Thank you to Entangled Publishing for the Advanced E-ARC of this book!
I fell in love with the characters from 'What I Shouldve' Said' and feel strongly that it should be read prior to reading this one.
So much of this book follows the same timeline as it's predecessor, but we get a different perspective in the form of Bennett's best friend, Clay and his ex-wife Josie.
The story is told in dual timelines, dual POV, where we get insight into the demise of their marriage. There is a lot of tension, a lot of confusion into why they split up when there are a plethora of unresolved feelings plaguing both parties.

Josie is locked up tighter than a can of pringles, and you can just feel that she is about to explode, while Clay is is a love sick puppy who is seemingly lost without Josie, but also not willing to demand answers or fight for her.

With so much history and so many feelings on the line, this book is a compilation of angst and confusion mixed with a lot of heart. In true Max Monroe fashion, you will laugh and cry, likely in the same chapter.

I struggled with a lot of miscommunication and a lot of pulling away coming from Josie. I didn't like her in the first book. and I'm not sure this one redeemed her for me either.

The bright light of this book is Summer. She is depicted as light and love and becomes the beacon of hope drawing everyone back together.

This wasn't my favorite by this author duo, but it is worth the read if you enjoyed What I Should've Said.

I was anxious to dive into this companion story to What I Should've Said, and it didn't disappoint. It didn't hit quite the same as the story of Norah, Bennett, and Summer's love story, but that was a hard act to follow. I liked that this one took on a different approach to story telling by not only going between the two main characters to tell their side of the events but also going between timelines – past and present- to weave together the sequence of events and paint the full picture as to why and how their story unfolded. It could be read alone, but it was more meaningful because I had read the other story in which they had been introduced (though admittedly, one could feel similarly if you started with their story and went back to the other one afterwards). While I felt a bit of "just tell him the truth" rather than drag out the "stay away from him" now an d again it wasn't overly predominate like can be the case while also being in line with the characters and not just being that way to employ that trope just to employ that trope.


I have enjoyed these two stories so much that I am now going to go through and read all that I can by this author. I liked the depth of characters, the pace, and the general storylines. They flowed together, pulling me in and carrying me along for an enjoyable reading experience.

Thank you Entangled for the ARC! What I Should’ve Said is a book that really stayed with me, so I was ecstatic when I received the ARC for When I Should’ve Stayed. This story follows Clay and Josie who we meet in book one. Although this book could probably be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading them in order. We dive into the background of Josie and Clay that was a bit of a mystery in book one. This story does not have as big of a heartbreak that What I Should’ve Said left you with, but it was still an emotional ride. Some parts felt repetitive lines from book one and I would have loved a little more continuation to present day, but overall I really enjoyed it.

When I Should’ve Stayed by Max Monroe is everything I want in a book—and then some. Clay and Josie’s story had me feeling everything. I laughed out loud, I cried more than once, and yes, there were moments I was genuinely angry—but that’s what makes this book so powerful. It pulls you in and refuses to let go.

What made this installment extra special was getting to revisit moments from the first book in the Red Bridge series through Clay and Josie’s perspective. It answered so many lingering questions in the most satisfying way and added new layers of depth to a world I already loved.

Max Monroe has this magical ability to write stories that feel real and raw while still keeping you completely entertained. If you love emotional reads that take you on a wild, unpredictable ride, When I Should’ve Stayed is an absolute must-read.

4.25 stars! Oh wow... this one wrecked me. My heart is still in pieces on the floor. This one is emotional, raw, and heartbreakingly beautiful. It's the kind of story that lingers, like a bittersweet song you can’t stop playing.

The way Josie and Clay’s story just hurts in the best possible way. You feel every regret, every longing glance, every “what if.” The full circle moment at the end? Literal tears. 😭 But heads up, please check the trigger warnings before diving in. This one deals with some really heavy topics.

One small thing too was the timeline switches without giving the years, so I did get a little turned around here and there. But honestly? I didn’t even care once I was fully in my feels.

If you love second chance romance, emotional journeys, and characters fighting hard for love—add this one to your list. Just maybe don’t read it in public... unless you’re cool with ugly crying at the coffee shop. 🥲💔📖

Josie Ellis and Clay Harris made a splash in book one, but now it’s their story—and it’s one heck of a ride. From their first sparks flying at Clay’s Bar in Red Bridge, to the messy aftermath of their breakup, this dual POV takes you through the whole emotional rollercoaster. Clay? Total swoon fest. Josie? Blonde-haired troublemaker you can’t help but root for.

The story bounces between “before the breakup” and “after the breakup,” slowly unraveling what really went down between them. If you loved book one (which, let’s be honest, was absolute perfection), you’ll be thrilled to catch familiar faces like Summer, Bennett, and Norah again.

This is a bumpy, love-hate, heartbreak-and-hope journey that might have you reaching for tissues—because it’s that raw and beautiful. An emotional, heartfelt top read of 2025 for sure.

***Five Stars***

Max Monroe books for me are just 5 stars. That's it, I always love them.

I love Clay so much. He is kind and understanding and FAR more patient than Josie deserved. Holy crap woman, you really not only drug that out the 5 years before you guys started talking again but even longer after that? I'll be honest girl, I was at one point wishing Clay would just move on. You're lucky.

This story involves loss. We have to revisit Summer's loss, which actually hit me harder in this book. Then we also have one more loss to go through. I've been there, it sucks and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

#WhenIShouldveStayed #MaxMonroe
#FiveStars #ARCReview #NetGalley
#EntangledPublishing #SecondChance
#Romance #ChildLoss #PregnancyLoss
#ReadThisBook #ReadAllTheBooks

I'm not usually a fan of books set in multiple time periods, but Max Monroe is one of my favorite (insta-buy!) authors. Unsurprisingly, this was another hit—an emotional rollercoaster in the best way (because of course, the best books are the ones that threaten your emotional stability).

I absolutely loved that it was written in dual POV and told in first person. I highly recommend picking this one up when it releases on July 1!

I received an ARC from NetGalley (thank you!), and these thoughts are entirely my own.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

3.5 -4 ⭐️

I dove into this ARC thanks to the authors and NetGalley! I loved the first 10 chapters, but then it got really repetitive. A lot of the flash backs were taken from the first book and just from Jose or Clays POV and it was a good reminder, but it felt like filler. There was a point in the story when I was finally like “now this is where it should have started”, I think that was 80% done at that point…

I enjoyed the second chance romance of this story and how Clay was fighting for Jose and their relationship. I hate that she kept so many secrets from him and that all this could have been fixed with good communication… I don’t think I like romance stories with poor communication.

I was so excited to read their story. It had so much emotion and longing. There was so much loss and grief but Clay still fought for what he wanted.

I was fortunate enough to receive an early copy of this book. As I loved the first book I was super excited. But this book a surpassed the first. I loved it with every fiber of my being. I love how the story interconnected with the first book. And finding out what happened after Summee passes, and dealing with grief. I also loved heard about Clay & Josie and how they found their way back to each other.

I loved this story. I enjoyed the flashback moments and the present times. Such a beautiful story! I would definitely recommend this and all of her other books!

I thought this was a good follow up to book one. Getting to understand Clay and Josie’s story and why they were fighting their love for each other was refreshing. While I did find Clay to be a little overbearing at times, he meant well at the end of the day. So many women experience exactly what Josie did and I find that it’s not talked about enough and I appreciated being able to connect with Josie in that manner within this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed When I Should Have Stayed. It had heart, soul, passion, yearning, and hilarious banter.

Clay and Josie have a fantastic relationship (he is such a smitten kitten). Among the happiness, laughter, and love, a series of challenges, and one specific one known as "the event", are thrown their way and they find themselves apart. Each of them yearns for the other, but the circumstances of their past aren't overcome easily.

The book alters between the past and present; you learn about the way their relationship started and subsequently ended while also getting the perspective of what's happening in their lives now. I love when books are written like this, it shows character development while slowly explaining the ultimate reason for decisions that were made.

The middle-ish of the book destroyed me - it's heartfelt, devastating, and beautiful. It takes place in the same universe as What I Should Have Said, and time overlaps, therefore some events that took place in that book also take place in this one. Be prepared to send your therapy bills to Max Monroe (IYKYK).

Overall, definitely recommend. It had the perfect amount of banter, plot, character development, and spicy scenes. Star rating is 4.5 - rounded up to 5.

There are a couple trigger warnings to be mindful of - please check those. Mental health matters.

I laughed, I cried . . . It was so good and I hope there are more stories on the horizon for these characters.

I loved this one. Clay is honestly the softest, most loyal guy, aolden retriever energy. Josie frustrated me sometimes, not gonna lie, but I understood her. She's grieving, and it’s heavy. That whole place just feels alive, like it’s part of the story. The side characters really carried some deep moments too, and it added so much to the emotional weight. Honestly, it was beautiful and hard all at once. This book stays with you. Thank you so much to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early. I’m sharing my thoughts voluntarily and with genuine appreciation

First of all I’d like to say Max Monroe just has a way with words that leaves my heart so full despite the tears in my eyes.
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice 🌶️🌶️

This book left me in tears and I absolutely loved it. I knew what was coming and yet the emotions it left me with were still so raw.

If you’re looking for a book with romance and family in it and need a good cry then this book is one you just need to read.

Fair warning this book has triggers so read with caution.

Tropes
🍺 Second Chance Romance
💍 Found Family
🍺 Loss
💍 Small Town Romance

While the Netgalley blurb advertised this as a standalone, I was aware that it was interconnected to What I Should Have Said. That being the case, I strongly suggest that you read the other book before reading this. There is a major event that occurs in this book that is also discussed in WISHS, and if I had known about it, I might not have read this one. Netgalley does not make trigger warnings visible until after you get a copy of the arc, but I wish they did.

The writing itself is great. It is fast-paced and similar to that which is found in other popular rom coms, small town romances etc. The characters, too, are likeable overall -- though I did question some of Josie's decisions that led to her and Clay splitting up.

One of my biggest issues with this book is the way the timeline is presented. It is dual timeline and dual POV, but it is hard to keep track of things because there aren't years in the dates -- just comments from the characters saying that this chapter is taking place 5 years after "x" happened.

The other big issue for me is the marketing. The finished copy is bubblegum pink with sprayed edges, leading you to believe this is a happy romance with summer reading, "no worries be happy" vibes. The book advertises a second chance romance between husband and wife, but the trigger warnings relating to what happens to Josie as well as the connected major event from WISHS must be advertised more clearly. I might be in the minority for taking issue with this, but this book was very hard to read at times for those events in the plot. Again, this could be because I didn't read the other book as this was advertised as a standalone.

I recommend reading this if you have read the other book, can see the trigger warnings ahead of time, and are looking for an engaging, romance with occasional laughs but a lot of tears.

Thanks to Netgalley and Entangled for letting me read the arc.

Ohh the feels! Roller coaster of emotions, visiting Bennett, Norah and Summer, adding in Josie and Clay. I'm still thinking about this one - and water towers!!

This story is going to stay with me because it’s about love’s power to heal and how sometimes the hardest fights are the ones worth fighting. I absolutely adored it and can’t wait to read more from this author.