First off, thank you Annabel, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Second first off, if you love Annabel, then obviously you will adore this. I went into this book not reading any description or having a single clue of what I was getting into,except for a romance I would thoroughly enjoy. And thoroughly enjoy it I did. I was laughing so hard at the perfect sense of sarcasm and humor that was just effortless feeling. If I had friends, it would be these two characters who seem to hate working with one another. It was hilarious, the plot was a little look into the life of child superstars as adults, and the setting was familiar. Annabel tied in Same Time Next Summer details and settings with this book, and it felt like coming back to something familiar and cozy. Especially with the Family Stone vibes you get. Like it wasn’t winter and it wasn’t a stone cottage, but it was cozy and welcoming and crazy all the same.

Dan Finnegan, you sexy Irish man, I love you. Confidence is never not hot. It’s true. And there is no one more confident and content in who they are than this man.

Jane Jackson, you hilariously, emotionally-stunted, child superstar, I too love you. You were my favorite kind of lead female role. You were over the top and dramatic, but it felt right and not overly contrived. Like childhood fame can eff a person up, we all know this. And leaning into this fact for a character was really wonderful and felt different enough.

My main complaint? That we didn’t have more. If there were like 50 more pages of events and romance and forced proximity (which would obviously also give us more laughs), then this would easily be a 4.5 or 5. But one week with these two on a self-proclaimed, half-baked mission was just not enough. But whatever. It was still wonderful and for those who are looking for a perfect Memorial Day weekend beach read, then put this on your radar. It’s your cookie cutter beach read book, you’ll enjoy all the moments, and you’ll still be able to enjoy your vacation because you’ll either have blown through this OR you’ll set it down momentarily and be excited to pick it up and hear Janey’s voice spouting some kind of sarcastic humor that you need in your life.

Another favorite to add to my list from Annabel Monaghan. I love how her stories feature adults with what feels like relatable “problems”. I don’t know many people who wouldn’t relate to someone with trauma and self image issues from this world, if any. I know this story is fully about the FMC but the love interest felt little more then an enigma to me sometimes which I suppose was also how he was supposed to feel. I felt almost empowered by the bravery Jane showed in the end and the way her growth was shown through the book. I will be requiring a physical copy for my trophy shelf!

Annabel is a master at heartfelt relatable and funny love stories. I adored this and will read her works always

as always. Annabel offers a heartwarming well earned love story. I enjoyed the hell out of this. I will read all her books.

It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan is everything I adore in a romance—warm, witty, and full of heart. With charming characters, swoony chemistry, and Monaghan’s signature humor, this book had me smiling the entire time. A perfect feel-good read that proves love is as messy as it is magical!

Loved every page!

another absolutely excellent book from this author!!! i devour her books. if you loved Nora goes off script, you will completely love this one!!!!

4.75 stars

This was such a beautiful romance. Jane was such a well written and relatable character. I love stories that are about Hollywood/movies, and while the main part of the story isn’t on a movie set, I love how that aspect was included. Watching Jane go through her character development and fall in love with Dan was so satisfying. This is a perfect summer romance!

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC of this book!

I ate this book up and left no crumbs. Jane is probably my favorite protagonist that I’ve read so far this year. She was so relatable that it honestly hurt at times. And Dan! He was incredibly lovely and I adored their interactions together. It makes for a perfect summer read.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

Another great book by Annabel Monaghan. It's a Love Story was an excellent read with a wonderful story line that made me smile. A page-turner with a feel-good ending. I also adore the book cover. This one matched a scene in the book perfectly, so thumbs-up to the book cover designer as well. A great read and I recommend it.

Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book.

It's a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan was a charming and witty novel that had me hooked from the first page. The characters were so easy to root for, and Monaghan’s storytelling made me smile, laugh, and even tear up at times. It was a wonderful blend of romance, humor, and self-discovery that left me feeling satisfied but also a little heartbroken in the best way possible. Monaghan’s writing is a perfect balance of lighthearted moments and deeper emotional exploration. I loved this story from beginning to end.

A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the ARCs of these amazing books! I am so grateful for the opportunity to dive into these stories early. If you’re looking for the perfect blend of romance, summer vibes, and feel-good moments, these three books are definitely worth checking out.

For more of my thoughts and reviews, be sure to check out my YouTube channel: [Kiana Lashay](https://www.youtube.com/@KianaLashay1). Don’t forget to subscribe for more book reviews and content!

Oh, I was INTO this story!! I thought I hit the jackpot when I got an email with the eARC - and I was write. Annabel Monaghan continues to be a must-read (and immediately read) author.

The Details:
It's a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan
Enemies to Lovers + Workplace + Forced Proximity

Quick Summary:
Former child star, Jane now works for a movie production company and is desperate to get an amazing script greenlit, and makes a few promises she may not be able to keep. Along for the ride is cinematographer Dan who also wants this movie made and is willing to help her - but they kind of don't like each other.

My Take:
Yes, more of these stories please! This had chemistry and tension and banter and sweet, swoony moments, and lovely family and family moments, and nostalgia, and a big-time mission with a big-time music star. I loved it. It was sweet on the surface, but had a deeper connection to real human emotions of being a background character in your own life.

5 stars - would recommend that you read this now!

A teen TV star unexpectedly met someone looking at a hawk. The perfect Meet Cute! When she's walking into a work meeting to pitch a new movie script to her boss Mr. Meet Cute is there and burns her movie to the ground. A few years later they meet again about a script when he agrees it could be a hit she tells a little white lie about knowing the singer on every radio station (okay, she knows him because he was also on the TV show, but hasn't talked with him since). This leads to a cross-country trip to stake out his latest concert to see if he would be willing to write a song for the movie.

Jane Jackson, aka “Janie Jakes”, child star from a famous sitcom is now grown up. Always the side kick and never taken seriously Jane finds a movie script she absolutely adores and wants to make. Dan, her work nemesis, loves the movie too much to Jane’s surprise. The catch, Jane’s boss thinks the movie isn’t commercial enough and needs a hook. In her desperation, Jane says she know Jack Quinlan, her old cast-mate now famous pop star, and he will write a song for the movie. Jane doesn’t know Jack anymore and they have a history. Dan finds out and offers to bring Jane to Long Island where Jack will be playing for a festival. Whose going to fall in love? What’s going to happen when Jane sees Jack again?

After a slow start, I flew through this book once Dan and Jane were trying to find Jack. A great romance, easy, breezy, with a little bit of depth. I found the reason for the break up to be a little far fetched and it wrapped up a little too easy for me. However, overall, it was super fun, small town feel, found family, and love. Always love.

The beginning is really shaky, almost felt too cringey honestly but the rest of the story really redeemed that. I absolutely loved the romance between the two main characters and a lot of Jane’s story felt so realistic. At first I actually kind of hated the conflict and how Jane reacted but it’s truly a normal way that someone would react. It’s not the best way to react but it’s a very real possibility that someone would. Even now thinking about the beginning being cringey it gets less cringey as it goes and I think that truly shows Jane’s growth as a character. I did VERY much dislike the whole stress eating thing and the hiding under desk/in closet thing. The way Jane fits in with Dan’s family was so heartwarming. Overall I very much enjoyed this story and wound up crying at the happy ending.

4.25 stars
1.5/5 spice rating

The description + cover image & title (which seems very Swiftie inspired) called to me as a perfect beach read, so I didn't expect that I'd be reaching for the tissues the last 20-ish% of the book! As another reviewer posted re: this book, I too wasn't expecting to feel so many emotions when I started reading this book. This is one I'll be adding to my permanent collection when it releases in May.

Annabel Monaghan is a marvel, the cat's meow, and a humdinger of a romance novelist. Whew!! I inhaled this book, I adored this book, and I cannot wait for whatever she writes next. Her characters and flawed and lovable, with complex inner lives and a desire to be loved. Watching them find each other and overcome their very real differences is a beautiful thing, plus she's able to write about intimacy with elegance. I'm never embarrassed or grossed out by the typical terms that authors like to use to spice things up. Instead, I'm drawn in to the beauty of love and desire that exists between two people. I wouldn't say this was closed door, but it's classy and respectful and I never wanted to skip a paragraph.
Jane and Dan's love story is one for the ages, and maybe even one for the big screen (imho). Child tv star Jane is a hopeful filmmaker and Dan is a cinematographer. They are both working to get the green light for a script, and find themselves in Dan's hometown of Long Island with the goal of pitching a big pop star the opportunity to add a song to the soundtrack, in hopes that will make their film commercial. But Jane has a complicated history with this pop star, and she finds herself falling in love with Dan and his family. Nothing is really going according to plan, and Jane has to figure out who she is and what she really wants.
It's absolutely gorgeous. Go read all of this superhuman's novels!! You won't be disappointed. Thank you @putnambooks for the advance digital copy.

Thank you to net galley and penguin group for the opportunity to review this book!

Annabel Monaghan books are a must order for me and this did not disappoint. I found Jane to be a compelling character, even in her frustrating times. I thought the growth of her character seemed realistic. I bought into Jane and Dan’s love story and thought it made a natural transition from enemies to friends to lovers.

Annabel Monaghan writes with such an amazing sense of place. I am ready to go to Oak Shore and can perfectly envision the Finnegan house.

4.25/5 stars. This is a work rivals-to-lovers story and is pretty fast paced. It feels like a quick, lighthearted beach read made for summer. It has a slow burn, second chance romance that makes it feel even more realistic.

It is fast-paced and doesn’t feel like there were lulls in action at any time. The writing doesn't get too deep and flowery, so it is a perfect quick read for relaxing during summer. It does get pretty raw and emotional near the end as Jane works though some childhood trauma and insecurities.

The acknowledgement section at the end mentions Jennette McCurdy, and I’ll be honest I thought about those connections while reading. I feel like people who liked that book would also love It’s a Love Story. I just wish I had watched The Notebook before reading the book with how much it is mentioned.

Jane is endearing and really relatable from her self-deprecation. I found myself genuinely laughing at her thoughts and dialogue. Her closet time was so endearing including how rough it is to leave a voicemail. I feel you, girl! Her insights were so interesting and felt so similar to things I’ve felt before. The way she compares herself to a touch-starved monkey was hilarious. The way her character is written makes her seem so real. She works through some of her past trauma with her dad and sees some strong character growth.

Dan and Jane’s back story was so cute. I love how it was described and added so much history between them. Dan’s family was hilarious! I loved how the book described Dan’s need for individualism and how he felt he was always different from his brothers. He just felt so real as a character and I loved how he described the feeling of liking the idea of someone.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for the advanced copy. I am voluntarily leaving this comment and the honest opinions I am expressing are my own.

4.5 stars
Wow. This book was so incredibly touching. It was well-written. Jane and Dan were real and perfect, flaws and all. Their relationship, which was messy and perfect, progressed in the best way. I loved watching Jane confront her fears, make mistakes, and eventually be brave to go after what she wanted. Dan was lovable with his confidence and vulnerabilities. I wish I could read this book again for the first time. Annabel Monaghan was able to write in a way that made “It’s a Love Story” both deep and lighthearted. She made this book cozy, like a bed you’d want to climb back into in a Sunday (iykyk)

I absolutely loved this book like I have several of her previous books. It was so funny and charming and she does such a good job of building tension between characters. My only complaint is as always, I her books were open door. But I respect that they are not. I found a couple of areas that may benefit from editing. At location 2540 of of 3860 in the Kindle app on my iPad (ch 23) she appears to say the same thing twice- that they're the thing she aspires to be, that she'd like to find that kind of love. It feels repetitive. In chapter 31 in the second sentence it says his instead of this.