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.

This was fun, light read! I did feel the romance moved a bit quick during the week in Long Island. I would have liked a little more slow burn since they are supposedly enemies first.

Ahhh, Annabel Monaghan does not disappoint!! The first chapter or two I wasn’t sure if I was going to love the premise and then something happened and I just absolutely fell in love. The characters blossomed and showed their personality and flaws, and their chemistry was just everything.

When Dan’s family is introduced, every single thing about the setting, the characters, the banter, the relationships is such pure joy. Of course, this is a love story but it also is so much more. This is Jane’s love story- learning to love herself before she can find her true love. Her insecurities are so relate able they just jump off the page.

Beautiful story with characters that will stick with me.

3.5⭐️

This was a beautiful book. Dan and Jane find each other through their jobs and work together to try and get a script green lit to be made into a movie. As the reader, you follow this journey with them and watch how their relationship transforms. There were many quotable lines in the book as well and I highlighted several things throughout.

The pacing was a little slower than I prefer but the writing was good. Not anything extravagant, but not so simple either.

There is a specific line in this that is repeated OFTEN for probably the first half of this book that I didn’t love, but I had a good time reading it overall.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I save Annabel Monaghan books for when I need a guaranteed home run. At first, I wasn't sure if the enemies-to-lovers was going to work out, but this was another one!

I didn't have much in common with the main character, Jane. I'm actually much more like the male lead, Dan. But I felt Jane's feelings SO DEEPLY it's as if I was her. I read the last third of the book with tears running down my face. It's almost magic how Monaghan puts you fully in the story.

Annabel Monaghan never disappoints. This is a light romcom about a child actress-turned creative executive fake-dating a cinematographer. The tropes aren't original, but they are fun to read, and if you're looking for a quick and fun story, this is perfect. Thank you to netgalley for the arc!

This book was a wonderful, soft read that I was glad to end the year with around the holiday season. I've really liked all of Monaghan's books and this one was no exception. It felt like the book really mirrored the softness and vulnerability of the characters without being cloying or artificial. I thought both the tone and the writing hit and I'm so thrilled I got a chance to read it early. I feel like the title might not be the most compelling but the story itself was.I didn't love the male lead character leaning into calling the female lead "crazy" and "insane" quite so many times but it was a small quibble with an otherwise lovely book.

What a beautiful story. So many romance novels are “loud” and “noisy,” as Dan would put it, and I love them, but this book really highlighted the quiet love… The kind many of us live through on a day or day basis. Rooted a bit more in reality. It was truly 5 stars for me up until the third act break up. I generally have no issues with a third act break up, but after all the build up, the reason felt very flimsy. I get Jane’s reason to some extent while also not getting her reasoning at all. The supporting cast of characters were also so amazing. It was a lot of names, but I think that plays into the Finnegan mob. This was my first Annabel Monaghan book and definitely won’t be my last. Unrelated but her acknowledgements to her kids and husband was so cute.

“Love happens over breakfast” ugh so beautiful.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An endearing romance story following two enemies as they become coworkers that must work together to make their project a success. A lot of will they/won't they and suspense will keep you yearning for the moment these two finally get together.

4/5 stars. This author is an always read for me, and once again she didn’t disappoint. This is a charming and authentic love story, with all the pieces that make up the best ones. Great characters, fun and witty dialogue, honest and painful realizations and the warmth of family. Definitely recommend.

I didn’t start off in the best headspace when I first picked up this book. But I was so excited to receive this arc that I jumped in anyway before I was ready. Thankfully, my heart and my brain synchronized and I am so sad the journey is already over.

I love when you read something and it’s actually so beautiful you wish you could read it again for the first time. That is becoming a theme every time I read a book by Annabel Monaghan. Dan and Jane are some of the loveliest people I have never met and I’ll be thinking of their story for a very long time. Pre-order this book. You will not regret it. Publish date: May 27, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam books for this arc.

I am such a huge fan of Annabel Monaghan, so I was very excited to read this. I loved the main romance plot of this book, but the side story of Dan's family and parents was a huge win for me. It gave the story a wholesome side that really worked with Dan and Jane's story. Jane's past and childhood really packed a punch and gave the book an emotional depth that helped elevate the characters and their growth. Overall, I really loved this and I can't wait for everyone to read it.

Thanks, @netgalley @putnambooks and @annabelmonaghan, for the chance to read Annabel's next book, It's a Love Story. It releases on May 27, 2025.

I have loved each of Annabel's books, but this one had a chokehold on me from the very first chapter. I stayed up waaaaay too late reading it. I couldn't put it down. The love story was so richly drawn, and their relationship was perfectly imperfect. I think it might be my favorite.

Former child star Jane strives to overcome her pratfall past and become the Hollywood bigwig and Reese Witherspoon-esque partner to a man with dental insurance. But she's learned that she needs to hide her true nature if she wants to get those things. Her real self--the one only her best friend gets to see--is too messy and not compelling enough to keep people in her life long-term. When she finds the perfect script, she knows it's her chance at the big leagues. The problem is that her boss wants Dan, an annoyingly talented director of photography who hates her work, to film it. After a little white lie, Jane needs to convince a famous singer from her past to write a new song in order to get the film greenlit. Dan has the perfect solution--the musician is playing at a festival in his hometown, and his brother has a hookup. But nothing goes according to plan when they spend a week in Dan's hometown, and the most disquieting part is how Dan and his family seem to be burrowing under her skin. But will her lies catch up with her before she has a chance for her own HEA?

Steam: 🔥
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, famous person/normal person, beach town, only one bunk bed, meddling parents

“People, mostly, are afraid of the quiet.”

Spice: 🌶️🌶️ 2 out of 5 (one open door scene, more details at the bottom)

This book is heartwarming, funny, real, and powerful. It made me cry but left me feeling happy. I have rated all of Annabel Monaghan’s books 5 stars, but this might just be my favorite.

Jane is desperate to get a script called True Story made into a movie. I wish the book was called True Story because that’s what it is - it’s about Jane rediscovering the True Story of her life and no longer believing the lies she’s been told and believed about herself her whole life. When she meets Dan, an open, honest, quiet man, they bump heads. But eventually she learns to appreciate the honesty and quiet that is so rare in our world. She says yes to her honest self.

Jane and Dan visit Dan’s family - at the same Long Island beach town as Same Time Next Summer - and the family was one of my favorite parts of the book! They are raucous and teasing and tight-knit - the picture of a wonderful, supportive, yet imperfect family.

My favorite thing about Annabel Monaghan’s writing is that it’s so full of details. Like the exact sound of sand on concrete crunching when you walk over it in sandals. It’s so visceral and makes me feel like I’m experiencing it too. I find myself appreciating the beautiful little mundane things in my own life.

Side note: Jane’s backstory as a child actor reminded me of Jeanette McCurdy’s memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died, and Annabel Monaghan actually says in the author’s note that she was inspired by that book!

There are so many quotes that made me laugh out loud, smile, or go “hmmm”. Here are some of my favorites:

“I know about relaxing because I live in the world, but it is not a thing I seem capable of.”

“They’re always aware of where the other one is in the room, like they’re each other’s house keys.”

“I feel soft toward myself”
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🌶️ spice details: there is a lot of kissing and one short open-door scene. There are several references to sex. I don’t remember Annabelle Monaghan’s other books having open-door scenes, so I’d say it’s the spiciest one, but it didn’t feel excessive to me.

Annabel Monaghan has written a fantastic book here! A truly great frenemies to lovers story.

Jane is a former child star whose most infamous role was a funny sidekick on a kids’ show who is still working in the business in an attempt to claim her fame.

Dan is an artistic cinematographer who she almost dated but ruined her life after shooting down the one script that was going to give her the life she wanted.

After they unwittingly come up with a hare-brained scheme to get Jane’s now-famous former costar to write a song for the script the studio doesn’t quite think is star material, Dan and Jane spend time together and both of them find things they didn’t think they could find in one another.

Forced proximity, enemies to lovers, found family… it’s all there in this amazingly lighthearted and fun read!

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

Thank you so much for this ARC! I had such a fun time reading this. I went into this thinking that the romance was going to be with Jack and I was very happy that it wasn’t because Jacks personality sucked. I didn’t like Dan much at first either but he grew on me throughout the book. Once you get an inside seat to what Dans life is like you understand why he is the way he is. Him and Jane are such a perfect fit and I was very happy with how this book ended. I was also glad that Jack didn’t end up writing the song for her because I felt like that would have been too easy. This is the second book I’ve read by Annabel and I’m so excited to read more! Thank you!

Annabel Monaghan delivers another absolute gem with It’s a Love Story, a novel as hilarious as it is heartwarming. Jane Jackson’s journey from awkward sitcom punchline to determined Hollywood executive is filled with sharp wit, endearing vulnerability, and a cast of unforgettable characters.

The chemistry between Jane and Dan crackles with tension and charm, making their dynamic irresistible. The week they spend together on Long Island is a delightful blend of banter, emotional revelations, and unexpected moments of tenderness. Monaghan expertly weaves humor and heart, balancing Jane’s professional struggles with her personal quest for redemption—and love.

Fans of Nora Goes Off Script will adore this story of second chances, self-discovery, and finding truth in the most unexpected places. A must-read for anyone who believes in the magic of laughter, love, and a perfectly timed comeback.

It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan is a delightful rom-com with plenty of heart and humor. Readers are introduced to the MFC, Jane Jackson, a former TV sitcom punchline who’s now trying to reinvent herself as a serious Hollywood studio executive. The way Monaghan weaves Jane’s insecurities and ambitions into a compelling narrative creates a wonderfully relatable protagonist, one who’s both flawed and lovable in all the right ways.

What makes this story truly special is the chemistry between Jane and Dan. Their interactions are a perfect blend of witty banter, past tensions, and undeniable attraction. Watching them navigate old wounds and new feelings is a joy, and Monaghan’s writing captures both the humor and the emotional depth of their evolving relationship with ease.

It’s a Love Story is a perfect read for anyone who loves witty, heartfelt romances with characters you can’t help but root for. Annabel Monaghan has crafted a story that is both lighthearted and poignant, making it the ideal escape.

I felt VERY special and VERY cool being approved to read Annabel Monaghan’s upcoming release, It’s a Love Story. Having read her 3 other romance novels, I was prepped for LOL moments, a beachy setting that would have me yearning for summer, and lovable characters. This delivered all that plus a very honest mother-daughter relationship that had this only child to a single mom feeling feels.

This is hands down Monaghan’s best novel yet! It was so much fun to read & I didn’t want to put it down (I likely would have read it all in one sitting if I hadn’t started it late in the evening yesterday - but I did stay up well into the early hours bc I was enjoying it so much and then immediately finished the last 80ish pages first thing this morning)!!

To me, this read similarly to Abby Jimenez’s books (esp Just for the Summer) in that it is indeed a beach read/romance but the character development and interpersonal dynamics are handled in a way where the book has depth yet simultaneously still remains a light read. And I’ll say it again - it was just flat out fun to read (and her characters even evoked butterflies a few times and I enjoyed the inclusion of (and creative take on) the one bed trope.

I loved everything about the Finnegans and their family dynamics (they reminded me a lot of the Fitzpatrick family from Catherine Walsh’s Christmas series (which is high praise imo) but I loved the Finnegans even more!! (The only thing I took issue with was that they named their 2nd son Finn Finnegan?!? That didn’t seem to fit) But Dan Finnegan made up for that oddity and is now one of my favorite book boyfriends!

I also really appreciated how Monaghan included Clem as a supportive friend who had been through her own challenges and showed up in the novel as real, strong, and so likeable that you wished you had her as one of your own friends! It was nice to have (multiple) supporting characters who were developed just enough that they enriched the story and setting without distracting from the main plot (i.e. Cormack). Having such an excellent cast of characters made it easy to envision the entire scene surrounding our main characters!

As someone who liked (but not loved) Annabel Monaghan’s first two novels (I liked Same Time Next Summer more than Nora Goes Off Script) and flat out didn’t care for her third novel (Summer Romance), I wasn’t sure what to expect going in to It’s A Love Story and can honestly say it was one of my favorite reads this entire year!! (It was also fun to revisit the town of Oak Shore, which Monaghan fans may remember from her 2nd novel)

I have no doubt this will be one of the biggest hits of summer 2025 when it’s officially released!! I recommend reading this with your favorite candy nearby 😉 (and prepare yourself that you’ll probably want to watch Notebook thereafter).

Thank you to Annabel Monaghan and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. This novel has won me back as an Annabel Monaghan fan and I’m already looking forward to seeing what she writes next (and wouldn’t mind seeing a spin off involving the Finnegan brothers/family)!