I loved everything about this book, The characters, the setting, the story within a story, Nora being a single mom, I would love a sequel to this book. I flew through this book in just about 24 hours. I actually went and ordered my physical copy of this book so I can enjoy it again in a year or so.

First off I need to thank Annabel Monaghan for writing my new favorite books! Nora Goes Off Script was amazing!!! I was expecting a light rom-com but this book had to much more! It was amazing! I know I said that already but it really was a great book! I look forward to reading more from Annabel!

i LOVED this book. it was sweet, it was sad, it was full of moments that just felt so real ??? i love the voice the author brings into the world of romance & can’t wait to read more from her!

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC

For readers of Emily Henry, you're gonna love this! I swooned, my heart warmed, my pulse raced. This book is so sweet and the children are so well written. Love love love. For a "Hollywood romance" situation, I felt like it was actually believable and fully plausible. Quick paced, sweet, and great character development. 4.5 stars!

I love romcoms, but usually they don't stand out as much as this one did. The story hooked me from the start - the relationship was so real and my only two complaints is that I felt it wrapped so quickly in the end and I want more Nora and Leo IN MY LIFE!

Nora is a screenplay writer - her latest - which is about her and her ex husband's relationship films at her suburban home. This is how she meets Leo - the A-List Hollywood celeb portraying her husband in the film. Their non-traditional relationship ensues - but this is more than just a love story. It is about both Nora & Leo respectively finding happiness and meaning in their lives. READ IT - you won't be disappointed! Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the eARC! (4.5 stars)

Is it possible for a movie star to fall for a small town, single mom?

Nora Goes Off Script is a beautifully written, poignant story. It is realistic and the characters have an intense connection that literally jumps off the pages.

Leo and Nora meet when Nora writes a successful book that is being made into a movie and Leo is a high profile movie star playing the male lead in the movie. When Leo comes into town, Nora discovers he is going to be staying in a trailer on her property. She is surprised to find Leo constantly underfoot. Leo seems content to spend time in Nora’s house and he enjoys learning to do small everyday tasks.

I love how unaffected Nora is by Leo. She treats him like she would anyone else and I think that is what Leo finds so alluring about her. Nora is strong and brave but doesn’t know her worth because her ex continually put her down.

Leo is nothing like Nora imagined he would be. Underneath Leo’s movie star persona he is just a regular guy. Leo has many wonderful qualities and he is easy to like. He is easy going and laid back and he misses being normal and having a regular life.

Leo and Nora are wonderful together. They have incredible chemistry and I enjoyed all their interactions. I liked Leo and Nora individually and loved them together. Nora and Leo are both going through an emotional time in their lives. Their lives are changing and they are trying to figure out their next steps. There are also a lot of entertaining and interesting secondary characters in this story. This story sparkled and left me with a good feeling.

i've always been curious about writers creating their own fake hollywoods, and I'm sorry to say this one didn't compel me. sorry!

I absolutely adored this quintessential rom-com that follows the story of Nora, a screenwriter who typically writes formulaic romance for a Hallmark-type channel. But when her husband leaves her and her two kids behind and she feels little to no sadness about his betrayal and absence, Nora writes a drama/non-romance about the story of her husband leaving that gets turned into an actual Hollywood movie. When scenes from the movie are shot at her own house, Nora finds herself living in a bit of a different world for a few days and that surreal feeling extends when the lead actor playing her ex husband decides he needs to stay a little while longer.

Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and NetGalley for the chance to review this ARC.


This is a summer book, you know the one you want to read outside on your front porch on a rainy afternoon. Yeah that one. This book has the fan favorite grumpy/sunshine and small-town tropes that I adore so it was a great read.

Nora Goes Off Script was a delight and a perfect summer read for me. This romance hits all the marks for me. There is heart and soul in this book. The characters were loveable and had depth. What a pleasant surprise!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Books for my ARC! Published June 7th, this is Annabel Monaghan’s first book since 2017. A fun, fast-paced read perfect for summer!

Nora Hamilton is a romance channel screenwriter who has gotten used to the formulaic way of creating the perfect plot line. However when her curmudgeon husband leaves her and her two kids, Nora decides to create a screenplay inspired by her marriage’s collapse. When it gets picked up for the big screen and they decide to film on location at her house, she is flabbergasted. But what’s even more shocking is when Leo Vance, one of Hollywood’s hottest actors, gets casted as her no-good husband and ends up staying at her house.

Was it predictable? Yes. Did I predict the ending though? No. So overall it was a surprising read that would be perfect for the beach or vacation. I did feel the last 3rd was a little long and repetitive, but all-in-all a great book for anyone in a reading rut or in need of a celebrity romance thread.

This was a wonderful read!

When Nora writes a script about the breakup of her marriage, and the movie is filmed at her home, Nora meets the actor playing her ex husband. What initially starts as an awkward relationship settles into an intriguing romance. This was a sweet, cosy and witty story- perfect reading for summer with the feels of Gilmore Girls and “the Idea of You”.

Highly recommend!

Nora Hamilton is known for her screenwriting on the television screen, but after her personally inspired drama gets picked up for the big screen, Hollywood descends on her 100-year-old home to bring her story to life. When the man cast as her no-good ex-husband appears on her front porch the day after filming wraps, Nora knows her life is about to be wildly shaken up. What unfolds is part comedy, part drama, part romance, and completely heartwarming.

This book was one of my most anticipated of 2022 after hearing it be lauded as BEACH READ meets EVVIE DRAKE STARTS OVER. And unsurprisingly, this one really lived up to the hype. A quick read and one you really can’t put down, I found the characters charming and endearing, with the comedic chorus of Nora’s kids really serving as the cherry on top. Though I thought the ending was a bit fast-paced, I found it both satisfying and wanting a continuation to Nora and Leo’s story. A perfect escape for your next summer read, I highly recommend reading the story of Nora and her crew!

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this easy, feel-good, un-cheesy romance between Nora and Leo. This was one of those books that just make you smile.

This was a good wholesome love story. I really enjoyed it. It’ was fun to read also. I liked that Nora was a writes also and that she feel for an actor

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book.

First off, I LOVE the cover. That is what drew me to this book. I enjoyed the writing and this story. It followed a unique timeline and was different than other romance books I’ve ready. Given how ingrained made-for-tv romance movies were included in this book, I have to commend the author for creating an ending that I couldn’t predict and was far more evolved. I will definitely be checking out other books by this author!

The prefect summer beach/read. I could hardly put it down and loved the whole story. Will be recommending it to many this year.

Thank you Putnam Books for my gifted review copy. You can check out my interview with Annabel Monaghan on https://reallyintothis.com/

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan is the perfect summer read! It's a wonderful love story between a divorced screenwriter and a celebrity set in an idyllic small town.

There's so much to love about Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan that I made a list.

1. This book is the perfect length. Not to short, no too long. Every word is meaningful and it's not filled with unnecessary details. We get right to the heart of the matter.

2. Leo is a man of few words and I live for him. That is all. he lets his actions speak or him.

3. Nora and I would be BFFs. She's tough, disciplined, focused on what she needs todo for herself and her children after her useless husbands up and leaves them. She's the type of person who gets stuff done.

4. The kids are cute. I know some people have mixed emotions on children in romances but Nora's kids add something to the story. The stakes are higher for Nora and her family because of what they've been through. Leo is aware of that from day one.

5. This story is crisp and fresh. I couldn't put it down and would reread it again in a heartbeat.

THE VERDICT

I am Really Into This book. It's the perfect summer read and fans of Robyn Carr, Jill Shalvis & Abby Jimenez would love it!

I wanted to love this one, but started and never finished it. I swear I've read this same story at least three times this year. It's a good one, but overdone. The cover is so appealing and the synopses made it seem like something I'd enjoyz but I didn't.

2.5 stars. Sadly, I didn’t really enjoy this read… I was really expecting more from all the good reviews, but the characters felt so flat throughout! The male love interest didn’t really have a personality, other than vaguely sad, interested in Nora, and intrigued by the price of bananas. The side characters were similarly flat: Penny, Kate, & Jackie the agent were all just there for Nora to text, but nothing really happens with them. Nora just tells us that they have personalities without any of that being shown. I also hated the time jumps & how major events were just glossed over & only briefly described in retrospect. Also, the kids didn't seem like they were written to be older, and then the author just made them like 8 & 10 on whim.

I don’t know, clearly this worked for a lot of other people, but it was definitely not for me. Mild spoiler below.

[ also this miscommunication trope is generally not my favorite, but it was really really not my favorite here. I thought it was very annoyingly done.