this one was so fun and silly and whimsical!!! I love a fluffy romance that just makes me kick my feet. it wasn't my absolutely favorite but I still enjoyed it! former TV star reminds me very much of robin from how I met your mother LOL.

This book was absolutely wonderful. Not only did this book have me kicking and giggling my feet, it had me close to tears throughout the whole thing. I love that annabelle was able to make this a humorous, lovable and relatable. Seeing how our FMC is able to overcome things and her life and find her true love was spectacular. This book is truly amazing and i am so glad to have to opportunity to read it early. I can’t wait to get my physical copy and highlight all my favorite quotes. Seriously this book was spectacular and will forever be a favorite of mine🩵

I was in a reading slump and this book pulled me out of it. It was emotional and real, funny and heartwarming! It was a lovely read! I will probably be putting Annabel Monaghan on my auto read list.

Thanks to NetGalley and Annabel Monaghan for the advanced reader digital copy

Thank you Putnam for my copy! Once again, Annabel Monaghan has written the perfect summer read. Her writing immediately captivates, charms and transports. I find her characters so relatable and endearing. I was immersed in this book- the love story, the perfect summer setting, the healing, the themes of family. Can’t recommend enough!

This is my second book by this author, and I just have to say, I absolutely love the way she writes. I cannot tell you the number of times I teared up over her words—from the pain of Janey’s childhood to the way she danced and sang with Ruby. The love story with Danielle was so soft and quiet and good, and it’s hard to believe and yet totally believable that it all happened in a week. Their story was the kind of beautiful that has you holding your hand to your heart while tears of happiness fall down your cheeks.

I loved this book—from Clem to the entire Finnegan mob. But especially, I loved Jane and Dan and their love story. It was perfect.

4.75⭐️!!!!

Wow, Annabel Monaghan…. I adore your writing so, so much. I will be thinking about this book and these characters for a very long time.

The examples of a true, quiet love are so tangible on these pages. Love isn’t found in the big gestures, it’s found in the mundane!!!! There was incredible tension, flirty banter, forced proximity, and yeah that’s my holy trinity. Dan’s FAMILY…. I cannot put into words how much I love them, they are everything.

One of my favorite parts of this story was Dan’s surety and his unwavering support of Jane. I saw a lot of myself in her and she is so mirrorball coded I could sob. This is a lovely summer romance (no pun intended);I cannot wait to reread this and get a physical copy on my shelf ASAP!!!

If you’ve loved any of Annabel’s previous books, you will most definitely love this one as well. Out 5/27!!!

*Thank you so much to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the eARC of It’s a Love Story in exchange for an honest review*

I feel like Annabel Monaghan's books are always the perfect summertime read. Although, this time, I got the opportunity to read It's a Love Story prior to publication, and I almost loved reading her as the winter is fading and spring is trying so hard to spring - her settings bring me hope for the incoming season. The woman knows how to describe the zing in the air. Did I catch a whiff of salty beach air as I was reading this in the dead ass cold of Michigan? Maybe! That's just part of her magic.

The other big part of her magic, for me, is the ability to describe love stories in such a romantic, but real, way. As always, when I started this one I was thinking it would be a delightful, fun read and instead it turned into SO MUCH MORE.

Jane Jackson is all about acting like. Acting like the perfect daughter, acting like the most wonderful friend, acting like the ideal woman that everyone would like to date, acting like the producer who picks the best scripts.

Dan Finnegan is authentically himself, but nobody really sees him. Until ... Jane. Until they jet off to Long Island to try to get the script of their dreams green-lit by producing "the tiger," someone that Jane used to know when she was portraying the poor dweeb in one of those campy teen sitcoms from ages ago.

If you like rom-coms, if you like your love stories to be realistic with heartfelt and laugh out loud moments, if you like people who are awkward AF, this is for you!

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam, NetGalley, and Annabel Monaghan for the opportunity to read and honestly review It's a Love Story prior to publication!

Every book I have read by Annabel Monaghan has been wonderful. The spice is perfect and the storylines makes me laugh. She is an autoread author for me!

We have main character Jane Jackson who was a child actor star for a very popular sitcom. Her role was the "clutz" or the more nerdy type "Janey Jacks". It appeared as everyone grew up from the show, they kept their fame except for Jane. Jane now works for Clearwater productions and is desperately trying to get a script turned into a movie. During her desperation of trying to get the movie greenlit she makes a large claim that she knows a very famous singer ,Jack Quinlan, and can get them to write a song for the movie. She met Jack on set for

We follow Jane and her work nemesis Dan to Long Island where famous singer Jack Quinlan will be playing a small town show so she can ask for a very important favor in person. During this time Jane is exposed to Dan's very loving and large family for an anniversary weekend celebration. While Jane has been trying to "fake it until you make it" for so long, Dan teaches Jane how to slow down and appreciate the moments.

Loved this book! Thank you @NetGalley and Penguin for an early release so that I could read and share my thoughts on the book.

This story is about Jane who was a teen star but is now a producer trying to get a film optioned. The film is her baby and the way to keep her job, but the executives aren’t impressed. They want to greenlight a film with action and with something the audience will love. Jane says she can get music icon Jack to sing the song for the movie and get an instant Oscar, but the trouble is-she hasn’t seen Jack since they were 14 and they didn’t leave on the best of terms. Jane’s coworker and rival Dan says he knows Jack is playing a set in his hometown and invites Jane for a week so they can track him down for the film. So Jane and Dan fly to Dans family home and Jane fits right in like she’s always been a part of his family. As she sees Dan for who is really is, she begins falling for him and his family. This book was a warm hug. If you’ve loved Monaghans book in the past, this will be no different. This is a true representation of family, love, and friendship.

Ugh! Is there nothing Annabel Monaghan writes that doesn’t make me cry or my chest feel explosive with happiness? The combination of her sort of no nonsense tone along with the utter surprise of pure romance is apparently the exact formula for selling me a story I can believe in. Dan’s quiet strength and conviction, the lack of doubt or drama he felt in falling in love is just what I want in a hero. And while there were a couple of times when I just wanted to shake Jane and tell her to just go to therapy already, reading her experience of letting go and allowing love into her life was still beautiful. Dan’s family added all the good feelings to an already beautiful story.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy. The only downside is that I know there will be an extra long wait until I have the chance to read another piece of magic from Annabel Monaghan.

After reading It's a Love Story, I felt a profound sense of completeness. The relationship between Jane and Dan was deeply heartfelt and resonated with me, as I saw reflections of myself in both characters. Dan's desire to break free from the expectations of his family and Jane's struggle with self-worth were both incredibly relatable. This book will stay with me for years to come.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oh my goodness, I devoured this book in two days! If not for work, it would have been sooner. I absolutely loved Jane’s character. I loved how we witnessed her grow throughout the story and deal with real life problems even as a child star.

Also… Dan Finnegan is my new book boyfriend. I highlighted so many sweet things he said to Jane. My favorite line was of course about her smile “When you smile, it does something to me, I feel it in my chest, and I just want to figure out how to get you to do it again.” SWOON 🥰

Thank you so much for the ARC Putnam Books and NetGalley.

Janey and Dan stole my heart in a way that I didn’t realize it was missing until I was reading sentences that took my breath away.
When we meet Jane, she is deciding which outfit to wear like it’s a different personality — because to her, it is. Hiding her true self to please others is a painfully relatable thing for a lot of people. The feeling of unworthiness is something almost everyone has encountered.
Dan is a shy, introverted soul, and the slow way we discover that with Jane is really beautiful. The way he feels and is different from his family, and the magnitude in which he believes in himself is stunning.
Monaghan’s writing was beautiful here, and there were so many quotes I have highlighted because the beauty of them truly made me stop for a moment to take it in. The filmmaking industry is one I am very unfamiliar with, and I thought it fascinating to read about. I thought she did a great job writing about it.
Perhaps the only thing I struggle with is the short time frame, but it also works? The two have known each other for several months before, and part of the falling-in-love process Monaghan emphasizes is the suddenness of it all, the beauty in blinking and it happening mostly out of your control.
This is far from just a love story. It’s also for those who feel defined by their past, struggle with self image, those with family issues, and those who feel different.

Thank you to the publisher and author for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks for Netgalley and the publisher for a advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Jane a childhood actress wants to get her project off the ground and makes a promise that she can get hot popstar Jack, to write the lead song......problem is Jack doesn't remember Jane kissing him when they were kids and she is unable to connect with him. In comes Dan who has a way to connect with Jack, however first Jane needs to spend some time with Dan's family and you can't help by root for these two! Love this book, love the characters, love this author! Totally recommend.

dnf @ chapter 10, 25%

unfortunately, i don't think annabel's books are for me, AND that is ok. i hope everyone who wants to read this will still enjoy the book. there is nothing incoherently wrong with the novel, it's more so very banal and isn't keeping my interest. i am glad i gave this one a chance, but i want to move forward with reads i know i will enjoy. <3

This was a sweet, kind of quiet romance. Much like Annabel Monaghan's other books, it's about real people working through real issues.

Jane and Dan are work rivals who go spend time with his family which she tries to track down a celebrity.

The parts between Jane and Jack made me want to crawl into a hole. It was great to see Jane stop being what everyone else wanted her to be.

It’s A Love Story
By: Annabel Monaghan

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🤍rom com
🤍forced proximity
🤍enemies to lovers (-ish)

💋Dramatic Thoughts💋

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam, NetGalley and Annabel Monaghan for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book made me want to read more romcoms! Annabel Monaghan, you’ve done it again!!

Poor Janey Jakes - Jane was known for her childhood acting role (enter bbq sauce in braces 😬) on a sitcom called “Pop Rocks”. Honestly I felt so broken hearing how Jane was taming herself down to fine the perfect husband. She didn’t want to be funny - because funny put you as a wingman to the dreamy man rather than the love interest.

But not Dan - Dan didn’t want a boring woman who’d say and do all the right things. He wanted real, authentic and someone who would SEE him. I adored Dan’s big crazy family - but I adored the fact that Dan was always a little different, even more!

Dan and Jane were the sweetest couple who paired so well together as they matched each other’s quirks and differences so well!

Annabel dove deep into the characters development of these two + I absolutely loved it! There was just enough comedy and banter to pair perfectly with the romantic aspects of the book! There were so many cute moments in this book! This will be a fabulous summer time read so add it to your TBR!! 🩷

💬Favorite Quotes💬

“She picks terrible scripts,” Dan goes on. “Of course,” I say. “And I’m sure you all know Dan has a PhD in The Notebook.”

“Are you funny? I’m starting to think you are.”

“I like how I can look at you and see a whole world inside your eyes, smart things and funny things that I’ll get to hear if I’m lucky. I feel really lucky being here with you like this.”

I cannot explain my love for Annabel Monaghan's books! I love her writing and her prose and just everything about her books. There's a line people say about Emily Henry's books saying "How did she get the camera into my room" or "into my brain," and that is exactly the way I feel about Annabel Monaghan's books. Especially with this one and with Nora Goes Off Script, it feels like she has video recordings of my past relationships and voice recordings of my brain just waiting to put them into words. This is the perfect book. There I've said it.

Guys guys guys. I am obsessed with Annabel Monaghan and everything she writes! It’s a Love Story made me laugh out loud and cry the sweetest of tears. I had my hand over my heart at the quiet love in this book. Love between friends, mothers, family, and partners. I don’t know about you, but I remember looking for the big love and the big gestures in my younger years. It wasn’t until I found my husband that I realized how much more the quiet love runs deep. This book is filled honesty and self reflection. Finding yourself and experiencing growth- realizing how uncomfortable it is, but freeing at the same time. 10/10, no notes with this one. It’s a Love Story comes out May 27th! Make sure to get your hands on this one!

Childhood actress, Jane is now a creative executive for Clearwater Studios. She’s come a long way from the hilarious sidekick “Janey Jakes” days but is still working hard to find her place in the industry. She’s desperately working to get her first project green-lit when she over exaggerates her connection to a pop star she knew 20 years ago. Now in order to make this movie she’ll need to partner up with an unlikely ally cinematographer, Dan Finnegan. So they head to Long Island to Dan’s home town for a music festival on a mission to get the music artist to write a song for their movie.


This book felt like a warm hug!!!! I loved it so much that I couldn’t put it down. I felt like I was smiling through the whole story . The characters felt relatable/real but also very unique. Even if I couldn’t relate to Jane as a child actor I could relate to her insecurities. The entire Finnegan family was so fun and endearing. Truly just immensely enjoyed every minute of this novel.