How to Write a Love Story

Author: Catherine Walsh Title: How to Write a Love Story Publisher: Dutton Date Published: 03/10/2026

Read Dates: 02/16/2026- 02/17/2026
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

 📖 I received a gifted e-book ARC. The following is my honest review✍🏻

How to Write a Love Story is a dual POV workplace romance. Sam is an editor vying for a promotion when his boss gives him an unbelievable opportunity: when the author of his favorite fantasy series died, he left instructions for his daughter Ciara to complete the final book. Sam is being sent to Ireland to help Ciara complete the project. The problem is, Ciara is struggling with writers block, a house that no longer feels like home, the hottest summer on record, and fans that range from well meaning but intrusive to downright toxic. Ciara and Sam have their work cut out for them to give her father’s characters the happy ending the deserve, and to maybe find their own.

I really enjoyed this and it makes me want to to read the authors backlist. I liked the idea of Ciara being tasked with finishing her fathers work, the balance between her knowing the stories but not feeling comfortable writing in his genre. I loved that Sam was a huge fan but knew when to pull that back to focus on her. I enjoyed the side characters and how it all came together!

Ciara Sheridan’s father has left her with three a sprawling and distinctly ramshackle estate on the Irish coast, the outline for the finale to his bestselling epic fantasy series that he wanted her to finish—and writer’s block.

Enter Sam Frank Sheridan fanboy and hotshot editor, sent from the New York publishing house direct to Ciara’s doorstep. Ciara was expecting a crusty old-timer, so the handsome young American is a surprise. And for his part, Sam was expecting Ciara to have written something by now. 

Ciara and Sam have two weeks of the hottest Irish summer on record to write this novel together and secure Frank’s legacy—but will their own love story be the plot twist neither of them see coming?