THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING I WANTED AND MORE. It healed the Edward Cullen shared hole in my heart with James Freakin Nealy. James is everything adult twihards wanted Edward to be. Not only were the twilight references perfect, it was FUNNY and TENDER and SO RELATABLE! Juniper, like Bella, made me feel seen. I loved this book down to the niche Parks and Rec references, I feel like it was written just for me and I wish I could wipe my brain and read it again ♥️

This was such a beautiful story, following the life of Juniper from college was lovely and I was shocked by how this journey connected with me so quickly. I loved the premise of the audiobook narration, I found it so unique and will definitely be reading more from this author! I found myself screaming at the book some pages then having the biggest grin on others, it is truly a whirlwind. For a debut adult novel this is great and I can’t wait to read more!

Juniper Green was once a believer—in love, in magic, and in the healing power of vampires. But ten years, one heartbreak, and a podcast betrayal later, her dreams are in ruins and she’s back in her childhood bedroom, wondering if life peaked in her Twilight era.

Then she gets the email: a chance to voice the heroine of The Meadow, the iconic vampire romance series that shaped her teen years. It’s everything she ever wanted—until she finds out who’s playing her immortal soulmate.

James Neely: brooding, brilliant, and the man who ghosted her after one electrifying college performance.

To make the audio drama work—and save her career—Juniper must fake chemistry with the one person who broke her heart. But as rehearsals turn into late-night laughs and sparks start flying for real, Juniper begins to wonder if this is more than method acting.

Equal parts tender, funny, and achingly romantic, this magical romcom asks: what if the one that got away was actually the one meant to stay? Perfect for fans of The Dead Romantics, Beach Read, and slow-burning second chances.

A sweet, slow-burn second chance romance!
Juniper and James’s story was such a fun ride that’s full of tension, old wounds, and new sparks. I loved the backdrop of the audio drama (especially since it’s based on Juniper’s favorite vampire series!), and watching them navigate their past while finding their way back to each other felt so natural. The character development was solid, and the chemistry built at just the right pace. A really cute and satisfying read!

Expected Release Date: 09/30/2025

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the early access. All thoughts in this review are my own.

I found it so funny that the book they have to narrate is a version of Twilight 😭 A really good version

I could see some scenes like a movie in my head, like their first encounter, the play, how they meet again, etc. That is to say the writing was amazing and I loved it!

it was a really slow slow-burn… But I didn’t really mind. It was a beautiful and funny story. I liked Juniper’s character and ‘James Freakin Neely’??? Where can I found one?

(Spoilers ⚠️) It was surprising to see that their moms knew each other, it really felt like magic and tied the whole story together, the start and the end. I loved it!

I also loved Juniper’s dad aha He was so funny. Serena was the most amazing best friend too!

It’s not only a romance, it also touches topics of grief, figuring out your life, and having to make big decisions. I was enjoying it from the start, and it delivered everything that it said it would. I totally recommend!

I’m actually shocked at how good this book was! I requested to get an ARC thinking it would be ironic and cheesy, but the story and characters had so much depth to it. This one was actually pretty emotional, with both MCs struggling with loss and future plans. I loved how they came together and built up their relationship, but also had a past to build on.

The reason I didn’t give it a perfect 5 is because James’ character needed a little more development. His past self was very focused on trying to make it big in Hollywood, and that definitely changed at one point, but I don’t think it was explained enough. Again, we know that his relationship with his dad is bad but it wasn’t expanded on.

Overall, would highly recommend this book! You don’t have to be a fan of twilight to enjoy this one.

This delightful novel was filled with second chances; in romance; in life dreams; in goals. Juniper and James were fully fleshed out characters in this story about the audio recording of a mega-hit book series. A very magical story of two people who need all the magic they are owed.

Tropes: missed-connection, reconciliation, magic, regrets, life-in-a-decade, humor, celebrity, stage, acting, voice-actors, narration, twilight, twilight-is-feminist

Unlike other rom-coms or chick lits, this book portrays MFC in a much more realistic light and you are much more sympathetic to her plight. Usually, the formula goes that the MFC is stupid and nothing has gone well her way. In this story, you can see how hard MFC has worked, and she has been (somewhat) rewarded for it. She made a mistake and lost the brand she worked so hard for (unfortunate, but happens pretty frequently).

Also deals with the more realistic scenario of doing someone a solid favor and them completely dumping you when they get their chance. That's what MMC does to MFC, who helps him be discovered by a talent agent during Romeo and Juliet performance. You'd think that the MFC is bitter and hates him, but she's pragmatic about it and has somewhat moved away, although she can't stop the what-ifs, especially after losing her podcast.

This book was sweet and nostalgic, not in a cloying way, but in a rather hazy summer's day way, where as a millenial, I was in sync with what the MFC felt. I feel like the pacing could have been better, especially when the two MCs meet up again ( hence the 4 stars), but perhaps the pacing is something the editor is responsible for, and not the author? As an intro to this author, this was a wonderful story.

Big thanks to Del Rey for the ARC of this one! This book was so fun for former Twilight loving millennial like me! If felt nostalgic in the best way! This one was definitely a super slow burn which is some people's favorite, but for me it was just a little too slow. I felt like I would've liked to see theylir romantic relationship develop a little bit more. They got together finally and it felt like the book was basically over. That being said, the two main characters were incredibly likeable and the second chance romance vibes were great too! I also loved the elements of both the FMC AND MMC finding their true passion I life. I think this one will be a hit for a lot of people! See below for a synopsis!

Synopsis:
This book follows Juniper who has just sold her podcast and been booted off as the host. She's in her mis thirties but feels like she still hasn't found her thing. She gets offered and audition for an audio narrator job on what is essentially Twilight. When she gets there, she runs into an old aquaintance form college who is now a movie star. Of course they end up working together and develop a relationship behind the microphone and in real life. A sweet romance especially for millenials!

Say it out Loud would be the baby of Emily Henry’s settings and Ashley Poston’s writing style.

It is whimsical, charming and definitely worth reading as it will charm you by its immaculate character banter and heartwarming story.

Not only is the romance plot captivating but the Twilight aspect of the book is really amazingly done. It throws us back to our Edward obsessed era and gives us the chance to know more about Bella’s actions (girl where have you been, Bella loca?)

I loved the scenery of Tatum. It made me want to visit and live in that charming cute little house. Furthermore, the way Ashley is able to create this town atmosphere and build a cozy hug around us is outstanding.

I loved every aspect of this book, though sometimes it became confusing as it would jump from a place to another making it seem that the conversation was 2hours long, when it should’ve been shorter. I think it would’ve been better if the scene changes had been differenced by some blank spaces.

Either way, I really enjoyed this book and I’m so grateful to have received this eARC.

Some books just grab you, and this one grabbed me and took off running. I loved the thinly veiled Twilight references everywhere. The self discovery was a little weak on development side, it felt a little forced on James' side, but Juniper definitely has the stop and go growth we see so often in daily life.

It's definitely a millennial nostalgia bomb, and I'm here for it.

This book was so cute! I’m not usually a massive fan of slow-burn romance - but this was written so well and felt right.

James - the MMC - was a cinnamon roll character and I couldn’t help but love him, especially as the book went on and he began to open up more. Juniper was a super relatable FMC that I think a lot of people will relate to.

As someone who loved “twilight” in my teenage years, I loved that this was inspired by it.

Overall, the book had a lovely mix of heartfelt and comedic moments and I really enjoyed Ashley Schumachers writing style and would definitely pick up a book by her again.

Schumacher knocked it out of the park with this one. A down-on-her-luck former podcaster gets cast to narrate an audiobook with a gorgeous almost-celebrity she has a missed connection with from college. The pacing was perfect and their relationship feels earned. Both characters are likeable, as are side characters, including the location. I picked this one up on a whim, but will be recommending it to everyone once it's published.

cheesy? yes. twilight adjacent? also yes. full of real life issues and how strongly grief can stunt you is really hard to portray but Ashley did a fantastic job. as someone who lost their mother before all the pivotal life experiences (end of high school) and is early 30's I can absolutely relate to the fmc and her feeling aimless while also trying to stick to a plan she made with her mother.

thank you so much to netgalley for the early access to this title.

2.5 ⭐

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey, for sending me this e-ARC!

I loved the idea of the audiobook and the way it was pretty much a book within a book in a way, and as a Twilight girl, it made me feel nostalgic and gave me a sense of comfort when those scenes from "The Meadow" were mentioned.

That being said, the story felt longer than it should be, and I felt like Juniper's reasoning for having this "grudge" towards James was not much of a strong hook. It had me confused at first, thinking he had done more than what we were shown in the beginning, but that could just be me, and for others, that is enough reason. Both characters felt very one-dimensional; they didn't feel like they were humans but simply words on paper, and I don't know, but to me, that shouldn't be the case when it comes to writing characters; I need to feel like they are more than fiction. I struggled to stay engaged, and even if I enjoyed the idea of the plot, it still felt like it wasn't giving me what I was expecting. There were times when I just had to take a break from reading because I was not interested enough, and I needed to power through.

I guess this just didn't turn out to be for me, and that's okay because I can see why many others would love and enjoy this more than I did!

Juniper and James met in college, he was an aspiring actor in need of an understudy, and she stepped in. Their chemistry on stage was instant. But after that one electrifying performance, they went their separate ways. Juniper became a semi-notable podcaster, and James rose to stardom in Hollywood. Years later, fate (and an audiobook deal) brings them back together to co-narrate a wildly popular YA fantasy series - and the old spark reignites.

I wanted to love this book. There’s so much potential: the behind-the-scenes peek into audiobook production and the second-chance romance between a star and a “regular person.” And to be fair, there were moments that really worked. The premise is fun, and I found myself intrigued enough to finish.

But several elements didn’t quite land. The fictional book within the book is a very thinly veiled version of Twilight - so thin, it borders on distracting. It didn’t feel like clever homage; it felt like copy-and-paste. And while Juniper and James are charming in theory, their chemistry reads unevenly. The constant push-and-pull, especially around James’s Hollywood career, felt more chaotic than compelling. Add to that some clunky pacing and muddled plot choices, and the whole thing just didn’t quite come together for me.

Still, I’d give it a 3.5/5. I liked the concept, I liked the idea of the characters — I just wish the execution had lived up to the premise.

This book was so adorable. The rambling, the softness, the sweet caresses, thoughtful — and sometimes thoughtless — actions haha I enjoyed it all.

Juniper was comfort in a character. Her overthinking, her constant comparisons to fictional worlds. She was so relatable. From her love of romance to romantasy, it all endeared her to me even more.

James and his juniper proof thermos cups and coffee shop t-shirts ugh he was so cuteeee 😭😭 the way I wanna hug him pls I just know he’d give the best comforting hugs.

The premise of the story and their meet-cute drew me in straight away and kept me genuinely engaged the whole way through.

I never expected to hurt bc of this book tho 😭😫 their fourth act and fifth act had me wanting to enter the book and lock them in a room so they wouldn’t have to hurt for one second longer. Ugh my babies ❤️‍🩹🫂

The red string theory that laced the pages of this book was litch the cherry on the cream for me. Soooo satisfying.

𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀: 🎧
Soft spot - Keshi

ೃ⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC! ♥︎

such a good read!!! i loved how charlotte's struggles felt raw and real, she went through so much but her growth throughout the book was really well done.
as an anxious girl, i really related to it, and the fact that it was also related and talked about around friendships made me enjoy it more. These are themes that are often used and explained in books, but they aren't done as well as in this one. :)

I also loved the found family, as always, and Ashley Schumacher's writing was so good. This is my first book form her, but i am really excited to read some more!! :)

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for giving me an arc of this book in exchange of an honest review!

I didn’t expect this book to hit me as hard as it did, but OOF - Say It Out Loud snuck right into my heart and settled there.

This is one of those quietly powerful stories that wraps you up like a warm blanket and doesn’t let go. Sarah’s journey, especially her struggle with confidence and the weight of unspoken grief of her mother, felt so raw and real. I found myself silently (and sometimes loudly) rooting for her on every page. Her inner voice is soft but fierce, and watching her learn to trust it again? Absolutely beautiful. Stunning even.

Ashley Schumacher writes in a way that feels like she sees her readers. Every word felt intentional. Gentle. Healing. It reminded me that speaking up—whether it’s through words, letters, or even silence—takes courage. I found so many ways to connect to this read on a personal level and it left me with such beautiful knowledge and a new found confidence.

If you love heartfelt YA with a dash of summer, friendship, and a sweet message about finding your voice, Say It Out Loud deserves a spot on your shelf!

Having thoroughly enjoyed three of Ashley Schumacher's YA books, I was eager to try her first book for adults, Say It Out Loud. Back in college, Juniper was working behind the scenes of a production of Romeo and Juliet when she was reluctantly tagged to be onstage when the actress playing Juliet couldn't continue. Playing Romeo was James, a very attractive fellow student who encouraged her to fill in as Juliet at the last minute, and somehow it worked. But when James didn't acknowledge her contribution when he was praised for saving the production, Juniper felt deflated.

Fast forward 10 years, and Juniper is still grieving her late mother, who made everything magical for her as a child. She has just had the literary podcast she had created and hosted taken from under her, and her efforts to get a job in the publishing world have so far yielded no opportunities. But then, out of nowhere, Juniper is asked to audition for a new audio production of The Meadow (read: Twilight), where she would be starring opposite James, now a popular rising star in the film world.

That's the premise of the story and, of course, Juniper and James feel destined for a romantic relationship. But I wasn't convinced. There is way too much crying on Juniper's part, and it's way too long before James can even articulate what he really wants out of his life and career, let alone Juniper herself. Some of their scenes together are fun, and there is a little bit of chemistry, but not enough in my opinion to validate what seems like a rushed relationship. Juniper's best friend, however. is a breath of fresh air, along with her wife and toddler son. The author has proven she can write superior YA books, so I have every reason to believe that her next adult book will have more depth and nuance for the main characters and for the plot.

My thanks to Random House/Del Rey and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.