Annabel Monaghan writes such special romances. They build up so nicely and while the characters on the surface feel so different, her stories are full of relatable moments that make my heart so warm.

absolutely enjoyed this!! thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc! second chance romances are a little iffy for me, but this just worked so well!! Annabel Monaghan knows how to tell a story! i wish i had connected more with the MMC. also that third act breakup… anyways! i definitely recommend this for the Summer!

A beautiful, compelling novel. I absolutely loved this and absolutely flew through it. Annabel Monaghan has a way with words that’s unlike any other. Her writing is real and authentic and feels like wading through water. I loved every single character and plot point and every feeling this book made me feel.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the digital arc in exchange for my honest opinion!

I could NOT put this down! My first book by Annabel Monaghan, and it will not be my last! It’s a Love Story follows a grown-up child actress, Jane, as she tries to make a name for herself producing films. She battles the stigma of her childhood character as everyone around her struggles to take her serious. Coupled with being raised by a single mom in LA, Jane finds herself envious of the family of her coworker Dan, when she travels with him to his hometown on the east coast for work. I loved Dan’s family, the messiness of it all, and I loved that Dan was different from his family yet he still did not take them for granted. Dan and Jane’s relationship heats up while in his hometown, and we find ourselves rooting for their first kiss. Annabel paints the perfect picture of their first kiss, on the beach, and leaves us all wanting more. I loved the way she articulated the real emotions of Jane, throughout the story, as she works to unpack her childhood and as Dan breaks down the walls Jane has built up. Jane inevitably messes things up with Dan, and in true Hollywood fashion apologizes by billboard. Ofcourse, it’s adorable. This story was funny, heart-felt, and addictive. I did not want it to end. We need a sequel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this eARC!

3.75 // This was cute!! It did take me awhile to feel connected to the characters. I think this changed once we met the MMC’s family. I loved how a bulk of it was set in his childhood home with his big ass family & all the hometown adventures.

But the end of book break-up was crazy?? Honestly just so immature.. she just fled??? Lol dropped this below a 4 for me.

That being said, I am going to check out some of Annabel Monaghan’s other books, I have heard good things and this was enjoyable!

Thank you NetGalley & publisher for the ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

i enjoyed this story and the characters. i found the setting engaging , just not my typical setting / background , so i wasn’t enjoying as much in the beginning. but as the story progressed, i really enjoyed the writing style and how we got to know these characters individually and then as a *potential* couple. it was light hearted and didn’t take itself too serious which i appreciated, also a huge bonus for the minimal spice !

This one was just meh to me. It took a while for me to get into the storyline. I contemplated DNF but overall, I’m glad I finished it.

I liked the Finnegan family and their dynamic. The parents’ love story was cute. The setting was perfect for a summer read.

Some things I didn’t like: The writing was choppy and just didn’t flow well. Insta-love. Constant comparisons to The Notebook.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher, G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I absolutely loved this! It started off a little silly but turned so sweet. I loved the way the author described the little moments because it made them so much bigger. Jane just wanting to see Dan next to the tile counter in her kitchen…*swoon*. Thank you NetGalley for this arc. I truly adored it.

I expected a light read after hearing some things about this one but this was not as light as I thought.

I felt things. I didn’t cry but it definitely tugged at my heart. The banter in this is amazing. Such a charming read. Can a book give u a hug and comfort you? Cause this one did! I love all the warm and fuzzy feelings!

I’m definitely going to have to go check out more of her books! Definitely recommend this one!

This started but rough with me. Maybe my mind set wasn’t right or I just was too tired. I don’t know why but the first two chapters I was not very into to story. After that the story picked up nicely until it didn’t. Pacing was so off for me. Or writing. This is one of those books I feel like shouldn’t be reviewing. Something was off for me. It was predictable which isn’t a bad thing we do want the happy ending with romance books but it was almost too sweet for me.

This was not a bad book by any means. Perfect really for summer romance reading in a vacation when you want to read fluff with romance. I think my timing to read this and review was just way off… or not? Idk if anyone else reads this as ARC or after publishing let me know your thoughts.

It is so much more than a love story. It is a woman who is always seeking to prove she is more than the sum total of her teenage TV show and on her way to becoming a producer. Along the way, her perspective tips and she finds a deep love who sees her, truly her. Years of fear and insecurities have driven her and buried over the hurt.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

thank you to NetGalley, the publisher G.P. Putnam's Sons, and most of all, the author, Annabel Monaghan, for giving me the opportunity to read this arc.

i unfortunately couldn’t connect with the mmc, which is unfortunate, because two books from this author are my all time favourites.

i found myself dragging my feet whilst reading this arc, i guess over a sense of blind support, but i wasn’t connecting with it.

this book is very dear to me and i will definitely be coming back to reread. i always love how REAL annabel monaghan's characters feel to me, how they struggle with awkwardness and feelings of being wanted and being loved. i found jane super endearing and saw a lot of myself in her. dan and his family were also soooo fun and entertaining and wish i could travel to their little beachside town for a little getaway. very silly how you don't know for a long time if dan or jack is the MMC hahaha. thank you to annabel monaghan and putnam for the arc!!

This is my 4th Annabel Monaghan book and just like the books before this one I found that I love a great "beach read" with a little extra emotion to it.
Here's my biggest takeaway from this book, I LOVE DAN'S FAMILY. If you love a book with a great representation of a close knit family, I you're going to love this. His family made up for the times Jane wasn't my favorite character and the Jack storyline annoyed me. It's a definite recommend from me if you've loved Annabel Monaghan's books before but it's not the one I would recommend to start with.

****Publishing May 27, 2025*****

Jane Jackson, a former childhood actor, is now trying to make it big with her movie script! She has been trying for 2 years! With some skepticism about her script, Jane is so desperate, she lies and says she could get a famous singer to be part of the soundtrack if her script is chosen. But will she? Can she finally get the success she is looking for?

I love how Annabel Monaghan’s writing just draws you into an entertaining and enjoyable story with laugh-out-loud and heartfelt moments. Annabel captures the emotions and stresses of everyday life that evolve around work, relationships, family and friendships. This book will have you turning the pages to see if Jane can find the success she is looking for! A heartfelt, fun and entertaining read that leaves you feeling satisfied in the end! A great book to take on vacation or to read by the pool!

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

I liked It's a Love Story. I thought the plot was fun and the writing was eloquent. I enjoyed the Long Island and Finnegan farm setting. I liked how Jane and Dan's relationship progressed while hanging out on the island. Annabel did a fantastic job with Dan and Jane's relationship. I thought they were a good match for each other. Their chemistry was on point and their first few kiss scenes were top tier. I liked that Dan and Jane were comfortable with each other. It was nice seeing Jane put her guard down around Dan. On the flip side, I appreciated the way Dan felt like he didn't have to act differently around Jane. Readers will eat up Dan's character. He was steadfast, sweet, and patient. As for Jane's character, I think she will be a hit or miss with readers. I wasn't her biggest fan at first, but she grew on me. Jane was dealing with some heavy things. I'm glad that she came into herself and communicated with her mother and addressed the problems that were holding her back. I wasn't the biggest fan of how she handled herself at the end of her Long Island stay. Dan's family played a major role in this story. I adored the Finnegan family! I liked how quickly Jane was absorbed into their bunch. The biggest complaint I have about It's a Love Story is the overuse of certain descriptors. I found myself getting annoyed by the number of times "rectangular eyes" and "long hair" were mentioned by Jane. Overall, I had fun reading this book. The ending was cute, and the romance was on point. Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC.

Annabel Monaghan has slowly become one of my favorite authors in the romance/women's fiction genre. Something about her characters and her writing style just pull at my heart and her newest book, It's a Love Story, is perhaps my favorite so far.

When Jane and Dan spend a week on Long Island in the hopes of tracking down pop star Jack Quinn to write a song for their movie project, they get a little more than they bargained for. What starts out as a comedy turns out to be something like a love story.

I love the setting, the summer, the big-family-in-town-for-a-reunion vibes. Jane is a classic introvert and to be honest I could relate (we've all taken important phone calls in our closet before...right? RIGHT?)

I've said in other reviews that I don't particularly enjoy books about characters that are meant to be celebrities but something about Jane having been a child actor worked for me. It felt genuine and not totally cheesy--the author clearly did her research and wrote it in a way that was really heartfelt. I especially love Monaghan's writing. Nothing cheesy or awkward there.

Dan & Jane have their miscommunication towards the end (an aside: listen, I get that all romance novels follow the "third-act breakup" model, but I rarely think that conflict is necessary and/or realistic. This one felt...ok. Still felt forced but I'm glad it didn't last long), but things resolve nicely.

A really beautiful read for me! 5 stars and would 100% recommend to anyone who reads this genre.
(Bonus points that it's sexy without being completely open door. Like, we get a little peek but that's all we really need).

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books/Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC! This title is out THIS WEEK on May 27, 2025.

4.5 stars!

“It’s a Love Story” is fun, slow burn romance with a twist of forced proximity, and I cheered when these work enemies finally became lovers. I love Annabel Monaghan books and this was no exception. A perfect book for your beach bag and one you will want to recommend to your friends all summer.

Jane, a child actor turned studio exec, is trying to make it in Hollywood and will do anything to get her “True Story” script made. In a desperate attempt, she exaggerates her connection to mega star, Jack Quinlan, and claims she can get him to write a song for the movie. One slight problem, she hasn’t seen or spoken to Jack since she was 14.

Enter Dan, cinematographer and Jane’s work enemy, who vows to help her track down Jack Quinlan, as he is headlining a music festival in his hometown on Long Island.

Jane and Dan take us on a fun, week long adventure in a beach town with all your favorite parts of a summer romance. I had butterflies multiple times throughout the book and loved how the author used Dan’s big family to reveal the amazing layers of him and his self-assuredness. I also appreciated Jane’s own personal journey and how she evolved throughout the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and GP Putnam and Sons for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

For the most part I really enjoyed this book! My only issue is I had a hard time getting into it, the book for me didn’t start until almost 25% but then I was hooked!

I loved the coastal vibes and Jane going to stay with Dan (who she doesn’t even like) and his family in New York. It really helps her character development and seeing that not everything has to be perfect all the time. She can be very insecure throughout the story, and it almost sometimes feels a bit too childish, especially when it comes to Jack and how she just can’t seem to stand up for herself around him.

I love how Dans family accepted her and never made her feel like she had to be anyone but herself. I love how she finally came to realize that not everything is always her fault. This book was funny, and witty, and I looked forward to Jane and Dan spending time together because they had a real heartfelt deep connection that you could feel through the story 🔥 I loved their beach hang outs, their bike riding, and their watercolor painting, and how they could simply exist in quiet moments. It was truly so sweet, and truly a love story.

I adored this book. It felt like sunshine in book form. This was such an enjoyable read I couldn’t put it down. It had me staying up way too late, smiling to myself, and feeling sad when it was over. My only hang up was wondering why the author named one of Dan’s brothers “Finn Finnegan”.


Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.