Annabel Monaghan strikes again with It's a Love Story, The writing is full of wit and emotional depth, keeps the story light-hearted while exploring deeper themes of self-worth, redemption, and unexpected connections. The chemistry between Jane and Dan Finnegan is electric. It’s a romance that blooms in the most unlikely of circumstances, awkward, messy, and totally relatable. Monaghan’s portrayal of Long Island and its small-town charm adds another layer of warmth to the story, making it feel like a cozy escape, perfect for a binge. It balances humor, heart, and just the right amount of tension, leaving you wanting more of Jane’s story. If you’re looking for a quick, fun escape with an emotional punch, this one’s a winner.

Annabel Monaghan delivers another five-star masterpiece with this book! I absolutely loved it. Jane and Dan’s relationship was a joy to follow, from their first connection to their happily-ever-after. Watching their emotions deepen felt so genuine and heartfelt.

The addition of Jack’s lively family, led by Reenie and Cormac, added warmth and charm, making me long for such a deeply caring family dynamic. Ruby was a delightful bonus, bringing even more joy to the story.

I couldn’t put this book down—it was so captivating that I had to force myself to stop reading just to get some sleep. This is a story I would happily read again and again; it left me feeling utterly happy and content.

I'm not going to lie: Annabel Monaghan could write a grocery list and I'd line up to read it. I was so very excited and honored to receive approval for this ARC, yet also wanted to savor every delicious word. I frequently went back to re-read passages that made me feel some kind of way. This story is smart, funny, poignant, and spoke to me on a cellular level. There is a little Janey Jakes in all of us, I think. Playing a role, a bit uncomfortable in our skin, and yearning for validation. I should be embarrassed by the number of times this story moved me to tears. The scene with Ruby at the party? Gutted in ALL the best ways. And it bears mentioning that I don't even know if this author is a Swiftie, but between the title quoting a song, the "fake it 'til you make it" mantra, and the cover art bearing a striking resemblance to Taylor at a rain show in her Midnights body suit, I'd like to believe that she was watching grainy livestreams like so many of the rest of us.

Annabel Monaghan has done it again! I don’t know what it is about her work but it’s perfect to me.

Jane and Dan might be my favorite leads yet (and this is saying a lot because I love them all). Their love story feels so believable and real even though the circumstances are a little wild. There isn’t a side character I didn’t like either!

Monaghan manages to continually write quick and easy reads - beach reads, if you will - but she always packs a punch. I can’t wait to buy this for my shelf once it’s out.

Thank you to Putnam & NetGalley for the eARC!

I could not put this down. I loved it so much. The raw emotion from the FMCs inner monologue was so well done. It is sad but true how childhood traumas, whether emotional or physical, can change how we perceive ourselves well into adulthood. Jane was so hilarious and someone I just wanted to hang out with. Dan is immaculate. I loved the Finnegans and want more stories about them. Definitely recommend.

This book gave me butterflies!

I have yet to meet a book by Annabel Monaghan that I didn’t love, but this may be my favorite one yet. There is so much real life in this you can’t help but relate to the struggles and victories the characters have. The characters are the perfect balance of funny, sweet, and troubled, with amazing chemistry.

Jane is a has been teen tv star, who was always in the background is trying to make it with the perfect romantic movie script, while exhausting herself trying to be exactly who she thinks people want her to be. Dan is a quiet artist and cinematographer who isn’t afraid to speak the truth and has a complicated relationship with his wonderful family. They have an amazing meet cute involving a bird, and excitedly agree to a first date. Only for Jane to walk into a work meeting to see Dan shooting down her dream movie, telling her it isn’t commercial enough. But have no fear Jane has a plan for the movie, and she definitely doesn’t want to date Dan.

Jane and Dan find themselves flying across the country to his family home in attempts to make the movie happen. The forced proximity of this trip, working together, bunking together and spending lots of time with Dans huge family has quite the lasting impact on Jane. She may just learn what love really looks like. That it’s quiet, that it doesn’t have to be flashy or fancy, that “love happens over breakfast.”
This book was so sweet, showing the softer quieter side of love, but also tackling the hurt people have and how it truly affects us. Jane was able to overcome some of her past hurt to experience a new kind of love, but not without hurting people in the process. I felt all the emotions while reading this, but ultimately it made me so happy. A must read for all!

I was so excited to be approved for this ARC since I've really enjoyed all of the authors previous books. While I enjoyed the characters (besides how immature and childish Jane was) and the story, there was something about this one that felt choppy to me. I don't usually find writing that takes me out of the book but this one did. There were points where I couldn't focus due to how the sentences were structured and sometimes felt unfinished. "He's going to open it, I'm going to walk through it, and he's going to close it. That's how doors work." This is just one example of what/how I was taken out of the story. It just felt unnecessary. I will definitely check out what she writes next since I've liked a majority of her work, this one just didn't work for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I'll read anything by Annabel Monaghan, she's a favorite! It's a Love Story made me laugh out loud and brought tears to my eyes. What made me sad? Finishing it too fast! Pre-order and add this to your TBR list now!

Thank you, NetGalley and Putnam Books for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

📖 Book Review 📖 If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life it’s that it never goes the way you think it will. But the best thing to do is learn to roll with it, and Jane has done just that…even after becoming meme-worthy as an adolescent in show business. Despite some bad luck, she is determined to make her screenplay a hit at all costs, even if it means tracking down the popstar who was another source of angst and embarrassment from Jane’s past. Annabel Monaghan draws readers in right from the beginning to root for Jane as she navigates the hurdles of making her dreams a reality with the help of the handsome Dan Finnegan. It’s a Love Story is everything you want a love story to be and more!

Monaghan’s writing sparkles, making this a laugh-out-loud, swoon-worthy read that’s impossible to put down. With sharp humor, quirky characters, and sizzling chemistry, you’ll fall for this book just as hard as Jane falls for the man who’s been there all along. It’s a perfect mix of romance and self-discovery that will leave you smiling.

I've called Annabel Monaghan's three previous adult romances life-affirming, and It's a Love Story is no exception. Jane is a creative executive at a Hollywood studio, trying to get a script she believes in deeply greenlighted and, in the process, making a promise she doesn't know if she can keep.

Years ago Jane was one of the stars of a popular kids' show, playing the part of the funny girl, not the one that tween and teen boys lusted after. The same seems to play out in her personal life. Jane hasn't had a father since he left when she was five, and she has lived her adult life so far feeling like she doesn't really matter to anyone, rarely getting beyond a fourth date.

Her relationship with Dan, a photographer who also does work for the studio, was promising at first, but his cutting remarks about the scripts she was promoting tore them apart. Now Dan wants to be the cinematographer for the movie made from Jane's current script, but they can't seem to agree on how to convince the studio to take a chance on it.

Similar to Monaghan's previous protagonists, Jane and Dan are beautifully layered, fascinating characters--both with baggage and flaws, but also with endearing qualities and quirks. Jane's quietly supportive best friend Clem and Dan's big, boisterous family (including an identical twin) are engaging characters as well. The movie "The Notebook" is a continuing thread in the story, as is Jane's childhood friend who has somehow become a successful, scream-worthy pop singer. The author's writing style is fun and engrossing and the plot propels the book to a satisfying ending.

My thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam/GP Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide na honest review of this book.

I love Annabel's work and was so excited to dive into her newest project! And it did not disappoint! I loved the MMC and his family . it was so charming and I loved the town. I love hollywood type characters and that she was a childhood actor. Just a huge fan of the vibes!

Jane Jackson is a former child star and currently trying to make her name know in the production world. She’s got an outfit for every event and a plan to get her current script green-lighted. There’s just one problem: she’s paired up with the oh-so-irritating Dan (a man she once almost dated), and she may or may not have exaggerated her connection to a famous pop singer who could make the movie a killer song and win it an Oscar 😅. She now has to go on a week long “work” trip with Dan to try and sell (or stalk) the pop star on their idea. Thankfully, Dan is just as sold on the script and has family they can stay with. What happens next is an engaging story of learning to revise your own ideas of success and love.

Monaghan has officially solidified her spot in my top-five go-to recommendations of authors who write gripping, fade to black romances. I’ve read her other three romances and they were wonderful! However, this one takes the cake. Five stars for sure. I love the quirkiness of Jane and Dan and how they each had this picture in their head of what love would look like and it was challenged within the story. The tension that was built was great!

Honestly though, what sold me on this book was the absolute warmth and love that sprang from the pages from Dan’s family. They were a family you wanted to get to know. They were really and raw and had their flaws, but also would do anything for each other.

I could keep gushing on about this book but I really want you to dive in yourself! Highly recommend!

Annabelle’s writing made me feel like I was reading lovely poetry without having to ponder on the meaning of what I was reading. The way she takes her readers and puts them directly in their character’s head is so exciting to read.

A huge shout out to @annabellemonahue, @netgalley, and @peguingroupputnam for the privilege of reading this as an ARC! It was a delight start to finish!

4.5 stars
Jane Jackson was a child actor, now Creative Executive hoping to create a love story movie she truly believes in with, unfortunately, Dan, a handsome cinematographer who Jane has continuously butted heads with. When she lies and claims that pop star, Jack Quinlan (who was also her first kiss and subsequently left Jane devastated/embarrassed), would write a song for the movie, she needs to go to Long Island with Dan to track down Jack and convince him to do it and save the movie.

Tropes:
(fr)enemies to lovers
second chance
close proximity
opposites attract
ANGST

Full of laugh out loud moments, and perfect if you have a The Notebook obsession. Jane is a badass who has worked to suppress her insecurities from her past and overcome the identity of her awkward TV character. She craves a certain organization and order in her life that Dan brings a wrecking ball to. While they have been at odds on the movies they want to help create, they balance each other while supporting and arguing with each other. Underlying the arguing and "hate" is a ton of chemistry between the characters. As Jane and Dan spend more time together, they begin to understand each other more and find some common ground. I appreciated how Dan persistently reached out and took the initiative to deepen their connection through little moments, even when Jane shied away, stepping outside her comfort zone. I loved Dan's big and boisterous family, and while Dan gets lost in the crowd of his many brothers, Jane sees him for who he truly is and consistently stands up for him. The angst and longing on Dan's part are subtly hinted but definitely there and I ate it up. The ending was perfect.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC!

📚 Book Review 📚

TITLE: It’s a Love Story
AUTHOR: Annabel Monaghan
GENRE: Romance/Fiction
RATING: ⭐️⭐️

It pains me to write this review. I so wanted to love this book, but alas, this did not happen.

I LOVED Monaghan’s first two novels. They were charming, sweet, touching, and heartwarming. I was, however, let down by her 3rd book, Summer Romance. I couldn’t connect to the story or the characters at all. I decided that her next book would be the dealbreaker as to whether or not I would continue reading her books. Unfortunately, I really disliked this one. It felt contrived and forced and honestly, not believable. It seems like once an author agrees to start writing a book every year, the quality and authenticity of their work greatly diminishes. I fear that’s what’s happening here. I won’t say anymore other than I am saddened that this is (most likely) the end of the road for me and Annabel Monaghan.

*Thank you @netgalley and @putnambooks for this advanced reader copy. This book is out on shelves May 2025.

So I need to start this by thanking Annabel Monaghan, because I’ve been in the worst reading slump, and this ripped me from it! I can’t explain how much I love this book. Dan is such a great mmc, he goes down as one of my ultimate book boyfriends. He’s no business and tells Jane exactly what he wants. It’s so refreshing! And Jane is such an easy character to relate to, I was able to empathize with her from the first page. I’ve always liked Annabel Monaghan, but I LOVE this. Fans will devour this!

I think it’s incredible how a book can find you in just the right time, and this is exactly what happened with “It’s a Love Story”.

Read this for: wholesome family dynamics, a FMC finding her true self, a realistic love story, relatable characters, and beautiful descriptions of falling in love.

Being with your partner for a long time can sometimes make you feel stagnant. What this book gave me was the possibility to remind myself how amazing it was to fall in love with my person (and I think kind of relive it in a way).

Annabel has a gift for love stories and I hope she keeps writing them forever; at the same time, I hope I will have the privilege to read them, and keep rereading them because that’s how much they always resonate with me.

I have hundreds of quotes from this book and will gladly share them all after the official release. Be prepared for love confessions of your dreams.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Ok if there’s one thing about me, it’s that if Annabel Monaghan writes a book, I’m going to read it and I’m going to love it. Never have I been more excited to be an ARC reader than when I got the netgalley email saying I got approved for this book!

So for starters between the title and the first line being “fake it till you make it” (where my Swifties at?) I knew I was going to be obsessed with this one. Not to mention there’s a character named Reenie, which just so happens to be the name of my sweet baby girl. So basically I was an absolute swoon for this book. There’s a cool story line touching on how a childhood actress adjusts to life as an adult and the emotional impact it has on her. This sweet love story has an enemies to lovers/ slow burn thing going. You will love Dan and his big fam, and Jane’s character development will definitely make you shed a few tears. I was so sad it had to come to an end!

After spending her childhood being the silly girl with braces on a kids’ sitcom show, Jane wants to make something of her life in the adult world. She falls in love with a script she wants her studio to choose for a movie. Unfortunately when pitching her idea, her arch nemesis Dan is there as the potential cinematographer. To her surprise he loves it too and brings her back home to Long Island to try and track down the famous country singer Jack Quinlan (who happens to be her first kiss). If he agrees to make a track for their movie, will they both finally catch their big break? Will the forced proximity help or hurt the cause? Well you will have to wait until May to find out 😉

Truly this book is fantastic. Ms. Monaghan can do no wrong in the romance world!

Her best book yet! I adored this one. I loved the bits of Hollywood and child stars… I loved how funny it was. Dan might be my favorite MMC in the Annabel universe. Quiet knows what he wants Dan. And I need more from the Finnegans! Brian’s love story maybe? I’m not ready to say goodbye.

Growing up on tv as the geeky sidekick has left Jane with a lot of scars. Now as an adult she’s trying to make it as a producer in Hollywood. She has the script of a lifetime. The only problem? Dan Finnegan has been brought in on the project. Dan is arrogant, pompous, and continually sabotaging Jane’s career. To get her script green-lit, Jane promises her boss that she’d get a single written by a famous pop star from her past. Trouble is, she has no way of connecting with him. After filling Dan in on her dilemma he offers her the only logical solution. She comes home with Dan to Long Island where said pop star will be performing. And maybe Jane might just find out that she doesn’t hate Dan after all?

If Annabel writes it I’ll be reading it. I’ve loved all her books but I think this one might just be my favorite. The writing is sharp and funny. The characters had depth. And I’m just such a sucker for big families with lots of love. And I loved Dan being the lovable black sheep of the family. Honestly there’s not a single thing I can critique about this. I enjoyed Jane’s character arc a lot. I loved seeing her grow and fall in love. Just all around an amazing read.

Forced proximity
One room
Enemies to lovers
Small town

If you like books with sweet odd ball men, emotional character arcs, and a loving family dynamics this one’s for you.

Thank you netgalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.