I love Annabel! She has become a must read author for me. This book was so sweet. I couldn’t put it down and read it in less than a day. Highly recommended.

Annabel Monaghan is one of those booktok buzz authors. Her book "Same Time Next Summer" has been on my amazon wish list for years. So when I saw "It's a Love Story" on Netgalley , I took this as my chance to read her work. Am I glad I was given the opportunity to read this? Of Course. It is my favorite book of the year? Unfortunately no. It not a bad book by any means. The romance is wonderful, and Annabel Monaghan has a great writing style. However, I am not a romance movie person that's why I read romance books. I find romance movies too cringy. This book reads like a movie, as in "it's a Love Story", duh. I've never read or seen "The notebook" but I know the basics about it in the American zeitgeist. I felt like throughout the story I was just running through different romance movies. So if you love Romance movies this book will thrill you as Jane and Dan run all along Dan's childhood home of Long Island in search of Jack for Jack to write a song that Jane promised to get her movie greenlit. I appreciated that it was closed door romance. As much as I prefer romance books over romance movies, I dislike when romance books have chapter long spicy scenes. So this book was perfect in that aspect. The tropes in this book sans the romance movie ones I also enjoyed including, enemies to lovers and forced proximity. That being said I didn't enjoy the set up for the story, it is very slow burn and the first 20 precent or so was a bit of a slog. Once you get past that the book picks up and is easy to read.

I love Monaghan's books and this was no different! While I felt the beginning was a tad slow to start (hence the 4.5 stars), about 1/4 way I was hooked by the story and the characters and couldn't put it down,. I absolutely loved Dan as the MMC, showing the world how truly ok he was in being his authentic self, when everywhere around him pushed him to be 'othered'. I also liked Jane's evolution as someone who met every elses expectations and learned to become her own self. I found the ending of the story truly touching. As a rom-com you know there will be a HEA, but it was a delight to follow Jane & Dan's story. I adored Dan's family and 'the mob'. 4.5 Heartwarming stars. A definite must read for romance and Monaghan fans. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a cute, fun read. Jane, a once-child star turned creative executive, has found a heartfelt script she wants to produce. Problem is that her studio wants a big blockbuster and in an aim to get the studio on board she pitches her first-kiss, once-duet partner, and now mega superstar singer, Jack, to write and sing a song for the album. Problem is that she hasn’t spoken to him since their 24 hour romance when she was fourteen. She has found one ally in the quest, who also happens to be her most recent failed meet-cute/rival, Dan. With a leap of faith, Jane agrees to travel with Dan to his hometown where he is going to celebrate his parent’s 40th anniversary where Jack is coincidentally playing at a local festival the next day. This book was exactly as Jane described the script, quiet and warm. It was subtle and the romance was quick considering the bulk of the book takes place over roughly 10 days.

This was such a treat! I gobbled this up in two days and that’s only because I was really trying to savor it and didn’t want it to end. As per usual, this author knocks out of the park. She has easily become an auto read for me. Fans of her previous book will notice the setting takes place at the owl barn, which was from a previous book of hers. I loved all of the characters and felt she did such just a great job describing them and making you feel like you really know them. It’s hard not to fall in love with the main characters! This was also a story that hasn’t really been done before so that made it extra fun.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. Annabel Monaghan is a super mixed bag author for me. Some of her books I love and some are just ok. Sadly this was just ok. This story is a convoluted. A former child star is no longer a child star but a producer. She wants the music rights for a song, and used to work with the artist. The love story is between someone she currently works with but doesn’t like. It takes forever for the story to go anywhere, but when it finally does it’s enjoyable. 2,5 stars rounded up.

A former child star tries to make a life for herself as a Hollywood producer. Jane finds a great script, only to have annoying cinematographer Dan kill the project in a meeting with her boss. A few months later, an even better script arrives and Jane and Dan are yet again thrown together on the project. This time around, it is something they both want to see succeed. A whirlwind week of family, confronting the past and opening up to the future throws Jane and Dan together and tears them apart. Can we ever move past our former lives, mistakes and doubts or are we bound to be driven by the past? This book confronts that question while providing meet-cute and funny family moments and examples of great and not-so-great friendships. We all need a best friend like Clem and probably a stash of mini candy bars inside our closet! My one negative on this book- I feel like if you know the movie The Notebook like the back of your hand, you will enjoy this book more than someone like me who has only seen it once. I feel sorry for readers who haven't seen it at all. There are several references to specific scenes and plot points in the movie. I understood some but not others!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Publishers for giving me a free ARC ebook to read and review!

Annabel Monaghan! You have outdone yourself. Oh my god! What a book. My heart is literally dancing. It's A Love Story is one of the best romances I have read this year. To summarize this review...it's absolutely spectacular! Add it to your TBR, preorder it, show it some love on social media, do all the things because this WILL be the book of the summer. Okay, so for my in depth thoughts, keep reading.

Jane, a child actor best known as the funny awkward girl in her role on "pop rocks", is now a creative executive at a studio in LA. Her one goal: get her script green lit. Turns out, it's not so easy being the cinematographer AKA her arch nemesis, Dan, is ruining her pitch. He wants the script green lit but has a different vision for it. Their boss, has other ideas entirely and wants an action packed movie. In a last ditch effort, Jane lies and says she is BFF with a major pop star that will write an original track. She hasn't seen said pop star since she was 14 and may have had a wildly embarrassing moment with him ... OOF. One thing leads to another and off Jane & Dan go to Long Island for a week at his childhood home with his huge family while they search for the singer.

First of all, does the town of "Oak Shore" sound familiar? Well it should because it's the same setting from Monaghans book "Same Time Next Summer". This was a surprise treat! Nothing better than being back at Chippys diner and this quintessential beach town.

Based on the title alone, it's pretty obvious this is a love story but it's so much more. Jane and Dan are such complex characters, and the way they compliment each other is magic. Their chemistry is off the charts. I was absolutely giddy reading, smiling ear to ear. My favorite scene is when she gets caught in the rain and then he says what he says about her smile, pulling the hoodie move. I can't say more because I cannot spoil that for anyone but just know it was perfection. Perfection that will live in your head for an eternity and set a whole new bar for book boyfriends.

"And then what happened? Everything."
It is interesting and true and beautiful. All the small and quiet moments inviting us to a secret place where love happens over breakfast. It's everything. Jane, Dan, his family, her best friend Clem. They are the best kind of characters. If Clems story isn't in the works, it should be. I'd read it in a heartbeat.

Mark your calendars! This gem is out 5/27/25 and I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy!

Thank you Putnam Books & NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

In typical Annabel Monaghan fashion, I could not put this down, and feel a part of me falling back into reality hours after reading its last words.

I’ve discovered that what I really love about Annabel Monaghan is that there is a point in the story, usually early on, when I can’t quite figure out what will happen… and that makes her pretty prose all the more likely to carry me through her stories. Though we know there will be romance and will be growth and will be flashbacks, her beats like to lead us on boldly before we can skip ahead.

As I kept reading, I found this book, compared to Monaghan’s others, much more romance-centric. But maybe that’s because her FMC’s backstory, though complex and heartbreaking, is simpler than some in the past. There’s more space here in the pages, and Monaghan chose to fill that mostly with the person who ushered in healing space for the FMC. It’s him. And it’s not him.

Okay, pardon me getting a little weepy at her healing around the word ‘dad’ and her little bond with Cormack 💜
Also “I do not like seeing a person diminished.” Girl, this whole book was walking therapy and it came fast, like the romance, but it was so so real to witness.

<i>I received this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review on Goodreads and their platform.

All the stars for this book! Anything Monaghan writes I read. She is one of my go-to authors for a guaranteed entertaining book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I was so excited to receive an ARC of It’s a Love Story. Annabel Monaghan has become one of my favorite authors over the past few years and this book did not disappoint. I could not put it down. I loved the storyline between Jane and Dan and could not get enough of his family and of Jane’s friendship with Clem. Dan’s dynamic family scenes were some of my favorites in the whole book. This will definitely be one of my favorites of the year!

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group (Putnam) for this advanced copy.
I always enjoy Monaghan’s style each time because the story welcomes the reader on the sidelines and you are always in tune with the main character, Jane, while also finding ways to identify with the secondary characters, Dan and Clem, too..
This time I admired how the author crafted the storyline that brought them together so they would get to know one another slowly. A chance encounter sparks interest, but a business deal quells the chance for a first date. Yet, they find they both want the deal to go through and that is what provides them a chance to get to know one another. A trip to Dan’s family home and close proximity allows Jane and Dan to get to know one another and ignite the attraction again. No spoilers from me, I’d like the readers to discover this wonderful story on their own
(I Would have read this straight through except for obligations, so be warned you might be up late reading Monaghan’s latest!)

Another heartwarming read from Monaghan! I loved Dan and Jane and the witty banter and depth of both characters. I did find the beginning to get off to a fairly slow start, which is why I give it 4/5 stars. Thank you Penguin Group Putnman and NetGalley for the arc!

Annabel Monaghan delivers another sweet and funny rom-com with It’s a Love Story. Jane Jackson, a former child star, learns to embrace her messy past while navigating hilarious and heartfelt moments. It's another enemies-to-lovers trope, but I'm here for it.

This book has themes of family, forgiveness, and second chances and this story celebrates life’s little moments and having the courage to grow. If you've loved Annabel Monaghan's previous books, add this one to your list: she's developed her style and this one is certainly in the same vein.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC in exchange for an eARC!

Jane Jackson, the female main character is inspired by Jeanette McCurdy's memoir. She was a child star in middle school on a sitcom as Janey Jakes, who was not taken too seriously. Now in her 30s, she is in a new career. Jane is determined to make her new project into a film, even telling a lie to Dan Finnegan, a cinematographer, to make it happen. They end up up on Long Island to try to track down Jack Quinlan, mega popstar & Jane's first kiss, to write a song for the movie. During this time, Jane gets to know Dan & his's family and may discover that there may be sparks between her and Dan.

Annabel Monaghan works her magic in her latest novel! The story had me captivated from start to end and focuses on contrasts family dynamics between Jane's & Dan's, emotional vulnerabilities, flaws, finding your identity, and a slow burn set in a small town on Long Island. Readers will want to root for Jane to see her movie come to life & for a possible relationship between Jane & Dan.

𐙚 Enemies-to-Lovers
𐙚 Forced Proximity
𐙚 Small-Town Charm

Such a heartwarming rom-com complete with banter, character growth, and unresolved tensions. It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan delivered a story that is as charming as it is deeply emotional. Jane Jackson, a determined heroine, and Dan Finnegan, the swoony, infuriating cinematographer who knows just how to get under Jane’s skin share an electric chemistry with a perfectly blended dynamic of enemies-to-lovers tension, mutual respect, and unspoken feelings.

The emotional core of the story lies in Jane’s journey as she is learning to embrace her messy, complicated past and own her identity, quirks and all. Her mantra, “Fake it till you make it,” leads to both hilarity and heartfelt moments. The story explores themes of forgiveness, self-discovery, and the courage to take risks, both professionally and personally.

Rating: ✰✰✰✰.5 /5

Thank you for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. ・❥・

Annabel Monaghan is a treasure, and I will read whatever she writes. This love story is so tender and the word choices are so exquisite that readers will feel their hearts beating in time with the heroine’s. It’s a Love Story is closer to Same Time Next Summer than Nora Goes Off Script or Summer Romance, but it still features an appreciation of children and family that readers will recognize.

Our FMC is a complex child star a la Jodie Sweetin or Jeannette McCurdy with a great sense of humor that gets her far in her career, but not romantically. When she needs a favor from a musician she met in her youth, she’ll have to confront her childhood fears and shame to gain a better tomorrow. Expect a lot of references to The Notebook and be ready to fall in love with the small stuff, the little moments over breakfast, on Long Island.

First off, I can’t believe I was approved for this ARC, yay!
Second off, I’ve read all of Annabel’s novels and they are always so well written, easy to read, and keep you captivated throughout the entire story. I love how she captures realistically awkward moments so well. She is and continues to be an autobuy author for me. She is one of very few fade to black authors that I will read 😂

There were so many moments that I was completely sucked into the story, but for some reason something would happen that would pull me out of it. It’s like when you’re getting ready to catch a wave and you start to ride it, but then it doesn’t take full flight. I’m not sure if it’s because I didn’t relate with the FMC or if there was just some depth missing.

I will say that I admire her ability to make me forgive the third act breakup. The resolution in the way they made up was really cute.

This is the first love story I've loved in awhile. I caught myself smiling at the page and I teared up. It was relatable in a way that a lot of love stories aren't and was still fun in the parts that weren't. It'll be a perfect beach read when it comes out next Spring

One note though as a person from Long Island: people from Long Island say "ON Long Island" not "IN Long Island." There were a couple of "ons" but majority "ins"

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC, it's a good one.

It’s a Love Story is one of the loveliest novels I’ve read in the past year. It’s certainly a candidate for best beach read of 2025! Sure, it’s starts with the old trope of initial hatred between 2 thirty somethings and moves on to lust/love, but I enjoyed every moment of the trip! The main character Jane, is an ambitious former sitcom star who is aiming to become a film producer. When she feels an art director is getting in her way, she makes a promise about bringing a former beau, now a rock superstar on board to write a song for the film. It is Danny, her nemesis who has a brother who can grant access to the target.

The two take a trip to Danny’s hometown on Long Island and every reader, along with Jane, falls in LOVE!

I highly recommend this charmer to be tucked in your beach bag and give as a gift to your friends! Absolutely a super romance that will make every reader happy.

Thank you Netgalley for another winner from Monaghan!