Rules for a love story: There are none. It’s all a lie.

Jane Jackson knows that true love is a lie. Laughter is the only truth—you can’t fake a belly laugh. Jane should know, she spent her adolescence as “Poor Janey Jakes,” the barbecue-sauce-in-her-braces punchline on America’s fifth-favorite sitcom. Now she’s a Creative Executive at Clearwater Studios and she’s living by 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 opened her mouth and a big fat fib fell out. She claimed that Jack Quinlan, hottest popstar of the moment, has promised to write an original song for the soundtrack. 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 on Long Island, and Dan has an in. A week in close quarters with Dan while facing down her past is Jane’s idea of hell, but Dan just might surprise her. While covering up her lie, can they find something true?

Annabel Monaghan has done it again—another home run in the world of romance fiction! I absolutely adore her writing and especially appreciate that she sticks to closed-door romances. While there are a few steamy makeout scenes in this book, I’d rate them PG-13—everything fades to black with nothing explicit on the page. There is a bit of cursing, though, so be aware if that’s something you like to avoid.

I’ll be honest: it took me a while to get into this one (around the 40% mark), which is why I couldn’t quite give it a full five stars. But once the story clicked, I was completely hooked. I laughed, swooned, and even got a little teary-eyed by the end. Monaghan’s writing style is warm, witty, and incredibly readable. The pacing was a bit slow at first, but once it picked up, it flowed beautifully.

The setting, especially the scenes in New York, and the activities the characters engage in really brought the story to life. I never felt bored, and I loved how immersed I became in their world. One of my favorite parts was when Dan brought Jane home to meet his family. Their family dynamics were hilarious, sweet, and just so charming. I have a soft spot for stories with big, loving families and all the delightful chaos they bring. These moments gave so much depth to the characters and made me fall even more in love with them. Jane learning from and bonding with Dan’s family was one of the highlights for me.

I also adored Jane’s best friend, Clem—witty, sharp, and an absolute scene-stealer. Honestly, I’d love to read a companion novel about her. She deserves her own love story!

Jane herself is one of the most relatable characters I’ve read in a long time. Her inner thoughts and insecurities felt so real and familiar. Her journey toward self-acceptance and learning that she is lovable and worthy was both touching and empowering. There are such meaningful themes here about belonging, self-worth, and learning to tune out the noise of others’ opinions. Watching her grow was genuinely rewarding.

Though I typically don’t go for enemies-to-lovers or insta-love tropes, they were surprisingly well executed here. I got incredibly emotionally invested in Jane and Dan’s relationship. Their chemistry was undeniable, and their tender, heartfelt moments had me fully rooting for them.

This book is a perfect summer or beach read—warm, swoony, funny, and full of heart. It’s like a cozy hug in book form. If you’re looking for a charming romance with depth, humor, and lots of feels, I highly recommend this one!