“Love happens over breakfast.”

Jane is a former child star trying to prove herself as a serious Hollywood professional.  So when she falls in love with a script she feels like this is her big shot, and she will do anything to get it made.  ANYTHING!  Even spend the week working with her nemesis Dan, the cinematographer that ruined her last big shot and all of his family.

I have really come to enjoy Monaghan’s stories and writing style.  I love her sharing of her knowledge of the film world, and giving depth to her characters and the situations they find themselves in and the messy and realistic ways they must work through them.

This slow burn definitely left me yearning for Jane and Dan to get together…but this just added to fun/swoon when they finally did.  I of course didn’t love the third act break-up and thought things were a little rushed there, but overall I really enjoyed this enemies to lovers, workplace romance.  I loved seeing Jane’s determination in getting this intimately vulnerable script made.  And watching her relax and learn to be her true self.  I loved Dan’s quiet intensity and how he was the introvert in his loud family.  And I loved the chaotic (but loving) Finnegan family.  They were fun side characters, and the way they showed each other love was so perfect to me.

“It occurs to me then why Dan loves ‘True Story’. It’s the kind of love he grew up with, where the real and maybe not-so-nice thing is said, and then you come back together. The love creeps in in small ways, a hand placed on the back of your brother’s chair.”

‘Hand on heart’, I really enjoyed this bingeable and heartfelt story about accepting yourself as you are and putting your heart out there for those you love.

Thank you to NetGalley, Putnam Books, and Annabel Monaghan for providing this eARC for my honest review.

It’s A Love Story publishes May 27, 2025!

::Contented sigh::
Annabel Monaghan has set the bar high with It's a Love Story. Maybe the warmer days and later sunsets have me longing for summer and that feeling of sun-kissed skin, salty air, and time spent with loved ones by the water, but It’s a Love Story hooked me and is now embedded into my soul. Is that dramatic? Probably, but I am sitting here with my morning coffee in an early morning haze that’s laced with the soft comfort of a dreamy book hang-over.

I expected this to be a light and quick beach-type of read and though it was a quick read for me, it was inspired by Jeanette McCurdy’s book I’m Glad My Mom Died, so be prepared to feel some feelings. Jane Jackson, former child star known for her signature goofy jokes and “oof face”, has her heart set on making it in the industry as an adult. Unfortunately, her track record is slow and her opinion of herself is jaded by a history of loss and a looming feeling of being a second-choice girl. While pitching a script, she is met with two rather large obstacles-needing to work with Dan Finnegan, the man who is responsible for her last script being rejected, and to get popular musician (Jack Quinlan) on board for the soundtrack after she let it slip that they are “close friends who are in frequent contact”. Jack Quinlan-the same Jack that humiliated her and broke her heart when she was 14… Jack who she hasn’t seen since then.

Dan and Jane set out to make the request in-person when she is denied a meeting by Jack’s manager during a cold call. Jack’s next gig is at a venue near Dan’s childhood home at a festival where his brother is working. Jane quickly finds herself in close quarters with Dan and his entire family while she faces her past in a way that challenges her to see things in a new light, while maintaining her little white lie as she pursues Jack. Being around Dan 24/7 forces her to see him in a completely new manner as his layers begin to reveal themselves and she realizes he is not the huge turd she previously thought he was.

There’s something about the way Annabel writes that hugs my heart. Her love stories are contemporary, but her style is reminiscent of a time that seemed a little purer and a little safer. It’s hard for me to explain because there is humor and a bit of spice, but I truly love the way her words flow on paper (or on my kindle as the case may be).

Gosh, by the end, I was so dang proud of my sweet Janey girl! She dug deep, did the hard things, and didn’t give up. As for Dan…what can I say? Dan reminded me of a loveable Dan Humphry (Gossip Girl) in a way- artsy, deeply feeling, and faithfully dedicated to his truth and to the people he loves. Dan’s family is top-notch and is what dreams are made of. They aren’t perfect, and Dan has had his struggles, but ultimately, they are a Braverman type of love- loud, accepting, loving, and here for a good time.

Themes
-enemies-to-lovers
-co-workers (sort of)
-slow burn
-small town/big city
-forced proximity (one room)

Genre: Romance
Spice: There is some spice but not super graphic.
Rating: 5 stars
Series or Stand-Alone: Stand-Alone
Thanks to @PutnamBooks, @netgalley, and @annabelmonaghan for the ARC copy! This is my honest review.

I loved this story so much! From the hard family dynamics to deep feelings of rejection and unlovable-ness. I cried when Jane told her mom the truth about her dad and her mom told her she never gave up on love to show Jane it was real. This was my first book by Annabel but I already added more to my TBR!

This book was an engaging read with a deeply emotional undertone, once I started I couldn't put it down. Annabel’s signature writing style shines through, bringing to life characters who feel raw, flawed, and incredibly human, which made them all the more compelling.

The romance itself was subtle yet powerful—a quiet kind of love that slowly builds and sneaks up on you rather than the instalove we typically see in Hollywood movies (and so relatable to what Jane is trying to achieve with her job). While the lack of communication between the characters was occasionally frustrating, it also felt realistic given their circumstances and the short time frame we're working with.

This book also had my emotions sneaking up on me - some hard discussions come about regarding Jane and her Dad with her Mum and this had me feeling allll the feels.

My first Annabel book, and won't be the last! Thank you Annabel, NetGalley and Penguin Group for the ARC!

Should you read this book? Well, to quote T. Swift, "It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes"! Annabel Monaghan's books are always one that I look forward to reading. I love that the characters feel real and complicated. I fell in love with the setting and the big family. It's chaotic, but written where I feel like I'm in the room watching it in real time. I related to Jane and all her feelings about love and family. I smiled and laughed so much. I just enjoyed it and wanted to sink back into the story.

"I'd like to be the person who could take all of your sad things and make them happy. Like I’d hunt down each one and turn it over.”

I don’t think anyone is that person for anyone,” I say.

“I don’t think so either. But I’d like to be that person for you."

It’s a love story but also a gold rush?…
Annabel, you did it again! I keep thinking there’s no way I’m gonna like your next book better than your last but why was I crying by the end of this one? Such a heartfelt book, excellent writing, well developed characters and a compelling story line. I loved Dan’s family dynamic and the journey of self acceptance Janey goes through ( the soda throwing scene replays in my mind every time I’m annoyed at someone). The enemies to lovers angle was written delightfully. The bond between the main characters was so intimate and with a refreshing perspective. I know everyone wants to immediately sing “Love story” by Taylor Swift when reading the title to the book but as soon as I finished it my head couldn’t stop singing “Gold Rush”. My favorite book of 2025 and one of the best romance books I’ve read. Can’t wait to reread this one for years to come.

This is my first Annabel Monaghan book and I now need to remedy that and go read the rest of her stuff. I was so captivated by Its a Love Story. It made me believe in love a little more than I already do. I was unsure about the characters at first; Jane had her annoying moments but also you recognize that its from unresolved issues and you know what who doesn't have annoying moments. Dan and his family are so amazing. I love the growth we see in Jane as she's with them. Also glad there was no love triangle because I was on my guard for that. Overall, it was heart warming and lovely just makes you feel warm and happy inside.

This is definitely not my favorite Annabel Monaghan book unfortunately!!! For the first 30-40% of the book I had a really hard time connecting to the two main characters. I straight up didn't like them at points. But I really enjoyed the family dynamics and the summer romance vibes and I ended up loving the ending!

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When I tell you this book took me by surprise… I went into this with a potato chip book mindset. I had never read an Annabel Monaghan book before and I’ll be changing that from now on.


This was beautiful in so many ways. I could relate (a little too well) to Jane. Any kid who’s been left by a parent could honestly and Dan, while I wrote him off for being a bit of a jerk at first, turned out to be the sweetest sweetie pie there ever was. Their story was so real and raw and had me tearing up towards the end which never happens. 


When this book comes out on May 27th, 2025 you can bet I’ll be heading to pick up a trophy copy for my self and rereading it in the summer time to get the full vibes of this book. It belongs to the summer and it belongs to those of us who feel like the world has overlooked us one too many times. 


Thank you so much to NetGalley, Penguin, and Annabel Monaghan for an ARC of this beautiful book. All opinions are my own!

*posted to Goodreads, Lemon8, TikTok, and Instagram*

I really enjoyed this clever, entertaining read. Monaghan has a very easy style of writing that is story-centric. A fun, engaging beach read. Highly recommend.

IT’S A LOVE STORY is a novel about a former adolescent TV punch line who has left her awkwardness in the rearview mirror thanks to a fake-it-till-you-make-it mantra that has her on the cusp of success, until she tells a lie that sets her on a crash course with her past, spending a week on Long Island with the last man she thinks might make her believe in love…

I read Summer Romance last year and became in an immediate and devoted Annabel Monaghan fan. Her writing is so deceptively simple. She writes stories that are so easy to read and easy to lose yourself in, but then hit you unexpectedly with such depth and emotion. It's a Love Story was no exception to this writing style. I found myself never wanting to leave this world and drawn in so quickly.

In all of her previous books, I feel like the male main characters (while great), take more of a backseat to the female main characters. Her stories always have strong themes of personal development in her female characters and strong themes of female support within the communities she creates. I love this about her books so I was not prepared for how viscerally I was going to come to absolutely adore Dan. He is a top tier character by himself and the perfect counterpart to Jane. I loved seeing how this story was more balanced between the two of them as characters.

It's a Love Story is another home run by Annabel Monaghan. I already can't wait to read it again.

"This feels like wealth, I think. This is the thing you save up for. You live your whole life so that you can be surrounded by too many people in too small of a room and tell the story of how it all happened."

I absolutely LOVED Annabel Monaghan's newest book, "It's a Love Story."

Jane Jackson is a former child actress and current movie executive, desperate to make her new script a movie. Her coworker, Dan, shares the same desperation, but little else. When Jane over-promises a pop-star's involvement in the movie, she and Dan are forced to work together to try to make the lie a reality.

Monaghan explores enduring love, discovery of (and ultimately, appreciation of) self, and family trauma in this witty, heartwarming book. I adored the characters and devoured this sweet story. It's a MUST read--perfect for the beach or vacation too.

Thank you Netgalley, Penguin Putnam and Annabelle Monaghan for this ARC. “It's a Love Story” is an enemies to lovers, close proximity romance between Jane and Dan. A former child star and current movie maker, Jane, has found the perfect script and can't wait to pitch it to her boss, but finds out that Dan Finnegan will be the cinematographer for the project. She can't stand Dan because he recently shut down a former project of hers. Therefore, she obviously doesn't want to work with him on this one. However, after taking a risk to make the boss happy and to make the movie a huge success, things change and Jane finds out what real love is all about.

It’s the way I laughed, kicked my feet, and screamed (in a good way). I LOVED Dan & his family!!!!!! Are you kidding? I honestly wanted their work trip to be even longer so we could have more of them. They reminded me so much of my own family and my 5 siblings😭

I loved Janes character development. There were points that I felt she lacked maturity, however I can 100% understand her trauma and carrying that over to her relationships with friends, boyfriends, etc. Dan was such a delight. I loved his banter and quirkiness. I loved that he is an introvert and moves at his own pace amongst his family/siblings. I wouldn’t call this slow burn per-say, but I loved the tension build up. THE FIRE-PIT DINNER SCENE - quite literally my fav part hahahahahahhaha and also the rainstorm and painting. Oh my gosh just so many aspects and parts of this book were so great.

If you’re looking for a palette cleanser or a quick paced, well written & sweet love story, please pick this up!!! This is definitely my favorite Annabel book by far.

Spice: CLOSED DOOR, no explicit scenes🫶🏻

Thank you NetGalley & Penguin group 🤭💕🥹

It’s a Love Story follows Jane Jackson, a former child star who was known as the goofy side-kick. The girl with food in her braces, the background girl and the butt of every joke. She was never the star and grew up sure she would never truly be the star of anything, even her own life story. She was always the girl who got too attached, always the girl who was overlooked never the girl worth staying for. In her adult life, she has decided that real and true love is simply not a thing that exists. Then a lie at work sets her life on a crash course between who she is now and who she was back then. And the handsome man who she was so sure she hated being along for the ride is a bonus for sure.

Oh Annabel Monaghan… This woman can write a cute romance with emotional depth like you would not believe. This is not my first of her books and it will certainly not be my last. I simply adore her stories and her relatable characters. I can see myself in them. Every. Single. Time. I see my fears and insecurities. I see my trauma and my imperfections. I see my resilience and strength. It is a truly special author who can evoke all of these feelings in their readers. Her books are full of perfectly imperfect people who find their way by embracing what makes them who they are.

I adored this book, it was genuine and fabulous. I will hear and accept no other alternative to that indisputable fact.

Huge thank you to Penguin Group Putnam for offering this title for review via Netgalley. One of my favorite ARCs to date. All opinions are my own.

It’s a Love Story is so relatable, charming and heartwarming. It follows former child star Jane Jackson whose life is centered on the idea of dressing for the job you want—however in her case, it leads to telling a lie that involves the world’s hottest music star to green light a movie script she’s determined to bring to life. In order to made good on her fib, she begrudgingly enlists the help of the man she is creatively at odds with the most, Dan Finnegan.

Annabel Monaghan’s writing doesn’t disappoint! You can feel the tension, the love that builds and the chaos that ensues the Finnegan household. Her writing transports you into that scene like you’re right there watching a movie scene unfold. Jane and Dan are both flawed characters that fall in love perfectly. I felt every single smile, laugh, sigh of relief and tear her characters shared. I loved reading every single word of this book!

Thank you again to NetGalley and G. P. Putnam’s Sons for a chance to read an advanced copy and give an honest review of this book!

4.5 — thank you Annabel Monaghan and Putnam for the eARC of this book.

I’m kicking my feet and smiling over this book. RTC

Annabel Monaghan, you genius. It’s a Love Story is exactly the kind of book that makes you forget the real world exists—until you look up and realize you’ve been grinning like an idiot for hours.

Jane Jackson, a Hollywood executive, is determined to secure a pop song for her first project, but to do so, she must team up with Dan Finnegan, a talented but frustrating cinematographer from her past. As their mission takes them to Dan's Long Island hometown, old tensions resurface, and an unexpected romance begins to bloom.

Let’s start with Dan Finnegan. He’s a twin. TWINS. This automatically makes everything 10x more fun, and the Finnegan family as a whole? I want in. Their potato farm, their warm chaos, their banter—I felt like I was there, squeezed into a too-small kitchen chair with a cup of coffee and no choice but to fall in love with all of them. And the family group chat, lovingly (and accurately) titled The Mob? A masterpiece of sibling energy. Cormack must be protected at all costs, and Reenie? A queen.

Then there’s Dan and Jane. The slow burn, the technically a love triangle situation that’s tangled up in sibling rivalry and long-held family dynamics, the forced proximity via one shared bedroom—Monaghan had me in a chokehold. And the way Dan and Jane are so fiercely protective of each other? Fully melted.

Monaghan also has a way of making every character pop off the page, no matter how big or small their role. The little details—the specificity of a fashion choice, the way someone moves through a scene, a single line of dialogue that tells you everything—make each person feel fully realized.

And let’s talk friendships. Clem is the golden kind of best friend, the one who makes you own your shit and helps you through the mess of it. And the family dynamics? Perfection - no pretense—just real, unfiltered love.

This is exactly the kind of love story I want to read, watch, and live. Annabel Monaghan’s best. Full stop.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House Putnam for the early copy—I couldn’t have loved this more. It’s a Love Story hits shelves on May 27, and trust me, this one is a MUST.

Thank you to Putnam Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

This was a great summer beach read! I liked the bicoastal setting between Los Angeles and the sleepy beach town on Long Island. I really enjoyed the MMC Dan and his big, boisterous family, even though I had trouble keeping all of their names straight. I liked the FMC Jane, but I didn’t really understand what motivated her to say and do the things she did. Childhood trauma plays a big part in this book, but the way she acted made her seem more immature than anything. Also, she causes a conflict towards the end that felt very forced.

Overall, this was a fun, lighthearted romance filled with that signature Annabel Monaghan humor, beach town vibes, and entertaining family members.

4.5 stars. This is my second book my Annabel Monaghan, and she will now be an auto read for me. I enjoyed it immensely!