Jenny’s Pick of the Week: It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan

Annabel Monaghan’s latest release is a smart and sweet success that reads like the best kind of love story, equal parts charming and heartwarming. It’s a Love Story delivers the fizzy delight of a beach read, but blooms into something more: an unexpected anthem to self-discovery and acceptance.

When we meet Jane Jackson, she’s trying very hard to hold it together. A former tween star with a very complicated relationship with success, Jane is determined to prove herself to Hollywood by becoming a top creative executive at Clearwater Studios. The only thing standing in her way? Jack Quinlan: biggest pop star of the moment and the only witness to the most embarrassing moment of her life. After telling her boss that their long-since-dead friendship is still very much alive, Jane must find a way to convince Jack to write an original song for the project that will either make or break her career.

Enter Dan Finnegan, Jane’s work nemesis who seems to don a permanent smirk. He is quite possibly the last person on the planet that she wants to deal with right now. But, when Dan confesses that he has a way to get them backstage at Jack’s next concert, they have no choice but to team up. What follows is one part business trip, two parts emotional discovery, and all parts romantic chemistry. As Jane and Dan navigate sun-soaked beaches and old heartbreaks, their mission to save their careers starts to feel a lot more personal.

At its heart, It’s a Love Story is about the pressure to perform, both on camera and in love, and what happens when you find someone that finally gives you the space to be your most authentic self. Jane’s neurotic need to prove herself is both incredibly funny and deeply relatable. Dan’s quiet steadiness makes him the kind of romantic lead that anyone would fall for. And, when paired with a cast of well-crafted side characters, sparkling dialogue, and just the right amount of longing, Monaghan delivers a big-hearted story that will leave readers laughing and (if you’re like me) shedding a few tears.

Filled with witty banter and tender moments, It’s a Love Story will appeal to fans of Funny Story, Every Summer After, and Part of Your World. Love a good summer romance? You can find all of Monaghan’s titles here!

© Annabel Monaghan