This is a romance story, but not the love-at-first-sight kind. Thank goodness. The world needs more romance stories like this one, that demonstrate ACTUAL love: mistakes, forgiveness, vulnerability, and all the little moments.

Jane and Dan work in the LA film industry, the kind where you’re fighting for every pay check. When they find a script that they think can make it big, Jane exaggerates her connection to a famous singer in hopes that he can write a song for the movie and make their dream happen. Did I mention that Dan drives Jane crazy and her blood boils around him?

Buuuut traveling to Long Island, staying with his family, and chasing down famous singer Jack together might change things between them. And she might learn some things about herself along the way.

A 4.5 star read, for sure.

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam, for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really loved this book. It was just so heart warming and lovely. I loved Dan and laughed at Jane. I thought the writing was beautiful. Annabel is becoming a go to writer for me!

It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan has solidified her as one of my always read authors. Her writing is quick, clever, and funny, and she has a way of making you feel connected to the characters even when you have nothing in common. I flew through this book, and when I read the acknowledgements and realized part of the inspiration of this story was from Jennette McCurdy’s memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died, it felt a massive click of understanding in my brain. This context made a story that was sweet and fun become something even more meaningful. I would recommend this to the hopeless romantics, cynics, and everyone in between. An easy five star read!

I loved this book! Annabel Monaghan has been a must-read author for me since "Nora Goes Off Script." I didn't think I could love one of her books more than Nora, but this takes the cake. It's sweet, unpredictable and adorable. I loved seeing Jane gain confidence with the encouragement of Dan and I'm happy that it truly was love at first sight!

There’s something about Annabel Monaghan’s writing that feels like a warm hug. She is so descriptive that it’s easy to picture the scenes taking place, and she writes with an honesty that makes her characters so relatable. Like her other books, the characters in this story are so endearing and lovable, and there’s a healthy dose of witty banter throughout. What was so heartwarming to me about this story is how Jane and Dan completely blossomed as their walls came down with one another. They took a chance by showing each other the most authentic version of themselves, and they ended up finding a lot of healing through that process. This book was hopeful and reflective, and while the themes surrounding self-worth really resonated with me, the happily ever after left me with all the fuzzy feelings!

Any book that uses a Taylor Swift lyric in their title is immediately added to my TBR! I have read all of Annabel Monaghan’s books, but let me be honest and say this one is her best one yet.

Uptight Hollywood studio executive Jane Jackson works hard to put her awkward teenage tv star past behind her. She spent her formative years being braces wearing, geeky Janey Jakes, and is now desperately trying to get her first movie project green lit so she can finally put her nerdy alter ego to rest and prove that she is no longer someone to laugh at. She may have promised her boss that she would get mega pop star Jack Quinlan, who she just happened to have worked with when filming that kid’s show, to record a hit song for the sound track. Jane would do ANYTHING to get her first movie green lit.

Anything, that is, except work with cinematographer Dan Finnegan. They once had a meet cute and almost went on a date, but now they can barely stand each other. In desperation, Jane travels with Dan back to his Long Island hometown where Jake happens to be performing a concert in a local musical festival. The plan is simple: Jane can cross paths with Jake, convince him to write a hit song for the movie, all but insuring its commercial success. It’s a perfect plan! Except she didn’t count on Dan seeing through her facade. And she didn’t count on being so welcomed and loved by his family, something she didn’t know she so desperately needed. Jane has spent her entire life feeling like she is never worthy enough to be loved, but in just one week with the Finnegans that all changes.

Their building romance hits all the right buttons: a slow burn, forced proximity, lingering glances, witty banter. Their chemistry leaps off the pages. The author really does convey their growing relationship through looks, touches, humor, and words. One negative thing for me is I do loathe a third act break up. It’s my least favorite trope. Since this is a romance, we do know there will be a happy ending, and I must say it left me feeling delighted and swoony. What can I say, I am a love-lover.

Some of my favorite quotes:

“For a second, I think I understand why they refer to the feeling in my stomach as “butterflies.“ It’s fragile and new and unfathomably beautiful. I have never had butterflies before. “Butterflies on the Beach “should be a love song.” -Jane

“I think I might be true and beautiful.” -Jane

“ I had this feeling, the day when we fought about that stupid movie, that I’d lost something I didn’t even understand.“ -Dan

“ He has been unstitching me since we met – my rules, my pretending, and now my heart.“ -Jane

“ I understand why this is better than insta-love. It’s the time spent digging that makes unearthing the treasure so satisfying. I desperately want this to be the end of the story.“ -Jane

“ love happens over breakfast. Cormack smiles at Reenie “ If you want to know the secret to a happy marriage, that’s it… You bring your real self to breakfast.“

“Those are beautiful words, I think: “exceptionally lovable.” And also: “two heads on a single pillow.“ -Jane

This book will be released May 27th, 2025. Please make sure you pick up a copy of this funny, charming, heartwarming, swoon-worthy story!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam/ GP Putnam’s Sons for the honor of reading this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I'd like to thank NetGalley for the ARC of It's A Love Story!

Annabel Monaghan has become an auto-buy author for me! I was smiling, swooning, and giggling at 3AM over this book. The author does an amazing job making you feel like you're in these scenes watching the characters. I was 75% through and telling friends they need to read this when it's out. There were so many moments I wished these people were real and could hang out with them in real life. The MMC's family felt like a second home and the FMC's best friend is such a gem.

I wasn't a fan on how fast the relationship progressed and at times they felt a little immature or cringey. Also, Jack was a total jerk and I wish something bad happened to him in the end - he deserves it.

I can't wait to see everyone's thoughts when this comes out this summer and I look forward to reading more from Annabel!

"It's a Love Story" by Annabel Monaghan is a heartwarming and witty romance that captivates readers with its charming characters and delightful storytelling. The novel follows Jane Jackson, whose introspective journey adds depth to the narrative, as she navigates unexpected love and personal growth.
Monaghan's writing shines with humor and warmth, creating a story that is both entertaining and emotionally resonant. The chemistry between the main characters is palpable, drawing readers into their developing relationship. The author skillfully crafts not only the central romance but also the endearing supporting characters, particularly highlighting the loving family dynamics between Dan Finnegans and his brothers and parents.
The book offers a perfect blend of laugh-out-loud moments and tender scenes, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a feel-good read. Monaghan's ability to create relatable characters and situations ensures that readers will find themselves fully invested in the story from beginning to end.
While the plot may follow familiar romance tropes, the author's fresh take and engaging writing style elevate "It's a Love Story" above typical genre fare. It's a delightful escape that promises to leave readers with a smile on their face and warmth in their heart.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Jane Jackson is a lil quirky & a grown up child star trying to make it in the film industry. Dan Finnegan is a hottie silent-type cinematographer who wants to make movies that matter. The fun part is that they hate each other!
And they are tasked to track down a famous singer on the other side of the country together. (This is very much an enemies to lovers situation we've got going on).
I loved the quirkiness of this book! There was some found family (my fave trope I think), pretty beaches, and equal moments of sweetness & silliness. There were some moments of conflict that I felt a little unnecessary and over dramatized, so it's not a five star read for me, but definitely still worth reading!

This was a fun, entertaining romance. I really loved all of the secondary characters! The main character, Jane, was my least favorite because our girl just needed a therapist. I still did enjoy the story, and the leading man, Dan, is dreamy.
My least favorite trope is "this could be resolved with therapy," which perfectly describes this book. Aside from the slightly annoying (personal preference) third-act breakdown, I would recommend!

Thank you so much for this copy. I devoured this book. I appreciated seeing her viewpoint on families as my family was more similar to Dan. I felt the depth of the characters emotions while consuming this book. I loved their love story because it was both raw and real.

Thank you so much netgalley for the opportunity to read this book as an arc
This was my second book by this author and I liked this one even more than the first one. I do think that I'm just not used to her writting quite yet and the more I'll read from her, the more I'll enjoy it (that's what happend to me with Emily Henry and now she's one of my favorites ever)
Because I enjoy the storyline a lot and like the romance very much, so I would def recommend picking this up if this is an author that you like

Everything I’ve read by Annabel Monaghan is fun and bingeable, and It’s a Love Story was no different. This one, though, had a tenderness that added an extra layer of depth. I love a relatable, thirty-something protagonist, and Monaghan always nails the balance of making her FMC's slightly awkward and quirky without going over the top. At first, Jane’s offbeat nature grated on me, but once I understood her backstory, her behavior made sense given the beliefs she held about herself.

I also love when a book has strong relationships beyond the central romance. Dan’s family dynamic and Jane’s friendship with Clem really enriched the story. Overall, it was such a fun escape back to a Long Island summer, and I’ll happily read whatever Monaghan writes next!

Big thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Annabel Monaghan’s It’s a Love Story follows Jane Jackson, a Los Angeles creative executive in film searching for the perfect script to bring to life. Unfortunately, the one person historically standing in her way is Dan Finnegan—a cinematographer she considers an insufferable, pretentious dream-killer. When circumstances force them to collaborate on her dream project, Jane begins to see a different side of Dan, one she hadn’t noticed before. With him, she feels no pressure to impress, no need to follow her usual dating rules—just the freedom to be herself.

I have to start by saying I love Annabel Monaghan’s books. You might think that makes me biased, but if anything, it means I hold her work to an even higher standard. And this book absolutely delivers. The banter between Jane and Dan is electric, full of humor and heart, making you laugh while rooting for them to truly see each other. Monaghan’s character development is exceptional, crafting real, flawed, and deeply relatable people. Watching Jane untangle the thinking errors shaped by her childhood trauma, while Dan champions the value of embracing one’s true self, was both moving and beautifully written. Themes of family, identity, and personal growth resonate throughout, adding depth to this already captivating romance.

A huge thank you to Penguin Group Putnam Books, NetGalley, and Annabel Monaghan for the ARC. I am honored to have been trusted with this opportunity to provide an honest review.

Loved this! Super cute relatable at times story. If you've ever been into show biz or just finding yourself this book is a sweet story. I found it relatable and I forgot I was reading.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. This is my 4th book by Annabel Monaghan and ALL four were five stars!! I’m going to be honest, when I first started this one I didn’t think I would like Jane….I didn’t, then I did, then I didn’t again but in the end I really did! This was such a great romcom. Ironically it’s about a script her and Dan want to be made into a movie, and now I’d love to see this book as a movie. I really loved the whole story line. Dan’s family was the best! Of course Dan was my favorite character of all. This was just such a fun and sweet book. I’m happy to say for the FOURTH time in a review that I highly recommend Annabel Monaghan’s books! It’s A Love Story will be released on May 27th and I highly suggest picking up a copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam’s Sons for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

To see other reviews I’ve left, checkout my Goodreads and Instagram pages:
*Goodreads - Cherihy808
*Instagram - bookworm_traveler808



.

I had high hopes going into this book because of how much I enjoyed “Summer Romance” but I thought this was ok. It was a sweet book, but it felt a bit rushed at times. I was not fully invested until I was 60% in.

There were cute moments between Jane and Dan. I thought they complimented and cared about one another. However, I would have loved to see more build up to their romance. It almost felt like a switch flipped and they were all of a sudden in love.

I did love Jane and Clem’s friendship. They were always there for each other and supportive. Also Dan’s family dynamic was sweet.

“It’s a Love Story” did make me miss the warmer weather and being at the beach.

Thank you Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the arc.

We already have holds for this book at our library! Ever since I read Nora Goes Off Script I've been a fan of Monaghan. It's a Love Story did not disappoint! Such a quick, engaging read. You won't be disappointed. Monaghan is the queen of unique plots.

I loved it! Jane was such a flawed and multifaceted character. The story didn’t go quite where I expected it to, and that was great!

Annabel Monaghan does it again! If she writes it I read it. This one hits in all the right places. I am stingy with giving 5-star reviews, a book has to have that "Certain Something". It's a Love Story checks all the boxes.

It's a Love Story is the kind of book you want to read slowly with attention. The cozy slow development of care and love delivered in this story is warm and delicious. A sprinkle of spice and full of real visceral romance.

Jane goes through a journey of transforming long instilled negative beliefs about herself. You'll find yourself becoming part of a family you never knew you needed.

Appreciation to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this ARC.