I am so grateful for this eARC, and I didn’t want to put it down. Jane & Dan’s stories are woven with parent expectations, secrets, and the desire to tell stories through film and photography. All told from Jane’s POV, we watch this enemies-at -work trope shift when Jane exposes her celebrity childhood and the baggage it brings to her present. Inspired by McCurdy’s story, “I’m glad my mom died,” I love how Monaghan explores the concept of living in a script. Her writing is beautiful, and Dan’s desire to find himself in a house filled with look-alike brothers and careers that are dependable is such a great message to the readers. Living by any script has its consequences no matter the outcomes we think it will have.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐! Another 5 star read from Annabel Monaghan!

Jane Jackson needs a win. Her adolescence was one big punchline as the nerdy tagalong on a teen sitcom. Her first attempt to get a screenplay greenlit was thwarted by a haughty (and also hottie!) cinematographer. Try as she might to play the part of the perfect date, she can't seem to get past the third date with anyone. She needs a win. So, when the perfect love story script lands in her lap, she does whatever necessary to keep it alive, even if that is promising a song for the soundtrack from a popstar she knew back in her sitcom days. Jane and haughty (hottie!) cinematographer Dan set out to make it happen in his Long Island hometown. Making the perfect love story into a movie would be a huge win for Jane, but maybe learning how to be herself and finding love along the way would be even better.

Annabel Monaghan does such a fantastic job of weaving our favorite tropes (Friends to lovers! Forced proximity! Grand gesture!) into a story in a way that is not cliched or cringey. What a great way to start off the summer reading season! Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced copy.

#itsalovestory #netgalley

Another absolutely beautiful story by Annabel! Her prose are so easy to get lost in. I loved the concept of this one and the heavy and introspective topics it touched on. I didn’t know I would resonate with it so much when i first picked it up but i definitely saw some of myself in Jane, the main character. Not your typical love story but heartwarming just the same

This book is a love story; messy, magnetic, and had me swooning. Annabel Monaghan does it again with a romance that had me grinning at multiple moments. The chemistry crackles, the banter is top-tier, and the emotional beats hit just right. It’s got all the charm of a rom-com with the heart of something deeper. Plus, Monaghan’s writing is like a warm latte with extra whip: comforting, clever, and totally addictive, as always!

If you love second chances, slow burns, or stories that feel like summer and soulmates, this one's for you. Add it to your TBR, you’ll thank me later.

Thank you to Penguin Group for the ARC.

It’s a Love Story by @annabelmonaghan is more than just a romance—it’s a heartfelt journey of self-discovery, healing, and learning to see yourself the way someone who loves you does. Jane has spent years feeling like the sidekick in her own life, doubting her worth both personally and professionally. But as she embarks on a high-stakes, slightly chaotic mission to get her passion project greenlit, she’s forced to confront the things holding her back. And through it all, there’s Dan—steady, patient, and always believing in her, even when she can’t quite believe in herself. Their connection is undeniable, built on years of tension, unspoken feelings, and perfectly timed banter that had me grinning the whole way through.

What makes this book so special, though, is Monaghan’s writing. The setting feels cinematic, the characters are layered and deeply real, and every moment—whether lighthearted or emotional—lands with impact. The way Jane finds her way back to herself, not just through romance but through taking risks and realizing her own strength, made this story feel even more rewarding. And Dan? He’s the kind of leading man who doesn’t need grand gestures to prove his love—it’s in the way he sees her, supports her, and never wavers. This book had me swooning, laughing, and tearing up all at once, and I already know it’s one I’ll be recommending to everyone.

This book was an absolute delight from the romance, to the side quests that they went on, this is such a PERFECT summer read! So far I am four for four with Annabel Monaghan's books - everything she puts out just hits, and I think this may be her best one yet.


Thanks to Penguin and NetGalley for the ARC!

Having been a big fan of Annabel Monaghans previous books, I had high hopes for her newest, but around 25% I was ready to DNF Its a Love Story. Jane was a hard character to like or connect to, the story was slow and felt a little scattered. I gave it was few more chapters and things picked up for a bit, I enjoyed Jane and Dan’s time in Long Island, but things got slower and scattered again and I finished the book because I had read most of it at this point. Even though this book fell short for me, I’ll likely pick up Monaghans next book.
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Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Annabel Monaghan delivers the ultimate summer romcom getaway with It’s a Love Story! This charming novel had everything I love in a feel-good romance: workplace tension, enemies/rivals-to-lovers sparks, vacation vibes, forced proximity, and of course — the classic one-bed situation.

Set against the backdrop of both a cozy small town and the hustle of the big city, this story follows Jane, a former TV sitcom star trying to find her way, and Dan, a talented cinematographer. I absolutely adored Jane’s inner dialogue — witty, relatable, and full of heart — and Dan was the perfect match for her. Their chemistry jumped right off the page!

Monaghan’s writing is witty, heartfelt, and endlessly charming, with just the right amount of romantic tension. The romance is sweet and “fade to black,” making it a great recommendation for readers who love a softer touch to their love stories.

Releasing May 21st, It’s a Love Story is the perfect book to toss into your beach bag this summer. Light, funny, and full of heart — it’s everything a summer romance should be!

Quote: "This feels like wealth, I think. This is the feeling you save up for. You live your whole life so that you can be surrounded by too many people in too small of a room and tell the story of how it all happened."

Oh my goodness. First things first, I’ll always pick up a book that reminds me of a Taylor Swift song. I am who I am.

“It's a Love Story” was a pleasant, slow burn, couldn't put it down by the end kinda read.

In the beginning, I struggled with Jane, and her ways, her self-doubt, her “everyone out to get me vibe.” And, I questioned how Dan would fit into her puzzle.

But, this book, is in fact, a love story. By the time I’’d gotten 40% through, I understood Jane and the armor she hid behind. By 70% through, I walked the dogs, Kindle in hand, because I needed to know what happened next.

Through these pages, Jane grew. Jane faced herself and Dan gave her the space to do that, while loving her endlessly. She’s one of the most complex characters I’ve read in a while, and I need more.

A great, 5-star read, that’ll leave you saying, “it’s a love story, baby say yes!”

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Annabel Monaghan is a must read author for me, and It's a Love Story solidified that. I love how she describes the main characters in such an endearing way. By the end of the book, I felt like they were my friends and I was proud of how they worked through their own issues, both family and relationship based, to be a strong team. My favorite parts of this book were those set on Long Island. The Finnegan family and their quintessential beach town activities jumped right off the pages. Although this isn't my favorite of her books, I definitely think it will be a hit and am so appreciative that I had the opportunity to read it and provide feedback in advance of the release.

II received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Annabel Monaghan is one of my auto-buy authors so I have been looking forward to reading this book. Let me just say- it did not disappoint! MMC Dan was swoonworthy. Funny, sweet, thoughtful, honest. FMC Jane was so real and relatable, evolving through her past and present and coming into herself. I LOVED Dan's big family dynamics! Lots of laughing, lots of feelings. TONS OF HEART!!

Annabel Monaghan has gained a new fan!
It's a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan centers on Jane Jackson, a former child star trying to reinvent herself as a Hollywood executive. When she lies about getting a famous pop star involved in her film project, she turns to her old crush, Dan Finnegan, for help. Spending a week in his hometown forces Jane to confront her past — and opens the door to unexpected love and a fresh start.

This was my first book of Annabel Monaghan's, and I had high expectations because I got to see her moderate an interview with Tessa Bailey; she was HILARIOUS so I knew her writing would be too! Not only did Annabel make me giggle, she also made me feel like I was in the book with the characters. I was in a bit of a reading slump before reading this one, so the beginning was slow for me, but the way Annabel writes romantically and sexually tense moments between the characters made it hard to put the book down. Some other authors I would compare Annabel Monaghan to would be Carley Fortune and Rebecca Serle, because they all know how to describe the setting of a story with so much detail that it feels like I'm really there.
The main reason I gave this one 4.5 stars is because I was a bit confused in the beginning of the story. Jane was so confident in this screenplay True Story, but the way it was described made it sound like she had written it herself, so I was just a bit thrown off and the book didn't draw me in as much as it usually would for that reason.
Other than that small thing, I absolutely LOVE Annabel Monaghan's writing, and I can't wait to pick up more of her books!

First, I was beyond excited to be given an ARC for this story. This author has been on my never ending TBR and I wish I had picked up her books sooner. I loved the Hollywood vibes and big loud family in this book. It gives slight enemies to lovers feels but more like big miscommunications. The FMC is forever afraid to be herself and the MMC doesn’t want to be anyone but who he is. Sounds like a perfect match right?! The author does a good job with character growth through out. There are also tons of funny, witty banter that keeps the story moving. I love a good rom-com and this checks all the boxes!

3.75 rounded up.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC ebook.
This started off SO strong for me. In the beginning I truly felt like this was going to be a 5 star read for me. The dialogue was SO good between the characters and so funny. I loved the relationship with Clem & Jane. I also loved the banter between Dan & Jane. The side characters were well written. This was fun and light but also had some heavy topics involved as well. It fell off for me a bit in the second half. There were still plenty of parts I loved but some of it felt so rushed and Jane got on my nerves a lot towards the end. Alas I did enjoy it enough to almost give it four stars so I would say it’s worth the read!

I’ve enjoyed all of Annabel Monaghan’s previous books, but It’s a Love Story really stood out, this one felt extra special. The characters had a spark that felt effortless, the emotions hit just right, and the story unfolded with a warmth and charm that pulled me in completely. It had everything I love about her writing, just turned up a notch. This might just be my favorite of hers yet.

I could not read this fast enough, I loved it! I could not read this slow enough, I never wanted it to end! It’s heart-warming. It’s heartbreaking. It’s quiet. It’s over-talking. It’s easy-going. It’s complicated. True story. Love Story. It’s everything you want in a story!

Jane is a former childhood actress and now a wanna be producer. Dan is an introverted cinematographer. Their characters are perfectly imperfect and you can’t help but root for their happiness.

My new favorite from Annabel Monaghan! Go buy this book immediately, you will love it! It’s everything!

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I adored this story. Annabel’s characters just keep getting better. I could not put this one down.

Thank you to Netgalley and Putnam for this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in return for an honest review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I love a good rockstar/hollywood romance novel and this one was perfect. If you like Annabel Monaghan’s other books then you will love this one as well. I feel in love with the characters and was entertained the whole time.

I always love books from Annabel Monaghan! I couldn't wait to read this and I finished it in a plane ride.

The main characters were likable and realistic from the moment we meet them. I loved the POV of a child star growing up and trying to figure out who they are. Jane's support system of a close friend and her mom felt realistic and natural. It's challenging to meet people and make friends as an adult and this book felt like a true to life version of how our supports change as we grow out of college and get into a career.

The pros: fun and descriptive settings, believable romance between the two main characters, learning about scripts/options/movie biz, light but touching writing.

Cons: None, I loved it!


This book felt like a fluffy read but as you get further in you realize how deep and full of feeling it is (without sacrificing any of the humor!).

This book grabbed my attention right from the beginning and was an easy read all the way through. This will be a great read. It will be a great summer book/ beach read and great if you are interested in Long Island as a setting. There were also a few lines that had me giggling.

This is now my fourth Annabel Monaghan book, and I can't wait for her next.