Dolly All the Time is a heartfelt, humorous, and page-turning romance, beach bag approved.
Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan
Genre/Categories/Setting: Contemporary Women’s Fiction, Romance (Fake Dating), Family Drama, Maine
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My Summary:
Thanks #NetGalley @PutnamBooks for a complimentary eARC of #DollyAllTheTime upon my request. All opinions are my own.
In Dolly All the Time, Dolly and her teenage son move back to her family home for the summer to make repairs to the home and help her dad in the family fish business. One day, she helps a handsome stranded motorist change a flat tire. He turns out to be rich and well known in the community, and rumors spread that Dolly is his new girlfriend. He makes a deal with her that if she agrees to be his fake girlfriend, he will pay for a new roof for the family home. Will fake dating lead to more?
My Thoughts:
Fake Dating with Pretty Woman Vibes
Romance tropes are enjoyable and predictable. On one hand, the predictability can lead to a relaxing escapist read. On the other hand, a predictable story can be forgettable or meh if written by a mediocre author. Annabel Monaghan to the rescue! Readers are likely to be treated to memorable and page-turning stories with substantial content.
One seaside village plus one handsome billionaire bachelor plus one hard-working single mother plus a Pretty Woman vibe plus an assortment of fun dates (shopping, boating, dining, parties) equals one engaging story. I enjoy a fake dating trope because it lends itself to witty banter where the main characters interact outside of their comfort zones. We can predict how it will end up, and the fun is in getting there. Monaghan executes it well.
Romance with Substantial Themes
I’m a Monaghan completist, and she’s an auto-buy author for me, and I can count on her for solid stories with substantial themes. In this story, Dolly is home for the summer to help her father at the house and in the business. We are treated to a variety of thoughtful themes, including father/daughter, siblings, mother/son, friendship, taking a chance on love, determination, and resourcefulness.
Likable Character
Dolly is likable, relatable, and interesting in many ways. Stewart, her romantic interest, is less fully developed and is my least favorite of Monaghan’s male main characters. He’s not unlikable; he’s kind and good with her son but is too flat. Dolly is more memorable; she is an amazingly capable and multi-talented woman and mother. She’s a Kindergarten teacher changes a tire, accomplishes many home repairs, saves parking fees by riding her bike, takes responsibility and initiative at the fish house (owned by her father), lovingly supports her father, cares for her brother who needs special attention, is always aware of her thirteen-year-old son’s needs, finds time to work a side hustle (call assistant for a sports company), is a good friend, and bakes. You’ll love her!
Recommending Dolly All the Time:
Fans of the author and thoughtful women’s fiction will want to add this fun new release to their TBRs. It’s perfect for your beach or pool bag this summer!
Related: You might enjoy Nora Goes Off Script, Same Time Next Summer, Summer Romance, or It’s a Love Story by the same author.
My Rating: 4 Stars
Meet the Author of Dolly All the Time, Annabel Monaghan
Annabel Monaghan is the New York Times bestselling and Library Reads Hall of Fame author of It’s A Love Story, Summer Romance, Same Time Next Summer, and Nora Goes Off Script, as well as Does This Volvo Make My Butt Look Big?, a selection of laugh-out-loud essays. She lives in Florida and Connecticut with her family.
QOTD:
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