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.

I couldn’t fully immerse myself in the story and found myself taking breaks between chapters. Some of the internal dialogue felt a bit too long, and I struggled with how the love story developed. It was hard for me to connect with or believe in the romance.

If you’re a fan of Twilight, you might enjoy this more than I did. There are some truly beautiful lines throughout the book. The description and Ashley Poston’s blurb had me really excited. I was genuinely hoping to love it.

While it didn’t quite work for me, I can see how it might resonate with other readers.

Big thanks to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and NetGalley for the eARC!

As a massive Twi-hard I was super excited about this book!

Unfortunately, though, it was a DNF for me.

I got to about 50% in and found myself with no real interest in continuing on.

The FMC had some trauma from childhood which seemed to have become her entire personality which I just found kind of tiring. She was in tears most of the time and I struggled to connect with and root for her. I kind of just wanted her to go to therapy or take some kind of control of her life. Even just a little bit.

The idea of this book is that was kind of "inspired by Twilight", but the audio book they were recording was just 100% Twilight with different names for the characters and places, otherwise everything was the same, which just made this feel not very original.

Others may enjoy this, but sadly it wasn't for me.

WOW, where do I even begin. This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time and I’m not sure if it’s because of how much I relate to Juniper or because of the “Twilight-esque” components of the book. Overall this grumpy / sunshine book with a bit of fake dating is an absolute must read. Thank you so much Netgalley and Random House Publishing- Delray for the ARC!

Enjoyable romance read. I enjoyed the character development. I enjoyed the conversational element of the story.

Cute and cozy, but not super memorable.

This was a sweet read with a fun premise, a down-on-her-luck podcaster getting cast in the audio adaptation of her favorite vampire romance series and being reunited with the guy who broke her heart years ago? Yes, please. I really enjoyed the magical, nostalgic vibes and the second-chance romance setup. It had some great moments and a comforting tone that made it easy to get through.

That said, while I liked it, it didn’t stand out for me. I didn’t feel super connected to the characters the way I hoped. The emotions were there, but they didn’t hit as hard as they could have. It felt like it was missing that spark that turns a good romcom into a favorite.

Still, I think if you're looking for something light with a creative twist (especially if you’re a fan of audio dramas or grew up loving paranormal romances), this could be a nice weekend read.

I liked this a lot. The twilight references get a bit heavy but im happy to overlook it because i like the characters and their development so much. The writing reminded me of Mhairi Mcfarlane which is a compliment in the highest regard. The metaphors were brilliant, they had me convinced the author has seen inside my brain and knows exactly how to explain thoughts and feelings so I can understand. I feel like theyve seen the inside of my brain and have heard my inner monologue in a way thats comforting and makes me feel seen.

Firstly, thank you so much Netgalley and Random House Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3 Stars!

I thought this book was a really charming, second-chance romance with a magical twist that blended nostalgia, heartbreak, and humour into a satisfying story about finding your voice and rewriting your story (literally and figuratively).

Juniper Green is a relatable and refreshingly flawed protagonist, struggling with grief, dashed dreams, and a stalled career. When she lands a role in the audio adaptation of her favourite teenage vampire romance series, it felt kind of life full-circle moment that every millennial weeb dreams of—until she finds out her co-star is James Neely, the college boy that once broke her heart.

The enemies-to-fake-dating-to-lovers arc is well known and loved, but I think Ashley Schumacher injects it with new energy through clever dialogue, podcast industry insights, and a deep emotional core. The chemistry between Juniper and James simmers, though at times their emotional push-pull slows the momentum. Still, the book shines when it leans into its love for stories and storytelling, with a nostalgic reverence for the YA vampire era.

At times I did feel like the connection between the two lead characters was fake and the romance almost felt a little bit rushed?

Though not groundbreaking, Say It Out Loud is a warm, witty escape with just enough depth to make it memorable. It’s a perfect pick for readers whom enjoy second chances romance tropes, audio drama settings, and love that lingers long after the final curtain call.