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.

The perfect rom com. Having loved Nora goes off Script i was excited to read this and it has the same level of great characterisation and brilliant one liners. Like others i was expecting the story line with Jack to develop into something else - but on reflection the narrative of Jane's self discovery didn't need more with him. I sped through it and highly recommend.

.Annabel Monaghan’s writing style is very easy to follow and digestible, but I will say the pacing seemed quite off for me in how the two main characters’s chemistry grew- it was very insta-love. It felt like their previous encounter was just thrown in to make the their transition to lovers more believable but for me it fell short. I did not believe the overall chemistry between the two characters, and being a romance, the chemistry being believable is the whole point. There was also some instances with the dialogue where it felt a bit robotic or didn’t match up and i kept having to go back and reread parts. Also, the third act conflict just seemed useless to me. It felt unnatural and as if it were just randomly thrown in there to create some sort of ‘oh no’ moment.

Although this book fell short for me, I know Annabel Monaghan is a widely loved and respected author and I know this book would be perfect for the right people.

Sunny and fun and just too good. I am unfamiliar with this author's other work but thoroughly enjoyed this reading experience.

𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒂 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒃𝒚 𝑨𝒏𝒏𝒂𝒃𝒆𝒍 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒉𝒂𝒏

★ ★ ★ ★ ★5/5

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

TAKE MY WHOLE FREAKING HEART!!! THIS BOOK LIVES RENT FREE IN MY HEART<3!

Okay, this book was an absolute *treat*. Imagine the perfect blend of second-chance (imo), old Hollywood sparkle, and enemies-to-lovers banter that’s so adorable. Dan's parents, his brothers his WHOLE FREAKING FAMILY>>> I felt like I was living with them. And the way they treat Jane? WHOLESOME.

Jane Jackson used to be America's sweetheart—a teen sitcom star with a million-watt smile. Now she's grown up, trying to prove herself as a serious producer in an industry that only wants to remember her as “that girl from that show.” When her dream project teeters on the edge of cancellation, she blurts out a lie—one so big it could either save her career or blow it up completely. The only person who can help her? Dan Finnegan. Of course. He’s got moody eyes, a mop of dark hair, and a talent for pushing every single one of Jane’s buttons. He’s also, infuriatingly, *really good* at what he does.

The chemistry between Jane and Dan crackles off the page. Their banter is gold, the slow-burn tension is delicious, and underneath all the snark and side-eyes is something real, vulnerable, and unexpectedly sweet. Watching Jane wrestle with her past and try to build something new for herself is heartwarming—and often hilarious. She’s messy, determined, sharp-tongued, and so easy to root for.

It was such a lovely book I felt the connection with it at the very first page and it felt so realistic ah I love this! I can't even describe how much I love this book and how this felt so real. And their little argument about the notebook movie? Adorable. I love Dan and Jane and how their relationship took turn IT WAS SOO BEAUTIFUL! I wish I could just write every detail, every moment and every emotion I felt but that's not possible for me because I'm out of words :) OH MY GOD I LOVE HIM. Y'ALL HE'S MY MAN!

By the end, I was fully charmed. This book is for anyone who’s ever tried to reinvent themselves, or just wanted to read a rom-com with a big heart and a ton of laughs. Highly recommend if you love complicated characters, showbiz shenanigans, and a love story that sneaks up on you (and then refuses to let go).

I absolutely loved this book. Thank you so much to Aria & Aries and Netgalley for an ARC of this book, I enjoyed it so much.
This is a perfect beach read with plenty of romance, a dash of family chaos and a whole lot of heart. It reminded me of a rom-com from the 2000s, like How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days. I found it really easy to connect with these characters once the story got going, and I felt like Jane's character flaws, while frustrating at times, were utterly believable.
I also love stories about big messy families that embrace newcomers with open arms, and this story certainly delivered that. As Jane is welcomed into the Finnegan family there were moments that truly made my heart melt between the characters. When it came to Dan and Jane, I felt the chemistry between them was so well done, and I was not ready for their story to end.
This book made me feel starry and happy when I finished it, and I will absolutely be diving into Annabel Monaghan's other books after this. Highly recommend for a lovely beach read!

I have read a few of this author’s books but sadly I just don’t connect with her stories. I struggle to find them engaging.

Wow this book was really a work of art! I feel like I’ve highlighted somthing on each page as the writing was astonishing! I fell in love with the characters and how they grow to love each other is just perfect ! The perfect summer read and an amazing, funny, beautiful romance 🫶🏼

I recently jumped into It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan during a weekend city break, and it’s the kind of book that makes for the perfect holiday read! ☀️
We meet Jane, a former child actor turned studio executive, who's determined to bring her dream script to life. When her plans hit a snag, she makes a rash promise to get the famous pop star Jack Quinlan to write a song for her film. To reach Jack, Jane reluctantly turns to Dan, a colleague and her former crush, who she now despises.

Conveniently, Jack is set to perform in Dan's hometown, so they decide to stay at Dan's family home while they try to convince Jack to get involved.
True to its title, It’s a Love Story this is a romance, but it’s not without its share of bumps along the way.

If you’re on the lookout for a lighthearted summer read featuring a charming cast and plenty of drama, this might just be the book for you!

A huge thank you to netgalley and Aria & Aries for providing me with an early copy of this delightful read!

wow I loved this so much more than I thought I would!! It only being 230 pages was surprising and what was even more surprising was that I was actually attached to and invested in the story in that short while!! This is the first book I’ve read by Annabel Monaghan and definitely won’t be the last!!
The characters felt so extremely realistic and the family dynamic, friendship and love did too. There were some absolutely beautiful and heart touching quotes that I had to reread a few times🥹 it was so fast paced and the side plot was really fun and interesting too, I absolutely loved the ending and seeing Jane realise who she truly was and do something for herself. A perfect spring/summer read, I had so much fun🩷

Thank you NetGalley for the arc🫶🏼

“Something out of nothing, and also something out of everything.”

"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."

"Want to hear something crazy?" I ask.
"Everything you say is a little crazy, Jane. Doesn't bother me a bit anymore."

I work for the publisher. This is a great romance book, very sweet with lovely characters. Would reccomend to romance readers.

3.5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for giving me this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I had a good time with this book but unfortunately it fell a little flat for me in parts. I did absolutely love the writing so I will definitely be reading more of Annabel’s books. So many quotes I had underlined (when Dan talks about her smile oh my god it was actually the cutest thing ever I was swooning!!)

What fell a little flat in this for me was I just didn’t feel overly invested in the characters until the end. I didn’t really believe in them together but I will say the ending had me so engaged and I was totally rooting for them. The plot didn’t overly captivate me. I understand this is more of a character driven story but I didn’t overly connect to the characters until towards the end.

An issue I had with this was how quickly they came to love each other. This book spans over a week and I think them falling for each other happened too quickly - a week is hardly any time at all! It did make sense for this story but just thinking it was too quick for real life.

The conflict at the end made sense but I didn’t like how Jane acted although she made up for her actions by the end.

Although I wish this book resonated with me a bit more I still would absolutely recommend it!

More than just a ‘love story’; this is a story of self-discovery, self-compassion and healing.

FMC Jane has spent a lifetime feeling like the butt of the joke. Attempting to move on from her past, growing up as the punchline of an adolescent TV show, Jane is determined to prove that she can be a successful, career driven woman. A creative executive for Clearwater Studios, Jane has found what she thinks is the perfect script to launch her career and must team up with her one time crush turned rival, Dan, to make the film happen.

From their first meeting, the chemistry between Dan and Jane is apparent, however, Jane’s insecurities get in the way, causing a rift between the two. After being forced to work together, they embark on a journey from rivals to friends to soulmates. Getting to know each other on a deeper level, they share their vulnerabilities, their perceived flaws and past traumas, building a true connection. Through this connection, they each gain a better sense of who they are and what they want individually before coming together.

I loved Jane’s growth and the way Dan allowed her to work through all of her ‘stuff’, supporting her as she dropped her walls and allowed people to see who she really was. The banter between the two is perfect; the romance is sweet and slow; and the spice is mild.

Set against the cosy backdrop of a charming beachside community, Dan and Jane’s romance unfolds over a week spent at Dan’s family home, surrounded by his parents and siblings. During their stay, they inevitably have to share a bedroom; are mercilessly tormented by Dan’s siblings; counselled by Dan’s parents and thrust into the middle of the family’s beautifully chaotic lives. I thoroughly enjoyed the big family vibe, the private jokes, the comfort food and the warm, welcoming feel of coming together. I loved this family and the way they embraced Jane’s presence in their home, giving her the family feels she’d always craved and I desperately want to spend time in their kitchen where “love happens over breakfast”.

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

This is the second book by Annabel Monaghan that I've read and I am starting to become a big fan of her writing. What a great read! I absolutely adored this - the storyline was great and it was so captivating. I can't wait to read more.