This review is based on an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This review may contain spoilers

This was a 4.25 -star read for me

This was my first book from author Annabel Monaghan, and I cannot wait to devour the rest of her books. I absolutely loved this book so much!

I loved the enemies to lovers and the slow burn of the buildup of their story. The quirkiness of Jane was so endearing, and I couldn't help but cringe and laugh right along with her. Then along comes Dan and you can't help but just swoon. He was just so sweet and everything we want in a MMC without being over the top. He was quiet and serious, but he listens and pays attention and the things this man said, my heart!

Dan's family made such great side characters and added so much to the story. I loved every one of them! I enjoyed the plot and the pacing of this book. It had me cheering for Jane and getting to see her growth was so rewarding.

I was literally getting heart flutters every time we got a chance to see these characters really were falling in love and it was not hate that they felt for each other. There were just so many of these sweet moments and I was eating them up! I really loved that Dan was helping Jane realize her worth and that we got to see her blossom.

I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a sweet romance with just a hint of spice. This was such a feel good, feel all the feels book and this story will stick with me for awhile! "Love happens over breakfast" This was like an Emily Henry or Abby Jimenez vibe. Seriously do yourself a favor and just read this, it was so good!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#ItsaLoveStory #NetGalley

This story was an absolute gem—warm, tender, and quietly powerful. It’s one of those rare books that makes you want to linger in its world just a little longer.

The plot kicks off when Jane, a screenwriter desperate to get her project off the ground, tells a small lie that snowballs into a cross-country trip with her workplace rival, Dan. Their mission? Track down a singer from Jane’s past. But what starts as a professional scheme quickly becomes something deeper when Dan takes Jane to his childhood home—a house full of laughter, siblings, and the kind of big, messy, loving family that Jane never had.

Jane is a wonderfully layered character—offbeat, vulnerable, and deeply relatable. Her internal battles, especially around self-worth and trust, felt raw and honest. It’s not easy to unlearn the damage done by people who were supposed to love you unconditionally, and that struggle was beautifully rendered. Dan, with his quiet devotion and gentle steadiness, was the perfect counterpart to her. His introversion and need for space made so much sense, especially in contrast to his loud, affectionate family.

The dynamic between Dan and Jane was full of tension, warmth, and genuine connection. But what made this book truly shine was how it wasn’t just about romantic love—it was about belonging, healing, and learning to believe in your own worth.

Annabel Monahan’s writing has never felt more heartfelt or emotionally resonant. The pacing was effortless, the character development so rich, and the emotional payoff incredibly satisfying. I also appreciated the age of the characters—rooted in their 30s, carrying both wisdom and wounds—which gave the romance a depth and maturity that felt refreshing.

This was a story full of heart, crafted with empathy and insight. Easily one of my favorites from Monahan.

Annabel Monaghan is a must read for me with her summer romance, beach reads. She is able to blend humor and emotion and her latest is no different. The book opens with Jane, a former child sitcom actress, pitching a script. Now meet Dan, who she hears criticizing her script. She loathes Dan for ripping her script apart. Jane wants more than anything to have her script greenlit. Jane and Dan are somewhat thrown together on a project, which takes them away from LA. We meet the large Finnegan family. When I was reading and trying to remember each family member, I thought at the time it was far too many characters for me to keep up with. The Finnegan family turns out to be quite opposite and after a bit you feel like you know every one of them. I love this family, who loves to jab at one another, but also loves big! Favorite quote from Cormack, "Love happens over breakfast." I will be recommending Annabel's latest book to everyone! Its a feel good rom-com that I did not want to put down. 4.5 stars

It's a Love Story is a perfect beach read. Jane's desperate effort to reconnect with a famous musician from her past to save her movie leads her to Long Island with her colleague and sometimes nemesis Dan. Watching Jane remember how to have fun and discover another path forward was a fun and touching journey.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy. Annabel Monaghan is quickly becoming one of my must-read authors. I was so wrapped up in this story, I could not put it down. One of the lines that stuck with me the most - love happens over breakfast. Where we can be the most real with those we love and trust. No makeup, no facade.

For how much I connected with It’s a Love Story, there was no question—I had to round this up to a teeny bit of a generous 5 stars. This book had me in a chokehold. At some points I wanted to hug it. Honestly sometimes I wanted it injected directly into my bloodstream 😂

From the very beginning, I saw myself in Jane. Her dating habits, while a little intense on the surface, were (unfortunately for me) relatable. That feeling of needing be a more lesser version of who you are, just to convince someone to be with you.. The way she hyper-analyzes everything, plans outfits like she’s prepping for a role, tries to mold herself into who she thinks the other person wants her to be—I’ve lived it. I’ve talked about it in therapy so many times that I genuinely had a moment reading this like, “Wait, who gave the author my session notes??” It was raw and vulnerable and, for me, incredibly validating. My therapist would absolutely back me up on how real that experience is.

Don’t even get me started on Dan (the MMC). Literally OBSESSEDDD WITH THIS MAN. Easily one of my top book boyfriends of all time. He’s grumpy—but not really. More introspective, thoughtful, and he actually listens. His family? Also perfect. Ugh, I love them all.

And the tension!! The slow burn!!! I couldn’t stop turning the pages, but I also didn’t want it to end.

That said… I did have one gripe. I’m not usually a fan of third-act breakups, and this one did frustrate me. When Janey had her big freakout and pushed Dan away, I understood it intellectually—it made sense with her character arc and the trauma she was working through—but emotionally? I was screaming. It felt abrupt, and I hated seeing Dan get hurt like that. Thankfully, the resolution helped soften the blow. I’m also not typically into super tied-with-a-bow endings, but in this case? I needed it. The closure, the growth, the groveling (which I loved)—it all hit exactly right.

Overall, this was one of those reads that burrowed deep into my chest and just stayed there. I’ll be thinking about Jane and Dan for a long, long time. Truly might be my favorite romance read of the year.

Another solid romance from Annabel Monaghan! Her characters always feel so real and this story is no different.

Jane is a former child star working to get a script she loves made into an amazing movie. Dan is the grumpy cinematographer being brought in on the project, if they can get it green lit. After Jane oversells her relationship with a pop star, from her childhood stardom, to her boss, Dan and Jane find themselves tracking the pop star down in Dan’s hometown. The premise, although a little far fetched, brings in some interesting back story for Jane, includes Dan’s family dynamics, and creates some forced proximity for these two.


This is a love story. However, it’s also a story about the stories we choose to believe about ourselves and about the world, and how sometimes that belief doesn’t make them true. The story of how sometimes we believe the story of “he left because of you”, “you’re different and that’s bad”, “you have to be good enough in order to be loved” etc. I love watching Dan and Jane’s attitudes soften towards each other and watch Jane become more confident and more herself through the book.

Read if you…
Like forced proximity
Like going to a really good movie
Read and enjoyed “I’m Glad My Mom Died” by Jennette McCurdy
Enjoy the movie “The Notebook”
Want a story about love and stories and quirky, real, flawed characters who fall in love and screw up but come back with their broken hearts open to trying again.

I knew I’d enjoy this book, but I didn’t expect to love it this much, or to feel all the feels!

Annabel Monaghan has a way of weaving deep conversations and complex topics into a light, engaging narrative that still hits you right in the heart. The way Jane and Dan are written makes you truly understand them and their struggles. I loved their relationship from the start, and as the story unfolds, you begin to see why they react to certain things the way they do, and you stop judging them for it.

I teared up more times than I can count while reading, and to me, that’s always a sign of something special. Not necessarily because I related to everything, but because the writing made me feel everything. That’s powerful.

What I loved most is that I couldn’t stop thinking about the characters even when I wasn’t reading. I was completely hooked from the beginning.

Also, this totally reads like a rom-com, and as a bonus, one of my all-time favorite movies is referenced often as a way to reflect their relationship. That just made it even better.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️
release date: 5/27/25

I would like to hereby nominate myself as the president of the Annabel Monaghan fan club. Last year I adored Summer Romance so much, and somehow I liked this one even more. Last night I put my kids to bed, and then sat down and read this entire book in one sitting. I *inhaled* this book. The true love story is between me and this book.

It's A Love Story had several of my favorite things:
*enemies working together (they turn into lovers, duh)
*intense daddy issues
*a male lead who is the quiet, different one in his boisterous family
*forced proximity

Thanks to netgalley and putnam for the arc in exchange for my honest review

Jane Jackson spent her adolescence as "Poor Janey Jakes," the barbecue-sauce-in-her-braces punch line on America's fifth-favorite sitcom. Now she’s trying to be taken seriously as a Hollywood studio executive by embracing a new mantra: Fake it till you make it.

Desperate to get her first project greenlit and riled up by pompous cinematographer and one-time crush Dan Finnegan, she claimed that she could get mega popstar Jack Quinlan to write a song for the movie.

Now Jane must turn to the last man she’d ever want to owe: Dan Finnegan. Because Jack is playing a festival in Dan’s hometown, and Dan has an in. A week in close quarters with Dan as she faces down her past is Jane's idea of hell, but he just might surprise her.

This book was super cute and I really liked it. It’s a fun romantic comedy and will be a fun summer read. I’ve really enjoyed all of Monaghan’s book and this one is no exception. 4 ⭐️ thank you to netgalley and GP Putnams for an ARC.

This was a beautiful love story between former child star Janey Jakes (brace face), producer Jane Jackson, and pompous cinematographer and one-time crush Dan Finnegan. In the acknowledgements, I read that Jeanette McCurdy's real-life autobiography inspired Monaghan as she wrote this book. In particular, the book sparked curiosity about the backstory of the life of a former child actress and how those experiences with self-image in formative years can shape someone. The fact that the film, "The Notebook," and the shared love of a good old-fashioned tearjerker romance brought cynic Jane and realist Dan together was beautiful, too. Dan's rambunctious and tight family history, as a contrast to Jane's small family with just her mother and her provided an important differentiator between the two leads, and explained why Jane was so drawn to the Finngan clan. Jane never really had a chance to be a kid since she started acting young and was the primary financial provider. Once again, we're on Long Island in peak beach weather season. I think this book will be such a fun Summer read, much like "Summer Romance" was a few years back.

This book felt like a love letter to black sheep soft artsy introvert types. The plot was mostly character driven and both of the main character arcs were done so well.

I love everything Annabel writes. She gives us characters who have lived a lot of life and shows us we can find love at any age. She challenges the typical life timeline.

My one qualm was the dialogue felt stilted and was hard to follow every so often.

Read if you like:
💛Jennette McCrudy’s memoir
😡Enemies to lovers
🏡Small town romance
💥Big chaotic family
🎭Ex childhood actor
📍Workplace romance
☝️Single POV
❤️‍🔥Slow burn

5 stars. As with every book by Annabel Monaghan, I absolutely loved It's a Love story. Truly, I think Monaghan is my favorite author for summer reads. Her writing reminds me of Emily Henry or Katherine Center's, which means that her writing style really works for me. It's a Love Story follows Jane, is a former child star still dealing with the scars of growing up on TV. Jane's character was the opposite of main character energy, and always the butt of every joke. And although she was incredibly talented, it's a really hard pill to grow up feeling like everyone is laughing at you, and not necessarily with you. Dan is kind of her work place enemy, but she ends up needing to rely on him to potentially save her job. Jane is everything Dan's not-- she's regimented and organized and cares so much what everyone thinks about her. Dan wears his heart on his sleeve and has no problem saying what he thinks. He also may or may not own a comb or iron, and pretty much never knows where his keys or driver's license is. But the opposites attract thing really works for both of them. Honestly, I loved It's a Love Story. I loved the romance, I loved the family dynamics, and I loved the summer vibe. This is very much the type of book I could see people reading on the beach, drinking a pina coolata, with Billy Joel playing in the background. And if that's not a vibe, I don't know what is. Thank you so much to Monaghan, Putnam, and netgalley for the complimentary copy. Truly, I look forward to reading Monaghan's books ever summer, and It's a Love Story did not disappoint.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! This was a 2.5 star read for me rounded up to a 3.

This book was an easy comfort read, but didn’t wow me at all. The character development was abrupt and awkward, and the instant-love that the main character Jane experienced was cheesy and unrealistic. I found Jane to be dramatic to say the least, and if I were Dan, the MMC, I’d be running after the emotional rollercoaster she put him through.

That all said, did I absolutely hate it? No. It was slow to get into but I read the second half pretty quickly and definitely found it entertaining in some parts. I’ll still continue to read Annabel’s work, this was just was not a favorite for me.

Based on an advance review copy, "It's a Love Story" by Annabel Monaghan promises to be a deeply moving and emotionally resonant romcom, releasing on May 27, 2025.

What sets this book apart is Monaghan's exceptional ability to blend humor with raw emotion. Her writing style is effortlessly funny and sharp, while simultaneously creating characters that feel incredibly authentic and relatable. The author has a remarkable talent for crafting stories that transcend the typical romantic comedy genre, delivering narratives that resonate on a deeper emotional level.

The novel, which draws inspiration from Jeannette McCurdy's memoir, demonstrates Monaghan's skill in exploring complex emotional territories while maintaining the light-hearted elements expected of a romcom. The result is a uniquely touching story that manages to be both entertaining and profoundly moving.

Beyond its romantic elements, the story particularly excels in its character development. Monaghan's characters are compelling, and her storytelling approach creates an intimate connection with readers. I felt so seen while reading this.

This upcoming release is a strong addition to Monaghan's consistently excellent body of work, maintaining her track record of producing high-quality, emotionally impactful romance.

I loved this book! The beginning was a little slow and I was a little confused as to where it was going and which guy would be the love interest but after about the first quarter, it just snapped perfectly into place and I couldn’t put it down. Stayed up way too late reading it!

4.5 stars!!

Wow! What can I say about this book without giving major spoilers?! Jane and her adult characteristics and how the author tied her past childhood acting into who she truly is and how she acts in her adulthood was so fluidly written! At the start I truly thought the love interest would be someone else and then I was so surprised when the romance kicked in. My heart was beating so fast at parts, I cried a lot the last half of the book and truly felt for Jane when she was going through her hardship.

Annabel Monaghan is a go to author me for me! This story starts off with Jane, a former child star known for being the second act not the main character. She is trying to make a movie that she feels strongly about enough to tell her boss that a former colleague of hers (Jack) would write the main song for it, even though they haven't spoken in years and he was pretty unkind to her then (when they were teens). Dan, a photographer "friend" of hers volunteers to have her go to Long Island with him and stay with his family so she can meet up with Jack, a now famous singer. While there Dan, who was just a friend seems to allow Jane to open up and discover herself aside from the character she once played on screen or who she thinks she needs to be in life. She let's go of the feelings of unworthiness until she meets up with Jack and they are brought to the surface again. Dan, who had become so much more than a friend, is pushed away by Jane but can the strength of their feelings for each other help them get over the past emotions that have come up?

I love this author and the fact that she can write a romance novel with just a hint of spice but still make you feel like it is incredibly tense is amazing! This book is a slow burn but it was worth it. I loved how it took them a bit to get used to each other but little by little the friendship starts to melt away into some serious feelings! I would highly recommend! 4.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley, Annabel Monaghan, and Penguin Books Putnam for allowing me to review this ARC!

Annabel Monaghan is the queen of summer romances, and I absolutely loved this one! The cozy beach vibes, the raw emotion, the love stories, the character growth… so good! I wish I could read it for the first time again.

I absolutely loved this book. The characters felt relatable and while with romance you do anticipate a certain amount of the plot, I found myself falling in love with them, and wanting to feel the butterflies of new love again with them, down to the subtle details like hands resting on the small of the back, etc. Jane felt real from the beginning and cheering for her to succeed is a huge motivator.