I must've read an entirely different book than everybody else. I thought I would love this one. I wanted to love it.

Nora Goes Off Script: Monaghan, Annabel: 9780593420058 Nora Goes Off Script: Monaghan, Annabel: 9780593420058

I loved this book with my whole heart. It’s smart, fresh and romantic, full of humor and warmth. I didn’t want to put it down.”—Beth O’Leary, author of The Flatshare This story is crisp and fresh. I couldn’t put it down and would reread it again in a heartbeat. THE VERDICT Thank you GR friend Lisa for giving this a 5 star rating which is a rare occurrence for her. “Nora Goes Off Script” is a fun rom/com that is predictable yet so satisfying! I think it’s author Annabel Monaghan’s ability to create relatable, realistic, and charming characters. Yes, she throws in two adorable children to add some whimsy and cuteness. This is formula driven and it works!Then, out of nowhere, they’re not together for about 40% of the book. Per usual, it turns out to be a ridiculous misunderstanding that any ADULT would have nipped in the bud by sending a simple text or making a phone call. But not here. Leo seemed to be falling in love with Nora’s highly structured life more than anything unique to Nora. He rhapsodizes about her schedule, and eagerly looks forward to running all of her errands with her, like an eager puppy. All this made it hard to feel emotionally invested in their romance. Leo loves Nora’s regimented and structured daily routine; Nora loves being Leo Vance’s’ girlfriend. Why exactly does Nora love Leo, besides his ability to listen and dispatch pizza long distances? Not sure. Why exactly does Leo love Nora? We don’t really know, and she doesn’t either, which makes the book hum with her constant low level anxiety that he’ll leave her, just like her ex. There’s a reason Nora Goes Off Script is on our list of the best books of the year….Whoever unwraps this delightful novel will devour it immediately. Who doesn’t love a rom-com with a lovable female lead?”— Real Simple Writing and Characters: I adore fast-paced, lively, and witty writing and a story with a cute premise! Nora Goes Off Script is warmly told and, in my opinion, the best part is the likable characters. Nora is relatable, Leo is endearing, and the children are winsome! These are characters you can cheer for! The predictable miscommunication/misunderstanding trope makes an obligatory appearance but it comes from an unexpected source which makes it forgivable. This story is also meta in that it’s a romance about a romance writer (also Nora is a nod to Nora Ephron). I also really adored the kids and thought they were a great addition to the story. The one thing that gave me slight pause was that I didn't think Nora protected the kids enough from Leo--I would have said "Hey, if you break my heart, fine, but if you mess with my kids' hearts you're dead." Her actions in those moments were what made this not quite a 5-star read.

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan | Smart Bitches Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan | Smart Bitches

Readers who loved Emily Henry’s “Book Lovers” stand a great chance in loving Annabelle Monaghan’s “Nora Goes off Script” ….(a ‘tad’ less for me)….but definitely enjoyable….But when she decides to write about her marriage, things get darker and instead of her TV channel, her agents pitches the script to the higher authorities and guess what ? a major studio buys the script. She’s not gonna only paid for her writing services, the production team will also use her home as one of the locations of the movie! Nora and Leo - they were so bland. There was ZERO chemistry. I felt like I was missing parts because it read very much like “I sat on his bed, we made love, I woke up the next day, then we ate dinner, and I went to bed.” It’s missing so much plot. I just couldn’t understand how these two fell in love. Where was the build up?? Loved the book, loved the audio. Nora and Leo were both very likable characters. They felt real and honest. I was rooting for their HEA the whole time. Part of the deal is that we readers forgive predictably — in exchange for our fantasy Mr. Night and Shining-Amour to passionately and emotionally devours us with all the goodies: