One of my reading goals this summer was to read all of Annabel Monaghan’s books. Up until this summer, I had only read Nora Goes Off Script, which I loved. It felt like being transported into a Nancy Meyers movie, and who doesn’t want that?
I can happily say that I’ve now read all of Annabel Monaghan’s novels (outside of her YA novels). Below is my personal ranking:
1. Summer Romance
I really didn’t think any of Annabel Monaghan’s books would top Nora Goes Off Script for me, so it was a surprise to be proven wrong when I read Summer Romance! This was the last book of Annabel Monaghan’s that I read, and it was my very favourite.
Summer Romance is about a woman who is struggling with the loss of her mother and her impending divorce from her husband. While grappling with these issues, she begins spending time with her best friend’s younger brother.
The main character is a professional organizer. Reading about her organizing and de-cluttering homes, including her own, was so satisfying. I also loved the way the main character regained her independence as the novel went on.
As is typical of an Annabel Monaghan novel, the main character deals with relatable problems. For me, this aspect of Annabel Monaghan’s books adds a level of maturity and depth that is sometimes lacking in romance novels.
2. Nora Goes Off Script
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into Nora Goes Off Script. It’s about a romance channel screenwriter whose husband leaves her and her children. This pushes her to write a script to earn some necessary money. The script is picked up and the movie is to be filmed at the main character’s home, with a former Sexiest Man Alive playing the male lead. Reading the description, I was skeptical, as the premise didn’t feel relatable.
However, like I said, Nora Goes Off Script ended up reminding me of a Nancy Meyers movie. The novel is also to blame for my newfound dream of having a tea house in my backyard, but that’s a whole other story.
I didn’t find the romance elements of Nora Goes Off Script cheesy, which isn’t always true for me with romance novels. I loved that the main character was dealing with practical problems, like financial issues. It prevented the novel from feeling outlandish.
3. Dolly All the Time
This is Annabel Monaghan’s most recent book, and it was such a treat! It’s about a woman who, along with her son, moves back to her hometown in Rhode Island to help her father and brother, who are at risk of losing their home. While there, she enters into a fake relationship with the son of a wealthy family after whom her hometown is named.
I find fake dating tropes a bit unbelievable. However, as with Summer Romance and Nora Goes Off Script, this novel was refreshing in that it dealt with relatable themes, like financial issues and the challenges of being a caregiver. The main character was mature and her decisions were motivated by very real problems.
4. It’s a Love Story
It’s a Love Story centers around Jane Jackson, a former teen TV actress who has promised to get a popstar she once knew to write an original song for the soundtrack to a movie she wants her studio to greenlight. Enter Dan Finnegan, who accompanies Jane to his hometown of Long Island, where that popstar is playing a festival.
As with Nora Goes Off Script, I didn’t think I’d resonate with this novel. I thought that relating to a woman’s struggles to overcome her former TV persona would be a challenge. However, once again, the novel managed to feel mature. It reminded me of the part in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days when Kate Hudson’s character goes to stay with Matthew McConaughey’s family. It was heartwarming and sweet.
5. Same Time Next Summer
This was Annabel Monaghan’s first novel after Nora Goes Off Script, so it had big shoes to fill. It’s about an engaged woman who spends the summer in Long Island at her family’s beach house, where she is reunited with her first love.
I was disappointed in this one. For me, it felt overly simplistic, and some of the characters were very two-dimensional. In my opinion, Same Time Next Summer lacks the maturity and depth of Annabel Monaghan’s other novels.
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