From the celery-green sweetheart neckline dress to the white halter-neck gown, every detail in this book is pure magic. Come for the fashion, stay for the baking and of course the romance. It is clear in the beginning that Dolly does not like the Whitfield family. Her fake-dating arrangement with Stewart Whitfield has everything and more: a "makeover" scene, a contract of sorts, sailing adventures, and quirky family characters. I don't even like fish very much, but this book made me want to eat fish (and frolic through an herb garden). There are a lot of characters in this book, but Monaghan manages to make all of them meaningful and fun. I wish I could read this book again for the first time because it was really the best.

First of all, I want to thank Annabel Monaghan and Head of Zeus Publishing for my ARC. Annabel Monaghan has turned what seems to the typical fake dating trope into a story about setting boundaries, standing up for yourself and letting go of habits and structures that weigh you down. It also clearly shows once again that no one is ever too old for romance and that love comes at the most unexpected times.

Heartwarming, just as Annabel Monaghan does best. 💓
I’m happy to say this is exactly the kind of story she knows how to tell. Not only is Dolly a special character, but her whole family as well. And knowing the reference Annabel used to create Christopher truly touched my heart. This book feels like a love letter from the author.
I can’t wait to read her next book! 😌

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

ೃ⁀➷ 4.5⭐️

This review’s in English cause this books has been offered to me by @netgalleyuk

Annabel Monaghan did it again.
I laughed and laughed and laughed and kicked my feet and spread my toes alllll the way to the end. I cried a little too cause I’m sensitive and this ending was chef’s kiss

The way Stewart learns how to be a better fake boyfriend for Dolly, the way he tries to take care of her when he never did for someone else. The way he compliments her 😩😩 how he falls for her 😩😩😩 it’s so well written that we see everything happening in front of our eyes it’s perfect.

I, however, was a bit disappointed about the whole third act breakup. Stewart really broke something in my heart too and I was really mad at him for the longest time bc it took him so long to reach back again. That being said, I forgave him 😌

I would never get bored reading Annabel’s book and she found in me a fan for her books. Will collect them all and reread them all cause each and every one of them is like FALLING IN LOVE!

Dolly Brick is a hard-working single mother. She's a teacher, an Uber driver, and the telephone answer service for a sporting goods company. Called back to her hometown of Whitfield, Rhode Island to help her father after their family home was damaged by fire, Dolly is horrified to discover that their roof is unsafe and will cost thousands of dollars to repair - money that neither she nor her father have.

Then providence shines on her. After delivering a vast quantity of shrimp to the Whitfield estate (for cocktail hour), Dolly is cycling back home when she encounters Stewart Whitfield, handsome oldest son of the family that founded the town, beside a car with a flat tyre and no phone battery. Laughing at the uselessness of the wealthy who have no idea how to change a tyre, Dolly kindly helps him out.

Later it turns out that Stewart's girlfriend has been caught publicly cheating on him with a baseball player. A paparazzi photographer has snapped a picture of Dolly changing Stewart's tyre and the Whitfield publicist has spun it as him teaching his new girlfriend to change a tyre. Stewart desperately wants to be appointed head of the family business but his family are concerned that he's a workaholic and so he suggests that he and Dolly fake-date. It will stop all the bad publicity about not being able to keep a girlfriend and appease his family.

This is like a jam-up between Mystic Pizza and Pretty Woman (and probably lots more). Its very familiar, fake dating, small-town, rich guy/poor girl, billionaire and the single mom territory. Yachts, black-tie dinners, fancy apartments, money-no-object romance with cute kids, and home renovation.

I really enjoyed it and would have given it a higher rating if it wasn't for the fact that it felt just a little bit too familiar. Not sure if it was the storyline , or Stewart's character, but I just felt like I'd read something very similar before.

Nevertheless, great summer romance reading.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

An absolute return to form for one of my must-read authors! I adore the way she writes about family, mid-life women, and romances that are too sweet to be true (but you want them to be anyway). This book felt very reminiscent of her earlier work - so not exactly new or groundbreaking - but a familiar, warm hug that will make you laugh, cry, and have a bit more hope in humanity.

Annabel Monaghan had become one of my favourite authors from the last couple of years. There is something about her writing that just works perfectly for me. Her latest release, Dolly All the Time is another 5 star read.
It follows main character Dolly as she returns home to her hometown in Rhode Island to help her father run the family fish business and ends up in a fake dating relationship. This is the perfect summer read with a great summery setting and atmosphere. I really enjoyed the family dynamics and emotional depth to this story. There are plenty of recognisable tropes in here but Annabel Monaghan writes them with such charm and emotion that it still felt unique and original. Overall another great book from Annabel Monaghan that will definitely be a popular summer read this year. A heart-warming and entertaining romance with a lovely emotional depth.

This was the most gorgeous summer romance. Annabel Monaghan creates the most detailed, beautiful settings and such a beautiful atmosphere in every book, but this one is by far my favourite. Dolly's hard work and tough love made her the perfect character to root for, and watching her fall in love with Stewart was just a masterclass in character building and development. The subtle changes in season we see throughout the book and how it mimics her feelings? Gorgeous!

I loved that whilst we had a third act breakup, we got proper resolution and not a single half assed apology in sight. The grace and care with which Dolly's family as written really resonated. This is the perfect summer romance with that gorgeous emotional depth and I cannot wait to reread it!

Annabel Monaghan has done it again! I adored Dolly. Her character really resonated with me and I greatly enjoyed her growth and journey throughout this story. Romance and love story aside, it was Dolly coming into her own and chasing what she wanted and making it happen that resonated most deeply with me. Her relationships with her family and side characters were beautiful and nuanced.
The MMC’s character fell a little flat for me, except for those rare vulnerable moments or in his interactions with Gus, Dolly’s son. All I have to say is that Dolly was a lot more forgiving of him than I would have been, but I appreciate that for the story to go where it needed to go and for Dolly to make some changes and claim what she wanted, we needed that time.
Overall, it was a beautiful story that moved me and was thoroughly enjoyable to read and maybe bumped to the top of this author’s books for me!

Dolly all the time is a beautifully written romance story with a resilient female lead that’s finally getting her happy ending. She’s been everyone else’s rock since her mother left when she was 12 but this summer she’s finally doing something for herself.

Her son Gus will always come first but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on your other ambitions in life. That’s a beautiful thing and I adore Dolly. Her pretty woman esque deal with Steward is fun but he’s not the most memorable mmc and some of his actions didn’t vibe with me. By the end he redeemed himself but I could’ve done without the third act breakup.

This one’s gets a big yes from me, Dolly might be one of my new favorites fmcs.

Read this of you like
❤️Fake dating
🛥️Single mother
💫Character growth
💰Class/money difference

4.5 ⭐️

I love Annabel Monaghan and this book was super! I love the blend of romance with women’s fiction and how there’s so much depth to the characters. Her writing is beautiful- there were so many quotes I underlined. The premise of this book was so fun and it was executed perfectly! The fake dating trope in this was great and I loved this!

I absolutely loved this book—I was hooked from the very first page until the very end. The story pulled me in completely, and I found myself genuinely invested in both the characters and their journey together.

I discovered Annabel Monaghan last year, and so far I’ve loved everything I’ve read by her—and this book was no exception. I’m determined to make my way through the rest of her backlist this year, because I love her writing. I also find it refreshing to read about slightly older main characters—both around forty— since so many romance novels tend to focus on characters in their late twenties or early thirties.

The relationship between the Dolly and Stewart developed in this book in such a gentle and natural way. Their fake dating arrangement slowly turning into something real felt believable and emotionally rewarding. As someone who loves the fake dating trope, I especially enjoyed seeing how their connection deepened and how they worked to except and overcome the clear class difference between them.

The single mom element was handled beautifully, and I loved how her son played an important role in the story rather than feeling like a side detail. Watching him form his own meaningful bond with Stewart was wonderful to see.

Overall, this was a heartfelt, genuine and engaging romance that I’ll definitely be thinking about for a long time and one that i highly recommend.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Annabel Monaghan and Aria & Aries for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review.

Dolly All the Time is a warm, character driven romance about second chances, fake dating, and learning when it is finally safe to rely on someone else. It centres on Dolly Brick, a fiercely capable single mother who returns to her hometown of Whitfield, Rhode Island for the summer to help her family keep their home from falling apart.

Dolly has spent her life fixing problems and looking after everyone else, so when she meets Stewart Whitfield at the worst possible moment of his very public breakup, stepping in feels natural. Stewart, the oldest son of an ultra wealthy family, needs a respectable girlfriend to improve his standing at work and secure a promotion. Dolly needs money to repair her father’s house. What begins as a strictly practical arrangement quickly grows into something far more complicated.

There is a clear Pretty Woman energy to the setup, but the story quickly makes it its own. The fake dating premise unfolds slowly, shifting from formal dinners and public appearances into quieter, more intimate moments that allow real feelings to develop. The progression feels natural and emotionally grounded, driven by shared vulnerability rather than forced drama.

The character development is one of the book’s greatest strengths. Dolly is thoughtful, resilient, and deeply human, shaped by years of self reliance but still open to growth. Stewart is charming and appealing for much of the story, though I did find myself frustrated with him later on. While he does redeem himself, his choices, or lack of them, were disappointing, even if they were clearly part of his own emotional learning curve.

The supporting cast is excellent. From Dolly’s best friend Naomi to Stewart’s formidable mother Victoria, every character feels well rounded and purposeful. Dolly’s son Gus is a particular highlight. His love of baseball, hockey, and sailing adds warmth and joy to the story, and his presence grounds the romance in something meaningful and real.

This is a romance that values emotional growth as much as attraction. It is funny, comforting, and thoughtful, with no flat stereotypes and plenty of heart.

A charming, satisfying book about love, family, and letting yourself be chosen when you have always done the choosing.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Annabel Monaghan has fast become one of my favourite authors and Dolly All the Time may be my favourite of hers since Nora Goes Off Script.

I loved Dolly, her friends and family, and the setting was perfect (I would like to live in Dolly’s family home and sleep on the sleeping porch). I didn’t want it to end but couldn’t stop reading.

Also, I particularly appreciated an older main character - Dolly is 39. I’d love to see more older characters in romance novels.

Annabel Monaghan is just a warm summer breeze, every time. I dove right into Dolly's life in Whitfield and loved her fierceness and loyalty and her dedication to her family. I found every character had their own nuance and I really appreciated that. While it follows the standard fake dating premise, it is a tried and true formula and this felt beautiful to read. I think this is a 4-star rating for me because I struggled with some of Stewart's decisions, but overall this was gorgeous.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for my ARC copy of Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan!

I have read three of Annabel Monaghan's titles and this one by far is my favourite! This book is a heart-warming, funny and sweet romance between Dolly and Stewart that start out in the infamous fake-dating trope. Stewart really grew as a person and discovered his boundaries and what he values in his life and how he needs to change to get those things. The relationship he developed with not only Dolly but also her son and family was just so tender and wholesome and really brought out the best sides of his character.

Although the third act breakup was hard to watch and had me also SO sad for how he treated Dolly, I think he came back from it in good fashion.

Annabel's books are always great, quick, beach reads that have that extra punch!

This author is phenomenal, they definitely know how to write a bestseller!
This book from the minute you pick it up just captures you and makes you just love it!
The story was very easy to follow and mixed with good and bad times. It was just beautiful! Absolutely loved it!

Words can not describe how much I loved this book. Annabel Monaghan has captured the nature of falling in love perfectly. No notes. Every hesitation, every vulnerability, every heart racing moment was perfect. And the high of knowing your person feels the same way? Absolutely nailed it. Reading about Dolly and Stewart falling in love felt like first hand experience.

Dolly is a 39 year old single mother caring for her 13 year old son and heading to her hometown of Whitfield to help out her Dad and take care of her special needs brother. She is the fixer, everyone’s go-to and she likes being reliable for the people she loves. There’s almost nothing she can’t do, a DIY queen and maker of money from clever management. Her son isn’t missing out on lifeguarding camp.

Her dad’s house needs a new roof or it will be condemned - a new an extremely expensive problem for Dolly to solve. Whilst delivering crab cakes to the family the town is named after, Dolly encounters the eldest son and heir apparent to the Whitfield empire. He’s punctured a tyre, his phone is dead and rich people are useless at taking care of these problems themselves so Stewart Whitfield stops Dolly on her push bike and asks for her phone. She does him one better and changes his tyre. This is of course captured by the paparazzi and after an extremely embarrassing breakdown of his engagement Stewart needs to save face in the papers and with his family or they’ll never consider him for CEO. He finds Dolly and asks her to pretend to be his girlfriend. If Dolly wasn’t tempted by the extremely handsome man before her, she is tempted by the amount of money he is willing to offer her to do it because of that damn roof on her precious childhood home that needs replacing. So she enters a contractual agreement with a very respectable Stewart only to discover he’s actually a great person, albeit consumed by his work. But with Dolly’s help he begins to find himself again and he is begins to see the bigger picture, only he doesn’t want it with out Dolly in it…

Guys! Mature female and male main characters make for a mature read, realistic problems and none of the bullshit. They don’t have time for it (and neither do I lately). I felt like reading something real and I loved AM’s debut and I love this age group that she portrays so well. Her writing style is beautiful, sentimental. The attention to detail makes you experience the life of her characters as if you were there. Dolly is flawless and I wish I could be her friend and part of her village and help her. She’s incredible, humble and a glass half full woman. She’s your everyday superwoman. The side characters were perfect and memorable too. Honestly, I couldn’t fault this book. I was in tears for half of it and that almost never happens. Add it to your TBR!

I loved this book, it had me laughing and crying.

I enjoyed the way that she was the one teaching him how to do things like how to hold someone’s hand. I also like that she was such a strong capable female.

The relationship was so realistic with the problems that they had to overcome and they took action to fix them without love just fixing the problems.

Ever read a book and you just want to be best friends with the protagonist?

Well that was me reading Dolly All The Time. Dolly was a such a warm, hardworking, admirable character, and I was on her side from the start.

Her and Stewart’s love story gave me all the feels. The emotions in this one felt real and mature (they are in their 40’s!). No melodramatic yearning. Just all the small moments of falling in love. And the real ache of heartbreak.

Honestly, this is probably one of the books where the MMC properly broke my heart right alongside Dolly’s. Which leads me to my only criticism - I wasn’t entirely sure Stewart deserved her forgiveness 😂. At the very least, I think she gave over too easily. A little more hesitation would have helped me catch up to her.

But that’s a small critique in a pretty gorgeous romance.

I also thought the exploration of family was beautiful. I loved Dolly’s brother Christopher (who was left with a brain injury after a car crash as a child). Their sibling relationship was SO LOVINGLY portrayed. The author mentions in the acknowledgements Christopher was inspired by her own late brother and you can just feel the love for him distilled in the pages.

Thanks to Aria Fiction, Heads of Zeus and Netgalley for an arc copy in exchange for my honest review.

Anne Monaghans books have a special place in my heart. I read this in one sitting. The way she writes characters and family relationships stay with me for a long time. Fake dating to real love. Slow burn over a summer.

Sigh. What’s not to love about one of Annabel’s books. I swear they get better every time! Love the romance, the family relationships and the settings. Just beautifully written. Thanks Netgalley and the publisher.

Dolly and her son Gus move back to Whitfield, Rhode Island for the summer to help their family. When Dolly sees Stewart (from the wealthy Whitfield family - yes the town was named after his ancestors...) struggling with a flat tyre, she doesn’t think twice about helping him change it, she is a naturally giving person. They don’t realise however they are being photographed and when it ends up in the newspaper, Stewart proposes a deal to her - pretend to be his new love interest and he’ll give her whatever she needs or wants in return...

The Pros:
1) I LOVED Dolly as a character, she was warm, giving, full of energy and always looks after everyone
2) Some of the tropes are: *Different worlds *Fake dating
3) There is a ‘Pretty Woman’ style deal. Dolly gets new clothes, hair style etc (but this is not at Stewarts suggestion)
4) The character of Christopher (& the further details behind his persona - the author elaborates at the end of the book)

The Cons:
1) There was one thing I was disappointed in one of the characters for. Can’t say anymore as it’s a spoiler.
2) There are sad(ish) parts

The Quotes:
1) Christopher is the first to wake up. He stops on the stairs when he smells the banana bread and I watch the smile spread across his face. There is no quicker way to wrap someone in love by creaming sugar and butter and flour. “Chocolate chips?” he asks before sitting down. “Of course,” I say, serving him a still-warm slice right from the pan. “I’m not a monster.”

2) He’s looking down at me, and I am annoyed by his interrupting my micro-break, standing there being handsome and rich.

3) “You’re a lot less scary-looking when you smile.”
“That’s why I don’t smile,” he says.

The Summary:
Quite simply: I loved this story! I’ve read a couple of the author’s other books (and liked them) but this is my favourite by far. I was smiling the whole time I was reading it. I adored Dolly, she was such a fantastic character, she is a natural care taker and proactive - she gets on with everything. Dolly’s family were wonderfully warm as well, Gus and Christopher were such sweethearts. I was (and am always) a fan of a different worlds trope when it’s done right, the luxury, the role playing etc. I was shipping Dolly and Stewart as a couple for sure. I also loved the title of the book and the meaning behind it (see the last sentence of the story)...

Summed up in a sentence?:
Fake dating in different worlds - a la ‘Pretty Woman’

I rated the book 4.75, rounded up to 5!

A massive thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the free ARC for an open and honest review. Please note the version of the book I received is an uncorrected proof so it's possible there may be changes before publication.

If I could give this 1000 stars, I would. ✨ That’s how much I loved it!!! 🥹

Everything about Dolly All the Time was perfect - all the main and side characters were lovely, the setting was great, the pacing was just right. I don’t have anything negative to say about this book and I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy in May!

Perfect!! 💗✨🥰

Thank you Putnam Books & Net Galley for approving my request for an e-ARC! 🤍

This book is stunning, I’m actually a bit blown away. Not only is it a joyful and romantic, summery read - it’s also deeply reflective and emotional. Dolly is an outstanding female main character who I wish I could be friends with in real life.

I know a romance book deserves a 5 stars when it’s gets happy tears from me and this book had me crying multiple times.

This books is so sweet and heartfelt, I absolutely see myself revisiting this.

This was my first and well deserved five star of the year. Annabel is one of my go to summer authors and one I recommend to everyone.

Dolly is our main character and is the fixer in her and her families life. She is always thinking two steps ahead, doing more with less and making money withered she can.

This is a lovely summer fake dating romance with relatable, grown up characters with real life problems. I loved Dolly and Stewart and how they were together and with Dolly’s family. Everyone also needs a best friend like Dolly’s - so funny.

I love the settings Annabel uses and this look at Rhode Island just transports you there. I’m fortunate enough to have visited and have seen both the quaint and the mansion side! I also have a total craving for a soft roll with butter sprinkled with salt!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this title. If there’s one book you pick up this summer make sure it’s this’s one!

I am Annabel’s biggest fan, so I don’t say this lightly, but this might just be her BEST YET! I absolutely loved the premise of this story, I loved the characters, the glamour of the lifestyle Stewart shares with Dolly, but mostly the undeniable chemistry between the two of them!

I also just love that Annabel’s characters are at a slightly later stage in life with all the complications that brings - children, ageing parents, responsibilities etc, as it feels more relatable that way. She’s just the best!

Annabel Monaghan can do no wrong with her books - although "Nora" stays for me the best book of all times. However, this one, was not far away :)
I loved Dolly's story and all the surrounding characters, especially her family and best friend. There was so much warmth in them all and they were so easy around each other and even the bad vibrations between Dolly and her sister were so real. Dolly and her self - discovery journey was absolutely entertaining and I loved to see her standing for herself. It's impossible not to love her, really.
I couldn't stand Stewart's name. Really. But I'm not judging him on his name, oh no. He was great, but sometimes not so great - when you read the book you'll know what I mean.

I adored the slow - burn romance and the will they/won't they. Of course there must always come a moment when everything runs smoothly that something wrong happens, so be prepared - it was rather predictable, but well, you don't read a Pretty Woman book hoping for unpredictable. All the other things around the predictability made the book awesome. Great writing style, so compelling and irresistible, great one - liners, quirky characters - what's not to love? The way the climax happened and the book ended could be a little bit better executed, but overall it was a great read, a brilliant summer romance.

and she’s back! annabel monaghan’s back and once again she delivered another story that has the power to just immerse you in it and simply gets u! the one that u could just easily visualise while reading because this is annabel’s power in the end… and where should i even start ?

from the dedication i knew that dolly would be a character that everyone could easily relate and empathise because she’s the woman that thinks of everything and everyone! she’s the kind of woman that’s thanks to her heart can make everyone feel understood and comfortable in a way that’s just so cozy and right and i truly loved to read about her story! it was truly inspiring to read about her development and understanding about herself and everything that was going on her life! she’s truly one of the best characters that annabel let us know and appreciate!

stewart… oh man… how many things he made me feel! truly a lot! he was just so good and also a man that had a lot to understand and learn but he was helped by our dolly and her family and it was just so sweet to read about their experiences together not only as a couple but as a whole family!

i truly loved dolly and stewart together… the chemistry was there from the start… ikyk and if u don’t i trust u will read it :”) but also the side characters? i loved all of them! they were so hilarious and so good that i was laughing with them and because of them especially during certain scenes and reactions! they were just so real!

in the end dolly all the time’s an amazing story perfect for the summer vibes :”) or simply for an escape and with the fake dating trope that gives a kinda of pretty woman vibes <3

least but not last a lot of thanks to the aria & aries team and netgalley for sending me the e-arc copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Ooof. If you’re an oldest daughter and a mother this book should come with a warning label: may cause extreme emotions.
I really loved this. Dolly is giving her absolute all for everyone in her life, and the biggest battle is to not let them all see how it’s affecting her. Enter the wealthy, heir to the family fortune love interest and initially I couldn’t see it - he’s never changed a tyre? He doesn’t watch any tv? He has at least 5 household staff? But Stewart is holding his own world up too, and it’s gorgeous seeing how both of them end up helping each other.
My biggest tears came from the feels around Dolly and her teenage son, Gus. We get a lot of mother daughter stories, but I don’t feel like we see so many mother son stories, and as the mum of a teen boy this was incredibly relatable and heartfelt. The family relationships with her dad and brother too were a highlight, as well as the best friend and some of Stewart’s wealthy family.
I felt wrung out by the end, but in a good way.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital arc.