Max Monroe has carved out a distinctive niche in the contemporary romance landscape, known for their signature blend of humor, heart, and authentic emotional depth. With What I Should’ve Said, the first installment in the Red Bridge series, the writing duo ventures into deeper emotional territory while maintaining their trademark wit. This isn’t just a romance novel—it’s a profound exploration of grief, healing, and the transformative power of unexpected love.
The Story That Will Steal Your Heart
What I Should’ve Said follows Norah Ellis, a runaway bride who flees her wedding day after receiving a mysterious letter that shatters her carefully constructed life. Escaping from her suffocating existence in New York, she hitchhikes to the small Vermont town of Red Bridge, seeking refuge with her estranged sister Josie. What she doesn’t anticipate is encountering Bennett Bishop, a grumpy, reclusive artist with secrets as dark as his reputation.
Bennett is far from the stereotypical brooding hero. Once a celebrated “bad boy” of the art world who sold paintings for millions, he’s now a single father hiding in plain sight in rural Vermont. His ten-year-old daughter Summer is battling a terminal illness, and every day brings them closer to an inevitable goodbye that Bennett refuses to accept. When Norah literally crashes into their lives, the collision creates ripples that threaten to expose all their carefully guarded vulnerabilities.
Character Development That Feels Painfully Real
Monroe’s character work in this novel is nothing short of exceptional. Norah isn’t your typical romance heroine—she’s been living a life that wasn’t her own, engaged to a man she barely remembers, trapped in a world of privilege that never felt authentic. Her journey from a pampered socialite to a woman finding her own voice is handled with remarkable nuance. The authors don’t rush her transformation; instead, they allow her to stumble, make mistakes, and gradually discover her strength.
Bennett, however, is where Monroe truly shines. He’s not just a grumpy artist with a tragic past—he’s a father drowning in anticipatory grief, a man so terrified of losing his daughter that he’s forgotten how to live. His interactions with Summer are heartbreakingly tender, revealing a gentleness that contrasts sharply with his abrasive exterior. The way he calls her “Summblebee” will absolutely destroy you.
Summer herself is perhaps the most remarkable character. Despite her illness, she’s not written as a tragic figure meant to tug at heartstrings. She’s a fully realized ten-year-old with dreams, sass, and a love for pink heart-shaped sunglasses. Her relationship with Norah develops organically, and their bond becomes one of the most beautiful aspects of the story.
The Red Bridge Setting: A Character in Itself
The small Vermont town of Red Bridge (ironically featuring a yellow bridge, thanks to quirky Mayor Norman Wallace) serves as more than just a backdrop. Monroe has created a community that feels lived-in and authentic, populated with characters like Clay Harris, the bar owner with his own complicated history, and Josie Ellis, Norah’s sister who carries her own emotional baggage. The town becomes a sanctuary where broken people can heal, though not without confronting their demons first.
The coffee shop CAFFEINE, where much of the early action unfolds, perfectly captures small-town dynamics. The scene where Norah, completely inexperienced as a barista, faces off with the deliberately difficult Bennett is both hilarious and telling—it establishes their dynamic of mutual antagonism masking deeper attraction.
Writing Style That Balances Humor and Heartbreak
Monroe’s signature style is on full display here—the ability to make you laugh out loud one moment and reach for tissues the next. Their dialogue crackles with authenticity, particularly the verbal sparring between Norah and Bennett. When Norah slaps Bennett in the grocery store parking lot and he responds by kissing her, it’s both shocking and inevitable, perfectly capturing their combustible chemistry.
The dual POV structure allows readers to fully understand both characters’ motivations. Norah’s sections are filled with self-deprecating humor and gradual self-discovery, while Bennett’s chapters reveal the depth of his pain and the walls he’s built to protect himself. The writing never feels forced or manipulative; the emotions arise naturally from the characters’ circumstances.
Emotional Depth That Hits Different
What sets this book apart from typical contemporary romance is its unflinching examination of grief. Bennett’s journey through anticipatory grief—mourning someone who is still alive but dying—is handled with extraordinary sensitivity. The authors don’t shy away from the ugly aspects of grief: the anger, the desperation, the way it can make someone push away the very people they need most.
Summer’s illness is never exploited for cheap emotional manipulation. Instead, it’s presented as a reality that shapes every interaction, every decision, every moment of joy and sorrow. The way the family navigates this journey feels authentic rather than sentimental.
The Romance: Messy, Real, and Beautifully Imperfect
The romantic development between Norah and Bennett is anything but smooth. Their relationship is built on a foundation of mutual antagonism, with real obstacles that can’t be easily overcome. Bennett’s devotion to Summer creates genuine conflict—he’s not emotionally available for a relationship while dealing with his daughter’s illness, and the book doesn’t pretend otherwise.
Their intimate scenes are few but powerful, charged with emotional significance rather than just physical attraction. When they finally come together, it feels earned rather than inevitable. Monroe understands that true love isn’t about finding someone perfect—it’s about finding someone worth fighting for, flaws and all.
Series Setup: When I Should’ve Stayed
The book masterfully sets up the second installment, When I Should’ve Stayed, which will focus on Josie and Clay’s tumultuous relationship. Their backstory is woven throughout this novel, revealing a marriage that ended in disaster and left both parties wounded. The glimpses we get of their history suggest an equally compelling love story waiting to unfold.
Critical Analysis: Areas for Improvement
While What I Should’ve Said succeeds on many levels, it’s not without minor flaws. The pacing occasionally slows in the middle sections, particularly during some of the small-town interactions that, while charming, don’t always advance the plot. Additionally, Thomas, Norah’s ex-fiancé, feels somewhat one-dimensional as an antagonist—though this may be intentional to highlight Norah’s previous life of superficial relationships.
The resolution, while emotionally satisfying, comes together perhaps a bit too neatly. Some readers might find Bennett’s transformation slightly rushed given the depth of his grief, though the epilogue helps address this concern.
The Max Monroe Legacy
This book represents a departure for Max Monroe from their lighter contemporary romances without abandoning what makes their work special. Previous readers of their extensive catalog will recognize the trademark humor and banter, but newcomers should be prepared for a more emotionally demanding read. The book shares thematic DNA with Nicholas Sparks but with better dialogue and more authentic character development.
Similar Reads for Romance Lovers
Readers who connect with What I Should’ve Said should consider:
- The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory – for small-town romance with emotional depth
- Beach Read by Emily Henry – for enemies-to-lovers with writer protagonists
- The Hating Game by Sally Thorne – for workplace romance with sharp banter
- It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover – for emotional complexity and difficult topics
- The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren – for family dynamics and forced proximity
- The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang – for unconventional romance with real obstacles
Final Verdict: A Beautiful, Devastating Love Story
What I Should’ve Said is Max Monroe at their absolute best—a romance that doesn’t shy away from life’s messiest emotions while still delivering the happily ever after readers crave. It’s a book that will make you laugh, cry, and believe in the possibility of love even in the darkest circumstances.
This isn’t a light beach read; it’s a novel that demands emotional investment and rewards it richly. The Red Bridge series has launched with a powerful statement about the nature of love, loss, and the courage required to open your heart when you’re already broken.
Summer will never be the same—and neither will you after reading this remarkable story.
- Recommended for: Readers seeking emotionally complex contemporary romance, fans of small-town settings, and anyone who enjoys stories about single fathers and second chances.
- Content warnings: Terminal illness, grief, emotional trauma, family dysfunction.
