Max Monroe’s “Cluelessly Yours” was one of my favorite reads last year. It was a sleeper hit for sure. So when I saw Max Monroe had put out another book I was excited. I missed the first book in The Red Bridge series, “ What I Should've Said”, where Clay and Josie were introduced. This was a hard read as a lot of emotional downfall hit Clay and Josie and broke up their marriage. The book goes back and forth between before the break up and after, until we eventually find out the reason that tore them apart. This wasn’t one my favorite of this author’s books and not because the writing or the plot but because I prefer happy romance over the sadder stuff. That’s just me. This is a gut wrenching romance. Hence why I preferred Max Monroe’s “Cluelessly Yours” and “ Accidental Attachment“ from the “It’s a Funny Story” series.

Wow. Just WOW! I have been anxiously awaiting Josie and Clay’s story. A beautiful, yet complicated love story filled with immense love, grief and loss. I would highly suggest reading What I Should’ve Said before devouring this one. Have your tissues handy!

I feel like this book was a hug after the first one.
It's emotional but doesn't rip your heart out.

5 stars
This book gave me all the feels. The journey Josie and Clay went through to come back to each other was beautiful to witness. It was a perfect second chance romance and Clay was the perfect MMC, he never gave up on Josie and the two of them together had the best chemistry. I laughed, I cried, I loved it.

Max Monroe titles are must-reads for me. I enjoy the stories so much. When I Should've Stayed was no exception - it's entertaining, has well-developed characters, romance, conflict, and much more! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

When I Should've Stayed brings you back to the small town of Red Bridge, VT first brought to life in What I Should've Said and the town of characters who captured our hearts the first time around. Josie and Clay have a history...they were in love, they were married and now they are divorced but why? The only person who seems to know why is Josie and she is holding her reasons to herself. This story takes you on a whirlwind of emotions and makes sure that you feel ALL the feels. Josie and Clay are REAL and FLAWED and the love they share is palpable. I would say this was a book that I couldn't put down but that would not be true; I had to put it down a time or two to allow myself to work through all of the emotions I was feeling. Take a trip to Red Bridge yourself, you won't regret it.

The second book in the Red Bridge series. It's a small town romance. Josie and Clay have a complicated relationship.... Clay tries to win her back....

It's has a little more angst than the usual max monroe books. But the characters are great... Clay and Josie are both very likable characters. It's so satisfying to see them work out their differences... a terrific romance

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled for giving me an ARC of this book. If you’ve read book one, and fell in love with Josie and Clay there, this book is for you. Although it can be read as a standalone, I do highly recommend reading book one first – so go start there! This is an emotional read, so be prepared to get your heart a little trampled… but the emotional damage is worth it.

so this is going to be a gut wrenching review folks. sorry. this broke my heart, as a woman who lost a baby and also lost the ability to have children not all that long after this was brutal and so hard to read but also so validating. Listening to Josie tell a story of loss, that myself and so many others have experienced, was monumental. The loss of a child, is hard enough and then losing the ability to have children all together is painful and truly unexplainable. I felt so emotionally connected Josie during the entire story and I was so rooting for her and Clay. Clay reminds me of my own husband, who was never less than anything but my number one fan and my biggest support system. I had no doubt Clay would be that for Josie.

When I Shoud've Stayed by Max Monroe goes back and forth between the different time periods of Clay and Josie’s relationship. We quickly find out something went wrong in their relationship and they are no longer together.

To be honest Josie annoyed me when making her decisions. She made several stupid decisions that ended up effecting many people. The saving grace for this book was Clay. He was an absolute dream. The side characters also made this book, because if it was just about Josie, I would have been more annoyed. But there is also depth with the other characters too given their sad/ emotional stories. I knew Clay & Josie’s story was going to break my heart. But I wasn’t expecting for side characters to have me in my feels as well. As for Josie, she just annoyed me so much. It was heartbreaking though.

Josie is such a strong kick butt MFC. Her decisions and sacrifices she made are heartbreaking yet annoying. Honestly at times you will want to strangle her. But you love and relate to her anyway. Plus you have Clay, the adorable golden retriever MMC. This man is a swoon worthy hero and he deserves the world. You put these two together and they are electric. You can feel the strong and genuine love they have for each other.

This book was an emotional roller coaster that hooked me from the very beginning and never let go. If you can’t already tell I highly recommend this book. But please read “What I Should’ve Said” first. You 100% need to read book one to understand all the characters and back story. I had to stop and go read it then come back to this because I didn't realize it was part of a series.

Thank you Max for an amazing story and I can’t wait to read your next book.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Josie’s childhood was filled with loss. Clay’s was filled with neglect. As adults they meet and know they are each other’s true love. When sudden tragedy strikes it sets off a chain of events that push Josie and Clay apart. They have to navigate living in a small town, sharing friends, and seeing ghosts of their relationship around every corner. They both know they will never love anyone else. Has too much time passed or can they find their way back to each other?

This book covers some heavy themes so make sure you read through the warnings before starting. If you read their previous book, What I Should’ve Said, you know that Max Monroe handles the subjects of loss and grieving in a such a beautiful way and this book is no different. You will mourn with the characters but will also leave with so much hope. Make sure you keep the tissues close by as you will need them!

Although When I Should’ve Stayed can be read alone, it’s best read after What I Should’ve Said as they have overlapping timelines and the two stories weave together.

📖 Book Review 📖 The long anticipated return to Red Bridge is here and readers will rejoice in this emotionally cathartic journey. When I Should’ve Stayed brings the story of Carl and Josie, two strong New York personalities who fall in love in the biggest way in this small town. Max Monroe pens a love that is grand and sweeping in all aspects, even down to the heartache that follows. What follows is a story of love, loss, healing, and a hope that they find their second chance. As always, Max Monroe delivers a heartfelt roller coaster filled with tears, and leaving us all desperately absolutely rooting for a happily ever after!

I was extremely interested in getting this story. There was such a build up and mystery as to why Clay and Josie weren't together anymore and what happened between them in the first book. I needed to know. Now that I know, I hate to admit it, but I'm disappointed. It was quite the let down and the reason why they weren't together seemed stupid. Then the resolution happened in the blink of an eye. Plus the whole time line of going from before and after felt choppy and sometimes confusing. I really wanted to like this book, but it just fell flat for me. I didn't feel like they had much of a connection beyond physical. Maybe it's because they weren't together for much of the book. I don't know, I'm sure some, maybe even most will like this book, but it's a no for me. And I say that as a die hard Max Monroe fan.

Josie and Clay love story.

This book is full of emotions it had me in my feelings. Truly loved the ride though out their story.

Max Monroe delivers yet another great read. Emotional while being funny and the romance along the way. I enjoyed the trips back into the past. It gives you a full picture of their characters and story’s.
Looking forward to more in this series

This is going to have to be a soft DNF for me, but that has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to due with the writing or story itself. From what little I managed to get through I can already tell this is likely to be a book I'll enjoy. Unfortunately, I have pretty poor vision to begin with and a brain that gets easily tangled without clear breaks between passages and prominent indentation. The early stages of formatting in this ARC just made it too strenuous for me to keep progressing. If I wasn't squinting I was struggling to move to the correct next line. I did try playing around with every setting possible on my kindle to improve spacing and visibility but no matter the tweak I wasn't able to find a solution that worked for me.

That said, this book is definitely shelved as something I'm eager to read later as a finished copy. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Entangled: Amara for giving me the chance to read When I Should've Stayed early. The fact that I couldn't finish is in no way a reflection of the story itself, just my poor genetics and neurospicy brain.

This book was a wild ride with all the ups and downs. There is so much love between Josie and Clay that it just envelops you, that's what really makes it amazing because there is no question about it. You do want to bring your tissues because there is loss and grief that will pull at your heart strings. This whole series so far gives you a really great perspective on grief, loss and trauma while also being funny and romantic. It personally has helped me through my own tough times. I highly recommend this book when It comes out on July 1st! Thank you entangled publishing and Max Monroe for the chance to read this wonderful book early and give my honest review 😊

There's so much to unpack with When I Should've Stayed. Bittersweet, heartfelt, and consuming are just a few words to describe this book. Josie's and Clay's storyline... chefs kiss. 5+ stars

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, and Max Monroe for granting me the honor of reading this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed continuing to read Josie and Clays story. I laughed at the escapades of Tad, the hot, but incompetent sheep farmer. I cried with Josie through her heartbreaks, and threw my book in aggravation every time she didn't choose to share her pain and just give into her love for Clay, spill it all share her pain with him.

The book was a wirlwind of emotions. Every person in Red Bridge felt like family.

I miss them already and am ready for book three! I hope it's Tad and Breezy's story. I see a love blooming there.

Five stars.

This book goes back and forth from different time periods of Clay and Josie’s relationship. It starts off very insta-love, but then we find out something went wrong and they are no longer together.

To be honest Josie annoyed me with a lot of her decisions. I think she made a lot of stupid decisions that ended up effecting a lot of people. The saving grace for this book was Clay. He was an absolute golden retriever man that was perfect. I want to meet my Clay.

The side characters also made this book, because if it was just about Josie, I would have been more annoyed. But there is a lot of beautiful and sad stories with the other characters too.

Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I first read What I Should’ve Said earlier this year, and it absolutely broke my heart. So when I found out there was going to be a second book—this time following Josie—I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.

Josie’s journey is incredibly emotional. She’s lost so many people she loves, and the way she shuts down and carries that blame was heartbreaking. Her love story with Clay was something I’d been curious about since Things I Should’ve Said, and it did not disappoint. Their story is both beautiful and heartbreaking.

I loved that we got more of Summer. Seeing her as a baby up to the events that happened in the first book.

Also… Breezy and Tad?! I seriously can't wait for their story!