I loved this story. Nora is a strong female character who doesn't need saving. The story had just the right amount of humor and reality to make it fun.

It's official: NORA GOES OFF SCRIPT combines a bunch of tropes and plot elements that aren't typically my fave, and I loved it.

I was almost immediately drawn in. I loved so many individual scenes, I can't even choose one to single out as an example of the sheer delight I felt while reading. This book felt like a warm hug, and a broken heart, and all the best things in life. A cotton candy sunrise. Kids growing and finding their "thing." Connection. Being and feeling heard. Joy.

Nora is a screenwriter for the romance channel, but after her too-good-to-work husband Ben leaves her and their kids, she funnels that into a different script -- one that's sold for the big screen. The book picks up with the stars, director, and loads of staff a movie requires headed her way, to film for two days in her tea house. (She did, after all, set a pivotal scene there and name the movie The Tea House.) You can read more about the plot in the synopsis but I'm not going to share anything else, given how much I loved watching it unfold.

And the writing! For example, "The part of me that knows who I am and knew I shouldn't marry Ben had become hard to hear over the din of wedding plans. Newton must have been thinking of twentysomethings in long-term relationships with hard-to-secure wedding venues when he decided that objects in motion tend to stay in motion."

Such an enjoyable read. I sort of wish I'd saved it for this weekend, so I could have read it in one sitting, but I loved being able to dip into this story during an otherwise hard week.

There were things I really enjoyed about this one, including the main character Nora. Her quips are great, and I found her believable. I wish there would have been more detail about Leo overall. He was just such a blank handsome “perfect” stand in for an actual human. Overall the story was fun, certainly kept me reading, but I felt like just a bit more would have improved it so much. I will be checking out what else the author writes though, for sure.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I heard a perspective I often don't and she's so fun to get to know during a book.

THINGS I LIKED:
I love, love, love the beginning of this book. Nora is super relatable and I love how quirky and awkawrd she is. I really enjoyed living inside her head during the novel. She was the perfect character whose story I needed to hear. Her internal monologue is fabulous.
I thought the book had excellent comedic timing. The imagery especially was hilarious.
I like how Leo was extremely cold to Nora at first. But, he's super soft around kids and that made my heart melt a little bit. And I think the premise/set-up is super realistic somehow. It fit well with the vibe of the story. I also really like how the children were written- they felt very real.
A lot of the more serious parts hit hard because they were so poetic yet simple so it made perfect sense how Nora was feeling.
I adore how Nora's whole family and support system was so sweet to her and genuinely cared. You don't read a lot of romance novels like that and it was honestly hilarious at some points, like when Kate calls Leo a narcissist but doesn't know what it means.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:
I almost wish that we'd gotten more from Leo's POV or context about his career. We were told he's famous but I didn't know what type of actor he was.
I understand Nora not wanting Leo to leave, but her thinking that it's because of her frustrated me. Obviously he's got work and since she's normally such a logical person, she should realize that he can't just say no to a role for her. This coming right after her being so chill about Ben cheating on her made me really annoyed actually. Also, I wish the miscommunication had been because he was forbidden to talk to her or something just because I hated the whole blaming the mess on Arthur? It felt very To All The Boys I've Loved Before which I didn't appreciate either.

Nora is a 40-something screenwriter living in a small town. She usually writes made-for-TV romances, but after her husband leaves her, she writes a feature that’s a little more personal and raw. When the production comes to film at her idyllic tea house for a scene, the lead actor decides to extend his stay. Romance and complications ensue.

I enjoyed this for the most part, especially with its Evvie Drake Starts Over vibes. Nora was realistic about life and romance and she had nice chemistry with Leo, who I found adorable and awkward in equal measure. Nora's kids were super cute and I liked the small-town closeness of her community.

But the breakup incident (at around 60%) was WAY too outlandish for me to get past. There were just so many holes in what happened and how. It made me angry for the rest of the novel. (Why did he not ONCE just text her, or even anyone that knows her, to see what was true?? Absolutely wild.)

This was a fun read! Nora writes screenplays for Hallmark movies. Recently she wrote a script, a love story gone wrong based on her life,
when her ex left her with two kids and no money. It’s picked to become a major movie starring one of Hollywood’s heartthrobs and a former Sexiest Man Alive, Leo Vance. The production will shoot at her 100 year old house and writing shed.

When the shoot ends, Leo wants to stay an extra week to relax. He and Nora get to know each other, and he ends up staying a while, directing her son in a play and going to her daughter’s soccer game.

Nora watches the sunrise from her porch swing every morning,and Leo joins her. Much to her surprise it seems that Leo really cares about her and their relationship goes to the next level. Nora is on cloud 9 but afraid Leo is going to leave her and the kids like her ex did.

Eventually Leo is offered a huge part and goes back to LA. He says he’ll be back in a week but time passes and he doesn’t return. Was their relationship all in Nora’s imagination? Maybe it didn’t mean as much to him as it did to her. Nora knows she’s going to see Leo when the movie comes out and she wants to know what happened.

The writing is very well done. The plot and characters kept me reading non-stop long after I should have been asleep. I highly recommend this book, 4.5 stars.

Synopsis:
Evvie Drake Starts Over meets Beach Read in this heartwarming and hilarious novel about a divorced romance channel screenwriter whose script about her marriage's collapse just might help her reclaim her life and find love.

Nora's life is about to get a rewrite... Nora Hamilton knows the formula for love better than anyone. As a romance channel screenwriter, it's her job. But when her too-good-to work husband leaves her and their two kids, Nora turns her marriage's collapse into cash and writes the best script of her life. No one is more surprised than her when it's picked up for the big screen and set to film on location at her 100-year-old-home.

When former Sexiest Man Alive, Leo Vance, is cast as her ne'er do well husband Nora's life will never be the same. The morning after shooting wraps and the crew leaves, Nora finds Leo on her porch with a half-empty bottle of tequila and a proposition. He'll pay a thousand dollars a day to stay for a week. The extra seven grand would give Nora breathing room, but it's the need in his eyes that makes her say yes. Seven days: it's the blink of an eye or an eternity depending on how you look at it. Enough time to fall in love. Enough time to break your heart.

Filled with warmth, wit, and wisdom, Nora Goes Off Script is the best kind of love story--the real kind where love is complicated by work, kids, and the emotional baggage that comes with life. For Nora and Leo, this kind of love is bigger than the big screen.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was the easiest five star book I’ve read this year. It’s layered and realistic with just enough Hollywood dazzle to lean in to escapism. I can’t get over how much I loved it from the first sentence to the end. The pacing was perfect, the character development was perfect, the setting was fleshed out so well that I could see the story, almost to the point where I could smell the flowers. I’ll recommend this book 1,000 times over to anyone who will listen.

I loved EVERYTHING about this book by Annabel Monaghan.

It's the only celebrity romance I've ever enjoyed. I smiled so much while reading. The dialogue actually made me laugh out loud more than once, and I loved Nora and her kids so much. Nora was portrayed so realistically.* Her relationship with her kids felt authentic, too.

The flow of the narrative was perfect. The second half was heavier than the first; I truly wasn't sure how the story was going to end. The conclusion was wonderful. It's the kind of book that I wanted to reread immediately, which doesn't happen often.

The book is relatively short (under 300 pages), so it would be the perfect vacation/beach/airplane read!

*Ok, I was slightly horrified that Nora let a stranger unsupervised in her home with her children, even if he was a movie star. However, I am completely willing to suspend disbelief on this point because of how much I adored everything else in this book!

Read this if you liked Beach Read or The Suite Spot.

I only read the first 10% of this book, and I decided not to finish. The writing style wasn’t for me, it was too wordy and I know what i was reading was the unfinished version, so I hope that they reduce some of the unnecessary anecdotes and clean it up a bit.

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabelle Monaghan is a mesmerizing novel. This author previously wrote young adult fiction, and this seems to be her first women’s fiction novel. I know, because as soon as I finished reading, I immediately looked for more books by this author. What can I say about this book? It has everything that readers of women’s fiction and romance look for. Yet, this book is never trite or contrived, even though it deals with celebrities. This book is written with such authenticity and never feels formulaic. Still, it is a satisfying read. I certainly hope this author writes a sequel or more books like this one. It is a gem. I read quite a lot of books in this genre, and this book stands head and shoulders above the rest. It is one I plan to re-read. I loved it! I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

I could not put this book down. It reminded me a bit of the film Notting Hill, which I've seen more times than I should probably admit. Except this time, it's the guy who's famous and standing in front of a girl, asking her to love him. Told entirely from Nora's point of view, we get a story with both humor and heart. I will be looking for more books from Annabel Monaghan.

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan is a celebrity romance that was touching and sweet. Nora’s life was left in shambles after her ex-husband left her and her children. She turns around and writes her story and never expected a previous Sexiest Man Alive actor to play her ex. Leo seems to find his place with her family, but can someone like Leo be with Nora? I loved watching him interact with her kids and spend time just being with all three of them. Their story was light and charming and included single-mom, celebrity and second chance at love tropes which I truly enjoyed.

Happy reading!

This was such a cute read! I adored Nora. She was very relatable and a pleasure to read about. I also loved Leo, it was so easy to root for both of them! I loved the uniqueness of this story and it was interesting to have a movie being filmed on a characters property. I loved the story and definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a summer Romcom!

Nora Hamilton has made a life out of writing happily ever afters. Working as a romantic screenwriter has paid the bills, but Nora is far from a romantic in her day to day life. Years after being married to the wrong man may have done it to her, or maybe she was always that way.

Then one day her husband announces he’s leaving and her worlds collide. Viewing his departure as creative inspiration, Nora writes the anti romance, romance- one that will finally put her in the major leagues. The proof? Two A-list stars are set to play her and her ex in the big screen film adaptation, shooting where it all began, at her humble abode.

This is how she comes to meet major movie star, Leo Vance. Cast as her ex husband, Leo is also the house guest that can’t take a hint. He occupies her porch swing, drinks her wine, and craves Nora’s normalcy. So Leo offers her a deal- he will pay Nora 1,000 dollars a day for one week in order to hideout just a little longer. Before long, Leo begins to grow on her, and Nora begins to catch feelings. Then Hollywood lures Leo back, but he swears he’ll return. Can Nora and Leo make it while they are apart or is this just Leo just playing another part?

Nora Goes Off Script is a unique spin on the rom com genre. I really had no idea where the story was going the majority of the time, the beginning in particular really leading me astray. To keep one guessing in a rom com is no easy task, so kudos to author @annabelmonaghan for keeping readers on their toes, right up to the final act.

I was literally waking up in the middle of the night wondering how this love story was going to resolve itself.

Nora is a screenwriter for a network like Hallmark. Up until now she’s written pretty formulaic love stories, but when her husband leaves her and her two children and she realizes she’s more relieved than anything else, she writes a script about their relationship that attracts a high-profile director and cast. The book begins when the cast and crew, including academy award winning dreamboat Leo Vance, arrive to film in her tea house—a writer’s sanctuary in the back of her house. After three days the crew packs up and leaves, but Nora finds Leo sleeping on her porch swing. He needs a break from his life and asks if he can pay her to stay for another week.

I think we all know what happens.

But the way it happens is so lovely. The writing in this book is deceptively simple and elicited a floaty, dream-like quality where I felt like I was riding on a cloud the whole time I was reading. There’s heartbreak and communication mishaps and two astoundingly well-behaved kids and even a little musical theater (which you know I adored), but it all felt so gentle.

I do wish Nora and Leo had talked instead of making assumptions, but I also get how that could happen. It wasn’t one of those crazy situations in books where I couldn’t believe the miscommunication. I got where these two people were coming from and why they might act the way they did. The one thing I thought was a little unresolved was Nora’s ex-husband. He was a little too black-and-white terrible for me and I wanted just a little more or something to humanize him.

I would highly recommend this one to anyone looking for a gentle, swoony, easy to sink into romance.

Ok this book was SO GOOD.

I feel like it was authentic and real without being overly deep, but still being a little deep ya know? Nora and Arthur and Bernadette were gems. Leo was prickly and lovable. All of the side characters stole my heart and I’m glad there was conflict and heart ache in this love story.

I think this book will be the perfect summer read!!

This book was absolutely amazing. I was hard-pressed to put it down. This book has all the feels. All. The. Feels.

Nora Hamilton writes scripts for The Romance Channel (similar to the Hallmark Channel). She makes enough to eek by especially since her husband Ben doesn’t work, but is always thinking of his next big thing that will generate income. Nora’s big break finally comes in a screenplay that isn’t her typical happy-go-lucky romance genre, and something more real and powerful – her marriage’s demise. The film crew wants to film scenes at her Tea House (in her backyard) that is a pivotal point in the plot.

In strolls leading man, Leo Vance, he sets up camp in her front yard and ends up staying for three weeks (post filming). At first he seems a pest, but he begins to adapt to Nora and her children’s schedule. Over the course of three weeks, Leo fits himself in so succinctly, like he has always belonged there. Three weeks was enough time for them to fall in love and then just as quickly for it to end.

I generally steer clear of single mother with children stories but I am glad I didn’t skip this one. I absolutely adored Nora as a single mother in her 40’s – her routine and structure. The wall she had up and that easily crumbled when Leo snuck his way in… not only into her heart but her two children’s. Her strength and her fragility, the overthinking. It all flowed seamlessly.

So does the Romance author get her happy ending? You will want to one-click to find out.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this early read. Nora Hamilton’s job is romance. She is a screenwriter for The Romance Channel, writing sweet and witty romances with happy endings for its viewers. Her latest script is something different though – a darker tale about her own failed marriage. While not the stuff of the Romance Channel, Hollywood thinks it has potential and when the story opens, Nora is waiting on her front porch for the film crew and actors to come shoot some scenes in her backyard “tea house” which she uses for writing. She meets the stars of the movie, including handsome Leo Vance who plays her ex-husband. The film crew wraps up in just a few days but Leo stays on, willing to pay Nora $1000 a night to stay in her tea house and hide from his life for a while. Nora needs the cash, so she allows him to stay, and they form a friendship that leads to something more, something unexpected for Nora, who had thought, being a writer of romances, that she was immune from romance herself. From there, you can guess the usual romance twists and turns, which fits nicely with Nora’s own explanation of how she writes a romance script. The real fun of this book, though, is Nora, her kids, and Leo. Their dialogue feels real, the story is full of humor and heart, and the secondary characters, especially Nora’s two kids, add to the overall feel of this feel-good story. Are there a ton of romances out there that look and sound exactly like this one? Yes, but I would say this one stands out from the crowd.

I received an ARC of this book for an honest review. How lovely to read a mature romance (although I hate using that phrase) that thoughtfully handles a mom with children. I am a sucker for real people meeting celebrities-and this one has a great twist that I didn't expect. Great dialogue, excellent character development.

Nora knows the formula for every hallmark-ish movie ever. Big city woman who is an (insert Job title like hotel owner) goes to a small town to scout a family owned inn (or local small business) but falls in love with the grumpy single dad in a cardigan who is a carpenter (or firefighter, policeman, music teacher/mayor). He has parents that are in love and friendly and together they save the town at the town’s festival (insert tree lighting, pumpkin fest, school play). They fall in love, the town is saved and she stays and becomes a baker (writer, teacher, florist etc)
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There’s a reason there is a formula. It works. It works every single time. There’s a reason Hallmark Christmas movies are a thing. They are a warm hug, which I personally am all about.
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Nora follows the script and writes these movies, until her marriage implodes and she goes off script and writes a different kind of film. A film that brings movie star, Leo into her life and her life no longer follows the script she has become so accustomed to.
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This is a fun one and I love a book that has a movie or a book within the book. I would be all about seeing the movie that was filmed in this one!
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Thank you @prhaudio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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