A rom-com about an author of rom-coma, what’s not to like? I read this book in less than 24 hours. The strong female lead drew me in quickly and while the other characters where equally engaging and entertaining. I loved the story, the relationship, the troubles. This book has it all.

When I first started this book I wasn't into the characters. That changed a few more chapters into the plot. I really enjoyed this lighthearted romance about a family. Of course my background in TV production and love of movies - including Hallmark ones- made me like it even more. Great summer read. Thanks NetGalley for the advanced copy. #NetGalley #NoraGoesOffScript

After her husband and father of her children up and leaves (good riddance, he was a gaslighter), Nora pens a heartfelt screenplay that gets picked up as a movie using the teahouse in her backyard as a setting. The lead actor is famous and scorchingly hot - read on to see how Nora's own personal romance story pans out!

I had been getting a little tired of RomComs, but this novel rescued me! Ironically, the main character is a writer or cheesy rom coms and pokes fun of their repetitive formulas!

I received a e-copy of this novel for free from NetGalley; all thoughts are my own and the fact that it was free does not change my opinion.

I finished this book in 24 hours. I couldn’t put it down. This was the first book in awhile where I felt so connected to and invested in the character’s lives.

Nora is a fantastic female lead; she’s strong and sensible. She’s a mom in her 30s and she actually has responsibilities and routines. I really empathized with her character (maybe because I am also a mom in my 30s???). And Leo manages to be relatable and down-to-earth while also being a movie star. The relationship between him and Nora’s kids is great and added a nice dimension to the story.

This book will have you smiling, it’ll have you laughing…and oh yes, you will be crying! The perfect recipe for a five-star rom com!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nora is an up and coming screen writer. Presently she writes formula-driven romance screenplays. Simply switch characters names, locations and boom, you basically have the next movie. Little to no creativity involved. But now she’s spreading her wings and trying something totally different. She’s writing about her own life. The collapse of her marriage. And like a true Hollywood dream, the screenplay has been purchased by a major studio! The filming with an A-list set of stars will even take place in her own backyard. Literally on her property!

As the production trucks and crew arrive, filming gets started. All the while Nora tries to maintain her strictly-set schedules for both she and her two children. School, homework, meals, etc. In other words, a semblance of normalcy.

But issues arise when lead actor Leo keeps showing up every morning on her porch to share the incredible view of the sunrise. It’s not long before he’s slowly working his way into Nora’s life… maybe her heart as well.

I so adored both Nora and Leo! Always pulling for them from the very start. The engaging banter between the characters is both charming and witty. My face nearly cramping from a permanent smile through most of the book. The key word here is “most”!

In the blink of an eye tears started flowing and wouldn’t be held back.

I sobbed, cried, and blubbered my way through the final third of the book. Emotionally exhausted, undone, left in a puddle of tears.

Without any hesitation, this is one of my favorite-rom coms of the year. Hope it’s on your list! Don’t miss out!

A rom-com buddy read with Susanne that we both could not put down!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK!!! LOVE!!

A book about a writer – I’m in! This was just the book I needed right now – down-to-earth, likable characters, sweet with just the right amount of imagery to picture the steam, uplifting and fully understanding about what’s important in life.

Nora is a writer for TRC – The Romance Channel (think Hallmark movies), where every script is positive, with sweet people, minimal conflict, and a happy ending. When Nora’s husband leaves her, she decides to write a script about raw emotion, letting go, and not being the victim a/k/a where the person leaves and decides to never come back. Picked up by a huge movie director and casted with A-List celebrities, The Tea House is filmed at her house, where heartthrob Leo stars as her ex. When Leo decides to stay at Nora’s property for a week after filming to escape, he realizes that the homey family lifestyle may be more his cup of tea than his glamorous Hollywood one.

Nora Goes Off Script - Annabel Monaghan’s debut adult novel – is perfect. You can tell she (Monaghan) is a mom that understands balance and parenting, and crazy Saturdays . . . seriously go to her website and read her thoughts on carpooling! I was laughing! Likewise, here, Nora is a single mom with two young children, doing everything from school drop-offs and homework to balancing the budget and being the chauffeur. Leo – who has never grocery shopped for himself, begins to take on directing her son’s school play and charms all of the school moms. I couldn’t stop turning the pages!

I do believe this may be perceived as a bit more women’s fiction than romance (definitely romance – but there is more of a family storyline in the second part of the novel). I was a little fearful nearing the end that the romance would never pick back up and that the book would end parallel to Nora’s previously script for The Tea House. And, I do feel the ending was a little rushed and I wish it would have lingered on a little more for my own selfish reason of loving the book, the story, and the characters.

This is the first book I’ve read in one day in a while; it was a light and comfortable / effortless read where I didn’t have to mentally connect a lot of dots and could just enjoy! This book is the palate cleanser between heavy novels that you will end up being pleasantly surprised with and feeling warm and fuzzy inside. I will be looking forward to reading anything else Monaghan writes in the future – including her articles/column on her website! Highly recommend for a fun, sweet read. (Again – 4.8 stars based on this book, not comparing it to heavy/crazy reads or in-depth mystery novels.)

Thank you to NetGalley for this amazing ARC; all opinions are my own!

I was excited for this book because it gave me Evvie Drake vibes, but it seemed like something was missing. It took a bit to connect with the characters. Overall this book was a good read.

I felt like this book was definitely missing the beginning i felt like i was starting in the middle of the book. Just jumped into this weird actor acting like a creepy stalker and I just couldn't get on board with it.

I was delighted to receive an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book occupies the same universe as formulaic Hallmark Channel romances and does so with intent and purpose while simultaneously wanting to move into the universe of more complex, less straightforward romance genre resolution.

Even though it takes on some heavy themes by way of its heroine's backstory and gives her plenty of heartbreak to navigate in the present and future, the author summarizes a lot of the emotional beats and plot points in a sentence or two without adding much in the way of depth. The first-person POV wasn't used as effectively as it might have been and none of the big moments (e.g., the principal pair falling in love, the resolution of the misunderstanding that led to their rift, etc.) feel earned. In more than a few places I thought to myself "No person would actually say that, do that, react that way. . ." It was hard to feel emotionally invested in the couple because their coming together was reported rather than conveyed through humor or emotion. I just didn't buy that this guy would fall for this woman (or vice versa) based on what was written.

Not every romance needs a dual POV structure, but this one might have benefitted from leveraging that construct.

Side note: The author makes it clear that her couple has an active love life, but all the scenes are closed-door/not described, so if you're looking for something like that, this will satisfy that criterion.

All this said, I still found myself curious enough about how the misunderstanding would be resolved that I never once considered not finishing. It's a sweet if wholly hollow narrative.

I absolutely loved this book! It was such an enjoyable read. I flew through it and treasured every page! The main character, Nora, was such a strong woman. I loved reading about her as a single mother and a talented screen writer. Leo was such a lovable character. I was attached to him from the very start. This love story was so sweet and is definitely one you don’t want to miss! Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This books is great. The characters are real and the dialog is funny. People are going to love reading this and I could totally see this becoming a movie. I wish that these people and this story were real. Kudos to the author. I can't wait to see what she writes next.

It took me a minute or two to connect with the book but once I did I really enjoyed it. At first I didn't like Leo; I wasn't sure if I could ever like Leo but by the end I was rooting hard for Leo. I really didn't like Ben so that helped a bit too. I have a soft spot for Hallmark movies so all the references to those made me laugh. I adored the children and want a Tea House of my own in the backyard. Once you give yourself permission to go with the story a bit it was fun writing, great dialogue and a solid romance. Lots of zingers and one-liners that made me laugh out loud and cheering for Nora and her happily ever after.

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan was recommended on a podcast that I listen to. I immediately read the description of the book after hearing the podcaster's raving reviews. The book sounded exactly like something I would love to read so I made the request on NetGalley.

I was ecstatic to be given an ARC of this story and I can let you know that it has lived up to the high expectations that I had for it! Thank you to the publisher, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and Annabel Monaghan for letting me read this book early!

This is the story of Nora Hamilton. She is a romance screenwriter but one day, her husband leaves her and the two kids. This causes Nora to write a new story based on her failed relationship. Surprisingly, the story gets picked up for a film adaptation with big movie stars (Like Leo Vance) and is filmed at Nora's 100 year old house.

The day after shooting ends, everyone leaves and Nora finds Leo Vance on her porch. He tells her that he will pay a thousand dollars a day to stay at her house for the week. Being that Nora is recently single, with children, she gladly accepts the $7,000.

What will happen over the week that Leo Vance is at Nora's house?

This story is cozy, funny, and full of vivid descriptions that made me feel like I was a part of the book and charming town. I love when celebrities meet regular people and could see this story being adapted for its own big screen adaptation.

I would pair this book with a glass of lemonade! It is the perfect story and I adored it!

Nora is a screenwriter who normally focuses on the steady work of happy ever afters for The Romance Channel. But the script she wrote about the end of her marriage is poised to be her breakout, and the big stars show up at her house to film. She never expected a story right out of Hollywood when leading man Leo stays on after filming for a bit of real life experience. While this story recognizes all the romance tropes readers expect, it's filled with real life and a love story with an enormous heart that will leave readers both pining for more and fully satisfied.

Nora Goes Off Script is a charming and funny novel of a struggling single mom who thrives on her routines. Nora is a writer of romance movies for television, but when she writes about her ex, Hollywood comes calling and wants to film the movie at her home and in her Tea House in the backyard. Suddenly everything about Nora’s quiet life is upended. The handsome lead is enamored with her family life and cozy home, and he asks to stay for awhile. I love a romantic comedy and I did not want it to end! Thank you to Putnam and to NetGalley for an early copy. Available June 7th.

DNF at about 20%!

I didn't hate this book so far but I had a really hard time connecting with it. There's not a lot of time setting up the MMC and developing a connection before he decides to post up at the house. I like the FMC but something about it isn't connecting with me and isn't meshing!

I don't fully know how to describe how this book made me feel. I really enjoyed it and I loved the journey that Nora took. I wish we got a tad bit more of her figuring out who she was but the ending was so cute!

I received an arc through netgalley.

There was so much to love about this title: a fun celebrity/normie romance, a woman reinventing herself in midlife, a peek inside a Hallmark Channel-eque romance writer's life! But it's 2022, let's stop with the body shaming comments. There are two instances here that would be SO DARN EASY to edit out, and it would be far better for the book and its readers were that done.

Set time aside when you pick this book up.....you won't want to put it down! Nora is a middle aged writer of two kids. When her husband, Ben, decides that this life is no longer for him, she writes the story and sells it as a screenplay. The director of the movie requests that part of the movie be shot at her house. One day, Hollywood rolls up to her small, relatively out dated, house to film. And with this bunch is Leo Vance. The once voted sexiest man alive. After the 3 days of filming, Leo offers Nora money if he can stay for an additional 7 days. Since she could use the money, Nora agrees. Over these 7 days, Leo worms his way into everyone's heart....including anyone reading this book.
What happens after Leo's time is done? When his career calls him away to another coast. Where does that leave Nora and her two children who have opened their lives to Leo?
This love story is one that will stay with you. Nora is relatable and funny. You will find yourself rooting for her and being proud of her. Grab yourself a cup of coffee and settle into a comfortable spot. This is a great read! Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.

Very sweet, light romance novel whose only flaw was that that it was at times was a little too over the top. Meaning Leo is the hottest actor in Hollywood making a B-list Hallmark movie that's actually going to be on the big screen and everyone thinks is going to be a major blockbuster. I would have preferred something less unbelievable but Leo and Nora were adorable and their relationship just worked. The drama at the end was a bit unnecessary and could have been resolved with communication but it didn't ruin the romance for me. Very cute book and I'd like to read more adult novels from this author, who I think primarily is known for YA.