What I Should've Said

De: Max Monroe

Narrado por: CJ Bloom, Sebastian York

You don’t find love. Love finds you … in New York Times bestselling author Max Monroe’s tender and emotionally charged story.

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 …

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, Norah’s world turns upside down, thanks to a letter from a stranger. She runs for the small town in Vermont she used to call home, 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.

"Some books feel personal when you read them, like you can tell the writer poured extra in. That's this story. I dreamed about it all night. What an unforgettable journey."—Kim Holden, Bestselling Author of Bright Side.

©2024 Max Monroe (P)2025 Recorded Books

Wonderful book

Such an emotional book. There are funny moments and definitely moments that made me cry. The narration by CJ Bloom and Sebastian York really added to the story.

Gets you in ALL the feels

This book starts out funny,laugh out loud snorting. Then it catapult you right into bawling your eyes out with Summer's illness.

I am wondering if narrator Sebastian York actually cried while narrating Bennet's gut wrenching parts. He did such a fantastic job and did the various male voices SO well. He is getting much better at doing childrens' voices. CJ Bloom does a fantastic job with Nora and keeping the various female character voices straight.

I am wondering if the author duo of Max Monroe meant Redbridge Vermont to represent Weybridge? Anyway, the one complaint I have is that even small town folks here would NOT call visitors etc "darling." AND we are in the North, we don't have a Southern accent or twang and this is something I am noticing narrators are doing in other books set in Vermont and it is done here too. Please don't. Old timers might have the old Vermont accent, so if you want to know how to do it, feel free to reach out.

Now, moving on. This book does contain childhood illness and death. It ripped my heart out. It also references domestic violence, prostitution, extortion by Nora's own mother and cheating ex fiance, left at the alter. The best decision Nora ever made.

Overall, I highly recommend this book and despite my one complaint, the narrators are top notch and do a fantastic job. Thank you

Amazing on Audio

What I Should’ve Said

Small Town
Enemies to Lovers
Disability Rep
Slow Burn
Workplace Romance

I love a true enemies to lovers and Max Monroe nailed this one perfectly! The banter pulled me in immediately. Emmett is the bad boy of the art world and gives zero shits about the new girl in town…until he does.

“Good grief, you’re like mold, you know that? I can’t seem to get rid of you.”

The slow burn enemies to friends to lovers journey of Emmett and Norah put me through every emotion imaginable. I laughed, I swooned, and my heart broke. Don’t be fooled by the pretty cover, this is an emotional read but so worth it.
The plot twist - You’ll see it coming a mile away and it will rip your heart out page by page.

CJ Bloom and Sebastian York did a phenomenal job narrating this book! From the snarky banter to the most tender heartbreaking moments, they delivered an amazing performance.

Tissues required in the best way.

‘You don’t find love. Love finds you…’

I originally read this book last year. It was a true standout as one of my favorites of 2024 and I’ve been anxiously waiting for the audio release. It was truly like experiencing the story for the first time. This book still has the same heart, humor and banter that you expect from a Max Monroe romcom, however, the emotional ride they took me on was incredible. They warned us about 'the feelings' and I still was not prepared.

Narrated by Sebastian York and CJ Bloom. I don’t think they could have cast anyone more perfect than these two for this book. The narration is next level! The raw emotion from both was extraordinary, but they manage to leave you laughing and smiling right after. This will be one of the best audios of 2025 for me.

I don't want to spoil anything so simply said...
This is a runaway bride that meets up with the town grump with the most adorable daughter. As always, there is a full cast of characters that only add to the story. It’s a beautiful, emotional story with so much heart and humor. It will wring you and you'll be thankful afterwards. Plus, there’s a fantastic epilogue that will leave you smiling and wanting more.

Great story

Performance was terrific. The story was a different kind than so many meet cutes. A twist I didn’t see coming. It was a real tear jerker- something I normally don’t read, but the story had me wanting to know what happens. Worth the listen!

One of the best stories to listen to

Loved Narrators! Very Poignant story, a roller coaster of emotions and these narrators handled the extreme emotions so well. Kudos! The story was funny, cute, endearing, so sad and beautiful, heart wrenching in the best way possible. An inspiring story that I will remember.

Love Max Monroe

Max Monroe is one my favorite authors…I wasn’t prepared for the emotions this book pulled from me. A great story about love in Summer.

I’m gutted

I didn’t see this story hitting me the way it did. I loved the FMC, she had the best inner dialogue, I cracked up so many times.

The story had a little bit of everything. I love a small town story and the way she’s a city girl trying to fit in was obvious. I loved the whole small town acceptance vibe though. So heartwarming!!!

The narrators really brought this story to life for me. The emotion was palpable. The pacing was perfect, I just was so captivated by the story.

Get some tissue ready though. This was a bit rough at moments, but so worth it to read to the end.

Really?...

Max Monroe, I'm not sure if I love you or hate you. I laugh and cried. What an amazing book! Keep writing!

DONT TRUST THE COVER! Wonderful but will have you sobbing!

This book had me legitimately sobbing…don’t let the cuteness cover trick you LMAO! Like I was not expecting how emotional and how “lite-dark”, this book would be. No I didn’t expect it, but I truly loved it! The pacing of this is what kept it from being perfect for me. At times the story would drag and others moved at the speed of light. Examples for me the lagging was in Norah and Bennett’s relationship. No I don’t mean the slow burn part. They had a quick wit as enemies. It was fast paced and passionate. Then once they both realized something more was there their evolution was glossed over because of the plot line with Summer. I just felt like with both big plot lines going at the same time the relationship aspect was put on the back burner or added in between big moments with Summer to I guess maybe enhance them?! Not sure but for me it was those pacing things that took me out of the story a couple of times. Other than that I was sobbing and it was heartbreaking and sweet all at the same time. I went in wholeheartedly unprepared lol!

Read: Audible 🎧
MMC: Bennett Bishop
FMC: Norah Ellis
Spice: 2🌶️
Tropes: Small Town, Grumpy x Sunshine, Forced Proximity, Found Family, Slow Burn, Loss/Grief