What I Should've Said | ARC Review | Romance
- dessimalakov
- Apr 23, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 3, 2024
What I Should've said is a poignant and emotionally gripping journey of love, regret, and the power of second chances.
Author: Max Monroe
Release Date: April, 19th 2024
Genre: Romance
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 1.5
Official Description:
When grumpy, muscled-up artist Bennett Bishop bothers to speak, it’s usually to say something you’re not ready to hear.
When he first speaks to Norah Ellis, a rambling runaway bride who hitchhikes a ride from him, it’s to tell her to get out of his truck and walk because she’s a pain in the a-s-s.
By appearance, Norah Ellis is a fancy fashionista who’s spent the last several years living the good life in the city—expensive apartments, highbrow events, and a fiancé with wealth and good looks. The only problem is that she didn’t choose any of it for herself.
On the day of her July wedding, thanks to a letter from a stranger, Norah’s world turns upside down. She runs for the hills of Vermont to start a new life, but what’s waiting for her, between her estranged sister, the townspeople, and bad-boy Bennett Bishop himself, is way more than she bargained for.
Enemies turn to lovers, strangers become friends, dark secrets bust open like cans of worms, and most of all…Summer will never be the same.
Max Monroe opts for a double POV in first-person narrative, which can be a hit or miss for many readers. Personally, I found myself on the fence. While the first-person perspective usually invites a raw portrayal of characters' thoughts, I felt the abundance of descriptions and metaphors sometimes a bit too much, a bit inauthentic. Thankfully this changed by the second half of the book and I found myself fully immersed into the characters.
The story follows the journey of Norah, a runaway bride who flees her controlling mother and fiancé in New York to seek refuge in her hometown of Red Bridge. Norah's decision to leave her wedding behind is not just a whim, but rather a response to a mysterious letter that suggests her fiancé is not who he seems. As Norah settles in Red Bridge and reconnects with her estranged sister, she unexpectedly crosses paths with Bennett, a local artist with a complex personal life.
I wouldn't go so far to say that this is an enemies-to-lovers story but I must admit that I truly enjoyed the bickering and banter between Norah & Bennett. The tension and chemistry felt real. I was also surprised to see that there were some truly enjoyable spicy moments in between.
I also appreciated the author's ability to balance more serious themes with moments of humour. While the 'insta-love' trope and perfectly fated romantic moments are not my typical preference, I found the book to be an entertaining and enjoyable read that I finished within a day.
Thanks to NetGalley for granting this ARC. This review reflects my own, honest and unbiased opinion.
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Disclaimer: I have added an affiliate link for your convenience so you can directly purchase the book if you are intrigued. This also means that I will receive small commission. This does not affect inclusion in my reviews or the overall rating of the book.
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