Jane Jackson is a former child star turned studio executive who is sure that she has found the next great script in Annabel Monaghan’s It’s a Love Story. To get it made into a film, she must convince Jack Quinlan, a boy from her childhood who is now a major rock star, to contribute a song to the soundtrack. With the help of cinematographer Dan Finnegan, Jane has one week to track Jack down and convince him to allow his music to be used in the movie.

Annabel Monaghan’s It’s a Love Story is a fun, light-hearted tale about finding love when you least expect it. Jane is guarded after having her heart and her confidence shattered when she was young. Dan is a romantic at heart and his sincerity and kindness (and crazy family) are irresistible. Reading about them falling in love warmed my heart and seeing Jane blossom under that love was wonderful. It’s a Love Story is a great beach read that should be read on a hot summer day with the breeze blowing off the ocean.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam Books for sharing this advanced review copy with me in exchange for my honest feedback!

To me the highest praise I can give a book is that as soon as I've finished it I want to start at the beginning and reread it. The was my take away from It's A Love Story. Annabel Monaghan writes the best main characters. I just wanted to live next door to Jane and Dan. Their friends! Their families! Their emotional honesty. It's all so believable and I was rooting for their love story from page 1.
Is it too early to start wishing for the next book from the author?

I loved this book. The story was heart warming in all the right ways. The characters were all so relatable. I saw myself in so much of Jane’s character (only child, wanting to be part of a big family, falling in love with the quite one in the big family). This book mad me smile so big and made me cry too. I cried for both the happy moments and sad moments. Thank you for the opportunity to read early!

I loved this book! Jane was one of the most realistically authentic characters I’ve ever read and I enjoyed following her personal growth throughout the book.

as always, i love annabel monaghan's simple yet funny way of writing. jane and dan were fully fleshed-out characters with flaws and family issues, and i was rooting for their slow-burn love story the whole day. thrilled to have the chance to read this book - will eagerly await monaghan's next one!

DNF

this is my second attempt at reading something by this author, and once again i couldn’t make it past the 5th chapter, it simply didn’t work for me. there’s something so anticlimactic about her writing style that stops me from connecting with the characters or the story. I think it’s time to accept that her books and I just aren’t a good match.

many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC in exchange of an honest review!

Annabel Monaghan's books just feel like summer to me. These books are for the Sarah Dessen readers that want to recreate that magic with adult characters.

This isn't my favorite Monaghan book, but it still has the sparkle. "It's a Love Story" follows a former child star dealing with the ramifications of the beliefs about herself that she learned in her youth as she pursues her adult career and personal life. Romance and yearning ensue. This is a good pick if you enjoy books that have a strong personal growth element along with the relationship storyline. It had more conflict than I personally like, and I didn't enjoy how the last act played out, but this was still a strong novel that I'm glad I read.

Got an ARC copy of this book through Net Galley and it was such a fun read. Highly recommend if you like this author. So fun!

4.5/5 stars! So happy I got an ARC of this book, I LOVED this - I really enjoy all Annabel Monaghan books so I'm not surprised.

This had everything: Mentions of my fav spots in LA, enemies-to-lovers (ish), screenwriting, child stardom, small town, cute family. The male main character is even a twin, as a twin I love when that happens.

The ending was very sweet - my only complaint was it felt a little too short and some of the chapters felt choppy.

But otherwise, an incredible rom-com!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC!

Annabel Monaghan is an auto-buy author for me, so I always look forward to her new releases. This was such a good beachy romance, but I loved how real the characters felt.
Also, the real life connection to Jennette McCurdy mentioned in the acknowledgments just added something to story for me.
Overall, if you have liked Annabel’s other books, you will love this one!

Rating 4/5 ⭐️
Spice 2/5🌶️

It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan is a quirky contemporary romance following Jane a former child actress struggling to make it in show business behind the scenes. She meets Dan who shoots down her first script pitch and then in a twist of fate they have to work together to try and pitch a script they both love.

This is a sweet and heartwarming story about being true to yourself, being honest with your loved ones, and accepting every aspect of who you love.

It had some touching moments that did make me tear up. Jane is funny but her character did bug me a little bit but she does have a lot of growth which is nice!

Definitely a good read especially if you like contemporary romance, found family, and laugh out loud moments.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This is the perfect summer read, it was light, heartfelt and full of charm. I adored the characters, especially Dan’s big family. This book left me smiling, if you're looking for a feel good love story this one’s a must read. Thank you netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this arc.

I love that elements of this were inspired by I'm Glad My Mom Died. Jane's backstory is so interesting and her connection with Dan morphs so many ways. Her time with Dan and his family was pure magic--I ate it up! The third act breakup was infuriating! Jane got embarrassed and decided to burn all the bridges. Hard. I'm glad that it lead to some much needed healing but it was painful to read while she set things on fire. All the The Notebook references got old and they continue through the entire book--after the first 5 times I just rolled my eyes when another reference appeared. Dan is still dreamy despite his obsession with The Notebook. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

It's a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan is a delightful, heartwarming romantic comedy that had me hooked from start to finish. Jane Jackson, the protagonist, is a former child TV star who’s left her awkward past behind in favor of a polished, “fake-it-till-you-make-it” mantra. Now working as a Creative Executive, Jane’s life takes a sharp turn when she tells a small white lie that sends her on a collision course with her past and forces her to confront the one man she never expected: Dan Finnegan.

The chemistry between Jane and Dan was everything. Their banter was witty and fun, and the romantic tension was absolutely palpable. The flashbacks to their first meeting were especially fantastic, adding an extra layer to their complicated history. Dan is the kind of male character you can’t help but fall for—charming, confident, and so unafraid to stand out. His romantic gestures had me swooning, and his ability to challenge Jane in the best ways made him the perfect counterpart to her.

What truly made this book shine, though, was Jane's growth. As someone who deeply understands the urge to present an edited version of oneself to avoid vulnerability, watching Jane peel back the layers and step into her true self was so heartwarming. Her journey of self-acceptance and embracing who she really is, flaws and all, was incredibly powerful.

The side characters were just as amazing, bringing even more humor and heart to the story. There were moments that had me laughing out loud, and others that were so touching, I couldn't help but feel deeply connected to Jane’s story.

Ultimately, It’s a Love Story is a beautiful reminder that love isn’t always what we expect it to be—it’s real, messy, and worth every moment of growth. Monaghan’s storytelling will make you laugh, swoon, and maybe even shed a tear. If you're looking for a feel-good read with a memorable romance, It’s a Love Story is definitely one you don't want to miss.

This book is like a warm hug with a side of witty banter. While it might not be Monaghan's best work, it's still a charming read that'll leave you smiling. Four stars - definitely worth curling up with on a cozy evening.

I just adore Annabel's novels and was SO excited to see a new one come across my Netgalley (Thank you!). I stayed up last night reading way past my bedtime because I was sucked into Jane and Dan's story. (Also- can we have a book just about Dan's family- they were SO fun!)

Jane, a former childhood star, is in her mid 30's and trying to make movies in Hollywood (behind the scenes) while working with Dan, a Cinematographer. They do not get along but when they both decide they love a script, it is time for them to band together to make it happen. This is the perfect beach read, it will make you LOL and smile throughout.

I am writing this review as I sit on my couch, snow covering my yard, wishing I could be at the beach. Enter this book…*swoons*

Annabel is the perfect beach read author and this one is no exception. A second chance romance, with forced proximity in an adorable beach town with a dash of Hollywood-sign me up!

Annabel has a way of writing such beautiful characters that are flawed yet so relatable and Jane is that character for me. She is not just enjoyable, she’s real and I would love to sit down with her for coffee while also giving her a big hug.

Jane and Dan’s road to love is a bumpy one (side note: I so want to spend a week with the Finnegan’s. You’ll understand when you get there!) but their love story is definitely one for the books ;) and their banter is *chefs kiss*

Please be warned that you will want to pack this book with you for your next beach vacation, you will swoon, you will kick your feet and you will giggle until the last page is read. This is the perfect summer beach read so mark your calendars because May 27th it hits shelves and you will want to grab a copy!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

I loved this one. I love love, but because I’m old and jaded I don’t tend to read many romance or rom-commy books. But this one called to me (maybe it’s the Taylor Swift connection my brain made to the title). And I loved it. I started counting tropes and then decided I didn’t care because it was fun to combine some of my faves (and poke fun at romance tropes in general). Jane and Dan are diametrically opposed in so many ways, but ultimately both just searching for the same things. But beyond that, the book wasn’t just about their specific story. We got to hear about their backgrounds and their families and how hard things were for both of them, even while things looked so easy and perfect from the outside. I laughed, I cried, I stayed up way too late to finish just one more chapter and wound up finishing the book. My only real complaint is that there is no diversity in this book. No LGBTQ characters, no people of color.

It’s interesting the author’s note/acknowledgements mention Jennette McCurdy’s book because it was hard not to think about it throughout this. There has been a significant uptick in books highlighting former teen stars, many of which were in quirky little bands. I will say it’s a bit tired to me at this point (I think The Daydreams by Laura Hankin did it best). I liked the surrounding cast more than the main characters in this one, and especially felt annoyed by the conflict. I don’t feel we got the growth needed for Jane to change which made it hard to root for her. All that to say, this may be my favorite of this author’s books.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Did I stay up until 2:30 am on a weeknight reading this book? Yes I did. Was it worth it? Also yes!!

Previous readers of Annabel Monaghan, I have great news for you. You will not be disappointed in It's a Love Story. It contains everything that Nora Goes off Script, Summer Romance and Same Time Next Summer had that you loved, which is: a realistic plot, a main character that is complex and easy to identify with (no matter your circumstances), and just enough romance to make your insides happy (but not too much to make it cheesy).

I read in the acknowledgements that the author was inspired to write this book after reading Jennette McCurdy's memoir (which was exceptional) and it did not surprise me in the least. The main character in this novel is Jane - she's in her early thirties, is single, lives with her newly-divorced bestie, and really wants to find her person. But she's been molded by some trauma in her past - partly due to having been a child actor (!!), and partly due to her family situation, including a mom who truly meant well, but did her a couple injustices (nothing on the crazy scale of the memoir though).

Jane's a little awkward some times (like we all are!). I found her to be really relatable in how she overthought and worried about things, even though she and I are nothing alike. Her sometimes large reactions to things were - besides funny - also relatable. Because who hasn't been in a situation where we later wish we could have been more smooth, less knee-jerk, in a tough moment?

As a last note, I really enjoyed the build up in this novel and the way I had pictures of scenes in my head as I was reading.

5 / 5 stars. My only complaint about this book is that it ended. LOL