Oh my gosh, this one hit me in all the right places! I’ve never read Annabelle Monaghan but I’ll be checking out more!

From the very beginning, I lived inside this story. I was the awkward, self doubting, hiding in small spaces, dreaming of making it girl, and it’s really weird how I could put myself in that position so easily. I’ll have to unpack that later. 😉

But besides just relating to the MC, I wanted to BE on Long Island, surrounded by the Finnegans and drinking in their little loud, ordinary moments and being transformed into a whole, healed person. That’s the fun of fiction. It doesn’t have to be realistic, timelines can be short, growth can be exponential, and endings can be shiny and perfect. I loved this.

It's not summer romance season without an Annabel Monaghan book!

At first, I had a hard time understanding why Jane and Dan were "enemies." It just seemed like Jane didn't like him for his opinionated nature. The fact that they were supposed to go out on a date then he ends up being the new guy at work, is so great! The journey from enemies to friends to lovers was a cute trajectory. I loved how they went from not tolerating each other to teaming up for the greater good of the movie that the two of them only believed in, then finally realizing the attraction they felt at the start was still simmering in the background. Chefs kiss!

Dan's family was so entertaining. They were so inviting to Jane and hospitable. Something about them felt like the family from 7th heaven but without all the religious BS. I liked the fact that while all of Dan's siblings were very similar, he wasn't and left the nest to find himself. It kind of aligned with how Jane felt growing up in showbiz, being the quirky sidekick amongst the bunch.

I related to Jane and her shiny exterior of perfectionism. The growth trajectory of her finally opening up to her mom about her struggles with her father leaving was a great side plot. I loved how they both grew closer from that moment, and it helped Jane accept the love she deserved.

Read if you like an enemies-to-lovers romance with a ton of forced proximity. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 5/27!

Got an arc for this and it’s my first book of hers. Didn’t know if I was going to like this or not but enjoyed it a lot! Excited to read more of her books!

I typically love Annabel Monaghans books but this one was not a favorite.

A child actress is trying to get the ultimate love story movie made even though she herself doesn’t believe in love. Surprise! She falls in love along the way!

The story felt a little silly and dragged a bit in my opinion only to be wrapped up in a neat bow at the end.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!

This book has me ready for summer! I enjoyed the enemies to lovers romance, although the characters fell a little flat for me. It did feel a little rushed and the conflict a little silly. But all in all I enjoyed this read!

This book was such a great read! Enemies to lovers is a trope I’m always on board with. The characters were so lovable and the family was a joy to read about!

4.25 ⭐️ !! i love love loved the romance aspect of this, but i loved jane finding herself even more. i also typically HATE 3rd act breakups, but this one was so justified and i think it was important to the story. annabel monaghan writes characters that are so real and so raw, and i love everything about them, but jane truly has a special place in my heart. her overwhelming fear of being unlovable hit a liiiiittle too close to home for me, but i think that’s why i loved it so much. it also gave perfect summery vibes, and that’s something that anabel monaghan excels at. made me want to eat strawberries on the beach then take a sunburnt shower and have someone make me a friendship bracelet.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P Putnam’s Sons for an ARC of It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan in exchange for my honest review.

Despite not being a reader who is deeply immersed in the romance and romantic comedy genre, I was pleased to discover Annabel Monaghan’s 2022 romance, Nora Goes Off Script. Reading about a woman in early mid-life struggling through divorce, single parenting and newly entering the dating scene, felt fresh and liberating. Since reading Nora, I’ve been eager to read Monaghan again, so when I saw It’s A Love Story, releasing 5/27/25, I decided to give it a try.

Monaghan’s writing style and character development is nothing if not consistent. She writes strong female characters who don’t yet realize how smart and beautiful they are. Her male leads often have an artistic flair, magnetic personality, and good looks and body to match. One of the things I love about this author’s writing is how she conveys longing and desire, without language and description that is overly spicy. I also find myself swooning over how her male characters cherish and adore the women who are struggling to see how smart, beautiful and sexy they are.

The characters of It’s a Love Story, where our protagonist, Jane, is desperately trying to produce the world’s next big box office love story, while trying equally hard to be the perfect woman for her perfect potential mate, have all of those qualities in spades. For much of the book I rooted for Jane, but truth be told, the character I loved most was Dan. Despite the number of times in which I wanted to throw this book across the room due to Jane’s toxic trait of not believing in her value and self-worth, in the end I wanted the best for Jane.

In my humble opinion, Nora Goes Off Script, was a more satisfying read. However, many readers of the romance genre will find a lot to love in Jane, Dan, and It’s a Love Story.

Read It’s A Love Story if you enjoy:
*enemies to lovers
*workplace romances
*ocean-side settings
*found family
*loveable side characters

3.5 Stars

This story was so fun and so unexpectedly deep. I found myself relating to the main character often, despite never working in television. I thought all of the side plots came together beautifully, and I loved the contrast of Dan’s giant family and her small group. I loved how both were shown an equal amount of respect and value.

I truly believed in their love story and the growth it took to get there. It felt real and raw and vulnerable. This was an absolute pleasure to read.

Annabel Monaghan has done it again!
Alright, so I’m a big fan of this author and have read and loved her 3 most recent releases, so my expectations for this were very high, despite reading the description multiple times and still not fully getting what the book wasn’t going to be about.
Initially, really until Jane and Dan make it to Oak Shore, I found it hard to connect to the characters and really get immersed in this one, but once they made it to Long Island, I was sold.
Jane and Dan were such great complex characters who really shined both together and apart, which is something I think It’s A Love Story gets the most right of any other book by Monaghan.
I loved how the author explored the topic of identity in creative spaces and the importance of artistic integrity.
This wasn’t my absolute favorite by Monaghan, but it’s a very solid 4 out of 5 and a great option for anyone looking for a fun, thought-provoking romance.

Love love loved. Annabel Monaghan writes such beautiful, well-developed characters. Jane and Dan have such amazing tension and I devoured this book.

Annabel Monaghan, you’ve done it again.

Jane’s journey of self discovery and realizing her worth was heart wrenching in the best way. I loved the character development of both characters, especially seeing as I didn’t care much for Dan at the start but he really turned it around and I ended up totally swooning.

I appreciated that this felt like a new take on workplace rivals turned lovers and how the love between the family was a spotlight.

Thank you for the laughs and even some sniffles because this is a top tier romcom!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 (Romance)

My Thoughts: I really liked this book! It was cute and quick and I read it in one day. I really love Annabel Monaghan’s books, and this one is no exception. There are some fun Easter eggs to Every Summer After which I loved. I also really enjoyed the back stories of the main characters. I loved the light enemies to lovers-ness of this. Anyway, I really loved this book and I can’t wait for you to read it!

If you like Annabel Monaghan’s other books or Once More with Feeling, you’ll like this book.

Annabel Monaghan’s romance novels are like a breath of fresh air. They are entirely different then any other romance books. I love her writing. It is straight to the point but can really sneak emotions on you. Her writing is so distinct and so different from anything else. I love that her characters are flawed. They aren’t perfect, they are all going through things, and are just trying to get through day by day. It is real and raw. I adored this story and loved the two main characters.

Annabel Monaghan can do no wrong!!! Can’t wait for this book to be out in the world. Beach read with tons of heart, how can you go wrong?

Annabel Monaghan is four for four for me!

She has delivered another heartwarming story about a relatable woman in her thirties who is just trying to make it in a World that isn’t always kind!

Jane Jackson was a childhood actress who grew up in front of the camera playing the comedic sidekick to America’s sweetheart, Hailey. The fifth-favorite sitcom of its time, “Pop Rocks” featured 4 Pre-teens in a band, and her role as keyboardist Janey Jakes was to make her famous “Oof” face when things went wrong, bringing on the laughs.

Now she’s a Creative Executive at Clearwater Studios, preferring to stay behind the scenes and she loves the newest love story she has optioned-“True Story”. Unfortunately, her studio, and its arrogant cinematographer, Dan Finnegan, don’t agree, thinking the film won’t be commercial enough.

Desperate to get her first project greenlit, she claims that she can get Jack Quinlan, THE hottest popstar of the moment, to write an original song for the soundtrack. Although she and Jack sang once sang a duet on “Pop Rocks” and he was the recipient of her first kiss—she hasn’t actually spoken to him in twenty years.

Oof!

When reaching out on Social Media fails, Dan Finnegan offers up a possible solution. Because Jack is playing a festival in Dan’s hometown on Long Island, and Dan has an in there-they can fly New York to try and plead their case in person.

While trying to track him down, Jane spends time with Dan and his large, lively, loving family who have all gathered together to celebrate his parents 40th wedding anniversary. She may or may not leave with her “song” but she will leave changed, as it turns into a week of soul searching and self reflection.

This author writes “mature” women’s fiction/romance with likable characters and a good dose of humor, and I have loved everything she has written! Earning 5 stars means it made me to teary eyed at least once! 🤧

Beach Bag approved and publishing on May 27, 2025.

Thank You to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!

I have read all of Annabel Monaghan's books, and this is her best since Nora Goes Off Script! It was funny, touching, quirky, and filled with heart. Jane Jackson is a young producer working in Hollywood who is a recovering child actress and has fallen in love with a script that she wants to see made into a movie. She's desperate to prove herself through this project, and through an exaggeration about how well she knows a pop star, ends up having to spend a week on Long Island with the family of this gorgeous man she works with and who she also despises. Enter a loud, chaotic family who both overwhelm and charms Jane, and of course, the man she thought she despised turns out to be very different than she expected. It's tender and adorable and explores what it means to make your own way in the world, both with and without family, and both as a product of and in spite of what may have broken you in childhood. I truly enjoyed every page! Thank you to Net Galley for this ARC!

Annabel Monaghan has officially become an autobuy author for me - and I think this is my current favorite book from her (that I have read). If you haven’t picked up any of her books yet, this is your sign—her characters and settings would be the perfect addition to your summer reading list.

As an only child, this one hit hard. I found some of myself reflected in Jane and her struggles. Her journey of throwing away her scripts—masks, costumes, and roles she adopted to become someone "worth staying for"—was emotional. Watching her rediscover who she is without the pressure to perform was both heart wrenching and hopeful.

And Dan? Dan may be one of my favorite MMCs. The way he naturally showed Jane what it means to be fully seen and loved, broken pieces and all, was beautiful and came so naturally to him - no grand gestures necessary. Their evolving relationship felt so real, showing up in the quiet moments, and their genuine connection.

In the end, Jane learns that "love happens over breakfast," and it’s a little concept that will stick with me. If you're looking for a love story that’s tender, authentic, and quietly powerful, It’s a Love Story is an absolute must-read.

This was a lovely book that took me a little while to get into but was ultimately worth it. The arc of the FMC was was fullfilling. This was a slow burn, closed door romance. Stick with this book.

ARC Review – It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 💕 Closed Door Romance
Release Date: May 27th, 2025

This book snuck up on me in the best way!!!

It took a little time to hook me, but once it did, it wrapped around my heart and didn’t let me go.

Jane’s journey, one rooted in deep emotional scars and the fear of being unlovable, absolutely gutted me.

And Dan? He might just be the quiet, patient, emotionally steady dream man we all need. Their connection builds slowly, like a sunrise you didn’t know you needed until you’re bathed in the warmth of it.

This is a closed-door romance with very little spice, but don’t let that fool you, the romantic tension, emotional depth, and genuine swoon factor were absolutely five-star worthy. I sobbed. I smiled. I closed the book and felt something in me just soften.

Annabel Monaghan beautifully explores the idea that love doesn’t have to be loud to be life-changing. It can be quiet. Consistent. Healing. Exactly what you didn’t know you deserved.

Highly recommend if you love:
Slow-burn, second-chance energy
Emotionally mature MMCs (hi, Dan—I see you!!)
Deep emotional healing with a romantic payoff that’s worth the wait
Stories that leave you feeling seen!!