Well I absolutely adored this, Annabel Monaghan can do no wrong in my eyes. Such delightful characters fully brought to life across a lovely heart-warming storyline, I wasn't ready to say goodbye!

I loved this!! Easy easy 5 stars!!

The main character is Jane, a former child star who appeared on a nickelodeon type show as the comedic relief character. She's now a creative executive and has found a script she loves and is determined to bring to life, but the film company tells her she needs to bring a little "something special" to get the go-ahead. She gets an idea to convince ex co-star/now-famous-popstar to record a song for the movie, even though she hasn't had any contact with him for years (and he's kind of a dick). He's going to be performing at a beach town where Dan, a cinematographer who also loves the script, lives, and Dan offers Jane to stay with him and his family while trying to get in contact with her ex co-star. The big problem? Jane dislikes Dan immensely.

We get a super fun, forced-proximity, workplace-enemies, romance with gorgeous summer vibes. I thought the pacing of the romance between Jane and Dan was perfect. Their relationship feels so realistic, and I thought they worked so well together. I thought the tension between them was perfect and I was rooting for them so much! I just love how Annabel Monaghan writes - these characters felt very real and flawed. Jane has a lot of self-doubt, from being the butt of the joke throughout her childhood, and struggles to be her real, authentic self. My favourite thing about this book was seeing Jane's character growth. I loved seeing her relationship with Dan, and the other characters, develop. All the relationships in this book were so special, and I did shed a tear or two during this book!!

I loved reading this book, it was fun and lighthearted, but also had a lot of substance! I think this is perfect if you're looking for a fun, Summer romance!!

For the most part I enjoyed this book, but I think I’ve come to realize I don’t like books about movies, actors, scripts etc for some reason. I also wasn’t a fan of the middle of the book as I found the plot a bit meandering and there was way too many characters. I loved the writing as always, and there were some beautiful quotes. I really liked the ending too, and the discussions on difficult family relationships. Overall a solid romance but not a favorite.

3.5 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This was my first book by this author and I definitely enjoyed it. Whilst it was t a 5 star read for me I’d definitely revisit more of Annabel’s books. I loved the humour and how easily the writing flowed. I didn’t connect too much to Dan or Jane but I really enjoyed Clementine’s wittiness and would like to see a book about her as I felt I only got a little insight into her.

I admired Jane’s passion and drive to get her movie green-lit and found it humorous in regards to the length she went too. Dan’s character was warm and intriguing which made so much sense as we learnt about him, thus ultimately making the story line a little sweeter.

A workplace romance between rival colleagues in the film industry.
Jane was a child star and has a lot of trauma to work through, which bleeds into her romantic life and work life.
Dan is part of a big family but feels that he doesn't fit in.
When they both end up working together to get a film green lit, their feelings for each other get messy.
I loved Dan as a character and his family, the big boisterous and loveable feeling that came through the page.
I struggled with Jane as a character and wanted some of Dans perspective to shine.
Jane goes on a big journey which was good, but I found it frustrating at the same time.
A mixed bag for me.

This is my second Anabel Monaghan book and both are solid 4 stars (first was Same Time Next Summer). Her style of books crosses women's fiction with romance and the single POV focuses on the FMC's internal monologueing whilst the real life plot plays out.

Jane is a Hollywood movie producer and has landed a script she desperately wants to make. Having been a childhood sitcom star and the punchline of the joke, she yearns to be taken seriously in Hollywood and this script is her ticket.

Enter the award winning cinemetographer Dan, who poo poo'd her last project and now has opinions about this script. In a desperate attempt to save it, Jane says she can get a chart topping singer to write a song.

Jane has met the singer a long time ago but not spoken to him in years, overplaying her ability to get this sing written and script produced. Dan decides to help Jane out and they go to Long Island to a music festival where the singer is playing.

The best part of this book is the forced proximity where Jane stays with Dans' family in long island and watching them get to know each other and discard past assumptions. I loved Dan's family and how their interactions taught Jane about healthy family dynamics and the kind of relationships to aspire to. Dan is an all around good guy and it was great to see their HEA play out, interwoven with Jane's growth in dealing with her childhood trauma.

Solid 4 stars.

It’s A Love Story
Annabel Monaghan

This is my first Annabel Monaghan novel and I’m keen to get to her others on my shelf.
It’s A Love Story was fun and easy going but still had real depth and plenty of charm. Heartwarming and still relatable.

‘I want her to watch that love story and give up her tireless pursuit of the Hollywood kind. Love isn't a helicopter ride to Catalina; it's everyday care and treating the other person like they're your house keys.’

Rules for a love story: There are none. It’s all a lie.

Jane Jackson knows that true love is a lie. Laughter is the only truth. Her mantra to get thru is fake it til you make it. Except she might have e faked it too far.

This fib sets in motion a wild adventure to do what she has to, to get her film greenlit and to save face for Jane. The magic of course happens along the way.

"I'm confused," he says.
"About what?"
"You sound just like Hailey Soul."
"No."
"You do. You've got me all worked up over here."

While covering up her lie, can they find something true?

All the usual trappings in a rom com are here and it’s done masterfully.

(Review posted 15th May 2025 on Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/41127816
and my instagram account - http://www.instagram.com/mycrimemysterybookclub )

I was excited for this one but unfortunately it wasn’t for me. I found the writing a little immature for the character and some of the pop culture references were a little cringey.

It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan is a charming, clever romance with plenty of heart—but one that asks a bit of patience when it comes to truly connecting with its heroine.

This was my first time reading Monaghan, and while I appreciated her sharp writing and witty dialogue, I found Jane—a former child star turned movie executive—a difficult character to warm to. From early on, her behavior feels shaped by something that happened when she was 14, and yet she's in her thirties, still hiding behind a curated closet and a version of herself that doesn’t quite make sense. At 25–40%, I struggled to understand what she was pretending to be—she wasn’t acting cooler, smarter, or more mysterious, just... less funny? And while that’s explained later, it’s not clear or grounded enough early on, which made her come across as immature rather than complex.

That said, as the story progresses—particularly around the 78% mark—Jane’s motivations come into sharper focus. We finally see why she’s carried so much insecurity, and the symbolism of her closets and “date outfits” starts to feel more intentional. Still, I couldn’t shake the sense that we should’ve had those insights earlier. The late reveal made the first half feel more confusing than it needed to be. Her behavior during the third act especially felt cruel and self-sabotaging—not a reaction to something real, but to her own panic.

Dan, on the other hand, is an absolute highlight. A grounded, emotionally intelligent leading man, he’s easy to root for and impossible not to like. His relationship with Jane is filled with sweet moments, vulnerability, and slow-burn chemistry that truly sparkles. Their dynamic is the emotional core of the book and keeps you rooting for them even when Jane falters.

Despite my frustration with the main character, the story ultimately lands. The ending ties together Jane’s personal growth in a way that’s satisfying and sincere. And while I wish her arc had been a little more balanced throughout, I can’t deny how warm, funny, and tender this novel is.

A MUST READ !!

Such a good story line and so cute !! And I will recommend this to anyone and everyone !!

Wow !!

This was okay and somewhat cute, until about 60% and then it got so dull and o was so bored.

The fmc was insufferable. Her self deprecation was too much, and her actions that lead to the third act break up had me ripping my hair out. She was such a bad friend to Clem, it was all about her constantly. Jane was also so rude to her mum without knowing the full story!

Also how many times can you use the word bougenvellia in a book?!

Thankyou netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

It’s a Love Story completely stole my heart. Annabel Monaghan has such a natural way of blending humor, emotional honesty, and romantic tension. The characters felt real and their chemistry was so easy to root for. I especially loved the way the story explored vulnerability and personal growth alongside the romance. It’s sweet, funny, and full of those little moments that stay with you. A perfect comfort read for anyone who believes in love that feels both real and magical.

It’s a Love Story by @annabelmonaghan

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Thank you @netgalley and @headofzeus for an ARC of this book in return for my honest review!

I was so excited to see I got approved for this book as I am a huge fan of Annabel Monaghan’s books!

This book follows Jane Jackson, a creative Executive at Clearwater Studios who is trying to get her first project green lit. The only problem is she has to work alongside cinematographer Dan Finnegan, who she once nearly dated until he ruined her previous project.

Desperate to get the project green lit, Jane tells a little white lie than mega star Jack Quinlan has agreed to write a song for the movie. The only problem is, Jane hasn’t spoken to Jack since they were teenagers working on a show together.

Can Jane and Dan get Jack to agree to the movie while he is playing at a festival in Dan’s hometown? Can Jane and Dan survive living in such close quarters for the week?

I LOVED this book! I enjoyed watching Jane and Dan’s relationship progress and really liked the small town, summer vibes. The family dynamics between Dan and all his siblings was hilarious and the characters were so real and relatable.

I highly recommend a read when this book comes out in a few weeks. Annabel Monaghan never disappoints!

The tone of this book read a lot differently than her other works and I think this one missed the mark for me.
However, the one thing Monaghan does really well is character progression - and I did enjoy getting to know Dan throughout the book.

Now this is a perfect sweet summer romance read!

This story follows Jane, an ex-child star trying to break into Hollywood from behind the scenes. In order to get a project greenlit she tells a white lie about a celebrity with a shared history. Now she has no other option than to track the famous Jack Quinlan down with her workplace rival in his hometown.

I loved the atmosphere of this book, I could vividly imagine the beach settings, the family breakfasts and the cosy music venue.

Following a Hollywood storyline which balanced the pressures of work life with the much needed relaxation of a seaside town was such a fun twist. One that Monaghan executed perfectly.

As always, I was most intrigued by the characters and the transition in their relationships. Jane is a hilarious woman who has taught herself to dull her wit to achieve what she believes men wants on dates, and Dan is able to recognise her spark and bring it out of her, making her glow. I adored the depth of these characters with Jane having carried the complex loss of her father for years and Dan adoring his family but feeling like an outsider within them. These themes of familial identity kept me entertained and emotional.

Outside of these characters, I loved all of Dan’s family and their ability to care so truly and deeply and accept anyone into their joy. I’ve also decided that everyone needs a best friend like Clem.

My favourite aspect of this book was the way we saw both the easy and difficult sides to love. While I thought that the 3rd act was a little over-complicated, I enjoyed how they accepted mistakes and were able to move past them due to their love. There were so many sections of this book in which the writing made me feel incredibly seen and this was the best of them.

Thank you to Annabel Monaghan and her team for trusting me with this heart-felt read.

If you like Annabel Monaghans previous book you will like this one. It’s going to be a great summer read.

I went into this book blind. I did not expect this book to wreck me in the most beautiful way. Jane’s story and past was written and unpacked beautifully. The love story between Jane and Dan was everything. One thing I love about this book was the way it portrayed how love is like a mirror, it reveals every part of you. It’s so vulnerable and healing and I saw that with Jane and Dan.

I love how Jane felt so real. Her past affected how she saw love. I loved Dan’s perspective on love and what it meant to him. I admired the way, Dan encouraged Jane to face her fears and be honest, reminding her how love she is, and how he saw Jane. As much as it’s a love story, it's deeper than that. It touched on family relationships and dynamics.

My next favorite thing was the banter. There was the tension, the chemistry in every conversation. While reading this book, I was like, “I get why Dan would fall in with Jane.”
She was extremely funny and cool. I found this book funny.

This was 4/5 Stars. I don’t think I will easily forget this one. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an arc.

Former teen star Jane Jackson is now a Creative Executive at Clearwater Studios, and she's found the script that's going to make her career. Desperate to get it greenlit, she claims that Jack Quinlan, hottest popstar of the moment, has promised to write an original song for the soundtrack. Catch is, she hasn’t spoken to him in twenty years. After finding out Jack is playing a festival in Dan Finnegan’s hometown, she turns to him for help, even though he's the last person she'd want to need.

Just like every other Annabel Monaghan book, the best way I could describe this is by saying that it feels like the warmest of hugs. It's such a perfect summery read, while also packing an emotional charge. I really connected to this one, so I might be slightly biased, but it's definitely my favourite out of everything I've read by this author.

Jane and Dan are both such interesting characters, and, as always, they just feel so real, which makes it so easy to get lost in this story and root for them. Jane is so frustratingly relatable, and I loved watching her slowly grow and find herself again. I absolutely loved the setting, and it has such a charming, fun cast of characters, and I personally think they played a huge part in making this as charming as it was.

It was just such a lovely, comforting read overall. It's so quick to read and it had me smiling the entire time. As always, the writing itself is just so magical, and it has a way of capturing you and pulling you in that's just so special.

This is my third read from this author and I have been looking forward to it since finishing since finishing Summer Romance last year.

The story follows Jane Jackson as she has to follow through on her perhaps overly strong claims of knowing celebrity Jack Quinlan and having the power to get him to sing on the soundtrack of the movie she’s trying to get made. She has to work with her work enemy Dan to reach Jack as they both want the movie to be a success.

What follows is a journey between LA and Long Island with childhood and family truths being revealed. There are lots of heartwarming, cozy moments with great banter between Jane and Dan’s family.

A third act breakup or fall out isn’t my favourite thing in romance because I feel like they could always have been avoided. This time though Jane had a lot to contend within herself and shows a lot of character growth throughout and towards the end of this book.

This is absolutely a five star read for me. I loved the characters, the workplace/enemies to lovers trope and the setting of Long Island (maybe most of all). Whenever anyone asks for a romance recommendation now this author is at the top of my list. I’m looking forward to her next release already!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this title.

★★★★.5 / 5

This book felt like a warm cup of tea in the sense that it's familiar and comforting. This was a love story about finding love in the mundane. This was such a cozy, summer vibe romance (with a very small coastal town vibe to it) filled with a super sweet family, a hot mmc and one very intriguing plot. The family truly made this book for me, in the same way the Edens make that series and the Eatons' make the Chestnut Springs series.

Annabel Monaghan writes the simplest things so beautifully. Like take a read of some these:
🌼 "When you smile at me, I feel like I want to capture it.
But it's not the regular way like when I see something beautiful and I want to photograph it. When you smile it does something to me, I feel it in my chest, and I just want to figure out how to get you to do it again."
🧺 "A bubbly kind of happiness floods my body as I watch him laugh with his brothers on stage. It feels good to want something for someone else, something that has nothing to do with you, just because you care about them. And I wonder if this is what love is."

One of my favourite parts of this book was the "Love happens over breakfast, Romance happens over dinner." And that truly is the essence of this book, the plot of the movie they were trying to get made, his parent's love. Like you find love in the mundane. Jane talking how much she just wanted to do the dishes with him, is exactly what love is. It's looking at someone in the simplest of moments and going yeah I could do this forever with you. (This reminds me of Just For The Summer by Abby Jimenez)

I loved the growth we had from Jane in the end, it was very necessary and their final communication was so sweet. The third-act in this made sense, Jane needed to address things before she could fully commit to Dan. Her realising she is truly loveable had my genuinely tearing up.