What is it about Annael Monaghans writing that sucks you in from the get go? Her writing is so light and deep all at once and I am so happy to have recieved an ARC of "It's a Love Story". It is your enemies to lovers trope, and while the characters fall in love quickly, I think it will be a summer romance must read!

I really enjoyed 'Summer Romance' so when I had the opportunity to read an ARC of 'It's a Love Story,' I jumped at the chance!

The main character, Jane, is a former child star who is looking to get her script sold and ultimately works with her nemesis to try to secure a famous pop artist (and former co-star) to record music for it. Admittedly the beginning didn't quite hook me as a I expected but halfway through I was glad I stuck with it. Jane wasn't likeable initially but is forced to grow up and change her outlook on life and love once the right person is able to break through her façade. Such a great book - thank you NetGalley, Putnam Books and Annabel Monaghan!

A beautifully written, raw, and funny love story. “It’s a Love Story” is one of Annabel Monaghan’s most compelling (see what I did there? If not, go read the book) novels. The characters are fleshed out and grow over the duration of the book. You are rooting for them all the way through. This book discusses the impact of truth and vulnerability in relationships and I think we can all learn something from Jane and Dan. The complexity of family dynamics is almost a side character in the story. The ability to see the truth in yourself and others is an incredible (but scary) thing. Also, the writing was absolutely beautiful: vulnerable, true (hehe), and personal. There were no sweeping/generic characters or phrases. It felt as if we got to hear the How Did You Meet story directly from a very much in love couple.
Highly recommend!

This is one of my favorites from this author, this is mostly due to Jane’s sense of humor, I actually laughed out loud. I found Jane and Dan to be relatable characters, they felt like real people who end up dating and exposing all the baggage they have between them. Jane has abandonment issue and Dan who comes from a large family of boys struggles to keep his individuality and being accepted for who he is. Ultimately they both wanted the same thing, to show up as themselves and have their person want them as is.

I loved the Finnegan family they were hilarious, and felt like a big hug. Clem was such a good friend, who showed up without being asked, as well as the relationship between Jane and her mom. There were a lot of jokes within the book around the topic of insta-love, which is ironic because Jane and Dan fell in love after a WEEK, oof. Really?


Thank you so much Penguin Group Putnam, Netgalley and Annabel Monaghan for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

Honestly, at this point I think everything Annabel Monaghan writes is utter perfection. I just devour her books, and I gobbled up It’s a Love Story in less than a day. I rooted for Jane and Dan from the very beginning - talk about a love story you want to see come true. Can’t wait for the next great love story from Monaghan. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

Annabel Monaghan writes beautiful stories with compelling, flawed characters. She makes Long Island in the summer feel magical. Jane is someone we all know (or have been). Her fight or flight reflexes have always tended towards flight because she doesn’t believe herself worthy of the fight. She has been pushed down or minimized at such critical points in her life until Dan and the Finnegans show her (without even meaning to) what love and family can be. Loved it.

Annabel Monaghan has a way of writing a book that just sucks you into the world she is writing about. I loved this book! I loved the sweet reminder that love is the smaller things that happen every day. Life is really that way. We should all appreciate those moments to tigers and explosions. I have nothing negative to say about this book and will be recommending it as a summer read!

It’s A Love Story by Annabel Monaghan 4⭐️

This was a very cozy and entertaining romance book! This was my first read by Annabel Monaghan but I’ve heard so much about her other books so I was really excited going in.

This is an enemies to lovers story starring Jane Jackson and Dan Finnegan. They are forced to work together to basically stalk Jack Quinlan, Jane’s childhood crush that left her heartbroken, to try and get their dream movie into production.

I enjoyed Jane’s character development and watching her walls come down. I liked her witty banter and her appreciation of Dan’s family who were so welcoming to her. I found it relatable how much she just wanted to fit in and feel like a part of such a loving group. I do however, dislike a fourth quarter breakup and it was really frustrating to watch her destroy the great thing she was starting with Dan. Sometimes you just want to shake a character and knock some sense into them and that’s how I felt about Jane.

I really loved Dan as the MMC. He’s quiet and the black sheep of his family but he was a really compelling love interest and overall so supportive and endearing. His love for his family made him even more attractive and it’s easy to see why Jane fell for him so quickly. Their tension was palpable even with it being a closed door romance. I also really respected that he didn’t immediately cave when Jane came back to apologize. I hate in a book when characters instantly forgive something that truly hurt them so I liked that Dan stood his ground but in the end loved Jane enough to forgive her mistakes.

While this isn’t exactly “insta love” I wish the timeline of the story had been a little longer. It felt like a slow burn but it all really took place over the course of a week 😂

It’s something I rarely say but I absolutely loved the epilogue. It was an appropriate amount of time after the original story to make it realistic and I found it immensely satisfying. My only wish was that we could’ve seen the movie become successful and see Jack Quinlan feel silly for having passed it up.

I definitely recommend this book if you’re in the mood for a heartwarming and cozy rom com with some great banter. Especially if you’re a fan of The Notebook 🤭

Thank you so much NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced reader copy!!

This is my first Annabel Monaghan book and after this one I want to read more!

Jane, a former child actor has her heart set on getting a script she found and fell in love with on the big screen. But she’s forced to work with her arch nemesis, Dan. Jane lies and says she’s still in contact with a former costar Jack and that he will produce a song for the movie. Dan and Jane then go on a wild chase back in Dans hometown where Jack is said to be putting on a secret show.

Jane and Dans love story begins, or should I say continues then. They are both complex characters who really balance each other out. Their humor throughout the book matches each other. I was hooked and couldn’t put this book down!

Thank you to Net galley for the ARC. Unfortunately, I was just pretty bored reading this one. I couldn’t make myself care about these characters. I will definitely try another one by this author in the future

I am so thankful for the chance to receive any early copy of “It’s a Love Story” by Annabel Monaghan. From page one, I was drawn into the narrative, as only Annabel Monaghan can do. Her writing style is so approachable and the characters feel real and true. The premise of the book pushes on a failed young love and connection through the entertainment industry….and then a new connection later in life. As I started becoming immersed in the story, I kept feeling a connection to Jennette McCurdy’s memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died. Sure enough, in Monaghan’s acknowledgements, she shared the inspiration found there for her Jane and Jack. This book was the truest gift and best way to start off my reading in 2025. It will be a re-read again and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Thank you for your storytelling, Annabel!!!

This book felt like a warm hug. I love reading romance books about people who are flawed and relatable. This one was no exception. The slow burn between Jane and Dan was incredible. I cannot wait to purchase a physical copy when this book is released!

This has probably been my favorite Annabel Monaghan book so far!! I loved the character depth of both Kate and Dan and loved seeing how they both had so much growth in becoming who they really are independently in the midst of their budding relationship. This book had so much wit, slow burn tension, and truly just a lot of feel good moments that made it the perfect rom com read!

Content warnings: explicit language, open-door sexual activity (I would not label this as a “smut” book; open door scenes are mild in their description).

I really liked this! This isn't just a swoony, rom-com. I don't know how to describe it, but it's an emotional, mature, love story. It feels so genuine and relatable. I loved Dan and Jane so much. I also loved Dan's family and every second they spent at the family house with all the side characters.

It'll be a great summer read to sweep you away to a small town in Long Island with a found family. And for all "The Notebook" lovers, the references are absolutely amazing.

It started off pretty slow for me but I'd say halfway through, I became hooked. There was a third act breakup / pushing the other away act at the end which felt a bit anticlimactic for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review!

I loved Monaghan's other books, so I was excited to get this ARC. It's a love story did not disappoint. I quickly fell for Jane, and the chemistry between her and Dan was palpable. I also adored Dan's family. His parents especially, and the cozy home they created. I didn't care for the jack storyline as much. But it was a fun story!

Absolutely loved it! The plot, the humor, the characters are all the perfect combo. Fantastic read that gave me all the feels. The way Annabel describes love is beautiful and true. It's in the small, quiet moments and not always the big stuff. Loved Dan and Jane, and all the Finnegan brothers.

Another Annabel Monaghan winner who is becoming one of my favorite writers. Thank you Net Galley for this preview copy. I love Annabel’s writing style and how she develops her characters flaws and all. I was immediately invested in the characters and their story. The main characters are Jane, a former child actor, and Dan, a cinematographer, a person who disagrees with Jane on bringing a screenplay to film. To not give away this heartwarming storyline that is absolutely beautiful, funny, and captivating, this story definitely will tug at your heartstrings. I’ll be first in line buying a physical copy when released on May 27th. So didn’t want this story to end.

The introduction was so choppy I could barely get through it. The writing had no flow and I almost gave up. It picked up after the first chapter. Some little things- commas that should have been semicolons, repetitive sentence structure, predictable text. It's a beach read, but I think a lot of readers may give up if they can't get through Chapter 1. Each character feels formulaic. And Jane's meltdown is so, so childish. If the characters were a little bit more nuanced, it would add a depth to the book that, I believe, would give it the weight it needs. The work scratches the surface of major childhood traumas without giving those traumas the gravity they need- it comes off as inauthentic and exploitative. The work itself is so predictable. I understand that readers like predictability, but I felt like a psychic by the end of this.

5—Thank you, NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons, for providing me early access to Monaghan's highly anticipated romance in exchange for my honest thoughts. Once again, Annabel Monaghan immerses me in her stories, making me feel like I'm right there alongside the characters.

In this book, we follow Jane Jackson, a former child actor who strives to shed her awkward past while navigating the chaos of Hollywood. The dialogue is light-hearted and fun. While you might expect a typical light romance, this book pulls at the heartstrings in the best way!

Overall, it was an engaging read, and I recommend it to anyone looking for an entertaining story. Annabel Monaghan's writing is straightforward and comforting, making it a pleasure to dive into her world. I appreciate her ability to make readers feel seen and uplifted.

Once again I am blown away by Annabel Monaghan and her ability to make you feel a part of the family she creates. Dan and Jane are relatable in so many ways. I could not put this book down once I started!