I loved this book!! I am so furious that I let it sit unread for as long as I did. The story concept was so fresh and the writing style was unique. I fell hard for all characters and the setting. Also, I’m a sucker for a hallmark movie and I thought that this was where this story was heading and I couldn’t see an ending that I would be happy with BUT the author stuck the landing and I was surprised and delighted and so happy.
Read this book!

Sweet romance centering around Nora, a romance script writer that writes predictable, formula-tic stories for a Hallmark type channel. She breaks the mold and writes a screenplay based on her relationship with her ex-husband, A movie studio decides to make the movie with an all star cast, The leading man is Leo Vance, the hottest actor in the business. The studio decides to film the movie at Nora’s home. So the scene is set. Sexy movie star Leo, great with her kids and needing a break decides to insert himself into Nora’s life to get back to the normalcy of life in a small town, away from the craziness of fame and the paparazzi. He offers Nora $1000 a day to stay for a week. Nora is a single mom, with bills to pay so she cant say no. Needless to say the time together leads the two to develop feelings, wink, wink.

This was cute—I enjoyed it. Of course it is far fetched and the roadblocks they face could easily be fixed with good communication and a text message, The angst, the missed opportunities are all a part of the journey. This is what we expect from contemporary romances right? Well I do and this one does it well.

4 Stars

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review,

This book was fine, but not great. The pacing felt very off to me. It started en media res which started the book off on a quick pace, but then it slowed down for the middle section, and then resolved itself in the last 5%. While technically a romance as there is an HEA, this is definitely more of a women's fiction novel with a romantic sub-plot. The focus is Nora's personal journey more than her relationship, which would have been fine but this was advertised to me as a romance first. The main conflict revolved around a misunderstanding which is my absolutely least favorite trope. A simple text message, let alone a conversation could have saved so many people heartache and stress.

Nora is a writer - she writes romance movies for The Romance Channel (picture Hallmark Movies). She knows the formula and can write them quickly. But real life isn’t echoing the stories she writes. When her marriage to Ben is over, she writes a different movie about the ending. This one is sold to a major production company and becomes a feature film. When the cast arrives for a couple days filming on site at Nora’s house, she meets Luke - the famous actor who is taking on Ben’s role in the film.

I don’t want to say anything more than that - just slip into Nora’s world and let it all unfold. I love dating a celebrity stories. I love when an author lays out a standard romance formula - and then makes you guess how this story will stick to it or mix things up. I love the writing in this one - so many sentences I had to stop to highlight.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

I'm usually not drawn to celebrity story lines, but this was a fresh, fun story with some depth. Well done, Annabel Monaghan.

This book was wonderful and unexpected. It felt unique compared to any other romcom I’ve read, and while there were obviously some similarities to the genre, there was also a twist at the end I never expected – and it only made me love the story so much more.

Nora is a screenwriter who has the cast of her upcoming movie coming to her house in order to film something that resembles her true life heartbreak. The last thing she expects is to fall for the guy who plays her ex-husband. Or for him to want to stick around. But there seems to be something about small-town life that appeals to the famous actor – at least until he’s called back to his real life. But will they last? Will it work out? Will Nora – and her kids – be able to trust that he will return when other people have left them in the past?

I truly loved this book and I highly recommend it for anyone who is looking for a heartwarming read where one’s simple life is turned upside down – but only to find out the real reasons she should be appreciating it in the first place.

I really loved this story, I felt extremely connected to Nora. We got to have a real in-depth look at herself, her role as a mother, and her role as a writer. I love how Nora didn’t feel locked in to one category. She was smart, witty, and good hearted.

My only disappointment was the miscommunication trope which ended up taking over much of the middle of the book.

OH WOW.

This book is absolutely phenomenal. It’s just it. I am obsessed in the best way. Nora is the kind of woman I want to be best friends with. Leo breaks my heart and mends it at the same time.

Look I could run through the high points of the plot for you, offer quips about my favorite parts, but I could never do Annabel Monaghan justice. She is brilliant. I will read anything she writes moving forward .

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC.

A cute, highly predictable romance just like the ones Nora (the MC) herself writes where the guy leaves and then comes back in the end for the girl. Just much older MCs here.

A middle-aged woman being so obsessed with a movie star after only a few weeks of bonding when she couldn’t care less the dirtbag father of her children left her was incredibly cringey.

I read up the e-galley until 25% then I had to switch to audiobook because the chapters were just sooooo long and dragged on. I was bored and couldn’t get into it. I read a few other books in the meantime and waited for the pub date so I could rent an audio off Libby. It was easier to consume that way. I enjoyed the narrator and finished the rest of the 75% in one morning.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group/GP Putnam, and the author for the advance e-galley in exchange for an honest review!

For a celebrity romance story, I thought this book was pretty unique! It wasn’t a fake dating scenario that you commonly see, it was about Nora Hamilton, a single mom, writer, a small townie who gets her life taken over as a film crew moves in to film a movie based on her life. She meets Leo Vance, a hot celeb, who IMO is kind of awkward. The way he just shows up on her porch for a sunset? Although I thought that was weird at first, it became one of my favorite parts of the story. It was so sweet and romantic. I loved the role Nora’s kids played in this story - Bernadette is a star. They were fun, intuitive, and just a key part of the overall book.

You won’t find me saying this a lot, but I do think the book could have been longer. I would have loved more time for them to have their relationship grow, and I think some parts of the end felt a little rushed. Can we get an extended version? ;)

Thank you Putnam for an e-arc and gifted copy of this book. It’s beautiful, like the story.

What a lovely book with memorable characters. At first, I was expecting this to just be a regular light hearted romance, but instead it really pulled at my heart strings.

I adored the characters and how this book showed a love that could survive through time and distance.

Really enjoyed seeing the contrasts between small town living and Hollywood craze. Sometimes all the wealth and popularity isn't enough to make a person happy and all they crave is the beauty that comes from being around people who love you for who you are inside.

From start to finish, I absolutely loved this book and all the Characters. Nora’s town reminded me of our new life in small town in New Jersey in many ways. 🥰

Nora who is a writer for TRC (the romance chanel, think Hallmark Channel) recently divorced and her latest script, about her real life, is being made for the big screen, filmed at her home. The sexiest man alive, movie star Leo, is cast to play her ex husband. After filming wraps he invites himself to stay in town for a week, at Nora’s house and that is when Nora truly goes off script.

As a romance writer, life is truly imitating art imitating life for Nora and I was just happy to be along for the ride. Nora Goes Off Script reads very much like a feel good Hallmark movie, but with more depth and the ending couldn’t have been better.

From start to finish, I absolutely loved this book and all the Characters. Nora’s town reminded me of my own small town in New Jersey in many ways.

Nora who is a writer for TRC (the romance chanel, think Hallmark Movie) recently divorced and her latest script, about her real life, is being made for the big screen, filmed at her home. The sexiest man alive, movie star Leo, is cast to play her ex husband. After filming wraps he decides to stay in town for a week, and that is when Nora truly goes off script.

As a romance writer, life is truly imitating art imitating life for Nora and I was just happy to be along for the ride. Nora Goes Off Script reads very much like a feel good Hallmark movie, but with more depth and the ending couldn’t have been better.

☕️ 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 ☕️

𝙽𝚘𝚛𝚊 𝙶𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝙾𝚏𝚏 𝚂𝚌𝚛𝚒𝚙𝚝 𝚋𝚢
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎/ 𝚆𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗’𝚜 𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗
𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎: 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚖, 𝚌𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚋𝚏, 𝙷𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚢𝚠𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚎, 𝚜𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗

“𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸. 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹, 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼.”

Say hello to one of my favorite books this year! Also known as the book that made my jetlag worse because I would rather continue reading this than fall asleep 😂

Where do I even begin? This is literally Hallmark movies on paper. Lol you have a quaint small town with everyone knowing everyone’s business, you have a strong female lead (yey for single mom representation!!), and you have a hot, gorgeous celebrity male lead! There will be a conflict but in true Hallmark movie fashion, everything gets resolved with a pretty bow on top of it all.

Seriously, I didn’t expect to love this book so much!! It was such an adorable read! Nora’s kids were so cute and how Leo (male lead) just seamlessly entered their family is soooo 🤌🏽 I don’t have words for it. I was just smiling the whole time I was reading this.

There will be an Oscar moment here and an adorable parent meet-up lol and that ending!!! Other than having the male lead as a celebrity, this book is so grounded on reality and I think that’s why I loved it so much! It shows you the struggle of holding a household as a single parent, how hard it is to explain the concept of divorce to your kids, and how your love life takes the backseat so you could fulfill your role as a mom.

I loooved this one so much!! Please read it! 😂

Nora is my newest favorite leading lady. Her circumstances and outlook on life are enjoyably relatable. I loved so much her relationships with her kids and how they played in her decision making. The way that Annabel subtly writes in the age gap was perfection. I can't say I would complain too much (please read not at all) in Nora's shoes if a sexy, younger actor decided to take up lodgings on my property and help alleviate pending financial doom.
This is the perfect beach read. It's entertaining and, at 272 pages, can be read in one sitting (even for this snail paced reader). My only *minor* complaint is that the ending was a little quick. And, really, is wanting more of a love story a complaint? Annabel's writing style is easily bingeable and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Hillary Huber paints a great picture through her narration in this audiobook lasting 6 hours and 57 minutes.
Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for the advanced copy and thank you to PRHA for the alc. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Nora writes scripts. One will be filmed at her home. Enter movie star Leo. He and Nora become an item. Then suddenly something inexplicably occurs which I had no explanation. It ,add me think one of,the characters was a huge rat. The truth doesn’t arrive until much later in the story. The culprit got off light which was frustrating.
It’s a cutesy romance with a fairy tale like ending.

I adored Nora Goes Off Script. It felt fresh and fun and had rom com vibes without getting real silly, which I also enjoy, but this wasn't that. I had such a fun time reading this. Nora's children were included in the storyline as well. I haven't seen this often (or at all?) in other romances and enjoyed this aspect far more than I would have expected. The children strengthened the story and added to the reader getting to know Nora.

Nora is a screenwrite for the romance channel on TV. When she decides to write about her divorce, the script hits the big screen, and brings big time movie star Leo into her life. While filming part of the movie in Nora's small town, Leo makes a deal with Nora. He'll pay her 7 thousand dollars to be able to stay at her house for an extra week to take a break from his life. Being in a tough financial spot, Nora agrees. During the week, Leo falls in love with Nora and takes in active role in her children's lives. A few weeks later, a big role comes along that he can't pass up, but he promises he will be back. After effectively ghosting her, Nora is heartbroken, and begins questioning if it was even real.

I loved this story!!!! Nora is such a strong woman. She fights to keep her marriage together, and when that doesn't work, she puts her kids first and gives them every chance at normalcy. When Leo comes into her life, she hesitates to fall for him at first, because hello, single mom. But eventually the chemistry becomes too strong to deny. When she goes through her heartbreak, her children are still her priority. I love that through everything, she was a fierce mama bear who protected her babies, but wasn't afraid to reach for what she wanted as well.
I give this book 4 stars

{ @putnambooks #gifted Thank you for the free ARC of Nora Goes Off Script! } ⁣
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No one, and I mean no one was more surprised than me with just how much I liked 𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐀 𝐆𝐎𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅F 𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐏𝐓 by Annabel Monaghan. Don’t get me wrong, I thought I’d enjoy this light romance, but it was so much more and so well done, that I simply could not put it down. Nora is a romance channel screenwriter, who stumbled into a big screen success with the story of her own sad marriage and divorce. Key to the storyline is a unique teahouse on Nora’s property, so Hollywood arrives in her small town for a few days of shooting.⁣
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That’s where the story begins, but it takes off from there in ways both expected and unexpected. Nora, herself, was what I liked most about this book. She was a strong, capable woman who was not willing to put anything or anyone above her kids and even herself. She had bumps in the road, and heartache, but she never wallowed in it and I loved that. I was always rooting for Nora and so enjoyed watching her world expand in wonderful ways, thanks to no one more than herself. Nora was a romantic lead who led with not only her heart, but her head. So fun and definitely a perfect summer read! 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘢 𝘎𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘖𝘧𝘧 𝘚𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘵 is one of those books you can pick up, put down, and easily dive right back into later. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Huge thanks to PRH International, and Annabel Monaghan for my E-ARC in exchange for the honest review.

Nora Goes Off Script is a beautiful rom-com. It follows the story of Nora, a scriptwriter for a romance network. She has produced several love stories. She is a dedicated mother doing everything she can to provide for her children after her ex-husband abandoned them. Her husband's departure prompted Nora to pen a dark script about their life and eventual separation, which is now being adapted into a film starring hottie, Leo Vance. Will Leo and Nora be friends after the shoot?

It's a delightful and fascinating love tale full of beautiful banter and laughter that captivates readers and has them swoon. It immediately draws you in and holds your attention. Nora and Leo are real people with flaws. Their narrative is written with fantastic emotion, and you will sense as though you are feeling the words on the pages with the characters. The slow-burning relationship between Nora and Leo was exquisite. It isn't your normal hot Hollywood relationship. In truth, it's not at all spicy. It is a lovely story of a woman always looking out for her children while yearning for a second shot at love.

Overall, Nora Goes Off Script was a charming story about a woman rebuilding herself. I adored the characters and couldn't put this book down. Highly recommend it.

SO fantastic... couldn't put it down... entertaining, sweet, and thoughtful all rolled into one. This was the perfect summer book!!! I enjoyed every bit of it and read it all in one go!!

I'm not usually one for romances, but this one was way more than just a sweet romance. It even poked fun at romance movies as a genre! It was smart, poignant, and just a great read all around.

Nora was a great character. She felt real in so many ways as a woman and mother.

I would recommend as a book club pick as well (which I usually wouldn't for a romance)!