Wow, Annabel Monaghan has become one of the my favorite authors to read lately. I started with Nora Goes Script in 2022 and have automatically bought her new books each year ever since, so I was super excited to get an advanced digital copy of this years book.

Jane was a child sitcom star that made everyone laugh and now she will do anything to get her project green light…even tell a white lie about being in friends with a huge popstar Jack who has already agreed to write a song for the movie’s soundtrack. Unfortunately, her white lie is now forcing her to owe a favor to Dan (her arch nemesis that squashed her last project!) Jane and Dan fly to Long Island in hopes of seeing Jack at a local festival and approaching him about the project. Between Dan’s lovable family and forced proximity, Jane may had been wrong about him all along and spending time with him is forcing her to face her own truths. I really enjoyed this book and all the funny, quirky characters. The final conflict seemed a bit forced, but I loved it for beginning to end.

A huge thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for allowing me early access to enjoy this book! Get this one on release day 5/27/25 and until then check out Summer Romance or Same Time Next Summer.

⭐️4.5⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for my arc copy!

This started out a little slow and I wasn’t sure in what direction it was headed.

Jane has a difficult time getting her script to bypass her studio and make it on the big screen. A childhood actor herself, she is determined to make something of herself that is beyond the dorky girl she was portrayed on the tv show. She meets Dan, who she instantly clicks with & schedules a date in the coming week. She walks into her bosses office and there’s Dan telling her that her script sucks. Obviously the date doesn’t happen, so we flash forward to her finding a new script and realizing Dan will be working with her in order to get it past publishing. She comes up with a crazy plan, that somehow involves her and Dan going to his childhood home. That is where it grabs me. Once you learn about his family and life, you fall in love with both of the characters. This book made me feel things I didn’t know I could feel. It was heartwarming, funny, realistic, and overall a great read. I highly recommend!!

Ill be honest, at the very beginning, I would not have thought that this would have beat out Summer Romance as my favorite Annabel Monaghan book but as I kept reading, SHE KNOCKED IT OUT THE MF PARK WITH THIS ONE 😭 I love the way Annabel writes. I can’t really explain how it makes me feel in words. It just scratches an itch in my brain that not a lot of other authors can really reach.

I absolutely love Jane. She is slightly unhinged but in a way that feels relatable. Granted, we aren’t all former child/teenager actor stars but regardless. It’s everything that came after that. Her lack of confidence, stepping out of her comfort zone, etc. Watching her growth and find her courage was so heartwarming. I am obsessed with Dan (even though at first I wasn’t a fan) and how their romance developed. It wasn’t insta lovey to me at all but it felt like such a sweet semi slow burn (it does take place over the course of a week but WHATEVERRRRR I DON’T CARE). Tbh I miss reading romances where it takes spending time together, talking, etc to build their connection. I’ve been reading SO many books where it happens in the first 10 pages and I just like this so much more.

Jane is a former childhood actress still trying to make her mark on the big screen, but now from the other side. She’s fallen in love with a script and she is doing everything she can to get it made. Even heading out of town with her annoying coworker, Dan, to convince famous singer Jack to work with them.

Poor Jane had a major embarrassment with Jack as a kid and an awkward work relationship with Dan, so what could go wrong? Or will it all go right?

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam and Annabel Monaghan for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars rounded up!

Jane Jackson, a child star turned studio executive, lies to her boss to get her dream script greenlit. Now, to make good on her promise, she has to get in front of Jack Quinlan, current pop star heartthrob and Jane's first kiss, to ask a favor.

She teams up with "man bun" Dan, an arrogant cinematographer who may or may not have had a hand in stopping one of Jane's previous projects. They go to Long Island to stake out Jack in an attempt to casually bump into him and ask their favor. While in Long Island, they stay with Dan's boisterous, loving family. They get to know each other on a personal level, have some awkward interactions before they finally admit they want each other.

This book was fantastic! Flawed characters with a history, a big, loving family, hometown shenanigans and people finding each other who will actually stand the test of time. (Idk about you, but sometimes I think these couples don't make it much past the epilogue.) In any case, the more we get to know about Dan and Jane, the more we know they're a match made in heaven!

I knocked off a half star for the storyline with Jane's dad. I felt like it was set up to be an important part of the story and it just kinda fell flat for me.

Another incredible read by Annabel Monaghan!!! I am so sad that it’s over and there isn’t another new one this year, and jealous of everyone else who gets to read this for the first time! This book follows Jane who is at a career crossroads, as she partners with a man who she thinks is her enemy to help her get a project made. I was genuinely not sure who the love interest would be at the beginning but oh boy did Jane make the right choice. The love story is quick but felt like a slow burn with so much heart. I’m obsessed. Thank you for blessing us with your stories Annabel!!! 😍

Today is January 8th, and I can already tell this book will undoubtedly be in my top 5 for 2025. I simultaneously couldn’t wait to finish it and didn’t want it to end. I’ll be buying copies for friends and adding it to my book club list just so I can read it again.

Jane, the childhood actress turned movie executive, can’t seem to catch a break in either love or her career. She feels trapped in a world where she’s forced to live a scripted life, complete with perfect outfits, and has long given up on the idea of love.

Dan, on the other hand, is authentic, introverted, creative, and shy. He won’t make a movie unless he believes in it, and his creative spirit is both raw and gentle.

Together, they embark on a mission to track down an old colleague of Jane’s to ask for a favor—helping them get the green light on a script they both adore, even though they can’t stand each other.

Annibel Monnaghan masterfully creates relationships that feel so real, special, and immersive, that they practically leap off the page.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read an advance copy of It's A Love Story ❤️

Jane is so many women who want to be fiercely independent and strong yet struggle with the feeling that they are not enough. Do they really know who they are, what they want to be, and how to get there? Often, no. Because we are told how we should act, what we should look like, and how we should feel. Jane's journey of self-discovery is a love story in more ways than one. Before you can ever fall in love, you have to love yourself. Sounds cheesy, I know. But also very true. I enjoyed watching Jane grow and fall in love, and then eventually face the reality of lies she has told herself (and been told by others) her whole life. It IS a love story! And I loved it!!

I never miss an Annabel Monaghan book! She is my favorite rom-com author and I just adore everything she writes. “It’s a Love Story” is another hit for her and I loved every minute of it.
Jane thinks she has to live her life perfectly, everything is scripted just the way it should be, down to her love life. A former child star, Jane carries so much pain inside and never really feels worthy of love, but Dan comes along and breaks down all of her walls in the sweetest way.
This story has it all and can’t be missed!

This is the 4th Annabel Monaghan book I've read and they just keep getting better and better! I LOVED It's a Love Story!

Jane is a film executive tasked with tracking down a popular musician in hopes that he will write an original song for her new project. Dan is the cinematographer who is her work nemesis but also her host during her trip to find the elusive musician. Jane and Dan fly to his small hometown on Long Island (the author must have a soft spot for the New York coast, as most of her books are set there) and stay with his big, loud family during their trip.

I loved the character of Jane. She was insecure and vulnerable and broken by her past. And I loved Dan, too. I liked that he wasn't an alpha male. He was quiet and artsy and disorganized. There was just so much emotion in their story and I was rooting for them so much. This book gave me a hangover in the best way!

Many thanks to Penguin Putnam publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

We all had our favorite tv sitcoms growing up that we will never forget because the characters were relatable, funny, and sometimes over the top...Now imagine how those actors/actresses feel trying to get you to forget them in their old roles as they grow up. Jane has spent the last two decades of her life trying to find herself and forget her old self- the awkward and hilarious "Janie Jakes" that people her age grew up watching. Jane has been struggling to find a career and a man that will love her for who she is...although she is somewhat unsure of who she really is.

Annabelle Monoghan has once again created characters and a setting that will suck you in and have you turning pages as fast as you can. This book was a solid 4 stars. This is for you if you love enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and The Notebook. You will enjoy following Jane as she figures out her second act. This book is full of laugh out loud and swoon worthy moments!

It's a Love Story is the perfect summer beach read. The dialogue is humorous and the characters are lovable and relatable. The romance is sweet and well-developed, and the exploration of family dynamics is well done. If you like comedic beach reads that will tug at your heartstrings and make you believe in imperfect love, this is the book for you!

Jane Jackson was the awkward yet comical Janey Jakes in one of the most popular sitcoms when she was a teenager. She’s since tried to move past this and is now a creative executive for a movie studio. In a desperate move to get a script made into a movie, Jane promises a song from Jack Quinlan who she hasn’t spoken to since she was 14 (and didn’t end on the best of terms with). This leads her to spending a week at her work nemesis Dan’s family home. But the more she gets to know Dan, the harder he is to hate.

I’m a huge fan of Annabel Monaghan and this did not disappoint! This book was adorable! Jane felt very real to me. She and Dan had great chemistry!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC!

I have read all but one of Annabel Monaghan's adult releases, and I am continually impressed by her growth! I loved both Jane and Dan throughout the novel and thought Jane's personal story weaved throughout the romance was endearing, heartbreaking, and completely relatable. I additionally appreciated Annabel's author's note at the end discussing how Jennette Mccurdy's memoir inspired pieces of Jane's backstory. Thank you to the publisher!

I was so excited for this Arc! My first Annabel Monaghan was Summer Romance and I was instantly obsessed! This absolutely lived up to my expectations and I can't wait to read more by this author

Loved it! Annabel Monaghan is must-read immediately author for me. She writes characters that are real and so relatable.

It's a Love Story is from Jane's perspective a child actress working in the movie industry and has underlying shame about being unlovable and easy to leave that fuels every move. I could easily relate to Jane, she overthinks everything and builds up stories in her head. Dan also works in the movie industry, during their second encounter he says the movie Jane wants to make is trash. Which of course makes them enemies in Jane's mind. Four months later they are working together to try and get a different movie green-lit, and travel to NY and spend a week at Dan's family home.

I loved Dan (hate the name but...). He's quiet and introspective, which leads him to make decisions from his heart. He feels like an outsider in his family, but he also know he has to be himself or he will get lost in the family chaos. He shows Jane its safe to unmask and truly be yourself, instead of always playing the role she thinks people want to see.

I loved the ending. I thought the grand gesture was adorable. I love that she had to be so vulnerable in the moment. Gah. Great story. You must read it.

I was so excited when I got approved for this ARC! This has everything you'd want from a summer beach read. Such a cute, sweet story and still swooning over "...love happens over breakfast...".

Definitely would recommend!

This was my first Annabel Monaghan book and I loved it!! It was the perfect slow burn and I loved watching the former child star Jane’s walls come down! Jane and Dan compliment each other so well and the banter is great! This book is such a cozy read and is sure to keep you smiling.Thank you Putnam books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Jane Jackson was a childhood actor and is still trying to make it in show business as an adult. She can’t shake the image of her character was always the butt of the joke. She is no longer acting but trying to get movies made in a different avenue of the industry. She needs help from one of her acquaintances from her acting days, but Jack Quinlan is now a country superstar. She has not had contact with him since her teenage years. Jane needs help from a workplace rival to get in contact with Jack to help get Jane’s movie made.

This book was just okay for me. I have a hard time connecting with the characters when they’re so unlikeable, and it’s not obvious that they’re supposed to be unlikeable. Jane constantly jumped to conclusions, was whiney, and she was judgemental towards Dan right from the start. She judges books by the cover and is very reluctant to check out what’s inside. I almost DNF’d this book at 30% but I wanted to see it through. I have read other books by Annable Monaghan and I’m not sure if she’s an author for me, her books seem to fall flat. It did get slightly better at the 30% mark, but by then it wasn’t enough to get me invested. I would still recommend this book to fans of rom-com books. It’s slow to start, but it does have good banter and humor after it gets into it.

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for a DRC of this book. The opinion in this review is my own.

Y'all Annabel Monaghan DOES IT again 👏😍 This romance really fast forwarded me right into summer.

It tells the story of Jane, who is a former child actor trying to find her way as an adult, and Dan, who is an introverted photographer/artist who knows exactly who he is. A white lie from Jane to her boss ends up with them both on a summer trip to Long Island to stay with his family.

The romantic tension and jokes between them had me smiling while I was reading. Both main characters are likeable and also flawed, which made them really relatable for me. I loved how quirky Jane was and how she grows throughout the book.

There are so many beautiful themes and moments in this story. I had a happy glow while reading this whole book, and I didn't want to put it down. Mark your calendars for your next beach read this summer!!