Jane has spent years shedding her awkward child actor past, crafting the perfect, polished image she believes she needs to succeed. Now an exec at a studio, she’s determined to bring her dream love story script to life. Enter Dan-the annoyingly handsome and talented cinematographer she’s butted heads with before. But when one little lie spirals, she finds herself tagging along to his family gathering while also chasing down the key to getting her passion project greenlit.

Tropes and themes I loved:
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Hollywood drama
✨ Slow Burn Romance
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ Big family life

The magic of Monaghan’s books lies in the way her characters slowly peel back their carefully constructed facades. The timing is never perfect, mistakes are made, but the journey is full of humor, charm, and those satisfying ‘finally’ moments that make you root for love.

That said, while I liked this one, it wasn’t my favorite from Annabel. The beginning felt a little rushed, and I struggled to fully connect with the characters at first. But once it found its rhythm, I was invested. If you loved Nora Goes Off Script, you’ll definitely want to pick this up!

Thank you Netgalley for this eARC

Jane has spent years shedding her awkward child actor past, crafting the perfect, polished image she believes she needs to succeed. Now an exec at a studio, she’s determined to bring her dream love story script to life. Enter Dan-the annoyingly handsome and talented cinematographer she’s butted heads with before. But when one little lie spirals, she finds herself tagging along to his family gathering while also chasing down the key to getting her passion project greenlit.

For fans of:
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Hollywood drama
✨ Slow Burn Romance
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ Big family life

The magic of Monaghan’s books lies in the way her characters slowly peel back their carefully constructed facades. The timing is never perfect, mistakes are made, but the journey is full of humor, charm, and those satisfying ‘finally’ moments that make you root for love.

That said, while I liked this one, it wasn’t my favorite from Annabel. The beginning felt a little rushed, and I struggled to fully connect with the characters at first. But once it found its rhythm, I was invested. If you loved Nora Goes Off Script, you’ll definitely want to pick this up!

Thank you Netgalley for this eARC

Well, this was an amazing summer romance! It's a love story was my first time reading the author and I can already tell that I want to read all of her backlist.
Enemies to lovers will always be a superior trope to me and mixed with forced proximity only makes it even better.
This was also the type of story that seems much more fluffy when in reality deals with very heavy and deep topics, but what I discovered is that Annabel has an amazing balance between the cute and not so cute aspects keeping it emotional but also funny and light.
Now, the romance!!!! Not spicy at all but with all the feels!!!! The chemistry, the tension, the slow burn. Pure perfection! There's also a lot of banter between the characters, and witty conversations and I specially loved the side characters, the family interactions and the way that they support each other through everything.
I strongly believe that if you love feel good stories, with complicated emotional depth, Abby Jimenez style, this is the perfect book for you! I can't wait to see what else has the author in storage.

I started reading this book feeling a little wary - because well, I loved "Nora Goes Off Script" and then I didn't love the next two books too much, but no worries guys, I was immediately in. It was like "Nora" - an absolutely perfect love story.

The strength lies in the characters and the writing style. Annabel Monaghan can write the most beautiful things about falling in love without them feeling too meh and she can brilliantly describe all the emotions, both positive and negative. This writing is like a big hug, enveloping you immediately. There are a lot of words - the descriptions and the inner monologues are long and very detailed and sometimes I wished they were shorter and straigh to the point, but that's the way the book is. Not many dialogues, but the banter is then brilliant and light - hearted and feels genuine.
The characters were, in my opinion, very well done. Both the main ones as the background ones, especially the Mob - Dan's family. My kind of family - full of chaos but you know where you belong. Our mian character, Jane, goes on a journey of finding herself and I loved how she embraced her true - self and left her comfort zones.
And you know that there is going to be some kind of conflict, there must be some kind of conflict, right, but this time I was literally praying for no conflict at all, because the two characters worked so, so well together.

The book has something magic in it, something that will pull you immediately in and you won't want to stop reading. It's true and beautiful and it's so much more than just a romance, as the author touches upon some deeper issues. Loved it!

In this story we follow Jane a film producer whose latest work seems promising and could save her from being fired after many rejections from her company. However one of the producers is Dan who since day one has been extremely critical of all her previous projects. When Jane struggles to get a green light, she claims to still be in touch with Jack, one of the biggest pop stars. However that is a lie and to try to convince him to work with her, she travels to Long Island alongside Dan since his brother is working on the set of one of Jack’s concerts. While spending the week at Dan’s she struggles to keep up her lie, will they be able to get Jack on board of their project?

This is my first book by this author and I have to say that it was an amazing read. The writing was very easy to read and the setting was perfect for the summer. I liked Jane a lot and I found her very relatable, Dan was an absolute sweetheart, I’m obsessed. The love story was super comforting and calm, which makes so much sense for the two MCs. This was such a fun and heartwarming rom-com, that I would recommend to everyone. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book easily gets 5 stars! I loved it! ✨💛

It was so hard to put this book down, it felt like a warm hug. If you're looking for the perfect read for spring & summer 🌼, this is it. I could read hundreds of books about these characters.
Dan with his love for "the quiet" (I totally get that) and Jane, who is quite an overthinker (again, totally get it) and kind of awkward in some situations. There should be a movie about this couple, so cute! It had me swooning and giggling. I also loved the family aspect in the book (<3 Dan's family).

Although it's a cosy romance, there are a few life lessons to think about. I will definitely buy a physical copy when the book comes out. It was my first book by Annabel Monaghan but I will for sure check out her other novels.

Thank you so much Netgalley for the ARC ♡

This book has easily become another favorite of mine, and honestly, I’m not even surprised. It had my least favorite trope—insta-love—but Annabel managed to write something so beautiful that I didn’t even care. All I wanted was to see Jane finally embrace herself, both the good and the "bad." Dan and Jane’s love was so quiet and subtle, but it hit me so hard. There were moments between them that actually made me tear up.

My favorite part was definitely Jane’s interactions with Dan’s family. Watching her slowly come out of her shell and learn to see that even the not-so-perfect parts of herself are lovable was so emotional. I don’t even know how many times I cried while reading this. May this kind of love find me and kidnap me.

That being said, I think this could’ve been a five-star read if the characters were a bit younger. It felt a little unrealistic that Jane, in her 30s, had all this time to confront her past and just…didn’t. I also wish Jane and Dan had more than a week to get to know each other. But honestly, that part didn’t bother me too much because the found family dynamic was so beautifully done.

If I could've asked for one thing though, it would’ve been to see Jane stand up to Jack for once. I get it—she has trauma and a lot to work through—but she’s also in her 30s, and it would’ve been so satisfying to watch her call him out for being such a jerk.

Even with all that, this book left me feeling so much. I’ll probably be thinking about it for a long time.

Annabel Monaghan has become a must read author for me since I read ‘Nora goes off script’ so I was very excited to receive an ARC of her latest ‘It’s a Love Story’. I have to admit that the premise and start of the story didn’t sell this one to me: Jane is a former child star known for her geeky character in a kids TV show. She now develops movie scripts in LA. Dan is a cinematographer who has openly criticised her ideas. They have to work together to try and get a script they both love get made. This involves a trip to Long Island to track down a singer they want for the soundtrack who Jane knew and has history with from when she was a child star. Notwithstanding this, a few chapters in I knew I wouldn’t be putting this book down and finished it in one sitting. It has gorgeous locations, great family dynamics and sizzling chemistry. Whilst not being my favourite from Annabel Monaghan, it is a satisfying, compelling and fun read.

A beautifully touching romance that I immediately connected with. From the start, I was rooting for Jane and hoping for her happy ending. Jane struggles with relationships—not because of the men, but because of the emotional walls she’s built. These walls seem impossible to break, until Dan comes into the picture.

Their charming meet-cute quickly shifts when they’re forced to work together to save their jobs. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and I loved watching their relationship develop. The slow-burn tension, the subtle glances, and Jane's witty narration made for a truly satisfying read. While Jane’s self-sabotaging tendencies add some humour, they also made her a deeply relatable character.

I loved everything about this book—the characters, the setting, and even meeting Dan’s family. It's a Love Story is a heartwarming, beautifully crafted romance, and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Net Galley and Aria & Aries for the ARC in exchange for this honest review. This is my second book by Annabel Monaghan, and I can't wait for more.

This book is a delightful blend of humor, romance, and self-discovery, proving that love and life rarely follows a script. With laugh-out-loud moments and an unexpected emotional depth, the novel captivates you with its fresh take on romance and second chances.

Jane’s self-deprecating wit makes her an instantly relatable and her internal monologue feels like a conversation with a friend. The romantic tension between Jane and Dan is electric, built on quick banter, mutual irritation and a growing respect. Dan’s character is down-to-earth, perceptive and unafraid to challenge Jane. The pacing is perfect, with a cute mix of funny moments, heartfelt revelations and romantic beats. The Long Island setting adds a cozy, nostalgic backdrop to the plot.

It’s a Love Story reminds you that love, whether romantic, platonic, or self-directed, is messy, unpredictable and wonderfully transformative. If you’re looking for endearing characters, sharp dialogue, and heartfelt story, this book is for you!

𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 :
• enemies to lovers
• forced proximity
• fake it till you make it
• opposites attract
• grumpy x sunshine
• slow burn

Thank you Annabel Monaghan, Aria & Aries & NetGalley for an e-ARC copy.

This was rom com perfection. Workplace enemies to lovers, found family, second chance romance, oh and my favourite - one bedroom.

You know that scene when Ben takes Andie home to meet his family in How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days? That is this book. It gives you those same vibes, that same feeling. His big family, open arms excepting this perfect girl, everyone in the room watching two unsuspecting characters fall in love.

Jane and Dan have incredible chemistry. They jump out at you immediately and you’ll be laughing straight away. Dan is everything that infuriates Jane most - especially his man bun. He’s about to ruin her chance at getting her perfect script turned into a movie. This book will take you on such a rollercoaster. You’ll be laughing, crying, swooning, hand on heart just having the time of your life. You won’t be able to put this down.

Such a feel good book and a great reminder that love isn’t straight forward. It has no rules, it’s messy. But when you find it, be brave enough to go for it!

Thank you NetGalley and thank you Annabel. The perfect summer read!

Could this be another auto-buy author for me?

Thank you Aria and Aries as well as NetGalley for giving me this ARC to review.

Jane Jackson may be rearing for a True Love Story to be given the green light as a Creative Executive at her job Clearwater Studios, but there’s nothing true about her ways to achieve this. Faking it until she could make it would have been easy if she could just hide in her closet and eat sweets like normal, but when a chance at succeeding in making a True Love Story big, Jane has to spend a week with her one-time crush and pompous cinematographer. Yet when art starts to imitate life, it is possible that Jane must face her own truth and question the longevity of her comfort of living within facades.

Jane is the most unique characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting and I loved her awkwardness and bluntness from the get go. It was my first time reading Annabel Monaghan but it definitely will not be my last. The plot was an easy going, summer read. There are many characters you believe to be real, flaws and all, who you fall in love with. And the writing was reflective and beautiful. I would definitely recommend.

If you’re looking for the sweetest cozy romance read or a read to take for your summer/spring picnic or beach outing, then this one’s for you!

This is the kind of romance that slowly sneaks up on you and you don’t know you’re in it until you are ALL IN. The kind that grows and is found in the beauty of all the flawed, quirky, ‘figuring yourself out’ moments.

Dan and the honest and genuine way he carries himself grew on me & I felt for Jane so much in this! I just wanted to wrap her up in a hug and tell her how wonderful she is 🥹 I connect so much with big families in stories because of mine and I loved the big family in this one! The chaos, love, laughter and different personalities warmed my heart.

This was my first read by Annabel Monaghan and she truly wrote in the most romantic, cutesy but realistic scenes! I can’t wait to read more.

A massive thank you to Netgalley and Aria & Aries for the eARC!

Former child actor Jane Jackson is now a creative executive fighting to get her dream script greenlit. To sell the studio on the project, she claims her former co-star and now-famous musician, Jack Quinlan, will write the perfect theme song. With reluctant help from Dan Finnegan, an infuriatingly charming cinematographer, Jane sets off to track Jack down. But as their week together unfolds, Jane finds herself drawn into Dan’s warm, chaotic family and questioning whether her real story isn’t about finding Jack but discovering herself

It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan was a charming and heartfelt read with a fun premise centered around a former child star. While it’s definitely a love story, it also doubles as a journey of self-discovery for Jane as she learns to accept and love her true self. The representation of anxiety throughout the book was well done.

The Long Island setting was super cute and summery, and I absolutely loved how Jane was folded into the Finnegan family. Their dynamic was so sweet. Cormack and Jane’s relationship was adorable, and the brothers’ ribbing felt so authentic to real sibling relationships. A small nitpick: naming one of the sons Finn Finnegan and having twins named AiDAN and DAN was a bit odd and distracting?

I really enjoyed the banter between Jane and Dan. Their witty exchanges made their growing connection even more fun to read, and their chemistry felt natural. I also loved how their week together kept shifting focus from finding Jack to simply spending time with each other. However, I do have a pet peeve when characters fall in love in just a week, so that element felt a little rushed to me.

Jane’s emotional journey was compelling, even when it was hard to watch her lash out because of her own pain. It’s relatable to see someone behave that way, but it’s also one of those books where you can’t help but think, "She really should have been in therapy for years." But it was nice to see her learn to be herself and not some character that she thought other people wanted her to be.

This was a sweet and engaging story with plenty of heart, humor, and a dash of self-discovery. An excellent Summer read for fans of contemporary romance!

I was super excited when I was approved for this one, I've seen so many glowing reviews of Annabel Monaghan's other work I was super hyped to finally try one!

I found it to be a slow starter, I didn't particularly care for Jane or Dan thinking that their rivalry was immature and it made them all the more unlikeable. I'm so glad that I decided to push through! Once we had made it to the forced proximity excitement I was all in, Dan's family were a beautiful cast of complimentary characters and their budding romance in Long Island had me dreaming of summer, it was pure escapism ☀️

I found that the characters are wonderfully developed for the length of the novel but I think that it could have been a little more drawn out to make the romance more realistic.

Whilst I'm not super into fame in my books, the ways it was used to show Jane's emotional difficulties and as mostly a sort of background idea was a nice touch. I absolutely hated Jack Quinlan and his uncle which only reinforces my dislike of fame as a book trope 😅

I loved the emotional ending of the book, Ive seen other reviews that don't understand but I really saw a potential version of myself in Jane's shoes, she feels big feelings but has polished and concealed herself so they aren't seen by others. I loved the way that Dan took care of Jane despite their rivalry and the way they spoke about how things could have been, I thought it was such a sweet way of exploring the what could have beens. I do think it was all a little bit fast for the ILYs when they've only been together for less than a week realistically and one of them hates the idea of insta-love (🙄) but I did love the passion and the intensity they supposedly feel, it was really conveyed on the page!

I will definitely try another Annabel Monaghan romance now 💌

4 stars

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Aria for my e-ARC ☺️

Thank you so much for this incredible story that pierced my heart and left a lasting imprint.
4.5 stars!
I think the biggest heartbreak is that this book doesn't come out until May. More people need to read this novel that squeezed my heart.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. And let me tell you exactly why.

The female lead, Jane, literally has the same weirdly constructed brain that I have. You know how you take something simple you see, then create a whole scenario in your head of how that thing came to be, and it couldn't be further from the truth? Exactly.

My heart broke every time she talked, or thought about herself. Feeling cared for, but not knowing if you matter hit a bit too close to home. Feeling like you're to blame for something that was out of your hands. Carrying something heavy in your heart for so long, your feel weighed down. Not having someone to hold it up with you.

Jane is trying to get her script out there, turning it into of the the big hit blockbusters. However, she's told she need something more appealing, or else it'll be a bust. She she decides that she'll ask this guy she sang with when she was fourteen, when she was a child actor and there song was a big. Only problem she lied about being in touch with him, and in come Dan.

Dan is hired to be the cinematographer for this hope-to-be film. They decide to do something reckless, and stay at Dan's family house to catch the the now famous singer at his concert and ambush him so he can work on there film.

But the book is much more than that. Yes, their jobs play a pivotal role, But I believe that their relationship, Jane trying to organize the mess that are her feelings, and discussion of finding yourself take the spotlight.

Annabel Monaghan writes emotions as if they are physical things, manipulating and weaving the burst of light, dark and everything between that sparks inside Dan and Jane.

"A good cry is a lot like a good laugh, I realize. It starts as your head connects to something in your heart and just sort of takes over."

See what I mean?!!

This story is proof that love doesn't have to be big, bold, and in your face. It's in the simple things. Asking if you're okay. Not leaving your side in a group of new people. Knowing when to give space. Reading their thoughts through their eyes. Supporting you even in the silly things. That's what love truly means.

Key takeaways

- amazing representation of emotions
- ‘love doesn’t have to be grand’ mindset
- enjoying the small moments





https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7079077760

I trust Annabel Monaghan to deliver heartbreaking yet heartwarming love stories. It’s a marvel that she manages to do this time and time again, and I will never tire of recommending her work.

In It’s A Love Story, Jane, a former child star known for playing the awkward sidekick, never thought she was leading lady material. But when she finally lands the perfect project to reignite her career, there’s just one catch: Dan, the cinematographer she can’t stand, is part of the team. He was the reason her last “big” project was scrapped, and to make things even more awkward, it all fell apart right before their first date which never happened. Now, in a strange twist of fate, they’re thrown together to make this new project a reality, and Jane is determined to make it work—despite all odds.

The tender delivery of Janey’s story—even beyond the romance she finds with Dan—is so well done. I adored how Monaghan tied in Janey’s experiences as a teenager navigating the loss of her father and the first stirrings of big feelings for a boy. The depth of the characters, the chemistry of our main characters, the pacing of the story, and the seamless way everything unfolded were beautifully written.

As much as it is a great romance, it’s also an even more important story of Jane’s personal growth and her journey towards a better self. It felt both realistic and relatable. I shed a lot of tears reading it, and they were all worth it.

It’ll be out on 27 May 2025, and I can’t wait for you all to experience it!

Thank you, NetGalley and the publishers, for my digital ARC. 💙💛

P.S. This would translate so well to the screen!

A fantastic, fun, warm and smile-inducing romance read. This author was new to me and it took a little for me to get hooked but once it did, I was sold! The writing style was such a delight and some of the lines I'd re-read because they were so well written and gave all the feels. I stopped reading half way through to research this author and download all of their previous books. I'm 100% sold on any future releases and will be adding this author to my auto-buy author list.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for a coy of this book. I have posted my review on Goodreads and will post to Amazon on release day.

Jane Jackson is a Hollywood studio executive, desperately trying to get her first project greenlit by pompous cinematographer and one-time crush, Dan Finnegan. She is also trying to shake everyone's memory of 'Poor Janey Jakes' and her adolescence as the punch line on America's popular sitcom. To get her project greenlit, she tells a little fib, promising to have popstar, Jack Quinlan, who she knew long ago, write a song for the movie. And the adventures begin.

This was a fun and mostly lighthearted read and I enjoyed the interactions with Jane and Dan. While part of the story was something I anticipated, it was another fabulous novel by the author, who has become one of my favourites.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the gifted review copy.

This is going to be such a good one for summer this year. It's sweet, cute, and wholesome

Jane Jackson, once a childhood actor, is now a Hollywood exec trying to get her movie made. In a desperate move, she claims she can get pop star Jack Quinlan to write a song for her movie, despite not speaking to him for years. She turns to cinematographer Dan for help, leading to a trip back to dans home town, she's forced to face her past and find something genuine

I do think they fell in love pretty quickly, it was more insta-lovey than some of her other books which have been 5 stars for me, which is why I've given this a 4 star!

I love how Annabelle always creates such lovely female friendships too, and this book did not disappoint on this front. I loved Clem so much.

I for sure need to watch the notebook after reading this! ..