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.

I decided to be very intentional about what my first read was going to be for 2025. I wanted whatever popped up when we get to those yearend recaps 12 months from now to be something I adored. So, I knew just who to look to for that to happen. Y'all, I loved this story. Jane really wants to make her first movie project happen. She lies about a connection to a musical artist from her child star days in hopes she can get the go-ahead. A colleague who just gets under her skin knows this star's going to be in her hometown and tells her to come along to connect with him. From here, the story is just so, so wonderful. It's truly the story of Jane - navigating the linger impacts of child star life, figuring out who she is now, and yes, there's unexpected romance in there. I loved this one so very much - The surprises along the way just made me so happy. It was a great way to start the year, and I'm so glad to have had the sneak peak of this May 2025 release thanks to NetGalley.

Get ready for another heartwarming journey of self-discovery and unexpected romance. Monaghan delivers a compelling narrative that goes beyond traditional love stories, weaving personal growth and professional development into a beautifully crafted tale. With her signature humor and emotional depth, this book promises to steal your heart and leave you feeling inspired.
Perfect for fans of complex, character-driven romance who love stories about finding yourself while finding love. 💕

I absolutely loved this story. The plot is riveting- ex child star working hard to have her second big break behind the camera is blocked then helped by a humble brooding artist. I read this so fast; the details are just enough and the story keeps a fast pace. Can’t wait to read more from Monaghan!!!

It’s no secret how much I love anything and everything Annabel Monaghan has written. Getting to read It’s a Love Story was an absolute dream come true. And I flew through this book. Jane was so perfectly relatable and awkward in a way that just felt true to who we all are on the inside. In many ways, this book is a book of her self discovery and learning to love who she is NOW, not some idealistic version yet to exist.

This book simply hit in all the right places. I’m obsessed with Dan and his beautiful family. The forced proximity for him and Jane was *chef’s kiss*. I love how they’re able to disagree with each other and get under the other’s skin while also clearly being a good match. The setting of Long Island and the family home was a perfect fit for the development of feelings between these characters.

It was a beautiful read from start to finish. Jane is relatable and grounded me deeply in the story from the very first page. I would go back and read this story again tomorrow. Once again, Annabel Monaghan has done the perfect job combining romance and self love in a story!!

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you Netgalley, Penguin Putnam and Annabelle Monaghan for this Netgalley arc of Its A Love Story. I once thought Annabelle Monaghan could do no wrong but Inwas mistaken. There is one thing I have found that is wrong with her books. That is, they all come to an end!!! I just want them and the giddy feelings Monaghan creates with her wonderful way with words to continue for about 700 more pages! I’m a fast reader but I have found myself slowing down for books like Nora Goes off Script and It’s A Love Story. They just get better and better! Monaghan has a way of capturing the hypnotizing uncertainty that comes in the early days of romance and I’m a here for it! It’s a Loce Story is the enemies to lovers, close proximity, small town romance between Jane and Dan. A former child star and current movie exec, Jane has found the perfect script and can’t wait to pitch it to her boss, but soon finds out that Dan, Finnegan would be the cinematographer for the project. She can’t stand Dan since he shot down a former project of hers and doesn’t want to work with him on this one. Of course, things change, after all, It’s A Love Story.

I always love Annabel Monaghans books and this was no exception! 4/5 stars because I now compare everything to Summer Romance - and this was slightly under that for me! But I really enjoyed reading Jane & Dans story.

Jane is a former child star who now works in Hollywood (but on the other side of the camera) and dan is a cinamatographer - who she has crossed paths with in the past - and it did not go well. But now they need to team up to get a new script green-lit in the studio, and they end up staying together on their week long work-trip to Long Island.

I feel like despite Jane and Dan having great chemistry, the banter was a little awkward at times, but I think it made them both feel more like real people and kind of highlighted the internal struggles Jane was going through. Some of the plot points were kind of wild/unrealistic but I didn’t even care because I could not put this book down.

The supporting characters were great as well - I loved Dans family dynamic as well as the relationships Jane has with her mom and best friend Clem.

Also as a Long Islander, this book just gave me all of my favorite summer vibes!

Def recommend to readers that enjoy:

-forced proximity
-complex characters
-workplace romance
-enemies(ish) to lovers

It’s A Love Story by Annabel Monaghan
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Baby just say yes when it comes to this romance read! We love Annabel’s style and will read whatever she puts out!

33 year old Jane is a child star, grown up to be a film producer. Though the LA lifestyle may not be relatable for us, her quirky character traits make her a down to earth FMC. She is desperately seeking to separate herself from the box she feels stuck in by her sidekick character role. Jane is in a dedicated phase of “fake it till you make it” approach on life. It seems like everyone from her old cast has elevated themselves to superstardom. Jane fiercely believes this new script is her big break and will do just about anything, even lie to get the green light.

The only problem is her sworn enemy, who shot down her last project, is also interested in the script….Jane is not about to let Dan ruin this for her. In order to make this movie happen, Jane finds herself on a wild goose chase with Dan hounding an old flame and cast member-turned-rockstar from her sitcom days.

In the background of this adventure, Jane is facing some of her family trauma and coming to understand what it is about this script she loves so much. Turns out, she seriously misunderstood Dan. Dan is a NICE guy. This is a story where the nice guy is hot and wins out! Dan is 100% himself and helps Jane see that maybe being the funny one isn’t so bad, and being true to herself is the key to happiness. This was our favorite message of the book along with the idea that “love happens over breakfast”.

Jane can thank her parents for never believing in love. She scoffs at the romance of the Notebook, but surprisingly it’s DAN, enemy, man bun Dan who helps her to realize that the walls she built to keep love out haven’t been serving her.

If you read Same Time Next Summer you will remember Oak Shore and Chippy’s Diner! That was a fun surprise! Aside from the romance of it all, we loved Jane’s best friendship with Clem and think that deserves its own special love story.

Thank you Putnam books and NetGalley for the ARC copy to be released May 27th! It will be the perfect romance read to start off your summer!

This book and the FMC resonated with me on so many levels. I enjoyed how the author developed both Jane and Dan so beautifully (usually you really only get one POV) and I thoroughly enjoyed the way she wove The Notebook into the storyline - from discussing literally, to comparing against the True Story (and prior script plots) as well as the book’s budding love story. All in all, I thought it was so incredibly well done (Including making Jack a prick) and am ready for Annabel to make the NYT already!

10/10! best romance i’ve read this year. i loved the relationships and the premise,do the book. the mmc is so swoon worthy 🥰

I didn’t love this book, but I also did not care for her first book. I think I only liked her books that took place on the beach. In order for Jane to get her script going, she needs to get a childhood friend who is famous ok board to help her. Kind of skimmed this one.

I always feel like I'm apart of the story alongside the characters in Annabel's books. I enjoyed this one overall. I thought the dialogue and banter was fun and light. It had nothing super serious like some of her books but it was a good enjoyable read!

thank you for the arc!!!

It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan

What it’s about:
Jane—former child star and goofy sidekick on a NOT Disney Channel TV show—has finally found The Script™️ to make it big as a serious Hollywood producer. The problem is her studio will only greenlight it if she lands a major commercial partner. So, naturally, Jane lies through her teeth, claiming she can convince her childhood crush-turned-global pop icon to write an original song for the movie… despite their only interaction being a single, incredibly awkward 24-hour encounter over a decade ago. No pressure.

Enter Dan: a broody, art-house cinematographer who once derailed one of Jane’s projects but now sees The Script™️’s potential and wants in. Conveniently, Dan has five brothers back home on Long Island, one of whom can get them into a music festival where said global pop star is performing. Cue a harebrained, only-in-romance-novels plan to crash at Dan’s chaotic Irish-American family’s house for a week. Sparks fly, brothers roast each other mercilessly, and chaos ensues. What follows is a heartwarming, laugh-out-loud love story filled with unforgettable characters and family dynamics that will tug at your heartstrings.

My thoughts: Five stars, no notes.
I went into this book expecting a fun, light read, and instead, I was absolutely blown away. This book is phenomenal.

Annabelle Monaghan’s writing is sharp, funny, and profoundly moving. The banter is top-notch, the family dynamics are perfection, and the characters are unforgettable. Jane is witty, self-deprecating, and deeply relatable—battling insecurities that feel both uniquely Hollywood and universally human. Dan, on the other hand, is her total opposite. As the black sheep of his big, boisterous family, Dan knows exactly who he is and fiercely protects that sense of self. He refuses to conform to societal expectations or the pressures of his salt-of-the-earth upbringing.

I loved the contrast between Dan’s quiet, unshakable confidence and Jane’s performative, people-pleasing nature. While Jane has spent her life trying to entertain and bring joy to others, Dan is rooted in authenticity, unafraid to stand apart. Watching their relationship evolve was such a joy—they push each other in all the best ways, helping one another find strength in their vulnerabilities.

Dan’s family dynamic also stole the show for me. Watching Jane (an only child) navigate the chaos of his five brothers and their kids was hilarious and heartfelt—big family energy at its finest. The juxtaposition between Dan’s loud, loving “mob” and Jane’s smaller, more guarded inner circle was beautifully written and added so much depth to the story.

This is more than a love story—it’s about finding peace in who you are, letting go of the pressure to constantly achieve, and learning to appreciate the beauty of the everyday. I adored every moment of it, and I hope you do too when it releases on May 29.

Thank you to @NetGalley and @PutnamBooks for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Annabel Monaghan does it again! It’s a Love Story was emotional, impactful, hopeful, and heartwarming. Jane’s feelings of being inadequate and insignificant really punched a hole in my heart. Her emotions were so palpable and relatable that I couldn’t help myself but root for her.

I was hoping that Jane’s inevitable collision with Jack would be a larger part of the story but the fact that it wasn’t, unfortunately, proved Jane’s feelings of being unremarkable. Although I understand that was the point, as the reader I was hoping for a little bit more.

4/5

I’ve really enjoyed some of Annabel Monaghan’s books but this one wasn’t quite a hit for me.

I didn’t love the female main character, Jane. By the end of the story, I feel like she never gained the self love or confidence that it felt the author was reaching for. I wasn’t crazy about the male main character, Dan either, but I did enjoy his family’s role in the story. I didn’t really feel like intense chemistry or build up between these characters who despised each other for so long then suddenly fell in love when Jane spent a week at Dan’s family’s home????? Felt almost random to me.

Jack Quinlan? Also a horrible character and never got what was coming for him. I feel like the story was meant to focus more on him but it ended up being a “love” story about Jane and Dan with Jack almost feeling like a “oh, we forgot about this part of the story”.

Overall, I didn’t feel a strong connection to the characters or the storyline but I do think many other readers will enjoy this one

Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

Another 5 star read for me. Annabel is a rock star at writing compelling characters and charming real life love stories. It had a mix of tropes but done in really toned down ways that I enjoyed. I also really loved the side characters in this and thought they added a lot to the story.

This is my favorite book of hers so far. This book touched the deepest part of my soul in the way that Dan, so steadfast in who he is, was able to heal the insecurities that Jane had simply by loving her exactly how she was. I loved Dan’s large and loving family and I also loved the friendship between Clem & Jane who exemplify what it means to know your friend truly and help them (like restocking their closet candy, IYKYK). Also the dynamic between Jane & her mom was so heartfelt, both of them learning to love. My favorite line from this book is “Love happens over breakfast” because I think it encapsulates everything love is supposed to be in all the quiet moments of everyday life.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Annabel Monaghan for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

When I tell you Annabel Monaghan can write her face off…❤️❤️

This summer I picked up Summer Romance on a whim. It surprised the heck out of me and was easily a 5⭐️ read for me. When this one became available on NetGalley I clicked so quick!

Annabel has such a talent for writing simple things beautifully. I find myself highlighting the mess out of her books, slowing down to reread sentences because they just resonate so deeply. Her ability to capture complex characters and an ensemble of compelling and nuanced family members with their own unique dynamics in relation to one another and the MCs is astounding. I wanted Dan & Jane’s HEA, but I also hated to leave these characters on the page.

Immediately going back to devour the rest of her backlist. Can’t wait for the next one!

This book feels like a Nora Ephron movie. A real 80's, 90's rom-com energy coming from these pages. What a blessing on 2025. Two loveable but flawed people effortlessly fall in love. A cast of characters that are so delightfully human. The Big Declaration of Love at the end is one of the best I've ever read in a romance novel. Hand to God. Also, I won't ever forget some of the details. Navy blue eyes, blue polka dot bathing suit, a 6-year-old making you a friendship bracelet.

Annabel Monaghan is very good at writing. Full stop. I love her stories about adults striving to feel deserving enough for the big love they feel. Her books are all very adult and human. Not to mention full of wit and charm. It's impossible not to fall in love with Dan and Jane. If you read one romance novel this year, let it be this one. It was like a warm, soft hug.

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely adored this book! The slow-burn romance was perfectly done, and I never expected Dan to be the love interest at first. But as the story unfolded, I completely fell for him. The family dynamic was chaotic in the best way—it made me love them even more.

Seeing Dan and Jane accept each other for who they truly were was so heartwarming. Their journey felt real, messy, and full of love. This story needs to become a movie immediately—it’s just that good! Five stars!