I absolutely devoured this book. I'm still swooning with happy tears in my eyes! I loved every single chapter, every single word. How have I not read anything else by this author?
I would give more than 5 stars if I could. Highly recommend for anyone that loves a good, heartfelt romance with a few laughs.

I really enjoyed the development of these characters, especially when it came to the kids. And I loved that Nora took what happened in her marriage to “flip the script” and make something positive happen for her family out of it.

I went back and forth on whether to rate this 4 stars or 5. Settled on 4 because of the last quarter-ish of the book taking a turn I wasn’t expecting. Overall, it was really well written, and it definitely kept me turning the pages to see how it would end.

This was such a quick, enjoyable romance/fiction read! If you like Hallmark movies you’re going to love Nora Goes Off Script. An easy 4 stars.

I loved this story!! I will say it definitely leans more towards a women’s fiction book with a closed-door romance than a true contemporary romance. I got Love, Lists and Fancy Ships vibes as I was reading.

Nora is a recently divorced mother of two and screenwriter who wrote a movie about the downfall of her marriage. Most of he work is sold to The Romance Channel (think Hallmark), except this one, which is expected to make it big. The director casts A-list movie stars and the last place to film is at her house in upstate NY. There, Nora meets Leo Vance, the actor playing her husband. When filming wraps up, Leo persuades Nora to let him stay at her house in return for an offer she can’t say no to. The two open up to each other right off the bat and form a deep connection as Leo gets to live a “normal life” out of the spotlight for the first time.

What I loved (honestly there was so much and I can’t write it all):
-The celebrity meets regular person and they fall in love
-The single-mom and second chance romance trope
-The writing felt very light-hearted and uplifting despite dealing with some heavier topics; perfect for a beach read
-The setting! I totally fell for the small town of Laurel Ridge and the Tea House
-Nora’s relationship with her kids and how she put them first over everything and made sure they had the opportunity to participate in all activities even when money was tight
-LEO!!
-How Leo bonded with Nora’s kids right away and how they loved him back. There was something special when you got to see him help out with Arthur’s 5th grade play and become invested in Bernie’s soccer games
-All of Leo’s “firsts,” especially his first trip to the grocery store. Will forever laugh when I see bananas in the grocery store.
-Nora’s career as screenwriter and how she wrote a major hit based on her own life experiences. Also, the game Nora and Leo play where she creates a film about any setting/ character Leo comes up with using the same formula. You will get a lot of Hallmark movie feels when you’re reading!
-The morning sunrises 😊😊

I will say that a good chunk of this book was centered around a conflict between Nora and Leo. I’m not usually one for conflicts and angst, but when you do find out what happened and why, it does make sense. Still, I think we could have used at least 100 more pages (the book is only 272 pages) before this conflict to see Nora and Leo as a couple. While I am a sucker for dual POVs, this is told only through Nora’s perspective. However, because of what happens in the conflict, it makes a lot of sense!

Thanks PENGUIN House Dutton and NetGalley for this ARC! Pub date: 6/7/22

There was something about the synopsis of this book that immediately held my attention, and the second I opened the book that attention held all the way through to the end.

It was a terrific read-- it made my heart both warm and ache.

The second half of the book particularly gripped me. My heart was clenched, feeling so much sympathy for Nora and wondering just how could this Hollywood romance rescue itself. Overall, this book had me processing so many emotions-- happiness and sadness, cheer and anger, thrill and anxiety. I bought into most of it, and it sped me through the end-- because this wasn't a story I could easily put down. I was hooked, and I was desperate to know how it would end, to know if the pressure on my chest would be lifted with gladness or, like Nora's screenplay, I'd find no happily ever after.

I did think there was something missing during the first half of the book. While we see Nora and Leo spend time together-- I am not convinced we had enough of the falling-in-love part of the story developed. It felt too quick paced-- and considering the steady pace in the second half of the book, it overall gave a disjointed effect. And as much as I loved the second half of the book, I do wonder if our leads were kept apart for a bit too long.

Nevertheless, the book came to a grand finish. I really enjoyed the ending.

What took me by surprise in this romance were the number of times my expectations were subverted. It provided a really refreshing angle to a familiar tale of love. It's a story that I absolutely will recommend to all lovers of romance.

I just finished this and I am so sad it's over. Absolutely one of my favorite books of the year. I read in a description that this is "Beach Read meets Evie Drake Starts Over" and I 100% agree. If you enjoyed either of those books, you need to read this one.

I love how the author writes. Every sentence felt so intentionally crafted but at the same time the rhythm of the book was so easy to get wrapped up in. I love Nora. I loved getting to know her, and her kids, and Leo. The side characters added to the story and I felt wrapped in in their world. Truly such a lovely book, one I won't hesitate to recommend to all my friends. This book felt familiar without being predictable. I wanted to keep reading to find out what happens, but also wanted to savor each page because there is something special in reading a book for the first time without knowing where it will end. This is one of those books. Beautifully written, Annabel Monaghan!

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam & NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

The story follows Nora, a newly divorced mom who turned everything she felt after the end of her marriage into a screenplay - and the movie is now being made. Leo Vance is a big Hollywood actor known for his talent and intense smoldering looks. He’s been cast to play the character inspired by Nora’s ex-husband.

The plot unfolds with romance, career victories, funny lines and lots of sunrises. I love that this story really focused on Nora as a mother, finding the new normal and always putting herself and her kids first. I loved the setting of the small town, it gives me "Stars Hollow" vibes, where every one knows each other and feels the joy and pain of others.

This was an enjoyable and entertaining read.
Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan is a romance novel involving a screenplay writer & late thirties divorced mom of 2, Nora, who rediscovers herself when Hollywood shows up in her yard to film her screenplay about her divorce. It’s a celebrity meets non-famous person romance that showcases the beauty of regular life & family.
I loved reading a heroine who wasn’t in their twenties. Obviously that’s a wonderful time & I feel like because of that, the majority of adult novels are set in that age range. So I found it refreshing to read a late thirty something, who was divorced with two lovely kids. I adored her children & their cozy little unit of a family. Their love & their life together felt like a hug to me.
I was absolutely charmed by our hero & movie star Leo & I was smitten reading this book. It was a beautiful story & I loved how everything came together.
If anyone is looking for a romance with celebrity, drama, humor & family, I would recommend Nora Goes Off Script!

Nora Goes Off Script comes out June 7, 2022.

Massive thanks to NetGalley & Penguin Group Putnam for giving me the opportunity to read an arc of this in exchange for an honest review.

I will post reviews to my Bookstagram before publication & I will post to Amazon after publication. I will add links to the reviews after posting.

I don't think I've cried over a book in at least 10 years. The characters in this story felt so incredibly real that I felt so much sympathy for them throughout the story. Monaghan is an amazing writer, yet the dialogue between the characters felt realistic and funny. I really loved Nora's internal dialogue and how relatable she felt. I received this book as a e-book on Netgalley and will probably be purchasing a physical copy when it comes out since I'll probably reread it.

Nora Goes Off Script was everything I could have wanted and more. The anticipation, laughter, heartbreaks, and joys all had me so deep in my feelings that I felt like I was in the book, living alongside Nora. It hooked me from the beginning and I didn’t want to put it down, but I never wanted it to end. This is the perfect slow burn summer read and I can’t recommend it enough!

Wow, this was wonderful! It’s a take on contemporary romance that felt really fresh, but still cozy and fun—as if a Hallmark romance movie writer wanted to try something different from the usual romance formula.
I think this is a book that’s best read without too much known upfront, but I’ll say that the middle did feel kind of laggy and I was really confused about a few choices by the characters. The end really paid off and made up for it, though.
I’m definitely excited to read more from the author, Annabel Monaghan, in the future! Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a great contemporary romance! I've been reading a lot of books about mid-30s women who rediscover themselves and their love for life when they fall in love (again or really for the first time). Nora is such a relatable heroine, and I think any woman who is around the stage of life of married with kids, or has been through that already, will find a lot to connect with in her. Leo is of course so sexy and charming, and really the whole time I'm just rooting for them to make this work! The 'twist' is a little....ehh. It probably bumped my rating down a bit although I'm glad that Leo wasn't just a total dick who ghosted her for no reason. It relied a little too much on miscommunication, which we know I HATE. But anyway, long live Leo and Nora and their sweet little family and rot in hell Ben.

God I love a book where I don't see the twist coming. I've read dozens of romances, and I expected the ending to be some take on the same ending I've read in who-knows-h0w-many books, but this one really surprised me!

I love the fact that this book centers around a family—not just a couple. Leo's relationship with Nora's children, 10-year-old Arthur and 8-year-old Bernadette, are just as important and highlighted as his relationship with Nora. The scenes of Leo being the father that Nora's children don't have anymore were some of the most heartwarming ones in the story, and they leave the feeling that the HEA is actually going to be a happily ever after.

My only criticism is that, at times, it feels like the book was missing details. I appreciate that the story completely lacks the purple prose that causes me to skip paragraphs in some books I read, but there were certain scenes that I wish were more fleshed out.

My first read by this author and I couldn't have loved her anymore! Nora is a single mother who supports her family by writing romance movie scripts for The Romance Channel making her skeptical about her real-life love stories after being burned by her ex-husband. That is until her house is the location for a movie she wrote peeling back some layers of her past and kickstarting a romance that makes Nora believe in love for herself again. Love the author's wit, charm, and writing and how she seamlessly wove so many emotions into this read.

I absolutely LOVED this. I didn't really know what to expect, and found myself reading this throughout the night. I appreciate that Nora is different from the norm--she has lived a life, she is a mother, she is finding a second life post-divorce. The best part was Nora's voice and how deep it goes, almost like the reader is truly in her headspace.

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan was a pleasant quick read. Nora was a very relatable character who was easy to like and root for. The pacing of the storyline was perfect and there was just the right amount of romance.

A rollercoaster of a story with hope around every bend. Nora’s inner-dialogue was so charming and real that I wish she were my friend in real life. Every character in the story is an individual with purpose, and the author has a firm grasp on building plot. I want to read everything by her!

5⭐️// I saw someone liken this book to Evvie Drake Starts Over (one of my favorites) and I would have to agree - this book is real, sweet, heartbreaking and heart mending. The relationship between Leo & Nora unfolds in such a beautiful natural way & don’t even get me started on how sweet he is with her children, who are just so fun & quirky. This book is like a beautiful sunrise that you just don’t want to end. Highly recommended & can not wait to read whatever Annabel Monaghan writes next.

I thought this was a great rom com. Nora writes a book about her ex husband leaving her and her kids. The book is picked up for a movie and the movie star shows up to film (in Nora's guest house) and just doesn't leave.

Nora has written a screenplay detailing her life and relationship, including the meaningful tea room in her home. The filming company wants to use her home b specifically her tea room to film the movie she has written. This screenplay is different than her normal romance style, think Hallmark-esque in that it is real and has dark moments and is sad and honest. But it is so good.

The actors arrive on set, they film and one actor elects to stay longer which for some reason Nora allows. And the bond that is created is truly one of a kind.

Read Annabel Monaghans Nora Goes Off Script to find yourself immersed in Horas life filled with heartbreak, motherhood, her depth of sadness and hate, and a place where she begins to find herself again. This is a brilliant novel, written in a way that makes the reader feel apart of the story but also looking in the whole time. You root for the characters and wish some of them the worst of luck too. You hope the Nora finds her way and that her kids turn out well enough. You hope the actor finds stability and a sense of who they are. And at some point you hope that Nore finds enough of herself to be able to truly open herself to love again.

And lets not forget the writing about the tea room. So exquisite, so descriptive and delightful. It makes me want a yard and tea room exactly like Nora's despite never having the need or want for one before.