both leads begin to reveal bits and pieces of themselves—the highs and lows, from him having panic attacks to why she's a single parent. And it felt believable!
Hell, there was more tension in a scene with her teaching him how to properly hold someone's hand than most romance novels' first kiss scene!
The third-act break-up was frustrating. And I wasn't the biggest fan of just HOW LONG they spent apart. But…most romance novels have a third-act breakup, so it's excusable.
Honorable mention to Dolly's sweet son Gus; when his mama thinks of herself as "less than" the far richer Stewart, he says this gem:
"Are you saying he's too good for you? Because I don't think you'd say anyone was too good for me."
Overall, Dolly All the Time was a breath of fresh air. What a healthy and beautiful love story! Dolly made for a strong FMC that you rooted for to finally find her happily ever after.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own!
May 31, 2026
Beautifully written, lovely story and fun and serious at the same time. My only reservations were how infuriating Stuart was in the end, Dolly is a better person than me I guess. But I liked everything else, even shedding some tears.
July 20, 2026
Wow!! I loved this book so much! Dolly may be one of my favorite FMCs EVER!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
July 18, 2026
Absolute cinema. The perfect summer romance. Five shining acorns!
July 19, 2026
4.5 LOVEEE
July 19, 2026
╰┈➤ 𝟹.𝟽𝟻 ✰ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ
RTC.
RTC.
March 5, 2026
Annabel’s books are always a joy to read! While I didn’t love it as much as Its a Love Story, I still really loved the plot development. There was quite a bit of drama towards the end, but I think the romance was really natural and well done (multiple open door, but not graphic and also short sex scenes).
July 18, 2026
This was the fast read that I needed.
I related to the main female character big time. She is the oldest daughter and every issue she had, I have. I really loved reading from her perspective.
Something interesting happened while I was reading this. I was reading and randomly started crying. Because I felt seen. I understood Dolly deeply and that made me cry. Which made me ask God what was wrong because it came out of nowhere. I thought I had healed from a lot of oldest daughter stuff but the hurt was still in my heart I guess. It was good. I needed it.
Another interesting thing was how often Dolly referenced prayer and God. She is in no way a Christian, but in a crisis, she prayed. She tried bargaining with God. I related to that too. I'm a Christian and think that I can bargain with God sometimes too. I loved how realistic this character was for that. She even said "God has a great sense of humor." Also "If I were to say a prayer right now, it would be a prayer of thanks for that extra time and this good hair day." Fascinating, right?
One of my favourite parts was how mature and communicative the characters were. They are 37 and it shows. Nothing about their behaviour towards each other was childish. They acted their age and I loved that. Finally realistic mature characters! Their issues were also realistic. Their conflict made sense to me. Their make up was real and sweet. I really liked that.
There's language. Not a lot but there are f-words, s-words, and others I can't remember.
There's a lot of talk about the word sex and attraction and lust.
They call sex "making love" a few times.
There is a cracked door scene in Chapter 25. It was subtle just enough for me to skim over it and move on. From then on the wording is very very vague about what they are doing.
One note I also want to make is that this author seems to write sex in a very positive, easy, natural way. I wish the awkwardness of it was talked about more. Even a reference to using protection. Without these things, I rolled my eyes a bit because I know that it's not usually that simple and clean.
I think this is a pretty good place to start with this author if you want to try her. I liked Summer Romance just a touch more, but the way I related to Dolly will stick with me for a while I think.
I related to the main female character big time. She is the oldest daughter and every issue she had, I have. I really loved reading from her perspective.
Something interesting happened while I was reading this. I was reading and randomly started crying. Because I felt seen. I understood Dolly deeply and that made me cry. Which made me ask God what was wrong because it came out of nowhere. I thought I had healed from a lot of oldest daughter stuff but the hurt was still in my heart I guess. It was good. I needed it.
Another interesting thing was how often Dolly referenced prayer and God. She is in no way a Christian, but in a crisis, she prayed. She tried bargaining with God. I related to that too. I'm a Christian and think that I can bargain with God sometimes too. I loved how realistic this character was for that. She even said "God has a great sense of humor." Also "If I were to say a prayer right now, it would be a prayer of thanks for that extra time and this good hair day." Fascinating, right?
One of my favourite parts was how mature and communicative the characters were. They are 37 and it shows. Nothing about their behaviour towards each other was childish. They acted their age and I loved that. Finally realistic mature characters! Their issues were also realistic. Their conflict made sense to me. Their make up was real and sweet. I really liked that.
There's language. Not a lot but there are f-words, s-words, and others I can't remember.
There's a lot of talk about the word sex and attraction and lust.
They call sex "making love" a few times.
There is a cracked door scene in Chapter 25. It was subtle just enough for me to skim over it and move on. From then on the wording is very very vague about what they are doing.
One note I also want to make is that this author seems to write sex in a very positive, easy, natural way. I wish the awkwardness of it was talked about more. Even a reference to using protection. Without these things, I rolled my eyes a bit because I know that it's not usually that simple and clean.
I think this is a pretty good place to start with this author if you want to try her. I liked Summer Romance just a touch more, but the way I related to Dolly will stick with me for a while I think.
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.
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!!
Read
June 1, 2026This is the Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club June 2026 selection and a 2026 Summer Reading Guide Minimalist Pick. The author will join us for a live discussion!
In this smart, sweet, and soulful tale, a big-hearted, deeply loyal woman named Dolly returns to her coastal hometown for the summer to help her struggling family. But their struggles go from bad to worse when a house fire damages their roof, and they need cash, fast. When Dolly crosses paths with Stewart Whitfield, handsome local “royalty” who has struggles of his own, an unconventional solution to both their problems presents itself: they’ll fake date for the summer and everybody will be happy. But then Dolly catches feelings. I loved the irrepressible Dolly, her rapport with her bestie, the slow-burning love story, the family fish business. This one goes down easy in the best sense.
In this smart, sweet, and soulful tale, a big-hearted, deeply loyal woman named Dolly returns to her coastal hometown for the summer to help her struggling family. But their struggles go from bad to worse when a house fire damages their roof, and they need cash, fast. When Dolly crosses paths with Stewart Whitfield, handsome local “royalty” who has struggles of his own, an unconventional solution to both their problems presents itself: they’ll fake date for the summer and everybody will be happy. But then Dolly catches feelings. I loved the irrepressible Dolly, her rapport with her bestie, the slow-burning love story, the family fish business. This one goes down easy in the best sense.
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.
July 13, 2026
2 ⭐ As a fan of Annabel Monaghan’s books, this one really surprised me and not in a good way. I went into it excited, but unfortunately it ended up being a disappointment for me.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ small town romance
✨ rich man x struggling financially woman
✨ Pretty Woman but it's PG
✨ fake dating
✨ single mother
✨ complicated family dynamics
✨ single POV
✨ closed door romance
✨ HEA
My Thoughts:
Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with this story on multiple levels. I didn’t feel the chemistry between Dolly and Stewart, which made it hard to stay invested in their relationship as the story went on.
I also struggled with the “pay-to-date” arrangement. Given the characters’ ages and circumstances - both are nearly 40 years old, set in a small Rhode Island town, and the female lead is a single mother - the trope felt out of place and difficult to believe within this context. Because of that, I never fully bought into what was happening between them, and it took me out of the emotional parts of the book. I kept wanting to feel more convinced by their connection, but it just didn’t get there for me.
The pacing also felt uneven at times, and I found myself putting the book down more than I usually do with her work. Granted I moved continents, but it still took me almost two months to finish. Instead of being pulled into the story, I had to push through to keep going, which is never a great sign for me personally with a romance.
Overall, this just wasn’t an enjoyable read for me. I appreciate what it was trying to do, but it didn’t land in the way I hoped it would. I’m glad it’s resonating with other readers, even though it didn’t work for me.
PS: I need to rant about that ending so ***SPOILER****
The end is when I truly started hating this book. When shit inevitably hits the fan with their fake dating scheme (and after all the trauma Dolly goes through with her ex), Stewart just walks away and doesn’t contact her. AT ALL. And his reasoning was utter bullshit. (Can you tell I'm angry? lol) And we only find out his reason because SHE goes to visit him to tell him off after 6 months of no contact. And then it takes him another 6 MONTHS to speak to her again and actually apologize. WTF??? Get that man out of here! I have zero respect for Stewart because what do you mean you love this woman but you completely cut her out of your life with little to no explanation??? I don't care what his excuse is, that is an unforgivable thing to do! You don't hurt people you love. Period. I also don't have respect for Dolly either for even taking him back and accepting that kind of treatment.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ small town romance
✨ rich man x struggling financially woman
✨ Pretty Woman but it's PG
✨ fake dating
✨ single mother
✨ complicated family dynamics
✨ single POV
✨ closed door romance
✨ HEA
My Thoughts:
Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with this story on multiple levels. I didn’t feel the chemistry between Dolly and Stewart, which made it hard to stay invested in their relationship as the story went on.
I also struggled with the “pay-to-date” arrangement. Given the characters’ ages and circumstances - both are nearly 40 years old, set in a small Rhode Island town, and the female lead is a single mother - the trope felt out of place and difficult to believe within this context. Because of that, I never fully bought into what was happening between them, and it took me out of the emotional parts of the book. I kept wanting to feel more convinced by their connection, but it just didn’t get there for me.
The pacing also felt uneven at times, and I found myself putting the book down more than I usually do with her work. Granted I moved continents, but it still took me almost two months to finish. Instead of being pulled into the story, I had to push through to keep going, which is never a great sign for me personally with a romance.
Overall, this just wasn’t an enjoyable read for me. I appreciate what it was trying to do, but it didn’t land in the way I hoped it would. I’m glad it’s resonating with other readers, even though it didn’t work for me.
PS: I need to rant about that ending so ***SPOILER****
The end is when I truly started hating this book. When shit inevitably hits the fan with their fake dating scheme (and after all the trauma Dolly goes through with her ex), Stewart just walks away and doesn’t contact her. AT ALL. And his reasoning was utter bullshit. (Can you tell I'm angry? lol) And we only find out his reason because SHE goes to visit him to tell him off after 6 months of no contact. And then it takes him another 6 MONTHS to speak to her again and actually apologize. WTF??? Get that man out of here! I have zero respect for Stewart because what do you mean you love this woman but you completely cut her out of your life with little to no explanation??? I don't care what his excuse is, that is an unforgivable thing to do! You don't hurt people you love. Period. I also don't have respect for Dolly either for even taking him back and accepting that kind of treatment.
July 16, 2026
LOVE LOVE LOVED THIS
June 1, 2026
Close enough, welcome back Pretty Woman
June 23, 2026
Dolly and her son, Gus, are heading to Whitfield, RI for the summer to help her father with home repairs and to check on her special needs brother, Christopher. While home she begins working at her father's fish market, a place she has come to love over the years and would be excited to expand even if her father is adamant that everything is fine just as it is.
Dolly makes a seafood delivery to the Whitfield mansion, a place of awe and wonder to those in the community. On her return she see's the very handsome Stewart Whitfield on the side of the road with a flat tire so she rolls up her sleeves to help him out.
Stewart sees an opportunity before him and decides to hire Dolly to be his girlfriend for the summer in hopes of snagging a CEO position in the family company. Dolly sees the chance to replace the roof of her family home with his generous offer of $50,000.00.
A win win for all until all that acting starts to turn into real genuine feelings. Sometimes hearts collide and then break and other time hearts collide and become whole which will it be for Dolly and Stewart? You'll have to read this to find out!
As always Annabelle Monaghan brings us a sweet, wholesome story that will surely make hearts go a flutter. Dolly and Stewart are both wonderful people but both have trauma they need to overcome.
The entire cast of characters are all special and add something in their own way. I was especially fond of Christopher.
My only complaint, and this is a "me" thing, is that this one was a little too sappy sweet for me which led to the occasional eye roll. A line from the book:
"Happy people are fun to watch until it's too much."
And that's kind of how I felt.
This will surely be another hit for Monaghan and it's well deserved. I can always count on her to write characters I enjoy spending time with and this was no exception. If you're a lover of this genre then toss this one in your beach bag and enjoy! 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for my complimentary copy.
Dolly makes a seafood delivery to the Whitfield mansion, a place of awe and wonder to those in the community. On her return she see's the very handsome Stewart Whitfield on the side of the road with a flat tire so she rolls up her sleeves to help him out.
Stewart sees an opportunity before him and decides to hire Dolly to be his girlfriend for the summer in hopes of snagging a CEO position in the family company. Dolly sees the chance to replace the roof of her family home with his generous offer of $50,000.00.
A win win for all until all that acting starts to turn into real genuine feelings. Sometimes hearts collide and then break and other time hearts collide and become whole which will it be for Dolly and Stewart? You'll have to read this to find out!
As always Annabelle Monaghan brings us a sweet, wholesome story that will surely make hearts go a flutter. Dolly and Stewart are both wonderful people but both have trauma they need to overcome.
The entire cast of characters are all special and add something in their own way. I was especially fond of Christopher.
My only complaint, and this is a "me" thing, is that this one was a little too sappy sweet for me which led to the occasional eye roll. A line from the book:
"Happy people are fun to watch until it's too much."
And that's kind of how I felt.
This will surely be another hit for Monaghan and it's well deserved. I can always count on her to write characters I enjoy spending time with and this was no exception. If you're a lover of this genre then toss this one in your beach bag and enjoy! 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for my complimentary copy.
June 28, 2026
magnificent
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!!
July 17, 2026
3.75 stars
Dolly is trying to manage all her jobs, being a single mother, a good daughter, and sister to her special needs sibling. When she helps Stewart, a regular wealthy/famous client of her father's restaurant, change his tire on the side of the road, little does she know that someone would get paparazzi photo of the two of them setting off dating rumors. But Stewart has a fake dating proposal, and one that would help Dolly and her family out very much.
First thing I have to get off my chest, having read this book back to back with Summer Romance, this author sure has a thing for endive salads and single mom characters with a middle schooler having trouble making friends. I kept thinking of that "if I had a nickel for every time this happened I'd have two nickels which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice." That off of my chest, I had fun listening to this book, loved the characters and the development. I thought the romance was a little bit too Cinderella vibes for my taste, but the author did it well. I can see why some readers were frustrated by Stewarts actions in the last 20-30% of the book but it made sense plot wise. These are two characters who are lost in their lives that need to overcome their personal issues on their own, separate from each other. It wouldn't have been a believable ending otherwise.
2026 Ripped Bodice Summer Bingo categories: Character smells like fresh cut grass, Single Parent
Dolly is trying to manage all her jobs, being a single mother, a good daughter, and sister to her special needs sibling. When she helps Stewart, a regular wealthy/famous client of her father's restaurant, change his tire on the side of the road, little does she know that someone would get paparazzi photo of the two of them setting off dating rumors. But Stewart has a fake dating proposal, and one that would help Dolly and her family out very much.
First thing I have to get off my chest, having read this book back to back with Summer Romance, this author sure has a thing for endive salads and single mom characters with a middle schooler having trouble making friends. I kept thinking of that "if I had a nickel for every time this happened I'd have two nickels which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice." That off of my chest, I had fun listening to this book, loved the characters and the development. I thought the romance was a little bit too Cinderella vibes for my taste, but the author did it well. I can see why some readers were frustrated by Stewarts actions in the last 20-30% of the book but it made sense plot wise. These are two characters who are lost in their lives that need to overcome their personal issues on their own, separate from each other. It wouldn't have been a believable ending otherwise.
2026 Ripped Bodice Summer Bingo categories: Character smells like fresh cut grass, Single Parent
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