For all the Monaghan fans waiting for the new Nora Goes Off Script, I present to you: Dolly All the Time.
I frigging adore Annabel Monaghan, and I can recommend any of her books. Any of them, seriously—you won’t be sorry you read them. She’s got that something special that just makes summer romances sing.
In this case, single mom, Dolly, who is supporting her father (and younger brother) and trying to save his business while juggling all of her other responsibilities, almost literally stumbles into an unconventional and highly lucrative opportunity to pose as the girlfriend of a hot millionaire.
It might sound trite and tropey, but remember? This one has music.
The heart behind it is beating like, we, too, are falling in love. When a book is this immaculately put together, it’s almost impossible to tease apart the threads to identify exactly what it is that makes it so lovely, so I’m not even going to try.
If you want to read a good book, just know you can’t go wrong with Dolly All the Time.
Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Details
Title:: Dolly All the Time Author:: Annabel Monaghan Genre:: Contemporary Romance Publisher:: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Length::368 pages Published:: May 26th, 2026 The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars
If you haven’t read a book by Annabel Monaghan, seriously, what are you waiting for? She is a queen of the romance genre, and It’s A Love Story stands in perfect evidence.
Jane has been trying to get her first movie made for years, but something always gets in the way. This time, she’s determined to make it happen, even if it means fudging the truth about her past relationship with Jack Quinlan, one of the biggest music stars of the era. She might have promised she could get him to write an original song for the movie despite not having spoken to him in a decade or two, and now she has to make it happen. Confronting her past with Jack is about the last thing on planet Earth she wants to do, and her partner for the movie, Dan, is the last person she wants to work with (seeing as he was the one to sabotage her last project), but Jane will make this project work come hell or high water. That is how she finds herself bunked up with Dan and his family on Long Island for a week, at the end of which she will have to confront her painful past if she wants the future she’s worked so hard for.
I die for this book. It took me to places I wish I could bathe in indefinitely. That good book feeling I wish I could weave into an oversized sweater and wear everyday for the rest of my life. It is everything – everything – I want in a romance novel.
Jane doesn’t believe in love. It was practically indoctrinated into her by a single mother with bad luck in love. And it was only reinforced by the few times Jane had a ‘moment’ with someone she thought was something special that ended up going down in flames before the week was out. Both times. And now she has to confront both of them.
Oh, the drama.
Let’s talk about Dan. And his family. Oh my gosh. He’s lovely. And his family is beyond lovely. The kind of big boisterous family everyone wishes they had that gives you constant shit, pushes each other out of their comfort zones, but is also there for you when you crash and burn. Their week in Long Island was frigging paradise despite the difficulties and I live for it.
Jane and Dan are both complex characters. They have deep emotional wounds that they’re working on and they compliment one another in the best ways. I’ve read a lot of great books already this year, but I have to say these two are one of my top three romance couples I’ve read in a long time.
Annabel Monaghan, you’re a genius, and I can’t wait to read literally every single word you ever write. If It’s A Love Story is not already on your summer TBR, girl RUN and grab this exquisite work of fiction. Thank me later!
Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Details
Title:: It’s A Love Story Author:: Annabel Monaghan Genre:: Contemporary Romance Publisher:: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Length::368 pages Audio Length::10h Audiobook Narrator:: Hillary Huber Published:: May 27th, 2025 The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars
