This did not disappoint. This is my first 5 star book of the year. I was hooked from the very beginning and didn’t want to stop reading. I loved Jane and Dan. Dan’s family and the role they played was amazing. I loved the small beach town- the descriptions and the small town gave me the warm and fuzzies. I love the found family trope and this was done beautifully.

This was another great book by Annabel Monaghan! It took a little bit to get into, but once the main characters made it to Long Island, I was hooked. I loved the relationship development between Jane and Dan. They had great banter, an enjoyable setting, and the perfect family member side characters who included the FMC in their family right away. I love Annabel's writing style. It is super easy to read and I always finish quickly.

Thank you to Netgalley and Putnam for the ARC!

Jane is a former child TV star trying to overcome her awkward applied persona by proving herself as a film creative director. To get her a test film greenlit, she needs to win over her boss and find a way to work with her professional foe, Dan, a cinematographer with a critical tongue and exacting vision. To move things in her favor, she embellishes the truth of her relationship with a very hot pop star and needs Dan's help to track him down.

Rating: 4.25 ⭐
Spice: 1🌶️ (open door, vague)
Tropes: rivals-to-lovers, one room

This book was a slow start for me. The first chapter felt more tell than show, but once they hit the road in their adventure, I was hooked and couldn't put it down. I loved the family. I loved how they overcame their pasts and learned to love who they are individually as well as a couple.

This was fun and will be a GREAT summer read for 2025.

Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam and Annabel Monaghan for this eARC

It's a Love Story captures the essence of a true love story—flawed yet beautiful. The romance is perfectly crafted, with characters who feel real and relatable. Their imperfections make them human, and their growth together is inspiring and heartwarming.

At first, I found Jane a little obnoxious, but as the story unfolded, her personality made sense. Monaghan masterfully reveals her layers, and by the end, Jane's journey of self-discovery and empowerment is perfection. Watching her find her voice and inner strength is a rewarding experience.

The Finnigan family adds an irresistible charm to the narrative. They bring lighthearted humor and warmth, creating a delightful backdrop to the romance. Their presence enriches the story in the most wonderful ways.

Dan, the leading man, is quiet and complicated. His depth and subtlety make him the perfect counterpart to Jane. The chemistry between them feels authentic, and their connection is a testament to the beauty of imperfect love.

This story made me laugh, and cry. If you’re looking for a love story that’s as touching as it is unforgettable this one is absolutely perfect.

Thank you Penguin Group Putnam | G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for this advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

It’s a Love Story is the story of Jane, a former child actress trying to break away from her past and prove she’s more than a joke and Dan, the artistic and thoughtful black sheep of his family. They join forces to get the movie they both care about made and throughout confront their pasts, insecurities and fall for each other. The story is filled with fun, family, and a sweet developing romance alongside addressing their pasts, others expectations and identities.

I devoured this book in one day! Such a wonderfully written story about finding yourself and finding love in unexpected places.

This is a truly top-tier romcom, with likeable and complex main characters, snarky banter, funny narration, and such a good love story at the heart of it. I love books where the leads are fully-developed adult humans, even if they don't always act totally maturely. We get some insight into the leads' personal histories and baggage, but not so much that it weighed the story down. The book spends lots of time with Dan's charming and raucous family, which I enjoyed a lot. This wouldn't really be Annabel Monaghan's usual style, but I kind of wish we could get novels about some of the other brothers, too.

It's definitely a lower-spice read -- the butterflies and chemistry are SO there, but no graphic details. Which honestly worked well for me because I was a little nervous about the fact that it was happening in his parents' house?

In any case, the book would be a great fit for fans of Emily Henry, Katherine Center, and Carley Fortune.

There was something so warm and tender about this story. The characters were thoughtful and dynamic and flawed in the best way — and the story was sweet.

I need this book to hurry up and publish so I can read everyone the dissertation I’m prepared to write about Dan (and quiet love stories in general.)

While this definitely is a story about a relationship, I appreciated that Jane working on Jane took center stage. She was written to feel so raw and real, it was easy to experience the embarrassment and fear and progress right along with her.

*will post on Instagram closer to pub date* IT’S A LOVE STORY by Annabel Monaghan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Annabel Monaghan has done it again! This will be the perfect, most delightful romcom for you to take on your summer vacation this year! At the beginning, I wasn’t sure I was a fan of any of the main characters. Boy was I wrong! By the end I was in love with both of them and beyond invested. I loved Dan so much and how he was fully himself unapologetically. And that rain scene in the car!? YES!

Jane is an ex child actor who is now trying to get a script she loves turned into a movie. When Jane makes a promise to make it happen that she may not be able to follow through on, she is forced to rely on Dan, a cinematographer she’s not a fan of.

Pub. Date: May 27, 2024

Perfect if you like:
•Workplace romance.
•Rivals to lovers.
•Forced proximity.
•Slow burn.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Mood: 🍩🌮

🚪: 26 (minimal details)
⚠️: explicit language.

4+/5 ⭐️, 1/5 🌶️ (closed door), 2/5 💧

🎬 Complex Characters
🎬 Celebrity Experience
🎬 Workplace Romance
🎬 Big Family Dynamics
🎬 Single POV

I quite enjoyed this read! If you have read Annabel before, you know that she has a very distinct style of writing. I love how real and complex her characters are. They are not as perfect as you would expect in most HEA romance novels, but I think that gives her her charm. In fact, I found the main characters of this book to be unlikeable often throughout the book, but I was drawn in to how human they can be.

The love portrayed was a very quiet but consuming love, which I really enjoyed. I felt the chemistry even when I was frustrated with the communication (or lack thereof) and despite that, I could really see how people could act that way considering the circumstances (probably more in real life, rarely in fiction). I also enjoyed the journey of the main character as she grows personally.

I wish there was a bit more depth to the villain as he seemed pretty one dimensional to me. I found myself spending a lot of time trying to remember her other books to see if she will run into characters from Same Time Next Summer and was expecting something much more grand tying her books together, but I think I was reaching for something that wasn’t there.

It pulled some emotions from me, although I just finished the book and can’t tell you exactly why I was crying. Just like the love portrayed, it comes off as unassuming and just sort of hits you by surprise.

A good read, I would recommend if you liked her other books, or if you would like something a little more grounded in reality for a contemporary romance. There are still some very cheesy moments, but if you’re looking for a fluffy romantic escape where the MMC is swoon worthy perfection, this isn’t it! (He still has very swoon worthy moments tho - of course!!)

Holdddd up. This story gripped me in a way I wasn’t expecting it to. Butterflies while I’m reading? Check. Tears as I’m approaching the ending? Check. Elation over the love story? Check.

This was my first Annabel Monaghan book and I am sooo happy I applied for this ARC - I cannot wait to read the rest of her books if they’re anything like this one.

First and foremost, this is a true romcom. The banter between Jane and Dan was pure bliss. I absolutely lived for it and immediately was rooting for them to end up together after their first encounter (in a perfect enemies-to-lovers kind of way). I was undoubtedly smiling and laughing throughout this book like a crazy person to onlookers.

This novel was heartfelt focusing on the small moments that made love instead of those showy “insta-love” production moments. Monaghan did this beautifully between Dan and Jane as they shared little moments that led to intimacy and vulnerability.

Dan, perhaps, took the show with this book. I sound like Jane but the best part about Dan was that he was always his true self. He knew he was a unique member of his (beautifully) chaotic family, had his own interests, and viewed world in a different way that lent to his creative side. He was sure of himself, understanding, and confident without being cocky.

At times I can be critical about characters and the type of growth they encounter but I enjoyed Jane’s insecurities being worked through as a major conflict in her relationships and how her past was affecting her future.

This story is less of a rockstar romance and more of a small town feel to it in my opinion, and I absolutely adored it!

I have LOVED all of Annabel Monaghan’s books so far and her latest was no exception…it may even be my favorite of hers yet! I will admit that at first I wasn’t sold on this story. The enemy banter seemed off and the backstory was a bit fuzzy, but once the story got going it sucked me right in. The Finnegan family dynamics was one of my absolute favorite parts of this book. Dan’s large family was amazing (especially Ruby and Reenie) and they just had a way of making you want to be part of their chaotic group! Jane, a former child star (inspired by Jennette McCurdy’e memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died) has A LOT of emotional baggage that she’s been holding on to for far too long. At times, her character comes across as whiny/annoying but knowing her backstory helps the reader understand where her insecurities stem from. None of this was enough for me to knock down my overall rating or took away from my enjoyment of this book. This will for sure be a huge summer hit and will make a great beach read once it releases May 27, 2025! It’s a fabulous rom com that has a bit of everything…enemies to lovers, forced proximity, small town vibes, deep moments, and ALL.THE.FEELS!!!

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

5/5⭐

In the process of trying to get the romance movie that speaks to her soul green lit by her production studio, former child star Jane Jackson takes on a bit more than she can handle by promising a song from a megastar she used to work with as a teenager. In efforts to save herself and land the film that coincidentally both her and professional nemesis Dan love, Jane and Dan end up on Long Island to speak to said musician and also attend Dan's parent's 40th anniversary party.

Time and forced proximity with Dan leads to friendship and beyond as they begin to see one another differently and further than their mutual disdain. Jane is a woman who doesn't know how to be herself and still sometimes feels like the painfully awkward child star she used to be with her life on display for the world to see. She's haunted by past humiliation and deep down truly doesn't feel worthy of goodness in her life. Dan isn't perfect either. He's a bit of a mess, as a struggling photographer and the black sheep of his family. But for all his imperfections, he's authentic and knows who he is. He's unashamed to stand apart, a sharp contrast to Jane's people pleasing nature. Coming home with him awakens a yearning in Jane for the family that he has - parents still in love after decades and siblings who love each other fiercely and in time she starts to understand why she feels so moved by the movie script she's pitching and how her feelings and fears about love have formed her entire outlook on life.

Watching only child Jane navigate the absolute chaos that is a loud family of 5 children plus their spouses and own children was nothing short of hilarious and also heartwarming. Annabel Monghan developed all these characters so beautifully and I applaud her. I love the gentle way she wrote romance, how sometimes it's about the quiet moments instead of the lightning bolts. How love happens at breakfast instead of dinner. How love teaches you to see yourself through the eyes of the person who loves you, challenging your own self perceptions. Annabel is absolutely gifted.

If I had any criticism at all, it would only be on the synopsis of this story. I think the synopsis didn't quite fit the plot of this book and alluded to this being a bit of a love triangle, which, it was not (thank goodness). I think a change in wording would be helpful to readers to understand what kind of book this is and to manage expectations.

Really loved this book. 4.5 stars. The beginning was slow for me but I loved the plot. I also love Monaghan’s writing and how beautiful her wording is.

“And then what happened?”
“Everything.”

That sums up the book. What a great read about the small and big parts of love. A simple reminder that you are worthy no matter what and that you are never too old to knock on your mom’s door with a broken heart.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a really immersive read for me. I enjoyed it and didn't want to put it down.

I loved this! What a fun read, it was a good balance of romance and going deep with emotions. It wasn't a sex fest like other romance books and get married after knowing each other a week book.

I love a book where we see the FMC character grow, and a silent MMC that's there to support her and catch her. I also liked that there were consequences to actions, so when one character does something to hurt the other, it's not fixed in 2 pages. There's a grovel, it makes it more relatable. I also love flawed characters, and these two are both flawed.

I was a little weary reading the synopsis that this would be a love triangle with Jack, it definitely was not. It was a slow burn watching two people fall for each other, despite their baggage and accepting each other as they are. I really roted for Jane to work on herself and realize her self worth, and I also rooted for Dan to feel like he fit in with his family better after feeling like they didn't understand his life choices. I loved Dan's family though, they seemed so close knit and cozy, and I'd love to explore more of their stories too.

What a treat of a book!

Thanks to NetGalley I received an advanced electronic copy of the book to read and provide a review.

3.5 stars rounded up! This was a fun, easy and engaging read. It had a slow start but once the characters made it to Long Island, I got wrapped up in the whirlwind and enjoyed the mess. Another entertaining romance by Annabel Monaghan!

This book is amazing. We follow Dan and Jane two work enemies who are on a mission to get a movie greenlit. In an attempt to make a "successful project", Jane taps into her TV show background from her teens to connect with her former bandmate, Jack and tells her boss she can get him to write a song for the project making it more commercial. A major wrench in the plans happens when Jane hasn't spoken to Jack in like 20 years and the last time they spoke, she was humiliated.

This book's synopsis is good but a bit misleading, the story of romance is around Jane and Dan. The heart of this story happens with Dan's family. The cast of characters are truly amazing. The length of the book was great, just enough to tell the story. However, Jane's uncovering of her dad's secret seemed tossed in at the end, are there other ways to bring this in throughout the story more? We knew that Jane had issues and her father dying was a backseat to the feeling she got from jack, but if we had more about the dad and what that was like, we may be able to more closely see the connection between Jane's self worth and the pattern it has had from childhood from home, teen job, and now as a career woman.

This book is LAUGH OUT LOUD funny. There were very comical scenes and Jane and Dan's banter was perfect. I could see this back and forth on screen in my mind. Then family's dynamic with Dan seemed so natural. I highly recommend this book!

A heartwarming enemies to lovers book about finding the real you. It’s A Love Story was funny and touching. I didn’t want to put it down.