Review: Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan
Thank you Putnam for my early copy! All thoughts are my own.
Lately, I’ve been loving books that I feel “in” on, so that has meant lots of books about actors, writers, readers, and book lovers. Nora Goes Off Script is no exception! It’s the perfect quick, light, but also kinda deep book. It’s a closed door romance which usually isn’t my thing but it definitely fit the vibe.
I read this book pretty quickly and had a great time reading it! It’s a spin on a classic Hallmark romance and will be a great book for pool or beach bag this Summer.
Synopsis:
“Nora’s life is about to get a rewrite…
Nora Hamilton knows the formula for love better than anyone. As a romance channel screenwriter, it’s her job. But when her too-good-to work husband leaves her and their two kids, Nora turns her marriage’s collapse into cash and writes the best script of her life. No one is more surprised than her when it’s picked up for the big screen and set to film on location at her 100-year-old-home. When former Sexiest Man Alive, Leo Vance, is cast as her ne’er do well husband Nora’s life will never be the same.
The morning after shooting wraps and the crew leaves, Nora finds Leo on her porch with a half-empty bottle of tequila and a proposition. He’ll pay a thousand dollars a day to stay for a week. The extra seven grand would give Nora breathing room, but it’s the need in his eyes that makes her say yes. Seven days: it’s the blink of an eye or an eternity depending on how you look at it. Enough time to fall in love. Enough time to break your heart.
Filled with warmth, wit, and wisdom, Nora Goes Off Script is the best kind of love story—the real kind where love is complicated by work, kids, and the emotional baggage that comes with life. For Nora and Leo, this kind of love is bigger than the big screen.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Concept—I am not a huge fan of Hallmark films. But I do know the formula extremely well and sometimes, you just need a happily ever after and for it to be predictable. But I loved the twist on the familiar set up and I also loved being “in” on the story. It was very clever and satisfying.
The Kids—Arthur and Bernie were my favorite characters. I love when kids are included cause if done well, their personalities leap off the page in the best ways.
The Balance of Reality and Fiction—Some parts of this story were predictable, some really really surprised me. It kept me on my toes just enough.
What Didn’t Work:
The Pacing—This is always something i’m picky about with books but particular a Romance. The pacing just didn’t work for me. It seemed to go too fast and too slow at points and when you flipped to a new chapter, a large chunk of time had past. It almost made it seem like I wasn’t as much a part of the story.
A Few Unnecessary Phrases—A few phrases used by the author, though common at one point, were on the ableist and unnecessary side. I kinda cringed because they just didn’t need to be there.
Character Authenticity: 4/5 Steam Rating: 0/5 Overall Rating: 3.9/5
Content Warnings:
Divorce, Infidelity, loss of a parent (mentioned)