Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for this eARC. Publication date is May 27, 2025. All opinions are my own.

I stayed up way too late reading this book. This is the story of Jane and an unexpected trip that obviously leads to love. It wouldn’t be a love story without it! In true love story fashion, things got complicated and feelings got hurt. However, true love is always enough.

I loved the relationship that developed between Jane and Dan. I laughed with them during family events. I felt sad with Jane when finally talking to the famous musician Jack. Don’t forget Clem, with the witty text messages and her actions that show what true friendship is.

I highly recommend this book for a fun, relatable love story.

I am feeling a little torn about this one, but I think I am landing at a 3.5⭐️ rating. I love Annabel’s writing and even though this isn’t my favorite book by her I still flew through it in less than 24 hours. Her books are always devourable with raw, real human emotion and this was no exception.

Something about the beginning of this book just felt off to me - it lacked any context so I felt thrown into a stream of consciousness that didn’t really make sense. The first interaction we see of the two main characters was also confusing, though in hindsight that may have been intentional. Once I got into the meat of the book I enjoyed it a lot more and had trouble putting it down. I liked the setting and character growth for the FMC (though it took awhile to get there).


Annabel is a must-read for anyone who wants to read about relatable women who are living a little later in life or if you enjoy women’s fiction with a strong romantic plotline. Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review.

Jane Jackson, former child star and current creative director of Clearwater Studios, has finally found the perfect script to bring to the studio. To seal the deal, Jane even insists she can get superstar Jack Quinlan to record a song for the film. After all, Jack is an old friend Jane knew from her child actor days… sort of.

Enter Dan Finnegan, director of photography and Jane’s biggest nemesis. Dan just so happens to be interested in this script too, and offers to help Jane get in touch with Jack. This leads to a week long trip to Long Island where Jack is expected to play in a music festival. The festival also happens to be in Dan’s hometown and is still the home of the rest of the Finnegan Fam. And it is also where Dan and Jane are staying for the week.

Jane is now fighting to overcome her insecurities about the last time she saw Jack, Dan’s very large and loud family, and the pesky feelings she is feeling towards Dan.

What will happen in one week on Long Island? Will Jack write a song for the film? Will the film be made regardless? Will Jane be able to handle a week in the family home of her former enemy? Whatever happens, it’s sure to be a love story.

Finishing this book felt like a warm hug. The resolution of the story was so perfect in so many ways. The connection Jane and Dan have is so electric, you can feel it coming off of the page at points.

This book was so funny and cute and I can’t recommend it enough! It is definitely a beach read in the waiting ☀️🌊

Extra big thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC 💜🩵

Okay I know it's only April, but this might be my favorite read of the year. I have loved Annabel’s other books so I had high expectations going in and it lived up to every one and more. 🙌🏻

You know in the movie “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” where the characters aren't really sure about each other but then they visit his crazy family and that weekend every changes? 🥹

That feeling is what this whole book felt like and I ate 👏🏻 it 👏🏻 up 👏🏻.

A love story about trying to produce a love story movie set between LA and Long Island, NY with a movie exec/former child actress and a cinematographer chasing down a famous musician. 🥰

This book was all things romance. It was soft and sweet, had imperfect people that were unsure but hopeful, and grew along the way. They were funny, flawed, and had so much freaking chemistry I was giddy. 😍

I adored the family and side characters in this book and how being outside of your comfort zones really allowed the characters to let down their walls and open up in a way they couldn't before. 🫶🏻

Read if you love:
😍 Opposites attract
☀️ Summer vibes
🎥 Hollywood and Nicholas sparks
🥰 Close proximity
🫶🏻 Family Reunions/Vacations

Thanks to Putnam Books for this ARC! 🙌🏻

Annabel Monaghan’s books have been a summer staple for me for the past four years, so when I was lucky enough to get this ARC, I tried SO hard to wait until closer to summer to pick it up—and failed.

I went into this book completely blind, so was pleasantly surprised to find out this was an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers romance—not something she’s done in her other books. This did have the author’s signature humor which I’ve come to love from all her books.

This was the slowest of slow burns and I just loved how Jane’s and Dan’s relationship developed over their week in Long Island. It definitely had me smiling and giddy! I loved how chaotically fun the Finnegan family was as well as the strong sense of place.

I wasn’t a big fan Jane and how she handled the conflict, but fortunately Dan’s character was so steadfast.

4.5 rounded up to 5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback.

I devoured this book and yet by the last chapter I was not ready to say good bye to Jane and Dan! I really need Brian to get his own spin off romance just so we can get a peek at their HEA!!

I think one of the things I love most about Monaghans books is that they feel real and you can relate to her characters. The relationship between Jane and Dan felt very natural and even though they are “office rivals” in the beginning I wouldn’t call this book an enemies-to-lovers type book because there’s no real animosity between the 2.

I would say this book is more Romance/women’s fiction than romantic comedy. There are so lighthearted moments but for the most part this book is just a love story so if you like levity with your romance this might not be your favorite pick.

4.5 stars. Fairly closed door so a good recommendation for those that like their romance with no spice.

This was my first Annabel Monaghan book, and it did not disappoint! It perfectly captures that dreamy summer vibe and is releasing just in time to land a spot on everyone’s summer TBR.

I connected so much with our main character, Jane. A former child star now working behind the scenes in the film industry, she’s hustling to get her passion project greenlit. Beneath her confident exterior, she struggles with feelings of not being enough, of being forgettable, and of never truly being seen. She’s a pro at putting on the face people expect, but she can’t seem to make it past a fourth date—emotionally guarded and deeply relatable.

Then there’s Dan—our MMC—an artsy, film-guy type with long hair and a man bun (obsessed). He starts off as the classic grumpy jerk, but it quickly becomes clear that’s not who he really is. Cue me kicking my feet and giggling because I was seriously swooning over this man.

The story follows Jane and Dan as they travel to New York in search of a famous singer-songwriter, Jack, whom Jane once worked with as a child. Their mission? Convince him to write an original song for their film. Cue chemistry, tension, and a dash of emotional growth.

My only real gripe? The third-act breakup. I usually don’t mind them, but this one had me screaming for Jane to just communicate! It felt frustrating, especially after all the progress she’d made.

Overall, this was a fantastic read—warm, heartfelt, and romantic in all the right ways. Highly recommend adding it to your summer reading list!

This was a sweet story but my least favorite Annabel Monaghan novel.

Jane Jackson is a former child star who is currently an executive at a movie studio trying to lock in the production of a movie script that she has fallen in love with. Her challenge is twofold: cinematographer Dan is a champion for the movie, but Jane’s nemesis; and she has claimed she can get famous singer Jack to write a song for the movie, when in reality, she hasn’t spoken to him since their days on their show and things didn’t end well. Jane spends the week with Dan and his family on Long Island in hopes of encountering Jack, and asking him to do a nearly impossible favor.

I found Annabel’s prior books to have significant depth with protagonists who were mature, complex, and real. Despite her interesting relationship with her mother (and father), Jane was not super compelling for me, and Dan felt a little too black-and-white. What’s more, instead of feeling super aspirational, Dan’s family felt simply too perfect. And I didn’t love the take-take-take relationship I felt Jane had her with her friend, Clem.

This is certainly a quick read and an interesting aspect to the enemies to lovers trope, but it didn’t sit with me quite as well as I was hoping. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Annabel Monaghan has done it again y’all. Jane and Dan have the sweetest, most genuine buildup that I’ve read in a romance book in a longggggg time. Their love story felt believable and real but had me giddy and out loud laughing in public!!!

Jane has perfect comedic timing when she lets herself just be, and she has some hilarious one liners throughout the book. I adore her and despite not being a child actor (lol) I definitely could relate to her insecurities and the mask she puts on to make herself more palatable for her dates. There’s no better feeling than reading an FMC that makes you feel seen. <3

And then there’s Dan, our introverted MMC who’s so sure of himself and who loves his family with his whole giant heart, even though he’s so different from them. I loveddddd his quiet love for his people and for Jane. When they both got each other a glass of water before bed, one glass cold & one glass room temp, I died. When Dan made sure at his parent’s anniversary party that Jane felt included in every conversation & never felt like an outsider, ugh I LOVED it. When Jane defended Dan’s move to LA, his movie (without even watching it) and his career, so passionately for someone who “hated” him just a few days before, she did that because she knew he needed someone to stand up for him. I love quiet love, when both people just get each other on an innate level.

This book made me feel all the feelings in the best best best way, and I simply couldn’t put it down. 5 (million) stars.

Thank you times a million to NetGalley & GP Putnam’s Sons for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!!

What a wonderful read!! So glad I picked up another one of Annabel Monaghan's books- it definitely did not disappoint.

The story centers around Jane, a producer who will do anything to get her movie made, including relive an embarrassing childhood moment. Jane is an incredibly relatable and vulnerable character, struggling a lot with her past insecurities. She tells a lie in hopes of getting a green-light for her movie, leading her on an adventure with cinematographer Dan Finnegan. Dan changes drastically from Jane's number one enemy to someone kind and dependable, and someone she might just be falling for as Jane's life begins turning upside down. Dan is a quiet character, and he and his family are exactly what Jane needs.

The slow yet meaningful romance between Dan and Jane was so fun to read! It was a wonderful sort of enemies-to-lovers, and seeing the initial chemistry and fallout of the two was interesting. Seeing how both characters changed and interacted with each other just made me so happy. This was my ideal romance novel- one packed with emotion, that can bring you to tears. There was a lot of emotional depth- this book is not just another unmemorable romance. I also like her writing style a lot as well; the book didn't have too much fluff, but it still flows together well. This book is told through a single point of view, just from Jane's perspective, but in this instance it just served to heighten the emotions and at times, turmoil, that Jane felt.

That said, I had a wonderful time reading this author's other books, especially Nora goes off Script and Summer Romance. If you enjoyed these previous books, I would definitely try this It's a Love Story. This book is not your average romance and was exactly what I needed!

Thank you to Netgalley and Putnam for this ARC.

First, I'd like to thank NetGalley, Annabel Monaghan, and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this one! It’s a Love Story is the perfect summer read—light, reflective, and full of heart. With Jane and Dan’s spontaneous August trip to Long Island, Monaghan immerses readers in a world of salty sea air and sun-kissed skin. Her vivid descriptions make it feel like you’re right there beside them.

The story follows a jaded Jane as she navigates her own path of self-discovery, love, and professional ambition while trying to get a movie made—and gain some clarity on how she sees herself and her life. I especially loved how the romance between Jane and Dan unfolded. It was slow and subtle, yet steady—proof that sometimes love grows when you least expect it, even if it’s been there all along.

This book is heartfelt, introspective, and undeniably charming. If you're looking for a story that captures the warmth of summer and the beauty of unexpected love, It’s a Love Story is a must-pick!

This is Annabel Monaghan’s best yet! A big cast of lovable characters and a swoon-worthy MMC. A perfect fun, sexy beach read!

What a terrific beach read. Such an enjoyable read. Janey Jakes child star grows up and becomes Jane Jackson. The affects of being in television as a youngster really does a number on her. With the help of Dan and his family this becomes a love story we would all like to be in. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It’s been a minute for a 5 star read and this is AM’s best yet!

Jane Jackson is a former kid star known as Janey Jakes. She played the nerdy, yet comedic role in a teen series in her early life. Fast forward to her adult life trying to get movies made and a script she loves has been green lit. The only problem is the movie would be more marketable with a famous person tied to it. Who does Jane know?, her former costar Jack Quinlan, who is now an uber famous musician. She hasn’t talked to him in 20 years, but now needs a song for the soundtrack.

What could stand in her way? Oh, her nemesis at work Dan who opposes every project she tries to get off the ground and maybe a tiny fib about her closeness to Jack and how they remained friends.

This book is the perfect blend of romance, friendship, courage, and finding your own happiness. ❤️❤️❤️

Got this as an ARC from NetGalley.

4.5 stars

This was my first Annabel Monaghan book, and I’m officially a fan of her writing. It was funny, heartfelt, and insightful. While I wouldn’t categorize it as a slow burn or enemies to lovers, it felt more like a “getting to know the real you” kind of story. It beautifully explored family dynamics and how we often perceive ourselves through the lens of others, especially when it comes to love and self-worth.

One of the standout themes was that inner critic we all carry, the voice that tells us we’re not good enough or not worthy of love. That emotional thread really resonated with me. My favorite parts were when the story took us to Long Island with the Finnegan family—those scenes felt warm, grounded, and authentic.

That said, the pacing was a bit slow at the beginning. And while I appreciated the emotional depth of Jane’s journey, her reaction after finally meeting with Jack felt a bit immature. Given all the growth she’d experienced. I was hoping to see her confront Jack with more clarity and self-assurance. That unnecessary “fight” scene with Dan felt like a dramatic step backward rather than a realistic setback. Healing is never linear, but Jane’s outburst seemed a bit over the top at that point in the story.

Still, this was a deeply enjoyable read and a strong 4.5 stars. With just a slightly more grounded resolution, it easily could have been a full 5.

The good. The prose is good and there are some sweet moments. But the characters are frustrating and hard to root for and the third across breakup feels unearned. Overall, this was a disappointment.

Thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC of Its a Love Story. I was looking forward to this as a summer read but so excited for the early copy!

I had some issues with our fmc Jane in this one but overall a super cute story and adorable MMC Dan. The ending was a bit rushed with Jane’s third act conflict. Jane could definitely benefit from therapy but was able to solve all her past trauma with one conversation with her mother making it a bit too brushed over for me.

I have been an Annabel Monaghan fan since Nora Goes Off Script, and It's a Love Story has only deepened my appreciation for her work. It takes a special kind of talent to really flesh out a male main character in a romance, and to do it without a dual POV is a whole next level, but that is precisely what the author has achieved here. While it took me a bit longer to connect with the heroine, Jane Jackson, Dan Finnegan is the strong, quiet, and steadfast type of hero you never saw coming, and with the tension developed, it was so very satisfying to read. I highly recommend this book, as well as the author's backlist.

Thank you to Putnam Books for gifting me with an ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

I always love a new Annabel Monaghan book. This one was a bit of a slow burn for me at first. The opening felt slightly guarded, much like the main characters, and it took me a few chapters to really get hooked. But Monaghan’s style came through a couple chapters in and the emotional layers soon began to peel back. I found “It’s a Love Story” to be a heartfelt, charming, and satisfying romance.

As the story unfolded, I found the development of Dan to be the most delightful - I love what Monaghan did with his character and how he was able to get Jane to show her true colors. By the middle of the book, I found myself thoroughly invested in Jane and Dan’s journey. Their banter, growth, and eventual connection felt earned, and I was completely rooting for them.

If you’re a fan of character-driven love stories give this one time to develop - you won’t be disappointed.

I was so excited to read another book from Annabel Monaghan, and this one was SO sweet. I'm so happy! I really loved the two main characters, Jane and Dan, and loved their connection. They were both imperfect people, which I appreciated. I absolutely loved their trip back to Dan's home, and Dan's family, and how they immediately loved Jane and basically took her in as their own. I always enjoy complicated family dynamics, which this had, but it wasn't too heavy that it weighed down the romance. I can't wait to read more from Annabel Monaghan. :)