Max Monroe’s “What I Should’ve Said” stands as a testament to the transformative power of love in the face of unimaginable heartbreak. This first installment in the Red Bridge series delivers an emotionally charged contemporary romance that challenges every preconceived notion about happily-ever-after while simultaneously reaffirming why we believe in love’s redemptive power.
The Story That Grips Your Heart
Norah Ellis arrives in Red Bridge, Vermont as a runaway bride, her designer wedding dress replaced by borrowed clothes and a heart full of questions. What begins as a desperate escape from a life she never truly chose becomes a journey of self-discovery when she encounters Bennett Bishop, the town’s most notorious grump. When Bennett reluctantly gives her a ride, their first meeting sets the tone for a relationship built on friction, passion, and an undeniable connection neither wants to acknowledge.
Bennett isn’t just any small-town hermit—he’s a internationally renowned artist who walked away from fame and fortune to care for his seven-year-old daughter Summer, who battles a devastating illness that has left her bones brittle and her time limited. The contrast between Bennett’s former life as “the bad boy of the art world” and his current existence as a devoted father creates a character study that resonates with authentic emotional depth.
Characters That Feel Like Real People
Monroe’s greatest strength lies in character development that feels organically human rather than romance-novel perfect. Norah’s journey from a woman who lived according to others’ expectations to someone who finally claims her own voice unfolds with remarkable authenticity. Her evolution from fancy fashionista to small-town resident isn’t just about changing zip codes—it’s about discovering who she really is beneath the layers of other people’s dreams.
Bennett Bishop emerges as a hero who defies typical romance conventions. His grumpiness isn’t a superficial personality quirk but a defense mechanism forged by grief and responsibility. The famous artist who once sold paintings for millions now spends his days managing his daughter’s medical appointments and cherishing every moment with her. His relationship with Summer reveals the tender man beneath the gruff exterior, showing readers that true strength often looks like vulnerability.
Summer Bishop serves as the emotional heart of the story. Despite her physical limitations, she radiates joy and brings light to every scene she enters. Her relationship with both her father and Norah creates some of the most poignant moments in contemporary romance literature.
The Red Bridge Setting: More Than Just Backdrop
The small Vermont town of Red Bridge functions as more than mere setting—it becomes a character in its own right. Monroe crafts a community where everyone knows everyone, where secrets eventually surface, and where healing happens through connection. The town’s farmers market, the local coffee shop CAFFEINE, and Clay’s bar “The Country Club” all serve as gathering places where relationships develop and conflicts unfold.
The authors’ attention to small-town dynamics feels authentic, from the way news travels through the community to how residents rally around those in need. Red Bridge becomes a place where broken people can find wholeness, where love can flourish despite—or perhaps because of—life’s challenges.
Writing Style That Balances Humor and Heartbreak
Max Monroe’s writing style demonstrates remarkable range, seamlessly blending laugh-out-loud moments with scenes that will have readers reaching for tissues. The dialogue crackles with wit and authenticity, particularly in the banter between Norah and Bennett. Their verbal sparring matches reveal character depth while advancing the romantic tension.
The dual POV structure allows readers to experience both Norah’s confusion and Bennett’s internal struggles. Monroe doesn’t shy away from showing Bennett’s darker moments—his drinking, his desperation, his fear of losing Summer—while maintaining his appeal as a romantic hero.
Emotional Depth That Hits Different
What sets “What I Should’ve Said” apart from typical contemporary romance is its willingness to confront genuine tragedy. Summer’s illness isn’t used as a plot device to create drama—it’s treated with the gravity and sensitivity such a situation deserves. The book doesn’t promise miraculous cures or convenient solutions. Instead, it explores how love persists in the face of inevitable loss.
The romance between Norah and Bennett develops against this backdrop of impending grief, making their connection feel both urgent and precious. Their relationship isn’t about fixing each other but about finding ways to support one another through life’s most challenging moments.
Areas Where the Story Could Strengthen
While “What I Should’ve Said” succeeds on multiple levels, some elements feel less developed. The subplot involving Norah’s ex-fiancé Thomas and her family’s financial crimes, while providing context for her escape, occasionally feels disconnected from the main narrative. These plot threads, while resolved, don’t integrate as seamlessly with the central love story.
Additionally, some readers might find the pacing uneven in the middle section, where Norah’s adjustment to small-town life sometimes slows the momentum of the central romance. However, these quieter moments do serve to develop the relationship between Norah and Summer, which proves crucial to the story’s emotional impact.
Setting Up the Red Bridge Series
The book effectively establishes the foundation for the Red Bridge series, particularly through the complicated relationship between Josie Ellis (Norah’s sister) and Clay Harris (the local bar owner). Their history as former spouses who never finalized their divorce creates compelling tension that promises to drive the second book, “When I Should’ve Stayed.”
The revelation that Clay never signed the divorce papers, combined with the obvious lingering feelings between him and Josie, sets up what promises to be an equally emotionally charged second installment.
Max Monroe’s Place in Contemporary Romance
Max Monroe has built a reputation for contemporary romance that doesn’t shy away from real-world complications. With nearly fifty titles to their credit, the writing duo has mastered the art of balancing humor with heart. “What I Should’ve Said” represents their most ambitious emotional undertaking, tackling themes of parental love, terminal illness, and finding hope in hopeless situations.
Readers familiar with Monroe’s previous work will recognize their signature humor and steam, but this book demonstrates their growth as storytellers willing to explore deeper emotional territory.
Similar Reads for Romance Lovers
Readers who appreciate the emotional depth and small-town setting of “What I Should’ve Said” might enjoy:
- “The Hating Game” by Sally Thorne – for enemies-to-lovers dynamic
- “Beach Read” by Emily Henry – for emotional depth with humor
- “The Flatshare” by Beth O’Leary – for unconventional romance development
- “The Kiss Quotient” by Helen Hoang – for characters with authentic challenges
- “The Simple Wild” by K.A. Tucker – for small-town romance with emotional weight
Final Thoughts: A Romance That Resonates
“What I Should’ve Said” succeeds because it understands that the most powerful love stories aren’t about perfect people finding perfect happiness—they’re about imperfect people finding ways to love despite life’s imperfections. Monroe creates a romance that feels earned rather than inevitable, built on genuine emotional connection rather than mere physical attraction.
The book’s greatest achievement lies in its portrayal of Summer, whose presence infuses every scene with both joy and urgency. Her relationship with her father and her growing bond with Norah create some of the most touching moments in contemporary romance.
While the story deals with heartbreaking subject matter, it ultimately affirms the power of love to transform lives and create meaning in the face of loss. “What I Should’ve Said” will leave readers emotionally wrung out but ultimately hopeful, eager to return to Red Bridge for Josie and Clay’s story in “When I Should’ve Stayed.”
This isn’t just a romance—it’s a meditation on what it means to truly live, to love completely, and to find grace in life’s most challenging moments. Max Monroe has created something special here, a book that will linger in readers’ hearts long after the final page.