***ARC Review***
When I Should've Stayed by Max Monroe
Release Date: July 1st

The concept of this book intrigued me immediately. Clay and Josie's meet-cute at his bar was unexpected. It was cute, funny, and flirty. I loved their banter, and their connection was clear. Watching them fall in love was so sweet. I adore Clay's utter devotion to Josie. The dude was down so bad so quickly! I also enjoyed the dual (or triple?) timeline, even if it got a bit confusing at times. I also loved the Sweet Home Alabama vibes (IYKYK.)

Clay's boisterous personality and determination were sweet until he started to unintentionally invalidate Josie's feelings, and while Josie went through A LOT in this book, her lack of communication was very frustrating. While I did get all in my feels at the end when Josie finally explains to Clay why she divorced him, I am not a big fan of the miscommunication trope, especially when it's such an integral part of the plot or is drawn out for so long. It just hurts my brain when a few words could have saved 5 years of drama and heartache.

This story is full of angst, loss, and grief, but there's also love and healing. The small town vibes and friendships were heartwarming. Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot!

4.25⭐ 1.5🌶️

I read an advanced copy of this eBook, and this is my honest review. Thank you to Author Max Monroe, Netgalley, and Entangled Amara for the eARC!

3.25⭐️ Book 1 broke me and like the sadistic person that I am I ran at the chance to read this one. We met Clay and Norah in the first book and I was already intrigued, I love getting the dual timeline and their full story, but sadly, this one didn’t live up to my expectations.

With the story overlapping with Ben & Norah’s story it felt a lot like re-reading book one and as much as I will always wish for more time with Summer, I wanted more Clay and Josie.

Ultimately though I just didn’t get Josie at all. Clay is a sweetheart and very patient man this is all I’ll say.

It didn’t quite work for me but still Red Bridge is special to me, I’ll definitely tune in for Breezy and Sheep Farmer Tad.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing, NetGalley and Max Monroe for the advanced reading copy, all my opinions are my own.

I haven’t read a lot of second-chance romance novels, so I don’t have much to compare this to, but I really liked how the trope was done here. The time jumps were an interesting (in a good way) choice, though I do wish they had been toned down a little.

Max Monroe did a great job making me feel all kinds of emotions. I was giddy and excited in the beginning, and totally gutted in some other parts. (If you haven’t read the first book, I’d recommend starting there—there’s quite a bit of overlap.)

Overall, I loved the book and I really like the direction the authors are taking lately.

I got the eARC from NetGalley. Thanks to Max Monroe, Entangled Publishing, and NetGalley for the copy.

When I Should've Stayed

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶

“I choose you,” I say in a rush. “I choose us. I choose to stay.”

Clay is the man of all men. He is obsessed and in love with every bit of Josie. He's kind of a golden retriever; goofy, loyal, big. I absolutely loved this man!

Josie doesn't make it easy on Clay... at all. Not even in the beginning, and sure as hell not in the end. To a point that I was frustrated with her. I know in her mind that everything she was doing was to save herself more heartache and to save Clay.

While I loved Clay and Josie's story, I was a little lost with all the bouncing around in the timeline. At times, it was hard to figure "where and when" we were. I think having years with the dates at the beginning of the chapters or even 'blank' years ago would have helped tremendously.

[A list of (spoiling) trigger warnings can be found at the end of this review.]

When I Should Have Stayed is the second book in a series about couples in a small Vermont town called Red Bridge. Prior to reading this ARC, I read What I Should Have Said: Bennett and Norah's story. Throughout the first book, there are references to another couple: Clay (Bennett's best friend) and Josie (Norah's sister). 

I suppose the second book could be read as a standalone; there is a lot of overlap between overall storylines. Most plot points from the first book are summarized or fully retold from Josie & Clay's perspectives. However, there is a major plot event with maximum emotional impact in the first book which features heavily again in the sequel, but it doesn't quite hit the same way if you don't have the background and details surrounding all of that. So if this series is up your alley, I do recommend reading all the available books in order of publication. 

Josie and Clay's story begins with a flashback to 5 years ago, when Josie decided to rather abruptly file for divorce, blindsiding her husband. Cut to the present storyline, and it is clear Clay hasn't been able to move on, and Josie still loves him - she divorced him for a reason known only to her. They don't speak, which is how Josie prefers it. But everything threatens to unravel when her younger sister Norah suddenly arrives in town. When Norah finds herself entangled with Bennett, Clay's best friend, Josie finds it harder and harder to avoid her ex-husband. As these two passionate former loves attempt to manoeuvre around each other today, more flashbacks are woven through, telling us the story of how they fell in love to begin with, and how their relationship came to an end.

There's a lot to like about this one. The timelines were well done. It took a bit of orientating here and there, but the authors give plenty of pointers and overall it isn't too hard to determine where we are in the timeline at a given moment. (Although I can understand that a "5 years ago" or "present time" header would have helped put us readers in the right headspace immediately.) 

But the way Max Monroe told the story, the flashbacks were dosed perfectly, both in amount and in where in the story overall they take place. I thought it a rather seamless reading experience, because the storytelling was clear; the three different timelines culminate beautifully. Once the timelines catch up to the present, we then roll through to the conclusion of their story in a smooth, orderly fashion with all the information we need. 

Now, I don't know about everyone else, but I love a romance that has some type of intense conflict. Give me angst! Author duo Max Monroe definitely write angsty books. The way my heart was practically ripped out on not one, but several occasions... Romance novels aren't thrillers but I felt such an adrenaline rush regardless. Bringing out intense emotions in readers, that's not an easy feat, in my opinion. It's what's beautiful about art: how people react to it. I think the lead-up to Josie & Clay in book 1 definitely contributed to that; there was a subtle build-up of tension between these two and I just really, really wanted to read their story. How I liked book 1 didn't even factor into this. I just needed to read this story, too. 

But Max Monroe lost me a when the angst kept on angstin' almost passively. We're just told over and over how much they love each other (to the point of it being too much, especially from Clay's PoV) but meanwhile they're not handling the conflict satisfactorily. 

I just found myself disappointed in Clay for putting up with Josie's crap; his entire personality is loving his wife and telling us about it. But I mostly just felt so aggravated by Josie's unwillingness to just freaking communicate with the man. The reason why she left him is tragic, and having actually shared a bunch of Josie's experiences, I do come from a place of deep understanding. But Clay's own traumatic experiences (he goes through several of his own) are completely minimized - not just by Josie and Clay himself, but by the authors. 

The best parts of the book - the most evocative - were the scenes describing Clay's pain. His reactions to Josie's actions. That's where the real drama resides, the real conflict. Those scenes felt the most real, but there were too few of them, and they were too short. I needed him angry. I needed him bitter. I needed him to work through a journey of not just understanding, but forgiveness. If a book is intended to be dramatic, push through and REALLY bring it all. Confront it fully. Instead, Clay was just sitting there as a golden retriever placeholder waiting for, basically, circumstances to pull Josie out of her stupor (which... she just kept this up for so long). Had Norah not arrived in town, Josie would have kept Clay in the dark without the closure he'd have needed if he ever had any chance of moving forward. 

The book had amazing potential and started off so well, and I really wanted to love it, but it fell so flat in the end. I found myself questioning how Clay could still love her. But probably worse than that: I found myself questioning if Josie ever really loved him at all. 

Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing LLC for generously providing me with a copy of this book; all opinions expressed are honest, and 100% my own. Now follows a list of (spoiling) trigger warnings: 

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TWs:
- Grief
- Loss of a child
- Childhood illness and subsequent death of a child
- Life-threatening accident

3.5 Stars
When I Should've Stayed is Josie and Clay's romance. Josie was Norah's sister, and Clay was Bennett's best friend in the first book in this series, What I Should've Said. That first book left me curious as to what their story was, and I was excited to read this book. There was obviously a lot of history between them, and I couldn't wait to find out what it was.

To be honest, When I Should've Stayed wasn't quite what I expected. I was expecting Josie and Clay's story to begin where the first book left off instead of starting back at the beginning of how they got together and then jumping around in time. I found the headings for the chapters that defined what timeline I was in a little hard to follow until pretty much the end when I understood why the story was set up the way it was. Sometimes I felt like I was being told what happened instead of experiencing it. And then there were moments I didn't need to experience again. I really didn't need to revisit the tragedy of book one that closely.

I was also frustrated with Josie for much of the book because of how she treated Clay when she still loved him so much. I really liked Josie and how she stood up for those she loved and took care of them, but she wouldn't give Clay a break. It didn't make sense until it did and then I was just mad because I felt like she wasted so much time and emotion. Clay, on the other hand, was a great guy who showed up for those he loved. Even when he wasn't able to be there for Josie the way he wanted, he still managed to show up for her. I hurt for him for most of this book. I was so relieved when they finally figured things out.

This book had its pluses and minuses for me, but overall, I was happy with Josie and Clay's HEA. I'm hoping we get a book for Breezy next because she was probably my favorite side character this time around.

When I Should've Stayed, Max Monroe's second story in their Red Bridge series delivers quite the punch. It's emotional, funny, heartbreaking, and raw. I cried buckets when I read What I Should've Said, and one would've thought I'd be prepared for the same level of emotional wreckage for this book, but alas, I was not. Monroe destroyed me a second time, and I'm not sad about it!

When I Should've Stayed is Josie and Clay's story, and it's a doozy! The authors jump from past to present throughout the book, giving lots of background story and taking readers on a complete journey. We get to see Josie and Clay's meet-cute, the development of their relationship, their downfall, and ultimately, their reconciliation. It's gritty, it's hard, it's difficult. They go through a lifetime of ups and downs in a few short years until they finally find their happily ever after.

I love Josie's feistiness, her drive, and her perseverance. But boy this woman is one stubborn chick! Clay on the other hand is an absolute golden retriever. I love his loyalty, his affability, his dedication, and how hard he loves. Together, they are a powerhouse and I was rooting for them from the very start. They get put through the wringer but the ending is worth all of the heartbreak.

When I Should've Stayed is a story of resilience, second chances, true love, and second chances. I knew going into this book that I'd be bawling my eyes out, and the authors did not disappoint. Balancing out the heartbreaking storyline is a colorful cast of characters who will make you smile and laugh. It makes those heavier moments just a little bit lighter. This entire story was a joy to read and I can't wait to see what's to come next in Red Bridge! 5 stars

Max Monroe has officially become an auto-buy author for me. This book, closely tied to What I Should’ve Said, is a beautiful, heavy, emotional second chance romance. And if you know me, you know if a book has a second chance element, I’ll be obsessed with it. Josie is a bit on the stubborn side, and Clay is so head over heels in love with her that he doesn’t always take enough time to think through his big plans and displays of affection. These two aren’t always on the same page as one another, but their love is so strong. You will be rooting for them!!

This one is set to come out on July 1st. If you haven’t yet, pick up the first in the series and start binging it now!!

Tropes include:
☕️ second chance
☕️ dual POV
☕️ dual timeline
☕️ opposites attract
☕️ “my wife” and “doll”
☕️ banging on a water tower
☕️ “actually oops I didn’t file the divorce paperwork”

🥃 “I promise, if you let me love you the way I want to love you, you don’t have anything to be afraid of.”
🥃“Love is an emergency. I can’t wait another day or another week or another month. I have to make her mine.”

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Let me start first by saying I've loved every single book I've read or listened to by Max Monroe. Most make me laugh until I have tears rolling down my cheeks, but while this story has a more serious tone with sensitive topics, I loved it just as much as their other books, if not more.

Get ready for a small-town, second-chance romance that brings all of the feels! We're back in Red Bridge, VT where we get to learn the backstory of Josie Ellis and Clay Harris' relationship. The book takes you between the past and present to witness their love and heartache. The characters are so real and raw - you can really feel the emotion throughout the book. My heart is full after reading this heartfelt roller coaster, and I would absolutely recommend reading! Be sure to also read What I Should've Said (first) if you want to get to know the other characters in the story and see how they all connect!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read the ARC @MaxMonroe!

3.5 stars.

This is a second chance romance that is a follow-up to <i>What I Should've Said</i>, book one in the Red Bridge series. This story follows Josie Ellis, Norah's older sister, and Clay Harris, Bennett's best friend. Josie and Clay had a whirlwind romance that led to them getting married, and then not months later, getting divorced. Only problem is, Clay never filed the paperwork so they're still technically married (a revelation that came about during a fake wedding no less). Josie's determined to put their past behind them, but Clay is having none of that, willing to do whatever it takes to fight to get his wife back.

I think we should all be so lucky as to find a man who is willing to jump over the pews in church and drop to one knee in the hopes of asking you out on a first date. A man who is willing to overcome his fears so long as there's just the right amount of motivation. A man who would do anything to win his wife back. Clay Harris definitely embodies the "if he wanted to, he would."

From the moment Clay saw Josie putting a no-good cheater in his place in the Country Club (so named because his richie rich dad wouldn't lower himself to financially back a bar, but a golf course would do), he was infatuated and wanted to get to know her. Cue the pew jumping when his path was impeded by a bunch of the locals.

Josie and Clay certainly had great banter and chemistry, as seen by how their date ended. Clay fell fast and hard for Josie and she went along for the ride. Impulsive is apparently his middle name, thus the elopement. Unfortunately, a series of events follow that alter Josie's life and serves as her rationale for why they can't be together. She's powered by grief and guilt and regret and all the secrets she carries, and the combination of it all stands in her way more often than not.

To be honest, Josie frustrated me quite a bit. This wasn't a simple matter of miscommunication. She purposely withheld vital information from Clay, and therefore he was operating without the same knowledge base, and she almost sorta blamed him for what he didn't know which, hello, she could've told him. All in the name of her thinking she knew what was best for him. The self-sacrificing grated on my nerves.

Clay was such a lovable golden retriever and I enjoyed watching his friendship with Ben and how he adored Summer. <spoiler>(Losing her for a second time was no easier than the first).</spoiler>

The level of worship he had for José (I swear I read her nickname like this every time, even without the accent) was unmatched.

Among the things that I wasn't particularly fond of was the dual timeline where sometimes it was hard to keep up with where we were because of the constant jumping back and forth. Also, and it very well may have been due to the close proximity in which I read this book to book one, but there was a lot of overlap, the same scenes told from a different POV so it felt repetitive and the pacing dragged for me as a result. I found myself waiting for new information to unfold and it didn't quite hit from that perspective.

I'm hoping that Breezy's story is next, and the she may just have caught the eye of the handsome yet inept sheep farmer, because there definitely seemed to be something brewing there.

Thank you to Netgalley and Entangled for the eARC.

When I Should’ve Stayed had so much potential, especially with characters like Clay and Josie. That said, I found myself struggling to stay engaged because much of the book felt like a repeat of the first installment in the Red Bridge Series.

While I understand the appeal of seeing events from a different perspective, there were so many recycled scenes that it felt more like a retelling than a fresh story. I was hoping for deeper insight into Clay and Josie’s unique journey, with more new content that expanded their relationship and personalities.

I really wanted to love this one, but it just didn’t deliver the newness or emotional depth I was looking for. Here’s hoping future books in the series bring more original storytelling to the table.

Overall I enjoyed the story, but I really disliked the main female character Josie. I felt like Clay was almost too good for her in a sense. Josie really lacks communication and that destroyed so much of the bond that they built and wasted so many years. The couple falls in love rather quickly and wastes no time getting married.

The conflict did not surprise me at all as I figured it had to be centered around that topic somehow. I felt like Josie should have spoken up sooner about the situation instead of keeping things to herself and wallowing in her guilt. If Clay had really married her and loved her the way he showed he did, than none of that would have mattered. It frustrated me that they lost so much time together because Josie was so selfish and stubborn. I have no complaints about Clay because he shows time and time again how good of a man he really is and fights SO long for her despite her acting like a brat. Thank you to Netgalley, Entangled Publishing, LLC, and Max Monroe for an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion.

I usually love a Max Monroe book, but this one had too much of the same storyline as the last book just from Josie and Clay's perspective. It seemed alot of it was almost exactly the same content. I felt like it could of been more about Josie and Clay and not the same stuff as last book. So a little disappointed.

4.25 Stars

Josie + Clay

We met them both in Norah and Ben's book. And now they'll tell us their story.
We go back and forth between then and now and it all started so sweet and adorable - but it's not so sweet and adorable now.
Something or several things must've happened in between our meet-cute in Clay's bar and the way Josie hates him now - as already seen in the first book.

What happened? And what can we do to get to our second happily ever after?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT!

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That was adorable.
I really loved reading this. But I also hated it.
First I'm not a fan of going back in time in my books. I want to read the NOW!
And we do that here a lot - like 80% of the book takes us back in time and half of that is kind of exactly the same what we just read in Norah and Ben's book. Plus the different times were way too confusing for me. We get days and months as a headline but not years and it took me forever to figure out where each chapter was taking me. Plus, having just read the first book for the 2nd time right before starting this one, I was kinda up to date with their non-relationship. I wanted to see how they got back together. I didn't want to see the past! But we only get like 5% of the book with them back together at the end. That wasn't enough for me.
Compared to the first book in the series this second one was disappointing in many ways.
I just wished for more. Not too much of the past and so much more of the present. And also ... I hated that they wasted so many years for nothing! Jeez Josie. Why?

But it's what I got and I still loved the story. Especially since I got to see a lot of Summer. And we did get great moments and I cried and it was sweet and funny and heartbreaking and Clay is amazing. I will never not read a Max Monroe book! Even if they didn't really get me with this one.

Now I really need to read Breezy and Sheep farmer Tad's book!

► WHEN I SHOULD'VE STAYED was a sweet + funny + adorable + heartbreaking small-town second-chance romance! Which could've been avoided if she had just stayed and talked to him. But still - great love story! Run to your nearest book dealer for your own Clay - this one is so mine!

I was anxiously awaiting the availability of this ARC and when the authors announced it would be on NetGalley for one day I hopped on and grabbed it!! I loved the second in the series. We were introduced to Clay and Josie in the first Red Bridge series What I Should’ve Said. Josie is a coffee shop owner in Red Bridge and older sister of Norah. Clay is the local bar owner and best friend of Bennett. Their story is full of ups and downs and had me feeling all the feels. I loved the books humor, enduring love, the connection to the characters and the overall story. I am hoping the series continues with Tad and Breezy’s story!!!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest review.

This book spans multiple time periods, exploring Clay and Josie’s relationship over the years. I’ll admit, the timeline shifts confused me at first—but once I found a Goodreads comment recommending to read the first book beforehand, everything clicked. I went back, read it, and after that, I was fully on board with the story.

Josie’s character frustrated me at times with some of the questionable decisions she made, but that just added to the emotional rollercoaster. Clay, on the other hand, had total golden retriever energy—loyal, kind, and a joy to read about.

This was my first read from Max, and I was honestly blown away by how well he tells a story. I can’t wait to read more from him in the future. I’ll definitely be buying a physical copy for my bookshelf once it’s released. Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Clay and Josie’s story proves once you find the one…no matter what happens you can’t move on. Josie has put the world on her shoulders for years going through obstacle after obstacle and then she met Clay, who loved her openly and unashamedly from day one. When tragedy hits on a day of joy seeds of regret are planted that grow roots and spread until it becomes too much so to protect him she lets him go. Except he never wanted to be released and knows no matter how much time passes, he’ll never love someone the way he loves Josie. It takes years but the way they find their way back to each other proves that love is resilient and with your soul mate by your side you can get through anything.

The story of Clay and Josie was heartbreaking. The love they shared for each other was evident throughout the story. The Red Bridge series is amazing. Definitely one of the best books of 2025.

This book=emotional damage 😭 (in a good way)

Absolutely wonderful! Clay and Josie ugh my heart. These two went through hell to find their way back to each other!

Welp I didn't see the 🐑 coming and I laughed soooo hard!

Thank you for this early access read!

This book was such a fun and emotional rollercoaster! When I Should’ve Stayed had me hooked from the first chapter. Max Monroe always knows how to mix humor, heart, and heat—and this story delivers all of it.

The characters felt so real, especially the main couple. Their chemistry was off the charts, and I loved watching their relationship grow through all the ups and downs. There were moments that had me laughing out loud and others that gave me a lump in my throat. It’s not just a romance—it’s also about timing, regrets, and figuring out what (and who) really matters in life.

If you're into heartfelt, swoony reads with a bit of sass and a lot of emotion, this one’s for you. Max Monroe never disappoints, and this book just might be one of my favorites from them.