Nora is an up and coming screenwriter who is essentially writing the same script over and over again (think Hallmark). When she decides to take inspiration from her own life and write something original, it gets picked up by a major studio and her dreams are on their way to being fulfilled. She thinks she’s got it all, and then comes Leo, the main actor.

There’s fun banter, adorable scenes, and tons of emotion in this romance!

Sometimes you want a cheesy love story. And at first I thought Nora Goes Off Script was that cheesy love story. But it was soooo much more! Nora and Leo have a slow burning short romance. When it seems to fall apart the reader is waiting for the wonderful romantic reunion. I did not predict the ending- not even close. I love all of the real conversations in this story and the jabs at the cheesy romances.

I enjoyed this one so much! One of my favorite romances of the summer! It's the dry humor and the banter but most of all it's how self sufficient the heroine is. She's a screenwriter that turned heartbreak into money but writing her story. When the hero of the film decides to stay a few extra days, her life turns into her movies. I loved the angst, the slow growth of the love between these two and Nora's kids. There were plenty of moments where I laughed and it made for a real page turner because I was enthralled by the story. It's a summer read I highly recommend.

I have this one friend who I trust implicitly when she says that she loved a book. She recommended Nora and I requested. Then I made her hold my hand as I read it. It's very rare that I get deeply emotional about a book. My own personal claim is that I am a cold and heartless reader. Tears are not how I roll. But this book came close. Nora Goes Off Script was so honest and relatable in so many ways. I loved her relationship with her kids. Nora and her kids had conversations that I would have with my own. I hated the conflict in the relationship because it broke my heart, but appreciated how honest that was as well. The whole book was what I have been looking for. It was the emotional ride that my heart needed and that my shelf is holding a place for.

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan is one of those books that you just don't want to put down. A beach read, a book club read, a hide in the closet in the middle of the night with a flashlight read. It is such a pleasant, warm, inviting story by an astoundingly talented author we are sure to see much more of in the future. This gem of a book was a pure delight.

Nora, a formulaic romance script writer emerging from a less than ideal marriage decides to "go off" her normal "script" writing genre to write a true and meaningful film script, one that she pulls from her personal trials and tribulations and her broken marriage to a narcissistic ex husband. She lives in Laurel Ridge, an idyllic small town with a local town market and a main street where everyone knows your name (as well as any gossip that goes along with it!). The sunrises there are magnificent and powerful. Some of the most poignant moments in the book take place watching the magical sunrises.

Nora's film script gets sold and low and behold they decide to film some of the movie in her home in Laurel Ridge. Enter the film crew and actors that are hired to play her and her ex husband. Leo, a well known bonified movie star plays her ignoramus husband. He is a moving thing of beauty, but also a big hot mess. And there the tale begins in earnest. It is a story of love and loss, of power and depletion, of strength and beauty.

The details and layering that the author unfolds truly draws you in. You are sitting right there on the porch with Nora and her kids, wrapped like a burrito with soft comfy blankets while they share thoughts, tears, laughter and lessons over the sunrise. The everyday back and forth is a warm and inviting place to be. You watch Nora grieve, grow and love. The commonplace becomes magical. I want to just sit in the teahouse on her property and chat over a cup of coffee with Nora. Yes, coffee in a tea house, I know.

One of my favorite passages from the book reflects the simplicity and beauty of the prose within as Nora ponders, "Something is happening over chicken and rice and green beans. Wisdom is being exchanged. Some might call it parenting. I marvel at the fact that this moment was created by someone besides me." Doesn't that make you just want to sit there at the table with them? To devour the aromatic chicken, soft fluffy rice and fresh green beans while soaking up all that wisdom. But who is there are the table imparting such wisdom?

You'll just need to read the book and find out. Well worth the read. Plot twists and finely sculpted characters abound. Dive in...just do it! Big thanks to Penguin and NetGalley for the ARC. Loved every bit of it!

I loved this book. I started it one night and was halfway done before I knew it…I couldn’t put it down. It’s like a hallmark movie but without all the cheesiness. It’s heart warming and endearing. I love the banter between Nora and everyone in her life…her kids, Leo, Penny, Mickey, Kate..everyone! I love how Nora’s character never strays far from her convictions and how she is real and honest. I think most woman have had her experience of someone leaving that you never really loved and/or losing the one you did love but being slightly okay with it. This is a beautiful story of second chances with wonderful and relatable characters. I wish I could give it 10 stars

I devoured this one in one sitting! Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan is a sweet and sassy romantic comedy about a recently divorced screenwriter and her Hollywood A-List houseguest who won’t leave. Nora got her life back when her husband decided to leave. Finding herself was easy, finding her muse was not. To pour out her grief, Nora strayed from her typical Hallmark-style romances and wrote a screenplay based on the crumbling of her own marriage. To say it took on a mind of its own is an understatement. Now Nora finds her home being invaded by Hollywood to film some of the scenes in her own Tea Room, her writing sanctuary, her safe space and the movie’s namesake. Little did Nora know that her life was about to change again.

I really liked Nora. Despite some insecurities left over from her divorce, she is happier than she ever was with ex-husband. She has two amazing kids who I absolutely adore, and she’s writing again. She’s learning to trust and lean on others when she can. And the unexpected houseguest awakens something in her she thought dormant.

Leo Vance is an actor, and not just any actor, but one everyone knows. He’s made a solid career becoming whoever he needs to be. But when he meets Nora, it is clear that he is hurting and a bit lost. Nora sees something in him that resonates with her. She agrees to his crazy deal to stay after the crew is done filming. I love Leo. He’s genuine and never leaves Nora wondering what he is thinking. I love how he pushes her boundaries and how easily he fits into their lives. His interactions with Nora’s kids, Bernadette in particular, bring levity to the story.

Comedy Disclaimer: so while this book is billed as a romantic comedy, and it does have its funny moments, Nora Goes Off Script is less romance and comedy and more women’s fiction. The book deals with heavy topics such as grief, divorce, and depression. The author tackles them head on, and it’s written to fit seamlessly into Nora’s story.

Overall, I loved Nora Goes Off Script. Nora and Leo are worth fighting for, even if it takes them a while to see that. If you enjoy sweet romance full of emotion, I highly recommend it.

I would like to thank Penguin Group Putnam and Netgalley for the opportunity to provide honest feedback on Norah Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan.

Norah Hamilton is a hardworking single mother and a writer of screenplays for a television romance channel. Her children Arthur and Bernadette are the best thing she got from her ex along with her house. In her beloved old home, Norah starts her day drinking coffee and watching the sunrise from her front porch, writing in the tea house in the backyard, and following the usual family daily routines.

Nora channels her emotions from her marriage and divorce into a screenplay that breaks her typical formula and is too big for the small screen. With Hollywood picking up the script, enter former sexiest man alive Leo Vance playing her ex and we go from there.

The novel is well written and I liked the main characters however, when the relationship hits its rough patch I did not feel that the situation nor the resolution was handled believably.. Unfortunately, this made the characters a little “less”. I was also waiting for a little more development of the supporting characters and how they could have been used to help round out Leo’s character and move the story forward.

Nora Goes Off Script was a solid and enjoyable read for those who enjoy a well written HEA that helps you escape everyday life.

This. Book. JOY!

Nora Goes Off Script was such a delight, and I devoured this read in a day. Nora, is a divorced mother, raising two perfect kids on her own. She spends her time writing "Made for TV" romance scripts. She suddenly changes up her style to incorporate the darker times of her failed marriage, and BAM she gets a movie deal staring the current IT actor. Her beloved writing cottage located behind her home becomes the backdrop for a few days of shooting.

Leo, Hollywood's A-list actor, is cast as her miserable husband. He befriends Nora, and slowly she begins to show him how to appreciate the simple things in life. Leo stays for weeks, immersing himself in the town, her life and the life of her children. My favorite, their shared morning coffee with the sunrise INSERT HEART SWOON.

This romance is a coming of age, slow-burn that made me laugh and smile. I look forward to future works from Annabel Monaghan - Nora Goes Off Script is an excellent debut. Let's hear it for romance novels with middle-aged individuals FINALLY.

Thank you PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons for the advance reader copy.

I read this in one day because I could not put it down! It was so good and such a quick read because I was dying to know how it would end. I was NOT disappointed by the ending! But, mostly, I just loved Nora and I loved Leo. I enjoyed reading about their lives and I thought the book was well written but still fun and funny. Definitely recommend!!

Nora Goes Off Script comes out next week on June 7, 2022, you can purchase HERE! This book is SO good!!

It's hard to explain what it's like to have a person like this focus all of his attention on you.

Nora writes about romance for a living, as she writes scripts for televsion movies on The Romance Channel (think Hallmark Channel). Her biggest break comes, however, when she writes a script that doesn't fit the mold for her usual romance fare, and she instead writes about her own marriage and its demise. This script is being made into a major motion picture, complete with big name stars, and the movie is being shot on her property for several days. When the handsome leading man asks to stay for a week as a lodger, Nora ends up entering into a relationship with him.

This book gave me all the feelings. This isn't a cut and dried romance, and that's what I love so much about it. In looking at Nora's relationships and the relationships of people she is close to, she comes to realize that the romance formula that works so well for her tv movies, doesn't work out the same way in real life. Her most interesting and sought after scripts end up being about her own real life with the warts and all.

I loved that Nora is a single mom with two kids, and that both characters are in their late 30's or early 40's. I love that the relationships are hard work, and I absolutely love the strength of Nora's character. She is strong for her kids because she has to be, and even though she wants to find love, she isn't willing to compromise who she is to get it.

I was an emotional wreck throughout this book, and I always view that as a good mark of a great read. It was a five star read for me.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book. The dynamic between Nora and Leo was so fun to read. I really enjoyed everything about the plot and characters.

This is the rom-com I've been waiting for. Nora is taking control of her life by taking control of every aspect of it, unfortunately, that's what you have to do when your husband leaves you and your two kids; and you're trying to manage writing a new story while filming another. Nora has it all under control until she decides to try something new. The love story here is sweet and although this isn't a coming of age story it really is a story about figuring out who you are.

4/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing me an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book reminds me of a Hallmark movie but I’m a good way. This is a clean romance and it will have you smiling the whole time :D Nora is a screen write who is writing about her own life. Lead actor Leo is basically in love with her and trying to work his way into Nora’s life 4/5 stars from me ! Thank you NetGalley for this arc

Harlequin Junkie TOP PICK!

Everything about Nora Goes Off Script hit just right. From author Annabel Monaghan's storytelling to the fun and lively banter, complex characters, and the comforting sense of community, I fell in love with Nora, Leo, and their safe haven in Laurel Ridge itself.

First of all, I kind of want a tea house of my own after reading Nora's story! (lol) There was something magical about the small building at the edge of the forest–and it was certainly featured in many important scenes. (Plus it was the name of Nora's screenplay.) I think that was one of many things that stood out to me about Annabel Monaghan's writing: her ability to describe each scene's setting in a way that I could picture it in my mind, but without going overboard with details. The tea house was one such memorable setting, but it's actually the front porch of Nora's house where she watched the sunrise each morning on her old porch swing that I adored.

Monaghan had a way of drawing us into Nora's life that felt natural. Almost like sitting down, catching up with a friend. And it made me feel like I truly got to know Nora–who was absolutely wonderful, by the way. An adoring mom who would do anything for her two awesome kids and a woman who had been treated poorly by her miserable, selfish ex-husband, I think readers will easily fall for Nora. I admired her strength, the way she kept her sense of humor even while dealing with a crappy situation. And in how she used her job as a screenwriter to get out her frustrations from her divorce and so many years of putting energy into a relationship that was unfortunately one-sided.

If anyone deserved to be treated well and pampered by a doting guy, it was Nora. And Leo fit that bill pretty darn well. He seemed like her match in every way regardless of his movie career. Well, until it all went sideways due to a (big) misunderstanding. There was some angst and soul searching as well as a bit of heartache for them both, but the way Monaghan pulled Nora and Leo together at the end will make readers giddy with happiness.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced reading copy via Netgalley. Review contains my own thoughts and opinions.

There seems to be a lot of Hollywood actor meets normal person books on my list lately, but I don’t mind. This book was such a joy to read! And the heroine is in her late 30s, which I appreciate. 😘

The main cast:
Nora is a screenwriting mom of two, recently divorced. Her most recent movie is being filmed at her home while she & her kids are still living there.

Leo is a handsome (duh) movie star who stays on location while filming at Nora’s house. He ends up staying on longer than anticipated…

Bernadette & Arthur are Nora’s great kids who seem like actual kids and act in an age appropriate way. Love this! My own kids are around the same ages and it was very realistic.

Reading Nora and Leo’s love story was the perfect way to spend an afternoon. Maybe it’s because I’m in a similar stage of life with grade school kids, but Nora’s day to day was very relatable! And it was heartwarming to see Leo find beauty and magic in a “normal” life.

Nora Hamiltonian homestead has been invaded by Hollywood, complete with the cameras, lighting, trailers, and an attractive, yet troubled, leading man. Known for her cutesy Hallmark-style rom-com scripts, Nora has changed it up with an emotional script based on her own recent divorce. The script is being made into a blockbuster movie, with scenes filmed in her actual home.

Once filming wraps, that troubled leading man, Leo Vance, sticks around looking for an escape from Hollywood. Much to Nora’s surprise and against her better judgement, sparks fly and a romance starts to develop. Can they make their new relationship survive the two very different worlds they come from?

I finished this book in one sitting; it was a funny and cute romance that was easy to read. There were definitely communication issues between Nora and Leo that could have easily been avoided, but then there wouldn’t be the second half of the book. I laughed out loud at some of their interactions experiencing each other’s worlds (Leo grocery shopping, for one) and rooted for them when it was unclear what their future looked like.

I believe this is the author’s first foray into Women’s Fiction, and I would definitely read more by her!

During the first few chapters of this book, I couldn't help but think.. "Ok so is this going to be another big movie star falls in love with a normal person" story? I was skeptical that it wouldn't follow the same trope I had read before but I am here to say this book is a genuine delight, a sweet and funny story with characters you will love deeply and be rooting for until the end.

Romance movie script writer Nora is letting her latest work, "The Tea House", come take over her upstate New York home to film for a few days. Newly divorced and a mother of two, Nora is wary of the A-list movie stars hanging around her kitchen, specifically Leo Vance, a well-known heartthrob (I imagined a George Clooney type). When filming wraps, Leo asks to stick around for a "break" with Nora and her family agreeing to leave after a week. But a week quickly turns into three as Leo ingratiates himself into their family, the small town of Laurel Ridge and Nora's heart.

I just loved this story- specifically Nora and her two kids, Bernadette and Arthur. They were hilarious, introspective and sweet - not just kids in the background of the story. By the last third of the book, I was on the edge of my seat, rooting for Nora and gasping at the unexpected twist. I highly recommend this book!

This romance novel was such a cliché, and then you get surprised that its far from that. Nora is newly divorced, she has 2 kids, everything falls on her, and one of her scripts becomes a Hollywood sensation overnight, and she becomes this famous person who knows all the right people and then some. But in between all of that she is a mom and she’s going through it. She has a crappy ex-husband, she’s in love again, then her heart gets broken again, it was nothing like I thought it would be. She doesn’t get her happy ending right away, everything came at full speed at the end, it was a quick read. I will say that the romance part between Nora and Leo was not something I understood, I didn’t care for it as much as I should’ve, it fell short for me, I felt like I loved Nora more when she was alone then with him, but I loved how she finally got her happy ending though.

Nora is a romance channel screenwriter that used her marriage's collapse to inspire the best script of her life. When her script is picked up for the big screen and set to film at her hundred year old house, former sexiest man alive Leo is cast as her ex-husband and her world will never be the same.

Bravo to Annabel Monaghan for writing the best single parent romance I have ever read. Nora's relationship with her children was centric to the plot, and her kids were a benefit to the story rather than merely being a plot device.

The setting of the book, Nora's home, meant that this was not your average celebrity romance, either. Instead of a rich, handsome actor whisking Nora off on expensive dates, we saw a slow emotional connection develop over morning coffee at sunrise. I really appreciated the normalcy we saw - homework, school plays, daily routines, grocery shopping, etc.

I can't say enough good things about Nora Goes Off Script. It was funny and emotional, and it demonstrated how life and love is complicated. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves romance novels with a relatable main character, great banter, and heart.