4.5⭐️

A couple of months ago, I was scrolling through TikTok and an interesting video popped up on my FYP: it was part of a series called ‘Book Cover Graveyard’ by Sarah Horgan (if you haven’t watched it, you should, it’s great) where she was talking about the different versions of a book cover that didn’t make it in the end. The book in question? Say It Out Loud by Ashley Schumacher. I have never been so happy I have a tendency to scroll on my phone when I’m bored (trying to break that habit though) and I was even happier when I found out the book was available for request on NetGalley and my request was accepted!

Say It Out Loud is a beautiful story about two genuine people falling in love with quite the mundane and realistic backdrop. It tackles topics like grief and personal development, while still being a relatively light read. There are (subtle) Twilight references throughout the story and as someone who LOVED those books and films back in the day, this was just a lot of fun! I thought the writing style was beautiful, the dialogue was witty and engaging and even though the story is very much not plot driven I was captivated from beginning to end. Both Juniper and James were complex characters with emotional depth and the way they handled their individual ‘obstacles’ felt real and well thought out by the author.

Why not give this book a full five stars then? And this might be a petty reason, but the chapters were all from Juniper’s perspective and relatively long: I loved being inside Juniper’s mind, however I feel like the story would have greatly benefited from at least one chapter in James’ POV. I would have loved to see him ‘struggling’ with his feelings for Juniper on page and get a glimpse into his thoughts as well.

Overall though, this book surprised me (in a GOOD way) and I could not put it down! I would absolutely recommend reading and while this was my first book by the author, I’m very certain it won’t be my last. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Random House-Del Rey for providing me with an eARC for review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I adored Say It Out Loud! The subtle Twilight references were such a fun surprise (haha yes, I was that girl back in the day).

Juniper is instantly likeable—relatable for anyone (ME) in their early/mid-30s still figuring things out. Her voice felt so real, and her journey hit home in all the right ways - life IS messy and tough.

The banter with James was adorable, and James himself? A total sweetheart. Supportive, accepting, and just there for her in all the right ways.

The fake dating trope was done so well. Sweet, thoughtful, and full of cozy, feel-good moments.

Thankyou NetGalley for the ARC!

Juniper's life is not at all going the way she had planned. She is jobless and living back home with her father while trying to plan her next move. Unexpectedly, Juniper has been given the chance of a lifetime - to do a dramatic audio adaptation of her (and her late mother's) favorite YA novel series - but in requires her working with someone from her past who she's been trying to forget for the last 10 years.

While I appreciate the work that went into constructing this novel, I quickly realized it wasn't for me. Some of the dialogue seemed far fetched and at times awkward to read. Juniper's clumsiness was a constant thread line and I feel like it took away from the story.

With that being said, I loved the authors use of magical realism and wish it played a bigger role in the novel - the concept that we have the ability to make good things happen for ourselves and that there is something/someone out there looking out for our well being was comforting, especially for a character in the throes of grief. I also greatly enjoyed James' character arc throughout the novel and wish his storyline with his father was more in the forefront.

Thank you Ashley Schumacher, NetGalley, and Random House Publishing - Del Rey for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

This was my firsth book by Ashley Schumacher. I thoroughly enjoyed Say It Out Loud, both Juniper and James' love and grief is so relatable. I loved the Twilight references.

First of all let me just start out by saying that I love Ashley Schumacher’s writing. This was my first book by her and I can’t wait to explore other titles by her.

Also, the book being about two characters narrating an audiobook called The Meadow which is heavily based on Twilight is such a fun concept.

I love a good slow burn. This book did it so well. I feel like you really got to know all the characters intimately but in an intentional way. Even the side characters added value and progressed the story nicely. I feel like the main characters were both relatable in their own ways outside of the romantic aspect.

Juniper’s grief was described to make you really feel it. Feeling like your magic is lost and therefore feeling like you are lost is something I think a lot of us have been through before. Her narrating the Bella Swan-esque character, Arabella, in The Meadow showed both how alike and how opposite she is to her and was an important player in her processing the pain of losing her mom 10 years after the fact.

And James feeling like he’s stuck in a career he doesn’t want is something I know a lot of us can relate to whether it’s a career, or just life path in general. James is a major people pleaser with a big heart so to see his growth throughout the book was huge.

My only complaint about this book is I feel like the ending was rushed. I wish it was drawn out a little more and we got a little more of that third (fourth? fifth?) act breakup to really feel that heartbreak.

Overall, this was an easy 4/5 stars. I love books that make me cry and I love Twilight.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Random House Publishing Group Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Definitely a five star read for me !
Big thanks to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for this wonderful ARC, I’ve had a great time reading this book.
I was hooked from the very first pages. I found myself highlighting passages in nearly every chapter. I absolutely loved how the author captured emotions and feelings through simple, familiar comparisons, subtle yet deeply moving. I felt a strong sense of compassion for Juniper and really appreciated how her character evolved throughout the story. While James’ behavior was initially puzzling, it became much clearer and more impactful by the end. The interactions between the characters were not only heartfelt but often genuinely fun. This was my first book by Ashley Schumacher and I’m excited to dive into the rest of her work.

This book was great. All the twilight adjacent jokes, the humor and snark between Juniper and James. I'm obsessed. The characters are so vibrant and real. Their loss is so raw and exposed, grief really does hit in the wildest ways and I could totally relate to Juniper crashing out over her mom's shirt. These characters were holding so tightly to dreams that didn't fit anymore because they were scared to let go and I think that is going to relate across the board. Ashley Schumacher does a beautiful job of portraying the longing for people to see you for who you are and a place to belong in both of her main characters.

James and Juniper's way of pushing each other and the banter was actually amazing. I spent a huge chunk of this book absolutely cackling over things they were saying. Juniper's dad? An absolute menace and I loved him and his metaphors.

This book is 5 stars from me, so very easily. I absolutely loved it.

This was absolutely fantastic. It’s the first book I’ve read by this author and I was not disappointed. The book was well written and flowed smoothly. The characters had definition and clarity. This may have been the first but will not be the last book I’ll read by this author.

Okay, I LOVED this book.

I loved the banter, and by ahout 30%, I couldnt put it down. This was the first book in a very long time that has made me both laugh out loud (several times) and tear up.

I will be recommending this book, and will be planning to purchase this book for myself upon release.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

To start off, I really enjoyed the premise of the story and the connection of The Meadows being Twilight. Being a Twilight girly myself, this was such a fun read!

The audiobook recording plot line takes up about 90% of the story. The plot is very heavily dialogue driven. It’s a very slow-paced read. I enjoyed the authors’ voice, and the banter between James and Juniper.

Definitely slow at parts, and maybe a bit of disconnect between James & Juniper. Like as a reader I didn’t find myself rooting for them because they just didn’t seem into each other. They didn’t seem to connect until 70% of the way through. We do get one relatively spicy scene between them and I did appreciate how very real and raw it was. Way more realistic than a lot of romance novels.

All in all I’d still recommend, because it was good 😊

Thank you NetGalley/Random House for the e-arc to review! All opinions are my own.

Say It Out Loud is a cozy, warm hug of a romance—full of laugh‑out‑loud lines, nostalgic magic, and emotionally rich second chances.

There wasn't much to it and yet.. I really loved it in the end. Something special in there, something *real*.

This was a sweet story and a gggrrrreeeeaaatttt heartstring tugger- like, I can still feel that ache - and it surprised the hell outta me. It was clearly about Twilight without being able to say that, but I loved it anyway. I have to say, though I am not a fan of the series, I appreciate the defense of it as a largely “girl” book. Besides, the kids it brought to reading are reason enough to appreciate the series. 💜💜📚

This was a good read with some truly exceptional moments. I loved how effortlessly the writing flowed - it made the story easy to sink into. I do wish we’d gotten the MMC’s perspective too; it would’ve added more depth, especially during the slower middle sections where the pacing dipped a bit.

I really loved the ending - it wrapped things up beautifully. That said, there were moments when I was unsure about the MMC’s intentions, and I couldn’t help feeling like Juniper was doing a bit too much. Still, it’s a warm, charming love story that’ll leave your heart feeling full.

Overall, I enjoyed this book enough. I like the MMC and the emotional depth of the story. However, I felt like the FMC was super annoying and insufferable at time. The fandom was inspired by twilight I believe and I just had a hard time getting behind that. It all felt a little cheesy in my eyes.

🎧📖🎬🖼️⭐️
pub date: sept 2025
tropes: miscommunication, fake dating, forced proximity

my opinion:
i went into the book hoping for an easy read and light-hearted, and it definitely did not disappoint. i left so satisfied (with the comforting and predictable flow) and so so glad that i got the chance to read this during this time of my life. i've missed reading romance genre and this book actually gave me the giddy feeling, kicking my feet under the blanket OMG

i'd also personally be friends with both juniper and james too; not icky by any means, no intolerable personality and i'd gladly yap about books with juniper & so many topics we have in common as our interests as well. reading through the journey that these two characters has gone through to get to that point in life has been nothing but so humane and relatable.

thanks to netgalley and the author and the publisher for giving me a chance to read and review this e-ARC.

my rating: 4.1

As she did in AMELIA UNABRIDGED, Ashley Schumacher again delves into the world of fandom in SAY IT OUT LOUD. Juniper Green is a lifelong fan of the MEADOW fantasy series ( a thinly disguised homage to TWILIGHT), so she is thrilled to be hired as the female lead in a new audiobook recording of her favorite series. It’s the only positive thing in her life of late. Her mom has passed away, she sold her successful podcast for a song, and has no direction in life. So, the MEADOW project is a welcome change— until she realizes her co-star will be her old college crush.

Schumacher has an easygoing writing style, and it’s easy to root for Juniper, but you know where this book is going immediately. While it’s marketed as an adult book, except for one graphic sex scene, it reads pretty YA. It’s a fun read that will be most appreciated by TWIGHLIGHT fans, but it’s not a must read..

As a Twilight fan growing up, this was a super nostalgic read. The characters were lovable if not slightly annoying at times, but only because they did not see what was so obvious to us as a reader.
Altogether it was a very enjoyable 4 star read, that left me with a fuzzy feeling.

Say it Out Loud by Ashley Schumacher

4 stars!

This book held a special place in my heart since it was inspired by twilight and that series defined my teenage years like the meadow did for Juniper Green. Juniper Green is a bit lost after she loses her job, her podcast gets snatched away from under her and she has to move back into her dad’s spare room. Not all is lost however when she gets invited to audition for the lead role in the audio drama adaptation of The Meadow.

This book will make you feel all kinds of things such as happiness, sadness and most importantly understand how having goals in life can change in a split second and know that everything turns out for the best.

This is also a quick and easy read which is a perc!

Tropes:
Slow Burn
Fake dating
Second chance
Self discovery
Twilight influences

Make sure you pick this one up on 30th September later this year!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Del Ray for giving me a chance to review this arc. As always, it is super appreciated.

Say It Out Loud sounded like it would be cutesy and something I would enjoy, but ultimately this was not for me.