I always feel like I'm apart of the story alongside the characters in Annabel's books. I enjoyed this one overall. I thought the dialogue and banter was fun and light. It had nothing super serious like some of her books but it was a good enjoyable read!

thank you for the arc!!!

It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan

What it’s about:
Jane—former child star and goofy sidekick on a NOT Disney Channel TV show—has finally found The Script™️ to make it big as a serious Hollywood producer. The problem is her studio will only greenlight it if she lands a major commercial partner. So, naturally, Jane lies through her teeth, claiming she can convince her childhood crush-turned-global pop icon to write an original song for the movie… despite their only interaction being a single, incredibly awkward 24-hour encounter over a decade ago. No pressure.

Enter Dan: a broody, art-house cinematographer who once derailed one of Jane’s projects but now sees The Script™️’s potential and wants in. Conveniently, Dan has five brothers back home on Long Island, one of whom can get them into a music festival where said global pop star is performing. Cue a harebrained, only-in-romance-novels plan to crash at Dan’s chaotic Irish-American family’s house for a week. Sparks fly, brothers roast each other mercilessly, and chaos ensues. What follows is a heartwarming, laugh-out-loud love story filled with unforgettable characters and family dynamics that will tug at your heartstrings.

My thoughts: Five stars, no notes.
I went into this book expecting a fun, light read, and instead, I was absolutely blown away. This book is phenomenal.

Annabelle Monaghan’s writing is sharp, funny, and profoundly moving. The banter is top-notch, the family dynamics are perfection, and the characters are unforgettable. Jane is witty, self-deprecating, and deeply relatable—battling insecurities that feel both uniquely Hollywood and universally human. Dan, on the other hand, is her total opposite. As the black sheep of his big, boisterous family, Dan knows exactly who he is and fiercely protects that sense of self. He refuses to conform to societal expectations or the pressures of his salt-of-the-earth upbringing.

I loved the contrast between Dan’s quiet, unshakable confidence and Jane’s performative, people-pleasing nature. While Jane has spent her life trying to entertain and bring joy to others, Dan is rooted in authenticity, unafraid to stand apart. Watching their relationship evolve was such a joy—they push each other in all the best ways, helping one another find strength in their vulnerabilities.

Dan’s family dynamic also stole the show for me. Watching Jane (an only child) navigate the chaos of his five brothers and their kids was hilarious and heartfelt—big family energy at its finest. The juxtaposition between Dan’s loud, loving “mob” and Jane’s smaller, more guarded inner circle was beautifully written and added so much depth to the story.

This is more than a love story—it’s about finding peace in who you are, letting go of the pressure to constantly achieve, and learning to appreciate the beauty of the everyday. I adored every moment of it, and I hope you do too when it releases on May 29.

Thank you to @NetGalley and @PutnamBooks for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Annabel Monaghan does it again! It’s a Love Story was emotional, impactful, hopeful, and heartwarming. Jane’s feelings of being inadequate and insignificant really punched a hole in my heart. Her emotions were so palpable and relatable that I couldn’t help myself but root for her.

I was hoping that Jane’s inevitable collision with Jack would be a larger part of the story but the fact that it wasn’t, unfortunately, proved Jane’s feelings of being unremarkable. Although I understand that was the point, as the reader I was hoping for a little bit more.

4/5

I’ve really enjoyed some of Annabel Monaghan’s books but this one wasn’t quite a hit for me.

I didn’t love the female main character, Jane. By the end of the story, I feel like she never gained the self love or confidence that it felt the author was reaching for. I wasn’t crazy about the male main character, Dan either, but I did enjoy his family’s role in the story. I didn’t really feel like intense chemistry or build up between these characters who despised each other for so long then suddenly fell in love when Jane spent a week at Dan’s family’s home????? Felt almost random to me.

Jack Quinlan? Also a horrible character and never got what was coming for him. I feel like the story was meant to focus more on him but it ended up being a “love” story about Jane and Dan with Jack almost feeling like a “oh, we forgot about this part of the story”.

Overall, I didn’t feel a strong connection to the characters or the storyline but I do think many other readers will enjoy this one

Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

Another 5 star read for me. Annabel is a rock star at writing compelling characters and charming real life love stories. It had a mix of tropes but done in really toned down ways that I enjoyed. I also really loved the side characters in this and thought they added a lot to the story.

This is my favorite book of hers so far. This book touched the deepest part of my soul in the way that Dan, so steadfast in who he is, was able to heal the insecurities that Jane had simply by loving her exactly how she was. I loved Dan’s large and loving family and I also loved the friendship between Clem & Jane who exemplify what it means to know your friend truly and help them (like restocking their closet candy, IYKYK). Also the dynamic between Jane & her mom was so heartfelt, both of them learning to love. My favorite line from this book is “Love happens over breakfast” because I think it encapsulates everything love is supposed to be in all the quiet moments of everyday life.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Annabel Monaghan for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

When I tell you Annabel Monaghan can write her face off…❤️❤️

This summer I picked up Summer Romance on a whim. It surprised the heck out of me and was easily a 5⭐️ read for me. When this one became available on NetGalley I clicked so quick!

Annabel has such a talent for writing simple things beautifully. I find myself highlighting the mess out of her books, slowing down to reread sentences because they just resonate so deeply. Her ability to capture complex characters and an ensemble of compelling and nuanced family members with their own unique dynamics in relation to one another and the MCs is astounding. I wanted Dan & Jane’s HEA, but I also hated to leave these characters on the page.

Immediately going back to devour the rest of her backlist. Can’t wait for the next one!

This book feels like a Nora Ephron movie. A real 80's, 90's rom-com energy coming from these pages. What a blessing on 2025. Two loveable but flawed people effortlessly fall in love. A cast of characters that are so delightfully human. The Big Declaration of Love at the end is one of the best I've ever read in a romance novel. Hand to God. Also, I won't ever forget some of the details. Navy blue eyes, blue polka dot bathing suit, a 6-year-old making you a friendship bracelet.

Annabel Monaghan is very good at writing. Full stop. I love her stories about adults striving to feel deserving enough for the big love they feel. Her books are all very adult and human. Not to mention full of wit and charm. It's impossible not to fall in love with Dan and Jane. If you read one romance novel this year, let it be this one. It was like a warm, soft hug.

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely adored this book! The slow-burn romance was perfectly done, and I never expected Dan to be the love interest at first. But as the story unfolded, I completely fell for him. The family dynamic was chaotic in the best way—it made me love them even more.

Seeing Dan and Jane accept each other for who they truly were was so heartwarming. Their journey felt real, messy, and full of love. This story needs to become a movie immediately—it’s just that good! Five stars!

Adorableee! This one had me giggling but also had a considerable amount of depth for a beach read. Annabel Monaghan’s books get better each time. I also love that the title is a subtle Taylor swift reference. Really loved the love story and especially loved the finnegan family. Everyone should pick this up as a summer read! Thank you for the ARC.

3.75/5

"love happens over breakfast" (picture me sobbing)

this is my very first book by miss annabel monaghan. i have been meaning to get into her books because of their popularity and because of how summery they are. this being my first book of the new year was a completely random choice, i literally read the ARC in about four hours. my feelings about this story are very conflicting. i went in expecting this to be a love story with someone else, so its my bad for reading the synopsis wrong.

jane and dan, bland names for bland characters. thats wayyyyyyyyy too harsh actually but i'm sticking with it. their romance was very romantic and the scenes of them on long island were cute and rom-commy but the rest of their story fell flat and that is why this book isn't a four star. i don't understand their jobs, their lives, or anything about them other than their interest in each other. both characters needed more characterization, or maybe its just me and i didn't connect with either of them for whatever reason.

by the end i was rooting for them but i just felt out of the story. i am interested to see what other people think when this book comes out in may. the romance was written very well and the found family was amazing but then there are elements of the story that feel random or discarded. the writing is very movie-esque though and i am excited to pick up another book by this author in the summer time!

*thank you netgalley and putnam for the arc*

What a great read to start the new year!! This book started out a little slowly for me but it quickly sucked me in and I couldn’t put it down.

Jane, a former teenage TV star, has been battling demons her whole life - she never feels quite good enough. She has big emotions and when she shows those emotions, she sadly gets labeled as crazy. Jane is attempting to make a name for herself by having a new movie script get the green light. Unfortunately, the cinematographer for the movie is Dan, a man she met several months before who called her crazy.

In efforts to get the green light, Jane and Dan work together to try and secure a famous singer to write a song for the movie. Said singer is a ghost from Jane’s teenage past. In order to snag him, Jane and Dan travel to Dan’s hometown for his parents wedding anniversary. The singer is performing in this town and they have plans to meet with him.

Dan is one of five brothers in the Finnegan family. I loved this family, as did Jane, who didn’t get to grow up with a family like that. As they work toward meeting the singer, Jane and Dan’s distaste for each other slow turns to more.

This book was comical, sweet, and full of witty banter! Annabel Monaghan has quickly become a favorite of mine and I look forward to each of her new books. Definitely read this one!

Thanks Net Galley and Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC and the chance to read this early!!

I've been a BIG fan of Annabel Monaghan for a while & when I heard she wrote a new romance book, you better believe I pursued reading it.
Thank you, #NetGalley, for allowing me to read It's a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan. I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own, but please add this fantastic romance story to your TBR list.
Jane was a childhood actor & has never been able to step out of that role. Jane continues to work in Hollywood & she found the perfect script to be made into a romantic film. Dan is a talented cinematographer with an amazing eye for art. These two, professionally, don't make the best first impression on each other, but they both love this script & want to make it into a movie. There are a few hurdles they need to overcome to make this movie, which takes them both to Long Island & his childhood bedroom surrounded by Dan's big, loud family. Lots of self-reflection, a sprinkling of passion, & plenty of romance in this great story.

Jane Jackson is tender-hearted, wickedly funny, and so relatable in all her insecurities. Dan Finnegan is a total dreamboat. Will Dan's ability to prioritize himself and his needs rub off on Jane? Only time will tell.

Not as big of a fan of the heroine in this one. I felt like she was almost a caricature, which is a little sad because I liked Jeannette McCurdy’s book very much and really liked that it was Monaghan’s inspiration—it made sense but wasn’t too overt, and tracked with my favorite of Monaghan’s books, Nora Goes Off Script.

Once we got past my initial dislike of the heroine, I really liked this, I thought the love story was very sweet but also included authentic struggles and an authentic way of working through them. My only other gripe is I felt like we didn’t SUPER resolve a few storylines; the “ghost-singing” resolution was a bit too rushed for me, and I feel like there could have been more with the “naming this guy’s dad Dad in my phone” moment. Overall very cute and enjoyed it but not as good as Nora or Summer Romance (but better than Same Time Next Summer). Not all rankings are that simple but that’s mine for AM!

I adored this book! Watching two people fall in love is so satisfying, but this one also manages to feel like something that real people could experience. Really beautiful, sweet, and so genuinely happy.

You know how sometimes you pick up a book expecting a light read, but it ends up making you feel things? That's what Annabel Monaghan gives us here. Our heroine Jane Jackson is a former child actor trying to outrun her awkward past by becoming this polished studio exec. But then she backs herself into a corner by claiming she can get megastar Jack Quinlan (yes, the guy behind her most mortifying teenage moment) to write a song for her film. Cue the chaos!

Enter Dan Finnegan, this cinematographer who's supposedly her rival but might just be exactly what she needs. The way these two bounce off each other is pure gold - he sees right through her Hollywood façade and somehow manages to be both incredibly annoying and endearing at the same time. And his family? They're like this force of nature that slowly helps Jane remember who she really is beneath all that polish.

I really enjoyed watching Jane's walls come down. There's something so relatable about someone who's tried so hard to be "perfect" finally learning it's okay to just be herself. And the romance? It's got that slow-burn thing that makes you want to grab both characters and say "Just kiss already!"
The only letdown comes near the end - the final conflict feels a bit forced, like when a TV show needs drama for drama's sake. It's still a good ending, just not quite as satisfying as it could have been. If you've read Monaghan's Nora Goes Off Script, you might notice this one doesn't hit quite the same emotional depths.

But don't let that stop you! This book is like a warm hug with a side of witty banter. While it might not be Monaghan's best work, it's still a charming read that'll leave you smiling. Four stars - definitely worth curling up with on a cozy evening.

Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for sharing this one of the most anticipated romances' digital copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

What an absolutely incredible read. Annabel is fully cementing herself in the romance/rom-com author category and I am fully here for it (also will unapologetically recommend her to anyone who will listen!).

Why do I love a good love story with some Hollywood vibes but not with the typical "Hollywood" that is today's time? Meet Jane and Dan. Dan with the man bun.

From the main characters to the side characters, every single one of them is absolutely loveable in every way shape and form. Except for Brooke. Okay and maybe one other person, but we won't get into that one. Side note - can we all have a friend like Clem?

I was absolutely hooked when I started reading this one, so hooked I finished it in one sitting, so engrossed in the writing.

Annabel, can you make a sequel so we can read all about how this turns out? You know what I am talking about!

Also Jeanette - you should go grab a copy of this - and if she isn't reading this, then Annabel your assistant/publisher needs to send a copy to her to read, I think she will love it.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for my ARC!

Annabel Monaghan has cemented herself as a must read author in Romance. Her characters have the depth I’m looking for and a strong background.

This is the second book that I've read by this author. I think the first thing that threw me was that I was expecting an older couple but these two were adults that behaved like coeds that skipped their much needed therapy sessions. I loved the dynamic of Dan's family and Clem was hands down my favorite character - we all need a friend like her.