This was such a fun summer or beach read. It was so incredibly easy to connect to the characters, because they were both so relatable. I found myself smiling big smiles watching them interact with each other and unknowingly fall in love. I think Jane's character growth was outstanding. She learned more about herself throughout every chapter of this book. If you're looking for a fun, easy summer read; look no further; this is the one for you.

Another enjoyable read by Annabel Monaghan! Second-chance romance set in a cute Long Island beach town. The characters are likable and relatable in that they are imperfect, flawed, and human. Overall a sweet love story between two characters and a story of growth and self love first.

it’s a love story | annabel monaghan

4.75⭐️

"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.”
_____

Another home run from Annabel! I always forget how much I adore her writing between each book she releases, but like, how?! Her books are real and honest and emotional and I ATE. THIS. UP. She is keeping her steady spot right there in the top of my auto buy author list!

It's a Love Story is a meet cute... turned workplace disaster... turned second chance romance. It's about breaking down walls and letting your true self shine and finding that love isn't about perfection, but the little moments. Her writing is simple and mature, yet packs a hefty punch.

There was a second there where I was pulling my hair in frustration at the conflict, but the moment passed and was forgotten as the story wrapped up in a big old pull-on-your-heartstrings finish.

This is going to be the best summer romance, you won’t be able to put it down!

THINGS TO LOVE:
+ filmmakers
+ workplace conflicts
+ forced proximity
+ a big Irish family
+ beachy setting
+ former child actress
+ string bracelets
+ the notebook
+ breakfast muffins
+ art & photography

"It feels good to want something for someone else, something that has nothing to do with you, just because you care about them. And I wonder if this is what love is. I rest my hand on my heart to feel if it’s changed. I think it has. I have."

"You’re beautiful when you’re having big emotions.”

_____

I swear, Annabel Monaghan can make me feel the heat of summer quicker than any warm breeze or margarita al fresco! For me, every one of her books has gotten better and better. Starting this one, I didn’t see a strong rating coming. I went into this blind so I wasn’t sure who the romantic interest or what tropes were here, Dan seemed fine initially. I’m not one to traditionally enjoy the “get to know this family” trope but I dare anyone to not fall in love with the Finnagan Clan! I’m waiting for Brian and Brooke to have their own book. You can literally feel the temperature rise between our FMC and MMC; by the time they actually kissed, I wanted it more than either of them wanted to make True Story successful.

Please read this and thank me later.

This is one of the best love stories I've ever read. Annabel Monaghan truly outdid herself with this one! This book is about falling in love, but more importantly it's about staying in love. It's about resilience, constancy, and vulnerability. I want to be besties with Jane and I want to live next door to Rennie and Cormack. Monaghan does such an amazing job with character development, especially highlighting how events in someone's childhood and teen years can leave a lasting impact. I honestly wouldn't change one thing about this book.

Jane and Dan are each trying to find themselves. Each has a past that created the person they are and while Jane is still trying to fit the mold; Dan is trying to be an original. A former child star, Jane Jackson is trying to shed Janey Jakes but found life easier with someone directing everything down to her choice in clothes. She scripts her life but isn't showing anyone her authentic self. Dan is trying to not be the carbon copy clone to his twin and other brothers but worries about losing himself and his passion if he goes back home. He is living his own life in his own way without compromising himself.

A plot twist to the movie they are trying to make aligns them together on the path of a love story with all the quirky cliches. Jane finds she likes herself when she's not on and Dan learns he can be with him family and not conform. They each confront themselves to come together.

Sadly, this was not a favorite, I have really enjoyed Annabel Monaghan's books in the past, but this one missed the mark for me. The love story arc just didn't vibe with the character arcs and the timing was jarring. Jane was so unwell personally and had so much past baggage, the turn around to wellness and overcoming a lifetime of self-doubt and shame without serious amounts of therapy just wasn't natural The story was believable, although hard to watch from beginning to the first steps of her self-awareness. But then in the last few pages she was just a different person and had the sudden 180 to turn her life around in a matter of weeks after years of her bottling her emotional past that it consistently debilitated her. If the ending showed some time lapse, some years, not days, of personally growth and healing then a second chance at this love story that they began in the heat of the forced proximity and common goal, I may have been on board; but as it stands, it just wasn't the most plausible or satisfying. I want my fiction to be a bit more grounded in reality than this ending.

If you enjoyed Annabel Monaghan’s other books, you’ll like this one too. The MMC is more likable than the FMC and his character, strengths and flaws, hit harder. It is a nice, easy summer read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the digital ARC.

A sweet, funny, entertaining rom-com that captivated me.

Jane Jackson was a child star who has never been able to break free from her past. The geeky, awkward child still remains, even as an adult. Now a studio executive, Jane is keen on making a movie - which unfortunately seems like an impossible feat. The fact that it’s with her nemesis, and one-time crush Dan makes it worse.

Will Jane make the move and get the guy?

Fun, and lighthearted, It’s a Love Story is yet another winner by Annabel Monaghan.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the arc.

📚 It's a Love Story
✍ Annabel Monaghan
📖 Contemporary Romance
⭐4/5
🌶️

🙏 Thank you to Putnam Books, NetGalley and the author for an advanced copy of It's a Love Story. All opinions are my own.
◾
🎯 What I loved: So much of this story was really about Jane working through her issues with herself and she had a great character development arc. Though she was a little neurotic, she had a really compelling backstory and as more was revealed about her childhood, her neurosis started to make a lot more sense. The banter in this book was really fun and the side characters were delectable. Dan's family as a 'found family' was seriously the best and all The Notebook references did me in.

I also really liked that this was about the entertainment industry without a ton of fanfare/ paparazzi issues- it brought a new side to a topic I love to dive into. I adore the way Annabel Monaghan builds her stories and REALLY recommend reading the author's note (something you should always do anyway) on this one because it revealed so much about the inspiration in this book.
◾
Read if you love:
*almost lovers to enemies to lovers
*forced proximity
*love interests on a shared mission
*workplace romance
*childhood actor turned industry professional
◾
See also: The Rom-Commers, Once More With Feeling, Mrs. Nash's Ashes

This book may appear to be a light romance but it def is deeper than that and will make you feel all the feelings and then some. Jane is a former child actor trying to outrun her awkward past and trying desperately to become a producer/exec. But she is kind of tossed aside a lot and not taken seriously, b/c of her past child actor role. She creates a massive stretch of the truth that she can can get a superstar Jack (a guy who mortified her previously in her teenage years) to help and do a song for a new show.... but now she has to try to make that happen.

And then there is Dan - sweet, man bun hair Dan, who works with her and has a little love/hate relationship dynamic going on.... but it is pretty clear that they don't hate one another and are exactly what one another wants. They end up in his childhood home on the East coast while trying to convince Jack - and well, there is a single room to share, lots of family, and no privacy. Cue the romance.

This book is cozy and each character grows a lot - I loved it. It will def make you want to go to the beach and enjoy a bonfire with friends... while warming up to the thought of love.

So I'm not sure what to think about this book, but I think it's going to sit firmly at a 3 stars. It's unfortunate but I thought for a lot of the book, the pacing was weird, and then the way the ending happened after they managed to accomplish what they set out for the entirety of the book to do kind of tanked the story for me. I liked the family dynamic in the story a lot, I liked aspects of the characters, but the main couple ... I don't know.

I'm not sure if I wasn't a huge fan of the insta love or if I wasn't a huge fan of the way the couple did not like one enough for a long enough of a time that made the premise difficult to believe but overall, the romance wasn't a slam dunk for me and it ended up making me quite frustrated throughout the book.

I don't know! I really loved Nora, Off Script, and have not been clicking with some of Annabel's last titles. It's definitely a me thing, unfortunately!

Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for a chance to read and review.

As a teenager Jane was a successful teen actress playing the sidekick on a popular show. Now as an adult she is trying to be taken seriously on the business side and is attempting to get a movie produced. Her bosses, however want a hook or something to blow up in order to approve the movie, but its a beautiful love story, so Jane exaggerates and tells them she can get a famous pop star, who she had an unfortunate encounter with on that teenage show years ago, to write a song for the movie. Now she needs to recruit the potential cinematographer for the movie, Dan, to help her make it happen, a man she really dislikes. Or does she?

I loved most of the things about this book, and what I didn't can be forgiven since what is right about this story is so right, at least for me. There are the typical tropes of enemies to lovers, one room, etc. and lots of witty banter. What really won me over though was Dans family and Janes best friend. Monaghans side characters are the best and Dan has a whole family full of brothers that are wonderful and bratty, parents that are very special, and Janes friend Clem is great as well.

Of course every romance has to have something to pull the couple apart and then bring them back together and that's where I was disappointed. Jane had a tremendous self esteem issue, and we see her gradually grow and develop throughout the book, so the conflict at the end, to me seemed rather silly and rushed. Luckily it doesn't last long, so It did not ruin this lovely book for me, just kept it from being five stars.

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for an e galley in return for an honest review.

I absolutely could not put this book down! I was reading it while I was cooking, while I was putting my son down for a nap, and any small gaps of time I had in between. I was hooked on the story very quickly and the Finnegan family felt so warm and real and I kept craving to be back there in that house every time they left. I loved that the romance happened and Dan was a good guy. There were no red flags or immature and pointless break ups / conflicts.
My only piece of criticism is that I did not like Jane’s family drama. I felt like it needed to be in there to explain her back story and why she shied away from love - but I wasn’t invested in it. I found myself skimming over the paragraphs and pages about her mom and dad drama and just trying to get back to the chemistry and dynamic between her and Dan.
Overall - LOVED this. Right up there with Nora Goes Off Script!

☀️ I know summer is on its way when I curl up with my Annabel Monaghan beach read each spring! And luckily for me, her books just keep getting better and better. Thank you to @putnambooks for my sneak peek at ‘It’s A Love Story’ — it’s out May 27th.

☀️ Monaghan has my number, y’all. She just knows how to write a book that leaves me smiling long after I’ve read the last page. I always find myself closing it for the final time and just sitting with the warm and fuzzies she’s poured into my body. Not to mention the humor (the Eleanor Roosevelt swimsuit lines had me dying). Needless to say, ‘It’s A Love Story’ was no exception.

☀️ What to expect:
- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
- former child star
- beach vibes
- swoony romance

☀️ I adored this book and Monaghan continues to be a beach bag staple for me. Take her on your summer vacation or read her on your couch and it’ll make you feel like you’re on vacay. You can’t go wrong either way.

I enjoyed this book! I really liked the main characters’ dynamic, neither of them were completely insufferable and the banter between them was very natural. They claim to “hate” each other but really they seemed like decent work friends who liked to jab once in a while. The third act conflict felt a bit unnecessary since it was essentially a 30something year old having a very 20something breakdown (in my opinion) but I also feel most third act conflicts don’t need to happen overall. Either way I had already preordered this before getting the ARC and I’m glad to be adding another good book to my shelf.

This author is an auto-by/read for me and her latest novel does not disappoint! This book reads like a movie and while it’s slight enemy to lovers (one of my faves) I would say it’s more sweet than angsty. I love how Janey grows into herself and the love that develops between her and Dan. I love that Dan is no nonsense and quietly loves Kate for who she is. Dan’’s family and how they welcome Jane in was also nice to read. The Long Island setting and all their dates makes this the perfect beach read.

An absolutely extraordinary book! Embarking on this story reminded me why I love reading so much.
This book is filled with charming characters and has a unique story. Thank you for allowing me to read it in advance.

“My parents are people I aspire to be like. And I hope to find love like theirs one day.”

If Annabel Monaghan writes it, I will be reading it. I love how she crafts a story with older main characters (late 20s and 30s) who are still working to figure out their lives. It gives me hope I’ll figure out mine!

The only reason why this one is 4.5 stars is because it was a little slow in the beginning. If you find this to be true for you, keep reading. I promise it is worth it in the end!

Once Dan and Jane head to his hometown on the east coast, I was all in for the story. The found family component was my favorite, and I loved the relationships Jane developed with Dan’s family – especially his dad. In fact, I really enjoyed all the characters, well except for one, but I’ll let you figure that part out!

I also liked how it explored that sometimes you are just different than your family members and that can be so hard to fully embrace in a small town. I’m from a small town, so I get it!

And, the enemies to lovers trope had the perfect amount of tension. You know I am not a fan of instant love, and this connection took time to develop and was worth the wait.

This one is out May 27, and a perfect summer read. You don’t want to miss it!

Thank you to @netgalley and @putnambooks for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really did enjoy It's a Love Story. Great characters!

Janey Jakes was a child star, now she is trying to produce her first movie. The cinematographer put a nail in the coffin of her last attempt to produce a movie and she has been hating him since. Janey says she knows the singer who is constantly on the radio and that she could get him to write a song for this movie she wants to produce.

I'd heard a lot about Nora Goes Off Script and have been wanting to read a book by Annabel Monaghan. I'm so glad that NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons approved my request to read the advance read copy of It's a Love Story in exchange for an honest review. 5 solid stars! Publication date is May 27, 2025. Approx 368 pages.