Where to Start Reading Annabel Monaghan
Annabel Monaghan's books fall into two main categories: her math-genius Young Adult duology and her bestselling adult contemporary romances. Because her adult books are standalone novels, you do not need to follow a strict timeline. However, the best way to experience her work depends on your reading preferences:
- For Contemporary Romance Fans: Start with Nora Goes Off Script (2022). This was Monaghan's breakout adult novel, showcasing her trademark warm humor, realistic characters, and cozy, cinematic atmosphere.
- For Young Adult & Mystery Lovers: Start with A Girl Named Digit (2012). This fast-paced YA thriller is perfect for readers who enjoy clever, math-oriented protagonists and lighthearted spy adventures.
- For a Chronological Journey: If you want to follow her growth as a writer, you can read her works in order of publication, beginning with her co-authored teen self-help guide, Click! (2007).
The Digit Duology (Young Adult Spy Romances)
Before writing bestselling adult romances, Monaghan wrote a two-part Young Adult series focusing on Farrah "Digit" Higgins, a high school senior in Los Angeles who hides her genius-level mathematical abilities to fit in. This series must be read in chronological order, as the second book directly continues Farrah's story.
- A Girl Named Digit (2012): Farrah accidentally cracks an encrypted terrorist code, drawing the attention of both the criminals and the FBI. To stay safe, she has to fake her own kidnapping and work alongside a young FBI agent named John D'Amato.
- Double Digit (2014): Now a student at MIT, Farrah tries to live a normal college life, but her hacking skills pull her back into danger when she accidentally breaches a secure CIA database, forcing her to work with the government once again.
Contemporary Adult Romance Standalones
Monaghan transitioned to adult fiction in 2022 and has since released a series of highly acclaimed standalone romance novels. These books do not share a shared universe or recurring characters, meaning you can read them in any order you choose. However, reading them in publication order lets you experience the evolution of her signature style.
- Nora Goes Off Script (2022): Nora Hamilton is a screenwriter for romance channels who uses her real-life divorce as inspiration for a screenplay. When a major movie studio picks up the script, Hollywood heartthrob Leo Vance is cast as her ex-husband. After filming wraps, Leo offers to pay Nora to stay in her guest house for a week to escape the paparazzi, sparking an unexpected romance.
- Same Time Next Summer (2023): Sam (Samantha) seems to have her life perfectly planned with her stable doctor fiancé. But when they visit her family's beach house in Long Island to plan the wedding, she runs into Wyatt, her first love and childhood sweetheart, forcing her to confront her past and what she truly wants.
- Summer Romance (2024): Ali Morris is a professional organizer whose own life is in complete disarray following a messy divorce and the death of her mother. When she meets Ethan, an attractive and laid-back dog trainer, she decides to engage in a low-stakes summer fling that eventually challenges her to rebuild her life.
- It's a Love Story (2025): This novel centers on Jane Jackson, a former child star of a musical sitcom who wants to be taken seriously as a Hollywood studio executive. The story follows her career ambitions and her complex, developing relationship with Dan Finnegan, an attractive cinematographer.
- Dolly All the Time (2026): Dolly Brick is a hardworking single mother who returns to her Rhode Island hometown to help save her family's historic home. She ends up in a fake-dating arrangement with Stewart Whitfield, the wealthy scion of the town's founding family, which quickly develops into genuine feelings.
Non-Fiction & Essay Collections
For readers who want to explore Monaghan's non-fiction and comedic writing, she has published two books that showcase her personal voice and advice:
- Click!: The Girl's Guide to Knowing What You Want and Making It Happen (2007): Co-authored with Elisabeth Wolfe, this self-help book is aimed at teenage girls, teaching them how to set goals, think positively, and build self-confidence.
- Does This Volvo Make My Butt Look Big? (2016): A collection of humorous essays compiled from Monaghan's columns in The Huffington Post and The Rye Record, offering funny and relatable observations on suburban life, marriage, and motherhood.