This was a refreshingly written romance novel with prose that felt both emotional yet sparse. I think what I enjoyed the most was the absence of over-reliance on telling us each and every one of the protagonists feelings in great detail, which happens so often in romance. The voice in this case matched the protagonist in that she was stoic and let her actions (the show not tell) speak for themselves, yet you still clearly understood where she was coming from in every moment and there were a few times I did get really emotional for her. The setting was contained for the most part, but wonderfully detailed and made me jealous - I want my own tea house!

I went in blind, never having read a novel by Annabel Monaghan before and I'm glad I did. It was a quick read, with a delightful take on the famous guy falls for small town girl trope. The supporting characters, especially the children, were just right, and there was something magically right and believable about the relationship between Leo and Nora. I definitely did spend a lot of time wondering how they'd get their HEA, and Annabel was great at keeping me in suspense on that to the point I actually started to believe there might be another dude coming along any minute so that she could...but I won't say more for fear of spoiling it.

If you're a fan of contemporary romance then give this a chance, you won't be disappointed!

This was such a delightful book.

Just like the movies Nora writes, this is full of love and friendship, family, hope and joy. It’s uplifting without being too cheesy - but in my opinion, all the best romcoms are a little bit cheesy. That’s what makes them so addictive.

I really liked Nora. She was at a woman depending on a Hollywood star to control her life. She was very much her own person, with her own job, money, family and success. She was in charge and she was a strong character, even when didn’t necessarily feel it herself. There’s a whole community of characters to help her and Leo on their journey. Nora and Leo made a perfect couple, and Bernadette and Arthur made them into a perfect family.

There is such a real chemistry between all the characters, be it romantic chemistry or friendly chemistry, you really felt everyone was real.

It’s witty and charming and will leave you smiling, laughing and crying. You’ll find yourself binge reading it, unable to put it down until you’ve finished.

It’s hard to believe this is Annabel’s debut adult book as it’s so accomplished and she’s clearly very talented. There’s big potential here. And in a weird Inception way, I could totally see this being made into a film.

3.5⭐️

netgalley sent me an email saying that here’s a book i’m going to like. and i was like ok why not. and seems like they were half right. I liked it but there was a part i was questioning my rating.

let me start with that i liked the concept. it’s truly is something i like to read about.
i loved Nora as a mother. I think she was absolutely a role model of a single mother. i liked her routine and how she lived without doubts most of the times. and she handled her divorce in a good way and she was focusing on her kids so well.

about Leo. i don’t really have emotions. i was a bit off when it came to his and Nora’s relationship. I think it was all in a rush and it could’ve developed a bit better. it was like they’re got together but the next they were two different thing again.
actually it was interesting to read about a famous actor and a single mother in their 40’s. but i couldn’t feel the connection between them. i needed more to believe they can be together forever.

like i said something was really off with the story in the middle part. i didn’t like Nora’s decisions what she made when she was crazy in love with Leo and they were separated. But I guess love makes us to do silly things.
The miscommunication trope not my fav, but in this one i wasn’t really mad about it. I mean kids can do some surprise actions. I actually laughed when turned out what was the main reason Nora and Leo’s break up. Such a silly thing and I couldn’t decide who whose more stubborn Leo or Nora.

I was satisfied with the ending. That’s what made me give that half star. I’m glad I read it. It’s a quick and enjoyable novel, and if you love woman’s fiction you’re gonna love this one.

How lives can change on the decision of one person. A rollercoaster of an emotional ride. Beautifully written with warm characters and a heartfelt storyline that has you laughing and crying in equal measure. You won’t be able to put this down,

An interesting romance. At first, it felt quite detached and as you read further it makes total sense, because Nora is stoic in her view on life. It’s as though her career as a screenwriter for the romance channel has numbed her to romance. And then we find out about Ben, her ex-husband and the inspiration for the movie she’s written. A movie that brings superstar Leo Vance into her life. And so begins Nora’s romance. There was a point in this book where I felt eternally on the edge of tears. Nora’s pain is so well described that it’s hard to avoid. And a note about the children in the book: I often find them a bit tedious in other books, but these two kids were rendered in such an endearing way that I kind of love them! It doesn’t pack a Colleen Hoover type of punch and in many ways is so much lighter. But a thoroughly absorbing read.

I loved this book and Nora and Leo’s love story of two unlikely characters falling in love and then her hallmark movies she writes seemingly coming true along the way. It’s beautiful and fun .

Love love love! This book honestly had me hooked from the start. I absolutely loved the character of Nora, her thoughts and her life. Then in comes Leo Vance, and it's like heaven to a romance reader. I always find it so interesting to read the thought processes of an 'author' in a book, and with Nora herself writing a book, it's like reading a book within a book. The writing style was amazing, and I really enjoyed the character development. It goes through the trials and tribulations of life, especially following heartbreak, would read again.

Honestly, this book just wasn’t really for me. I didn't love the base concept of it and I didn't feel any connection to the characters. go check it out anyway though, because i’m sure a ton of people will love it!
3 stars overall.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

A tender and romantic read that has some nice twists to the rom com format. Nora, the lead character, is a strong female lead character and it was refreshing to have a divorced mother of two children at the centre of a romantic story. We meet her as her life is turned upside down as a film crew descend on her home to make a movie based on her unhappy marriage to the feckless Ben. The novel is a mixture of sweet and sexy moments and I found it an entertaining and easy to read escapist story. It would make a perfect holiday read.

3.5 stars
This was an easy read, even if I was a little bit underwhelmed.
I feel like the romance itself could have done with a bit more development. Almost instantly they get together and everything feels a bit rushed when it comes to the romance element of this book.
Because of this, the connection between Nora and Leo wasn't as strong as it could have been.
It also always frustrates me when a miscommunication causes a couple to be apart for as long as it did in this. It's just something that I struggle to enjoy in romances.
There were some sweet parts and moments and this was an interesting concept but it just didn't quite live up to what I expected it would or could be.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Perfect for a quick and easy read! It’s light hearted and fun! Thank you for the advance copy, enjoyed my read.

I liked the premise of this book but felt that everything just moved a little too fast for me. It felt like the main characters fell in love almost instantly and there there was this major twist and then they didn't talk for like a year all because they didn't communicate properly (I hate the miscommunication trope). There was definitely scope for this book to be spread out more as it was under 300 pages.

That being said, there were some very cute moments and it was a very fast read and I got through it super fast. I liked that the main character was a single mum and in her 40s as that isn't something you see a lot in romcom novels so I enjoyed that representation (also loved the kids, they were so cute).

I loved this book! I am a sucker for celebrity/normy relationships and this has it all! I loved that it has an older cast and I laughed and cried at so many parts! Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this one early!

As a romance channel screenwriter, Nora Hamilton knows the formula for love better than anyone. But when her husbands leaves her and their two kids, Nora turnes her marriage's collapse into cash and writes the best script of her life. When celebrity actor, Leo Vance, is cast as her ex-husband, Nora's life will never be the same.

This is the kind of books I love; the ones that make you go from laughters to tears (almost…).
I started reading it with a bit of trepidation and then quickly got hooked on the characters and their story. Nora has just come out of a disastrous marriage to a megalomaniac. She tries to do everything to protect her children, and herself, from being abandoned again. And then on the other side, there is Leo, a very charming eternal bachelor.

I really liked this contrast between Nora's job and her life. Even if, as a result, we could more or less suspect the end. But sometimes it feels good. I also really liked Nora's children and in particular Arthur who is very endearing behind the shell he has built for himself.

It's a book that reads very quickly but still deals with serious themes such as abandonment and divorce.

Ah I enjoyed this lighthearted lovely romance story! Really easy to read, liked all the characters and had a relaxing Sunday with this lovely, gentle read! I highly recommend it and I will be looking for other books by this author.
Thank you to Netgalley for an early read

A Five-star read you will fall in love with. This was my first read by this author, but it won’t be the last as I simply adored their writing style, the character creation was sublime, you had a punch to the gut when Nora feels the loss, and the sheer elation that bring tears to your eyes at other points. I also love how the tea house becomes its own character, not just a setting, as well as the main house, its difficult to get the feeling of living in a 100 year old house, as most times you just say crumbling around you, but this author managed to get the love you feel for bricks and mortar, to come alive off the page, it made me sad that we had to move out of our old house. This was so much more than a love story between Nora and Leo, it’s a love story for the whole town. This will certainly be the story of the summer, as it made me want to go watch a cheesy Christmas movie, when it's sunny outside, it has the power to woo you.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher for suggesting this book. I'd heard good things about it and was not disappointed.
It is actually a very 'real' romance, despite it featuring a movie star. There are issues of infidelity, divorce, money (and the everyday realities of it), and general duties of being a real mother.
(Spoiler ahead). The only thing I sort of had trouble swallowing, was that Arthur had caused the 'rift'. Only because, if they'd loved each other like they'd claimed, then surely they would've contacted each other? I know it's for the sake of the story, but surely their emotions would've forced Leo and Nora to confront each other for closure .
At times the story lacked a little angst and feeling, like we were being told what was happening, but not through Nora's eyes, ironically like a script. Nora never really expressed how she felt until she was devastated.
Overall, it was well written and hard to put down. Different and memorable, definitely.

This story did take me a while to get fully into, but once I was there it was 100% brilliant to me! Great characters and a strong plot.

Well this was a whirlwind! I wasn't sure how it was going to end and was pleasantly surprised with how everything turned out. It felt very real although the actual romance could have done with some expansion and it would have been good to have some more development on Leo. But I very much enjoyed.

This was a fun easy read! I enjoyed it but it is not something I will rave about always. That said, for a lighthearted romance, this is one to pick up :)