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.

It took ALL of my willpower not to binge this in one sitting. I was completely hooked from the first chapter. This has the potential to be my favourite book of the year

I always enjoy Annabel's writing and this one was no different. Beautifully written, a cozy and heartwarming plot. I always love the way she writes her characters and find she does a great job at giving distinguishable personalities which was definitely the case with this one.

I enjoyed all of the movie references, and the overall plot was interesting.

I will say that this is not my favourite of her books, I didn't 100% feel the chemistry in the romance but I still enjoyed reading it, it was a perfect fun holiday read with just enough seriousness to pull on your heartstrings.

My rating - 4.5 stars

Annabel Monaghan has become an autobuy author for me so I was over the moon when I got accepted for this. Thank you!! After a slower start to this one, I found myself falling head over heels for Jane and Dan’s story and the Finnegan family stole my heart. In Annabel we trust!

This book will be an absolute hit this summer, it’s made to be a beach read! Monaghan has the ability to deliver charming and butterfly inducing rom-coms while also leaving a lasting impression. This story is heartfelt, sweet and comical in places but also feels real and highlighted moments most people can relate to when dating or falling in love.

The location between LA and Long Island was perfect, especially the descriptions of the potato fields and cottage the Finnegans live in! The chemistry build up over time is hot and doesn’t require the open door romance most books include nowadays. I loved the tension and romance between so many of the characters and the sweet and tender moments were so heartfelt. This one ticks off a few tropes such as enemies to lovers, slow burn and small town and really is a wonderful story! You won’t be disappointed!

I’m already excited for Monaghan’s next release whenever that may be! This romance girlies’ heart is happy!

Bookstagram review to follow

It’s A Love Story by Annabel Monaghan review:

I really enjoyed this story as I have every other book by this author. As usual Annabel Monaghan’s writing was incredible throughout this book. I loved the setting of the story and the small town found family vibes!! The perfect spring/summer beach read in my opinion. I love how the premise of the story is actually really lighthearted on the surface but there’s lots of deeper more emotional moments that gives the story so much depth. The characters were relatable and flawed making them so easy to relate to and understand. The pacing and development of the characters and the plot was perfect. If you loved any other book by Annabel you’ll definitely love this one too!

I’ve added my booksta link below my review will be posted in the coming weeks x

The blurb:

Jane Jackson knows that true love is a lie. Laughter is the only truth: and having spent her adolescence as the barbecue-sauce-in-her-braces punchline on America's fifth-favourite sitcom, she's still trying to shake off that role. At least now she's a Creative Executive at Clearwater Studios and living by a new mantra: fake it till you make it.

Except, she might have faked it too far. Desperate to get her first project greenlit and riled up by pompous cinematographer and one-time crush Dan Finnegan, she opened her mouth and a big fat fib fell out. She claimed that Jack Quinlan, hottest popstar of the moment, has promised to write an original song for the script. Jack may have been her first kiss – and greatest source of shame – but Jane hasn't spoken to him in twenty years.

My thoughts:
Enemies to lovers is a trope I do enjoy!

I loved Jane, I loved her humour and the situations she got herself into. The way she started falling for Dan….
You could feel her desperation to find Jack and her embarrassment at being the geeky teen star. I loved seeing Jane being her true self, seeing the hurt and anger she’d carried around for years and then seeing a softer funny side when she was happy.

This was the perfect Rom-com. It had humour, heartfelt moments and disaster. This was my first book that I’d read from this author, and has me reaching for more!

Highly recommend 4.5⭐️

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Head of Zeus and the author for approving an advance copy to read. Opinions expressed here are my own.

It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan
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4/5 🌟
This book was funny, sweet, and totally slow burn 🔥. Jane used to be the awkward teen star on a cheesy sitcom, and now she’s trying to make it in Hollywood, until one lie about a pop star (aka her super embarrassing first kiss 💋 ) puts her in a serious bind.
To fix it, she has to work with Dan, her old crush-turned-annoying coworker. Cue road trip, banter, awkward memories, and major sparks.

If you love second chances, slow burn romance, and books that make you laugh and feel things👉🏻read this one!

Thanks for the arc NetGalley!

#bookreview #ItsALoveStory #romcom #AnnabelMonaghan #bookstagram #romancebooks #netgalleyarc

Annabel Monaghan has a gift for creating stories that feel like a cosy conversation with your funniest, cutest friend. In ‘It’s A Love Story’, she delivers another charming, deeply emotional rom-com that manages to be both laugh-out-loud funny and quietly thoughtful.

The story centres on Jane Jackson, a former child sitcom star trying to step out of her own shadow. Now in her thirties, Jane is pitching a movie she genuinely believes in, hoping to finally be seen as more than her quirky childhood character, Janey Jakes. A reckless (and very fake) promise to land a famous singer for the film sets a chaotic chain of events in motion — complicated further by the presence of Dan Finnegan, a brooding cinematographer she’s had a less-than-stellar history with.

Jane is a protagonist you root for instantly — messy, relatable, and trying her best to heal old wounds while building something new. Monaghan doesn't shy away from exploring the impact of Jane’s early fame and complicated family dynamics, giving the book an emotional core that resonates. Dan, meanwhile, is an unexpected delight: grounded, quietly passionate, and the kind of guy who slowly but surely wins you over. Their banter sparkles, and their slow-burn chemistry builds beautifully.

Beyond the romance, the book shines in its portrayal of identity, self-worth, and second chances. Jane’s journey toward embracing her past and her naturally curly-haired, imperfect self feels refreshingly honest. The setting — a dreamy summer backdrop in the Hamptons, complete with an endearing Irish family on a potato farm — adds a soft warmth to the story that makes it perfect for a beach read.

Monaghan’s prose is light but lyrical, with moments that truly sing. One particularly romantic scene involving painting lingers long after reading. Sure, there are a few slightly heavy-handed pop culture references, but they don't detract from the heart of the novel.

If you’re looking for a feel-good story with depth, lovable side characters, and a heroine worth cheering for, ‘It’s A Love Story’ delivers. It’s ideal for fans of second chance, slow-burn romance, and anyone who’s ever felt like they were meant for more than a supporting role.

With thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.