Review: It’s a Love Story (arc) - @annabelmonaghan

4.5 ⭐️

This book is the first bite of cherry pie, the first dip in the ocean, the first barefoot sprint on the beach in summer. It’s screaming your favourite song from the car window, it’s the smell of sunscreen, it’s dancing in the rain. It’s falling in love while on holidays, it’s infinite promises and it’s violent, beautiful nostalgia.

Wow. What a story. This was my first Annabel Monaghan book and it definitely won’t be my last. I am wholly, irretrievably obsessed with this story.

This story follows Jane: an ex-child actor who is now working for a studio, trying to get a script that she’s in love with, turned into a movie. The problem is? It’s not “commercial enough.” This is where we meet Dan: the cinematographer (who isn’t Jane’s biggest fan). Together, they go on a trip away in search of tracking down an old “friend” of Jane’s (who is now incredibly famous and having him work for the film will sell it to the studio) in hopes to have him write a song for the film.

Jane and Dan spend a week away together in what i can only describe as their own bubble. We get an insight as to how they work as people and the way they connect, the way they speak the same language - the way that they are completely on the same wavelength and they don’t have to say anything to understand each other.

This book had me giggling and kicking my feet, had me yelling in frustration and gave me a massive vibe of “nothing feels real while you’re on holidays.” Jane and Dan’s love seemed so ….real? It was messy, it was ugly, it was perfect.

This book was centred around the romantic and emotional connection you have with someone. This book focused a lot on Dan’s tumultuous family dynamic and the cosy, yet chaotic comfort that comes from being one of many siblings. The way Jane slipped into the madness so easily was so wholesome to read about.

I don’t know how else to describe this book except an ode to your younger self and a love letter to the small moments in life.

Thank you so much to @netgalley for this arc and May 2025 cannot come fast enough as i can’t wait to have the physical copy to re-read and annotate!

"Love happens over breakfast..."
This was my very first Annabel Monaghan Book, and I can safely say this book has made me want to read everything she has ever written.
This book is not only the perfect Summer/Beach read, but it's also full of heart and depth with a romance so layered that you can't help but fall in love with both of them. I loved the relatable family dynamics and the conversation about "Love happens over breakfast"...perfection!
What to expect:
Enemies to Lovers
Beachside Town
One only room
Summer Romance
Movies Industry

Thank you so much to Hachette and Netgalley for my EARC.

Thank you so much Netgalley for the arc of this book.
FIVE STARS!! this book is so incredibly good - it's tender, heartfelt and so preciously written. Annabel Monaghan absolutely knocked it out of the park with this one. I saw parts of myself reflected in both the main characters and felt immensely happy to see their growth throughout the book. This book is one that will stick with me for a long long time.
Anything Annabel Monaghan writes I will read it, she is a new auto-buy author for me.

Oh this book is bingable! The ending didn’t go the way I expected it to go, it was a bit anticlimactic but that’s not what this book is about. It’s about Jane discovering her true self and dealing with past traumas, from trying to make it big in Hollywood to realising what’s more important in life other than her career.
Jane falls in love with Dan along the way and wow the heartwarming moments they share will have you swooning!

I love Annabels writing! It’s very soothing! It just flows and the next minute I’m finished the book.

This book has a few of our favourite tropes
Found family
Self discovery
Only one bed
Dislike to lovers
It has minimal spice but maximum romance.

Definitely recommend if you love an uplifting cheesy romance

Jane Jackson was a child star on a TV series about a group of kids who have a band (I was thinking the female equivalent of Screech from Saved by The Bell), the kid with goofy braces and a big smile who always gets into trouble/sits on a cream pie - you get the picture. She also had a catchphrase for whenever she did something stupid.

Nowadays, Jane is a Creative Executive at Clearwater Studios and she's found a script that makes her heart sing. Unfortunately, her boss has also shared the script with award-winning film-maker Dan Finnegan, her one-time crush and now arch-enemy. He torpedoed her last script and now he seems to be determined to do the same with this one, contradicting everything she says and insisting that the film is small and quiet. Unfortunately, Jane's boss thinks small and quiet won't sell, they need action and explosions, so unless Jane and Dan can find a way to create a draw for the film its canned. So Jane tells a white lie, well exaggerates massively. She tells them that she is friends with Jack Quinlan, hottest popstar of the moment and she can persuade him to write a song for the film. Jane does know Jack, they sang together once on the hit single released by the TV show, its just that Jack and Jane were singing on behalf of the two 'leads' of the show (going with my Saved by The Bell comparison, they would be Zack and say Kelly) who were attractive but couldn't actually sing. Unfortunately, Jack also humiliated Jane on what turned out to be the worst day of her life and arguably coloured all her beliefs about love and self-worth thereafter.

When Jane asks for Dan's help getting hold of Jack, he lets slip that Jack is playing a festival in Dan’s hometown on Long Island, and Dan's brother is part of the backstage crew. It's also Dan's parents' wedding anniversary and his brothers have planned a week of celebrations so Dan offers to let Jane tag along.

What can I say? I love Annabel Monaghan novels, I loved Dan, I loved Jane and while I thought the conflict at the end was a bit dramatic I could see from where it stemmed. Also, for some reason I thought the romance might be with Jack and so I was prepared to be disappointed - spoiler - I wasn't.

Another banger!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

3.75-4⭐
I need a dozen of Dans, please! 🤭

The most beautiful aspect of this book is how Annabel Monaghan builds the romantic tension between Jane and Dan. My heart was racing, and their moments together were so sexy! I think this is her best book in that regard. However, I did have some issues with Jane's decisions along the way.

Jane's background as a child actor growing up in front of a camera is solidly developed.

Annabel Monaghan, I need another book now! I'll read anything you write.

- "Everything is different with you, Jane. I feel like I never shut up."

- "I'd like to be the person who could take all of your sad things and make them happy."

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

This romantic story follows the life of Jane, a 33 year old film executive living in Los Angeles. She wants to make a great film, but the only way she can try to make this happen, is by working with Dan: a disorganised, brutally honest cinematographer.

I always adore Monaghan's romances. They are sunlight-soaked stories of a gentle but passionate falling in love. The best kind! The locations are adorable, the characters are thoughtfully created. I need to meet all the Finnegans, immediately!

This is such a perfect read for everybody missing the warmth and the romance of the summer, and I'm excited for the world to hear about it!