What I Should’ve Said by Max Monroe Summary, Characters and Themes

What I Should’ve Said by Max Monroe is a heartfelt blend of romance, family drama, and emotional healing. 

Set in the quaint town of Red Bridge, Vermont, the story follows Norah Ellis, a runaway bride seeking a fresh start, and Bennett Bishop, a reclusive artist devoted to his terminally ill daughter, Summer. Their paths cross in a tense and unexpected way, leading to an enemies-to-lovers journey filled with sharp banter, raw vulnerability, and moments of deep connection. With themes of grief, hope, and redemption, the novel offers an emotional rollercoaster that balances heartbreak with an uplifting message of second chances.

Summary

Norah Ellis’ seemingly perfect life comes crashing down on her wedding day when a mysterious letter exposes shocking truths about her wealthy fiancé and her manipulative mother. 

Betrayed and disillusioned, Norah ditches the ceremony and flees to her small hometown of Red Bridge, Vermont, where she hopes to reconnect with her estranged sister, Josie. Her arrival, however, is anything but smooth. While hitchhiking into town, she encounters the surly and brooding artist Bennett Bishop. 

Their meeting is hostile, as Bennett’s gruff demeanor clashes with Norah’s flustered and upbeat personality, setting the tone for their rocky relationship.

Josie reluctantly allows Norah to stay with her, though their reunion is fraught with tension due to years of emotional distance. Meanwhile, Norah learns more about Bennett, a single father whose life revolves around his young daughter, Summer. 

Summer suffers from a debilitating and terminal illness that leaves her fragile and in need of constant care. Bennett’s world is small and carefully controlled, shaped by his role as her caregiver and his decision to leave behind a more public art career.

Norah’s search for purpose in Red Bridge leads her to accept a job as Bennett’s assistant, helping him manage his art business and personal life. 

Though their early interactions are filled with snark and friction, a deeper connection begins to develop. Norah’s warmth and optimism gradually thaw Bennett’s icy exterior, and she bonds with Summer, seeing firsthand the love and sacrifice that define Bennett’s life. 

Their attraction evolves into a tender romance, though both are hesitant to fully trust their growing feelings.

Tragedy strikes when Summer’s illness worsens, leading to her heartbreaking death. This devastating event tests the fragile relationship between Norah and Bennett. Overwhelmed by grief, Bennett struggles to open up, while Norah becomes a steady source of support, even as she grapples with her own sorrow.

Together, they navigate the pain of loss, finding solace in their shared memories of Summer and their mutual love for one another.

Adding to the emotional turmoil, Norah faces threats from her past, including her vindictive ex-fiancé and her complicit mother. 

These conflicts underscore the themes of betrayal and resilience, as Norah fights to reclaim her autonomy and build a life of her choosing.

The story takes an unexpected turn with Norah’s unplanned pregnancy, which forces both her and Bennett to confront their fears about starting a family amidst their grief. 

Despite the challenges, the pregnancy becomes a symbol of hope and renewal, offering them a chance to heal and move forward together.

In the end, Norah and Bennett honor Summer’s memory while embracing a new future, finding a bittersweet yet hopeful resolution. 

Their journey is one of love, loss, and redemption, proving that even in the face of overwhelming heartbreak, new beginnings are possible.

Characters

Norah Ellis

Norah is the quintessential runaway bride, but her decision to flee her wedding is rooted in far more than cold feet. Her life has been shaped by years of conformity to the expectations of her mother and her wealthy fiancé.

The letter she receives on her wedding day is a pivotal moment, exposing the lies, manipulation, and potentially abusive behavior of both her fiancé and her mother. This revelation propels Norah into an emotional journey of rediscovery and healing.

Returning to her hometown of Red Bridge, Vermont, marks a significant shift for Norah. She is a character caught between two worlds—the glamorous yet hollow life she left behind and the raw, unvarnished reality of her past.

Initially, her relationship with her estranged sister, Josie, is strained, reflecting the years of distance and unresolved conflict. However, Norah’s resilience and determination to rebuild her life, even amidst her vulnerability, are central to her growth.

Her gradual bond with Bennett Bishop and his daughter, Summer, allows her to rediscover her capacity for love and connection. This culminates in a deeply emotional journey of self-forgiveness and renewal.

Bennett Bishop

Bennett is a gruff, brooding artist whose life revolves around his terminally ill daughter, Summer. His character is marked by a deep sense of responsibility, isolation, and grief.

As a single father, Bennett has sacrificed his own aspirations for fame and success in the art world to care for Summer, whose degenerative illness demands constant attention. His brusque demeanor and initial hostility toward Norah reflect his guarded nature, a protective mechanism developed from years of emotional pain and loss.

Beneath Bennett’s tough exterior lies a tender, vulnerable man who fiercely loves his daughter and struggles with the impending reality of losing her. His growing relationship with Norah challenges his defenses and forces him to confront his own fears of attachment and vulnerability.

As they navigate the complexities of their connection, Bennett’s character arc becomes one of opening himself up to the possibility of love and hope, even in the shadow of grief.

Summer Bishop

Summer is the heart of the story, embodying both innocence and resilience. As a young girl battling a degenerative illness, her fragility underscores the emotional weight of the narrative.

Despite her condition, Summer is portrayed as a bright and endearing child, her presence bringing warmth and humanity to the story. Her relationship with her father, Bennett, is deeply moving, and her bond with Norah becomes a transformative element for both adults.

Summer’s eventual death is the most heart-wrenching aspect of the novel, serving as a catalyst for profound change in Bennett and Norah. Her memory becomes a symbol of love, loss, and the enduring power of human connection, shaping the story’s exploration of grief and healing.

Josie Ellis

Josie, Norah’s estranged sister, serves as a foil to Norah’s character. While Norah escaped their small-town life to embrace a glamorous but empty existence, Josie remained grounded in Red Bridge.

Their strained relationship stems from Norah’s choice to side with their mother in the past, a decision that created years of distance between them. Josie’s initial reluctance to welcome Norah back into her life is rooted in this betrayal, yet her actions reveal a deep sense of familial loyalty and compassion.

Over the course of the story, Josie becomes a source of stability and support for Norah, offering her a place to stay and a chance to rebuild. Her character exemplifies forgiveness and the enduring bonds of sisterhood, even in the face of long-standing wounds.

Josie’s potential romantic subplot with Clay, hinted at in the narrative, suggests a further exploration of her own journey in future installments.

Norah’s Fiancé and Mother

Though not central to the story, Norah’s former fiancé and mother play pivotal roles in shaping her past and motivating her escape. The fiancé is depicted as a manipulative and possibly abusive figure, whose actions, alongside Norah’s mother’s complicity, create a toxic environment that Norah must break free from.

Their roles serve as a stark contrast to the supportive and loving relationships Norah begins to build in Red Bridge. Their influence underscores themes of control, betrayal, and the courage it takes to reclaim one’s agency.

Clay

While not a central figure in this story, Clay is mentioned in connection with Josie and seems poised for greater development in future installments.

As a potential romantic interest for Josie, his character may offer insight into her life and experiences, enriching the world of Red Bridge.

Themes

Healing Through Tragedy and the Long Road to Emotional Recovery

The central theme of healing is explored profoundly throughout the story, primarily driven by the tragic circumstances surrounding Summer’s illness and eventual death. Both Norah and Bennett are introduced as characters with deep emotional scars, each carrying the weight of their personal losses.

Norah’s journey of self-discovery begins when she flees her toxic engagement, attempting to rebuild her life after years of manipulation and abuse. She seeks refuge in her estranged relationship with her sister Josie and ultimately starts working for Bennett.

Meanwhile, Bennett’s life has been solely focused on caring for his daughter, Summer, whose degenerative illness is an ever-present shadow over his existence. The tragedy of Summer’s terminal condition becomes a catalyst for emotional growth for both characters, who are initially strangers but find solace in each other’s pain.

The novel delves into the slow, painful process of learning how to trust again, to open one’s heart to new possibilities, and to find healing through shared sorrow. Norah and Bennett’s relationship begins as adversarial but gradually transforms into a source of mutual support as they learn to navigate grief together.

Sacrifice, the Weight of Parenthood, and the Unspoken Bonds of Responsibility

The concept of sacrifice is explored through the lens of Bennett’s unwavering commitment to his daughter, Summer, who is suffering from a debilitating condition. Bennett’s entire life revolves around Summer’s needs, and his decision to leave behind a successful public career to become a full-time caretaker is a poignant example of parental sacrifice.

His story serves as a deep exploration of the challenges and joys of being a single father and the emotional toll it takes to care for a child facing a terminal illness. In this sense, Bennett’s sacrifices are not only a response to his love for Summer but also a necessity to provide her with as much comfort and normalcy as possible during her short life.

On the other hand, Norah, who arrives in Bennett’s life as a person struggling with her own family issues, learns to grapple with the concept of responsibility in a new way. As she grows closer to Bennett and Summer, she recognizes the heavy burden of caregiving and begins to understand the emotional complexity of parenthood, even though she is not yet a parent herself.

This theme emphasizes that responsibility, especially when tied to family and love, is an inherently selfless act, one that shapes and defines the characters’ lives in ways they never anticipated.

The Unyielding Impact of Grief and Loss on Personal Identity and Relationships

Grief and loss form another substantial theme within the narrative, with Summer’s death serving as a significant emotional turning point for the characters. Bennett’s deep sorrow and emotional withdrawal following Summer’s death illustrate the powerful effect that losing a loved one, particularly a child, can have on one’s identity.

His grief is all-encompassing, leaving him unable to imagine a future without her, and the strain this puts on his relationship with Norah is palpable. However, Norah’s journey of learning how to support him while dealing with her own painful past highlights the complex nature of grief and the ways it can shape relationships.

As Norah faces her own history of emotional abuse from her mother and ex-fiancé, she begins to understand the profound impact grief can have on one’s ability to move forward. Yet, grief is not a stagnant feeling in the novel; it evolves.

Through their shared grief, Norah and Bennett learn to comfort one another, slowly allowing their bond to grow into a romantic relationship. However, it is not without difficulty, as both characters must reckon with their past traumas while simultaneously navigating a future together, forever marked by the memory of Summer.

The Struggle for Empowerment and the Liberation from Toxic Relationships

Norah’s personal journey toward empowerment is another key theme in the story. Her escape from an emotionally abusive relationship and her decision to start over in a small town are symbolic of her quest for independence and self-identity.

Throughout the novel, Norah grapples with the expectations imposed on her by her ex-fiancé, her mother, and the high-society life she once led. She begins to understand that she has spent most of her adult life conforming to the desires and needs of others, while suppressing her own voice and desires.

Her move to Red Bridge signifies a conscious decision to break free from the toxic relationship dynamics that once defined her life. As she settles into this new chapter, she struggles with feelings of inadequacy and shame, especially in her strained relationship with her sister.

Yet, through her experiences in the small town, she gradually gains the strength to reclaim her voice, confront her past, and take ownership of her future. This theme highlights the psychological battle that many individuals face when they seek to free themselves from the psychological constraints of toxic relationships and reclaim their autonomy.

Familial Bonds, Estrangement, and the Longing for Reconciliation

The theme of family estrangement is central to Norah’s emotional arc. Her fractured relationship with her mother and sister plays a significant role in shaping her view of herself and her sense of belonging.

Norah’s decision to leave her family behind and move to the city was partially driven by her need to escape the stifling control of her mother and the expectations placed on her. However, the arrival in Red Bridge and her reunion with her sister Josie is fraught with tension.

Josie’s reluctance to fully embrace Norah, given their years of distance and the emotional hurt caused by Norah’s departure, creates a strained atmosphere. As the story progresses, Norah must navigate the complexities of this estranged relationship while attempting to mend the gaps in their connection.

This emotional journey highlights the intricate nature of familial bonds, where past hurts, misunderstandings, and unspoken words often linger long after the physical separation. The reconciliation between Norah and Josie offers hope for healing, demonstrating that even the most broken relationships have the potential for repair, provided both parties are willing to confront their pasts and make room for forgiveness.