This one was another cute read by this author. I was a little surprised by the insta love (ish!) and felt a little out of the loop not knowing the movie the notebook, but this was beautifully written. J didn’t expect the unknown child star piece to be such a huge part.

I enjoyed her other books so I knew I would enjoy this one story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me this arc.

Getting a NetGalley ARC from a rom com author you don’t really know is always a bit of a gamble. It means I don’t have the opinions or reviews from people I’d normally rely on for this kind of thing…. Danger is my middle name.

She: former child TV star, works for a studio, is trying to get a movie made.

He: is a cinematographer who also wants to get the movie made.

They: are teamed up for reasons. IDK, he wants to shoot the movie, she lies and says she has the support of a famous singer she used to star with…. Seems a bit over-complicated. Like, for a while I thought for sure this was going to be about her and the singer, not the cinematographer. Clear as mud, I’m saying.

But in the end it’s great for what it is — low stakes, harmless, forgettable but enjoyable. Read it on a beach vacation or whatever.

At this point I just need all of Annabel Monaghan’s new books to be automatically added to my tbr. This was soooo good!! I loved it so much and these characters are so fun!! Jane was a little neurotic at first which was concerning. I loved that Dan brought her out of her shell & allowed her to be herself. Dan was also just great in general not afraid to say what he feels and be himself. I didn’t know where this story would go but I loved how it ended up. I will forever and always be a fan of AM!!!

Loved everything about this book! Nice medium paced book. Good character development. I truly enjoyed how the main character slowly started to realize new things without them being told directly to her.

This book was so cute! This was my first read from Annabel, so I wasn’t sure what to expect but I loved it. This was the perfect mix of enemies to lovers, with moments of authenticity that can come with being exposed to some of the character’s roots/trauma that made them who they are when we meet them early in the story. Jane’s growth throughout the story felt realistic, and Dan’s authenticity felt so genuine. How can you not hope for a happy ending for character’s like that. I can’t wait to recommend this book when it comes out in May of 2025.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons, Annabel Monaghan, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Baby just say yes…to this book. (Sorry I had to, but seriously just read this.)

Annabel Monaghan’s writing is a warm hug. I have learned to clear my calendar when I start one of her books. I catch myself smiling, laughing out loud and crying. It’s A Love Story was no exception. Our protagonist, Jane Jackson, former child TV star just wants to be taken seriously. She is desperately trying to get a movie made that she truly believes in, and makes a hysterical (and untrue) proposition. Chaos is going to ensue and is made worse when THE WORST, most pretentious, stupid cinematographer, Dan Finnegan, is also assigned to work on the project.

I absolutely LOVE the heroines that Annabel writes. They are imperfect and REAL and so relatable. Here, Jane feels haunted by her childhood alter ego, Janey Jakes, dorky, jokester extraordinaire. I felt such raw emotions living through her childhood memories alongside her.

If you love a rom-com (The Notebook is referenced a lot), and were intrigued by Jennette McCurdy’s memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died (inspiration for Jane’s character), you will LOVE It’s A Love Story.

You’ve got to wait until May 27th, but you can preorder today! While you’re waiting, check out Annabel’s other books: Nora Goes Off Script, Same Time Next Summer, and Summer Romance.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for my advanced reader copy of this book.

Just like Annabel Monaghan's other books, I LOVED this story! Her writing is beautiful and I enjoyed how this was a fun romance while also being complex. Loved being back on Long Island for this book. Her descriptions of a perfect summer week have me counting down the days until Memorial Day. I could read a book about every Finnegan brother & their parents! This is a wonderful pick for a beach day read.

Hoping we get to see some more of Dan & Jane in the next book which was set up perfectly in the epilogue (at least I hope that was a set up!!).

Thank you Netgalley & Putnam Books!

This was my very first Annabel Monaghan book and I can with confidence say I’m a fan! As the “Funny friend” I finally felt seen and related to the protagonist in a very real way. I felt Monaghan did a beautiful job capturing the emotion of navigating the initial spark you might feel in your youth to the doubt that complicates your adult relationships. The characters were compelling and multi-dimensional. Overall, a great read and I’m excited to find more books by Monaghan.

Per usual, Annabel strikes again wirh another perfect summer romance! I adore her writing style and just like all the others before this one, it's perfect! Jane and Dan are adorable and Jack? Well, he can suck an egg! What a jerk!

All all in, this was amazing and I HIGHLY recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the opportunity to read It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan.

It took me a while to get into the story. Once I was able to connect to the characters, it became easier to submerge in their world.

I appreciate the story within the story. Life imitating art. You don’t realize I deep this story goes until you’re in the thick of it. I felt the characters were well rounded and the journey a thoughtful one. Truly felt as if I was apart of their ups and downs. It’s an experience.

This was a lot of fun and I could relate to the characters. I recommend anyone giving this book a chance.

3.5 ⭐️

Monaghan is back with another deeply moving love story that made me want to improve my life! While the Hollywood aspects of the book aren't completely accurate, she captures the wish fulfillment of chasing the dream of making movies. A winner in my book!

This is going to be a very popular summer read. The characters were very likeable and their story was fun and cute. I really enjoyed the premise and how it led to an enemies to lover story.
My only complaint was I just wanted a little more from the ending but overall a really great summer romance read.

Thank you to NetGalley and JP Putnam’s Sons for this advanced reader copy!

Annabel Monaghan is such a pillar for a great, spicy, warm, feel-good summer romance, and this is no exception. ☀️

This story follows Jane and Dan, two film professionals who share a passion for a particular film and its production. This second chance romance has longing, enemies to lovers, and forced proximity all in one!

I loved a lot of this book, but also spent a lot of it confused. The MMC spoke really poorly of Jane at the beginning of the novel- enough so that I didn’t totally believe when he fell for her.

Also, the FMC has such a beautiful arc and character development, but I wish they were a little more closely tied to the plot and the general love story.

I laughed. I gasped. I swooned. I cheered. This is a perfect low-stakes love story that will get you longing for the beach and summer vibes!

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️&🌶️🌶️

I went into this book expecting a fun love story that you expect from Annabel Monaghan, but Jane and Dan both came with a lot more baggage than I thought they could. It made for a relatable story and I was cheering on Jane throughout the book hoping for the growth she needed. Thank you Putnam and NetGalley for a chance to read this one early in exchange for an honest review.

Another charming romance by Annabel. Her characters are complex and real but simple and human in all the best ways. Jane was an easy FMC to root for, she is clearly feeling a little lost in her current life- not living the life she imagined while she watches others seemingly thrive. Dan was the softest love for her. The way he brings her home to his family and fits her in without question was really sweet. Every member of this family was so dang pure and I love that she connected with them all outside of Dan. Their love is more of a slow burn and some parts felt more focused on Jane’s growth, but it all worked so well together. Their story feels free, I don’t know how else to describe it other than reading about them enjoying spending time with each other in this beach town made me feel like I could smell the ocean water and feel the breeze in my hair. Truly a perfect summer read!

Annabel Monaghan has become a must read author for me— she just knows how to write romance that makes you swoon! I loved this enemy to lovers, slow burn. The side characters were hilarious. This is going to be a great summer romance!

It’s a Love Story is exactly what I hoped for and more. Annabel Monaghan delivers a beautiful, heartfelt romance that’s both fun and deeply emotional. I went into it expecting something sweet and funny—and it absolutely delivered on that front—but what caught me off guard was how emotional and honest the love story was. I laughed out loud more than once, but I also cried because the love between these characters was so genuine and moving.

The plot is engaging, the dialogue is sharp, and the chemistry leaps off the page. It’s a love story that feels real—joyful, complicated, and full of heart. I’ve read all of Monaghan’s books and this one might be my favorite yet. Thank you for the opportunity to read this incredible story early—I’ll be recommending it to everyone.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this book!! Perfect for a beach read and if you've enjoyed any of the author's other books, you'll eat this one up.

Jane is a former adolescent star of a kitschy Nickelodeon-esque show trying to make it as a movie producer and find "the one" even though she doesn't believe such a thing exists. She absolutely needs therapy. I'm extra appreciative of her BFF, Clem, for being an excellent side character support person.

Jane's only experience with Dan comes from a meet-cute that turned disastrous when he turned out to be the cinematographer that crushed her first big movie pitch. From that, she has decided he is her arch enemy. Jane and Dan soon discover that they both love the next script that Jane has optioned, but the only way to get the studio to go for it is to get something, or someone major, signed on. Jane offers up her connection to megastar Jack suggesting she can get him to write a song for the soundtrack. Never mind that he was her first kiss, broke her heart, and she hasn't spoken to him since she was 14.

Jane and Dan concoct a scheme to approach Jack at a music festival he's playing in Dan's hometown on the other side of the country. One flight from LA, several days staying in Dan's childhood home with his large and loud, but loving family, and Dan and Jane discover they like each other a whole lot more than they thought.

I really appreciated that Dan did not revert to a childish version of himself when home. He stayed true to the fact that he is different than his brothers and dad and that's okay. I loved Dan's family and the good-natured ribbing they all gave each other.

This book surprised me in the best way!

Jane lives by the fake-it-til-you-make-it philosophy, which often means she’s putting on a character for all of the different people in her life, which begs the question…who is the real Jane?

Enter Dan, a brutally honest cinematographer who has a history of turning Jane’s dream movie ideas as a Creative Executive at a film studio. Now they have to work together to get a movie greenlit that they both love and that involves a trip to Dan’s hometown, staying with his family and friends and what do you mean there isn’t an extra bedroom anymore? 😏

It was the enemies to lovers I didn’t see coming and the quiet love that shows up in outside of the grand gestures. It’s the small, every day things that we never knew we were missing.

I tore through this and can I just say, I really want to be invited to the next party at the Finnegans!