What I Should've Said (2024)

It is with a very heavy heart that I down vote and one star this book. Listen this writing pair are absolutely one click buy for me, no doubt, however this book…. Well let’s just say I have some SERIOUS issues on how this book is presented and what it contains inside.

1) these are funny rom com authors ….. this book is not that AT ALL.

2) TRIGGER WARNINGS are added for a reason and for authors to willfully not add them I believe is irresponsible. So I will add a partial list here: CHILD NEGLECT/ABUSE RESULTING IN CHILD DEATH, DOMESTIC ABUSE/PHYSICAL ABUSE, TERMINAL ILLNESS, SEXUAL ABUSE, FORCED SEX SALES , ESTRANGEMENT FROM FAMILY/ parent, CHILD ABANDONMENT, INFIDELITY, DISCUSSION OF TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY WITH SERIOUS ANTO ABORTION IDEOLOGY,, SIBLING DEATH BY PARENT, HIGH RISH ACCIDENTAL PREGNANCY and finally CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS RELATING TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING BY THE FMC EX AND HER MOTHER.

3 ) all of this is hidden and masked behind a bubblegum pink cover, calling to mind a cozy summer HEA steamy read. Touted as an opposites attract grumpy/ sunshine romance.

4) I feel betrayed by these writing duo. I know that their mentions are full of fav reviews and when I mentioned why there weren’t any trigger warnings I was attacked to the point where I unfollowed the authors. So plz before reading this book, if you have read any of this duos other books consider my review.

4.5 Stars ⭐️

.5 stars less for the loss (because it hurt) and the over the top criminal charges on two other characters.

I loved the heroine! She and her sister are fantastic and the writing was extraordinarily well done. The small town and all the characters, the humor and love made for a wonderful trip.

What I Should’ve Said is LIVE NOW + FREE in KINDLE UNLIMITED!!!!
ONE-CLICK: https://geni.us/WISS_ebook

What I Should’ve Said is a full-length standalone novel that is available in ebook, paperback, Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited. Audio is narrated by Sebastian York and CJ Bloom and will release sometime in May (date TBD).

WHAT IS WHAT I SHOULD’VE SAID ALL ABOUT?

⬇️⬇️⬇️
👰Runaway Bride
🔥Enemies to Lovers
❤️Grumpy-Broody Alpha + Chatty Sunshine
🥵“I don’t like this woman but I’ll kill anyone who hurts her” vibes
🏡Smalltown Charm
🫢Dark Secrets
🥹EMOTIONAL, pull-at-your-heartstrings, you’ll-think-about-this-book-for-days.
⬇️⬇️⬇️

Disclaimer: What I Should’ve Said is a full-length standalone novel. And while it does contain the Max Monroe humor and spice you know and love, this book is a deep, emotional story that will pull at your heartstrings like you’ve never experienced. Summer will never be the same.

Happy Reading!
XOXO,
Max & Monroe

OH MY GOSH. I don’t know what I was expecting from this book, but wow. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 do not let this happy pink cover fool you because this book will rip your heart wide open. I had to flip my pillow over because it was too wet from crying on it 🤣 small town, friends to lovers, single dad romance with loss, heartbreak, trauma, drama, + everything that makes a book SO GOOD. This is right up there with ‘The Last Letter’ 😅

i don’t normally abide by the “go into this blind” people but outside of checking for triggers which i would because this deals with some sensitive topics, i 100% recommend going into this blind.

this gave me laughing, giggling, swinging my feet and then gave me some emotional torment but i couldn’t put it down.

2.5 ⭐️ DNF at 85%. I don’t usually rate DNFs but I read enough of this book that I know I didn’t enjoy this from 35% to 85%, basically once Summer was revealed. I didn’t DNF sooner because I was curious what would happen to her.

There was a whole lot of unnecessary drama with the exes and their families, and I just couldn’t warm up to Norah after she slapped the MMC twice while being a victim of abuse herself.

I laughed as much as I cried. So funny & sweet. New authors to me but I’ll definitely read more from them.

Norah + Bennett

26 year old Norah just ran out of her own wedding.
Well. It wasn't really her anything. Her horrible mom organized everything. She even basically picked out the perfect super rich guy to marry.
But then she got an envelope while putting on her dress and she just couldn't anymore..
Off she goes to stay at her big sister's place in Vermont for a bit.
The sister she hasn't talked to for five years.
Plus there's this super grumpy guy who gave her a ride into town. Ugh.

LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN!

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BEAUTIFUL!

If I had to complain a tiny bit.... I wanted more of things!! Of Norah, Bennett and Summer things. Of funny and sad things. Of falling in love things. It felt a bit slow at the beginning and suddenly they're kissing?! I just wanted the book to be a bit longer with more of everything! But it was amazing just as it was!

Another tiny thing. The cover. It's pretty. But when I would come across this cover in a book store, I would think: Ooh a Max Monroe Miami Beach Summer Romance. This cover does not exactly scream Vermont to me. But who cares?!

WHAT I SHOULD'VE SAID was such a sweet + funny + adorable + so very heartbreaking small-town romance! Run to your nearest book dealer for your own Bennett - this one is so mine!

💜 💜

What I Should've Said is a story you won't be expecting. Keep the tissues handy.

Norah is a runaway bride. She escapes to her hometown, to a sister she's not seen or spoken to in years. Before she even arrives, she has a run in with who must be the town grump, because he is not exactly kind or welcoming. But that man, he's going to change her life in ways she never seen coming.

Norah and Bennett's relationship goes from enemies to lovers to love very quickly. And while I enjoyed both of these characters and their banter from the start- I did feel it lacked a bit of depth and development. I mean the miscommunication in the end- I wanted to scream. Also- what was with the slapping? I didn't like it. I don't like it in general just to say. Despite all that, I couldn't help but be captivated, turning the pages for more. They had this palpable tension and chemistry I enjoyed. I very much rooted for them. Like Summer did.

I had no idea going into this book, it would turn into the story it did. I think there is a great deal of foreshadowing, so your eventually prepared, can figure it out, and can stop if need be. The blurb certainly doesn't adequately prepare you. This is not the sunshining romcom you might expect from this author duo. Yes, there is humour, that made me laugh. But there is also emotion and such agonizing heartbreak- it could be very difficult or even triggering for some. So proceed with caution. But do check it out if you enjoy your romance with side of absolute heartbreak, before the emotional HEA. Can't wait for the next book-Josie and Clay 100% need their story told!

*I received an ARC via Hambright PR in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own and given freely.

Umm, ok. Where to begin.. 🤔 I feel like a major bait & switch just happened. The sun shiny cover and the rom-com book summary had me thinking I was getting into a very different book than this actually was.

Is there a small town with fun characters? Yep. Is there a grumpy sunshine romance? Yep. But there’s also extremely deep and triggering storylines. I just finished a book that made me cry before this. I needed laughs and a pick-me-up. What I got? Heartbreaking storylines that had I known were in this book - I wouldn’t have picked it up.

The romance elements of this book took a backseat to the all-consuming emotional devastation. While I understand that listing trigger warnings can be a spoiler, this is not a book to go in blind to if you have triggers. Avoid looking below (list of triggers) if you want to avoid any potential spoilers…… ⬇️

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TW: child neglect and abuse resulting in death, domestic violence/physical abuse, terminal illness, sexual abuse

Thank you to NetGalley & Max Monroe for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

I’ll be honest, I was such a mess after finishing this book. It is very emotional, and a good reminder not to take anything for granted. There is a lot going on throughout the book, but the love story between Norah and Bennett is truly beautiful. This is the kind that will simultaneously rip your heart out and put it back together. I was literally smiling and crying at the same time.
If you love:
💞Small Town
✨Single Dad
💞Protective MMC
✨VERY Emotional Reads
💞Enemies to Lovers
✨Boss x Employee
💞Dark Secrets
✨Runaway Bride
💞Grumpy x Sunshine
✨Dual POV
💞Spice
Then I highly highly HIGHLY recommend this one!

I’m not going to overthink this five star rating because I literally read this book all in one sitting. And my heart is lying in pieces on the floor next to my pile of tissues.

We start off with a dedication that said this book changed the authors’ lives, and I completely see why. Because what we get inside the book was completely unexpected, and I am emotionally wrecked.. in the best way.

Love Norah. Love Bennett. Love Summer forever.

💕small town romance
💗single dad
💖runaway bride
💓 grumpy/sunshine
💞 tear jerker

How far did I get? Sort of a weird situation, I'll get into that. As other reviewers have mentioned, this REALLY needed a content warning. Despite the bubbly cover and fun blurb, it's got some seriously heavy content. I actually had an ARC, and I feel disrespected that there was no heads up about some of the things involved in this story. The authors should've done better for their readers.

Why did I stop? As I write this, it's one of the bestsellers in romantic comedy, the cover and blurb imply a lighthearted read that might hit you in the feels, and the authors are rom com writers... and yet there is SO much potentially triggering content here. I dove in wanting and expecting a rom com with a little bit of bite, but many of the topics lurking within these pages are heavier than the dark romances I read. Abuse, terminal illness, death of a child (who is very involved in the story!), just to name a few. I absolutely would not expect that from the marketing, and these authors should know better. It felt deceptive. Beyond that, I simply didn't enjoy it as much as I have some of their other books, so it was an easy decision to set it aside.

Was I enjoying it initially? Yeah, sure. I solidly read the first third and enjoyed the small town/runaway bride vibes. These two are instant enemies, and it was feeling promising. I didn't love it, but I liked it. However, the heroine has an emotionally (at least) abusive ex, and yet she slaps the hero more than once. That was the first red flag for me. Once the hero's backstory is revealed, it was clear this was going to be a LOT heavier than anticipated. After that, I started skimming and sought out spoilers regarding the concerns I had about where it was heading. Since I didn't read thoroughly after that, I'm not the best person to describe the content warning required - I just know that it was dishonest not to better prepare readers for what they were getting themselves into.

Would I finish this? No. I sat in my thoughts for several days, and any warm feelings I had about the story are gone now. I'll be more cautious next time I read one of Max Monroe's books, which is disappointing since I've been a longtime reader.

Who would I recommend this to? If you know you've got a heavy read ahead of you, perhaps this will go better for you. Just don't expect the typical Max Monroe vibes.

Thank you to Max Monroe and NetGalley for providing this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have a few thoughts about this.

1. There definitely should’ve been more of a disclaimer beyond “This book deals with sensitive subjects.” Not every book requires a laundry list of trigger warnings, but I do think when the content is so heavy, a better warning is necessary.

2. The pacing was a little off. The beginning started off at a fairly normal pace for a romance novel, but then many of the kisses felt like they came out of nowhere and were rushed?

3. The cover is a super misleading? It’s giving beach vacation, not small-town Vermont.

I cried like a baby reading this, but can we as a society stop pretending that very young children get incredibly wise beyond their years upon their death? Thanks.

I received this book from NetGalley as an ARC. So....I went into this book thinking it would be a grumpy sunshine trope and it is but it is a lot more. Let's start with the romance...Both characters have their issue and baggage. I found it really unlikely that they would flip the switch so quickly a they did in the parking lot. Then once they talked about the romance it was really only in terms of with the family. I didn't feel like the beginning of the romance was well rounded. The end felt complete because of the happenings in the middle.

*spoilers ahead and trigger warning*

A big part of the plot of the book was that the MMC has a young daughter who was born with a genetic disorder that allows her bones to break easily and she needs a lot of care. That is pretty much his life. He is a painter and needs an assistant and hires the FMC. The daughter gets deeper into her illness and she passes away...I found both the after care and services to be overly detailed unnecessarily. She was a sweet character that bonded them, but this book honestly felt more centered on the family dynamic than the romance.

Overall, It was heartfelt book but I would not read it again.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book, this is my honest review. There are spoilers in this review, so be warned. I have mixed feelings here, primarily about the huge dichotomies in this book that were completely unexpected based on the description and the authors' own words in the beginning of the book. It's presented as a romance, which it is. But nowhere is it mentioned just how emotionally heavy this book ends up being. And my gosh, it was SO heavy. This was a literal tear-jerker masquerading as a grumpy-sunshine/runaway-bride/fish-out-of-water/single father with an adorable daughter/accidental pregnancy romance. There should have been some specific content warnings with this book, something to warn the reader what they were getting. I understand that the authors didn't want to give anything away, and the content warnings would have given away the majority of the plot, but it was hard not to feel blind-sided when the emotionally heavy themes started. It takes a sharp turn into heartbreak so have your tissues ready. Content warnings following (some of which I absolutely would have appreciated before picking up this book): domestic violence; estrangement from parent(s)/family; child abandonment; serious chronic/fatal illness in a child; infidelity; discussion of termination of pregnancy by a side character; sibling death by parent negligence/childhood death(s); possible high-risk accidental pregnancy; and finally, criminal proceedings that's hinted to relate to sexual themes by the female main character's ex-fiance and mother.

I also felt that the romance between the two main characters was written in a fairly predictable and cliche way, and relied way too heavily on the emotionality of Bennett's daughter's illness and subsequent death in order to keep the reader invested. And honestly, we could all see the accidental pregnancy (a cheap plot device) coming a mile away. The main thing that saves this book is Summer's storyline. My heart would have to be completely shriveled and black not to be charmed by Summer.

This was a quick read, despite its heavier themes. I've read books by these authors before and enjoyed them, but it will be awhile before I pick up another one of their books as overall this one left a bad taste in my mouth. I gave it 3 stars, but it's closer to 2.5 stars.

You will need a box of tissues for this!

If you are looking for the typical Max Monroe book with witty banter and lots of hanky panky, this isn’t it. Although it starts out with friction between Norah and the grumpy hero, Bennett, the story deals with some very serious topics. Although there were parts that were difficult to read without crying, it’s beautifully written and this is the best book I’ve read this year. Kudos to Max and Monroe.
I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to everyone.

ARC Review: What I Should’ve Said
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Spice: 🌶️

This book was a departure from my usual romantsy and dark romance reads, but I'm so glad I took a chance on it!

From the very start, I was drawn into a story that felt personal, as if Monroe had poured her heart and soul into every word. The journey of Norah and Bennett gripped me from page one, with its mix of heartache, humor, and unexpected twists.

As a mom, I found myself emotionally invested, struggling to hold back tears at times. Yet, it's precisely these moments that make a story truly unforgettable, isn't it? Despite the emotional rollercoaster, I couldn't help but fall in love with the characters and their journey!

This book is a testament to the power of love, resilience, and second chances. For anyone looking for a deep romance that tugs at the heartstrings and leaves a lasting impression, I highly recommend this one!

Thanks to @hambright_pr and @authormaxmonroe for providing me with an ARC to review!

Holy Heartbreak! This is one of the most emotional rollercoaster reads that I have ever read! Find a comfy spot to read, some snacks, good beverage and a box or two of tissues! The writing is outstanding as always, but the typical witty banter was dialed down a bit while the emotional aspect was dialed up a thousand times over! Every now and then you need a good emotional read that has a happily ever after and that is definitely what you are going to get with this book! As always, great characters, a wonderful setting, incredible interactions between the characters and a great small town with fun side characters. You won't want to put the book down so again, make sure you are comfy and well hydrated then settle in and enjoy!

I cannot believe this book is so highly rated.
The story is so predictable (in the worst of ways) it is not even entertaining, the worst clichés are included, some things that seem important are just mentioned but never explained... I really wanted to DNF but if I had already wasted so much time, at least I was going to add the book to my reading goal.
Do not recommend this book at all. If you are looking for romance, go look somewhere else.

This story was different from any Max Monroe book I have read before. What I Should’ve Said is a very emotional story that will not only tug at your heartstrings, it will leave you ugly crying.
There are some sweet moments, splashes of humor sprinkled about, much less than a typical Monroe offering.

Norah is a runaway bride who lands on the doorstep of her estranged sister, back in the small town where she once lived. She fled her wedding day after a receiving a mysterious letter from a stranger. Bennett is a broody and grumpy hulk of a man. He offers Norah a ride and then promptly regrets that decision. He is a man of secrets. Their story is not one I anticipated or expected. It’s a slow burn filled with so much love that will stay with you, long after you have read the last page. Summer will never mean the same.

Red Bridge, VT is a sleepy town with interesting characters and brings a new series to life. I’m looking forward to reading more about them, starting with Josie & Clay.

Omg I loved this book… perfect summer romance omg.

Tropes: runaway bride, small town, Enemies to lovers, found family, grumpy sunshine.

Norah runs away from her wedding and NYC and goes back to her roots in small town Vermont where she meets Bennet, a grumpy artist with another side to his life she knows nothing about.. banter is so cute but omg boy did I CRY!!!!! Can’t say why without giving it away but omg …. I’m telling you this story has so much to offer. If you need a good, wholesome story that will break your heart and also put it back tg read this book

We start off with a runaway bride, Norah, who runs back to her small hometown where her sister has been living. When the bus driver leaves her in front of a bridge, she jumps in front of a truck and meets a handsome, grumpy giant.

OMG This book!! I Gobbled it up, I Cried my eyes out, I Couldn't sleep, I must keep reading, I wanted more and I did Not want it to ever end!!

I will never forget this book! No-one writes like Max Monroe, the more I read from these Authors the more excited I am when another book comes out!!

Went through every emotion with this book

Take Things We Leave Behind (Lucy Score) mixed with a little bit of a daytime drama, mixed with some Law and Order SVU, and you got this book.

Oh and throw in a run away bride.

Good easy read, but also sad in parts too.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for my E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book stole my heart. I love a good enemies to lovers romance. There are so many real aspects of life in this story that help you make a connection with the characters. Such a good read!

DNF at 60%. This book should come with trigger warnings. I have zero desire to read a book with this level of sadness. I honestly had no idea it was going to go that way. I normally enjoy this author’s books, this one I would’ve avoided all together had I known a portion of the storyline. Two stars vs one bc it had potential to be a book I would’ve like had it not been for that one aspect.

I picked the book up and read it straight through with minimal breaks, it was that good. WHAT I SHOULD’VE SAID seems like it is going to be a runaway bride story. Oh no. Is it a rom-com? Yes. Suspense? Yes. Ugly cry more than once? Also yes.

I was given an early copy of the book to read and my honest opinion is that we not only have an original plot, but very skilled storytelling taking place.

sappy

I skimmed through a lot of this book but I did finish it. Lots of stereotypes and the letters that 7 year old Summer supposedly wrote about made my eyes roll into the back of my head. Just silly through and through.

Don't get fooled by the summer-y sunshine-y cover of What I Should've Said by Max Monroe. They set out to destroy my heart and successfully did so. But they did it with a mix of pretty wit, entertaining banter, swoony slow burn chemistry and absolutely lovable characters. My heart was bruised but it felt so good. I laughed over the silly accidents and puns. I cried my heart out. At the end, I felt healed and hopeful. A must read of 2024 and one of my top 2024 read.

🎨 Grumpy sunshine
🎨 Opposites attract
🎨 Reclusive brooding artist with big emotional baggage and runaway bride from New York starting over in the small town
🎨 Boss employee
🎨 Enemies to lovers
🎨Mix of rom com and angst.

Norah has run away from her wedding with the rich and famous fiance after finding some awful truth. From outside, people will take her to be an elite posh lady but inside she is pure and simple and so so adorable! She escaped to Red Bridge to her sister, knowing it won't be a welcome idea after taking her mother's side many years ago and living with her stepfather. She has no choice. And my heart breaks for her. She is almost an outcast but the town slowly started to grow up on her. Even the Grumpy ah0le Bennett.

Their "meet cute" was so much fun and it was hate at first sight. But Bennett has even bigger problems. I am not going to tell you what but I was sure not prepared. An enigmatic and envied artist left everything to take care of something precious, something that is slipping out of hand and something that will break him. You cannot help but fall in love with his pain and grief. He is a protector and carer in nature and it's amazing how he managed to do that for Norah in middle of the storm called his life. They locked heads a lot of time. They exchanged so many barbed words because life kept throwing them into most hilarious and awkward situations ever. But slowly they became friends and partners..specially after Norah started working with him and she became a part of the struggle. The story went very deep and intense and I admit I shed fat ugly tears those turned into tears of happiness at the end. I pretty much couldn't stop the tears in last 20% of the book.

Norah and Bennett both were broken and lost. Love helped them to go through the darkness and conquer their demons and be happy again. It was a messy journey but so fulfilling. Norah is a beautiful soul who managed to let go the past and to help Bennett's future.

PS THE SMALL TOWN IS SO CUTE AND HEARTWARMING. The people here are a bit crazy but in the best possible way! I cannot wait for Norah's sister's story next.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily