Without a doubt one of my books of the year!! Every time I read Annabel Monaghan, I am freshly wowed and taken aback at the clever way she not only crafts sentences, but also creates a dreamy reading experience. She’s top of the class on writing the hope, romance, and comfort that comes from immersing yourself in coastal sands, and I LOVE that all her books include this. I could not love Dan and Jane more, and I wish I could re read this for the first time again!

read if you like:
📚 quick reads
💙 relatable love stories
👶🏻 childhood nostalgia

summary:
This book was charming and relatable and hard to not read in one sitting once the characters quickly hook you in!

On the surface the book is a story of two filmmakers trying to greenlight the funding and production of a script for an indie love story, but in reality is a front row sweet to watching their real life, endearing and vulnerable love story with each other unfolding. It follows two stereotypical and borderline obnoxious LA filmmakers who travel to a festival in Long Island to try to secure a hit recording artist's vocals for their screenplay's soundtrack as a last chance at receiving studio funding (note: roughly the exact same plot as "Sing 2"!).

They are not especially likeable characters on their own and initially detest each other due to past industry competition, but soon quickly peel back the onion layers amidst the comfort of the male’s charming home town and large, welcoming family and realize they have much more in common than they realized and an undeniable chemistry. You're quickly rooting for their own love story, and realize the safety they find in each other and in the recognition of their true selves, is the one we've been waiting for as an audience!

Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and NetGalley for the advanced copy. For an easy nostalgic read, check this book out when it releases on May 27!

Before I read the Acknowledgements, I thought this book reminded me of Jeanette McCurdy. I love that Annabel gave her a shoutout! I also read that book, and was blown away. It's A Love Story is a beautiful story. I thoroughly enjoyed Jane's story! 5 stars!

Jane Jackson grew up better know as Janey Jakes, the punchline on a teen sitcom. As an adult, she's worked to distance herself from that image but still feels like it on the inside. Jane finally has a chance to prove herself as a producer and she may have oversold her connection to America's biggest popstar and promised he would write a song for the soundtrack of the movie she's trying to greenlight. Now, in order to track down the musician she hasn't seen since she was 14, she has to pair up with her professional nemesis, Dan, and travel across the country to Dan's hometown on Long Island.

This book was full of surprises but one of them wasn't that I thoroughly enjoyed it, as I love all of Annabel Monaghan's books. Where this book excels is pulling out every emotion from a reader. Monaghan is a master as making the emotions of her characters visceral and taking the reader for a journey with them. She also is wonderful at creating a sense of place, one of my favorite things in a book. The Long Island summer setting is so vivid that you can smell the sunscreen and feel the ocean breezes. Annabel Monaghan is a "must read" author, and I will consume anything she puts out.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this advanced manuscript copy.

You know when you’re in the middle of reading a book and you think to yourself “I can’t wait to read this again?” That’s how I felt about this book.

I love the premise, the characters, the lessons learned. All of it was beautiful, and also funny and wholesome.

The book is about Jane, a childhood actress who was famous for being on a kids show about teen musicians. She is all grown up now and is now working on producing movies. She comes across a script and instantly falls in love. While pitching it she becomes desperate and says she can get her childhood actor acquaintance to do the soundtrack. In order to do this, she agrees to travel to New York to track him down with a cinematographer, Dan, that she truly despises.

Then begins the best part. The two of them spending a week in NY. I loved the setting, Dan’s family, and their banter. I laughed so much at the family dynamics. And it truly was emotional seeing Jane learning to trust and let go of all her insecurities. The characters had depth, and felt so real. There is something so enjoyable about watching someone let their guard down.

Nothing will ever beat Nora Goes Off Script (which is the best) but this came very close to it! This has it all slow burn romance, small towns, witty banter, and all the feels. Put this on your list ASAP.

Thanks to @netgalley and @putnambooks for the ARC. Thank you to @annabelmonaghan for writing the best books about love.

This was such a sweet and quick read for me. I enjoyed the characters development and connections made in found family for our FMC.

This book made my heart so happy. I originally went into this book thinking it was a rockstar romance, but I’m so glad was so wrong. The plot centers around Jane, who is an aspiring film writer and former actress, and Dan, who is one of Jane’s coworkers and her harshest critic. The more I think about this book, the more I’m realizing how much I enjoyed it… I think the only thing that was kind of iffy for me was that I was having a lot of secondhand embarrassment, but that’s just a natural part of the story. I also think that as a whole, the book isn’t very memorable, and doesn’t stand out against other romcoms. Overall though, It’s a Love Story is a humorous, enemies to lovers, romance about resilience and new beginnings.

Features:
- Enemies to lovers
- Work rival
- One bed trope
- 3rd act breakup
- Emotional trauma
- Romantic comedy
- HEA

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to review this book! I really enjoyed it. I love anything from Annabel Monaghan. I loved the story line and would recommend to friends and family!

Book Review: 4/5 Stars

If you’re looking for a heartwarming romance that doesn’t shy away from deeper emotional undertones, It's a Love Story delivers the perfect balance of sweet and serious. The chemistry between the main characters is undeniable, filled with charming banter and tender moments that will make you smile. But what really sets this book apart is how it weaves in themes of past trauma, showing how love can be both a balm and a catalyst for healing.

The author does a fantastic job of blending the light-hearted elements of a typical romance with the complexities of emotional baggage. Both protagonists carry their own scars, and watching them navigate their vulnerabilities together feels authentic and deeply moving. The pacing is just right, allowing enough time for their relationship to develop organically without feeling rushed or forced.

That said, I gave it 4 stars because, while the emotional depth is commendable, there were moments where the trauma overshadowed the romance just a little too much, slightly disrupting the otherwise sweet flow of the story. A few plot points felt predictable, but the heartfelt character development more than made up for it.

Overall, It's a Love Story is a beautiful reminder that love isn’t just about the good times—it’s about finding someone who can help you face the tough times too. Perfect for readers who like their romance with a side of real-life struggles and a satisfying, hopeful ending

It’s a Love Story was not for me. It is not a bad book by any means, but I struggled to get through it.

I found Jane to be far too negative and agree with her that Dan is NOT her type. Their love story is cute and evolves seemingly naturally over a short period of time.

I would have liked to see a better development of her relationship with Dan and her mother after Jane opened up about her feelings.

In true Monaghan fashion, this story was romantic, comical, and full of heart! I really enjoyed it.4 stars

It’s A Love Story by Annabel Monaghan 🩷🎬

“I’d like to be the person who could take all of your sad things and make them happy. I’d hunt down each one and turn it over.”

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

Jane Jackson is trying to escape her awkward past self as a child actor by becoming a successful studio exec. In order to make her dream storyline a reality, she tells a white lie. One that requires her to face her cringeworthy past with a cinematographer she’d rather avoid. Although Dan Finnegan drives her crazy, he’s her only option in order to get closer to her goal. A week in close quarters with Dan and his family while also confronting her past- what could go right?

Annabel Monaghan has written yet another heartfelt beach read. Dan and Jane had such clear chemistry from the start. Danny’s family was also so endearing. I loved reading the banter between all of the brothers and just the obvious love between his parents and siblings. I also loved how real and genuine Jane’s character is. She’s insecure and still hurting from her past, but her character development was on point at the end.

Danny’s passion for his art is equivalent to Iwan’s love for cooking in the Seven Year Slip. It gave me that same cozy feeling 🥰 I just really loved this book. I have a feeling that it will be in the running for one of my favorite romances this year.

Thanks to NetGalley & G.P. Putnam’s Sons for this eARC!! And to Annabel for another beautiful story 🩷

This eARC of It’s A Love Story was my first introduction to Annabel Monaghan and I’m giving this one… ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This upcoming release features Jane, formerly known as child star “Janey Jakes,” as our FMC. She’s dreaming of finally being taken seriously in her career as a movie studio creative executive by getting her first project greenlit. In her tenacious efforts, though, she gets herself caught in a lie: she can guarantee that global pop star (and former co-child star) Jack Quinlan can write an original song for the movie. Now she’s forced to spend time with arrogant cinematographer, Dan, in his hometown on Long Island as they try to chase down Jack while he’s playing a music festival.

Going into this one, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the premise. But once I started reading, Jane grew on me pretty quickly!! She’s quirky, but she’s kind. She’s a little bit of a mess, but she cares. She’s just a girl trying to get by in the world!!

However, I found it hard to immerse myself in Jane and Dan’s week of forced proximity in his hometown… I wasn’t completely sold on the insta-chemistry, or on the fact that everyone in Dan’s orbit acted like they’ve known Jane for years. It just… didn’t feel organic enough for me 🤧

But what sold me on this story in the end was Annabel’s writing around Jane! Seeing her walls slowly come down, the realization that she doesn’t have to perform for everyone else anymore, was beautiful!! 🥹 AND, without revealing any spoilers, the happily ever after unfolded in a weird enough way that it actually worked so well for Jane and Dan’s story!!

Add this to your TBR if you like:
🎬 second chance
🎬 enemies to lovers
🎬 forced proximity
🎬 only one room

I’ll for sure be adding more Annabel Monaghan to my TBR!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Putnam Books for this eARC!!

This is my second read by Annabel Monaghan and it has secured her spot as one of my favorite authors. It was such an easy read, but still pulled on my heartstrings throughout its entirety. The characters were lovable but real, and I saw so much of myself in both Jane and Dan. And I absolutely loved the portrayal of friendship between Jane and Clem. Yes, I loved the romance, but the themes of female friendship were just as prominent and important to the story. This book is the perfect blend of Book Lovers by Emily Henry and The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center, while also feeling entirely fresh and unique. I will definitely be recommending this to my friends/followers when it releases!

It’s a Love Story is about Jane and her nemesis Dan who are trying to get a movie made and get their big break. Jane gets carried away and in her haste to get a green light on her movie, says she can get a song from a famous friend, Jack. Problem is Jane and Jack are no longer friends and Jane must confront her past when facing Jack. Along the way, she begins to wonder if Dan really is as bad as she thought or not. I love Annabel Monaghan, she can do no wrong in my book. This one started off a bit slower to me than her other books but it did hook me and I loved the characters of Dan and the Finnegan family.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5 Stars

Thank you to Annabel Monaghan for giving us another charming, heartfelt book with It’s a Love Story! It has that perfect mix of humor, warmth, and emotional depth that makes her books so great.

This one leans Work Rivals to Lovers—though not quite enemies. Jane and Dan meet, there’s an immediate spark, and they set up a date… until Jane realizes he’s the guy who just shut down her passion project at work. Date canceled. Crush over. Or so she tells herself.

When a new script lands on her desk, Jane sees real potential, but to get it greenlit, she impulsively claims to have a connection to a top music star. The catch? Their history is complicated. As a teen, she was a sitcom star, and he was the arrogant teen heartthrob who broke her heart. Now, she has to track him down—cue a trip from Hollywood to a small town in Long Island for a music festival, a chaotic (but loving) family reunion, and some truly hilarious moments.

What I loved:
🎬 Workplace romance with a side of forced proximity
🏡Forced Proximity
😍 Found family a big, boisterous mob of a family
💛 An amazing hype bestie
🏙 The best mix of small-town charm and Hollywood drama
💬 Banter that had me grinning the whole way through
👗 And the dress/ rain scene? Absolute perfection.

The characters are quirky and flawed in the best way, and their growth feels real. No frustrating miscommunication tropes—just two adults learning to see each other (and themselves) clearly. You feel like you’re part of the family, caught up in the chaos and warmth of it all.

Loved this one just as much as Nora Goes Off Script. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was so so cute and I actually really did enjoy it. The relationship between Jane and. Dan was your perfect enemies to lovers workplace only one bed new adult romance. Spice is off the page so it is like a .5 in the spice world. It was so cute watching them go literally from liking each other to hating each other to being curious about each other to actually Him falling first. Really gave me better than the movie vibes but better.

Jane struggles with abandonment in her past which causes her to question her self worth and feels like she needs to plan everything out and act accordingly so that she will be worth it for someone to fall in love with her. The journey to pushing through that is just so heartwarming.

If you’re looking for a really cozy, romantic beach read, I would say this is definitely the one for you. Grab it and enjoy the sweet, clean romance that this book is. There’s also a lot of found family and I love Dan’s family.

I really gave this book at 3.5 stars, but it didn’t really reach my four star scale. Thank you, NetGalley and publisher for allowing me to give my honest review.

I liked the author's last novel so I was excited to read her new novel. This was a fun and sweet book that I would recommend to anyone wanting a light love story.

Thank you to netgalley for an advanced copy. My opinions are my own.

Annabel Monaghan’s books are always a must read for me. The stories will always take you on an emotional whirlwind but end with heartwarming relief. This was no different! While sorting through her fibs (and falling in love) Jane goes on a real trip in learning to accept and love herself which I think many of us can relate to as well. Thank you for the early read opportunity! I can’t wait to own a physical copy!

Thank you to Berkeley Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan will take you on an emotional rollercoaster as you binge-read alongside its endearing main character, Jane Jackson.

Once a teenage TV star known as Janey Jakes, Jane spent four years playing the clumsy, dorky, nerdy character on a hit show—an identity she’s reluctant to share as an adult. Now, twenty years later, she’s still in Los Angeles, working as a studio executive and striving to make a name for herself in the film industry. Living by the mantra “Fake it till you make it,” she stumbles upon a script she’s determined to produce. She falls in love with the story, but her bosses dismiss it as not exciting or explosive enough to greenlight. In a moment of desperation, Jane impulsively promises she can bring in pop music sensation Jack Quinlan for the project, falsely claiming they’re longtime friends. The truth? The last time she saw Jack, she was 14—an awkward teenager overwhelmed by anxiety.

To make matters more complicated, her recent crush, Dan Finnegan, is also in the meeting. Determined to prove herself to him, Jane scrambles to find a way to make her bold claim a reality. Just when things seem impossible, Dan offers her a lifeline: his brother works on the stage crew for Jack’s upcoming show in Long Island—Dan’s hometown. With no better option, Jane reluctantly agrees to spend a week in Long Island with Dan, hoping to convince Jack to join her project.

What follows is a heartwarming week filled with close proximity, a slow-burning romance, and Jane’s growing affection for Dan’s loud, boisterous family—who are nothing like him. As she navigates this whirlwind experience, Jane is forced to confront her own fears, self-doubt, and the mask she’s worn for years to protect herself.

A perfect summer beach read, It’s a Love Story is a touching and charming tale of self-discovery, love, and the courage to embrace who you truly are. You’ll find yourself rooting for Jane and Dan, hoping they can set aside their preconceived notions about love and life in the high-stakes world of showbiz—all while navigating the complexities of their own families. A must-read!