4 tremendous ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For this book!

This book took me apart piece by piece and tenderly put me back together.

Can it be read as a standalone? Probably... but reading the first book will definitely enhance your reading experience!

You will most likely need some tissues to read through this one!

I absolutely loved Clay, he is the purest example of a Golden Retriever if ever I read one! You can't help but fall for him along with Josie.

And Josie, Josie.. I just wanted to give her the tightest hug to push back the broken pieces in place.

Clay and Josie come together after 5 years of divorce to help make little Summer's wish come true. As they stand facing one another, Clay cannot help spilling the secret he's kept inside for so long.

Gasp!

There are multiple time jumps which felt a bit overwhelming in the beginning but after a while I got used to them.

Absolutely recommend for an emotional yet heartwarming reading experience.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Authors Max Monroe for the ARC and opportunity to share my thoughts.

When I Should've Stayed is a beautiful love story about miscommunication, martyrdom, and the chance of coming back before it's too late. The hope that true love can withstand the hardships and the hurts and somehow remain.
Max and Monroe have realy opened themselves up, pushed harder and deeper, and gave US so much of themselves to create such a painfully beautiful story. I missed their usual humor, but that's just my preference...humor through the pain. I'm very grateful for this opportunity to read another Max Monroe masterpiece. This story is the second in the Red Bridge series and feels like they already are alluding to a third... possibly involving a certain sister and sheep farmer.

I’ve been waiting for Josie and Clay’s story since What I Should’ve Said, and yep, it hit just as hard as I expected—maybe even more. This book hurts in that good, necessary way. It’s about heartbreak, healing, and the kind of love that doesn’t let go even when everything falls apart.

Josie is stubborn, guarded, and doing what she thinks is best—even if it means torching her own happiness. And Clay? He’s the guy who never stopped loving her, even when she walked away. His whole heart is still wrapped up in her, and you feel that in every scene. They’re messy and complicated and not always on the same page, but you believe in them. You want them to figure it out.

What really got me was how the story didn’t shy away from the hard stuff. It sits in the grief and the regrets and lets these characters work through them. Clay is this big-hearted guy who wears his emotions out in the open, and Josie’s trying so hard to keep hers buried. Watching them navigate that imbalance was painful and real and incredibly moving.
And let’s give a round of applause for Grandma Rose, who brings just enough lightness without ever undercutting the emotional weight of the story. She’s iconic.

This one’s for the readers who like their love stories full of heartbreak, forgiveness, and people clawing their way back to each other. You’re going to want tissues. And maybe a hug after. Now I’m anticipating the next book in the series and wondering if I have to wait a whole year😭!

Thank you Max Monroe and NetGalley for the eARC!

Excuse me, Max Monroe?? Who gave you the right to emotionally wreck me like this?! 😭 When I Should’ve Stayed was the absolute perfect follow-up to What I Should’ve Said—and by “perfect,” I mean it ripped my heart out in the most beautiful way possible. Clay and Josie own me. I'm officially starting a petition for an entire book just about them after this one because I am not ready to let go. If you're into sobbing, swooning, and screaming into your pillow at 2 a.m., congrats—you’ve found your next favorite series. 💔📚

This is book 2 bout Clay and Josie and can be read as a standalone, but if u want a full character experience, u should read book 1, and it definitely is worth the read.

Josie moved to Red Bridge from New York to live with her grandma and now owns a diner, and she catches cheaters on the side. Clay moved to this small town Red Bridge from New York and owns a County Club now. Clay has liked Josie since she stepped foot into his club, and they get married. Then they get divorced, and Clay still loves her and doesn't wanna believe they are divorced. Clay is gonna get his true love back at all costs. This book is really good and has me in my feelings, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Thanks, NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for this ARC.

After reading the first Red Bridge book I was instantly intrigued with Clay and Josie. Clearly something big had gone on between them and I was dying to find out exactly what.
Enter When I Should’ve Stayed. A simply beautiful story that will have you experiencing every emotion - keep tissues handy for this one!
This book flips back and forth between the past and present of Josie and Clay’s relationship. Clearly madly in love, something happens along the way and they are no together. Along the way you experience the raw, bittersweet, regretful feelings until the final breakthrough when everything is revealed and you feel like you and the characters can start healing together.
This emotional, second chance romance was completely captivating and (as long as you read the trigger warnings), I would absolutely recommend reading it.
Thank you so much to Entangled Publishing and Netgalley for the eARC!

This is book 2 in the Red Bridge Series

When I Should’ve Stayed is an interconnected standalone novel, but I highly recommend reading Book 1, What I Should’ve Said, where we first meet Josie and Clay. Josie appears to detest Clay, but Clay is clearly still in love with her. Josie is hurting and believes she has done what is best for both of them when she asks him for a divorce. However, when she discovers that she is still married to Clay and has been for five years, she is thrown for a loop and is forced to confront her true feelings. In When I Should’ve Stayed, we witness Clay and Josie’s romance, its eventual downfall, as well as its unexpected second chance.

This book is a wild emotional rollercoaster that’ll leave you feeling both heartbroken and uplifted. It’s a powerful reminder of how life can throw us curveballs and how those unexpected twists can have lasting impacts. The story is filled with flashbacks that reveal the ups and downs of Clay and Josie’s relationship. Clay is a true sweetheart who spent years loving a woman who had no idea why their relationship ended and no real hope of getting her back. But he never lost hope or his determination to win her back, even holding onto the biggest secret of all that he never filed their divorce papers. Josie goes through a lot, and Clay is always there for her, a constant presence in her life. I wish we had gotten a bit more of Clay’s backstory and I hope to see what happens next with Josie and Clay in future books set in this series. Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the chance to read and share my honest thoughts on this book.

I was so excited to get my hands on When I Should've Stayed by Max Monroe
This book was so much fun with plenty of emotional depth.
It was pure delightful. The romance is sweet, the banter is fun, and the setting is perfect.
So charming and sweet, with likable characters, sweet romance, and a rich setting.

I just finished When I Should’ve Stayed, and wow, it really hit home for me. This book dives deep into relationships and the tough choices we face, making me reflect on my own life.
The characters felt so real, and I found myself rooting for them through their ups and downs. Max Monroe has a way of capturing emotions that just pulls you in. I loved how the pacing kept me on my toes, mixing moments of tension with heartfelt reflection.
If you’re into stories about love, loss, and figuring out who you really are, you should definitely check this one out! It’s a read that will stick with you.

This was the first book I’ve read from the author duo Max Monroe and now I’m eager to read more from them.

Book 2 in the Red Bridge series, When I Should’ve Stayed, follows Clay and Josie on two different points in their lives as they fall quickly and madly in love compared to the other timeline where they are no longer together. The timelines on both past and present jumps forward quickly but if you pay attention, it’s such an emotional journey of two people that are meant to be.

Their love story is not smooth or easy and due to some unfortunate series of events, it includes devastating heartbreak.

The book however does a beautiful job of taking the reader along for the journey of their relationship and illustrating that not all couples have a straight line to their happy ending.

And I think that’s pretty true in real life too. Once I started this one, the story wouldn’t let me read anything else until I finished.

Recommend if you’re looking for an emotional second chance romance.

Tropes:
He Falls First
Slow Burn
Dual Timelines
Second Chance
Small Town
Enemies to lovers

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and #NetGalley for the ARC to read in return for an honest review.

This is a beautifully written, emotionally raw story that explores the depth of grief, the endurance of love, and the fragility of life. It’s one of those books that hits you in the heart with its honesty and emotional gravity.

The story captures the harsh truths many women face — from loss to sorrow, from hope to heartache. It’s deeply human and incredibly moving. I cried more than once while reading, and I had goosebumps multiple times throughout. That’s how powerful the emotions are on the page.

Told in a dual POV, the structure really helped bring both characters to life. However, the timeline shifts were a bit confusing. I found myself a little lost at the beginning of each chapter due to the lack of clear year references. Once I got my bearings, though, it was smooth sailing.

Overall, this is an easy read, and a poignant reminder that even in the darkest moments, love survives.

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

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Esta es una historia hermosamente escrita y emotiva que explora la profundidad del duelo, la resistencia del amor y la fragilidad de la vida. Es uno de esos libros que te llega al corazón con su honestidad y gravedad emocional.

La historia captura las duras realidades que enfrentan muchas mujeres: desde la pérdida hasta el dolor, desde la esperanza hasta la angustia. Es profundamente humana e increíblemente conmovedora. Lloré más de una vez mientras la leía y se me puso la piel de gallina varias veces. Así de poderosas son las emociones en la página.

Narrada desde dos perspectivas, la estructura realmente ayudó a dar vida a ambos personajes. Sin embargo, los cambios en la línea temporal fueron un poco confusos. Me sentí un poco perdida al principio de cada capítulo debido a la falta de referencias claras a los años. Sin embargo, una vez que me orienté, fue viento en popa.

En general, es una lectura fácil y un conmovedor recordatorio de que, incluso en los momentos más oscuros, el amor sobrevive.

Gracias Max Monroe, Entangled Publishing y NetGalley por el ARC a cambio de una reseña honesta.

I really enjoyed being back on Red Bridge. I enjoyed seeing more from the town. Getting the beginning of Clay and Josie. Moments of laughter. Moments of swoon. Moments of deep emotions. Moments you’re crying. Moments you’re cheering. Life’s road is sometimes very bumpy with twists, turns and hills and valleys. That was Clay and Josie’s journey. I’m so glad they finally got their forever hea. I do wish there was more of their happy not just the long journey.

This book wrecked me—in the best way. When I Should’ve Stayed is the second installment in the Red Bridge series, and if you thought Josie and Clay’s story was going to be a lighthearted second chance romance… think again.
From the start, you can feel how much love still exists between these two. Their chemistry? Off the charts. But it’s the grief, the heartbreak, and the unresolved pain that drives the emotional weight of this story. Josie and Clay fell fast and hard. Their love was real, but life didn’t play fair—and their loss pulled them apart.
Now, five years later, they’re still in the same small town, still orbiting each other, and still trying to pretend their hearts aren’t broken. The dual timeline adds so much to their story—we see the highs of their first kiss, their wedding, their love… and then the lows that followed. It’s messy, painful, and real. And somehow, Max Monroe keeps you rooting for them even when they’re both hurting too much to say the words they need to say.
Josie is strong but guarded. Clay is stubborn and devoted. They’re both doing the best they can with the hand they’ve been dealt, and that made their second chance feel earned. This book doesn’t shy away from showing how loss and trauma change people—but it also reminds you how love can survive, even after everything.
If you like your romance full of emotion, angst, and healing, When I Should’ve Stayed will hit you right in the heart. Just make sure you’ve got tissues nearby.

᪥ Second Chance
᪥ Dual Timeline
᪥ Opposites Attract
᪥ “My Wife”
᪥ Dual POV

When I Should’ve Stayed was such a great follow up to What I Should’ve Said. We met Josie Ellis and Clay Harris in the first book, but there story was a mystery. I was so excited to get into this amazing story. There were most definitely tears shed, I’m not going to lie. They were some repeated scenes from the first book, although from different POVs. I simply adored this book and cannot wait to meet the Max Monroe girls and tell them how much I loved it in person!!! I would most definitely recommend this book to other readers!!

When I Should’ve Stayed by Max Monroe is the second book in the Red Bridge series. This dual timeline novel was lacking in depth. Clay and Josie’s story involved a retelling of events that took place in the first novel, What I Should’ve Said. I was really hoping for more to this story.

Tropes:
- Second Chance
- He's Obsessed
- He Falls First
- Forced Proximity
- Small Town Romance
- He Only Wants her
- Dual Timeline/POV
- Yearning
- Find Their Way Back To One Another

If you are wanting a roller coaster of emotions type of book this will be the book for you. I love the little town of Red Bridge and the quirkiness of the different people. I would love little novelle's for each one of them.

After reading the first book I was excited to read about Josie and Clay. You get to see their relationship over the years. The ups and very many downs. I found myself wanting to shake Josie a lot throughout this book. I just wanted her to step up and express her feelings. There was no reason they needed to spend 5 years apart. Clay was a man down bad for this woman. He would have done anything for her. Once you read the book you will completely understand what the title means.

Please check trigger warnings.

Thank you Max Monroe, NetGalley, and Entangled for the chance to read this ARC.

#WhenIShouldveStayed #NetGalley

Im not too sure how to express how long and slow this story is! It kept alternating between past and present and was a little difficult to follow to be perfectly honest and made me rather confused.
Probably not the best book the authors have written and being a fan of their writing, this was a disappointing read unfortunately for me personally.
Ultimately I had to power through to see how the storyline ended. But everyone is different and what didn’t work for me may just be the story for you!

The second book of the Red Ridge series continues with the emotional ride that was What I Should’ve Said—this time from Josie and Clay’s perspective. Some scenes are retold for fresh viewpoints, others are new, still tender and heartwarming. Told with dual timelines of past and present (i.e. before and after “the event”), this is true second chance at love story, as the main characters learn to navigate the changes that came and are yet to come with their relationship and whether or not they can rekindle the love they once had. It must have taken Clay much to let Josie go the first time and my heart was breaking for him for most of the story. I have to hand to him, he was persistent in his love, his actions and his words all to get Josie back. He was my favorite, along with the mentions of the water tower. Looking forward to what possibly could be more sheep in the next book of the series?!

He may have let her slip away, but he never stopped loving her 💖🎱🗼

In When I Should've Stayed, we get to read about Josie and Clay's story. We realised when we read #whatishouldvesaid that there's a lot of history there, but we only caught glimpses of it. This book is split into sections covering the past experiences of the main characters before and during the first book of the series, and the present day. It can be a bit confusing, as there's no year added to the titles, just the month, but it's really interesting to read what they're feeling and what went wrong through these time jumps.

I'm continually astounded by the weighty subjects the authors tackle so effortlessly in this series. I'll be honest with you, though. I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive you two (yeah, I mean you, Max & Monroe) for making me feel all those emotions about Summer again, just to lose her AGAIN 💔

I was so engrossed in the book that I couldn't put it down, but I was also keen to find out more about after they got back together. Overall, I still really liked the book and the characters, especially hearing more about Grandma Rose and other side characters like Breezy & Tad. These characters and also reading more about the main characters friendship with Bennet made it possible to not get so annoyed at Clay's constant love bombing (even though he meant well).
I am excited to see what the future in the #smalltown of Red Bridge (can the town really still be called that? #iykyk ) brings and cannot wait to dive into the next story even though I know I am only going to get my heart broken again if a certain angel is mentioned 💞

Thank you to @authormaxmonroe & @entangled_publishing for sharing this book with me through @netgalley & happy #releaseday 🥰
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#secondchanceromance #bookstagram #dualpov #romance #theonethatgotaway #arc

5 Book Hangover Stars!

This book was everything for me! I knew going into it that it was going to be emotional and angsty and I would cry. But man oh man, I wasn’t as prepared as I thought I was because ugly crying going on. Josie and Clay’s story runs concurrent to Norah and Bennett’s story so I got to re-experience some of the most emotional moments of that book all over again but from a different POV.

I loved the connection Josie and Clay and how we got to see how they started and their feelings for each other coming to fruition. But there’s secrets that are being kept that could be the end of them in more ways than one. But Clay is a determined man and while the whole family is making a wish come true for the most beautiful little girl Summer, well, a secret is revealed and it changes everything.

I have to give credit to Josie. She always wants to do the right thing and sometimes that’s taken out of her hands through no fault of her own. The pain this woman goes through is almost debilitating. Through it all, Clay is in the background of her life, it is Red Bridge afterall, so he’s there waiting and ready to do what he can to prove his love.

The path to Clay and Joise coming back together is not an easy one. There are so many tears, but also moments of love that are so beautiful in their simplicity. Along the way, I cried, swooned, laughed out loud and fell in love with this small town all over again. Bravo to Max and Monroe for writing a story that is so beautiful and captivating. There were moments that I thought were going to end me but they turn around and give me a reason to keep reading to see what would happen next. And with a book this emotionally charged, that’s not an easy task. I’ll definitely be listening to the audiobook because I’m a glutton for punishment and want to experience this story all over again. And, if I’m not mistaken, we’ve been given a clue as to what or should I say, will be next in this series and I can’t wait!