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We Shouldn't #1
Shouldn't Want You
My brother’s best friend stole my first kiss, and then he left town without saying goodbye.
Now, he’s back...
...and I’m in trouble.
Love is a lie, and Sacha Black is the biggest fibber of them all.
Ten years ago, he told me he cared about me.
We kissed. I swooned.
He left.
Poof! Gone.
His kiss still echoing on my lips, his face still etched on my brain.
G-O-N-E. Disappeared. Ghosted. Never to be heard from again…
...until now.
My brother’s getting married, and his best man happens to be the one person I never want to see again.
Sacha Black is all grown up.
All man.
All muscle.
All thigh-clenching, cheek-burning, panty-melting misery.
The moment his stormy, gray eyes meet mine, I know my poor heart doesn’t stand a chance.
The only thing standing between us is ten years of pain and my very protective brother.
Easy, right?
... Wrong.
Now, he’s back...
...and I’m in trouble.
Love is a lie, and Sacha Black is the biggest fibber of them all.
Ten years ago, he told me he cared about me.
We kissed. I swooned.
He left.
Poof! Gone.
His kiss still echoing on my lips, his face still etched on my brain.
G-O-N-E. Disappeared. Ghosted. Never to be heard from again…
...until now.
My brother’s getting married, and his best man happens to be the one person I never want to see again.
Sacha Black is all grown up.
All man.
All muscle.
All thigh-clenching, cheek-burning, panty-melting misery.
The moment his stormy, gray eyes meet mine, I know my poor heart doesn’t stand a chance.
The only thing standing between us is ten years of pain and my very protective brother.
Easy, right?
... Wrong.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 8, 2024
885 people are currently reading
453 people want to read
About the author
Lilian Monroe
85 books1,439 followersLilian Monroe lives in a luxurious jungle treehouse surrounded by lush greenery, with an army of scantily-clad men with rippling abdominal muscles ready to attend to her every need.
No, wait. That's not true.
Lilian Monroe spends her days dangling her feet into her pool, while a scantily-clad pool boy with rippling abdominal muscles feeds her chocolate-covered strawberries and massages her back.
Okay, okay. You got me. That's not true, either. Let's try again.
Lilian Monroe lives at home with her two children, three dogs, and twelve chickens. Her husband likes to work shirtless in the back yard. His sweaty, gleaming abdominal muscles ripple with every movement and he—
I'm sorry. I have to stop. Fine, I'll admit it. That one isn't true either.
How about this: Lilian Monroe loves thinking about men with rippling abdominal muscles serving her hand and foot, and she wants you to think about them too! She is an avid reader, writer, and lover of all things romance.
She loves everything from bad boys to billionaires. Her books are packed with sizzling-hot heat, action, suspense, and everything from second chances to single dads. She hates cheating and loves a good happily ever after (and rippling abs).
No, wait. That's not true.
Lilian Monroe spends her days dangling her feet into her pool, while a scantily-clad pool boy with rippling abdominal muscles feeds her chocolate-covered strawberries and massages her back.
Okay, okay. You got me. That's not true, either. Let's try again.
Lilian Monroe lives at home with her two children, three dogs, and twelve chickens. Her husband likes to work shirtless in the back yard. His sweaty, gleaming abdominal muscles ripple with every movement and he—
I'm sorry. I have to stop. Fine, I'll admit it. That one isn't true either.
How about this: Lilian Monroe loves thinking about men with rippling abdominal muscles serving her hand and foot, and she wants you to think about them too! She is an avid reader, writer, and lover of all things romance.
She loves everything from bad boys to billionaires. Her books are packed with sizzling-hot heat, action, suspense, and everything from second chances to single dads. She hates cheating and loves a good happily ever after (and rippling abs).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
November 3, 2020
I’m not saying this was terrible. The underline story was good but lacked substance. It was wayyyy too soppy and whingy. It was annoying, to the point where the last half I skipped all the over emotional nonsense and just read their conversations.
I would have enjoyed it more it is wasn’t so wishy washy and soppy.
I would have enjoyed it more it is wasn’t so wishy washy and soppy.
March 18, 2020
This is an author ARC review. All opinions are solely my own.
Lilian Monroe has begun a new series, We Shouldn’t, and book 1 is great. Shouldn’t Want You is a brother’s best friend trope that follows Willow and Sacha. The use of flashbacks is superb. Sometimes when traveling back to teen years it can get a little creepy. These flashbacks perfectly show the build of their friendship and their sacrifices. Willow and Sacha are now adults reuniting for her brother’s wedding. Sparks fly. There’s a little drama. Most of Lilian Monroe’s books read a bit like a fairytale. The names she uses for towns even sound like they should be in a movie. This book is set in Woodvale. It just sounds like there should be a castle nearby.
I love Lilian Monroe’s series. They read as standalone books but if read in order the intertwining characters are delightful.
Lilian Monroe has begun a new series, We Shouldn’t, and book 1 is great. Shouldn’t Want You is a brother’s best friend trope that follows Willow and Sacha. The use of flashbacks is superb. Sometimes when traveling back to teen years it can get a little creepy. These flashbacks perfectly show the build of their friendship and their sacrifices. Willow and Sacha are now adults reuniting for her brother’s wedding. Sparks fly. There’s a little drama. Most of Lilian Monroe’s books read a bit like a fairytale. The names she uses for towns even sound like they should be in a movie. This book is set in Woodvale. It just sounds like there should be a castle nearby.
I love Lilian Monroe’s series. They read as standalone books but if read in order the intertwining characters are delightful.
March 18, 2020
I received an arc for an honest review. I loved this book so much. This book brings us Sacha and Willow. This book takes us on a journey of their love for 2 decades. When they happen upon each other again, they both know that their love for each other is still alive. They must go through their past to begin again, and this is such remarkable story. You must read this. I highly recommend this book.
January 13, 2022
I liked it
June 20, 2021
Meh. It was ok. The story was a good idea, but the execution didn’t quite work. The writing was a little clunky and sometimes the characters didn’t seem to make sense.
Willow was still so hung up and broken about Sacha hurting her and leaving suddenly 10 years before, but forgives and jumps back into his arms 10 seconds after he comes back? It didn’t feel natural or right. There were times when it was nearly there, when secrets were finally being exposed, and hurts confronted; but it never quite got to being really good. I found myself skimming over long drawn out explanations of things that could have been said in much fewer words.
I did push through and finish it, though the ending was a little anticlimactic, I didn’t hate it.
Willow was still so hung up and broken about Sacha hurting her and leaving suddenly 10 years before, but forgives and jumps back into his arms 10 seconds after he comes back? It didn’t feel natural or right. There were times when it was nearly there, when secrets were finally being exposed, and hurts confronted; but it never quite got to being really good. I found myself skimming over long drawn out explanations of things that could have been said in much fewer words.
I did push through and finish it, though the ending was a little anticlimactic, I didn’t hate it.
May 19, 2020
This book one in Lilian Monroe’s We Shouldn’t series. It’s a brother’s best friend romance. This is Willow and Sacha’s story. It’s written in alternating points of view from both Sacha and Willow. It’s also bounces back to interactions between them when they were children too and I loved that. I loved this book so much. It was a well told story that had me turning pages from beginning to end. I didn’t put it down. I picked it up when I sat down with my morning coffee and the next thing, I know it’s several hours later and I’m done but my stomach is growling because I somehow missed lunch. I just couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Sacha and Willow have known each other most of their lives. Sacha is Max’s (Willow’s brother) best friend and Willow’s parents worked for Sacha’s father. Sacha has loved Willow since they were kids and starts thinking they’ll get a chance to be together. Unfortunately, Max’s father is a horrible man and Sacha ends up walking away to protect the family he loves more than his own. Ten years later Sacha’s back in town for Max’s bachelor party and eventually for his wedding. He’s hoping to leave town again without seeing Willow, but fate has a different plan.
Willow has hardened her heart to love but seeing Sacha again has started to thaw it. It starts looking like they could find happiness but there are secrets about the past that could tear them apart again.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Sacha and Willow have known each other most of their lives. Sacha is Max’s (Willow’s brother) best friend and Willow’s parents worked for Sacha’s father. Sacha has loved Willow since they were kids and starts thinking they’ll get a chance to be together. Unfortunately, Max’s father is a horrible man and Sacha ends up walking away to protect the family he loves more than his own. Ten years later Sacha’s back in town for Max’s bachelor party and eventually for his wedding. He’s hoping to leave town again without seeing Willow, but fate has a different plan.
Willow has hardened her heart to love but seeing Sacha again has started to thaw it. It starts looking like they could find happiness but there are secrets about the past that could tear them apart again.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 23, 2021
trying to jog my mind on how i got this ... i think it was free. but then ...it was 2020 ...so it wasn't a Goodreads giveaway ...i love it when you are thinking ...what should i read from my kindle this evening and u jump into a book ... Lilian ...let me think ... i know the name ...but trying to think if i have read anything from her before??! u know ...i would totally recommend when you are looking at an author ...go through all their books and a lot of the times u will find they have books for FREE ...that is zero dough. so that is cool. so be sure ...right now that i am reviewing this she has several for that amount of money. i think i have not read her books before but i know her books ...she is one i have been meaning to read but i have yet to find the time. great book. i wanna read more ...and now i have 2 others to check out ... a lot of the time they have books within a series or even one well into the series to see for FREE. just a tip. i do this all the time. great read. i wanna read more. soon enough.
February 20, 2021
WTH doesn't this have a trigger warning?!?
I would have given this book 4*s, and that would have been a generous 4*s, because the storytelling of "we just need to have a conversation to work things out" got old very fast. But Sacha and Willow care so much for each other that I fell for them!
And then I got to the abuse. *Spoiler alert ahead* Abuse that should have a trigger warning because they are graphically depicted scenes. But what's worse than the lack of trigger warning is the authors blase attitude towards the abuse. Sacha is a victim, a word the author never even uses, and plainly ignores as Willow rails at him for ruining everything because he ran from his abuser, after having his life threatened, as a teenager. It was painful reading their "there's a secret that'll ruin everything" shpeal for half the book, that was nothing compared to the torture of victim blaming in the second half.
I would have given this book 4*s, and that would have been a generous 4*s, because the storytelling of "we just need to have a conversation to work things out" got old very fast. But Sacha and Willow care so much for each other that I fell for them!
And then I got to the abuse. *Spoiler alert ahead* Abuse that should have a trigger warning because they are graphically depicted scenes. But what's worse than the lack of trigger warning is the authors blase attitude towards the abuse. Sacha is a victim, a word the author never even uses, and plainly ignores as Willow rails at him for ruining everything because he ran from his abuser, after having his life threatened, as a teenager. It was painful reading their "there's a secret that'll ruin everything" shpeal for half the book, that was nothing compared to the torture of victim blaming in the second half.
March 19, 2020
I loved this story about Willow and Sacha . Willow has been in love with Sacha her older brother, Max’s best friend since she was little. Sacha felt the same toward Willow and they finally kissed and shared their feelings in their late teens. Unfortunately due to Sacha evil father a night is all they get as Sacha leaves town without looking back.
Ten years later he’s back to be the best man in Max’s wedding. He is hoping to minimize his time and avoid Willow. Willow who is now a successful wedding planner who doesn’t believe in forever hopes to avoid him as well. Fate keeps bringing the to together and they realize their love remains yet will they get their second chance.
Great dual POV and flashbacks to their youth. Done well to show their history. Wonderful main and side characters. I truly enjoyed this well written story that I am volunteering to leave a review for.
Ten years later he’s back to be the best man in Max’s wedding. He is hoping to minimize his time and avoid Willow. Willow who is now a successful wedding planner who doesn’t believe in forever hopes to avoid him as well. Fate keeps bringing the to together and they realize their love remains yet will they get their second chance.
Great dual POV and flashbacks to their youth. Done well to show their history. Wonderful main and side characters. I truly enjoyed this well written story that I am volunteering to leave a review for.
August 14, 2022
there are some pretty good twist with this Groom’s Past, and this Bride’s life
This is a neatly twisted story of how a Abused boy and a Sweet girl love each other from early on, but sure hit some bumps in the road. Sasha has a horribly Rich abusing Father, a best friend whose parents watch out for him and give him a safe haven, and a real cute Kid sister of that Best friend. What could go wrong? You don’t know what happened, but you do know it was big enough to send the young man running away from the family he hates, and the family he loves. Too bad he didn’t let the 17 year old crushed love lorn girl know why. My what an uncomfortable reunion they have 10 years later. IT is a FUN ride.
This is a neatly twisted story of how a Abused boy and a Sweet girl love each other from early on, but sure hit some bumps in the road. Sasha has a horribly Rich abusing Father, a best friend whose parents watch out for him and give him a safe haven, and a real cute Kid sister of that Best friend. What could go wrong? You don’t know what happened, but you do know it was big enough to send the young man running away from the family he hates, and the family he loves. Too bad he didn’t let the 17 year old crushed love lorn girl know why. My what an uncomfortable reunion they have 10 years later. IT is a FUN ride.
April 10, 2020
SB + FF
A lot of feels in this book. Sacha and Willow have a lifetime of memories. What should have been a fairytale story of young forever love, was turned to anger and guilt by the actions of Sacha’s dad and the ripple effect of decades of lies. Sacha is back after fleeing 10 years before and Willow doesn’t know if her heart will be able to handle him. This was intense, I felt so bad for everyone involved. Sacha and Willow are so hot together and I love that although the romance is quick to pick up in the storyline it’s been a slow burn a decade in the making. Enjoyable read!
A lot of feels in this book. Sacha and Willow have a lifetime of memories. What should have been a fairytale story of young forever love, was turned to anger and guilt by the actions of Sacha’s dad and the ripple effect of decades of lies. Sacha is back after fleeing 10 years before and Willow doesn’t know if her heart will be able to handle him. This was intense, I felt so bad for everyone involved. Sacha and Willow are so hot together and I love that although the romance is quick to pick up in the storyline it’s been a slow burn a decade in the making. Enjoyable read!
January 7, 2024
dnf
I tried. I really tried. I stopped and started again but i could not slog through the writing of this one. It was the mostest heaviest irritatingest mutual pining that was so repetitive! I was like WE GET IT! They’re not over each other! You’d think the two would be mature enough to talk things through or move on but NNNNOOPE. Just lots of intense stares and Sacha’s “noble sacrifice”
I tried. I really tried. I stopped and started again but i could not slog through the writing of this one. It was the mostest heaviest irritatingest mutual pining that was so repetitive! I was like WE GET IT! They’re not over each other! You’d think the two would be mature enough to talk things through or move on but NNNNOOPE. Just lots of intense stares and Sacha’s “noble sacrifice”
March 23, 2020
You left me... I hate you... but I don't... that's the problem...
I was drawn in the second the I began reading. I'm a sucker for weddings and Willow is a wedding planner in the middle of putting out a wedding day emergency. I stayed sucked in because it was such a great story and all the characters were great. The story of misunderstanding and redemption was a bit dark but wonderful.
I was drawn in the second the I began reading. I'm a sucker for weddings and Willow is a wedding planner in the middle of putting out a wedding day emergency. I stayed sucked in because it was such a great story and all the characters were great. The story of misunderstanding and redemption was a bit dark but wonderful.
July 10, 2020
Pretty good
This is the first book I've read from Lilian and I really enjoyed it. I loved Sacha. He was one hot, loving, protective, brave man that Willow deserved. They made a great couple. Willow annoyed me sometimes with her attitude toward him but she grew on me. Pretty good book.
This is the first book I've read from Lilian and I really enjoyed it. I loved Sacha. He was one hot, loving, protective, brave man that Willow deserved. They made a great couple. Willow annoyed me sometimes with her attitude toward him but she grew on me. Pretty good book.
April 14, 2021
I read this as a box set. This collection of stories is so well written and beautifully told! Each of the couples face their own unique challenges and are so much better off for having survived them. Lilian Monroe has done all readers a huge favor by creating this wonderful box set, now do yourself a favor and dive right in!
February 13, 2022
Five star 🌟
I couldn't put this book down, I wanted to put it down as I didn't want it to end, but, I still wanted to see how it ended.
This is the first book I have read from this author. It certainly won't be my last. I loved all the language features she used in this book, it gives you a really good picture in your mind. This book goes into one of my top ten favourites.
I couldn't put this book down, I wanted to put it down as I didn't want it to end, but, I still wanted to see how it ended.
This is the first book I have read from this author. It certainly won't be my last. I loved all the language features she used in this book, it gives you a really good picture in your mind. This book goes into one of my top ten favourites.
March 19, 2020
I really liked this book - the characters and the storyline was just great. Everything they went through, and how it ended was just amazing. Yeah, I just loved it.
I received a free copy of this story in exchange for an honest review
I received a free copy of this story in exchange for an honest review
June 8, 2020
Loved this book. I’m reading them out of order because I stumbled on an ARC for one of the others. Love Sacha and Willow aka Frogface. Loved their chemistry. Loved watching him fall for the girl he kept trying to convince himself he couldn’t have.
June 30, 2020
Not bad but wasn’t my favorite. I really liked the writing style, but I found certain parts pretty repetitive with the way they kept repeating why they shouldn’t be together after the events from the past are brought up. I didn’t feel a deep chemistry either.
July 13, 2020
Loved it !
This was an excellent read. The family dynamics,and drama were crazy. The emotional turmoil and frustration were remarkable. The storyline was spot on. The ending was absolutely beautiful.
This was an excellent read. The family dynamics,and drama were crazy. The emotional turmoil and frustration were remarkable. The storyline was spot on. The ending was absolutely beautiful.
August 11, 2020
Okay read
Enjoyable enough read. Not a fan of going repetitively back and forth in time in a story unless adds lots of value to a story. This felt a bit overdone. Good storyline but didn’t reach its full potential. Enjoyable enough but not a keeper.
Enjoyable enough read. Not a fan of going repetitively back and forth in time in a story unless adds lots of value to a story. This felt a bit overdone. Good storyline but didn’t reach its full potential. Enjoyable enough but not a keeper.
January 30, 2021
Book stops at 89% with an extended look at the next book, FYI.
Kind of light on substance. Entertaining enough, however it didn’t really feel there was a lot...there. There were a lot of interesting plot points, there was just very little in terms of character or story development.
Kind of light on substance. Entertaining enough, however it didn’t really feel there was a lot...there. There were a lot of interesting plot points, there was just very little in terms of character or story development.
February 14, 2021
As almost always
This is a cute and quick read great palette cleanser.... I enjoyed it would have maybe added a little more here and took out some there but I'm not the author.... Definitely check it out
This is a cute and quick read great palette cleanser.... I enjoyed it would have maybe added a little more here and took out some there but I'm not the author.... Definitely check it out
April 20, 2021
I was at first unsure about this book. It was a good read. There are poignant instances that made me feel sad and nostalgic such as there were instances that made me feel the love between the two main characters.
May 28, 2021
I liked it. Just what I needed after hitting a reading block.
Books like these are my guilty pleasure. Will they? Won't they? Should they? Likeable characters and and easy read as well as plenty of steamy scenes 😀👌
Books like these are my guilty pleasure. Will they? Won't they? Should they? Likeable characters and and easy read as well as plenty of steamy scenes 😀👌
August 30, 2021
A Good Start to a New Series
"Shouldn't Want You" is about Willow's second chance with her brother's best friend. A well written book with alternating POVs and flashbacks, it has likable characters and a good story.
Can't wait to read the next books in the series!!!
"Shouldn't Want You" is about Willow's second chance with her brother's best friend. A well written book with alternating POVs and flashbacks, it has likable characters and a good story.
Can't wait to read the next books in the series!!!
January 16, 2022
i enjoyed this story but i didn’t love it. was a very short book and didn’t realise there is a whole collection of these books. i enjoyed the romance between Sacha and Willow but it just felt rush because of how short the book is.
can’t wait to read the rest of the collection
can’t wait to read the rest of the collection
April 23, 2022
A second chance at love for a couple separated for a decade.
A family torn by abuse, criminal behavior, assault, in a town controlled by the evil crook who skimmed from everything that ran through his hands, a second family destroyed by that evil finally finds out the truth.
A family torn by abuse, criminal behavior, assault, in a town controlled by the evil crook who skimmed from everything that ran through his hands, a second family destroyed by that evil finally finds out the truth.
May 26, 2022
Good book
This is a good second chance love story. Usually Lillian Monroe writes stories with lots of emotion, but I just didn't feel it with this one. I have read so many of Monroe's books and loved them all.
This is a good second chance love story. Usually Lillian Monroe writes stories with lots of emotion, but I just didn't feel it with this one. I have read so many of Monroe's books and loved them all.
October 9, 2023
Sweet... and sour like the candies
Sweet story, low level angst/drama. There was maybe 1 or 2 chapters that felt a little slow to me, but maybe I was just eager to get to the HEA. Thank goodness for bonus epilogues!
Sweet story, low level angst/drama. There was maybe 1 or 2 chapters that felt a little slow to me, but maybe I was just eager to get to the HEA. Thank goodness for bonus epilogues!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews