4.5 rounded up.

First read of 2025 in the books with this giant hug of a romcom! Annabel Monaghan has truly hit her stride with this book with her swooniest and banteriest (sure, those are words) couple to date. Our FMC, Jane works for a movie company and she is dedicated to getting a screenplay she fell in love with made into a movie. Getting it green-lit is more challenging than she hoped, so she told a little white lie, she could get famous musician Jake Quinlan to write and perform a hit song for the soundtrack which would boost the films success. See, Jane was once the goofy sidekick on a Nickelodeon-style teen show back in the day and she worked with Jack briefly but it ended traumatically, so she doesn't know, know him. Fortunately, our MMC Dan, the films cinematographer and Jane's nemesis (woohoooo! enemoies to lovers) is going back to Long Island for his parents 40th anniversary and Jack just happens to be having a show at the venue where Dan's brother does the lighting/tech at. Because Dan wants this film to be made, he convinces Jane to come with him and stay at his folks house and they can try to track Jack down.

So...this plot device was a little convoluted and I had a hard time keeping up with all the characters thrown my way, especially when we got to Jack's family and his four brothers and their families. But, I'm here for Dan and Jane and their really cute banter. Annabel Monaghan's writing style is brief but meaningful. For example. when Jane asks the writer of the rom com script if it was love at first sight when she met her husband, she says no way, and listed his faults. She only went out with him because her roommate blackmailed her. Jane then asks her, "And then what happened?" To which she responded, "Everything."

I mean...come on! Swoon.

Anyways, so excited for when this book launches. Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC for my honest review.

For 90's kids raised on Nickelodeon and Disney - not quite enemies to lovers but an I misjudged him and found myself along the way romance

This book was so cute. I love a good enemies to lovers story. The small town setting really added to the story. The family dynamics also added an interesting backstory to the characters.


Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I absolutely loved this. It had such a cute enemies to lovers romance which is my favorite trope. It kept me entertained and I also loved that there was pseudo celebrities in it as well.

4.5 ⭐️

It was a cute story that was hate to instalove, even though the instalove was there from the beginning.

Jane and Dan are butting heads from the very beginning. The butting heads turns into more as we watch their own story develop.

I loved the dynamic with his family. I enjoyed reading about her finding her happy with Dan and his family. I didn't think the light drama with her mom/family was needed but added to her backstory.

The ending was a bit predictable and cheesy but it was cute.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam books for the advance copy**

Annabel Monaghan is a must-read for me, and I jumped at the chance to read her 2025 novel. It's a Love Story is classic Monaghan: two people find each other despite obstacles and love blooms. The romance is true and authentic, and you'll be rooting for Jane and Dan from page one!

🌟 5-Star Review! 🌟

Annabel Monaghan has officially earned her spot as a "must-read" author for me, and her upcoming release It's A Love Story is pure proof of why. With her signature mix of vulnerability, inner growth, and a dash of heartache, Annabel delivers another touching story that’ll stay with you long after the last page.

🎬 Meet Jane Jackson, former childhood sitcom star turned film exec, who’s navigating her first big production. When paired with grumpy (but let’s be honest, swoony) art director Dan Finnegan, Jane finds herself in a bit of a bind—she’s promised the studio a hit song by her former co-star, Jake Quinlan, whom she hasn’t seen since a mortifying teenage moment. Cue a road trip to Dan’s charming hometown, complete with wild family dynamics, adorable toddlers, Dan’s sweet parents, and, of course, the one bedroom trope we all adore.

What makes this book shine? Annabel's characters. Dan is steady, true to himself, and unafraid to teach Jane what she needs most: how to trust her instincts, believe she’s worthy of love, and embrace who she really is. As a lifelong people-pleaser, I loved seeing Jane find her voice and be her best self. And the romance? Swoon-worthy. Annabel avoids insta-love, instead giving us a slow build that beautifully shows why Jane and Dan are perfect for each other.

💖 This book is heartfelt, charming, and filled with all the joy and love we need. Get ready to laugh, cry, and root for Jane and Dan as they navigate their vulnerabilities and find something truly special. You will fall for them like I did (and maybe Dan’s entire family!)

📅 It’s A Love Story hits shelves May 27, 2025—don’t miss it!

✨ Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

📚 Read this if you love:
• Forced proximity
• Grumpy x Sunshine vibes
• Workplace romance
• Road trip hijinks
• Found families

Ex-childhood actor turned movie producer Jane is desperately trying to get her project greenlit. It’s a script for the most beautiful love story she’s ever read - even if she doesn’t believe in true love. She is annoyed to learn that the cinematographer assigned to the project is the pain-in-the-ass Dan. In her efforts to get the project the commercial appeal it needs, she lies to the studio and says she has a connection to the biggest name in pop music, Jack Quinlan, and that he’ll write a song for the movie. What she doesn’t tell anyone is that Jack once completely humiliated her adolescent heart, which - coupled with a deep lie about her father’s commitment to their family that she learned on the same day - she’s felt a deep sense of worthlessness ever since. So she goes on a wild goose chase to get in touch with Jack, which involves her traveling across the country with none other than obnoxious Dan and staying with his family so they can accost Jack at the music festival he’s playing there. Jane nor Dan are fully prepared for the deep journey of discovery they end up embarking on - about each other and about themselves.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🫑

Liked
* At its heart, this is a story about worthiness and what it means to love yourself. Jane has convinced herself she is not worthy of love because of a father that ran out on her, the shame of her mom lying about that, an older boy that humiliated her, and playing the goofy sidekick on TV. She convinced herself at an early age that she is forever to be a sidekick - laughed at, there to play a part, not worthy of being seen and loved for exactly who she is. I may have adored this book because it’s as though Annabel Monaghan wrote me into these pages.
* I loved how soft and quiet and yet so devastatingly earth shattering Jane and Dan’s love was.
* Annabel Monaghan could write a scientific dissertation and it would be breathtaking. Her writing is beyond exceptional. She has a magical way of taking a quiet narrative and turning out a loud love. She has cemented herself

I was so excited for this book, but unfortunately, am DNF'ing it at 50%. The writing itself was okay, but I could not connect with the characters and did not like the plot of this book. This was a very disappointing read, and unfortunately, I am going to have to cancel my pre-order. Thank you for the opportunity. I hope the next book by this author is better, because I really enjoyed Nora Goes Off Script.

Cute rom-com that went down easy. I loved the backstory of Jane, a former TV child actress on a popular kids sitcom. The focus of the book is the slow burn love story made up of small acts rather than the fireworks explosive type. The only issue with that is the two main characters end up falling in love over a week, which was not as believable. I loved Dan’s parents love story, Dan’s family dynamics, and the focus on being yourself in a relationship rather than what the other person wants you to be. Overall this was an enjoyable lighthearted read that put a smile on my face.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy. Publication date: 5/27/25

Many thanks to NetGalley & the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 rounded up

I love Annabel Monaghan's books! Although this wasn't my favorite of hers, I still enjoyed the writing, the story, and the little escape it provided.

Monaghan may be my new favorite romance writer - her characters are so full of life and flaws and are relatable. Jane is no different, a childhood star trying to make it on the other side of the camera all while burying deep the shame and trauma of her youth. Dan, a cinematographer who thwarted her last project and is running from his own past that doesn’t quite fit with his present. Together they find something beautiful and I had more tears of joy in this one!

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of It’s a Love Story and it was truly amazing and hilarious. Annabel Monaghan knocked it out of the park, as expected because she always writes hits. Jane is absolutely unhinged and insane and I love her so much. She is such an imperfect character and that’s what makes her so likable to me. She does make poor decisions at times, and it made me want to scream, but also it made sense knowing what she had been through. When she was lashing out, it was a little difficult for me to read and I think it was because I see a lot of myself in Jane. Which is why I love her so much!! Moving on to the juicy stuff: Dan, the mmc, is a honest, funny, emotionally intelligent king and I also love him. He really is a perfect match for Jane!! It was a little bit of a slow burn between the two of them, I was literally dying for just a touch! But they’re so good together, and they complement each other so well. Love love love them!! I don’t want to share too much, even though it’s so hard not to because I just want to talk about this, but It’s a Love Story comes out May 27th and it is a must read!!!

I loved this book! For once I feel like the FMC had a strong character development within herself and not just in the romance. I fell in love with Dan’s whole family and loved how they took Jane in without hesitation. 10/10 would recommend, one of the best romances I’ve read.

Ok this book was so CUTE! I couldn’t put it down. The romance was sweet, a little sexy without being open door, more fade to black. Put on your TBR for a great summer read next year.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Anabel Monaghan does it again! She spins the most beautiful, heart wrenching love stories. I am always so captivated by her characters and Jane and Dan are no exception. I also love the chaos of Dan’s family. There was nothing about this book I didn’t love.

Heart-wrenching, sweet, sexy, funny, satisfying. I love enemies-to-lovers as much as the next gal but the first 4-5 chapters kinda gave me the ick. I don’t love the “actually-mean-guy-and-dorky-embarrassing-girl” vibes but the rest of the book more than made up for the start! It was real and vulnerable and redemptive. And hot! Anyone who ever still feels that little flare of embarrassment for something you did as you were navigating teenhood will feel seen by this book. Might be my fave Anabel yet 💘

I read and loved “Summer Romance” earlier this year so I was beyond excited to get an advanced copy of “It’s A Love Story”. Many thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books!

I had a hard time getting in to this one, which surprised me. The first few chapters felt choppy and were difficult to get through. That being said, once I got past the beginning, the rest of the book was great. I loved the enemies to lovers premise and enjoyed the deeper familial conflicts that the novel explored. Annabel Monaghan is turning into a must-read author for me!

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and Netgalley for an ARC of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Getting a new Annabel Monaghan book is always a thrilling and devastating occasion. Thrilling because I know I’m going to get to read another book with female leads who are strong but sometimes don’t realize it yet, who are flawed and worthy of love, and who fall in love with men who appreciate them for exactly who they are as they go through highs and lows that many of us experience in “real life”. And devastating because I know I’m going to read Annabel’s newest book too quickly and will have to wait another year or so for the next one.

IT’S A LOVE STORY had me absolutely hooked from the very first page. I could so relate to Jane’s struggles of wanting something—whether it be love, success, family, or just to feel free to be your most authentic self with another person—and having trouble getting it, no matter how hard you try, especially when it seems like others have no problem reaching the same milestones. I loved the relationships she had from the very beginning with her mom and best friend, and the ones she created with Dan and his family as they tried to land the big draw/tiger for their movie, AKA Jane’s first kiss and crush, Jack.

The conflict, though I felt it coming with every page read, felt very natural for someone who has gone through the emotional trauma Jane dealt with for most of her life.

IT’S A LOVE STORY is definitely another Annabel Monaghan novel that will be ending up physically on my shelves (I loved it so much I would gladly read another 300+ pages of Jane and Dan!) and I’ll be counting down the days until her next release.

I was so excited to receive the ARC for this book after reading Summer Romance. I discovered Annabel Monaghan this year and have really enjoyed the books of hers I have read so far. The book was very emotional and much deeper than your typical romance book, which is something I love. The main character definitely had flaws and I found her to be annoying for a large majority of the story, but I did understand her thought process behind some of her terrible decisions. Dan and his family were the best part of the book for me. The love they share for one another and the lessons learned and passed on were perfect.