Annabel Monaghan does it again! Perfect mix of lighthearted and emotional, fast-paced in a wonderful way. This book felt like a breath of fresh air and a caress of a warm breeze. I am so grateful to NetGalley for the ARC and I can't wait to recommend this book to my fellow romance lovers!

I was able to read this super sweet romance thanks to Netgalley, the author, Annabel Monaghan and the publisher, G.P Putnam’s Sons.
I finished this in about the span of a day. I absolutely adore Janes character and you can tell she is based of off Jenette McCurdy and her memoir (Im glad I read it beforehand, its not necessary, but makes the book flow much easier. Jane has so many confidence and baggage issues due to the men in her life and she is SO relatable. Watching her work her way thorough her feelings for Dan and her attempt to sabotage what is there, is something I’ve completely done before. Dans family is so refreshing and seeing Jane learn how a family works and how the token American family Is set up is a heartwarming journey to take in the book.
When Cormack gives her his number as “Dad”, I could’ve cried. We have all been in situations where people we desperately want to like us, don’t and were striving for that sense of belonging. Jane wasn’t even a member of his family (yet) but they have no reservations welcoming her in. By the end, Jane has learned so much about herself, and her relationship with her mom, she’s grown tremendously in the 300-something pages. Even as someone with two much younger sisters, when spending time with the Finnagans you can feel like you’re in a house full of 5 boys. If you like Abby Jiminez, you will love this read. Make sure you check this one out when it releases on May 27th! #ItsaLoveStory #NetGalley.

I’ve heard so much good about Annabel Monaghan’s writing but haven’t gotten around to reading any of her books until this! This was a fun romance that also touched a lot on how your childhood/adolescence affects you. I liked both of the characters but I’m not sure I’m convinced they would last irl. It was a solid four star read for me, but I’m hoping I like her other books better!

Annabel Monaghan is a favorite for a reason and this one did not disappoint. A beachy read that also includes a little forced proximity? Yes, please! Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!
Jane Jackson has been pretending to be something she’s not since the age of 14. While trying to separate herself from the child she was, she chooses to lead a carefully curated life and hide her true self away. If she has the “right” job or does her hair a certain way or even dates the “right” kind of men, surely things will be ok. But they aren’t ok and neither is Jane.
An impetuous claim at work leads her to spend a week in Long Island with Dan, her handsome yet infuriating colleague, at his family’s home. The Finnegan family is loud, large and loving- all things Jane is unfamiliar with. She soon finds herself settling into the chaos and the beauty of this family and finding that it’s ok to be the girl she’s spent so long trying to hide.
Nobody writes a family like Annabel Monaghan. The love, the history, the joy, the comfort of just being- she writes them so beautifully. I will admit to having a hard time getting into this book, but once they left LA I couldn’t put it down. There is real heart in this book. It’s not a flashy story, but a quiet one about falling in love. And more importantly, allowing yourself to love and trust that others can and will love you too.

It is a love story. So fun and real. We always get in our heads and I'm our own way of love and happiness. This story, I believe, institutes and teaches us to get out of our way and let the feelings all come and go.

This was such a cute, messy, real love story. Dan the MMC is such a sweet kindhearted man & I absolutely adored his family!! I loved the big chaotic family vibes. Jane the FMC at times drove me absolutely nuts but I also liked that because she felt real? She was cheesy and not always polished but it worked so well for her. Getting the backstory for her was so fun. I also loved her bestie Clem and wish we got more of her!! The ending was so precious and had me tearing up. This is the perfect book for anyone who has ever felt unloveable or not enough.

It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan is an addictive page turner that kept me focused even while sick. The chemistry between Janey and Dan has a slow burn that feels real, no insta-love here. Monaghan uses her signature wit to create charming characters that balance humor and depth effortlessly. The pacing is perfect, kept me hooked from start to finish. This will be a perfect summer read for fans of lighthearted romance, highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for providing an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Heartwarming and hilarious! The main character, Jane, is so endearing you’ll want to wrap her up in a big hug. This is definitely a roller coaster of emotions but well worth the time spent reading. I have yet to find a book by Annabel Monaghan that isn’t a must-read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I love Annabel Monaghan for breezy romance and charming characters. While this was not my favorite of her books, the charming characters were all there! The story follows Jane, a former childhood TV star turned Creative Executive in the movie industry. Bound and determined to get a script picked up, she promises to get one of her old co-stars to record a song for the movie. In an effort to help her accomplish this, a colleague named Dan invites her to his family home across the country, nearby where the famous singer will be performing a concert.

Dan and Jane eventually hit it off, but far more charming to me than their romance was Dan’s huge family, affectionately called “the Mob” in their group text. My favorite scenes in the book all included the eclectic side characters from Dan’s family.

Annabel has done it again. I adored Jane and Dan. Loved all the humorous callbacks to The Notebook. The enemies to lovers and found family dynamics were very sweet.

“Love happens over breakfast. It’s just something Cormack said when we were first married. Romance happens over dinner. The candlelight, the wine.”

I will truly read anything Annabel Monaghan writes. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. You can preorder this book now before it’s released May 27th!

All I needed to know was that it was written by Annabel Monaghan and I knew that I would like it. Monaghan creates main characters who are real, characters who have been hurt by love in the past but who manage to find a way to heal. Her latest story brings together the enemies to lovers trope, miscommunication, and getting over childhood trauma.

<I>It's a Love Story</I> focuses on Jane Jackson. She was a child actress famous for her role as Janey Jenkins, an awkward girl with braces in a teen musical band of beautiful people. Now she is a studio executive trying to get as far from her past self as possible. She doesn't fully believe in love for a variety of reasons, but she has found a movie script that truly speaks to her.

Initial problem? The cinematographer, Dan, assigned to work with her is a guy that she believes is her rival. Next problem? The studio thinks that they need something big to sell the film and Jane blurts that she can get Jack Quinlan, the radio megastar of the moment, to write a song. Unfortunately, she hasn't spoken to Jack since that TV show when she was 14. It just so happens that Jack Quinlan is going to be performing in Dan's home town of Long Island the next weekend. Cue Jane & Dan going on a trip together.

What I love about this story is that both characters are seriously flawed with background trauma that is completely believable. Jane's mom lied to her for years to protect her, but it ended up doing more damage than good. Now she has specific wardrobes and costumes for every event in her life and sits underneath desks with a stash of chocolate when things go wrong. Jane has tried everything to escape the persona of the awkward girl she was as a teenager, but that feeling like you will never be enough, that you are never the one that someone is going to want lingers and chips away at her strength. Turns out, Jane is even more broken than we thought.

Dan is the hero of this story. He is the one that might have done something wrong at one point, but is so full of love and from a family that just gets it. Dan is one of 5 brothers and he loves his family, but he doesn't quite fit in. Even with that, he was raised in a household where love overflowed. His mom even explains that "love happens over breakfast," not dates, romantic gestures, or gifts. When he winds up falling for Jane, he goes all in until she gets scared and runs away.

This is a romance for romance lovers. It is a story for anyone who has ever felt like the underdog or the odd ball out in a situation. Jane & Dan are wonderful characters and this was a story I simply couldn't put down.

This is the book you will definitely want in your vacation/beach bag for summer 2025. Annabel Monaghan has such a knack for writing interesting romances that have heart and depth. Jane's struggle to know her worth and be herself has been holding her back, until she meets her match in Dan Finnegan. Includes lots of fun meta-analysis of rom-com movies.

Side note - I would really like to be adopted into the Finnegan family and hang out with them on Long Island this summer.

Warning - some heavy themes (death of a parent, abandonment)

I was a huge fan of Nora Goes Off Script and loved that Monaghan goes back to a Hollywood-adjacent vibe in this one. Which is one of my favorite tropes. I love seeing Jane in LA and then in NY and back in LA and how she’s changed in a short period of time. She works through some major self-beliefs that have kept here against a wall most of her life and she does so with believability, despite the quick story timeframe given.

However, Dan gets all the hero vibes in this book. Yummy, lovely, flawed and yet perfect. He loves Jane with no reservation. His family is a joy to see in the scenes together.

Can’t wait to see what Monaghan comes up with next!

“Love happens over breakfast.”

I honestly couldn’t believe I got an advanced reader copy of this book! I was going to wait until closer to release date to read but I couldn’t wait. I also planned to savor and not rush through it, but then I woke up in the middle of the night and found myself grabbing my Kindle. This is my favorite of her four books to date. Anyone who has a moment from their awkward years that has stuck with them and shaped them in adulthood (note: that’s all of us and anyone who says otherwise is lying) will resonate with Jane’s resulting insecurities. The quote is from a section I just loved - about how romance happens over dinner (we get dressed up, we show our best selves) but love happens over breakfast. It’s where the mess is, the imperfections show and the real humans exist. What a simple, but impactful analogy and a great example her delightful writing. This book comes out on May 27, 2025 and fans of Annabel Monaghan and swoony romance with realistically flawed characters definitely need to add it to their TBRs. Thanks to @netgalley and @putnambooks for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great summer rom-com, though for me, it doesn't quite reach the same high notes as "Same Time Next Summer" or "Nora Goes Off Script" did, some of the author's previous books. It's just lacking a little bit of the emotional impact.

"It's a Love Story" is perfect if you love enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and a beach community setting.

I loved this book! Dan and “the Mob” have my heart forever. I think this is my favorite Annabel Monaghan book so far. Definitely recommend checking it out!

4.25⭐️ {ARC}
(ARC review) — Thank you to author Annabel Monaghan and her publisher G.P. Putnams Sons. I received an Advanced Reader Copy for the May 2025 release of 𝐼𝘵’𝘴 𝘢 𝘓𝑜𝘷𝑒 𝑆𝘵𝑜𝘳𝑦 in exchange for my honest review. It’s a romcom and makes a perfect easy feel good summer read. I’ve read a handful of Annabel’s books and I think this one just moved up to my favorite of hers {previously was Nora Goes off Script} Initially it took me a little bit to get into the story and characters but I was totally won over. I loved getting to know Dan and watching Jane grow into herself. Overall I really enjoyed the book. Fun setting, cute and witty, heartfelt and a nice blend of humor and self-discovery. If you love the tropes of enemies to lovers / opposites attract. This book is for you!!

FAVORITE QUOTES — ‘Love happens over breakfast’ • ‘There’s nothing that makes a person act more insane than trying to prove how sane they actually are’ • ‘Everything’s changed. I am on a tightrope made of something as fine as a spiders web, and I want to be light enough to cross. • ‘Love isn’t a helicopter ride; it’s everyday care and treating the other person like they’re your house keys.’

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group for providing me with an ARC of It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan. As a long-time fan of Annabel’s work, this book did not disappoint! It’s the perfect romcom, offering a delightful blend of self-discovery, family dynamics, and lovable characters. The beach town setting is brought to life with Annabel’s signature vivid descriptions, making it easy to imagine yourself walking through those charming coastal streets. A heartwarming and fun read that will definitely make you smile! Highly recommend for fans of light-hearted, feel-good stories.

"Maybe I'm actually the worst. And maybe you're a snob about movies and can't fix a toilet. But being with you was the most beautiful thing that's ever happened to me."

I really enjoyed this book. Annabel Monaghan's books are always a quick read for me. We follow Jane Jackson, a former child actor, trying to navigate her life while still going through some deep issues she faced as a child. When she she faces a problem with her current project at work, she has to track down her first kiss Jack Quinlan to help her. Dan Finnegan is with her on this quest. She hates him, or so she thinks. His family was just perfection. I wish we got more of them. After some things don't go according to plan, we follow Jane try to navigate her feelings and work on herself by facing her past issues. The ending felt a little rushed. Other than that I loved it.

*Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.*

Annabel Monaghan has a new book coming in May, 2025. It’s a Love Story is a delight to read. Once again, Monaghan has created lovable, realistic characters. Jane’s adolescence was spent on a sitcom where she was the laughable poor character. Now she’s trying to have a script she found turned into a movie. Problem is Jane doesn’t like the videographer and has “lied” about her relationship with a famous rock star. Hoping to convince the rock star into writing a song for the movie, Jane has to work with the videographer, Dan, in his hometown with his entire family around. Jane has relationship issues and low self esteem, which become problematic as she and Dan become more involved.
I liked the plot and I loved the growth of Jane’s and Dan’s characters. The ending wasn’t too cheesy and was more developed than some romance novels. If you like Monaghan’s previous novels, you’re going to love this one.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Annabel Monaghan, and the publisher (Penguin Group) for allowing me the privilege of reading It’s a Love Story. As always, all opinions are mine and mine alone.