4 stars- This was a cute read! My favorite part was definitely Dan's family dynamic and all the moments with them. I wish at the end we got to see a little more of Jane and Dan working on the film that the whole plot is working towards. This was the first book by Annabel Monaghan I have read and it definitely won't be the last!

It's a Love Story follows Jane, who is a formal child star and now a creative movie exec looking to bring her first big project to life. She is paired up with Dan, who is a cinematographer (and her nemesis) to get the project green lit, but with a slight complication. In order for the script to be picked up, Jane needs to bring in someone big on the project in which she promises a song from one of the most popular pop stars (whom she hasn't worked with in years). While tracking him down Jane and Dan get closer & you watch their love story unfold.

I really enjoyed this book - the relationship development between Jane and Dan was really fun to follow. They had great banter, a great setting, great and enjoyable family members involved as the side characters. I love how Annabel Monaghan writes, her style is so easy to read and it's always a fun time diving into one of her books.

The only part of the story I didn't fully connect to was the beginning - I found it hard to get invested in the characters and the story until they left LA. I'm not completely sure what exactly threw me off in the beginning, but once I got deeper into the story I couldn't put it down!

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a 5-star romance for me! Were there elements of this story that were a bit unrealistic? Yes! Could it be cheesy at times? Of course! But, I just couldn’t put it down!!

Jane Jackson is an aspiring movie executive who is trying to leave behind her past as the goofy sidekick on a teen television show, while trying to prove herself as a successful movie producer. With a fake-it-till-you-make-it attitude, she tells a BIG lie to get the green light on her passion project. To make up for it, she finds herself in Long Island with the infuriating Dan Finnegan, a cinematographer who was responsible for shutting down her last project. While there, she must confront her past with a major pop star in order to save her movie and her reputation. Between, staying with Dan’s chaotic, but charming family, and seeking out the elusive popstar, sparks begin to fly between Jane and Dan. Throughout all of this, Jane must confront issues of abandonment and self worth.

What I loved:
- Jane’s journey of discovering who she is and what she wants out of life.
- Dan’s passion for art and photography, and how he proudly embraces what makes him different from the rest of his family.
- The growing connection between Jane and Dan as they learn more about each other and themselves.
- Dan’s endearing family and how they welcome Jane into their home and lives.
- How the author weaved references to the The Notebook thoughout the story.

Overall, this was a lovely and heartwarming story that was the perfect mix of romance, self discovery, and family.

Thank you so much to G. P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

Another hit from Ms Annabel Monaghan!

When I started this novel I felt the flow was a bit slow. It could have just been me because the next time I picked it up I simply couldn’t put it down! From the fun characters to an interesting plot, this is your next summer read.

In this novel we follow Jane who is trying to get a manuscript green lit. Jane used to be an actress in a pre teen television show where she played a clumsy nerd. She has since transformed herself and doesn’t like to associate with the character she once played. Our MMC Dan is a cinematographer who Jane doesn’t like working with. When Jane promises famous singer Jack Quinlan will be writing a song for the movie’s soundtrack, this is her only hope to get the film approved. Unfortunately, Jane lied and now Dan has agreed to help her track down Jack and get him to agree to write a song. This involves traveling from LA to New York and staying with Dan’s crazy family. Will these two enemies become lovers?

I loved all the tropes in this book:
- Enemies to Lovers
- One Bed (which end up being bunk beds)
- He Falls First

When I started the book I didn’t feel the chemistry between Jane and Dan. However this changed as the novel progressed. I liked that we got a flashback to when they first met and how they quickly turned into enemies. I also liked how they didn’t go from enemies to lovers instantly. They really had to work for it, and the wait was totally worth it.

I loved Dan’s family. Part of me really hopes that Dan and Jane move back to NY to be closer to his family. They are just so sweet and interesting. His brothers are amazing.

I feel like you can’t go wrong with a book by Monaghan. Is there a lot of spice? Not really, but there is so much heart put into her novels that when her characters hurt, you hurt. Sheer perfection.

*An ARC was received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Trust me, I tell the truth, and my opinion has not been influenced in any way.

If I could give this book 6 stars, I would. Do you know when you’re reading a book and you start to get a feeling- like you already know you’re going to love it no matter what? That’s this book. Everything about the Finnegan’s house just screamed cozy and I didn’t want to leave. I loved the family dynamics and the characters. Ugh, I didn’t want it to end.

Classic Annabel Monaghan that tugs at the heart strings and swoon in equal measure.

Jane is a former child actor who is best known for her role as the quirky sidekick in teen series. She’s a film development executive now and finds herself pitching THE script only to be thrown together with Dan Quinn, her nemesis- a crusher of dreams. In a last ditch attempt to save the script she loves from the garage, Jane promises a song from one of the hottest pop stars who happens to be the source of Jane’s biggest personal embarrassment.

As Jane and Dan attempt to track the singer down, their walls lower and they realize the other isn’t so bad.

I absolutely adored this book and it’s definitely up there as one of my favorite Annabel Monaghan’s. It was sweet, charming, and filled with heart and redemption.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

Overall I really enjoyed this book! In classical Annabel Monaghan fashion, she builds a detailed world you can practically see yourself in, full of noteworthy side characters that help build depth to the story.

In It’s a Love Story, Jane, the female lead, is a movie creative executive trying to get the green light for her first project. Meanwhile, Dan, the male lead, would be the cinematographer if the project goes ahead. The movie is basically a love story that isn’t a standard romcom but rather the characters are flawed and it’s real and the love comes to life more which is what draws Jane and Dan to it. Those are then the themes that underpin this book. Jane is flawed and often puts on a façade and Dan helps pull out the real Jane and teaches her to love.

I did find the story hard to get into at first. I think the back story for why Jane doesn’t like Dan is underwhelming and I struggled with the setup for her character (the anxiety, self doubt, etc). But once they team up to try and bring the movie to life, I was fully drawn in.


Thank you to Annabel Monaghan, Penguin Group, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Super sweet, loved the family dynamics and sense of humor. The business/work part was a little harder to follow but the beachy love story was awesome.

Annabel Monaghan has done it again. Another perfect romance that tugs on all the right heart strings. Once I started reading, I wanted to cancel all my plans and just keep going.

I couldn’t have been rooting for Jane and Dan harder if I tried. Jane is so vulnerable and displays so much growth and bravery over the course of this story. And Dan…ugh wonderful, rumpled, sweet Dan…I won’t say anything else. Just that this book is a love story that grips you from the first chapter and doesn’t let you go until the last page.

Devoured this in less than 24 hours after NetGalley gave me an approval! Annabel Monaghan is the Queen of making you fall head over heels—whether it’s through laugh-out-loud moments or gut-punching feels. She makes every word hit.

The male MC in this one? Chef’s kiss. The kind of depth you rarely see, and I was absolutely here for it. Plus, the banter? Top tier. Jane, our beloved and baggage-carrying MC, takes you on an emotional rollercoaster, making you believe in true love all over again. The spice level was just right for this closed door girlie 🙌.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC—I only wish my friends didn’t have to wait until May 2025 to experience this magic. Trust me, this one has to be on your TBR!

Annabel Monaghan is becoming an auto-read for me. I enjoyed her latest read, It's a Love Story!

It tells the story of Jane, a childhood address and how she navigates her life post fame. Jane is trying to make it as an adult and runs into a co-worder who killed her last project. I really enjoyed the child star angle of Jane's character and how it affected her relationships in her life.

It's a Love Story is funny and lighthearted with just enough sincerity to make it a hit. Very minimal spice. It is a little cheesier than Monaghan's other works, but overall a great romance read.

Thank you Netgalley and Putnam for an advanced copy!

"It's a Love Story" is a delightful romantic comedy that effortlessly blends humor, nostalgia, and heartfelt emotion. Jane's journey from awkward teen to ambitious executive is both endearing and inspiring. The author masterfully captures the complexities of love, loss, and second chances,
The chemistry between Jane and Dan is undeniable, and their witty banter keeps the pages turning. As they navigate a week together, old wounds are reopened and new connections are formed. This heartwarming tale is a perfect escape, filled with laughter, love, and a touch of Hollywood glamour.

It’s a Love Story tells the story of Jane, a former child actor who was best known for being the punchline of jokes and the one always in awkward situations. Now a 30-something producer for a Hollywood studio, all she wants is to be taken seriously and feel like she’s made it. Her co-worker Dan, a cinematographer, is her one-time crush and now nemesis who is quick to shoot down the projects she’s trying to get mad. Desperate to see a script she’s fallen in love with turn into a movie, she blurts out to her boss that she knows the hottest recording artist in the country, Jack Quinlan, and can get him to do a song of the soundtrack…except she only knew him for 24 hours, had a horribly embarrassing moment with him that’s plagued her ever since and definitely doesn’t just have his phone number lying around. When she finally admits this to Dan, he mentions that Jack will be doing a concert in his hometown and it might be an opportunity for them to ask him. Desperate, she and Dan fly back to Long Island where she spends a week falling in love with his family and him. What started out as the main goal, becomes a side story for Jane reevaluating what she wants in a partner and in life for the most incredibly sweet love story. I’m a longtime Annabel Monaghan fan and this is one of her best I think!

I really enjoyed It’s A Love Story, they newest novel from Annabel Monaghan. As a big fan of all her other books I was really excited to be approved on NetGalley to read this book which releases next May. This is the story of Jane Jackson who was a child start on a hit show which led to some issues for her in adulthood. She is working in Hollywood, behind the screen, to bring a script she loves to the screen. She ends up paired with her nemesis, Dan Finnegan, and the story continues from there.

I really love the author’s writing and the middle of this book worked really well for me. She writes so well and the way she describes a scene is so vividly. She really made me feel like I was there with them; feeling the sand between my toes, hearing the laughter, and smelling the salt air. Dan’s big family was my favorite part of the book, I loved their banter and group texts. The romance story was also well done and I loved the way they slowly came to know each other. Finally, I absolutely loved the love that Jane’s friend Clem has for her, she is so lucky to have such a great cheerleader in her life.

There were a few issues for me. The book starts off in LA and that whole first part just felt off. I wasn’t connecting with the story initially, but did as soon as they left town. I am also not a fan of the whole third act breakup so the ending didn’t work for me as it felt rushed. All that said the middle was wonderful and I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to the publisher Penguin Group Putnam / G.P. Putnam's Sons, author Annabel Monaghan, and NetGalley for the gifted digital ARC to review in exchange for my honest review.

Let me begin by thanking Net Galley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the ARC.

I can always count on Annabel Monaghan for a feel good story and It’s a Love Story doesn’t disappoint.

Jane Jackson grew up as sitcom character Janey Jake’s an awkward adolescent with a favorite punch line of “poor Janey Jakes” . Now she is trying to establish herself as a studio exec. Enter Dan Finegan a cinematographer who gets under Jane’s skin. Dan has an in with pop star Jack Quinlan, who Jane promised she could get to sing a song for her movie.

What unfolds is a cute enemies to lovers trope with all the feels that makes us love Annabel Monaghan.

I can’t believe I get to live in the same timeline as Annabel Monaghan. Reading her books has changed me. Full on altered my DNA.

Jane and Dan were PRECIOUS! I couldn’t get enough of these two. And I can’t believe that a bulk of this book took place in one week! The pacing was masterful! And don’t get me started on Dan’s family! Petition for Annabel to write Brian’s story next, please!

One of the best romance books I’ve read all year. 5 stars!

5 stars- this is my new favorite annabel monaghan novel...which dare i say is a bold claim considering i adored her previous work. her writing is so poignant that i found myself with tears falling onto my kindle. thank you netgalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of “It’s A Love Story” by Annabel
Monaghan. Fun read - I flew through it! This book will be a great summer read to take to the beach or the pool.

Jane Jackson was a child actor on a popular tv show. She was the comic relief - think Steve Urkel or Screech. While her co-stars went on to have careers and fame beyond the show, Jane struggles to move past her awkward pre-teen onscreen persona and find her own path in Hollywood. When her ability to get a script green-lit hinges on making it more commercial, she tries to hunt down the pop star she once sang with. If she can get him to write a song for the movie, maybe she’ll finally move on from her past.

Love the covers on all Annabel Monaghan books. They’re modern, fresh and enticing.
Ex-child actress, Jane Jackson, has a script she’d like to make and it’s going to be green lighted until thorn in her side Dan Finnegan sees holes in it, which causes Jane to lie and say she can get music star Jack Quinlan to write a song for it. Despite not believing in love Jane finds herself getting closer to Dan which scares her. A novel of finding love and allowing yourself to believe you’re worthy of it, and allowing yourself to change.

This was a very cute story with characters that grow on you. I found Jane a relatable character despite the fact that she was a child star who know works in the business side Hollywood. I also felt the connection with the love interest was well done, believable and properly paced. I give this book three stars because it took me a little time to fully get into it.