I was looking forward to Josie and Clay's story, but it felt incredibly drawn out, and I just couldn’t connect with the characters. There is a past-present timeline happening, and while I normally like those, this felt stilted and jumped back and forth way too much, so much so that it got confusing at times. It overlaps with the first book, and while hints of book one in a series are always nice, I felt like I got way too much of a recap, a lot of the story felt like a repeat.

I felt like in the first half of the book, I was just waiting for the book to start while all the history was being laid out. I liked Clay well enough, he was sweet and beyond patient, but Josie was a bit too much for me. Everything about them reconnecting just felt way too drawn out. This was supposed to be a second-chance romance, but by the time Clay and Josie finally got to that point at the end, it felt rushed.

I found myself bored and skimming and just wanting to get to the end because I wanted my conclusion. I’m sorry to say this didn’t work for me.

This was not the typical flow? Of a Max Monroe book. So it took me a good chunk of the book to really get into it. I think the flashbacks threw me off a bit as did the flow of the speech between the characters. It wasn't Winslow brothers flow, which is ok, but it just threw me off because that's what I was expecting. Nonetheless even though it was different than their normal they still wove a complex story of love and loss and the hard things that people face. I appreciate that their books aren't afraid to go there and show the hard. Because we all go through it. And sometimes it's nice to read a book and see the crud that someone has come thru, it reminds us that we aren't alone and we will also get through it.

When I Should Have Stayed is the second standalone Contemporary Romance book in the Red Bridge series and I’m smiling through my tears as I’m writing this review, this book was so beautiful and heartwrenching and I loved Clay and Josie’s story so much.

Josie and Clay fell for each other fast and hard, being a seemingly perfect couple, but tragedies forced them apart. Now, 5 years after divorce, they still live in the same small town and avoid each other, but when circumstances force them to spend more time around each other, they need to finally confront their past and decide whether they want to risk their hearts again for a second chance at happily ever after.

I was so excited for Josie and Clay’s story after reading the first book in this series and it was even better than I expected. I loved that there was a dual timeline and we got a chance to see their relationship through all its stages, from their first meeting and being happily in love to all the tragedies, drifting apart and, finally, to slowly finding their way back to each other. Josie was a really strong FMC and was proving that with each new information we learned about her and Clay… that man was perfect, always so caring and understanding and I loved them both so much. Their story was so beautiful and heartbreaking and full of angst and I was screaming internally “just talk about it already!” many times but I loved it exactly the way it unfolded and loved every second I spent reading it. I also enjoyed seeing Bennett, Summer and Norah again, some events of this book overlapped with the previous one’s and it made me cry all over again.

When I Should’ve Stayed is an amazing book with great characters and beautiful romance full of heartbreak, angst but also healing, I absolutely loved it and recommend it to everyone. I already can’t wait for Max and Monroe’s next book!

I will never mentally recover from this series. I have been anxiously awaiting When I Should've Stayed after I read What I Should've Said and first met Josie and Clay. This is more than a second chance, there is so many emotions spiraling around this story and at times, you don't feel like it is going to get better.

This story is told in dual timeline -- but the kicker is the POV changes based on if it is "before" or "after"; in "before" you get Josie and "after" you get Clay. It is so unique and something I have never read before! Josie is polarizing, she is either loved or hated -- no in-between whereas Clay has that golden retriever energy that everyone loves.

This is not your light beach read, please be mentally prepared for it because it is HEAVY and will tug at your soul even for days after you finish it.

This is my first book by Max Monroe, and I will definitely be checking out more. This book can be read on its own; however, your experience may be enhanced if you start with the first book, What I Should’ve Said.

While I understand why there are so many jumps from present to past and back, it felt like whiplash. It was hard to keep up with, especially if you put the book down at one of the chapters in the middle of the time period. I quickly realized I needed to treat each time period as one part and only quit reading at the beginning of the next time jump. Since the chapters all include a date, adding the year to the date would most likely help with the time jump issues.

Both Josie and Clay had their pros and cons as characters; however, Josie was much worse. She doesn’t make the best decisions and can be annoying at times. The side characters really made this book. We meet a lot of them, and everyone has a purpose to help the story. If you take the time jump issue out, the book was written very well. I felt like I was in the town with the characters. This is definitely an emotional story, dealing with some heavy topics; please check the trigger warnings.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing, Max Monroe, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, Entangled Publishing and Netgalley, for the eArc of When I Should've Stayed (Red Bridge, #2) by Max Monroe.

Did I love When I Should've Stayed (Red Bridge, #2) as much as book 1? Absolutely, I did! Was I as emotionally invested in book 2? Absolutely! The love and investment I have in the characters in these books is unreal. Max Monroe wrote a phenomenal book, yet again. I loved that we dove right back into the storyline with Clay and Josie, and getting aspects of book one from their perspectives was just perfect. Then we also got flashbacks leading up to those moments, how they got to where they did, and why. There is so much emotional trauma and experiences that were unpacked among the characters, and I went through all the emotions right with the characters. If you loved book 1, you will love the continuation of these characters' stories in this book!

I loved book 1, What I should've Said, and I just knew I'd love this one too.
I'm so happy to have Josie and Clay's story because a lot is hinted about their relationship in book1.

I liked most of the jumps to what happened pre-divorce to the present (a few were disjointed) but we definitely needed the back story to make sense of where they are now.

I think at times Josie is insufferable but she is also learning to forgive and move one. Clay is just begging for the second chance and by golly, I just needed him to have it!

One thing these authors will do is make you feel all the feelings. This one didn't disappoint. I felt every ebb and flow of their relationship and in the end, I couldn't put it down.

Thanks to Entangled for the eARC of this book! I'm just in love with this series.

Similar to the first book in this series, Max & Monroe completely broke me, but then put me back together again in the best way. This book gave me the full range of emotions from heartbroken & sobbing (again) to laughing out loud (usually while sobbing). It was also so beautifully written & descriptive that it made it so easy to fall into Clay and Josie’s love story and truly empathize with each side. I loved getting the parallels from the first book to see different perspectives (though I did cry over Summer all over again). Overall, I appreciated how real it was and I will forever be obsessed with Clay.

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.

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.