It's a Love Story

By: Annabel Monaghan

Narrated by: Hillary Huber

“Poignant, funny, and bingeable, Annabel Monaghan writes five star reads.”—Abby Jimenez

From the USA Today bestselling author of Nora Goes Off Script, a novel about a former adolescent TV actress-turned-Hollywood producer whose “fake it till you make it” mantra sets her on a crash course with her past, forcing her to spend a week on Long Island with the last man she thinks might make her believe in love.

Love is a lie. Laughter is the only truth.

Jane Jackson spent her adolescence as "Poor Janey Jakes," the barbecue-sauce-in-her-braces punch line on America's fifth-favorite sitcom. Now she’s trying to be taken seriously as a Hollywood studio executive by embracing 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 claimed that she could get mega popstar Jack Quinlan to write a song for the movie. Jack may have been her first kiss—and greatest source of shame—but she hasn’t spoken to him in twenty years.

Now Jane must turn to the last man she’d ever want to owe: Dan Finnegan. Because Jack is playing a festival in Dan’s hometown, and Dan has an in. A week in close quarters with Dan as she faces down her past is Jane's idea of hell, but he just might surprise her. While covering up her lie, can they find something true?

©2025 Annabel Monaghan (P)2025 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

A Woman’s World New Book from a Bestselling Romance Author

A New York Post Most Anticipated Book of the Year

A BookBub Most Anticipated Book of the Year

A Zibby Owens Most Anticipated Book of the Year

A People Romance Book to Read After Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

A Brit & Co. Most Anticipated Summer Read

“Annabel Monaghan has written a love story that is as laugh-out-loud funny as it is emotionally profound. Don’t miss this perfect summer escape.”—Emily Giffin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Pact

“Annabel Monaghan has a direct line to my heart—and my funny bone. With It's a Love Story, she’s given us an enemies-to-lovers romcom that’s SO MUCH MORE. This is dopamine in book form. And don’t we all need that right now?”—Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of Summers at the Saint

“[A] bingeable beachy contemporary . . . Monaghan mines a lot of joy out of [a] close-knit family dynamic and the scenic coastal setting, while creating a heroine readers will root for. This is an addictive romp.”—Publishers Weekly (starred)

Beautifully written

I absolutely love this book. This author is a master at creating characters you want to root for and a story that you don't want to end.

Perfect beach read

Annabel Monaghan always has the best books to welcome in summer. This is your laying by the pool or beach read. Loved it.

Funny

I literally laughed out loud! It was a fun love story. Reminds us that communication, family, and friends are important. We are all broken and deserve love!

A delightful read

What a delightful read. Jane Jackson a former child star trying to make it as a film producer has hit a snag. The script which she hopes will be green lighted for a movie meets a bit of resistance from the committee which approves going forward. In order to add heft to the project, Jane lies that she has contacted the current musical heartthrob, Jack Quinlan,and he will write a song for the film. Jane did in fact record a song for her sitcom with the singer but it was years ago and she hasn’t seen him since. Her colleague,Dan Finnegan knows jack will be performing at the festival near his parents home and his brother is in charge of sound. When Jane accompanies him and meets his rambunctious family. The animosity between them begins to dwindle. Could Jane find something she didn’t anticipate.

Read by the fantastic Hillary Huber, the book brought Annabelle Monaghan’s book to life. In addition to Robin red breast, a book by Annabelle Monaghan heralds the beginning of summer and lifts my mood.

Nice summer read

It’s a Love Story : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.53 summer romance 💘 the title didn’t disappoint 🥰 a great carefree beach 🏖️ read. You know it will be a great read when they reference “The Notebook” ….. the movie not the book 🥰