Is it possible for a movie star to fall for a small town, single mom?

Nora Goes Off Script is a beautifully written, poignant story. It is realistic and the characters have an intense connection that literally jumps off the pages.

Leo and Nora meet when Nora writes a successful book that is being made into a movie and Leo is a high profile movie star playing the male lead in the movie. When Leo comes into town, Nora discovers he is going to be staying in a trailer on her property. She is surprised to find Leo constantly underfoot. Leo seems content to spend time in Nora’s house and he enjoys learning to do small everyday tasks.

I love how unaffected Nora is by Leo. She treats him like she would anyone else and I think that is what Leo finds so alluring about her. Nora is strong and brave but doesn’t know her worth because her ex continually put her down.

Leo is nothing like Nora imagined he would be. Underneath Leo’s movie star persona he is just a regular guy. Leo has many wonderful qualities and he is easy to like. He is easy going and laid back and he misses being normal and having a regular life.

Leo and Nora are wonderful together. They have incredible chemistry and I enjoyed all their interactions. I liked Leo and Nora individually and loved them together. Nora and Leo are both going through an emotional time in their lives. Their lives are changing and they are trying to figure out their next steps. There are also a lot of entertaining and interesting secondary characters in this story. This story sparkled and left me with a good feeling.

i've always been curious about writers creating their own fake hollywoods, and I'm sorry to say this one didn't compel me. sorry!

I absolutely adored this quintessential rom-com that follows the story of Nora, a screenwriter who typically writes formulaic romance for a Hallmark-type channel. But when her husband leaves her and her two kids behind and she feels little to no sadness about his betrayal and absence, Nora writes a drama/non-romance about the story of her husband leaving that gets turned into an actual Hollywood movie. When scenes from the movie are shot at her own house, Nora finds herself living in a bit of a different world for a few days and that surreal feeling extends when the lead actor playing her ex husband decides he needs to stay a little while longer.

Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and NetGalley for the chance to review this ARC.


This is a summer book, you know the one you want to read outside on your front porch on a rainy afternoon. Yeah that one. This book has the fan favorite grumpy/sunshine and small-town tropes that I adore so it was a great read.

Nora Goes Off Script was a delight and a perfect summer read for me. This romance hits all the marks for me. There is heart and soul in this book. The characters were loveable and had depth. What a pleasant surprise!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Books for my ARC! Published June 7th, this is Annabel Monaghan’s first book since 2017. A fun, fast-paced read perfect for summer!

Nora Hamilton is a romance channel screenwriter who has gotten used to the formulaic way of creating the perfect plot line. However when her curmudgeon husband leaves her and her two kids, Nora decides to create a screenplay inspired by her marriage’s collapse. When it gets picked up for the big screen and they decide to film on location at her house, she is flabbergasted. But what’s even more shocking is when Leo Vance, one of Hollywood’s hottest actors, gets casted as her no-good husband and ends up staying at her house.

Was it predictable? Yes. Did I predict the ending though? No. So overall it was a surprising read that would be perfect for the beach or vacation. I did feel the last 3rd was a little long and repetitive, but all-in-all a great book for anyone in a reading rut or in need of a celebrity romance thread.

This was a wonderful read!

When Nora writes a script about the breakup of her marriage, and the movie is filmed at her home, Nora meets the actor playing her ex husband. What initially starts as an awkward relationship settles into an intriguing romance. This was a sweet, cosy and witty story- perfect reading for summer with the feels of Gilmore Girls and “the Idea of You”.

Highly recommend!

Nora Hamilton is known for her screenwriting on the television screen, but after her personally inspired drama gets picked up for the big screen, Hollywood descends on her 100-year-old home to bring her story to life. When the man cast as her no-good ex-husband appears on her front porch the day after filming wraps, Nora knows her life is about to be wildly shaken up. What unfolds is part comedy, part drama, part romance, and completely heartwarming.

This book was one of my most anticipated of 2022 after hearing it be lauded as BEACH READ meets EVVIE DRAKE STARTS OVER. And unsurprisingly, this one really lived up to the hype. A quick read and one you really can’t put down, I found the characters charming and endearing, with the comedic chorus of Nora’s kids really serving as the cherry on top. Though I thought the ending was a bit fast-paced, I found it both satisfying and wanting a continuation to Nora and Leo’s story. A perfect escape for your next summer read, I highly recommend reading the story of Nora and her crew!

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this easy, feel-good, un-cheesy romance between Nora and Leo. This was one of those books that just make you smile.

This was a good wholesome love story. I really enjoyed it. It’ was fun to read also. I liked that Nora was a writes also and that she feel for an actor

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book.

First off, I LOVE the cover. That is what drew me to this book. I enjoyed the writing and this story. It followed a unique timeline and was different than other romance books I’ve ready. Given how ingrained made-for-tv romance movies were included in this book, I have to commend the author for creating an ending that I couldn’t predict and was far more evolved. I will definitely be checking out other books by this author!

The prefect summer beach/read. I could hardly put it down and loved the whole story. Will be recommending it to many this year.

Thank you Putnam Books for my gifted review copy. You can check out my interview with Annabel Monaghan on https://reallyintothis.com/

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan is the perfect summer read! It's a wonderful love story between a divorced screenwriter and a celebrity set in an idyllic small town.

There's so much to love about Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan that I made a list.

1. This book is the perfect length. Not to short, no too long. Every word is meaningful and it's not filled with unnecessary details. We get right to the heart of the matter.

2. Leo is a man of few words and I live for him. That is all. he lets his actions speak or him.

3. Nora and I would be BFFs. She's tough, disciplined, focused on what she needs todo for herself and her children after her useless husbands up and leaves them. She's the type of person who gets stuff done.

4. The kids are cute. I know some people have mixed emotions on children in romances but Nora's kids add something to the story. The stakes are higher for Nora and her family because of what they've been through. Leo is aware of that from day one.

5. This story is crisp and fresh. I couldn't put it down and would reread it again in a heartbeat.

THE VERDICT

I am Really Into This book. It's the perfect summer read and fans of Robyn Carr, Jill Shalvis & Abby Jimenez would love it!

I wanted to love this one, but started and never finished it. I swear I've read this same story at least three times this year. It's a good one, but overdone. The cover is so appealing and the synopses made it seem like something I'd enjoyz but I didn't.

2.5 stars. Sadly, I didn’t really enjoy this read… I was really expecting more from all the good reviews, but the characters felt so flat throughout! The male love interest didn’t really have a personality, other than vaguely sad, interested in Nora, and intrigued by the price of bananas. The side characters were similarly flat: Penny, Kate, & Jackie the agent were all just there for Nora to text, but nothing really happens with them. Nora just tells us that they have personalities without any of that being shown. I also hated the time jumps & how major events were just glossed over & only briefly described in retrospect. Also, the kids didn't seem like they were written to be older, and then the author just made them like 8 & 10 on whim.

I don’t know, clearly this worked for a lot of other people, but it was definitely not for me. Mild spoiler below.

[ also this miscommunication trope is generally not my favorite, but it was really really not my favorite here. I thought it was very annoyingly done.

What a fantastic book! I read this in two days and stayed up until 1 in the morning to finish. That has happened in forever! Nora Goes Off Script is so readable. The writing sucked me in right from the start and I had a hard time putting it down.

The book follows single mom and romance movie writer, Nora, as she welcomes a Hollywood movie crew into her home to film the movie she wrote about her failed marriage. After the movie wraps, the leading man decides he’d like to stay and experience normal life again and hopefully find the meaning to this own life. What transpires is a whirlwind romance, but ultimately he has to leave.

This book is full of funny banter and endearing family moments. It also felt like a plot I hadn’t read before. Nora’s response to her failed marriage felt very empowering and raised important questions about marriage and the type of relationship we want for ourself and what that relationship adds to our life.

If there’s any criticism, it’s a small one, and it’s the character’s name, Nora. I’ve read three books in the last few months with a bookish theme, set in New York, with a main character named Nora. Overall though, I’m just sad I waited so long to read this because I loved it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of Nora Goes Off Script. I adored this sweet book. I breezed through it and it left me feeling satisfied. The main character Nora felt extremely realistic and the whole plot felt fresh. I will be recommending it to everyone who is looking for the perfect capsule romcom. I can't wait to read Monaghan's other works.

You guys (ten crying emojis)! This closed-door romance absolutely stole my heart. It was funny and cheesy and heartwarming. It also was not a super typical romance in a lot of ways, but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone in my review.

Nora is a single mom and her kids are a big part of the story, which is loooooved. I wanted to jump in front of trains for them. I just really, really adored it.

Thank you net galley for the advanced copy!

Nora GoeS Off Script is a small town closed door second chance celebrity romance. I loved the single parent aspect and I adored the children in the book. They were so cute and really added to the story. While I’m not usually a fan of celebrity romances, I really enjoyed this feel good rom com. The plot was unique (well not super realistic) and I liked the “Hallmark” like movie aspect. It was a light and quick read. The only con was that the pacing seemed off at times.

I have to say I picked some good romance for my summer reading list! I loved this book, I laughed, cried and swooned for both Leo and Nora.

I love the fact that Nora was like "Whatever, hot actor staying at my house, I got Mom duties and have to get my life together." She is so down to earth; I love that she has routine every day. I thought she was so cute; I want to be her best friend. Leo, well what's not to love, moving out of his actor bubble, he is just a normal lovable guy.

Nora's husband leaves her she decides she needs money quick and as romance writer she decides to switch it up and write about the end of her marriage. To her surprise this story becomes a hit, and the famous Leo Vance plays her ex-husband. They shoot part of the movie at her house and after the shooting he asks Nora if he can stay for two weeks. She agrees, mostly because he offered to pay rent and what's the worst that could happen, maybe her heart??

I loved that she is a writer for the romance channel and that was the moment I fell in love with Leo is when he admits he secretly loves the cheezie movies. I have two sisters and around Christmas we watch the holiday one's, they are cheezie, but it is the best time with my sisters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for gifting me this book for my honest review