I was so excited for this book, but unfortunately, am DNF'ing it at 50%. The writing itself was okay, but I could not connect with the characters and did not like the plot of this book. This was a very disappointing read, and unfortunately, I am going to have to cancel my pre-order. Thank you for the opportunity. I hope the next book by this author is better, because I really enjoyed Nora Goes Off Script.

Cute rom-com that went down easy. I loved the backstory of Jane, a former TV child actress on a popular kids sitcom. The focus of the book is the slow burn love story made up of small acts rather than the fireworks explosive type. The only issue with that is the two main characters end up falling in love over a week, which was not as believable. I loved Dan’s parents love story, Dan’s family dynamics, and the focus on being yourself in a relationship rather than what the other person wants you to be. Overall this was an enjoyable lighthearted read that put a smile on my face.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy. Publication date: 5/27/25

Many thanks to NetGalley & the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 rounded up

I love Annabel Monaghan's books! Although this wasn't my favorite of hers, I still enjoyed the writing, the story, and the little escape it provided.

Monaghan may be my new favorite romance writer - her characters are so full of life and flaws and are relatable. Jane is no different, a childhood star trying to make it on the other side of the camera all while burying deep the shame and trauma of her youth. Dan, a cinematographer who thwarted her last project and is running from his own past that doesn’t quite fit with his present. Together they find something beautiful and I had more tears of joy in this one!

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of It’s a Love Story and it was truly amazing and hilarious. Annabel Monaghan knocked it out of the park, as expected because she always writes hits. Jane is absolutely unhinged and insane and I love her so much. She is such an imperfect character and that’s what makes her so likable to me. She does make poor decisions at times, and it made me want to scream, but also it made sense knowing what she had been through. When she was lashing out, it was a little difficult for me to read and I think it was because I see a lot of myself in Jane. Which is why I love her so much!! Moving on to the juicy stuff: Dan, the mmc, is a honest, funny, emotionally intelligent king and I also love him. He really is a perfect match for Jane!! It was a little bit of a slow burn between the two of them, I was literally dying for just a touch! But they’re so good together, and they complement each other so well. Love love love them!! I don’t want to share too much, even though it’s so hard not to because I just want to talk about this, but It’s a Love Story comes out May 27th and it is a must read!!!

I loved this book! For once I feel like the FMC had a strong character development within herself and not just in the romance. I fell in love with Dan’s whole family and loved how they took Jane in without hesitation. 10/10 would recommend, one of the best romances I’ve read.

Ok this book was so CUTE! I couldn’t put it down. The romance was sweet, a little sexy without being open door, more fade to black. Put on your TBR for a great summer read next year.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Anabel Monaghan does it again! She spins the most beautiful, heart wrenching love stories. I am always so captivated by her characters and Jane and Dan are no exception. I also love the chaos of Dan’s family. There was nothing about this book I didn’t love.

Heart-wrenching, sweet, sexy, funny, satisfying. I love enemies-to-lovers as much as the next gal but the first 4-5 chapters kinda gave me the ick. I don’t love the “actually-mean-guy-and-dorky-embarrassing-girl” vibes but the rest of the book more than made up for the start! It was real and vulnerable and redemptive. And hot! Anyone who ever still feels that little flare of embarrassment for something you did as you were navigating teenhood will feel seen by this book. Might be my fave Anabel yet 💘

I read and loved “Summer Romance” earlier this year so I was beyond excited to get an advanced copy of “It’s A Love Story”. Many thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books!

I had a hard time getting in to this one, which surprised me. The first few chapters felt choppy and were difficult to get through. That being said, once I got past the beginning, the rest of the book was great. I loved the enemies to lovers premise and enjoyed the deeper familial conflicts that the novel explored. Annabel Monaghan is turning into a must-read author for me!

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and Netgalley for an ARC of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Getting a new Annabel Monaghan book is always a thrilling and devastating occasion. Thrilling because I know I’m going to get to read another book with female leads who are strong but sometimes don’t realize it yet, who are flawed and worthy of love, and who fall in love with men who appreciate them for exactly who they are as they go through highs and lows that many of us experience in “real life”. And devastating because I know I’m going to read Annabel’s newest book too quickly and will have to wait another year or so for the next one.

IT’S A LOVE STORY had me absolutely hooked from the very first page. I could so relate to Jane’s struggles of wanting something—whether it be love, success, family, or just to feel free to be your most authentic self with another person—and having trouble getting it, no matter how hard you try, especially when it seems like others have no problem reaching the same milestones. I loved the relationships she had from the very beginning with her mom and best friend, and the ones she created with Dan and his family as they tried to land the big draw/tiger for their movie, AKA Jane’s first kiss and crush, Jack.

The conflict, though I felt it coming with every page read, felt very natural for someone who has gone through the emotional trauma Jane dealt with for most of her life.

IT’S A LOVE STORY is definitely another Annabel Monaghan novel that will be ending up physically on my shelves (I loved it so much I would gladly read another 300+ pages of Jane and Dan!) and I’ll be counting down the days until her next release.

I was so excited to receive the ARC for this book after reading Summer Romance. I discovered Annabel Monaghan this year and have really enjoyed the books of hers I have read so far. The book was very emotional and much deeper than your typical romance book, which is something I love. The main character definitely had flaws and I found her to be annoying for a large majority of the story, but I did understand her thought process behind some of her terrible decisions. Dan and his family were the best part of the book for me. The love they share for one another and the lessons learned and passed on were perfect.

This was fun, light read! I did feel the romance moved a bit quick during the week in Long Island. I would have liked a little more slow burn since they are supposedly enemies first.

Ahhh, Annabel Monaghan does not disappoint!! The first chapter or two I wasn’t sure if I was going to love the premise and then something happened and I just absolutely fell in love. The characters blossomed and showed their personality and flaws, and their chemistry was just everything.

When Dan’s family is introduced, every single thing about the setting, the characters, the banter, the relationships is such pure joy. Of course, this is a love story but it also is so much more. This is Jane’s love story- learning to love herself before she can find her true love. Her insecurities are so relate able they just jump off the page.

Beautiful story with characters that will stick with me.

3.5⭐️

This was a beautiful book. Dan and Jane find each other through their jobs and work together to try and get a script green lit to be made into a movie. As the reader, you follow this journey with them and watch how their relationship transforms. There were many quotable lines in the book as well and I highlighted several things throughout.

The pacing was a little slower than I prefer but the writing was good. Not anything extravagant, but not so simple either.

There is a specific line in this that is repeated OFTEN for probably the first half of this book that I didn’t love, but I had a good time reading it overall.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I save Annabel Monaghan books for when I need a guaranteed home run. At first, I wasn't sure if the enemies-to-lovers was going to work out, but this was another one!

I didn't have much in common with the main character, Jane. I'm actually much more like the male lead, Dan. But I felt Jane's feelings SO DEEPLY it's as if I was her. I read the last third of the book with tears running down my face. It's almost magic how Monaghan puts you fully in the story.

Annabel Monaghan never disappoints. This is a light romcom about a child actress-turned creative executive fake-dating a cinematographer. The tropes aren't original, but they are fun to read, and if you're looking for a quick and fun story, this is perfect. Thank you to netgalley for the arc!

This book was a wonderful, soft read that I was glad to end the year with around the holiday season. I've really liked all of Monaghan's books and this one was no exception. It felt like the book really mirrored the softness and vulnerability of the characters without being cloying or artificial. I thought both the tone and the writing hit and I'm so thrilled I got a chance to read it early. I feel like the title might not be the most compelling but the story itself was.I didn't love the male lead character leaning into calling the female lead "crazy" and "insane" quite so many times but it was a small quibble with an otherwise lovely book.

What a beautiful story. So many romance novels are “loud” and “noisy,” as Dan would put it, and I love them, but this book really highlighted the quiet love… The kind many of us live through on a day or day basis. Rooted a bit more in reality. It was truly 5 stars for me up until the third act break up. I generally have no issues with a third act break up, but after all the build up, the reason felt very flimsy. I get Jane’s reason to some extent while also not getting her reasoning at all. The supporting cast of characters were also so amazing. It was a lot of names, but I think that plays into the Finnegan mob. This was my first Annabel Monaghan book and definitely won’t be my last. Unrelated but her acknowledgements to her kids and husband was so cute.

“Love happens over breakfast” ugh so beautiful.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An endearing romance story following two enemies as they become coworkers that must work together to make their project a success. A lot of will they/won't they and suspense will keep you yearning for the moment these two finally get together.