I couldn’t put this down! I had to know what happens between Janey and Dan! The enemy/friends/dating back and forth just made me want to keep reading. It had me rooting for their movie to be made too!

In It's a Love Story, former child star Joni, in a desperate attempt to keep her Hollywood producing job, leverages an old connection and flies across the country to make a deal to save her career. Add in Dan, a handsome cinematographer whose honesty and kindness both irritates and attracts Joni, and this love story has its leads.

Annabel Monaghan's writing style, full of complex but relatable characters, humor, cinematic scenes, and emotional depth makes It's a Love Story difficult to put down. There are lots of fun pop-culture references, several spicy (and sandy) beach encounters, and a very important bird of prey. Monaghan skillfully leads readers through Joni's love story, which is turns out to not just be a single story, but an anthology of love.

Recommended for anyone who loves rom-coms, beach vacations, and eating ice cream while riding a bike in the sunshine.

#ItsaLoveStory #NetGalley

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. This review is entirely my own.

I have to realize that this author is not for me. I enjoyed her first two books but havent been able to finish a book since. This book was a DNF at 40%.

This author is an auto read for me and I look forward to her summer reads each year as she seems to be on a book per year schedule. It took me a bit to get into this story, and it didn’t really pull me in until the main character travels to Long Island. Once the story pulled me in, I enjoyed the storyline, the characters including the big cast of supporting characters. This is a good choice to throw in your beach bag, kick back and relax.

I love Annabel Monaghan. I'm always excited to hear when she has a new book coming out. I was thrilled to be provided an early copy to read of her latest.

Unfortunately, myself and It's a Love Story just didn't get along. The FMC was way too annoying which is so surprising because it's Monaghan's characters that make her books so special. I don't know, maybe I'll try this again at another time, but as of now I'm setting this one aside.

Thank you SO much NetGalley and Penguin for the opportunity to read this ARC. Janey and Dan’s story is so in-meet cute but perfection at the same time. The queen of slow burn has done it again. Must read for anyone who loves The Notebook and/or the lost and found romance.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

This was so cute and has such a perfect summer vibe.

Tropes are enemies to lovers and forced proximity.

Jane is a creative consultant for a movie company and a former child star and Dan is the cinematographer who doesn’t like her proposed script. Just so cute.

Definjtely recommend when it comes out at the end of May!

4.5 stars!

I went through the roller coaster of emotions with this book, and felt it all. Annabel Monaghan writes so brilliantly! Her characters feelings are always so relatable and sucks you right in. So well done, thoroughly enjoyed this book! thank you so much for the ARC!!

I will read anything by this author, she has such a way with words and pulling you in. I was so excited to get an advance copy! This was the story of Jean and Dan falling in love and it was sweet and funny. It is a great beach read but it also has a strong emotional component that I loved. There is a scene with an orange soda that had me laughing out loud!!

This was not my first Annabel Monaghan book and it won’t be my last!

There were things I really liked about Jane and Dan’s story as well as some things I didn’t. The first more than half of the book was slow and took me, personally, a while to get into.

I loved Dan, how sure he was of himself, his family, and watching his and Jane’s relationship develop.

That said, to see Jane let her walls down, communicate and be vulnerable with Dan only for THAT third act break up? Not my favorite.

The end felt rushed; I would have loved more happy and healed Jane and to read a little more of their HEA!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC!

Thank you #NetGalley for providing me with this ARC of #ItsALoveStory by Annabel Monaghan!

If I could re-read this book again for the first time, I would. Seriously, It’s a Love Story gave me all the feelings. I laughed, I swooned, I might’ve gotten misty-eyed once or twice (or ten times...who's counting?!). This book was comfortable? Does that even make sense? It was like sinking your feet into the warm summer sand at your favorite beach. I will say, however, it doesn't read like a beach-read until the 25% mark.

Jane is such a relatable mess—in the best way. She’s a former child star trying to make it in Hollywood as a creative executive without totally losing her mind, and I loved her mix of humor, sarcasm, quick wit, and vulnerability. And Dan? Ugh. He’s everything I've ever wanted in a man. He's artsy, introverted, and not afraid to speak the truth. He also happens to see right through Jane’s “I don't believe in true love" act in all the right ways. Their banter and chemistry? Chefs kiss.

The enemies-to-lovers, workplace, forced proximity, and one-bed vibe is strong, but it’s the slow-burn that got me. Each small moment between them was actually loaded with emotional and meaningful in the overall scope of the story. Plus, Dan’s family aka "The Mob" totally stole the show in the best possible way. The Finnegans are the family that Jane didn’t know she needed, in addition to her amazingly supportive single mother and her best friend.

Also, shoutout to the Notebook references because admittedly, like Jane, I was not a Notebook-love believer prior to reading this book. I could honestly reread this every summer and fall in love with it all over again. I am planning on pre-ordering a physical copy as soon as I submit this review.

LOVED IT!

Love happens over breakfast 😭
This was so beautifully written! So real and cute and wonderful! This feels like all the best RomComs where it is just a comfort to experience, over and over again. Annabel's books always have a way of making me smile and cry but it's always a wonderful time. I gotta go watch The Notebook again
Comes out May 27th!
Thank you Putnam Books for the arc!
#book #bookreview #bookstagram #NetGalley @netgalley @putnambooks

It’s A Love Story by Annabel Monaghan is an adorable laugh out loud rom com! I couldn’t out the book down as I giggled and smiled!

Annabel Monaghan’s books are special— her main characters are relatable. I also love how the characters are slightly older than other main stream romances. Annabel’s writing is fresh and I can’t wait to recommend It’s A Love Story and read whatever she writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for an advanced copy of this book!

I loved this satisfying, realistic love story (and was delighted to learn of its surprising inspiration thanks to the author's note). My favorite Annabel Monaghan yet? I think yes!

THIS is why Annabel Monaghan is one of my favorite authors!

You will DEVOUR this book if you love…
• Enemies to lovers tension that melts into the sweetest of love stories
• Loud, big families that sweep you into the fold
• Quiet heroes that see the real you
• Whispered truths in the dark
• Sweet, slow burn romances with all the feels
• The Notebook…because it’s one of the greatest love stories (I agree with you Dan!)

Honestly the list could go on of all the things that make this truly one of the best romance books of the year. I’ve already read it twice and I know I’ll be diving back in again soon because I cannot get enough of Dan and Jane.

Some authors can write a sweet love story but then there are authors like Annabel that lead you through a love story about two amazing characters trying to bring a quiet love story to film all the while creating their own.

This book opens with a once childhood Hollywood star turned wannabe producer who’s just trying to get her career on track by getting her first movie script green-lighted – if only she can find the right outfit to the important meeting. And if only she didn’t run into the man who ruined her previous shot.

Jane Jackson is a heroine I fell in love with from the very first chapter and who’s vulnerability that she quietly began to share as the story evolved was so beautifully written that honestly Annabel should be given a medal for this one.

I loved her snark, her passion and her love of love despite not believing it in and how that soon changed once she was thrown into Dan’s family and the room they shared together.

I honestly don’t feel like I can do this review justice because Annabel crafted everything so perfectly about this book. From setting up the enemies to lovers story, yet giving us the hooks to what was really under the surface with the backstory to how Jane and Dan first met. Once thrown together in his family’s orbit on Long Island, Jane and Dan begin one of the most beautiful slow burn romances I’ve ever read.

For two people who struggled with their identity, whether due to childhood acting or just being “different”, I loved how Jane and Dan stripped their masks and just laid themselves bare to the other. And all it took was a trip to the beach, a night by a bonfire, painting a watercolor or rescuing her in the rain to make me fall completely and utterly in love with their quiet love story.

Don’t even get me started on all the references to The Notebook which I love with a passion. That was just the icing on the cake. As was Jane, saving Dan’s father in her contacts as Dad, her helping sweet Ruby with her dance routine and many other small moments that made this book feel so BIG with its feelings.

I loved Annabel’s hit of last summer, Summer Romance, but It’s a Love Story is proof that Annabel has hit her stride and is one of the best in this romance writing world. Her super power of an author is planting the seeds for a great romance and great characters and just letting it all unfold, scene by scene. I’m in awe.

It’s a Love Story is one of the best of 2025. Do yourself a favor and read this beautiful novel. You won’t regret it.

*I received an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

My first Annabel Monaghan book! I would say that this was more plot and character driven than romance! The complex MCs made them feel very relatable and understandable. I liked watching them slowly connect and heal parts of eachother! I feel like this had elements of Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez and maybe a dash of Carley Fortune so if that’s what you like to read I would suggest this!!

I can’t tell you how thrilled I was yesterday when I got approved for an arc of It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan!! This is my second Annabel Monaghan book and I can officially say she’s one of my favorite authors. I’m in love with her writing. It’s so emotional and captivating. She has a way of creating characters that everyone can connect with.
It’s like Annabel reached into my brain, took out all of my thoughts and insecurities and created our main character, Jane. Every page had me crying, laughing or thinking back on my past.
I cant wait to buy every form of this book and read it over and over again.
A special thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books for providing an arc for my honest review!

Poor Jane! Although not plain, she’s still in the background where she’s safe. But she has leading lady all over her. Dan would love to stay behind the lens but his family is not that accommodating. Finding acceptance from others can be difficult; but it’s easier when you can accept who you are.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. A must read author for me!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Putnam for this ARC! Annabel Monaghan is pure sunshine. Jane is a child actor that is trying to be taken seriously in Hollywood. Dan is trying to make his way as a filmmaker while proving to his family that he is doing what he was born to do. Their banter and chemistry were 10/10. It was an enemies to lovers trope with rom-com elements that made you swoon. It was definitely a Jump Start Love Song for me. True story. ❤️

I recently finished It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan, and I really enjoyed it. Initially, I wasn’t entirely sold on the main female protagonist, Jane. She felt stuck and came across as a bit whiny, which had me considering setting the book aside. But Monaghan’s engaging writing style and richly drawn characters kept me turning pages. I’m so glad I stuck with it, because the character development was fantastic—especially between Jane and the male lead, Dan. It turned into a lovely twist on the enemies-to-lovers trope.

Monaghan also has a knack for painting vivid pictures of those small coastal towns in Long Island and Connecticut. It made me want to pack my bags for the East Coast and try a lobster roll, even though I’m more of a lake person.