Swoony like a daydream! I loved this—especially the characters and the chemistry. A quick, fun read! Would be a great summer read.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, Annabel Monaghan, and Penguin Group Putnam for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy in exchange for my honest review. I LOVED reading It's a Love Story!

This is the first book I've read by Annabel Monaghan, but it definitely won't be the last. I loved reading this book so much that I would stay up late just to get a few more pages in. I found myself laughing out loud while reading, so you can see why I gave It's a Love Story 5 stars.

Jane has to team up with a man she can't stand, Dan, to make her dream movie. They must work together to get Jack Quinn, a famous musician and Jane's first kiss, to agree to write a song for the film. All the while, we find out more about Jane and watch her grow into a confident woman. Not someone pretending to be confident.

Things I liked about this book: Jane. She was a child star who was the butt of every joke in every episode. She can't seem to shake the feeling that she's never good enough and not "main girl" material.

Dan's family. I really enjoyed the introduction of a BIG family that took up a lot of space. Figuratively and literally. I married into a large family (9 kids), so I know what it's like to join a group like that. Dan's family felt like home.

Lastly, I enjoyed Dan. He's not the most put-together man, but he knows his place and what he brings to the table. His self-assuredness seems to rub off on Jane, making her more sure of herself.

Annabel Monaghan does it again - her books just keep getting better, and this one totally stole my heart.
It was the perfect mix of wit, warmth, and second-chances.  Jane Jackson is a former child star turned TV exec who tells one tiny (okay, not so tiny) lie to save her career - claiming that mega pop star Jackson Quinlan will write a song for her show's soundtrack.  The only problem? She hasn't talked to Jack in 20 years...and now needs help from the last person she wants to ask: Dan Finnegan.
Enter Dan - cinematographer, former crush, and the grumpy sunshine I didn't know I needed.  I loved Dan's big chaotic family and the way they pulled Jane in, bit by bit.  There's so much heart in these pages - healing from childhood baggage, confronting the past, and finding the courage to be real with the people who matter.
I was totally rooting for Jane and Dan.  Their banter, chemistry, and slow burn connection had me smiling through the whole thing.  And even though Jane fakes it at first, the love that unfolds between them is anything but pretend.
If you love stories with humor, heart, and a hero to quietly shows up again and again - this one's for you.
Annabel - please never stop writing!!

This book was a fun read. Annabel Monaghan is becoming my go-to for a light, enjoyable love story and this is exactly what this was.

This book was a 3 star book for me because it was just that: an enjoyable story with a happy ending.

The story is about a childhood actor named Jane who is trying to get a movie called "True Love" made before she loses her job. She is paired with Dan, a cinematographer, whom she has both a past with and whom she doesn't get a long well with. But together, they agree to make the movie to save both of their jobs. The studio doesn't really want to get behind this movie until Jane promises to get a big name attached to it for promotional purposes.

Jane comes up with a plan: try to get Jack Quinlan- a hot, rising music star who Jane sang with on her past tv series, to write a soundtrack for the movie. There's only one problem- she's been out of touch with him for over 20 years and it's not going to be that easy to do, given their history.

Enter Dan. His hometown is sponsoring a music festival where Jack is performing and he invites Jane to stay with him, giving her the perfect opportunity to meet up with Jack and ask him about the soundtrack in person. But as you can imagine, Jane and Dan do not get along and she's hesitant to take him up on his offer- but what choice does she have?

This all plays out as you would expect it to and along the way, Jane learns some pretty valuable life lessons- about relationships, family, and most importantly love.

Special thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to pre-read this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.

Jane needs to team up with the bane of her existence Dan in order to track down rock star, and her former crush and first kiss, Jack Quinlan in order to save a move she is staking her career on making.

Monaghan is sooooo good! Here's what I loved about this one:

Jane: She's a complicated one. There is a lot of trauma that she hasn't processed and that really affects her current life, and her love life. But I still adored her. She's so funny and her humor really shines though the dialogue. I wanted to see all the good things happen to her.

Dan and his family: I LOVED Dan. He was also so funny. I loved how free spirited he was and how much he poured into whatever passion he is chasing at that moment. Beyond just him, his family is amazing. I wanted to go stay with them! They were all so welcoming and funny. They really made this book for me.

The setting: I loved the Long Island setting. Monaghan brings you to so many different and unique places in the area, really giving you the small town feel.

All in all, this was an amazing summer romcom!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

*It’s a Love Story* by Annabel Monaghan is a delightful and charming read that captures the essence of young love and personal growth. The story is both fun and heartfelt, with witty dialogue and endearing characters that make it a pleasure to follow from beginning to end.

The protagonist's journey through love and self-discovery is relatable and refreshing, and Monaghan’s writing keeps the story engaging without ever feeling overly complicated. The romance is sweet and genuine, though not without its share of ups and downs, and the characters' chemistry is palpable.

What I particularly enjoyed was how Monaghan seamlessly blends humor with deeper emotional moments, making the story both light-hearted and meaningful. The pacing is just right, keeping things moving without rushing through the key moments.

However, while it’s an overall enjoyable read, there are times when the plot feels a bit predictable, and some secondary characters could have been explored further. Still, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise wonderful book.

Overall, *It’s a Love Story* is a perfect pick for anyone in the mood for a fun, feel-good romance with a touch of depth. I’d definitely recommend it for fans of contemporary romance, and it’s definitely worth the read. Four stars!

I loved reading this! There were magical moments that gave me butterflies and made it so easy to imagine being in their world. It did get a little cheesy at times, but overall, it was such an enjoyable read.

4.25⭐

LIKED:
- I really liked Jane, the FMC of this book. I loved her backstory of being a bit of a washed up child star, or rather the child star of a show where she was never really a star? It’s a complicated relationship she has with her past. Her points in her personality where her maturity had stunted were understandable and reflected her trauma with her time on the show, being somewhat in the public eye, and her relationship with Jack. I just vibed with it, man, sometimes it just do be like that.
- The chemistry of these characters was a fun evolution. Did I ever really believe that they were enemies? No. But I also don’t think you’re really supposed to? I think you’re just supposed to believe that Jane does (which could be an excuse used for a lot of typical enemies-to-lovers, but I don’t really believe so).
- Annabel Monaghan pretty much exclusively writes with seaboard Long Island as a setting to my knowledge, and I’ve read Same Time, Next Summer and found the descriptions of the setting less effective than they are here. I mean, to be honest, I found everything in ST,NS less effective than in this book, but this book had more charm to its setting for whatever reason. Maybe it was the FMC’s bike rides or runs or the potato farm. Just charming.
- The Finnegan family was cute. I liked the way that Dan loved his family but felt like an outcast or needed his space or everything in between. It was an interesting dynamic that I enjoyed. I think the brothers blended together quite a bit and could have been a bit more individualized, but I still enjoyed them well enough (and them being somewhat confusing was also, I would guess, part of the point).
- There is something about these covers that I like and that they’re all similar in style but unrelated in story. I think more of these color block illustrated covers should have the main characters facing away from the “camera”. I just think it works. Also the colors of this one are just made for me.

LAMENTED:
- I like Dan, but there’s something about the way that he talks that keeps me from loving him. I was still rooting for him, but I could not get over him peeing in the beginning of the story whilst on a phone call with the FMC. It was…odd.
- What. Is with the names. In this book. Why is the FMC named Jane Jackson. Finn Finnegan. I get that he is probably nicknamed Finn because of his last name but that is never exclusively stated?? Also, I get that she’s a name inserted from a fan or some contest or something, but oh boy, having to read the name Reenie so much was not my favorite. I just kept thinking about renal failure every time I read it.
- The circumstances of their first kiss was…not my favorite. I didn’t really like the ex-girlfriend character and that archetype as a whole. But having a first kiss be to more or less make someone jealous? Gross.
- All of this book takes place over the course of a week. I get that they’ve known each other longer than that, but that is quite brief to the brink of non-believability.
- Some more diversity would have been grand.
- This title…kinda sucks. Like. What? I mean, a lot of her titles are kind of uninspired, to be fair. But like. Yeah? Obviously? And I know there’s the stuff with the movie, but still. Oof.

LONGED FOR:
- Less bizarre name choices (including the title).
- Different circumstances for their first kiss.
- More time with the characters.


Will I read the next one? : Possibly. I think it depends on premise. This is the second book of hers I’ve read and she’s got a 50/50 success rate for me.

this story follows jane jackson, a former childhood actress turned studio exec, and dan finnegan, a cinematographer, as they work together to get a movie made. jane and dan have a bit of history. what started as a crush eventually turned into enemies. now, in order to move the film forward, jane tells a small lie: her former co-star, jack quinlan, will write a song to make the movie a hit. to try and make this lie work, she has to team up with her not-so-favorite person, dan. they go to his hometown, where jack is playing at a festival, for jane to convince jack to write the song.

watching their relationship shift from enemies to something real was so satisfying. the way they slowly let their guards down felt natural and genuinely earned. sweet sweet jane. i just wanted to protect her and tell her everything would be okay. seeing how others made her question her worth was heartbreaking, but her growth throughout the story made it all the more powerful.

dan was such a great character to follow. his quirks, his process, and how different he is from his more outgoing brothers really stood out. it was also really touching to see his family dynamics. those scenes were some of my favorites. the warmth and kindness they showed jane added so much heart to the story and gave us a deeper understanding of who dan is and why he feels things so deeply.

annabel monaghan always writes stories that feel like a warm hug. her writing is quick, immersive, and full of heart. it’s a love story is no different.

thank you netgalley and penguin random house for the arc 🤍

Annabel can do no wrong. I love a famous person trope SO much! Everything about this book makes for the perfect summer read. I highly recommend it for the summer. I know you’ll love it as much as I did!

It’s a love story is a fun read with some heavy discussion of self worth and identity. A combination of hate to love and second chance romance. It took a little for me to get hooked, but I fell in love with Dan’s family just like Jane did. 3.5⭐️ thank you for this ARC is exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely loved the way this one started with aligning life events with outfits. It was fun and exciting. There was a lot l liked about this book, the characters, the family setting, the dynamic. But it just wasn't a home run for me. I didn't find myself dying to pick it up, waiting to find out what happened next, it was a cute read, just not my favorite.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy.

While I've loved Annabel Monaghan in the past, this one was a miss for me. The main character was so so frustrating and came off as very childish. I just honestly didn't really like any of the characters or connect with the plot at all. I also didn't feel any chemistry between Jane and Dan, so it was difficult for me to root for them as a couple.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for giving me an early copy in exchange for a review!

This author is an auto-read for me and her newest book is just as great as the others have been! It's a Love Story tells the story of a Hollywood woman who will do anything it takes to get her movie made.. even telling a small white lie. This white lie lands her a ticket to Long Island where she needs to find an ex fling and convince him to make a song for her new movie. This is the perfect summer book and a romcom that reads like fiction.. doesn't seem cheesy at all!

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me this ARC.
I have to say the book started out pretty slow and I was really starting to dread reading this book, but I am so glad I stuck with it. If you can make it past the first quarter of the book you will not be disappointed.
Jane was a childhood tv star that is trying to make it in Hollywood as a producer. Her and Dan go to New York on one mission, to try to get their movie greenlit. Jane really isn’t too fond of Dan until she sees who he really is around his family. Jane has grown up with many struggles in her life that transpired into her adulthood and when she is around Dan all her worries disappear.

I’m so sad to have finished this book. I will miss all of the characters immensely. If Annabel Monaghan could please write a series involving all of the members of the Finnegan family I would be extremely grateful. What a wonderful group of characters!!

At the start of the story I thought Jane’s unusual quirks were a bit over the top but as I got into it it all made more sense. When the setting moves to Long Island is when I could not stop reading. The setting and characters are perfect. I want to spend a week with the Finnegan’s!

I finished this book in 6 hours and I’m having a book hangover. It’s such a great book! I will be recommending it to all of the rom com and chick lit readers.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!! I absolutely adore Annabel Monaghan's writing- she has such a way of grabbing the audiences attention with her words and characters. Jane and Dan don't have an easy start at the beginning (showing as 'dislike to lovers'). Jane herself has walls built up around her as a result of her upbringing as a child actor. Despite her past, she is determined to be taken seriously in Hollywood and get her project greenlit. She has to face the past in ways she didn't expect to- one of them being to work with Dan, who one bad interaction has her dreading working with him. Throughout the story, you see such personal growth in Jane- she starts to lower her walls and have fun with what she enjoys doing, and Dan helps her to come out of her shell into the person we see at the end of the book. Their relationship felt so authentic and pure, and by the end I came to love their story. The perfect read heading into the summer, like all of Annabel's books!

I absolutely adore this book! It exuded a cozy and delightful atmosphere, like a warm hug in book form. No one had to undergo any changes to themselves and everyone was cherished and accepted for their authentic selves. The inclusion of the small town setting, coupled with the nostalgic visit back home, added a touch of charm to the story. I genuinely hope that there’s a series dedicated to each of the brothers. If you’re searching for a simple and heartwarming romcom, this book is an excellent choice! It perfectly captured the essence of a lighthearted spring read.

I want to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for providing me with a complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It was quiet, simple, and beautiful love. Love not between the MCs but true love in themselves and being happy about who the past you was and is right now

Annabel Monaghan’s writing remains steady, strong, and remarkable. That perfect blend of lit-fic and commercial romance, with deep dives into complex relationships and characters but also building amusing and heart-warming connections too. There’s a beautiful emotional ache running through the entire book that held me and wouldn’t let go.

Jane and Dan’s animosity, but with a sparked backstory, was wonderfully balanced with a slow build into friendship and then love. Passionate and deep. The parallel introductions with Dan’s family were entertaining as well as healing as Jane reminisced and confronted past traumas and deep-seated anxieties. Humor amid harsh truths.

My only small critique would be wanting a little more at the end. I think the wrap-up felt a little off, not keeping with the rest of the book, in a way. But still, overall, it’s another clear winner and I highly recommend.