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?
It’s a Love Story is a lighthearted and hilariously funny contemporary romance that combines Hollywood satire with small-town charm. The story follows Jane Jackson, a former awkward child star who is now a Hollywood executive desperate to prove herself. To get her dream film greenlit, she lies about securing a song from Jack Quinlan—her former childhood co-star turned pop superstar who she hasn’t spoken to in 20 years. Reluctantly she enlists the help of former crush turned enemy, Dan Finnegan, a cinematographer with connections to Jack. To get a chance to talk to Jack, Jane is forced into a weeklong stay with Dan’s big, lovable family in small-town Long Island, where past hurts and new feelings surface.
When compared to her last novel, Summer Romance, this story doesn’t quite reach the same emotional depth or poignant storytelling. Instead, it offers more lighthearted humor and a cozy, character-driven storyline. It’s perfectly suited for fans of popular romance tropes, including enemies to lovers, opposites attract, shared room, forced proximity, and slow-burn romance—also making it the perfect spring, summer, or beach read!
Jane is a ridiculously funny and impulsive protagonist. She admittedly has a lot of unresolved issues and insecurities and doesn’t feel comfortable in her own skin. Her melodramatic inner monologues are hilariously entertaining, but she can also be extremely frustrating as she often changes her mind on a whim. Dan is a stark contrast to Jane—he’s even-tempered, grounded, has a dry sense of humor, and knows himself well. The relationship between Jane and Dan is a slow-burn romance, but their mutual attraction and strong chemistry are palpable from their “meet cute” encounter. Their banter throughout the story is humorous and compelling, and their relationship organically becomes intimate through sharing their vulnerabilities and spending quiet time together—family dinners, bike rides, and beach walks. Unfortunately, their third-act breakup seems to come out of nowhere and isn’t overly convincing—but it does further emphasize Jane’s unstable, reactive personality and the pronounced differences in their characters. The resolution that follows is really well executed with profound character growth and meaningful dialogue. By the end, the story is as much about Jane’s journey from self-doubt to self-acceptance as it is a love story, making the book more multi-layered than your typical rom-com!
The juxtaposing settings of superficial, satirical Hollywood and Dan’s down-to-earth, charming hometown are the perfect backdrop to a story with polar opposite characters. As most of the narrative takes place in the small town, Jane is really taken out of her element and forced to not only spend time with Dan but also to slow her pace. As a result, the setting becomes a catalyst for her to finally process her long-repressed past trauma—it’s not pretty at times, but Dan offers support and an open heart for her to lean into, and the beautiful coastal setting facilitates Jane’s healing and transformation .
Overall, It’s a Love Story is another great offering from Annabel Monaghan and the perfect quick spring, summer, or beach read. While it’s not Monaghan’s most profound work, it still offers a compelling romance and very satisfying character development. Fans of Monaghan’s previous books and those who enjoy heartfelt rom-coms should definitely add this one to their spring or summer reading lists!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of It’s a Love Story is a hilarious and heartfelt listen narrated by the incredibly talented Hillary Huber! Huber does an impeccable job bringing protagonist Jane Jackson to life with perfect comedic timing to deliver all of the character’s witty dialogue and melodramatic inner monologues. When narrating the flashback scenes, Huber shifts her performance to authentically portray the awkward teenage version of Jane, and listeners will feel all her struggles. This story is filled with animated characters, from Hollywood executives to Dan’s bold, loving family members—and Huber gives each character a distinct voice and personality to make them feel real and relatable, truly giving the feel of a multicast listen!
Some of the most compelling parts of the audiobook are the dialogue scenes between Jane and Dan—Huber’s delivery emphasizes Jane’s unpredictability and unfiltered personality and provides great entertainment value. In the final chapter, Huber once again shifts her performance to depict a more grounded and self-accepting version of Jane, who’s ready to give love a chance. Huber’s ending performance also perfectly captures Jane’s profound character arc and leaves listeners with a hopeful, heartwarming sentiment!
Overall, this heartfelt and hilarious rom-com is the perfect counterpart to Huber’s expressive and highly entertaining narration. If you’re considering this book, the audiobook is absolutely the best format to enjoy this story! It’s an absolute must-listen for audiobook readers looking for the perfect summer romance or beach read!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of It’s a Love Story is a hilarious and heartfelt listen narrated by the incredibly talented Hillary Huber! Huber does an impeccable job bringing protagonist Jane Jackson to life with perfect comedic timing to deliver all of the character’s witty dialogue and melodramatic inner monologues. When narrating the flashback scenes, Huber shifts her performance to authentically portray the awkward teenage version of Jane, and listeners will feel all her struggles. This story is filled with animated characters, from Hollywood executives to Dan’s bold, loving family members—and Huber gives each character a distinct voice and personality to make them feel real and relatable, truly giving the feel of a multicast listen!
Some of the most compelling parts of the audiobook are the dialogue scenes between Jane and Dan—Huber’s delivery emphasizes Jane’s unpredictability and unfiltered personality and provides great entertainment value. In the final chapter, Huber once again shifts her performance to depict a more grounded and self-accepting version of Jane, who’s ready to give love a chance. Huber’s ending performance also perfectly captures Jane’s profound character arc and leaves listeners with a hopeful, heartwarming sentiment!
Overall, this heartfelt and hilarious rom-com is the perfect counterpart to Huber’s expressive and highly entertaining narration. If you’re considering this book, the audiobook is absolutely the best format to enjoy this story! It’s an absolute must-listen for audiobook readers looking for the perfect summer romance or beach read!
The audiobook of It’s a Love Story is a hilarious and heartfelt listen narrated by the incredibly talented Hillary Huber! Huber does an impeccable job bringing protagonist Jane Jackson to life with perfect comedic timing to deliver all of the character’s witty dialogue and melodramatic inner monologues. When narrating the flashback scenes, Huber shifts her performance to authentically portray the awkward teenage version of Jane, and listeners will feel all her struggles. This story is filled with animated characters, from Hollywood executives to Dan’s bold, loving family members—and Huber gives each character a distinct voice and personality to make them feel real and relatable, truly giving the feel of a multicast listen!
Some of the most compelling parts of the audiobook are the dialogue scenes between Jane and Dan—Huber’s delivery emphasizes Jane’s unpredictability and unfiltered personality and provides great entertainment value. In the final chapter, Huber once again shifts her performance to depict a more grounded and self-accepting version of Jane, who’s ready to give love a chance. Huber’s ending performance also perfectly captures Jane’s profound character arc and leaves listeners with a hopeful, heartwarming sentiment!
Overall, this heartfelt and hilarious rom-com is the perfect counterpart to Huber’s expressive and highly entertaining narration. If you’re considering this book, the audiobook is absolutely the best format to enjoy this story! It’s an absolute must-listen for audiobook readers looking for the perfect summer romance or beach read!
