I really, REALLY like Summer Romance, so i had high hopes for this one. And I wasn't disappointed! Jane and Dan *swoons* they were just too cute. Forced proximity is probably one of my favorite tropes, and Jane being in Dan's hometown, with him?! Yes, please! I loved that all of the characters were likable. They had depth and qualities that were lovable. The only thing that lost this book half a star, was the lack of fluff. I think there's a fine line between useless information, and a little fluff to give it some extra love. This could have used a little more. It was lacking the Hallmark qualities that I love in romance books. 4.5 stars, rounded down.

I really need to read the authors other books cause I always have such a good time reading them!
This was so full of love and friendship and family!!! Which was the best. The mcs dynamic was great. I really liked that he was so laidback compared to her, they just worked so well together. I absolutely adored his entire family! Their banter, the family gatherings, having a full house for special occasions, it was so heartwarming! Im glad Jane got to tell her truth at the end and seeing her so free and happy made me happy!

Huge thanks to netgalley and the publisher that I got to read another one of Annabels arcs! Im so grateful

*A Love Story* by Annabel Monaghan is a delightful, quirky romance that blends humor, charm, and a touch of unpredictability. I may be biased, but I just adore anything Monaghan releases. The writing always feels authentic, while casually doing so.
The story follows the protagonist, whose whirlwind romance unfolds in the most unexpected ways, filled with witty banter that wasn’t overly cringe. The characters are relatable yet refreshingly unique, making the love story feel both genuine and light-hearted.
While most third act breakups are a real kick in the teeth, this felt far more relatable-and I could 10000% understand the FMC’s POV and her actions after said ‘breakup’.
While some plot twists are a little too convenient, the heart and humor of the book make it a fun and engaging read. If you're looking for a sweet, funny escape, *A Love Story* hits the mark like everything Annabel has written so far. Loved it.
4 stars.

It's [not your typical] Love Story; it is quiet and thoughtful, heartbreaking and heartwarming, heavy and hopeful. It is a story about the stories we tell ourselves and the stories we play out for others. It is about finding the true story within ourselves and finding the courage to share that with the world, whether or not it is accepted with kindness and love.

It is not your typical rom com, although I laughed right out loud in my empty living room at several parts and the romance was the most unexpected but honest, slow buildup of two people just so perfectly right for each other. It is a romance between a movie producer and a cinematographer, but it is also so much more.

I think fans of Annabel Monaghan will love this. I also highly recommend this to fans of slow-burn romance, workplace rivals-to-lovers, and quirky but lovable and very relatable heroines.

It’s a love story is a fun ready with some heavy discussion on self worth and identity. A combination of hate to love and second chance romance. It took a little for me to get hooked, but I fell in love with Dan’s family just like Jane did. 3.5⭐️ thank you for this ARC is exchange for an honest review!

It’s barely spring but I’m pretty sure I just read my favorite book of the summer! I was totally invested in this story and rooting for the characters. It will transport you to long, hot summer days and nights, and make you want to drop everything and watch The Notebook.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

It’s a Love Story showcases why I always read Annabel Monaghan. Not only does it deliver the swoons and anticipation, it does so with witty dialogue, so many heartfelt moments, and an authenticity in the relationships that make Monaghan’s stories so memorable. Another five star romance!

Annabel Monaghan knows how to tell a love story. I’ve adored each one since Nora, and this was no exception. Jane and Dan have that perfect enemies to lovers banter and the chemistry is undeniable. Annabel Monaghan also knows how to write women on a journey of self-discovery and self-love that wraps around your heart, and Jane was no exception. Lastly, Annabel Monaghan knows how to write swoony MMCs that’ll stay with you for far too long, and Dan is no exception. This is another superb beach read by Monaghan.

I absolutely love Annabel Monaghan’s books! I got her debut book from Netgalley and every year she has a new book I can’t wait to request it. This book didn’t disappoint! I loved it!
I love the mix of celebrity status mixed in with a rom com! It makes celebrities more human even though this is a book of fiction .
Jane Jackson was a child star. She was the funny quirky kid that didn’t get credit for everything she did. When her show ended she found her career ending. She then got into the producer world reading scripts trying to make them into movies. Jane finds the script she is dying to make. The only problem is the script isn’t A list enough and her boss wants her to lock in someone famous to collaborate with the movie. Jane makes a rash move and promises a singer to collaborate a song for the movie when she had a brief encounter at 14. She has to go to Long Island to a festival to try and track him down. The cinematologist is her enemy, but he has the connection in Long Island since his family lives there and can house them for the week. She doesn’t know how she is going to spend a week with a man she can barely stand. Can she save this movie?

3.5 stars ☆

this book was a quick and easy read.
i found myself enjoying it in chunks unfortunately, im not too sure why but i’d be really into it in some parts and then in others i’d start to lose interest.

i only really have two issues with this story:

1) it felt like traveling to confront jack about making a song for the movie was just a scapegoat to get jane & dan to be close together and eventually fall in love like plot wise it didn’t matter if they went or not cause a) we knew jack didn’t want to do the movie b) i don’t see how stalking him is supposed to make him say yes.

2) i just hate big blow out miscommunication third act break up scenes. i love a good third act drama but idk an unnecessary breakup just always gives me the ick. like i understand why she was emotionally drained and a bit stressed out but taking it out on dan made no sense to me especially with how well they were doing.

i did really like everything else, i loved the big crazy family members and all the coastal living. this book is extremely atmospheric and definitely puts you in a good mood so i will say that.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!

4.5 ⭐️

This is my second book by Annabel Monaghan, and it didn’t disappoint!

I will say I felt this book was a little slow to start, but it did a good job developing characters during that time. By halfway I was beyond hooked and confident this would be a high rated book!

It does have the third act miscommunication trope, and there is a little spice, but it’s mostly closed door.

I will definitely be recommending this to all my book reading friends!

Former child-star Jane Jackson (known as "Janey Jakes") does her best to make a name for herself with writing a new script called "True Story". However, her script isn't received the way she had expected it to be. Hoping to change their mind, Jane makes the promise that she will get her former fellow co-star, now superstar, Jack Quinlan to write a song for the movie. The only issue is it's been 20 years since their last encounter.

WIth the help of Dan Finnegan, some random cinematographer she briefly encountered and sort-of had a crush on, Jane embarks on this journey to hopefully meet Jack again and convince him to write this song. As they journey to Long Island for Jack's performance, Jane and Dan get to know each other and Jane realizes that Dan isn't so repulsive after all.

This book was so cute and I loved that the spice level was mild. Jane was getting to know herself and trying to make a name for herself that isn't just "Janey Jakes". She was so used to being the weird one, never being the center of attention unless it was in a negative way. In a world where Jane always fell short, I loved how Dan made her feel like she was first place. It was so heartwarming how Dan's family just took Jane in like she was one of them. I loved the small-town vibes as well.

If it weren't for the weird third-act break up, I think I would've rated this book higher. But overall, it was still really enjoyable! I will always love an Annabel Monaghan book!

I'm now a fan of Annabel Monaghan! This was the perfect beach read.
I loved the work enemies to lovers storyline and how their perception of when they met was different.

5⭐️😭 this book was absolutely beautiful!!! i have sooo many highlights of things i loved, thought were funny, sad, and of course when Dan stole my heart the most. i don’t even know what to say about this book. it captivated me and sucked me into the world of Janey Jakes turned Jane, the girl who knew how to play the perfect part so everyone would see the exact right thing, and (fake) man-bun Dan, the boy who taught her to play the part of Jane, just as herself. i cannot wait for everyone to read this!! amazing!! thank you Netgalley for the ARC!!

Jane Jackson grew up on television. As an adolescent actress she played Janey Jakes on a hit tv show that paid the bills and made her famous. All grown up now Jane works behind the scenes for a Hollywood studio with her eye on the prize - getting a script she discovers the green light. Frustrated at thirty that is hasn’t happened yet, she finally found the one. True Story is a romance she is sure will be a hit! Now Jane must convince her boss Nathan to take a chance. Without the explosions and flash appeal of the action flicks he favors, Jane reaches for her one secret move. Jane is intent on convincing Jack Quinlin, a huge singer/songwriter (she knew back in the day) to write a theme song for the movie. Jane is paired with a cinematographer and her nemesis Dan to make this deal happen. Jane and Dan, who can barely stand each other, head to the east coast for a music festival to beg Jack to help them out. They spend the week nearby at Dan’s family home that is filled with siblings, babies and laughter, revealing a completely different Dan. As the pair search for Jack and finally lower their guards, their chemistry becomes undeniable. Fast paced laugh-out-loud, adorable romance - this beach read is the absolute perfect pick for a day at the beach! Releases May 27, 2025.

It’s a love story, indeed. This book was great! I loved Monaghan’s last book, and this one was a great follow up. If I had the time to sit down and read it in one day, I would have devoured it. Despite my busy schedule, I found myself looking forward to diving back into Jane and Dan’s story as soon as I could. This book feels like the perfect vacation read, and made the gloomy grey skies of early spring feel like rays of sunshine. I would absolutely recommend this book for those looking for a cute rom com with a story of forgiveness, self-love, and compassion.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Another from this author I discovered through netgalley! I have loved all her books. She writes top tier women's fiction with the perfect dash of romance. I will read everything she writes! full review to come!

This is my third Annabel Monaghan book. I’ve loved one and didn’t like another. This one ended up being in the middle. I enjoyed the two main characters and felt they had good chemistry together. I enjoy a good slow burn romance but this novel’s pacing felt way too slow for me. I think if a little more plot happened throughout the book, things wouldn’t have felt so slow. I loved the male main character’s family and how the book felt like a fun summer beach read. Overall, I didn’t enjoy the plot choices for the last part of the book but thought how she wrapped things up in the end was nice. Overall, I think if you enjoy her other books and are more of a women’s fiction reader than a romance reader, this one would be a great read. This one comes out May 27th! Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

Nothing hits quite like a romance in the spring and summer months and this was such a fun, yet emotionally engaging read. I loved the banter and the emotional moments between the characters and I felt that the mmc and fmc had great chemistry. I wasn't the biggest fan of the main conflict at the end of the story but it was still a satisfying ending so I didn't mind too much. Overall, would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a light summer romance read!

This was my first book by the author and it was fine. Not great, not bad, just fine. I will say I’m kinda disappointed because I had much higher hopes due to the reviews and hype. It’s a classic miscommunication, forced proximity love story. With some unexpected Daddy issues that are discussed until way late. The MMC’a family is great.

Tropes:
Forced proximity
One bed
Enemies to lovers
Summer romance

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eArc