It’s a Love Story: A Slow Burn Enemies-to-Lovers Tale Set Against Hollywood’s Spotlight and Hometown Charm (2025)
The novel balances the glitz of Hollywood with the messy, healing comfort of real-life connection. Told through the voice of Jane, a former child star turned ghostwriter, the story captures the vulnerability of reinvention, the ache of long-held grief, and the surprise of falling for someone when love was the last thing you expected.
This isn’t a flashy rom-com with instant chemistry and easy answers. It’s a tender, thoughtful unraveling of two guarded people finding their way back to trust, and maybe even love.
Plot Summary
Jane Start, once a beloved teen star, has left the spotlight behind. These days, she ghostwrites screenplays and lives under the radar. When she’s assigned to adapt a heartfelt memoir into a screenplay, she’s less than thrilled to meet the memoirist’s son, Dan, a rugged, closed-off photographer who immediately sets her teeth on edge.
Their first meeting? Awkward. Tense. And extremely inconvenient.
Jane and Dan are opposites in every sense. She’s sharp, dry-witted, and wary of emotional entanglements. He’s gruff, private, and loyal to a fault, especially when it comes to his family’s story. But when the two are forced to spend time together in Dan’s hometown to work on the script, a flicker of curiosity begins to grow into something else entirely.
As Jane becomes immersed in Dan’s warm, chaotic, and deeply loving family, a stark contrast to her emotionally distant upbringing, she begins to reconsider the story she’s been telling herself about love, family, and who she really is.
Character Dynamics: Real People, Real Emotions
Jane is a protagonist who’s both flawed and lovable. She’s witty but wounded, outwardly confident but carrying years of emotional baggage. Her journey is one of gentle evolution, a quiet peeling back of protective layers to make room for connection.
Dan is a classic grump, all sarcasm, silence, and slow smirks, but he’s never one-dimensional. His love for his late mother and his fierce protectiveness over his family reveal a deeply tender heart beneath his aloof exterior.
Their chemistry is simmering, not sizzling, which makes every small gesture, every conversation, every glance that much more powerful. This is not a whirlwind love affair. It’s a slow, meaningful bond that builds brick by emotional brick.
Dan’s family, particularly his sisters, adds a rich layer to the story. Their warmth, chaos, and unconditional love are as much a part of Jane’s healing as Dan himself. The sense of “found family” in this book feels real and earned.
Favorite Tropes & Themes We Love
- Enemies to Lovers– Not overly dramatic, but filled with authentic tension and subtle shifts.
- Forced Proximity– One trip to Dan’s hometown changes everything (twin beds, anyone?).
- Found Family– Jane is folded into Dan’s loud, lovable family in a way she never knew she needed.
- Hollywood Meets Hometown– The dual setting of LA glitz vs. small-town heart adds perfect contrast.
- Grumpy x Sunshine (but reversed)– Jane may have been a star, but she’s the grump. Dan is the quiet calm she didn’t expect.
What Readers Are Saying
- Caz the Bookworm
“I absolutely loved seeing these two fall in love. So much angst, back and forth, and lots of chase. I didn’t want to put it down. The way Dan’s family welcomed Jane… it had me tearing up.”
Caz praised the emotional pacing and found the romance deeply satisfying. The familial warmth especially resonated with her.
- Emily J-H
“A convoluted love story full of childhood emotional drama/trauma. The characters are quirky, the family dynamics are messy and real. I loved how Jane slowly allowed herself to belong, but some timeline things felt a bit off.”
Emily loved the emotional depth and complexity, but noted small inconsistencies in Jane’s fame backstory. Still, the novel worked for her as a “cozy, rich romance with surprising layers.”
- Anne
“This was a perfect simmer. The slow burn made the love story more believable, and the way Jane healed her relationship with her past, especially her mother, was beautiful.”
Anne appreciated the inner journey as much as the romance, pointing out how the novel stayed grounded in emotional authenticity.
Why This Book Stands Out
Unlike the typical rom-coms with meet-cutes and instant fireworks, It’s a Love Story takes its time. Every chapter feels like a slow exhale. The pacing might feel gentle to some readers, but for those who love character-driven storytelling, it’s an absolute treat.
Annabel Monaghan brings her signature balance of humor and heart, with sharp dialogue and insightful observations about fame, family, and forgiveness. Jane’s voice is distinct, clever, dry, and occasionally heartbreaking.
Read This If You Enjoy…
- Book Lovers by Emily Henry
- Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
- Slow burn romance with real emotional stakes
- Stories about healing and personal growth
- Strong, lovable supporting characters (especially families!)
- Writing about writers (and Hollywood behind-the-scenes peeks)
About the Author – Annabel Monaghan
Annabel Monaghan is the author behind feel-good contemporary romances that explore love, healing, and the surprising ways we find connection when we least expect it. Known for her clever prose and emotionally rich storytelling, she brings authenticity to her characters through humor, vulnerability, and a touch of wit.
Before her breakout adult romance novels (Nora Goes Off Script and Same Time Next Summer), Annabel wrote for young adults and penned thoughtful parenting columns. Her writing is always grounded in the nuances of human relationships, romantic or otherwise. and she has a gift for making readers feel like they’re having a heartfelt conversation with an old friend.
Annabel lives in the suburbs of New York with her family, where she balances writing with mom life, morning walks, and (very likely) a strong cup of coffee. Whether she’s writing about ghostwriters, childhood crushes, or script reboots, her stories always remind us that love, the real kind, is worth the wait.
Final Thoughts
At its core, It’s a Love Story is about what happens after the credits roll, when the fame fades, the family fractures, and you’re left to write the rest of your life alone. Or not.
Jane and Dan’s story is a slow-burning flicker that turns into something quietly bright, something you want to hold onto for a long time.Rating: 4.5/5
Perfect for: Fans of introspective romance, warm found-family narratives, and stories that prioritize emotional resonance over rom-com clichés.
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