Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan is a must read! I loved how the author developed the characters and gave them quirks. I really enjoyed the way the kids played into the story. It was also refreshing to read about a 39 year old woman vs. college age or 20's.
This book is the perfect mix of reality, glamor, heartbreak, and love. While some of the plots may have seemed obvious there was always a part that was a wrench I couldn’t stop reading through. I highly recommend this book and I actually look forward to reading it again.

A big thank you to Netgalley & G.P. Putnam's Sons for this Kindle ARC.

I really loved this book & it’s story. I loved how it was about a writer, I loved her humor & her strength. Nora had gone through a lot with her ex but she stayed strong for his kids and herself and I loved seeing her strength throughout the book. I loved her heart and how it was fragile but she let Leo in. I loved her kids! The witty banter they all had as a family was so fun. & Leo, sweet sweet Leo. He was dreamy, sweet & his heart 😍😍 Seeing his growth throughout the book was one of the best parts. I loved it & his character so much.. I loved how it came together in the end. The writing was wonderful & had me laughing & wanting more the entire time I was reading it. This was the kind of book where I felt like I was missing some of my family after I finished it. I love books like that and applaud the author for writing characters that were so real and lovable.

A wonderful RomCom read.

I highly recommend this one for all my romance readers & you should definitely grab it when it comes out in June.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

First of all, a book about a 39 year old woman finding romance ? Sign me up.

I loved this book. It was a fast read.My first thought was that it was a perfect Hallmark movie like book..with sex.

Then I got invested in the characters and loved it.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan is a stunning rom-com about love rising from the ashes. The story revolves around Nora, a romance channel screenwriter. who has written plenty of love stories. When her real-life husband divorces her, she decides to write an all-new script and it's optioned by a major studio. Filming takes place at her house, and Sexiest Man Alive, Leo Vance, is cast as her husband. When the shoot wraps up, will Leo and Nora hit it off? Or is real life that much different from the movies?

Here is a humorous excerpt from Chapter 1:

"I’ve seen every one of Leo’s movies, which isn’t really a credit to him. I’ve seen a lot of movies. He’s a good actor, and he’s most famous for his smoldering stare. I have to say, it’s a little over the top. In his first film, Sycamore Nights, he gave his co-star Aileen Bennett a series of white-hot smolders that got him named Sexiest Man Alive that year. I guess it became his signature move, so he kept it up film after film, even when it was entirely unnecessary. Like in Battle for the Home Front, he’s telling his newly pregnant wife that he has to go away to war, and he’s smoldering. Or in Class Action, he’s giving a commencement speech at a military academy and smoldering all over everyone’s parents and grandparents. And don’t get me started on African Rose. A refugee center with a wild malaria outbreak to smolder. Leo Vance seems prone to the inappropriate oozing of sex appeal."

Overall, Nora Goes Off Script is a lovely rom-com that will appeal to fans of Tessa Bailey and Emily Henry. One highlight of this book is the protagonist's job as a film screenwriter. I thought those sections where we get to see her working were very interesting. I did take off 1 star, because for a rom-com, there was very little romance in this book. Also, Nora gives Leo way too many second chances. Overall, if you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of rom-coms in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in June!

I loved this one. The characters, while flawed, felt so read. When I finished I felt like I had people missing from my life.

Leo’s growth as a character was my favorite part, and I loved the relationship with Nora. The chemistry between the two was well written, then the story moved quick.

I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

4.5 ⭐️// I knew I wanted to read this book when the description said that it’s a combination of Evvie Drake Starts Over and Beach Read. I can attest that the classification is spot on!

After Nora’s husband leaves her and their kids, she uses her storytelling skills to write about their marriage. Instead of her agent sending the script to the romance tv station like normal, the agent decides the story could be chosen for the big leagues, and they were right. The script was picked, and they started filming at Nora’s home. Leo, the actor playing her husband, keeps finding ways to get under Nora’s skin, but soon, they’re learning more about each other and spending more time together. What could go wrong?

After starting chapter one, I knew it would be good book, but I was not prepared for just how great it would be!! I laughed. I shed some tears. I felt all the feels, and I didn’t want it to end. Be prepared for this book’s publication on June 7, 2022!

Read this book if …
🎥You’ve dreamed of writing Hallmark movies
☀️You wake up everyday to see the sunrise
🛖You want a she-shed
🏃‍♀️You run for fun
🍷You appreciate good wine

TW: marital/family abandonment, alcoholism

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam, for providing me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

First I have to say it’s refreshing to be reading the story of a 39 year old woman. I truly feel like there is a lack of stories about this age group out there on the market. On top of that this story is unique. I’ve read lot of books and it’s wonderful to read something that isn’t just a retelling.

There were parts of this story that ripped my heart to shreds. I knew it was going to happen… it just didn’t happen like I expected it to. The twists 😳 I really want to talk about it but I don’t want to spoil the ride you are going to go on! I felt so much love during this story too, and moments of laughter. Truly I felt a full spectrum of emotions.

Honestly this story was even better than I could have anticipated… simply I loved it! Only two things I wish for - I can’t imagine Ben not having some sort of reaction and for more 😍. I’d love a futuretake about this family!

Overall I’d give this 4.75 stars.

I received this book via NetGalley for free for my honest review which is posted on GoodReads and StoryGraph.

I really related to Nora as the main character and loved reading her journey. I hope I can gain her courage soon!

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan tells the story of Nora, a newly single mother. She makes scripts for Hallmark type movies. The cheesy ones that always have a happy ending. But she writes one about her failed marriage and that is the one sold to Hollywood. They come to town to film the movie in her actual home and her routine life is turned upside down. The leading man , Hollywood heartthrob Leo, quickly finds his way into Nora and her children’s hearts. But things get quite tricky when he leaves to film another movie.

I enjoyed this novel very much! Nora was such a well written and realistic character. The way the love short between her and Leo progressed was so fun to read. Nora’s children were hilarious and sweet. I enjoyed all the scenes with them in the novel. The second half of the book lagged a bit for me. The conflict could’ve easily been resolved, which I didn’t love. I hate bad communication being used as a plot point. Other than that, this book was really well done!

*Thank you Putnam Books & NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book*

I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review! This felt like a Hallmark movie and I loved every minute of it. Leo is so hot. I want my very own Leo. My only thing is that the romance between H and h felt a bit rushed. There wasn’t much chemistry beforehand.

Nora Goes off Script by Annabel Monaghan is a refreshing contemporary romance with complex characters. Nora is a writer who makes scripts for "hallmark" type movies. Her real life is far from a romance. She is a middle aged mom of two trying to move on from a passionless marriage and stark divorce. The story of her ex husband leaving has inspired her newest script. When Hollywood comes to her small town farm to film her script she inadvertently begins a relationship with the Hollywood actor who is playing her ex husband. Nora and Leo must navigate a relationship once he leaves her farm and goes back to the real world.

This book had a little of a slow start for me. Once the relationship started, it was hard to put down. I really enjoyed how real Nora's life was portrayed. I don't generally enjoy romances with kids in them but Nora's children were smart, funny, and endearing. I felt like the separation and conflict between Nora and Leo went on for far too long. The resolution wrapped up extremely quickly in the end. It was all a misunderstanding that could have easily have been resolved with a simple conversation/text/phone call. Overall, I enjoyed Monaghan's writing and story telling. I can't wait to see what she writes next.

Thank you to Annabel Monaghan, NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an eARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’m kind of conflicted about how to review this book. The first 50% of the book was absolutely perfect, in my eyes. It’s one of my favourite things I’ve read. It was entertaining, witty, and swoon-worthy. But then the romance novel complication comes in. Just like the screenplays Nora writes, there’s always a complication but then the couple comes back together. And that’s fine! I know that, I like that. But I found that the complication in this story just lasted so long, and when it finally did get resolved, the book was basically over.

I will say that I had no idea how the author was going to pull me back into the romance by the end, because I honestly was really upset and angry about how things developed, and she did. Which is wonderful! I love that it wasn’t predictable, and still had a happy ending. I just wish things resolved faster, and earlier in the book

With all that said, I still very much enjoyed this & highly recommend it. I will absolutely be picking up a physical copy of it when it comes out in June. Nora and Leo were both great characters, all of the side characters were honestly a joy to read about as well, and it was a different story than I’ve ever read. I also found that the comparison to Evvie Drake Starts Over was accurate. I adored that book, and I totally felt the similar vibes that Nora Goes Off Script to that book.

Thank you to Putnam Books & NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!

This is a book I want everyone to read. I will sing it from the rooftop if I have to! It’s the perfect mix of heartfelt and humor all wrapped up nicely in a contemporary romance. It’s also very reminiscent of the movies on Hallmark, which makes it even better as the main character is a script writer for movies like that. All in all, it deserves every star!

The book is told from one point-of-view and it comes from Nora Hamilton. She is a single mom of two who has come out of a failed marriage. Her job as script writer gives her a chance to make cash out of her broken life and she takes it.

I loved everything about Nora. She was very relatable which made her so real. I can’t say that I have ever been in her shoes but it didn’t stop me from feeling for her. Her situation also showed how strong she was when it came to her husband leaving and picking up the pieces after to show her kids that they were better off. Those kids were her number one.

Since she is a script writer for a romance channel, it wouldn’t be a real plot without her finding love. The romance in this book was perfection. It isn’t a slow-burn and maybe it happened quickly but it all felt right! Maybe it was the romantic in me cheering for that happy ending. There are precious moments and shot at the picture perfect life, not only for her but also for Leo. It isn’t always sunshine and rainbows though. They do have something go wrong but it wasn’t overly dramatic and it had me continuously reading to find out when they would be in each other’s arms once again.

Leo, the man of the hour. He was perfect in every way. He was everything her ex-husband wasn’t and then some. He had his faults but it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. I liked that he had his own plotline about finding normalcy and wanting to learn to do things on his own. He didn’t care if people recognized him and came up to him. He just treated everyone so well and was a great listener.

There are many other great characters, smaller ones, but still added a lot to the book. Her kids and family were great and strong supporters of her. Nora’s sister was there when she reached out and needed that extra nudge. Plus, I could relate to her wanting that happy ending! She definitely was a romance movie watcher and it showed, haha. Even Nora’s friend Kate was great. She was a shoulder to cry on and a listener. Leo’s family didn’t get much spotlight but I did like that they were introduced eventually.

Overall, this was a fantastic read and one I want to keeping reading again and again. It filled my heart with joy and also had me crying at parts. This was also a book I never looked once at the percentage I was on and couldn’t believe how fast I devoured it. It was just way too good to put down.

received galley from a different source, reviews posted on Amazon, GoodReads, Instagram, Indigo, and Literal

Women fiction and romance has got to be one of my favourite genres. And this book fits the bill. I was super stoked about it, right after reading the blurb. And, not gonna lie, it’s been quite some time that I have been enticed like that. I enjoyed the book. I loved Nora as a character. The supporting characters were literally quite supportive. Although, I felt the beginning a bit slow and the middle quite dragged. Despite that, it was one fun read. And, especially, after that ending, there definitely has to be an epilogue!!

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.

A thoughtful romance that dives into the grief of painful divorce, navigating a new life with her two children, and finding freedom and renewal in her own independence and strengths. Along the way, the actual love story is a heartfelt delight!

I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review! Nora Goes Off Script is pitched as Evvie Drake Starts Over meets Beach Read. Nora is a romance screenwriter who is recently divorced, and sold her first non-romance movie. She has two adorable kids, and lives in a small town in an old house with a tea house out back. The Hollywood film crew, with huge stars, comes to film at her house, and she meets Leo - a big movie star, and “Sexiest Man Alive.” Leo ends up staying at her house, paying her $1,000 a day to sleep in the tea house after production has wrapped.

My first thoughts were that this is totally Hallmark-movie esque, just with a big Hollywood component. I didn’t mind that, I love Hallmark movies and I think that’s the intention! The characters are great - I love Bernie and Andrew, and the friends Nora has in town are great side characters with funny tidbits attached.

I will say the relationship/love interest seemed a bit rushed and out of nowhere. There wasn’t much chemistry beforehand, and it seemed a bit “insta love.” I’m not a huge fan of books where the biggest issue could be resolved just by actually talking about your feelings BUT I do think that’s a pretty common theme in romance so I’m learning to let go of that pet peeve (while also simultaneously telling book characters in my mind they’d really truly, benefit from therapy).

The ending of the book did drag on for a bit, but it made sense why in the end. I loved seeing Nora grow and work with her family. It felt like real-life characters.

This book will be released June 7, 2022!

Get your coffee and wine ready!!! I absolutely adore this book! I debated on four or five stars but I thought the ending was too quick. Nora is a screenwriter for the romance channel. She finally hits it big and falls for one of the actors.

The middle of the book continued to build, the character development is wonderful. I love Nora and her family. I love the perspective of a suburban mom falling for a movie star. I can’t wait to re-read the published book.

Published: June 7, 2022
A special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, GP Putnam’s Sons, for this early e-ARC.

Very touching and excellently written with an art imitates life feel to it. The characters of Nora, Leo, Arthur, and Bernadette are true to life and so easy to enjoy.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.