It's a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan
on May 27, 2025
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy, Fiction / Women
Pages: 368
Format: Paperback
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Annabel Monaghan does it again with It’s a Love Story—a witty, charming, and slightly chaotic rom-com that delivers heart, humor, and just the right amount of awkward nostalgia.
Jane Jackson, once America’s most cringe-inducing teen sitcom star, is now a “fake-it-till-you-make-it” creative exec at a movie studio. But one little fib about a pop star writing a song for her film sends her back to Long Island—and straight into the orbit of Dan Finnegan, her one-time crush and reluctant partner in crime. What follows is a week of close quarters, old memories, and a chance at something real.
I love the premise of a lie spiraling into an unexpectedly heartfelt situation, and Monaghan executes it with humor and heart. Jane’s journey of self-acceptance felt genuine, and I appreciated how slowly (but believably!) the romance with Dan developed. The close proximity trope is always a favorite of mine, and Dan’s warm, welcoming family added so much charm. You could really feel how badly Jane wanted to belong—and how being with Dan helped her let go of who she thought she had to be.
Pacing-wise, some parts felt a little rushed while others made me want to shout just kiss already!—but honestly, I think that’s the point. Monaghan mirrors the characters’ own emotional frustration and longing, and it worked.
I read Summer Romance and liked it, but It’s a Love Story felt even stronger—sharper writing, more layered characters, and a slow-burn romance that earned its ending.
A great pick for readers who love messy heroines, reluctant heartthrobs, and the kind of love story that finds the funny in our most vulnerable moments.
English (US) · 