It's a Love Story

It’s a Love Story is a contemporary romance novel by New York Times bestselling author Annabel Monaghan. Originally published in 2025 by G. P. Putnam’s Sons, It’s a Love Story traces the first-person narrator Jane Jackson’s journey toward healing, self-reclamation, and love. As Creative Executive at Clearwater Studios in Hollywood, California, Jane is desperate to prove herself in the industry. She brings a new script to her boss but fears defeat when she learns she’ll have to work with her professional nemesis, Dan Finnegan. However, the longer the two collaborate on the script, the more attracted they are to each other, and Jane’s burgeoning love for Dan ultimately ushers her toward personal change. Set between Los Angeles and Long Island, the novel explores themes including Reconciling Past and Present Identities, The Importance of Vulnerability in Intimate Relationships, and The Transformative Power of Friendship and Family.

This guide refers to the 2025 G. P. Putnam’s Sons paperback edition of the novel.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of sexual content, bullying, emotional abuse, mental illness, and death.

Plot Summary

Thirty-three-year-old Jane Jackson works as a Creative Executive at Clearwater Studios. When she discovers the script True Story, she’s thrilled to bring it to her boss Nathan for production. She dresses in a red dress that exudes confidence on the morning of her meeting, hoping it will bring her luck. Jane has been in Hollywood since she was a child and appeared in a television show, Pop Rocks, but she hasn’t had any success in the industry since. Watching her former co-stars live happy, successful lives has become discouraging.

At the office, Jane is horrified to discover that the cinematographer Dan Finnegan will be working on True Story with her. Months prior, she and Dan met by accident—literally. Dan was photographing a hawk when Jane saw a car almost hit him. She checked to see if he was okay, and they formed an instant connection. They’d planned to go on a date but soon ran into professional conflicts—they were both working on the script Star Crossed, but Dan didn’t believe in the project and convinced Nathan not to buy it, crushing Jane’s dreams. They haven’t spoken since.

In the meeting with Nathan, Jane is shocked to discover that Dan loves True Story as much as she does. However, Nathan insists that they have to make the quiet romantic comedy more commercial. Jane suggests that she contact her former Pop Rocks co-star Jack Quinlan, who is now a pop icon, for help writing a title track. Nathan agrees that her idea might work.

Jane meets up with Dan outside of work to express her concerns about True Story. She lied to Nathan, exaggerating her connection with Jack. She did work with him, but they haven’t been in touch since they were teenagers. Worse, Jack was a bully, ridiculing and shaming Jane when she was young. She’s tried to contact him but to no avail. Dan suggests they take a different approach. His friend in Oak Shore, Long Island—his hometown—informed him that Jack Quinlan will be performing at an upcoming music festival. He suggests they travel to Oak Shore, where his parents live, and track Jack down in person.

Jane and Dan arrive in Oak Shore, and Jane is overwhelmed by the beauty of the scenery and the Finnegans’ cozy home. She’s even more surprised by Dan’s extensive family sphere. His parents, Maureen and Cormack Finnegan, welcome her with open arms, and Dan also has four brothers, Aiden, Connor, Brian, and Finn. Jane delights in their fun-loving sibling dynamic and marvels at how different Dan seems around his family.

Over the following days, Jane and Dan start spending all their time together. When they’re not looking for Jack, they’re lying on the beach, swimming, biking, eating ice cream, dining out, taking boat rides, and spending time with his family. Jane basks in the ocean air and pleasant scenery. Meanwhile, she gets to know Dan, discovering that he’s a very different person than she previously understood.

At a bonfire one night, Jane realizes she’s desperately attracted to Dan. She kisses him openly and is overcome by emotion. Not long later, Dan and Jane get caught in the rain and share another passionate kiss. Jane wonders if this is what it feels like to be in love—an experience she never thought she’d have and even doubted existed.

Jane and Dan share the same room and spend their evenings talking. Dan tells Jane about why he moved to California, and Jane tells Dan about her father’s abandonment and death and her strained relationship with her mom. The two listen to and comfort one another. During one such intimate evening, they have sex, and in the morning, Jane realizes how comfortable and safe she feels with Dan.

Jane and Dan attend Jack’s concert. Afterward, Jane slips backstage and confronts Jack and his manager Lyle about working on True Story. Jack scoffs at and belittles Jane just as he did years prior. A despairing Jane flees.

Jane believes that everything Jack said about her is true and regrets opening her heart. She tells Dan that their relationship and True Story were a mistake. She flies back to Los Angeles and tries to settle back into her routine. However, Jane can’t stop thinking about True Story and Dan. Finally, she gets in touch with Dan, and they make amends. They profess their love and decide to produce True Story independently.

Eighteen months later, Jane and Dan are in a committed, loving relationship. Jane feels happy and fulfilled. She’s particularly proud of her and Dan’s work on True Story, which they’ve finally completed.