She’s a former child sitcom star and he’s a creative filmmaker. There’s an enemy to lover’s trope, a beautiful beach setting and humor that had me laughing all the way through! It started out slow but sped up into a lighthearted romcom and I loved it.

Jane Jackson was a child star who starred in a middle school sitcom and was famous for being the one in the show who made everyone laugh. Now, she’s thirty-three and working hard in her new career to get a script she loves made into a movie. Unfortunately, she stretched the truth when her boss told her she needed something big to make the movie viable. She said that she knew Jack Quinlan, a famous pop star, and could get him to write a song for the movie. But she has a problem because she hasn’t talked to him in almost twenty years and she needs the help of Dan Finnegan, an award-winning cinematographer and her enemy, to help her find Jack.

Jane and Dan first met when he was taking a photo of a hawk and they had planned to go on a date together until they ended up in a meeting where he criticized her project (he called it trash) and it was squashed. Now, a few months later, she has a new project she loves, but this time Dan, surprisingly, likes it too and wants to help her see it made into a movie. Jane shares with Dan about her fib and how she needs to find Jack, the pop singer. Dan tells her that Jack will be doing a concert the next weekend in the beach town where he’s from and when there are no hotel rooms, he offers her a place to stay at his family’s home - this is where the story really takes off!

Dan is an introverted artist who loves painting, photography and movies. His family is loud and boisterous and are thrilled that he has come home and also brought a girl, (even though Dan tries to tell them they just work together). Dan takes her biking around town and to the beach as they search for Jack. My favorite parts are when Dan’s brothers and their friends have a big lobster feast on the beach. I also found it very moving when different characters discussed what love is to them. There are a few things that Jane and Dan need to work through in their love story, but other than the awkward beginning, (the different timelines were confusing to me at first), as layers were peeled back and secrets were revealed, I couldn't put the book down. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. My full review will be at All About Romance closer to the release date.

I'm not typically one for highlighting lines to revisit later, but there were a bunch of moments in It's a Love Story that deeply affected me in a surprising way, and I had to keep track of them. This was my first Annabel Monaghan read, and I liked it so much I just requested the rest of her collection at the library.

The setup: a former child star turned film executive is determined to bring her dream project to life. But, of course, there’s a catch—she needs help from not one but two people she’d rather never see again. One is a ghost from her past, and the other is a man she’s convinced she loathes with every fiber of her being. Spoiler alert: this is... a love story, excuse the pun, so you know what that means.

Annabel Monaghan is funny. I laughed out loud several times as I made my way through the story. What will really stick with me, though, are the quiet, poignant moments. This book is not just about romantic love—it’s about all the messy, beautiful ways we connect with life and each other. I think I experienced the full range of emotions as I read the scene when Jane is belting Let It Go to help Ruby gain the confidence to perform her original dance at her grandparents' anniversary party. Moments like that abound in this book (e.g., watercoloring, making the pe, Jane's texts with Clem, the billboard scene at the end, etc.). I know I'll be returning to them again.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC! 💛

It’s a Love Story
If you want to read about love that feels like a movie, feels safe, and exhilarating read this book. It might make you blush a little ☺️ but is not explicit. Annabel writes in an easy to read, comforting and entertaining way.

This is a story for the person that needs to feel like they are worth sticking around for. For the person for needs to be valued for who they are. The person who needs to work through their insecurities so they can dive in.

If you love these tropes:
-forced proximity
-rivals to lovers
-workplace romances
-close knit loud families

should you read this this? The answer is “yes”

I am such a huge fan of Nora Goes Off Script and Summer Romance, and while I don’t think Annabel could write a bad book, this was not my favorite of hers.
I felt like in the beginning of the book we are hustling thrown into the story line and it takes a little while to really get a good grasp on the main characters and how the current story is setting up while also getting a feel for some of the background stories that affecting how the current story is playing out.
A couple of the story lines just felt like a bit of a stretch as they all wholly depended on past miscommunication and hurt feelings.
While I had hoped for more, I also know that perhaps my expectations were really high because of how much I’ve loved Monaghan’s previous books.
Definitely worth the read. Her stories are always sweet and thoughtful and really a delight.

Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley!

The perfect lighthearted fun keep you smiling summer romance read. Loved the way these two helped each other be their best selves, the found family aspect, the fun intertwine of west coast and east coast styles. Seriously such a heartwarming story that still had depth and emotion.

Closed door but super fun back and forth and the relationship build was well written and pulls you in.

Jane is a creative executive/producer for a movie studio in LA and is trying to get approval to make a movie out of "the perfect" script. She really believes in this script and needs this big break. You see, Jane was a teen-actor in a kids comedy show (think ‘90s Nickelodeon shows) as the cringey and butt-of-the-joke character. As a result, she feels nobody has ever taken her seriously and is carrying a lot of baggage from her social and familial rejection as a child. Now, as a 30-something, she is living her life with a mask on, trying to mold herself into what she perceives everyone else expects and does not believe in love. In a desperate attempt to get the script greenlit, she suggests a crazy idea that leads her on a “business trip” with her workplace nemesis, and the shenanigans unfold.

The way I found myself smiling constantly while reading this book! This is my fourth Annabel Monaghan book and each time, I’ve thought she has this way of writing in a simple, yet warm and captivating way. It’s like you’re watching a movie unfold, rather than reading. This, like her other books, has so much heart. Yes, some of the events and characters’ actions are a bit over-the-top and sometimes cringey, but the characters' internal worlds are so relatable. Our main characters, Jane and Dan, are both carrying a load of insecurities and are simply trying to find their place in the world - where they can be themselves, and be seen and appreciated for who they are. I wasn’t too excited about the third act conflict, because it felt a bit out of character from what we had seen from Jane, but no spoilers here. The way these characters helped each other become the main characters in their own life definitely had me crying at the end.

Lastly, my inner teenager was so giddy at the recurring theme of discussing <i>The Notebook</i> as a backdrop of the movie script and Jane/Dan’s own love story. That’s probably the part that had me most smiling to myself like a weirdo. While I think differently of that movie now than when I initially watched it as a teen, it worked SO well in this book.

Thanks to Putnam Books (Penguin Group), via NetGalley, for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Pub date: 5/27/25

3.5/5 stars


thank you netgalley for an ARC of this book!! excited to get my hands on a physical copy in 2025z i loved her past books and i think this was one of my favorites. it’s a love story follows a lie that a producer has to enlist the help of a former childhood friend turned pop star to help write a book for a novel. read this mostly in one sitting, i loved the quick wit and romance in this one. the main characters struggles were relatable and heartbreaking. my only complaint i do felt the storyline was a bit quick — the whole book mostly happened within a week or two. otherwise, so excited to continue reading more of annabel’s books!

At the beginning of the book, I was a little afraid of the plot and then a few chapters later, the magic happened. - Always trust the author-
I can't describe how much I love the way Annabel writes her characters. I know that not everyone will like the FMC Jane, myself included, she has immature reactions but that's her personality. And then, we get attached very easily to the other characters, they are so "loud" but we love them.
It was a fun read but I especially liked how Annabel Monaghan has written the story of two people who think they are not lovable and who, little by little, come to see each other for who they really are.

I highly recommend this book especially if you are looking for a beautiful romance with summer vibe.

This story warmed my heart during the cold winter of the last few days.
And I will re-read it when the physical copy comes out, because I need to soak up some quotes that touched me.

Annabel Monaghan, you're definitely my comfort read, I read all your books this year and love them.

I'm very grateful to have received an advanced copy, so thank you deeply from the bottom of my heart to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam.

PS: after finishing" It's a Love Story", I read "The Notebook" and I also saw the movie adaptation of the book, and I understand Annabel Monoghan's love for The Notebook. And the title is so obvious, it was very well chosen.

Such an incredible and heartwarming story with one of the best character arcs I've ever read. Please give the book justice to warm up and get started, about 20% into the book.

The voice has this mellow and warm drag to it in a way that makes the artsy part of the book come to life. Once you get used to it, it is so beautiful and unique. It has a real-world feel and doesn't feel like the typical cheesy romance.

I love the welcome to the family vibe and the huge emotions that the book takes us through to have such a great and deep overall meaning to the story. There's so much good stuff in here. It would be the perfect book club read.

I wish there was spice, but the slow burn chemistry between the characters makes up for it.

Definitely recommend and urge everyone to read that likes a good romance with great characters and character growth.

This was my book choice of the week to read during my lunch breaks. I honestly did not want the story to end. It is such an adorable love story and I struggled to put it down as I was wanting to know if Jane and Dan were ever going to go from enemies to lovers. I am truly jealous of Dan’s family as I have always wanted to have a large family gatherings. There are topics throughout the book about losing a parent and having a parent abandon you that I think many readers are going to connect with and make them love the book even more. So excited for its release in May! Definitely a book you want to keep an eye out for.

Everything Annabel writes is magic!!

I love how Annabel so expertly weaves nostalgia into her heartwarming stories of family, friendship, and the human experience. This story of belonging, rediscovering yourself and voice, and blazing your own path tugged on and wrapped itself around my heart. I found myself wanting to wrap Jane in a hug and my heart ached for her as she fought to find her footing while wrestling with past hurt and insecurities. Jane’s journey and growth was immensely relatable and her longing for home, family, and acceptance is something that all readers can understand.

This story will leave your heart tender but so full of hope and encouragement, and I am grateful for Annabel’s message that there is a community full of love and acceptance for each of us.

AND!! My god. Annabel writes the most delectable tension and explosive kisses that have you squealing and kicking your feet in delight!

Where do I start? Jane works in Hollywood, and so does Dan. They serendipitously meet when Dan was crossing the street attempting to get the best (picture) shot of a hawk sitting on a billboard. But, you don't find that out for a few chapters. You originally meet Jane and Dan when Jane pitches a new movie to her boss, Dan just so happens to be the cinematographer for said potential movie. Jane comes up with a white lie to get the movie green lit and when she runs into trouble making the white lie turn truthful she reaches out to Dan for help. Dan takes Jane home for a week and of course the two fall in love. I mean, it's quite literally in the title. Jane battles with some past trauma when it comes to love and that is sprinkled in very nicely, in my opinion.

I couldn't get enough of this book. I put toothpicks in my eyes to stay up all night reading it (not really, but I never wanted to put this bad boy down). Monaghan's character development is superb. This book is so cozy and warm and everything you need to feel good. I love love. I love love stories.

One of my favorite book blogger (Katie, who goes by @beachreadsandbubbly, on instagram) has said "they could write the phone book and I'd read it". I feel this way about a handful of authors, and Annabel Monaghan is certainly one of them. She really could write the phone book I'd read it cover to cover as quickly as humanly possible (and as quickly as my 8 month old daughter would let me).

I feel so lucky and honored to have been given this book as an eARC, in exchange for my honest review. Forever thankful to NetGalley, Annabel Monaghan, and Penguin Group Putnam.

Taylor lyrics and an Eras Tour coded cover? If I wasn't already in love with everything Annabel Monaghan had written, those two things would have sold me alone. I had the absolute delight of reading this ARC of this novel and it is incredible. As always, Monaghan writes about parenting and growing up with humor and poise and she appreciates all the messy stuff in a way that makes her characters SO lovable. Dan has all the approachable adorable thoughtfulness of Jude Law in The Holiday, and Jane is a relatable queen. Monaghan's books are so astute, hilarious, and utterly un put downable. She delivers again! Preorder this NOW!

Anabel can literally do no wrong. I am always worried that her protagonists being older than me will mean I won’t like the book but that never comes true. Another winner!

I just think it's impossible for Annabel to write a book I don't love. 'Cause she's done it again.

And I was SO FREAKIN' EXCITED (*in Kristen Wiig's SNL Sue voice*) that I got an early ARC of one of my most anticipated reads of 2025. But for real, we bow down Annabel.

IT'S A LOVE STORY is the (er...) story of jaded creative exec Jane Jackson (formerly the adolescent TV star and side-character punchline Janey Jakes) who, desperate to get her first project greenlit, tells a lie insinuating that she can get a former colleague -- and her first crush -- mega-star Jack Quinlan to write a commercially-appealing original song for her film. Determined to make good on her (big) white lie, she ends up in Long Island following Jack to a musical festival to get his cooperation after not speaking to him for two decades. But of course, she's accompanied by an annoyingly hot cinematographer (a man she almost dated, whoops) who brings her to his family home while she plots her plan of (Jack) attack. But as she connects with Dan's family and spends her days in sunny proximity with him attempting to get her movie made, she might just reckon with her past, her carefully-planned-to-a-T present, and find something true for her future.

There's truly not much more I love than getting lost in an Annabel Monaghan story. The characters are so richly developed, there's such a strong, captivating sense of place. The writing is smart and funny and the dialogue/argu-banter feels genuine and lived-in. Plus, it's swoony as hell with emotional heft for days. It's deeply resonant story that you want to just keep tucked into your heart.

Also, I loved that at the beginning I wasn't sure who the love interest would be, and that I fell in love with him while Jane did as he came into greater focus during the course of the story. I was giggling and kicking my feet, for real.

There's a secret candy-eating closet, a man who loves The Notebook, potato-farm living found family, only one bunk bed, contraband muffins, worrying as cardio, the kind of vampire "that wouldn't kill you might break the bed" energy, sandwiches that ruin all other sandwiches, a he's-softer-at-home man, permission to lick, distraction by shirtlessness, whipped cream in coffee, Eleanor Roosevelt's childhood swimsuit, the he's-good-with-children man, happily being bad at watercolors, an ankle spectacle, being interesting and true and beautiful, explosive kisses, protecting what makes you different, the small acts of care that add up to something big, charged moments in thunderstorms, games of tug-of-war, the forming of core memories, performances of "Let it Go," love that happens over breakfast, two heads on a single pillow, domesticity porn, punchable pop stars, dismantling the stories you tell yourself, once-in-a-lifetime feelings, and ordinary moments that feel like miracles.

PLUS THESE QUOTES!!!

"Being with you was the most beautiful thing that's ever happened to me."

"You're beautiful when you're having big emotions."

"It's the time spent digging that makes unearthing the treasure so satisfying."

"Love isn't a helicopter ride to Catalina; it's everyday care and treating the other person like they're your house keys."

"Maybe it was you I was lusting after all that time."

"Do you need to go be alone and do some Edward Scissorhands stuff?" which made me laugh out loud.

I want to re-read this book immediately.

Thank to Putnam and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. IT'S A LOVE STORY is out 5/27/25!

Well done! This was a fun and fast read. It feels very nostalgic and had the Nickolodeon and Disney type teen shows, I later read the inspiration came from the Jeannette McCurdy book. It’s a Love Story is more lighthearted and fun and well with the read! Thank you Netgalley!

** 2.5 stars rounded up **

I was introduced to Annabel Monaghan’s work via Summer Romance (2024), which I adored. I then opted to explore more of her catalog by reading Same Time Next Summer (2023), which I wasn’t fond of, and her newest release, It’s a Love Story (2025), unfortunately did not work for me either.

Things I Enjoyed:
~ Dan - The MMC’s quiet, artistic personality, kindness and care towards children, and desire to listen and communicate openly and honestly with Jane made him lovable.
~ The Meet-Cute - Shoutout to Tails, the matchmaker.
~ Clem - Jane’s supportive and wise friend
~ Dan’s Parents and Niece - The breakfasts and song were sweet.
~ The Reconciliation Attempt and Resolutions - The former was clever, and I appreciated the dialogue of the latter between Jane and her mom (though I wanted more from their relationship) as well as Jane and Dan.

Things I Struggled With:
~ Jane - The FMC read too judgmental, a trait consistent throughout the book. I understand she was dealing with abandonment issues and childhood television star trauma, but her dialogue and behaviors came off as immature and hypercritical, especially towards Dan, which bogged down the romance.
~ Lack of Backstory Development - Jane’s child star trauma is only ever really explained in depth as one “young love” style embarrassing moment when she was 14, so the power with which she gives that one experience over her entire life (she’s 33) seems illogical. There are brief comments that Jane acted as the provider for her and her mother during that time, but those experiences are never detailed. Doing so would’ve added more authenticity to the weight she seems to carry as well as make her actions/reactions more plausible.
~ The Third-Act Breakup - I get the “hurt someone before they hurt you” self-sabotage response, but Jane wasn’t likable enough prior to this moment for me to entertain riding that wave.
~ Clem and Jane’s Friendship - While I loved Clem’s character, their relationship appeared one-sided.
~ The Finnegan Brothers - Normally, I love falling into large, quirky fictional families, but these brothers weren’t doing it for me. Aidan was nice, but I can’t recall much about the others except that Connor turned me off, particularly when he commented several times that Jane was hot, both in and out of his wife’s presence.

Overall, this story had potential, but I ultimately found it frustrating and lacking.

Did you ever keep thinking “I can’t wait to re-read this book” multiple times while reading a book? I can’t wait until It’s a Love Story is published and I get a hard copy that I get to underline and write in the margins. I think we are in a "golden age" of romcoms where the best writers are writing this genre. Don't be a genre snob. Romance books are by far the highest selling books in the US today. Why wouldn't the best writers write them? Remember in the 1990's when the NYT bemoaned that Broadway wasn't doing anything creative and then pointed out that the best songwriters and show runners were working for Disney instead? I have read 75 books so far that will be released in 2025 and 3 of them are romance books that are some of the most well written books ever, and this is one of them.

Jane was a child actor, think iCarly or Suite Life with Zach and Cody. She was a class clown, made funny faces, the comic relief. She was a better singer than the lead, who was prettier. Jane knows that men aren't attracted to funny women, and goes on a lot of dates up until date 4, when everything falls apart. Jane is now working for a studio and is trying to get a script made that she loves, the studio doesn't think it is commercial enough. In a misguided impulsive move she promises her childhood co-worker Jack (who is now a big star) will write and perform a song. She hasn't spoken to him since she was 14.

Enter Dan. Swoon. He is her coworker and would be the cinematographer. Jane and Dan go to the east coast to find Jack and talk him into the song. He will be there for a music festival and they will stay with Dan's parents and extended family. And the family is AMAZING. As an only child of a single mom, Jane makes these observations about Dan's family that are heartwarming, emotional, and raw.

At its heart, It's a Love story speaks to many of the deep fears we all have. That was aren't lovable. That the best parts about us are something to be ashamed of. That we are destined to be in the background. Jane isn't just likable, she is one of the most relatable female main characters I have read this year. She recognizes the privilege that her childhood gave her, and the opportunity to buy a house in LA, but it also gave her a slew of insecurities that led her to not celebrating her own gifts. The way she infiltrates into Dan's family and starts to understand and yearn for their family dynamic.

I love this book. One of my top ten books of 2025, and it is purely because of how perfectly these characters are written. Flawed, funny, relatable. It's the way we know Jane is falling for Dan ***just*** a minute before she realizes it herself.

Thanks to @netgalley and @putnambooks for the ARC. Thank you to @annabelmonaghan for writing fade-to-black romance that doesn't have cringy spice scenes and also isn't full of purity culture harmful crap. It's literally perfect.

I really really loved this book! The premise was f re sh and fun, the characters were real and loveable, the banter was top notch, and it was super sexy without being too much. Another hit from a favorite author!

If you’re looking for a heartwarming, witty, emotional, and inspiring book to read this summer, It’s A Love Story is all of the above and more.

This was my first Annabel Monaghan book, and it certainly won’t be my last. Upon reading the synopsis, I expected a fun, cute, and sweet story. Instead, I was taken by surprise not only by a charming romance but also by a beautiful tale of finding oneself.

As much as I did enjoy the book overall, the first 20% felt a bit slow for me. However, shortly after that, I increasingly became engrossed in the story as I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next.

Monaghan has created a Hallmark movie-worthy cast of characters, from our protagonist, Jane, to our sweet love interest, Dan. With that being said, the cherry on top for me had to be Dan’s crazy, but lovable family, as they constantly had me smiling and laughing on multiple occasions.

All in all, It’s A Love Story will have you swooning, emotional, and grinning from ear to ear as you embark along with Jane on this beautiful journey.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Annabel Monaghan for sending me this arc in exchange for an honest review.