4.5⭐️s! Another lovely book by Annabel Monaghan! Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the advanced copy! It’s a Love Story is told in single POV by Jane, a former child star who is desperate to be taken seriously in the industry she grew up in. As an adult, Jane works as a film executive but she hasn’t actually made a movie yet. The book opens with Jane working to get her newest project , True Story, off the ground. Unfortunately, she’s going to have to work with her work nemesis, Dan who is a brilliant cinematographer but a pain in her butt. While trying to get the movie which they are both passionate about green lit, they end up spending a week together with Dan’s family in Long Island. This process brings up a lot of history for Jane who isn’t exactly living as her authentic self. She feels so much hurt, guilt, and shame from her childhood and it all comes rushing to the surface while spending time with Dan and his big, boisterous family. Annabel created once again the most believable, complex characters. Although there were times that the story itself felt a little far fetched, the character development more than makes up for it. While of course, it’s a love story, it’s not necessarily just between Jane and Dan. At its core, this is a story about getting to know yourself, and loving yourself fully. I absolutely adored it and can’t wait to go back to catch up on a few of Annabel’s backlist that I haven’t read yet. I highly recommend picking this up this summer as the perfect beach read!

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for this ARC! *It’s a Love Story* by Annabel Monaghan is a delightful and heartfelt tale that celebrates the unexpected twists of romance. Monaghan’s charming characters and witty dialogue make the story both relatable and entertaining. With a perfect balance of humor and emotional depth, the novel explores themes of love, vulnerability, and self-discovery. This book is a must-read for anyone who believes in the magic of serendipity and the beauty of second chances.

ARC Review: It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan

What happens when a former child star desperate to prove herself in Hollywood tells a lie that forces her to confront her past—and spend a week with her irritatingly charming co-worker? It’s a Love Story is a witty and heartfelt romantic comedy about second chances, personal growth, and the unexpected ways love can find you.

Annabel Monaghan’s It’s a Love Story blends humor, heart, and a journey of self-discovery in a fun, if occasionally uneven, romance. Here’s what worked—and what didn’t—for me:

Pros:
* Engaging premise: The setup—a former sitcom punchline navigating a career in Hollywood while facing her past—is unique and provides plenty of humor and heart.
* Jane’s wit and charm: Jane Jackson’s sharp humor and relatable “fake it till you make it” mantra make her a delightful protagonist. Her slogans like “Manifest a Solid Partner” and “World’s Greatest Divorce” had me laughing and wishing she’d trademark them!
* Character growth: Jane’s development is a standout. Her journey of self-acceptance and her evolving relationships with her parents, Clem, and Dan add depth to the story.
* The romance’s second-half glow: The story really hits its stride when Jane and Dan visit his hometown. The small-town charm and deeper exploration of their dynamic make this section shine.

Cons:
* Dan’s early portrayal: Dan’s condescending attitude early in the book made it hard to connect with him or root for the romance at first. While his behavior is explained and he becomes more likable later, this rough start could be off-putting for some readers.
* Uneven pacing and structure: The book has a slow start, with abrupt chapter endings and a lot of information upfront which makes it feel slightly disjointed at times. I also wish I knew the contents of the movie script since its such a big part of why these two characters connect.

Final Thoughts:
Despite its uneven pacing and some early frustrations, It’s a Love Story delivers a charming, heartfelt romance. Jane’s wit and growth carry the story, while her journey with Dan ultimately becomes compelling. Fans of laugh-out-loud romantic comedies with an emotional core will find much to enjoy here.

Thank you to NetGalley for early access to this book!

I absolutely loved everything about this book. Jane was quirky and neurotic, but I found her inner monologue incredibly relatable. I wish the world had been kinder to 14-year-old Janey Jakes, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching her grow and embrace her unique quirks. Dan wasn’t your typical romantic lead, but he was exactly what Jane needed, and their personalities complemented each other perfectly. Despite the fact that their romance developed over the course of just a week, it didn’t feel like insta-love. The story was heartfelt, engaging, and at time laugh out loud funny, I cannot recommend this book enough!

*It's a Love Story* by Annabel Monaghan is a captivating, feel-good read that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you smiling. Monaghan masterfully weaves humor, warmth, and heartfelt emotion into a story that celebrates love in all its messy, beautiful glory. The characters are wonderfully relatable, and their journeys are both touching and inspiring.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group for the ARC!!

At first, I wasn't sure if Jane was going to fall for Dan or Jack and by the grace of God, I am SO happy it was Dan, haha! I'm also so glad that Jack played such a minor- if that- role in this book.

Dan & Jane's chemistry is sort of the best I've read in a while between two characters. Dan seemingly cares so much about Jane while they're both following this 'enemies to lovers' trope. Except jokes on us, they've been secretly wanting one another the entire time.
Their first kiss? I'm not sure I've seen a kiss better described.

I felt like I was rooting for them the whole time.
And screw Brooke and screw Jack!

I just wish Jane had a little more confidence. She has "date" attire, but hasn't had a "real relationship"? That part was a tad eye-rolly...

I am struggling with this rating, on one hand it was a super sweet book and I loved very specific parts SO much but on the other hand, I really disliked our fmc. Let me back up, Summer Romance was an amazing read for me, so I jumped at the opportunity to grab Annabel’s latest book. I just wished I loved ALL of it.

Quick synopsis, Jane an aspiring movie producer, is trying to get the perfect romance movie made at her studio, only she needs a big name attached. She tells her studio a little lie about knowing a singer who would write a song for the movie. Now she has to make it happen. Jane sets off with Dan (her nemesis because he shut down a previous movie she tried to make) to his hometown in Long Island to track down the singer to get him to agree.

Jane, our fmc, is pretty insufferable. It’s one thing to have trauma and be flawed, it’s another when your coping mechanisms are to hide under your desk (at work!) and in your closet. I just couldn’t relate. Also, the initial chapters of her ideal partner and first through fourth dating scenarios are truly ick. She also seemed like she could never handle herself in a professional setting at all, it’s one thing to make her immature from a love standpoint but another in a professional setting. I don’t see how she makes certain leaps and bounds in her personality in ONE week. Yes, this also happens over a single week, talk about instalove. As cute as Jane and Dan’s time was in Long Island, they went from 0 to 100 pretty darn fast. Also, I am still struggling with the story itself and understand what exactly Jane does for a living. The words Producer and Executive Producer were thrown around a lot in place of telling us any real substance of what she does for her studio, it felt disingenuous.

Now what I absolutely loved and adored. Dan and his entire family, specifically Cormick (his dad), Ruby (his niece) and let’s face it all his brothers and mother. I LOVED every single second of the dreamy time Jane and Dan had on Long Island. I even loved all the Notebook references, and there were A LOT of references. If I could keep reading an entire book around Dan’s family, I would gobble it up. Unfortunately it just wasn’t enough for me to completely love this one. It was missing the emotional gut punch and a deeper conflict. If you go into this knowing it is a bit of a surface level romance, I think you’ll still enjoy it.

This is such a wholesome romance!!! People always say that romance stories are unbelievable, but every part of this story made me think of the love that my husband and I share. It’s messy in the way that you each will always have your own insecurities & past hurts that bleed into your relationship & that other person can never fully heal you from all of that but they can help you day by day rewrite all those hard moments by building new ones that teach you what love actually is.

“Sometimes I watch him reading by the amber light in my living room and try to imagine what it would feel like to be tired of him, to stop wanting to reach out and find him in the middle of the night. So far I cannot. The longer I know him, the deeper I want to dig, the more he matters, like both the giant love of my life and my house keys.”

The butterflies in a relationship will not always be there, you will get comfortable around one another and your true selves will come out and in my opinion that’s where the real magic happens - “Love happens over breakfast.” “at breakfast everything’s just as it is, in the light of day. No one wears lipstick to breakfast. And this is where you talk about your day and the part of the roof that might leak this fall. You bring your real self to breakfast.”

This story where Jane and Dan fall in love is relatable and swoonworthy and if you have yet to fall in love it is a beautiful picture of what it should be. They fall in love in a head over heels kind of way but those feelings last in a way where it’s not 100% passion every waking hour but a comfortable thing where you are known and loved insecurities & shortcomings & all.

4.5⭐️ Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc!

Our main character, Jane, is a child star with daddy issues that is battling her inner monologue about how she’s never good enough. She falls in love with a script, and her boss says she needs something to draw viewers in, a tiger! Insert Dan, the videographer that just so happens to convince Jane to go to Long Island to chance her tiger. But what Jane finds instead is that very script shes fighting so hard for coming true right before her eyes. And the rest is history!

I really enjoyed this book! Although the FMC has a flawed way of thinking that can’t help but annoy the reader, the characters in this book are just so lovable. I love how the script referenced throughout the book is quite literally describing our main characters love story, and the ending perfectly wraps that up, down to the last page.

I loved it! So engaging and sucks you right in at the beginning that you HAVE to finish the novel. Annabel Monaghan never fails to impress.

The plot centers on Jane Jackson, a woman who spent her childhood as the target of jokes on a popular kids' sitcom. Years of being the punchline left Jane believing she wasn’t good enough. Now, as an adult working behind the scenes in the entertainment industry, she’s determined to prove herself by producing the next big hit.

Then there’s Dan—her coworker and former almost-date, turned nemesis. Years ago, he shattered her dreams, and now they’re forced to collaborate on the project Jane believes could change everything. Their journey to secure the final piece for the film takes them to the East Coast, where the stakes couldn’t be higher.

This book has it all: a slow-burn romance, sharp and witty writing, and humor that keeps you hooked. But what truly stands out are the characters. They’re flawed, complex, and utterly human. It’s not just the leads who shine—every supporting character contributes meaningfully to the story.

From Jane’s fiercely loyal best friend to Dan’s warm and lovable father/mother, little ole Ruby!!! each character brings something special. And the chaos of the Finnegan family? Pure magic. Annabel Monaghan’s talent for blending charm, humor, and emotional depth is on full display here.

3.5 🌟 A cute, sweet, funny, light-hearted romance that has the perfect summer vibes. I really loved the confident, care-free, artistic soul of Dan, the MMC, and his very large, loving, boisterous family. I would not mind one bit being enveloped by the chaos of “the mob” for a week or so in Long Island and being fed copious amounts of delicious food while escaping from all the noise with a bike ride to the beach and a day spent soaking in the sun, sand, and salt. But like Dan, I’d prefer to visit the Finnegan family and live a bit more of a quiet life on my own.

Dan was the star of this story for me. He wears his heart on his sleeve and knows exactly who he is. Despite the fact that it would be easier to try to fit into the mold of the Finnegan brothers, he chooses to be true to himself which makes him stand out as an oddball in the family. He’d rather follow his passions and accept that his personality is different than try to force himself to be something that he’s not, and that’s exactly what Jane, our FMC, needs. Dan’s able to love and accept himself for who he is and he’s so good-natured that he lets the pokes and barbs of his brothers and family roll off his back. Jane’s need to defend him was sweet as was Dan’s need to show her how lovable and special she really is. I really loved that all the characters in the book had great senses of humor. There were several laugh out loud moments and overall it was such a fun, sweet journey.

There was something so familiar to the story of this book and I was glad that Annabel pinpointed it in the first paragraph of her acknowledgments! The FMC is based off of Jennette McCurdy’s memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died. I loved that book and Jennette’s story as a child actor so much. It’s a Love Story gave life to the long-term issues and impacts that being raised as a child star can have on a person and I thought it was done really well. Of course Jane is not Jennette and this is not her story, but I’m hoping that she gets her hands on this book anyway. It’s nice to see even tiny bits of yourself in a character and for them to face challenges, overcome them, and have a happy ending.

The main reason I did not give this book 4 🌟 was the FMC and her self-sabotaging tendencies. It bothered me a lot and I couldn’t help thinking that she would greatly benefit by talking to a therapist. She obviously needed one for many, many reasons. Points to her for her acknowledging at the end that she probably needs to see one, but I would have liked to have seen her follow through on that or at least having referenced seeing one in the epilogue. Let’s normalize therapy and see our book characters talking to a therapist when needed, and Jane was in desperate need of seeing one. Her issues could never be resolved quickly and I do believe she’d have to put in some hard work to make the necessary changes to have better mental health.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Potential spoilers ahead with my list of favorite moments in the book:





*Their first day in Long Island and biking to the beach, participating in digging a huge hole in the sand to play tug-o-war with a bunch of kids, and swimming in the ocean. This scene and everything leading up to it gives us the perfect vision for the absolutely adorable front cover of this book.

*Getting stuck in the rain in a beautiful white dress and then the moments in the truck! Cue the giggling and kicking of my feet! Makes my list of top romance moments in a book for sure.

*The evening crab bake on the beach - so much good tension between Jane and Dan!

*Making a watercolor painting together and the way it ties into her apology at the end of the story.

*The wedding and helping 6 year old Ruby perform her dance to “Let it go.”

*Making a grand gesture by sitting on a billboard that reads, “DON’T GIVE UP,” and finally baring her soul to Dan with a heartfelt apology.

Jane is a former child actor, known for her role as the goofy sidekick. She’s trying to make her way as a producer and found the perfect script. The last time she had a script she loved, it was shut down thanks to Dan, a cinematographer, convincing her boss the story sucked. But now Dan is the only other person that wants to make this new movie happen and they have to work together to find a way to get it green lit. They fly to his hometown where pop star (and her first kiss) Jack is performing so they can convince him to write a song for the soundtrack to show the execs this could be a major hit. Along the way shes forced to confront her inner voice that has been telling her since she was 14 that she’s just the girl in the background.

Thoughts
I really enjoyed this book. The main characters were so lovable while dealing with their own messiness. The author did an amazing job of providing depth to these character without making it too heavy. I found myself smiling as a read and laughing at their banter.

Thank you to Netgalley and Annabel Monaghan for an advanced copy of this book!!!!! I was given this book in exchange of an honest review.

I really loved this!!!! It was so lighthearted but at the same time the underlying message was really great and felt really relatable. both jane and dan were a delight and their story was so sweet. i loved their not quite enemies and not quite second chance but an interesting combo of both in ways. this was funny and made my heart warm. definitely recommending for when this releases in may!!!!!

Annabel Monaghan has done it again! She has a way with words that makes the reader feel like you're part of the story, longing to sit around the table with the Finnegan family, trading barbs and laughing with each other. From the love story, to the deeper moments of insecurity and not being your true self, It's a Love Story is a book that will have you believing in love and the special, yet mundane moments in life (like breakfast!) when you find your person. Thanks to NetGalley and publisher G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC of this amazing, laugh out loud, book! #ItsaLoveStory #NetGalley

This was so sweet! I love how Annabel Monaghan’s books are fun and funny but also make you feel something. I had all the feels for Jane and Dan!

This is my first Annabel Monaghan book and I loved it so much! She knows how to make you laugh and fall in love with the characters! I am so excited to read more books from Annabel.

Jane, former child actor, current perfectionist & aspiring movie producer, impulsively promises to have an original song made by Jack, former child actor coworker & current star musician, in attempt to get her favorite script made into a movie. Dan, current coworker & cinematographer, has a connection to get in contact with Jack. The catch, Jane must travel with Dan to his childhood home for a significant family event happening the same weekend.

Backstories for Jane & Dan unfold in the most relatable ways. Both have insecurities from the past that must be overcome in order connect in the present. One of the most relatable & well-written books I have read in recent memory. It’s A Love Story solidifies Monaghan as an auto-read author.

Annabel does it again!! Another great novel! Can’t wait for it to release to grab a physical copy and share it with my audience!

This was a lovely book with great characters. I really enjoyed the voice of the heroine. It's rare to read a book that feels lived in and real and this one does it very well. Even the tropes of shared space and small town meddling family felt intrinsic to the story, rather than forced. This author is becoming an auto read for me

This is another winner from Annabel Monaghan. She has become one of my favorite romance authors. Wonder slow burn!