Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan

It’s been a minute since we’ve reviewed a book, so let’s talk about Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan. To fully discuss my feelings about this book, there may be some spoilers ahead. 

Summer Romance and Same Time Next Summer were both five star reads for me, so I was super excited to dive into the first novel of hers I remember hearing about on social media. The plot was extremely quaint and cute: Nora Hamlton is a screenwriter of Hallmark style romance novels living in a small town with her two kids after she is left by her good for nothing husband. Writing a movie based on her divorce, Nora lets the cast of her first big Hollywood movie use her house to film. Because of this, movie star Leo Vance ends up at Nora’s house. I liked that this book included Nora talking about the silliness and predictability of the cheesy romance movies she usually writes, while following the same format of said movies. It felt tongue-in-cheek in the best way. It brought what people love about simple romances, while also balancing it out with more heart and depth than those movies usually provide. Nothing gets me romantic comedy meet cute than a single mom finding love with the handsome movie star that literally shows up at her door. Nora’s daughter, Bernadette, warms up to Leo immediately, as he does to her. Her son, Arthur, is a bit slower to trust the random man in his house so soon after his own father left him. When the filming wraps, Nora finds Leo on her front porch the next morning. Needing a break from his glamorous life of fame, he offers Nora money to rent out the tea house in her backyard. As one would expect out of a Hallmark movie, Nora and Leo begin to fall for one another. This is scary for Nora, as she has a happier life than she has in years after her husband who relied on her to pay all of the bills and do all of the work around the house. Inviting a man into her life would uproot this routine, and she is scared to open her children’s hearts to a new man that could leave, just like their father did. I am not a mother and have never been married, but this aspect of the story was so moving to read about. Nora’s feelings about the situation feel so natural to what anyone would feel in her situation, and I feel like I’d feel the same way if I were her. Leo becomes part of the smalltown community, running errands and shopping in public with Nora. Even though Bernadette and Arther are unaware of anything romantic happening between their mother and Leo, they get accustomed to Leo being around. Since he got an important role in his school play, ten-year-old Arthur softens towards Leo when Leo begins to help him prepare and learn his lines. The relationship between the kids and Leo was one of my favorite parts of this novel. Seeing Arthur slowly warm up to Leo was adorable, and the affection between Bernadette and Leo was so natural and adorable. Without saying a word, he stepped up to be in the lives of these children, and I found it incredibly heartwarming. Eventually, Leo and Nora are completely in love, seemingly for the long haul. When he is called to act in a major motion picture that will make him miss Arthurt’s opening night, Nora and her children are under the belief that he will return after his filming is done. Then Leo ghosts Nora in a typical third act breakup.

Nora’s heartbreak was written so well. Nora loses three pounds in an incredibly short amount of time, which is so real to anybody that has had their heart completely shattered. Nora engages in incredibly relatable behavior: oscillating between checking her phone every five minutes or leaving her phone behind, thinking there will be a notification from Leo when she is reunited with the device. This whole section of the novel reminded me of my own heartbreak I went through a few years ago. It felt so tangible and real, and that is a testament to Annabel Monaghan’s skill as an author. I hurt so badly for the children during this section of the novel, as they now felt abandoned by not one, but two male figures. A lot of plot happens between the breakup and the resolution, including Nora winning an academy award and running into Leo at the events, and it seems like Nora is healing. She can win an Oscar, see Leo (and meet his entire family) and walk away with her head held high, even though she still loves him deeply. While I knew this novel would have a happy ending, I had no idea how it would play out. I kept thinking that there wouldn’t be a single explanation that would make me forgive Leo, but boy was I wrong. Never in a million years would I have imagined that Arthur, so hurt by Leo missing his big night, could have concocted a lie that Nora was getting back together with her ex husband and was completely over Leo. Oh, the things a hurt tween can come up with. While this twist shocked me, I was kind of happy with it. It was a resolution that was neither Nora or Leo’s fault, meaning they could get back together and pick up where they left off. Not to mention that Arthur uses Leo’s advice about owning up to his mistakes that he taught him earlier in the book when apologizing to Leo for meddling. The effect Leo had on the children was so touching. 

The ending of this book was precious. Leo, showing up on Nora’s porch that she found him on the first day after filming, giving Nora a ring and telling her that they were married in his mind because of it was cheesy in the most adorable, fulfilling way. The kid’s reactions to the news of their mom marrying Leo melted my heart, and the wedding scene was beautiful.

Overall, I adored this book and read it extremely quickly. I loved the idea of a female main character who went through a divorce and was happy about it, rather than hurting. She knew what she deserted out of life and was no longer willing to accept less. The life Nora built for her kids, even without them having a father figure around, was inspiring. Going from cheesy romances to Hollywood blockbusters was an amazing career arc that I loved seeing Nora navigate. I think my favorite part of Nora and Leo’s romance was his relationship with her kids, but I obviously loved Nora and Leo’s relationship itself as well. I love that Leo, used to dating fancy movie stars, wanted Nora for exactly what she was. She was worth the smalltown, the school plays, and the meatloaf. I also love that Leo’s status didn’t scare Nora off. There were a few mentions of her not being as pretty as Leo’s ex girlfriend, a Hollywood actress, but Nora doesn’t let the fear that she doesn’t deserve Leo stop her from creating a life with him that she loves. I think I want to be Nora Hamilton when I grow up.