Annabel Monaghan, IT'S A LOVE STORY

Summary

Episode Summary: Annabelle Monaghan Discusses "It's a Love Story"

In this engaging episode of Totally Booked with Zibby, host Zibby Owens welcomes bestselling author Annabelle Monaghan to discuss her latest novel, "It's a Love Story." The conversation delves deep into the book's plot, themes, Annabelle's creative process, and her personal insights on love and family dynamics.

---

Introducing Annabelle Monaghan and Her Accomplishments

Timestamp: [02:34] – [03:15]

Zibby Owens introduces Annabelle Monaghan, highlighting her status as a USA TODAY Best Selling author and a member of the Library Reads Hall of Fame. Annabelle is celebrated for her previous works including Summer Romance, Same Time Next Summer, and Nora Goes Off Script. Her novels have been translated into 20 languages, underscoring her global appeal and influence in the romance genre.

---

Overview of "It's a Love Story"

Timestamp: [03:15] – [05:18]

Annabelle provides a compelling summary of her fourth novel, "It's a Love Story." The story centers on Jane Jackson, a former teen star who is striving to establish herself as a producer in Hollywood. As Jane is on the brink of having her first project greenlit, unforeseen challenges arise, leading her to tell a significant lie to buy time. Consequently, she must rely on Dan Finnegan, a man she despises, to salvage her project. Dan is portrayed as an identical twin with three other brothers, adding layers of complexity and humor to their interactions.

Notable Quote:

"It's a love story about a quieter kind of love where you fight and you come back and you fight and you come back. It's not just like all one big honeymoon the whole time."
— Annabelle Monaghan [25:00]

---

Themes of Family and Personal Growth

Timestamp: [05:18] – [06:54]

The discussion shifts to the dynamic family settings within the novel. Annabelle emphasizes the honesty and openness in large families, contrasting it with her own experiences in a smaller family unit. She articulates how silence and unspoken tensions can be more perilous than overt conflicts, highlighting the intricate emotional landscapes her characters navigate.

Notable Quote:

"Nothing's too serious because sometimes the really serious thing is the quiet thing that isn't."
— Annabelle Monaghan [05:44]

---

Exploring Jane Jackson’s Character Development

Timestamp: [06:54] – [07:57]

Annabelle delves into Jane's personal journey, illustrating her struggles with self-awareness and identity. Jane's background as a child star who was often made fun of leaves her as an adult who is still trying to figure out who she is. This internal conflict drives much of the novel's emotional depth, as Jane grapples with her past and strives to define her future.

Notable Quote:

"I wanted to write about somebody who was trying to figure out as an adult what all the stuff she should have figured out when she was 15."
— Annabelle Monaghan [07:30]

---

Debating "The Notebook" Within the Novel

Timestamp: [07:57] – [09:05]

A particularly engaging moment arises when Annabelle and Zibby discuss the classic romance film "The Notebook." In the novel, Jane and Dan have differing opinions on the movie, sparking a humorous and relatable debate. Annabelle shares her personal affection for the film, emphasizing the importance of genuine, everyday expressions of love over grand romantic gestures.

Notable Quote:

"Real love is not like it is in that Tiffany ad where she's in her best dress and he's in a tux hiding a blue box behind his back. That has literally never happened to me in my life."
— Annabelle Monaghan [10:55]

---

Annabelle’s Writing Process and Challenges

Timestamp: [16:00] – [19:11]

Annabelle opens up about her rigorous writing process, revealing that "It's a Love Story" went through twelve drafts. She admits to frequently deleting substantial portions of her work to ensure the story aligns with her vision. This iterative process, though daunting, allows her to excavate deeper layers of her characters and narrative.

Notable Quote:

"I've written this book 12 times. The first three drafts were so far away from where it ended up."
— Annabelle Monaghan [16:07]

She also shares insights into managing her prolific writing schedule, balancing the creation of new material with the necessary revisions. Annabelle expresses a passion for writing, likening it to solving a complex crossword puzzle, which keeps her motivated despite the challenges.

---

Reflecting on Social Media and Personal Growth

Timestamp: [19:40] – [22:44]

The conversation transitions to the impact of social media on personal self-esteem. Annabelle discusses how platforms like Instagram can create feelings of inadequacy by showcasing others' seemingly perfect lives. Drawing from her own experiences, she emphasizes the importance of recognizing individual progress and the superficial nature of online portrayals.

Notable Quote:

"With Instagram showing the highlight reel and everybody's best hair day every single day, it's easy to just lose track of where we are in the world and how much we've done."
— Annabelle Monaghan [20:22]

She further reflects on aging gracefully, sharing a positive outlook on entering her fifties. Annabelle highlights the shift in perspective that comes with age, where she focuses more on personal happiness and meaningful relationships rather than societal expectations.

---

Favorite Love Stories and Personal Influences

Timestamp: [27:10] – [27:38]

When asked about her favorite love story, Annabelle names "Love Story" by Erich Segal as her top choice. She admires its raw portrayal of love and the profound emotional connection between the characters, which resonates deeply with her own writing style and thematic focus.

Notable Quote:

"There's something so raw about that story."
— Annabelle Monaghan [27:14]

---

Looking Ahead: Upcoming Events and Future Projects

Timestamp: [26:15] – [27:57]

Annabelle shares exciting news about her upcoming book tour stop in Los Angeles, set for June 1. She expresses enthusiasm about engaging with her readers and the community, particularly highlighting the familial atmosphere of her events.

Additionally, she touches upon her future writing projects, hinting at a potential screenplay inspired by her novel's themes. Although undecided, Annabelle remains open to exploring different mediums to expand her storytelling repertoire.

---

Conclusion

This episode of Totally Booked with Zibby offers a deep dive into Annabelle Monaghan's creative mind and the heartfelt narratives she crafts. Through her candid discussions on love, family, and personal growth, Annabelle provides listeners with both entertaining and thought-provoking insights. Whether you're a fan of her work or new to her novels, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intricacies of storytelling and character development.

---

Notable Quotes Summary:

• "Real love is not like it is in that Tiffany ad..." — Annabelle Monaghan [10:55]
• "I've written this book 12 times..." — Annabelle Monaghan [16:07]
• "With Instagram showing the highlight reel..." — Annabelle Monaghan [20:22]
• "There's something so raw about that story." — Annabelle Monaghan [27:14]

---

Connect with Annabelle Monaghan:

• Author’s Website
• Instagram: @annabellem on Instagram

Discover More: Explore over 2,000 episodes of Totally Booked with Zibby for endless book discussions and author interviews.

---

Transcript

[Zibby Owens]

Clips from the Totally Booked Live series are now up on Instagram totallybooked with Zivi. Check it out.

[LinkedIn Ad]

Does it ever feel like you're a marketing professional just speaking into the void? Well, with LinkedIn ads you can know you're reaching the right decision makers. You can even target buyers by job title, industry, company seniority skills. Wait, did I say job title yet? Get started today and see how you can avoid the void and reach the right buyers with LinkedIn ads. We'll even give you a $100 credit on your next campaign. Get started at LinkedIn.com results terms and conditions apply.

[BetterHelp Ad]

BetterHelp Online Therapy bought this 30 second ad to remind you right now, wherever you are, to unclench your jaw, relax your shoulders, take a deep breath in and out. Feels better, right? That's 15 seconds of self care. Imagine what you could do with more visit betterhelp.com randompodcast for 10% off your first month of therapy. No pressure, just help. But for now, just relax.

[Annabelle Monahan]

Ever wonder what your lashes are destined for? The cards have spoken. Maybelline, New York Mascara does it all. Whether you crave Fully Fan Lashes with Lash Sensational Big Bold Volume from the Colossal A Dramatic Lift with Falsies Lash Lift or Natural Looking volume from Great Lash. Your perfect lash future awaits. Manifest your best mascara today. Shop Maybelline, NY and discover your lash destiny. Shop now at Walmart.

[Zibby Owens]

Hi, this is Zibby Owens and you're listening to Totally Booked with Zibby, formerly Moms don't have Time to Read Books. In my daily show, I interview today's latest best selling, buzziest or underrated authors and story creators whose work I think is worth your time. As a bookstore owner, publisher, author and obviously podcaster, I get a comprehensive look at everything that's coming out and spend my time curating the best books so you don't have to stay in the know, get insider insights and connect with guests like I do every single day. For more information, go to zibbymedia.com and follow me on Instagram. Ibbe Owens.

[Annabelle Monahan]

Annabelle Monahan is the author of It's a Love Story. Annabelle is the USA TODAY Best Selling and Library Reads hall of Fame author of Summer Romance, Same Time Next Summer and Nora Goes Off Script, for which.

[Zibby Owens]

She was on this podcast to discuss.

[Annabelle Monahan]

Many times, as well as two young adult novels and does this Novel Make My Butt Look Big? A selection of laugh out loud columns that appeared in the Huffington Post, the Week and the Rye Record. She lives in Connecticut with her family. Her novels have been translated into 20 languages. Go, Annabelle. Welcome, Annabelle. Thank you for coming back on Totally Booked with Zibby to talk about its own love story, your fourth novel. Congrats.

Thank you. Thank you so much. This is the highlight of my year coming on your podcast.

Thank you for having me back. I was looking. You have, like, two more live events, I think, today for this book. Right? Don't you have, like, a substack live? Which I've never done, by the way.

I do tomorrow.

Oh, tomorrow.

And the stress that I feel having to press that button and maybe it's the wrong button. Like, I don't know. It's all very mysterious when it works out.

Yeah. I actually did try to do a substack live, not knowing that it immediately sends an email. So I was just, like, walking down the street at a retreat, and then I realized that, like, everyone had gotten the email and I was like, this is not good. But anyway. Yeah. So I hope you have better luck than me. Okay. It's a love story. What is this love story about, please?

So it is the story of Jane Jackson, who is a former teen star who was sort of. When she was on TV as a teen, she was the punchline of every joke. You know, she was the one who was on the receiving side of a milkshake to the face or she sat in the nachos. Ha ha. And now she's all grown up, and she's trying to make it as a producer in Hollywood, and she's about to get her first project greenlit. Like, it's all going to happen, and it starts falling apart. And in a panic, she tells a really huge lie to buy herself a little bit of time. And now she has to rely on the one guy she really cannot stand in the world to help her make this happen. And his name is Dan Finnegan. And he is so cute. Zibby. Like, there's no cute like Dan Finnegan.

And he is an identical twin, which is amazing.

He is. Yes.

Wow. With three other brothers. Oh, my gosh. Spoiler.

So many to choose from. Yes.

The scene in the house where she first walks in and meets the whole clan, like, nieces and nephew, like, all the kids and all the cute boys. And she's just like, what kind of land have I entered here? Like, what is. Especially as an only child herself. Wow.

Have you ever had that experience where you walk into a really big family and it's like, there's something happening here, and I don't know what it is? This has happened to me before.

It Happened to me, too. I dated a guy who had three brothers and a dog, and it was like I had my one brother and my parents were divorced, and it was so quiet in my house. And I walked in and I was like, oh, my gosh, this is insane. Yeah, it was like that. So thank you for.

I like it.

Bringing us back.

I just think there's a little bit of honesty in a giant family like that. I don't have a giant family, but where everybody. Everything's kind of out in the open. And I always. I wanted to write about that kind of big family where everybody just busts on each other, but nothing's too serious. Because sometimes the really serious thing is the quiet thing that isn't. That's unsaid in a family. And that's kind of where things get dangerous.

Very true. Very true. So you have multiple sort of plot lines going here, or settings even, I should say. So there's the aspiring, like, I'm hiding under my desk. I really want my movie to get picked up and I'll do anything, and I'm like, going to talk myself into it. And then there's the most sort of vulnerable feelings in a relationship. And then there's, okay, so hold on, let me back up. So I don't give anything away. So there's sort of the complicated mother daughter relationships and the intimacy of that. So you have all these different puddles where people can sort of find themselves and something that relates most to them. Was there one piece of this you were drawn most to when you started?

When I started, I just wanted to write about. I wanted to write about somebody who grew up and went through puberty. Puberty on tv. You know, when I was that age, it was like, for me, it was a time of trying things on. You know, I had a big perm and permed bangs. And I. You know, you're trying on how you look and how your personality is, and you're trying to figure out who you are. And so I wanted to write about a person who had grown up reading from a script, wearing a costume, being told where to stand, being told that she was kind of a joke, who grew up. And what I was kind of surprised about is she literally grows up to be a person who was so unselfaware, like, she has no idea who she is. She's a mess. And I really loved writing about somebody who was kind of a mess. So that was where I started. And then all of the rest of it, like, all of what she had been through as a kid. Kind of came to me as I was writing, but for me, it was more about her, like, trying to be. Figure out as an adult what all the stuff she should have figured out when she was 15.

Interesting. Okay, and so what are your actual thoughts on the Notebook? Because there is a debate in the book.

Okay. So I'm a normal person with, like, I am emotionally regulated. I loved the Notebook, and I. I think that's the right opinion.

Okay.

I will die on that hill. Jane and Dan disagree about the Notebook for a variety of reasons, and it was so fun to write because they're really are a lot of ways to hate on that movie. Like, if you've watched it a thousand times, it does kind of fall apart in your hands.

I have not watched it as much as you, obviously. Now I need to, like, go back. I'm like, how many times does Annabelle watch this movie?

Oh, no. A million times. But, like, why didn't Ali ever just go to the mailbox and see if he had written? Like, if I was madly in love and my boyfriend didn't write to me for a year, I'd maybe go check the mailbox.

Yeah. Or even the post office.

Hello.

Yeah.

Yeah. I would start dating the postman to make sure I got those letters. Anyways, so there are a lot of. And it was just, like, such a funny fight. I mean, it's so stupid, right? But it was a very funny fight to write about.

Did you have to do some digging into the world behind the scenes in Hollywood and all that? Where did all that come from?

A little bit. You know, I, like, I had a couple of friends that I asked just the most ridiculous questions to, just for, like, words and, like, what your career trajectory would be. And they gave me so much information. And I remembered why I don't write nonfiction, because I don't like a lot of information. And I just took, like, seven words of what they said. So it's all. It's not really a deep dive into Hollywood.

But it's enough, though. You get like, a. No, it's not.

I learned more than I wanted to learn. And then I was like, no one reading my books needs to know all this. Like, this is just how it. This is just how it's going to be.

So I read the book, and then once I finished, I read the questions at the end, and I was like, oh, look at that. There are questions at the end of this book. And Anabel's already answered all these questions, so I'm going to make sure not to ask her any of these questions. But then as I was reading, there was a quote that you had in here that I loved so much. I took a picture of and I think I'm going to post, if you don't mind. But anyway, this is what you said. You said in my. Actually, let me back up and read the beginning. You said, there are definitely elements of my own marriage in Rene and Cormax. I have been married for a thousand years and what I've learned is that real love is not like it is in that Tiffany ad where she's in her best dress and he's in a tux hiding a blue box behind his back. That has literally never happened to me in my life. Love actually happens over breakfast. It happens during our morning dog walk where we talk through our plans for the day and laugh about something we saw on TV a decade ago. It happens in line at the DMV and in hospital rooms and over texts from Costco. I found that long lasting love is about just showing up for the other person, giving them the benefit of the doubt and treating them like they're as important as your house keys.

Sibi, you know what's funny? I was thinking right before I signed into this podcast that last year you made me cry. And I think that that could almost make me cry again. I forgot that I wrote that. Yeah, I do. That is how I feel. I do. I've been married almost 30 years and my husband is not like the guy with the grand gest. And I think that we all like growing up watching rom coms and love stories. We want the parade, you know, where the guy comes in on the float and it's the big I love you in front of everybody. And that's like, it's just not how it is after time. And I have found increasingly, like, probably more and more, like in the last 10 years of my marriage, I just feel like it's those quiet things where, like, he notices I'm out of the sparkling water that I like and like, goes and buys it. And I'm like, I open the fridge and there's the sparkling water because he was thinking about me during the day. And I'm like, I love this man so much. And since my husband's retired, it's like we do have these routines that are so quiet, but the dog walk is like a morning meeting.

It's so nice.

It is really nice.

Well, thank you. Thank you for writing that, because I think those moments are so often taken for granted, we don't even pay attention to them. And yet that's where all of the magic lies. Really.

No, that's where it's that quiet stuff. And I think that was the whole point of this book once I had written it six times. Is this quieter kind of love like Dan is a quiet man and P.S. i love a quiet man. And he like it's all very steady and constant and you see through his parents marriage how that steady, constant, non flashy thing is just like has a lot of weight to it.

And you talk about how emotional he is too. There's one point when he says he's been crying for a week straight and that's so sweet. Most men don't say that.

Yeah, but they do cry.

They do cry, but they don't say it.

They don't say it. Yeah. It's a really nice way to say I trust you and I care about you is to tell somebody that you cry.

[Zibby Owens]

Today's episode is sponsored by Quince. I've gotten tired of clothes that looked cute online but feel cheap when I get them out of the box at home. I want better fabrics, better quality, better fit, just better everything. And with Quince, I got it. Their quality is incredible. Everything feels intentional and the prices are shockingly reasonable. It finally feels like my clothes match my standards. For example, take their 100% European linen shorts and dresses from $30 Luxe Swimwear, Italian leather platform sandals and so much more. The best part is that everything with quints is priced 50 to 80% less than what you'd find at similar brands. By working directly with top artisans and cutting out the middlemen, Quints gives you and me luxury without the markup. And Quince only works with factories that use safe, ethical and responsible manufacturing practices and premium fabrics and finishes. I also love their 100% organic cotton poplin tiered maxi dress in navy.

[Annabelle Monahan]

So adorable.

[Zibby Owens]

Will wear this every day all summer long. So treat your closet to a little summer glow. Up with Quince. Go to Quince.com Zibby for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. That's Q-U-I-N-C-E.com Zivi to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com Zibby.

[Annabelle Monahan]

Race the rudders. Race the sails. Race the sails. Captain, an unidentified ship is approaching. Over. Roger, wait. Is that an enterprise? Enterprise sales solution.

[LinkedIn Ad]

Reach sales professionals, not professional sailors. With LinkedIn ads, you can target the right people by industry, job title and more. We'll even give you a $100 credit on your next campaign. Get started today at LinkedIn.com results, terms and conditions apply.

[Annabelle Monahan]

I have this nightmare that I never finished college or that someone's going to find out that I don't have the qualifications for this job and I'm like a total fraud.

[Mind if We Talk? Ad]

Sometimes even the most successful people experience imposter syndrome. Check out Mind if We Talk? The newest podcast helping you with tough topics. In this episode, licensed therapist he Su Jo sits down with award winning journalist Jane Marie to explore why so many of us have imposter syndrome and why success never seems to solve it. Whether you've ever questioned your own success or felt like the odd one out, this episode's for you. Listen and subscribe to Mind if We Talk? Wherever you get your podcasts.

[Annabelle Monahan]

So you wrote this book six times?

Oh, God, no. I wrote this book. This book. I probably wrote this book 12 times.

I've written this book 12 times.

Yeah, I just. The first three drafts were so far away from where it ended up. I was like, I knew I was trying to tell a story, I just couldn't find it. And it's kind of terrifying if you write a book the way I write a book, which is just to sit down and write a book. It's terrifying to not really know where you're going. The pop star that they were after the first three drafts was a woman.

Oh.

And had nothing. They had never met her before. And then I was like, this is not working. So I started again. Yeah, I wrote a lot of drafts of this book.

So when you say, did you actually throw the whole thing away and, like, start a new document?

No, no, I never do that because I don't think I could survive that. But I often delete a third of a book. I actually just did that with the book I'm writing right now. I just deleted a third of it. I was like, wrong way. It sounds horrible, but I've done this a bunch of times now, and it's the only way. It's like, there's something in me that I'm trying to say, and it's the only way I can excavate it is by actually writing. If I knew another way I would do it, trust me, my editor would be so happy. But it's just not. That's just not how it goes.

Well, at least it's only a third, I guess, right? Yeah.

Things could be.

Things could be worse. It could be. Yes. Wait, what is the new book?

I'm working on a book right now about. I kind of think we talked about this a little bit in Arizona. She is a woman, a single mom. She's 39. She's a kindergarten teacher. She works part time in her dad's fish store. And she needs to pose as this. As the girlfriend of this guy who's the heir to a huge real estate fortune. He's kind of like a Vanderbilt. The whole thing takes place in a fake town next to Newport.

Yeah, that'll be nice.

I love a fake town.

Yeah.

I feel like I'm the designer. Like, here's where the butcher is. Here's where the diner is.

So how are you keeping up this pace? Especially if you're writing and deleting and writing and deleting like you're. You have so many books coming out so fast. How are you doing that?

It's one a year. And I have recently talked to writers who write three books a year, and, you know, two and three books a year, and they're like, oh, you're only writing a book a year? And I think it's a lot to write a book a year. And I work. I mean, I work seven days a week. I'm always. I'm always working it. I think it would be perfect if the year was 14 months long. Like, I think that's how long it takes in, like, a more reasonable pace. But frankly, I really love doing it. Like, I love writing a book. I don't really mind deleting a third and kind of digging in again. It's almost like a crossword puzzle to me. Like, I enjoy, like, figuring it out, so I don't know how else I'd be spending my time if I wasn't doing this.

All right, that's fair. I mean, there can't be that many people who are writing two and three books a year, are there?

Well, in romance, there are.

Okay.

And they're just, like, spontaneous. Like, Ali Hazelwood just announced a book. Like, I'd never heard of it, and it's coming out in a week. Like, when did you. Because you just released a book. So what? What's happening? People are. People are prolific. And with my starting over again all the time process, I am not going to ever be more prolific than I am.

Interesting. There's this whole Instagram jealousy thing going on in the book as well, where one of the other stars is her name Alison. Bri.

Why?

I'm totally forgetting her name. The one who becomes really famous. What is her name?

I can't remember.

I can't. You can't remember either? Okay, great. I think it's like Allison or. Or Bri. Or whatever. I don't.

Anyway, just as soon as we're done, her name's going to come to me. But I.

Well, the point is not even about her. The point is, is that she's on Instagram and is sharing her, like, perfect life all the time with a bazillion followers. And of course, making everyone else feel badly about their own lives when they watch her life. Talk a little bit about that.

Oh, my gosh. Well, I mean, I don't think I need to explain that to anybody, but when I really started thinking about that is when I read Jennette McCurdy's I'm Glad My Mom Died. Really started thinking about teen stars, and I started thinking about her on Salmon Cat and Victorious. My kids used to watch these shows all the time, and I used to think, like. Or I was started thinking about, what do all those people who were on those shows think about? The fact that Ariana Grande is a billionaire now. Like, she used to be the girl who stood in the background and was like. Like, I mean, I don't know if you ever saw this show. Yes, yes, she's a billionaire. Like, out. She's killing it. And I don't know what happened to the rest of those kids. And so I think about, we. You know, we're all. And I've been like this in my life, too, where I'm like, am I keeping up with, like, the girls I went to high school with? Because, you know, one of them's head of breast surgery at Cedar Sinai? Like, I'm like, I am not keeping up. And it's like, how we measure ourselves in our lives about whatever, up against what everybody else is doing. I think people did that already. But with Instagram, you know, showing, like, the highlight reel and everybody's best hair day every single day, I think it's easy to just, like, lose track of where we are in the world and how much we've done.

Okay, so who makes you feel worse when you look at their Instagram accounts? Who makes you feel bad about yourself like, that you're not keeping up? Is there anybody?

Yeah, you know what? I don't think I feel like this anymore. It was more when I was like. Like 15 years ago, and I was home with kids, okay, like, mostly covered in vomit all the time. And one girl from my high school class is, like, the chief technology officer at Facebook or something, and I'm like, what am I doing? Like, I. Like, I know what I'm doing, but, like, how did I not. Yeah, I don't Think. I don't think I feel like that as much now. Which is the beauty of being in your 50s.

Nice. Any other beauties?

Everything. Everything. No, I'm not kidding, Zivi. Every. I don't know, people to talk are, like, so terrified about getting older. When you turn 50, like, call me on that day. You're going to be, like, not that far away.

I will call you in a year.

It's like something shifts. It's like, oh, you know what I'm going to do? I'm just going to do what I want to do, like. And all of a sudden it's like everything kind of opens up. It's so far, so good. I do love this decade. It's my favorite yet.

It needs better branding, though. 50s.

It needs better branding. And why is all the branding about how we've got to fix ourselves so we seem like we're in our 30s?

Yeah.

I wasn't as happy in my 30s as I am now. So how about I brand myself like I'm in my 50s?

Yeah. I would take my skin back, though.

Yeah. Yeah, the skin. I mean, there are a couple of things. There are a couple of things. The collagen, you know.

Yeah, I would take back the collagen.

Rest in peace. To the collagen and the estrogen also. Those were good, good things.

Okay, so the movie star, or, sorry, the singer, who plays a big role in the book, in finding the singer and all of that, like, was kind of a jerk back in the day and continues to just be a jerk. I kept hoping that he would be a really nice guy.

Yeah.

What should we take away from that?

Yeah. You know, sometimes people don't change. And sometimes you think that everything. That everybody's gonna grow up and grow out of all their nonsense. But, you know, being a jerk isn't about being a certain age. Some jerks are ageless. And anyways, if he had turned out to be a nice guy and accommodating, then I think things would have been too easy for, you know, I always, always, when I'm writing a story, I want everybody to get what they want immediately. Like, I want the whole book to be over in three chapters because I can't stand people suffering. But I really felt like for her to bring up all of her garbage that she'd been carrying around, she needed to really go there, so he had to be a jerk.

Kind of a shame, though.

Yeah, it's a shame.

In the book, or maybe it was in the questions after you talked about writing a novel based On True Story, which is the fictitious pilot script or not pilot screenplay in the book. Are you thinking about that? Did you drop that idea?

I thought it was a fun idea for a minute. Probably the minute that I was writing the response to that question. So the screenplay that they're trying to get greenlit, it's a movie called True Story. And it's about that kind of love. It's about a quieter kind of love where you fight and you come back and you fight and you come back. It's not just like all one big honeymoon the whole time. And the original name for It's a Love Story was going to be True Story, but it kind of sounded like true crime. So they.

I was thinking it was going to be True Story, and then I was thinking, oh, people thought it would have thought it was a memoir or something.

Yeah. You know, the other thing is, for all. Any writers who are listening, I do think that publishers understand titles. When they change my titles, it's always for the better. Like, I'm giving up titles. I always make a title. It never gets. It never sticks. Anyways, I was thinking, like, that is a story. They're the story that the. Of the movie they're trying to make. I was thinking it might be a fun book one day to write. Like, to actually write what I imagine that story was, But I don't have any plans to do that.

Well, that could be your first screenplay, maybe.

Maybe. God, I don't know if I want to learn a new trade that.

Okay, you don't have to.

Okay. Still working on this one.

And I love, by the way, that this is set on Montana Avenue right where my bookstore is in Santa Monica, which is so exciting, where you'll be for an event for the books, which I'm very excited.

June 1.

June 1.

June 1. Yes. All of my family, I'm so. That's the Los Angeles stop on my tour is always so much fun. It's like a really quick family reunion and all my little great nieces and nephews come. It's so fun.

[Zibby Owens]

I love it.

[Annabelle Monahan]

And you were like, there are five bathing suit stores within Walking Distance. And I was like, where are these bathing suit stores in Walking Distance? Out of Montana? We need some more bathing suit stores.

You know, I was thinking about the one on. On Topanga Canyon. Can't think of what it's called.

Okay.

Anyways, yeah, I don't. I don't. I don't shop for bathing suits as much as I used to when I lived in Los Angeles.

I only buy bathing suits online. I could never face a dressing room for a bathing suit.

Yeah, it's brutal.

Yeah. Favorite love story of all time. Do you have one?

Oh, well, the Notebook was the first one that came into my mind. I think that my favorite love story of all time is actually Love Story, the one where she dies on Christian Page. Yeah.

Yeah.

I just. There's something so raw about that story. And I actually read that book a couple years ago for the hundredth time. But yeah, I would say Love story.

So good movie. It was really good too.

So good.

So good. Okay, Annabelle, thank you so much for yet another great book in your trademark awesome, witty, amazing voice. And congratulations.

Well, thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you so much for having me. And also, yay.

Yay. Okay, bye, Annabelle.

Bye.

Bye.

[Zibby Owens]

Thank you for listening to Totally Booked with Zibby, formerly Moms don't have time to read books. If you loved the show, tell a friend, leave a review, follow me on Instagram, ibbeowens and spread the word. Thanks so much. Oh, and buy the books.

[Hannah from Giggly Squad]

Hi, guys, it's Hannah from Giggly Squad. With summer around the corner, I wanted to tell you guys how I'm staying comfy and stylish. Lululemon is my secret weapon. There are plenty of copycats out there, but nothing compares to the Lululemon fabrics and fit. I've literally had my pair of Lululemon leggings since college, and I'm out of college. I know I don't look it, but I am. The quality is next level. I especially love the Lululemon Align collection. It's made with this weightless, buttery, soft nulu fabric that feels like next to nothing. It's so soft. Whether you're in Align pants, shorts, a bra, tank, skirt, a dress, you get non stop flexibility in every direction so you can stretch the summer limits align. Even wicks, sweat and as a sweaty girl. I love this. You know it's going to be my best friend when I play tennis this summer. Shop the Align collection [e-mail] or your nearest Lululemon store.

[Paige from Giggly Squad]

If you're anything like us, you love attention. And my favorite way to get all eyes on me is with next level, shiny, glossy hair.

[Hannah from Giggly Squad]

Which is why we're so excited to tell y' all about the new Lamellar gloss collection from the girlies et Tresemme and Gigglers.

[Paige from Giggly Squad]

We've got you too, because Tresemme partnered with us to bring you 1-800-gloss, a special bonus episode of Giggly Squad, where Hannah and I give advice on all things hair and giving gloss. Check out the episode and grab the Lamellar gloss collection today because I'm officially declaring this spring gloss season. Hi, it's Paige from Giggly Squad. Let's be real. Cat dads are in their golden era. Temptations, America's number one cat treat brand, is celebrating how seriously irresistible these guys are. They've got sensitivity, sensitive snack timing, precision, and their cats adore them. Add in a handful of Temptations treats, and boom, you've got a certified cat dad show. More love to the cat dad in your life with Temptations Cat Treats. And tag your fave moments with catdadsighting. You know we're dying to see them.

[Zibby Owens]

Clips from the Totally Booked Live series are now up on Instagram. TotallyBooked with Zivie. Check it out.