“Love, in fact, can be the thing that hurts us the most. It steals our breath and makes fools of our actions. It sinks its teeth into our innocence and begs for happy endings when there aren’t any to be had.”

When I Should’ve Stayed was an enjoyable read. I loved the first part, how Clay and Josie first fell in love –how it was a bit of an insta-love, especially for him, a flash in the pan, but that left something sweet behind. The way the timelines were written, interwoven together, and how it created some kind of mystery about the reason why they first broke up –as they seemed to be so good together– was particularly interesting. So many emotional things happened in this book, and it was sometimes a bit overwhelming, but not in a bad way. I especially loved Josie’s (non) relationship with her mother, how it took a large place in who she was, and how her relationship with her nan was sweet in comparison.
What I didn’t like as much was “pushy Clay”, how he tried again and again, not taking a No for answer. Sometimes it felt a bit too much for me. The worst was the fact that he didn’t sign the divorce papers, and should I have seen the authors’ promo about that, I wouldn’t have picked this book (but I didn’t, so that’s on me).
But everything they all did –including the side characters– for Summer made up to it, as much as Josie’s tergiversations, her challenges, how she locked herself inside her traumas. It broke my heart a little, though, and I suffered for her, wanting to tell her to talk to someone.
In the end, it was a nice moment, and I’ll read the first book in the series, as much as other books written by these authors.

Thank you Entangled Publishing for the access to the eARC on NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

3.5/5

This book is a bit of a departure from the typical popcorn romcoms that authors Max Monroe is beloved for. It is the second book in the Red Brook series which are interconnected stand-alone novels. There were things that I enjoyed and things that I struggled with.

We I started the book I had not read “What I should’ve said”, the first book in the series. However, after struggling to get engaged I set the book aside for a bit and sped read book one. Now you definitely do not need to read book one to enjoy this one and actually if I had simply been reading this for enjoyment after publishing I would have preferred (with the hindsight) to have not read the first. Why? In the end I enjoyed this one a bit more story wise but so much of it is a repeat of book one just from a different perspective. For me, that’s not what I enjoy. I would prefer to read new content and scenarios with only light touches/ mentions of impactful scenes from a previous book.

Earlier this year so read my first Max Monroe book in “Meet me at Midnight” and ai had mentioned how seamless the prose appeared and that it wasn’t evident that there were two authors voices. It was a big strength of that book. My biggest challenge with What I Should’ve Stayed is that it was the exact opposite. While i can’t be certain, it comes across that each author took a timeline to focus on as the book is a duel timeline and Duel POV. The time jumping isn’t fluid at all to the point of being jarring. Typically so love duel timeline but in this case it’s a challenge.

The other big challenge was Josie. She isn’t likable which is common for a person that has the life experience that she does but it still doesn’t come off with authenticity. This is where my profession may be impacting my experience having worked with many folks that have had the background that she has had but how it’s written, it’s just not believable. That fact took me out of the story and would should have been a heart pulling experience that gets put back together again just comes off as whiny and not having an emotional impact to me.

All that being said, I think the masses will gloss over the above and really love this book. The book by itself if you somehow forget book one or even better read this first, and you put up with the poorly executed duel timeline is in the end an epic love story that has a man that many women dream about having in their life. The man who bends over backwards despite the female partner doing everything in her power to push them away.

While the book gets into the grit of a relationship and all the problems that arise when one person doesn’t disclose their very important background it does follow the typical standard for romance writing in the end.

This book comes out tomorrow on July 1, 2025 from Amara publishing.


I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary eARC from Entangled Publishing through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

When I Should’ve Stayed is Josie and Clay’s second chance romance that spans over a number of years. It’s the second book in the Red Ridge Series and it was a well written, engaging and entertaining read. I have to say this is not my favourite read from this writing duo and it did take me a while to get into Josie and Clay’s story because I was I struggled to connect with Josie and I got frustrated with some of the decisions she made, Clay on the other hand was a man I fell hard and fast for.
This is a story about the complexities of love and marriage, it’s an emotional roller coaster that had me smiling one minute and then screaming at my kindle the next minute. What I did love was the way I was broken before I could be put back together again because let’s be honest that’s how love and marriage works.

-Small Town
-Second Chance Romance
-Angst
-BANTER
-Heavy Feels/Emotional
-Dual POV
-Secrets

It’s been 2 1/2 months and I still can’t find the words.

I thought I was prepared for this one.. I Wasn’t.
I’m not sure anything could prepare me. The way part of this story mirrored my own down to important dates, made the emotional impact ten times more devastating.

I could really relate to Josie. Her upbringing, her relationships, the things that happen to her through the years, and the choices she makes because of it… You can only be so strong for so long before you break. . .

Clay is such a golden retriever. He’s everything Josie not only needed but deserves.

I recommend reading What I Should’ve Said before you read this one for the best experience.
Please check trigger warnings as both books deal with heavy topics.

Quick Summary: A second chance, lost & found romance

My Review: When I Should've Stayed by Max Monroe is book #2 in the Red Bridge series. It is scheduled for release on 7/1/25.

About the Book: "Before The Moment. After The Moment.

...ghosts at every corner...

I know I should’ve stayed that night..."

In My Own Words: Two people who have shared a special love are put in an impossible situation. One holds onto a truth that has a devastating impact on their reality. The other holds onto a truth that affects their forever. Can they find their way back into each others hearts before it's too late?

My Final Say: This story had me in my feelings. Summer's storyline had me in tears all over again. That sweet baby...

Clay and Josie's story was heartbreaking, but it was also beautiful. The love, the passion, the connection, the conflict, the sacrifice, the tension, the pain - it was all too real. I loved them.

It was good to see Bennett and Norah. I adored them.

I cannot wait to read about the sheep farmer and Breezy. I know it will be a hoot.

Other: Readers who enjoy love and angst romances and second chance love stories should like this story.

It is recommended that potential readers read book #1 before reading book #2. Additionally, it is suggested that any and all author/publisher content warnings be read.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Triggers: Death, Loss, Grief, Depression

Appreciation is extended to the authors, to the publisher (Entangled Publishing, LLC | Entangled: Amara), and to NetGalley. Thank you so very much for providing access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. It was a pleasure to review. This series is incredibly touching and has been very moving.

4.5 stars

After reading the first book, What I Should've Said, I didn't think anything was going to hit quite so hard as that. Boy was I wrong!! I am so glad we got to know Josie better and the way my heart was breaking for both Clay and her had me shocked. Genius storytelling, with the parallel timelines. The jumps were so well executed, only exposing bits and pieces of the past at the perfect points in the story. It's really hard to keep this spoiler free but this was a case of the FMC sacrificing so much for the love of her life, but she underestimated his love for her. Josie's character really went through so much in the past, and Clay was beyond devoted to her, not only then, but in the present as well.
Side note: It was bittersweet getting to see Summer as a baby and toddler. I didn't think things would hit so hard a second time, but they really do.

This book immediately had me hooked from the start. We love a second chance and marriage in trouble book. I wanted to know all the details and couldn’t put this one down. This book touches on some tough subjects, but did so in a great manner.

I received an early copy of When I Should've Stayedand even though it was book two, I thought I'd be ok reading it out of order. But a few reader friends said I had to read book one, What I Should've Said first. So, I took that into consideration and read in the suggested order, which I think is best because of how this story is told and for spoilers.

We meet Josie and Clay in book one of the Red Bridge series and we know them as a divorced couple. I really needed to know their backstory and why they were in the situation they were in, especially after the bomb that Clay dropped in the previous book. Told in alternating timelines from 2 POVs, we finally get the "before, during and after". The thing with the multiple timelines was actually a little bit confusing, even with the dates. I would've loved to have the years included on the dates because I honestly wanted to know how far in between each chapter we were actually going. It wasn't exactly clear. We would go to the "way" past, then to the present, then to the middle past and it just became a chore to figure out where we were in their journey. Because of that, it was hard for me connect with the love they had for one another, even if it was evident. You could obviously feel it and see their relationship progressing, but I felt like we were left out of a lot of the actions of them falling IN love. And this is probably a me thing, because I could still see their love for one another, but wanted to experience it from beginning until the "end".

With that said, I really liked Clay's character and his over the top, down bad for his girl love he had for Josie and anyone she cared about. He was just the sweetest, all in character that would do anything to make her smile. She was his forever. But he also may have been a bit much, at the hindrance of their relationship. And as with any Max Monroe book, we get the humor and it was Clay that gave it to us. Josie was much more serious and even-keeled, but Clay complimented her in ways that just worked. THEY worked. They just had this sparkle about them that I wanted more of and to see it grow from the beginning instead of just tastes of it. When tragedy strikes their lives in the past, everything changes and their lives fall apart. This was what I wanted to understand more. And for it to be because of communication problems?? No! That is a pet peeve of mine. Understandable but frustrated me.

And finally, since this was a marriage reconciliation, second chance love story, why didn't we get more of them together in the end? I feel like this was all a timeline issue for me since we spent so much time going back and forth that we didn't get to see them as much in the present. We skipped a lot of months toward the end, leaving it feeling rushed. It was just a taste and I really needed to see and feel more in the present.

Overall, there were some great moments and I still enjoyed getting to go along on the ride with Josie and Clay and where their journey had taken them, but I found myself wanting the angsty goodness of the present and them working their way to happiness. I was intrigued with their characters in book one and needed to know their story and how they fell apart. I feel like I somewhat got it, but I just wanted more. More of them in the present and how they came back together because their love was real, strong and evident. While this book didn't hit all the notes for me, it may for others. I still liked seeing how Josie and Clay got to where they were. I am enjoying the overall feel of the small town vibes of this series and would love to see a story for Breezy and getting to see snippets of our favorite past characters. I would still recommend this book to the right audience.

This book had me ugly crying in the middle of the night. Clay and Josie’s story is an emotional one that is full of pain and heartbreak, but in the end the journey is worth it.

Josie and Clay had a whirlwind of a romance, but things came crashing down on them and created so many cracks in their relationship. There is great chemistry between these two. They both deserve a second chance with each other, even if the journey isn’t an easy one.

The story bounces back and forth between the past, where we go on the journey of Josie and Clay’s first interaction to date to marriage to their downfall, and the present where 5 years later they are both just going through the motions and neither of them moving on. There is a lot of back and forth when it comes to time, but it is all necessary to fully explain their story.

If you’ve read the first book in the series, which is Norah and Bennett’s story there is some overlap in the timeline and some scenes that will feel familiar, but we get them from Josie and Clay’s POV. If you haven’t read the first book, it won’t create any confusion, but it will somewhat spoil that one.

If you’re looking for a small town, second chance romance check this one out.

3.5 ⭐️

After finishing What I Should've Said, I was excited to read Josie and Clay's story in When I Should've Stayed. There was a lot of mostly vague foreshadowing in the first book that had me curious about what happened to them and how they got to be so far apart from each other.

When I Should've Stayed had a lot of strong emotions throughout and I really wondered if Josie and Clay would ever be able to make their way back to each other. It was interesting how many scenes from the first book was pulled into this one to really tie together the full picture. It was honestly devastating at parts as we learned all of what Josie went through to get to her present. The girl would've seriously benefitted from some therapy, that's for sure.

All that said, I did enjoy the book! The first one hit hard with the Summer plot line, and this one was no different. I really appreciated how real Josie felt, especially with her internalized struggles. It's hard to deal with things on your own, but sometimes it was almost too much for me as it related to Josie. I would've liked to have seen her be a little more open with Clay (or anyone really) a little earlier in the book, but we got there nonetheless. And speaking of Clay, my GOD. I would love a man to love me like that. He loved Josie when she didn't even seem to love herself. If he hadn't been so persistent and vocal about his feelings, it would've been a very very different story.

The only thing I struggled with was the time formatting of the book. At times, it was hard to understand where in the story we were as the chapter started. It might've been helpful to include the year as part of the date to easily identify what time period we are in. The table of contents also could've been a little more detailed to be able to easily reference, but it wasn't detrimental to the book by any means.

If you're looking for an emotional, second chance romance with deep and serious topics, this one might be for you. But PLEASE do not read this before you've read What I Should've Said.

Thank you to Entangled for the advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What an emotional book that brought back all the tears I shed during the first book (What I Should’veSaid)! When I Should’ve Stayed made me want to scream and cry at the same time—in the best, most heart-wrenching way possible. Josie and Clay were absolutely fantastic together, even if they also made me want to pull my hair out. Clay is the ultimate golden retriever hero—loyal, open-hearted, and so easy to love. Josie was emotionally guarded, at times and I wanted to shake her and tell her to just talk to him. The angst was real, and while frustrating, it was so well-written that I couldn’t stop turning the pages. The emotional payoff was worth every ache along the way. Max Monroe delivered another beautifully crafted love story that stayed with me long after the final page. The emotional back and forth made their journey feel authentic and unforgettable. Another 5-star read that left me desperately wanting more from this world! Do I see Breezy in the future!?

"Some love stories burn bright for a moment. Others? Never stop burning."

Max Monroe write some of the best books, and this was certainly one of them. I've enjoyed everything I've ever read by them.

When I Should've Stayed was a perfect second book in the Red Bridge series. I love that the timeline overlaps with the first book. It was always interesting with the with the flashbacks, and I'm glad to know more about Clay and Josie's story.

I think Max Monroe did a great job handling the tough topics. They wrote about several sad incidents but still kept the book interesting and entertaining.

This book was so sweet, and I recommend it if you like a good second-chance love story!

When I Should've Stayed will be available July 1st on Kindle Unlimited, Amazon, and Audible. The audiobook is narrated by Ryan West & Mindy Kennedy.

Well…this is book 2 and I agree with most that book 1 should be read. That being said, this runs simultaneously with book 1. And if you’ve already read the first book, you know about Clay and Josie. Bennett and Norah are the center of the first book and Clay is Bennett’s best friend, and Josie is Norah’s sister. Clay has loved Josie since he met her and will not stop to be Josie. But..many things get in the way of that, primarily Josie.

Many people have made the same comments about this book and I have to agree with some of them. One, a lot of this is a retelling of book 1, just in Clay and Josie’s point of views. Next, the story is consumed with Josie. We really don’t get much from Clay except for his love for Josie. He’s a teddy bear start to finish and you feel for him throughout. Josie..oh boy. My opinion, and many reviews, I loathe lack of communication so… but that’s my issue. But parts were hard to read. The hurt Clay felt and having not clue why. His character was very obvious he would deal or cope with anything and she should have known that.

All that to be said, it’s not a bad story. And I think many, including me, are a bit unfair in that we were all blown away with the first book, so a bit let down for the second. But we’re human. If there is a third book, which seems like there might be, please don’t retell the story in her pov. It was hard enough the first time. I was thankful for Bennett and Norah and Breezy, the side characters to pull it all together.
Thanks to #NetGalley.

3.5 stars

Max Monroe brings an angsty second chance romance set in a sweet and quirky small town in When I Should've Stayed. Josie and Clay fell in love hard and fast but their HEA was interrupted by a series of tragedies. It's been a long time but deep in their hearts, none of them has moved on. When Josie's sister and Clay's best friend find their HEA through pain and heartbreak, fate also pushes Josie and Clay closer. The heartache is portrayed so beautifully here but the swoon and sweetness were more amazing.

* Second chance romance
* small town romance
* reverse grumpy sunshine
* finding love after divorce
* trigger warning : mental health issues, depression, PTSD, loss of a child

I am kind of glad that the angst didn't hit me hard like the first book aka Norah and Bennett's love story. But it was still emotional and I still get to experience the tears because this story is intertwined with first book. Clay is such a rainbows and sunshine person. Always positive, always moving forward, always the sweet supportive caring one. Josie had lots of loss and trauma since childhood and it definitely left scars. Clay pursued her and she couldn't help but enjoy the warmth of his love but then the cruel twists of fate hit them. It was pretty dark and I am surprised Clay failed to understand how much guilt and shame and sadness Josie is suffering from, considering his deepest love for her. Josie decided to push him away because she didn't want to eclipse his light but now it's time for Clay to prove that there is no light without her.

I don't mind flashbacks and these are definitely necessary. What I didn't like was the time jumps in present. Clay decided to win Josie over and there were 3-4 months gap between the chapters. A lot of chapters were about Norah and Bennett while I expected to see more of Clay and Josie's conflicts. There were big issues those got resolved easily.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

Wow, so good! What an emotional ride! I loved the first novel in this series What I Should Have Said. This novel did not disappoint. I was so excited to jump back into this series. From the first chapter this novel reached across the pages and grabbed my heart. I loved Clay so much. He melted my heart. There were moments I just didn't understand and agree with decisions she made. I loved all of the side characters. This novel kept me on the edge of my seat with my heart in my throat while I was reading. I don't want to give anything away so I will keep it brief. I did not want to put this novel down. I needed to know what was happening next. This novel took me on such an emotional ride! So so good! I can hardly wait to see what these authors have coming next.

Thanks, NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC. I loved this book after reading the first book I could not wait to dive into the second. If you are a fan of books with Humor, Romance and Heartbreak then this is the book for you. I enjoy the writing for me the book just seems to have a good flow and is a quick read. The sprayed edges are stunning also. I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this amazing book when it comes out. I may even pre order it. Without giving to much away I loved getting to find out more about Clay and Josie. I will say that I was happy to have some reappearances from some of the characters from the first book and I assume after reading this that there will be a third book.

I was so excited for Clay & Josie's story from the brief glimpses we got in the first book. Unfortunately, this missed the mark for me.

The story follows a then & now timeline and was hard to follow at some points. Dates are given as a point of reference but you don't actually know immediately how far in the past you've gone. I did really like that we got to experience everything firsthand and it wasn't just told to us.

I did enjoy the relationship between Clay & Josie and how relatable their storyline felt. The writing was good and the side characters were great also!

This book felt like a retelling of book 1 but from other characters POVs and when Clay and Josie finally get back together it felt rushed.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

This is a tough one. To start I would not necessarily call this an interconnected standalone I believe you should definitely read the first book first as so much of the two stories overlap. This story is also very emotional and contains sensitive subjects so please check the disclaimer and read with caution. Without wanting to spoil the story, this book is written in a multiple timeline fashion where you jump back and fourth to different times im the story and it is very unclear where you are. I found the dates to be incredibly unhelpful. The romance starts with a sweet instalove story between Josie and Clay and then jumps to them getting divorced. And then we go back and fourth between the two timelines from there. I found josies character very frustrating. I felt there entire relationship couldve been fixed by her having one conversation with him. The book leaned to heavy on the miscommunication trope throughout the book. The first book was lovely and im glad wd got more of that in this book but I found that the jumping back and fourth in the story did not work.
Thank you to the netgalley and entangled publishing for this arc in an exchange for an honest review

This one was a gut punch all over again. Max Monroe returns to Red Bridge, for Clay and Josie’s story.

Definitely read these books in order and be prepared for so many years.

This one had a lot of time jumps, which eventually helped tell the story, but was a little distracting to begin with. This book has large overlapping timelines with the first book (and yes it will hurt just as bad).

Clay and Josie’s relationship felt rushed near the end, and there were so many secrets held on for much too long.

Synopsis: In the follow up to What I Should’ve Said, we return to Red Bridge for Josie and Clay’s second chance romance story.

Thoughts: I love a second chance trope, and it was executed so well in this book. I loved the dual timelines giving insight into Clay and Josie’s past, how they fell in love and how they fell apart. It all made the present day timeline feel very earned and realistic, and I loved seeing Clay win Josie back. Now, some of Josie’s decisions drove me bonkers, but I can look past it. I especially loved revisiting the town of Red Bridge and all the wonderful characters from the first book, even if it did break my heart all over again.

Read this if you like:
💜 second chance romance
💜 small town
💜 found family
💜 emotional reads
💜 dual timelines