I started reading this story, expecting it to be a light summer romance, but it ended up making me feel so much.

Jane is a former child star who’s trying to put her past behind her while trying to become a respected Hollywood executive. She has to end up working alongside Dan, a creative studio executive, who she can’t stand, to get a script green-lit.

Throughout the story, you see from multiple angles how trapped Jane feels in her past identifies, while simultaneously seeing her fall in love for the first time with someone who doesn’t check all of her boxes.
Love, in itself, is an emotion that Jane has struggled with because of past experiences with her mother. It’s a beautiful journey seeing her walls come down when she is around Dan and his family and seeing how effortless love can actually be; that it is something she is worthy of having.

Aside from the emotions, this was a fun, workplace enemies to lovers, forced proximity romance with amazing banter. Jane and Dan’s personalities bounce off of each other effortlessly - I couldn’t stop smiling or laughing the entire time. It’s the perfect summer/beach read.

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

There is nothing like a new Annabel Monaghan book to give me a good Nora Ephron 90s rom com dopamine buzz. It’s got loads of witty banter, sexual tension, messy family issues, and emotional complexity. (Plus a ton of references to the movie “The Notebook.”) I love a good forced proximity trope, so when Jane and Dan have to travel together to secure music for their movie soundtrack, you KNOW it’s going it’s going to get good!

As always with Monaghan’s books, there’s plenty of emotional punch for both characters. Dan wrestles with being the creative introvert who doesn’t quite fit in his big family. Jane’s got a whole suitcase full of emotional baggage just waiting to be unpacked with the right person.

Dan’s parents are my favorite side characters; the way that they talk to each other and relate to their family is so sweet.

Loved this so much book that I read it in one sitting!

Another Annabel Monaghan book that I loved reading! The descriptive settings are always a treat and this was no different! This was an uplifting and lovely read and really felt like I knew the characters. I love a summer Annabel read and always look forward to them.

A former child star who is trying to make a (new) name for herself is forced to team up with her one-time-crush-turned-nemesis in an effort to get her first movie greenlit. There's so many more layers to this story, but that's all you need to know before diving it.

I don't really know how to review any Annabel Monaghan book other than to say READ IT!!! I have loved every book she was written so far, and It's a Love Story is no exception. I laugh, and I cry. I highlight quotes and passages. I want to be best friends with the characters because they feel so real.

I love a rom com about an "older" couple. This was my favorite from this author so far, and I've read them all!

Truly one of my favorite authors and such a good story complete with a great family of string background characters and a believable love. Huge fan of the story, and I need a spin off in this world asap’

I loved this book! Annabel Monaghan always does a great job of keeping her romance novels lighthearted, while not feeling silly or pointless. Vacation-settings were super enjoyable, and i loved the male main character! This author writes some of the best romantic chemistry in the game, and did not disappoint with this book!

* former child star MC
*enemies to lovers
*history

This was my first time reading the author and it won’t be the last but I didn’t love this. I loved the idea of it, but ultimately found it predictable, and Jane insufferable.

I will read the author’s work, but this one was not for me.



Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for the DRC

I had a big, goofy smile on my face the entire time I was reading this. It was such a sweet story!

‘It’s A Love Story’ follows a woman named Jane, a former child actor who got her start on a successful sitcom. On it, she played the goofy best friend — and ever since, she’s been trying to get Hollywood to take her seriously.

Today she works as a studio executive sifting through tons of scripts, and she thinks she finally believes she has found the perfect one to prove herself. However, in order to get it greenlit by the studio, she has to get another former child star turned pop star to write an original song for the film — but she hasn’t spoken to him since he knew her in her role as poor Janey Jakes. Is there anyone out there who will take her seriously as an adult? Will she ever see the same success as her childhood stardom?

Author Annabel Monaghan writes in the acknowledgements that she was inspired to write this book after reading the autobiography ‘I’m Glad My Mom Died’ by Jennette McCurdy, who spent her childhood starring on Nickelodeon’s ‘iCarly.’ Though I have yet to read that book, I was so intrigued to read Monaghan describing what it was like for her lead character to try and reciprocate her same childhood success in adulthood.

While everyone is always talking about Monaghan’s previous book ‘Nora Goes Off Script,’ I actually enjoyed this one even more! There are so many feel-good moments that had me feeling all warm and fuzzy. I highly recommend giving this a read if you love a good romance!

And since it is a love story, after all, there are loads of references to ‘The Notebook,’ so make sure you’ve seen that movie before reading this book. It will make you appreciate all of the romantic gestures in this even more.

It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan was a RIDE! Annabel Monaghan books are typically some of my favorite introspective, relationally driven, female-based reads and this was no exception!

Favorite Aspects:
• The SETTING!!! I love the way that Annabel describes settings, but it REALLY got me in this book. I’m a sucker for an east coast/coastal setting and pairing that with Annabel’s writing made me fall in love with our setting and surroundings for a good portion of this book.
• I have always enjoyed when books have great side characters, but the way that Annabel wrote Dan’s family was absolutely perfect for this story. I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know every detail about each family member, adult or child, and the way that Jane/Dan interacted with all of them. Probably one of my favorite parts of the book overall.
• I loved Jane’s humor. I always love a funny fmc with a PERSONALITY! I enjoyed watching Jane discover that it’s ok to take her mask off and be who she is.

What I Didn’t Love:
• I wish that we would’ve focused on the overall issues with her Dad, as opposed to the ‘smaller’ issue with Jack. I don’t want to spoil for readers so I won’t say more than that, but just wish we could’ve spent more time on the deeper issue as opposed to what we thought Jane was hung up on.

It must be getting close to summer if I’m reading a new Annabel Monaghan book! I’ve read every book she’s published and this felt like more a return to her first bestseller, Nora Goes Off Script. If you’ve enjoyed her other books then you will love following Jane’s journey as she navigates trying to leave her childhood persona behind all while trying to advance her career and not fall in love with her work guy’s family and town. This was a total hit for me and will make the perfect beach or chill read❤️ And on a personal note, while reading the book I pictured a specific famous childhood actress and imagine my surprise when I got to the author’s note and found that was an inspiration for the author so I say job well done on translating that!

I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend! It’s a great summer vibes story. Thank you netgalley for an arc of this book, I really appreciate it.

Thank you to @NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC of Annabel Monaghan’s newest novel, "It’s a Love Story." If you loved Nora Goes Off Script, Same Time Next Summer, or Summer Romance, this one is a must-add to your TBR list!

While it starts off slow and a bit messy, that's exactly what makes Janey Jackson so endearing. I thoroughly enjoyed how the author crafted this enemies-to-lovers tale. With the "one that got away" and a wildly far-fetched plan, there's plenty of slapstick comedy to enhance this story about love, family, and realizing our parents are human too.

The characters have enough emotional depth to make this more than just a celeb-adjacent, showbiz story. Jane’s journey will captivate you and make #ItsALoveStory a favorite read this summer.

#netgalley #itsalovestory #annabelmonaghan #putnampublishing #booktok #bookstagram #books #booklover #bookrecommendations #bookish #bookworm #reading #bookreview #bookaddict #booknerd #readersofinstagram #bookcommunity #romancebooks #bookblogger #romance #bookshelf #bibliophile #reader #bookrecs #kindleunlimited #booksofinstagram #bookclub #bookphotography #booklovers #realtorreads #soldbyjori #livingonthehill

"It feels good to want something for someone else, something that has nothing to do with you, just because you care about them."

Annabel Monaghan has done it again! She never disappoints when it comes to delivering a 5-star read for me. It's a Love Story is exceptionally heartwarming. I love the way everyone shows their love for one another in different ways. For some love happens over breakfast, for others it's in the quiet moments or at crowded table with your "mob" of a family who likes to pick fun at you. An absolute must read this Summer!

Thanks Annabel Monaghan, NetGalley, and Putnam books for the eARC!

Annabel Monaghan writes truly enjoyable romance novels. It's a Love Story was such a fun read. It keep me engaged the entire time, and of course, it's always nice to have the happy ending.

Annabel Monaghan…👏👏👏

I have a new favorite book now! This was precious! I could have read it in one day but I wouldn’t let myself. I wanted to savor all the things!

I never EVER highlight in a book but I did with this one! The way this author infuses witty quotes and inner dialogue is just incredible. I loved it. The characters, setting, the family (“The Mob”)…the ROMANCE! It is perfection.

I one million percent recommend this one. Five stars is not enough. It’s like a romance with a hug and Dan is THE book boyfriend of 2025.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this as an ARC.

Jane has found a movie script she loves, but is worried her nemesis Dan will torpedo it like he did her last one. Surprisingly, he likes it, but they have to convince the boss to greenlight it. Jane overpromises by saying she is good friends with a famous singer and could get him to write a song for the soundtrack and then needs Dan to help her try to make it happen. Luckily, his family lives on Long Island where Jack (the singer) is performing that weekend and it just so happens to be his parents' 40th wedding anniversary celebration. Jane sees a new side to Dan when he's with his family, one she really likes. But she's used to hurt and disappointment in love and so is reluctant to risk her heart. However, Dan may be just the person to knock down every one of her defenses.

I really enjoyed Dan's family and Jane's transformation. It was a fun and sexy story.

“Tonight I felt what it is to want someone else’s happiness more than anything. I felt what it is to lend someone else your bravery and then to be brave yourself.”

An enemies to lovers story where the “love” is inspired by the MMC parents’ love story. The FMC tries to overcome her past and how she has protected herself from love as she equates love to stupidity/pain, etc. I struggled with how much the FMC let others define her perception of herself for so long after the fact. And then the MMC falls in love with the “real” version of herself but she couldn’t possibly believe him because love doesn’t exist and she isn’t worthy of it. This FMC had no self worth and then ultimately had the MMC basically help her recognize her worth instead of her. There were great parts, especially showing her the love of a rowdy Irish family unit but I wish the FMC wasn’t constantly berating herself. She eventually came around but sought a great deal of external validation to get there.

Thank you to Putnam Books for this ARC.

Perfect beach read. A very consumable enemies-to-lovers plot line, with many likeable characters.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

Overall, this was a cute, fun read! I enjoyed Jane and Dan’s story, including “the Mob” and Clem. I did find the writing to be a little choppy at times and this started a little slow. But it did pick up once Jane and Dan were on Long Island. Definitely would recommend this for a beach read!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!