Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC.

I've genuinely enjoyed every one of Annabel's books and this one was no different. It was the perfect combo of fun and flirty summer romance and heartfelt and realistic emotions and personal struggles. Jane was flawed but self aware which is extremely relatable. And Dan was so genuine and full of heart. This was a great summer romance.

Rating: 4 Stars

Annabel Monaghan has done it again! This might be my new favorite from her and I can't recommend it enough.

I loved getting to watch Jane and Dan's love story unfold through the simple acts of being able to enjoy each other's silence or through their understanding that it's okay to be different. Also, the added dynamic of Dan's gigantic family contrasted to Jane's small family was interesting aspect to the story that I greatly appreciated.

My only con for this book was around the third act breakup and Jane's poor communication skills (listen I understand that sometimes it is needed but in this case can someone please just send Jane to therapy so she can work through her childhood trauma).

There were so many amazing, insightful, and emotional quotes throughout this book. Annabel's writing in this was beautiful and I think her best yet.

“We can hide in the noise. But it’s the quiet movies that make room for us to look at ourselves. People cooking, teaching, gardening. They’re quiet things, but they’re the things that move us. And people, mostly, are afraid of the quiet.”

This book is perfect for summer and I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advance copy.

I just love how Annabel’s writing takes you on such a real, raw and relatable journey. Jane Jackson is is a studio exec that has sort of over promised things for a new project and is basically taking on the mentality “fake it til you make it”. She is trying so hard to be perfect for everything that she forgets that it is okay to just be yourself. So many relatable and real storylines in this book and a great reminder to just be yourself and to love yourself. This story will take you from Hollywood setting to the beaches of Long Island.

"When you smile, it does something to me, I feel it in my chest, and I just want to figure out how to get you to do it again."

3.75⭐️ Jane is a former nerdy child star who now works in filmmaking. She is enemies with a coworker named Dan, who she has to work with on a new project. Jane really wants the project to work out, so she promises that a famous pop star (Jack) is going to write a song for the movies soundtrack, even though, in reality, she barely knows him. Jane and Jack have an awkward history including a first kiss and recording a song together when they were teens. Jane and Dan visit Long Island in hopes of running into Jack and convincing him to record the song for their movie. As they wait, Jane gets to spend a lot of time with Dan and his family - consisting of his mom, dad, four brothers, and several nieces and nephews. She might just find exactly where she belongs.

Flashbacks of Jane’s history with both Jack and Dan added substance to the story. I loved how unconditionally dans family accepted Jane. I kind of loved the parts where Jane interacted with the Finnegan family more than her actual romance with Dan…

I wanted to read this because of the high praises I often hear about Annabel Monaghan’s books. I liked this book, but I didn’t find myself aching to pick it up and keep reading. I really enjoyed the epilogue and the conclusion of Jane & Dan’s story. I would like to read some more of her work!

*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 rounded up.

Very normal, very collected Jane got her start as a child star on a tv comedy, but now she’s found a script that’s going to be THE movie — her chance to finally be taken seriously. That is until Dan, ruiner of everything, including her last script, is being eyed for the cinematographer role.

And to make matters worse, the only way the film will be green lit is if she can convince pop star Jack Quinlan, an old “friend” from her TV days, to write a song for the soundtrack. When she hasn’t spoken to him since the most embarrassing day of her life; no pressure.

When Dan and Jane go to Oak Grove, the small coastal town where Dan’s family lives, to catch Jack at a music festival to ask for this favor, Jane finally has a chance to be quiet and ask herself what she really wants and who she really is.

This book FEELS like summer. It will pull you in with its bike rides and beach bonfires, and then it will casually break your heart as its characters discover what it means to belong, to be wanted.

“And then what happened?” “Everything.”

I love Dan and Jane. They reminded me that love happens over breakfast. Love is in doing the dishes and folding the laundry. And what a sweet reminder that is.

It's a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan brings us into the world of Jane Jackson, former child TV star and current studio exec. Looking to seal the deal on her first project without compromising the work she did to get it to the point of being ready to share with the world, she may have exaggerated her relationship Jack Quinlan, a famous musician she met years ago in her former TV life. Dan, one of her colleagues and the bane of her existence is trying to make her turn her project into something it isn't, which she is very vocal about. What she doesn't expect is to develop feelings for this man, the person she initially couldn't stand and who she felt was trying to ruin her. This was a fun beach read that is one for the ages.

Annabel Monaghan has yet to write a book I haven’t loved! Monaghan writes exceptionally real characters, leaving the reader emotionally wrung out as they figure out the happily ever after. Jane and Dan were such a fun couple as they navigated their enemies to lovers relationship. Even though this is a romcom, their love story doesn’t shy away from the vulnerability each faces for true love.

Perfect for fans of:

Enemies to lovers
Hollywood romance
Forced proximity
Duel timelines

Thank you Putnam.

Thank you Netgalley for an early copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Romance is not my go to genre, but I have liked her books in the past so I was hoping for another easy read. I was thoroughly suprised with just how much I LOVED this one. It was not cringy like other romances I have recently read. There were sweet family dynamics, fun steamy tension between main characters, lots of growth in the story. I was smiling a lot throughout the book. Will definitely be recommending this story to my friends!

I stayed up all night, nice and distracted from the world. At this point, there's no higher compliment to a book. It's a Love Story scratched a deep,deep itch with its soulful, romantic hero and the heroine Jane at its center vacillating between self-sabotage and self-acceptance.

It's a Love Story (yes, that's a nod to Sparks) all right. A Love Story about opening ones eyes to loving themselves and lucking into a lickable hero to do just that.

What I loved is that Jane is funny, but she's not going for it-she has impeccable timing and she's also basically the person the song "the least complicated" is about. Jane is fighting demons from a day of a 14 year old trauma. This is classic Monaghan. Deep feelings, banal reasons, emotionally written everyday stuff.

The relationship is mature but also deeply adolescent in its yearning and situations (I am saying this as a good thing. I actually want to be a little breathless about knees touching-they talk all night!). Dan and Jane in proximity led to very organic feels- I loved Dan being a true introvert and the way that eased Jane into seeing him and herself.

I could go on, this is Monaghan. It's a brand. It's a shelf with Clayborn + Henry (if you like), among others. If you are looking for a romantic, introspective beachy read with grounded principals (do not misread: this is Janes book - perhaps a slight weakness for romance ) with all the emotions that feels everyday in the best kind of way, well. Monaghan.

I received an arc and this has not affected my review. Thank you to the publisher and author.

Annabel Monaghan writes romances that are guaranteed to have you giggling, and It’s a Love Story was no exception. This was sweet, a little silly, and totally swoony.

Not sure if this is 3.5 or 4 stars for me, but it was super cute! My onIy complaint is that I didn’t feel invested in the Hollywood part of the story. I love love loved when Jane and Dan were in New York with his family. Those moments felt so tender, and the tension between them was great.

Definitely recommend this as a summer beach read.

What a sweet, sweet story of how movie producer, Jane, finds resolution to her past hurts and meets Dan, who helps her and brings love into life at the same time!

Jane has offered to get her her "old friend" to write a song for the new movie she wants to produce, but she's having trouble getting in touch with him. Dan lets her know that the old friend will be performing at a festival in his home town and offers to take Jane to the festival and let her stay in town with his family. Jane accepts and experiences life and love in a new way with Dan's huge family.

I loved reading this book - it's well written and compelling. It was just a tad predictable - but that's OK, because the ending is sweet and loveable!

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review It's a Love Story.

Annabel does not miss! Her books feel like summer to me and I am so thankful for this preview read to get me in the mood for summer vibes early! I love how she develops her characters, the depth and slow reveal of important details. It’s very easy to get into and digest.

I really love the style of her banter! The family dynamics and also developing romance had me laughing and swooning. Everything I want in a contemporary romance.

I looove the Notebook references. I think she wrote this book for us millennials.

I would recommend to anyone who loves romcoms, great banter and a romance with some family and career elements in there as well! So good!

“We can hide in the noise. But it’s the quiet movies that make room for us to look at ourselves. People cooking, teaching, gardening. They’re quiet things, but they’re the things that move us. And people, mostly, are afraid of the quiet.”

Once again, I am here telling everyone to read a Annabel Monaghan book because they are golden. Once again, Monaghan’s dry wit and delivery combined with her emotional insight becomes a perfect little story.

“Sometimes the simplest facts are the most painful ones. They’re the ones that cut to the essence of who we are.”

In this book, Jane is forced to face the past shame she’s been hiding so well and learn that she is actually worthy of love.

“I know about relaxing because I live in the world, but it is not a thing I seem capable of. On the days I don’t run, worrying is my cardio.”

I wasn’t sure about this book at first. Jane comes off strong and not in a good way. A manic pixie hot mess more than a dream girl. She’s wound so very tight she seems shallow and ridiculous. She’s apparently a very good actress. But when she took off the mask I was moved (to tears) about how much I saw myself in Jane.

“The way I didn’t know what I was doing and you just made me try.”

Dan is the mmc for those who love an introvert. He is the quiet “odd one”. The artsy one in a giant loud family. And Jane pegs him completely wrong until she doesn’t and it is just the sweetest romance. It grows slowly and takes root. He is such a kind patient soul and Jane is baffled by him

“There’s power in his quiet; it makes room for something.”

This has very strong themes of found family and coming home to yourself because someone else sees you and loves you. Monaghan’s writing continues to paint a picture in my mind that not only sets the scene but mixes all of the emotions into it. There are some truly beautiful moments and some really hot kisses! Her books are perfect “beach reads” and this is no exception.

“And then what happened?” “Everything,” she says.”


Thank you Netgalley and Putnam books for continuing to let me read these ARCs!

ARC REVIEW—Annabel Monaghan has done it again. The way she writes self discovery, confidence and vulnerability in her female main characters is phenomenal. I was giggling at the banter and then tears of joy from the relationships.

🎥 Rivals to Lovers

🎥 Found Family

🎥Unapologetically and genuinely would burn the world down for her.

She is a past child star turned film maker trying to heal from wounds of family issues. He is trying to find his next big break. She is trying to overcome her shortcomings and “move a mountain to change the way she thinks about herself.” The best way to describe a change in mindset when looking inward and self reflecting. Beautiful love story and had me feeling all the feels.

WOW- Annabel does it again!! 👏🏻 I loved this story and the characters woven throughout it. What a beautiful depiction of the pure + imperfect love. The reality of love being in the small gestures and commitments. I really enjoyed Jane as an FMC, she grew on me throughout the book because I related to her so much. She’s corky, fun and real. Dan is so obvious in his choice to love her and I am HERE for how this man shows up. He said “your smile? I wanna do anything to see it again.” Literally ok sold. The banter, the forced proximity and the tension?! Perfection. Dan’s family is the best, they’re so lovable and reminded me a lot of my own! A big fun bunch that is messy but so loyal. This book is such an easy, but beautiful read with lots and lots of quotable moments.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and Annabel for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I always look forward to reading Monaghans new books so thank you Putnam for the arc of ITS A LOVE STORY 🩷

What I enjoyed:
-characters had depth
-cute plot with FMC being a Hollywood studio exec & former child star
-Dans parents were adorbs
-the resolve of childhood trauma with FMCs mom

I felt like this one leaned more towards romance than her typical women’s fiction and I loved that ☺️ I will always continue to excitedly anticipate Monaghans new work & highly recommend picking this up!

It took me an entire week to get through this book because I just couldn’t get into it. I wanted to love this so badly and I love the concept, but there was just too much happening and only like 1/5 of it needed to be there. This book would’ve benefited from sticking to the core of this story and cutting out all the frills. This comes out on May 27 and I hope people love it, but I did not.

This was such a cute read and made me want to be a part of Dans family so badly! It started out a little slow but once they traveled back to Long Island I was hooked. Would definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC of It's a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Annabel Monaghan does it again, with another swoon-worthy romance that makes you want to keep reading! If you read any of her last 3 published books, this one is just the icing on the cake, she keeps getting better. In It’s A Love Story, Jane who was a teen actor, and now works on the film industry has found a script that she’s determined needs to be made. But Dan who is the cinematographer, and also shot down the last film she tried for, is assigned to this one. One thing leads to another, and we find Jane and Dan heading to his hometown to stay with his family so Jane can track down her former child star friend, Jack Quindlan. There is only one path that Jane and Dan can be heading down and we can only wait for it to all blow up. The only question is will the film get made?!? Such a great read! Funny and enjoyable.

I absolutely loved this story! I have never read a romance where the relationship and feelings develop so organically. There was no abrupt realization of feelings or over-the-top declaration. The relationship between Jane and Dan was so well-written! I loved everything about the setting and the side characters. This is so far my favorite Annabel Monaghan book!