REVIEW: How to Write a Love Story by Catherine Walsh

One writer, one editor, one hot summer . . . Will this be a romance for the books?

How to Write a Love Story by Catherine Walsh: After her father’s death, Ciara Sheridan inherits more than his ramshackle Irish estate. She’s also left with the responsibility of finishing the final book in his beloved fantasy series—a task made considerably harder by her complete inability to write it. Then Sam Avery arrives. As an editor sent from New York to help finish the manuscript, Sam is determined to protect the legacy of the author he’s admired for years. The problem? Ciara and Sam can’t seem to agree on much of anything. With a looming deadline, a manuscript to finish, and weeks spent working side by side, their constant bickering slowly gives way to something neither of them expected.

HOW TO WRITE A LOVE STORY by Catherine Walsh is a warm, witty romance that blended publishing-world charm with a heartfelt story about grief, family legacy, and finding the courage to trust your own voice.

Ciara’s journey was one of my favorite parts of the book. She’s grappling with grief, self-doubt, and the enormous responsibility of finishing something that meant so much to her father. Watching her slowly gain confidence in her own abilities made her story especially rewarding. Sam was impossible not to like. His love for Frank Sheridan’s books, his dedication to preserving the series, and the genuine care he brought to the project made him far more than just the editor showing up with a deadline. I loved how patient he could be one moment and how willing he was to challenge Ciara the next.

The chemistry between Ciara and Sam sparkled from their very first disagreement. What I loved most was how their relationship developed through the work they were doing together. As they debated story choices, shared ideas, and spent long days trying to finish the manuscript, they gradually became each other’s biggest supporters.

Tropes & Vibes
📖 Writer x editor
☘️ Irish coastal setting
⚡ Enemies to lovers
📚 Books about books
🏡 Inherited estate
💕 Forced proximity

HOW TO WRITE A LOVE STORY was a romance filled with heart, humor, and plenty of bookish charm. Between the gorgeous setting and the publishing-world backdropnthis was a story I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with.

Book Info:

Publication: Published March 10, 2026 | Dutton |
One writer, one editor, one hot summer . . . Will this be a romance for the books?

Ciara Sheridan’s father has left her with three things: 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 Avery: Frank Sheridan fanboy and hotshot editor, sent from the New York publishing house direct to Ciara’s doorstep—red pen ready.

At first, Ciara and Sam butt heads with crackling energy. But with the deadline looming, Ciara and Sam have just a few weeks to stop bickering, write this novel, and secure Frank’s legacy.

As the summer heats up, so, too, does the tension between them. Will their own love story be the plot twist neither of them see coming?