Things I Wish I Said

by Gracie Graham

Soccer superstar and lung cancer patient Ryleigh Sinclair wants a boyfriend for the summer.

And my mother wants me to be the one to make her wish come true.

Me. The eternal pessimist. The guy who no longer believes in happy endings after my dad died of pancreatic cancer and my girlfriend dumped me in the same month.

But after weeks of spending time with Ryleigh, she somehow does the impossible. She fills the gaping hole of my father’s absence until I’m the one hoping for a miracle.

I’ve learned my lesson about wishes.

Happily ever afters are a lie.

Yet I’m the one wishing like hell for another outcome for Ryleigh.

I lost my father to cancer; I can’t lose her too.

Genres: Romance, Sports Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult, New Adult, Young Adult Romance, Sports

545 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2024

Reviews

[Jess - Reader of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things I Wish I Said by Gracie Graham 🩵
Standalone

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Upper YA • Sports Romance
ARC Review
544 pages
🗓️ November 7

🩵baseball/soccer romance
🤍fake dating
🩵cancer journey
🤍dark humor
🩵healing through love
🤍dual POV
🩵HEA

📍 “And that’s what love would have to be for me. The oxygen in the room. The breath in my lungs. Because nothing short of that would ever convince me to put my heart on the line.”

📍“Hoping for tomorrow while not living for today is f exhausting.”

📍”But that’s how it always seems to go with us. She’s perpetual f sunshine to my blackened heart.”

Dear Gracie,

I made it in time 🫶🏼 Happy release day 🫶🏼

Dear Ryleigh and Grayson,

The amount of feels you put me through should be illegal. And I very much thank you for that. I truly needed that cry yesterday. I truly needed that hope, those laughs through tears at another one of Ry’s self deprecating jokes. I needed to go through that journey with Grayson. And you held my hand more than I ever held yours.

It’s always good to disassociate with a book.
But it’s best to disassociate with a book this good.

While I’m sure Gracie Graham is amazing at many things, she was definitely born to write. Loved the writing on this so much 🩵

[Jordan Mayo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 star for me, emotional and beautiful story 🥰
tw- Cancer is a big topic in this book

[nikkyireads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first read from this author, but it won't be my last. I was hooked from the blurb, and from the second I started reading, I couldn't stop. As someone who has watched a loved one fight cancer and both win and lose, this one really captivated me.

My heart ached for both Ryleigh and Grayson (as well as their families). Ryleigh's morbid humor was hilarious to me. I genuinely loved her character. She tried to shelter her family and Grayson from what she was really going through, and I admired that. Grayson was the epitome or brokenhearted hero who lashed out with drinking, drugs, and girls and refused to believe in HEA. But underneath all the pain, was the sofest guy who was hurting.

This packs an emotional punch, and it's full of angst and heartache, but it's also beautiful, and I loved every single second. 𝑰'𝒎 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒊𝒏.

➼ Fake Dating
➼ Sports Romance
➼ Morally Grey
➼ He Falls Harder
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Wounded Hero
➼ FMC Has Cancer
➼ Dual POV

“Ry.”
“Ooh. Shortening my name already? I’m shocked we’re moving so fast.”

"You make me forget to be so damn sad all the time."

.“I want all of you or none of you. There’s no hiding from me.”

[Pippa Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

If ever a book needed to come with something, it's this books and it needs to come with a box of tissues 😭

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This book literally had me ugly crying 😢 it was heartbreaking 💔 but also beautiful!

Ryleigh is one of the best FMC I've read in so long 😍 she really is an inspiration, and I just wanted to be there with her to support her on her journey! She likes to put on a happy exterior, but then we read her thoughts and realise what she's really thinking 🤔 she is just outstanding ❤️

Grayson has had his fair share of rubbish in life. He meets Ryleigh, and to say she changes his life is an understatement! After losing his Dad, he's gone off the rails and doesn't know how to deal with life. Then Ryleigh turns his life upside down, and what a man he is!

I just love them and completely forgive them for breaking me!

If there is any book you need to read before the end of the year, it's this one, and you can get your hands on it in just 6 days!

[Bella Lucca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god!!!! I did not know which way this book was going to go, the fact that Grayson did not believe in happy endings but when he met Ryleigh, that all went away because he fell for her. 🥺. Also I did not expect the book to end off on a good note because usually in books likes this they usually die but it was nice to read one that it ended in a happy endings Also, the way Grayson talked about her, UGH OMG. I WISH BRO.

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew I was going to sob through this book and boy was I right. Sometimes these type of stories involve a character who is too unrealistic, or the ending is so abrupt/wtf.

But this didnt have that and I absolutely loved this story. Both Ryleigh and Greyson grow beautifully together and to think it all started as fake dating (the fake really doesn't last long at all 🤭)

And their families added so much to the story as well.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid read. Highly recommend. Actual rating: 4.5
Pick this one up.

[Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my heart!!!! This book was amazing!

[Cait | GoodeyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy and the medical anxiety this gave me.

THE WAY I BINGED THIS.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK

For a book over 500 pages I read this at an unhinged rate because the medical anxiety it was giving me made me need to know what was going to happen next. Not to mention, Gracie Graham has such addictive writing. You want to keep turning those pages and fall in love with these characters.

I loved both Ryleigh and Grayson so dang much. There was a lot of trauma and past histories, secrets and turns that brought the unexpected. This is a drama filled book that really has you wondering where it will go next. I loved the banter and relationship between these two and the undeniable chemistry that was present from the first moment they met. Both of the character arcs with filled with a strong impact that hit me square on and I appreciated how the ending all came together.

This is a new adult book (which I loved) but I did struggle with the innuendo throughout. It was crass to me and I didn’t think wholly necessary. The intimate moments were great and worked well with the plot, it was the extra stuff that stood out. And this one does have a LOT [read that again] of language.

Overall audience notes:
- New adult romance
- Language: very strong
- Romance; 2ish brief open door; low explicit + high innuendo
- Violence: moderate
- Content Warnings: major theme is cancer (treatments, doctor’s appointments, etc.), loss of a parent from cancer, grief and depression, drug use, underage alcohol use, major car accident

[Zoe O’Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨A R C R E V I E W✨

Title: Things I Wish I Said
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I want to first start off by saying thank you to Gracie Graham for this amazing opportunity. This book was truly so beautiful and heartfelt! My review is entirely made of my own thoughts!

This book was incredible and I’m so excited for you to have the opportunity to read this one now that it has released today!

I really loved the fake dating trope between Ryleigh and Grayson, especially with the deeper meaning and reasoning for them both. Ryleigh has lung cancer and her wish is to have a boyfriend which she’s never had before. It’s mainly so he can help get her mum’s support for her to travel for an important award she wants to receive for being a rising young athlete in soccer/football.

This was so impactful and so moving, it was really lovely to experience the growth between them and how they were able to find a deeper connection from each other that really helped them individually and their journey together!

There was an element of mainly closed door spice which had something so tender about those certain experiences not being fully shown with them being young adults newly in love and experiencing emotions of a greater extent than most their age. It created some soft moments of bigger connections with our main characters who were able to be stripped back in their openness together.

There is a vulnerability to both Ryleigh and Grayson that you see throughout the book, both struggling and going through personal hurdles that they seem to help overcome together. With Grayson having lost his dad to cancer a year previous, he’d managed to hang around with the wrong crowd since with the possibility of ruining his future chances, including baseball, if that were to continue.

While there was an element of unknown with Ryleigh’s health and having to watch someone else he loves have the same chances of dying, it was beautiful to read the strength they faced to be together, especially when real feelings starting to begin playing a huge part in this book.

I loved the journey this one went on, a lot of self awareness and understanding along with learning to communicate more openly with the ones you love.

For me, the epilogue and bonus epilogue were honestly perfection and rounded everything off so nicely! The ending was one I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated and was complete with so much heartfelt that shone from start to finish in this story!

There is the sensitivity of cancer mentioned throughout the book so I can understand how this may be hard for some people to read and wouldn’t want you to put yourself through that with this one.

Release day is today, 7th November!🩵


You can also find my review on my Bookstagram account: _romanticallybookish_ ☺️

[MIA 🎀 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so happy to receive this novel as an ARC 🩵 I absolutely loved Ryleigh and Grayson together. This book has two characters who have overcome some of the toughest struggles in their life and both learn more a out themselves as they navigate their relationship. Its a tough but heart warming read that deals with a lot of serious issues. Not to mention theres also kind of a fake dating trope? Sign me up! This is my first read by Gracie Graham but it will definitely not be my last! 4.5/5 ⭐️

[Once Upon a Page · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf 24%

I just couldn’t get behind Grayson. He had no respect for women and seemed to think “chicks” were put on this earth for his sexual amusement. Also he smoked in front of someone with lung cancer which was low in my opinion. I liked Ryleigh (she’s not like other girls) but didn’t want to stick around only for her to end up with him.

[Alicia’s AllBookedUp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not know I was waiting for a book that would give me A Walk to Remember (but make it edgier!) and The Fault in Our Stars vibes, but apparently, I was.

I was hooked on these characters almost immediately.

Ryleigh IS 18 years old, WAS a soccer phenom, and HAS cancer that isn’t responding to treatment. When she wins a prestigious soccer achievement award, she has to find someone her mom trusts to accompany her to LA for the awards. Enter Grayson.

Grayson is deep in grief over losing his father to Pancreatic cancer and is currently using drugs, alcohol, and girls to numb the grief. His mother runs a wish-granting non-profit and sees this as an opportunity to help Grayson reset his life before he blows up his future.

I would not label this rom-com. It is certainly rom-traum, but it isn’t without humor and wi. Ryleigh is sharp, and clever, and dark humor is a coping mechanism for Ryleigh.

Substance abuse is a hot topic here. Grayson is in deep grief, and I felt like Gracie Graham did an excellent leading me to feel his choices were made out of desperation and not gratification. This was probably my favorite element in this story. Grayson knew he was numbing his pain, recognized all the ways he was hurting himself, but just didn’t know what to do with the feelings instead.

What starts out as a wish for Ryleigh turns into two young adults giving each other the friendship and understanding they were both missing. Their feelings develop in a way that feels believable, natural, and not at all cheesy.

*** I do not normally give TW/Content warnings. Feel free to always DM to ask though! I personally see most of them as spoilers so I treat my reviews as if others feel the same BUT in this case I am giving one because of certain book friends who I think this will matter to. Both Ryleigh and Grayson’s mothers are strong side characters. Feeling and understanding each of their griefs- one scared of losing a daughter, one who has lost her husband and feels like she is losing her son, too, was a heavy feeling. I’m a mom of young adults so I think this certainly played a role. If you're prone to worry or anxiety in this area, go into it knowing this.

[Charlotte Goudge · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Things I Wish I Said

@graciegrahamauthor has a new biggest fan, this story was harrowing, beautiful and raw; I will be reading her other books asap.

This book follows Ryleigh, a soccor superstar known as ‘The Missile’, who now stands as a young cancer patient fighting through her illness with one sarcastic remark at a time. When she wins an impressive award for her soccer skills, she wants nothing more than to attend the ceremony. Her mother is reluctant to let her go without someone she trusts; this is where Grayson comes in. A broken-hearted bad boy willing to help a girl with her wish,
; he can’t quite figure out the reason he can’t say no to her, and why he so quickly grows attached. The last thing he needs is to bear witness again to what this disease can do.

Ryleigh was introduced first in this book and her dark humour and sarcasm made me adore her straight away. She tries to make light of her situation which so many people do. She is a bright spark in the otherwise dark place she finds herself in; she is determined to make this easy for everyone.

Grayson is hurting, he has lost his father who was his best friend and his confidant. His loss and grief struck him so brutally it has become the only thing he knows. Avoidance, numbing the pain and ignoring the feelings are things we will all be guilty of at some point. The family dynamics and other characters provide so much depth to the story.

Ry and Grayson give the other person a metaphorical shovel and dig them out of their despair. They remind them of the future, what positive experiences could be out there for them if they just try again. Reading about two people falling in love has never been so precious as this.

This to me was a story of two troubled souls, healing each other to become entwined in every way. I never wanted this book to end and was sobbing at 2am when I reached the final page, a beautiful ending for even more beautiful characters.

Please add this to your TBR!

[Kayleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝕀 𝕎𝕚𝕤𝕙 𝕀 𝕊𝕒𝕚𝕕

𝔸ℝℂ ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨

First of all, thank you Gracie for reaching out and asking me if I wanted to read this ARC.

You know I absolutely adore the boys of Riverside series so I was eager to snap this up. Just from the hints of what this book was about, I knew I was going to be emotionally wrecked throughout. And I was , I cried, I gasped, I smiled and I honestly thought that this was not gonna end the way it did. I thought there was gonna be a beautiful metaphor about having loved and lost and I’m so glad you put my heart back together in the end.

This is a truly emotional, Angsty, Slow burn but it was absolutely beautiful and I loved every single second of it. I’m not lying when I said I didn’t put it down, every minute I could cram it in, I did. And when I wasn’t reading I was thinking about it.

So enough gushing about it, here’s a small rundown…
We have Ryleigh Sinclair, former rising soccer star who’s had to give up her life long dream of going pro because of a cancer prognosis. Ryleigh has a lot of gallows humour in this, which is her defence mechanism. Her treatments aren’t working. She’s accepted she going to die. But her final wish is to go and accept an award, one she won in a life she no longer has. But she needs someone her mom trusts to go with her. Enter Grayson.

Grayson has been dealing with his own loss and spiralling. Once the promising athlete, he’s now throwing it away in his depression, drinking, smoking, using and hanging with the wrong crowd. His mother runs a non profit for adults with cancer, and when an unusual wish - for a fake boyfriend - comes in she urges Grayson to fulfill it, in the hopes he can heal himself.

They both end up healing each other. Through grief. Acceptance and letting go of the past and living in the present with hope of a future.

There’s so much more I want to say. Bit this is easily one of the best reads of the year!! I beg you to read it.

[Holly D · Rating 5 out of 5]

🩵 Things I wish I said 🩵

This story follows Ryleigh and Grayson who are both going through hard struggles in life.
Ryleigh who up until her recent cancer diagnosis was a raising soccer superstar finds out that she is named the national gatorade player of the year however due to her health her mom doesn't feel she can make the trip herself across the country for the award ceremony.

Grayson De Leon is on his way to playing college baseball but the recent loss of his father to cancer has him spiraling down hill fast and is in desperate need of change.

When Ryleigh comes up with a plan that if she has a devoted boyfriend her mom approves of that she will trust him to accompany her to the ceremony so she decides in her effort to find a fake boyfriend she's going to reach out Wishing Well an adult cancer foundation that happens to be the very foundation Grayson's patents started before his dads passing and ask for an unusual wish... a boyfriend. So Grayson's mom inlists him for the job. Grayson and Ryleigh meet and he agrees to help her and so their story begins.

Oh my, I honestly wasn't sure which way this book was gonna take us. It's emotional, raw and pulls at your heartstrings you just wanna wrap them all in hugs 🫶 
The braveness Ryleigh shows throughout this story is inspiring and heartbreaking at the same time.

Ryleigh and Grayson were everything, I loved the character growth and how the relationship built and the connection intensified being there for each other. I love Grayson for his protective nature and letting himself fall even if it's the last thing he expected. Ryleigh's humor lightened the book up and the spice is always nice.

I haven't read a YA romance in a while and this one was definitely worth diving back in. Thank you Gracie for reaching out tome to Arc read for you and for writing such an incredible story people will love 💙

[kilee roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

happy grayson and ryleigh day!!!!

this book simultaneously broke my heart and healed it all the same. i felt so many emotions reading this story! this story dealt with some heavy real life topics such as teenage cancer, grief, loss of a parent, underage d r i n k i n g and d r u g use, so read with caution and check trigger warnings!!

grayson has been dealing with the sudden death of his father for a year, and he’s basically trying everything he can to ruin his life. doing things he’s not supposed to, hanging out with the wrong crowd and almost losing his college baseball scholarship. he’s on a dark, dangerous path but he can’t seem to pull himself out of his grief to help himself, not even with the help and support of his friends.

ryleigh is young, beautiful and a soccer star. but when she finds out she has stage 2 lung cancer at the age of 18, her whole life implodes in the snap of a finger. no more soccer, no more college, no friends there for her. and on top of that, her treatments aren’t working, even when she doesn’t want to admit it - she’s so scared. when she gets a letter to receive an award in california, she tries to convince her mom to let her go but without someone to go with her, she knows there’s no luck. that’s where grayson comes in - he needs to play the doting fake boyfriend… but he ends up playing it a little too well 👀

when grayson’s dad was on his deathbed, he and grayson’s mother came up with the idea to start a foundation for adults with cancer who weren’t as fortunate as their family to help them out with anything they needed. that’s how ryleigh and grayson found each other. grayson starts to pretend to be ryleigh’s boyfriend but eventually things start getting a little too real, and admittedly, a little scary for the both of them since ryleigh doesn’t really know her future or fate.

this book was seriously so good. it’s a mature YA romance and their story was so beautiful. i never wanted this one to end! this is the first book i’ve read by gracie, and i can’t wait to read more!! her writing is so beautiful and you can truly feel like you know these characters. there were so many times during this book where i was crying!

thank you so much, gracie, for reaching out and allowing me to ARC read for you! i am truly so honored 🩵 happy, happy release day!! ✨

[CoffeeAndBooksWithSarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️

Holy Moly was this one amazing!!! My absolute favorite part of bookstagram is finding new to me authors and finding books that make me feel allill the things.

I haven't read a young adult book in quite a while but this one knocked it out of the park!!! It had it all.... From the very first chapter | was laughing, smiling, tearing up, crying at times and just so darn angsty and good!!!

I quickly felt all the emotions for "Ry" as she dealt with her cancer treatment. I also felt for her mother. As many of you know my own daughter faught a 2.5 year plus battle with leukemia. I know ALL the feelings that her mother was feeling. I know the feeling that I would fight like hell, that I would do EVERYTHING in my power, take my last dollar, my last breath if it meant saving my daughter. Thankfully, my daughter was one of the lucky ones but that battle forever changes you and changes your whole lookout on life.
Grayson, the MMC was just angsty goodness. He had his own internal battles to face but he was also so sweet, kind and adorable with Ry.

While a lot of books I read are more on the darker, smutty side this book was just as amazing. I love when a book can rip your heart out and make you have all the feels. I highly recommend this one!! I will be checking out more from this author!

[VicReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

🩵 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚆𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝙸 𝚂𝚊𝚒𝚍 🩵
𝚋𝚢 @graciegrahamauthor

🄰🅁🄲 🅁🄴🅅🄸🄴🅆

4.5/5 ⭐️

↓↓
Ryleigh has been a superstar at soccer until the devastating moment she is diagnosed with cancer and its all taken away from her. After the diagnosis she is determined to live her life to the fullest. Ryleigh is such a strong FMC and I wanted to reach into the book give her a ginormous huge and be there to support her. I loved her dark humor, it made her feel more relatable.

Grayson has his own trauma and grief to unpack throughout the story. His father died and it absolutely shattered him, sending him on a self destructive spiral. He gave up on life and lost his passion for almost everything until Ryleigh came barreling into his life, completely changing him and his outlook. They both helped heal one another and realized life was worth living for.

Ryleigh and Grayson have my heart.

This is an emotional one so make sure to have your tissues nearby, you will definitely need them. This is my first book by this author but after this read, I am definitely going to read more!

𝕋𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕤 / 𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝔼𝕩𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕥
🩵He Falls Hard
🩵Slow Burn
🩵FMC has cancer
🩵Sports Romance
🩵Fake Dating

#GracieGraham #SportsRomance #ThingsIWishISaid #FakeDating #SlowBurn #bookstagram #books #booklover #bookworm #romance #reels #reelsinstagram

[Jocelynn LeBlanc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things I Wish I Said by Gracie Graham
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I first want to say thank you Gracie for reaching out to me and asking me if I could read and review your book and I am SO GLAD I was able to squeeze this in and be able to read and review by release day.

This is my first book I have read of Gracie’s and most definitely won’t be my last.
holy wow. Absolutely INCREDIBLE. I am in awe. My heart is throbbing. I truly genuinely enjoyed every second of this book. Like my heart related so some of the feelings the FMC was going through at times which made me feel a little connected with her.

Ryleigh was such an incredibly strong, hilarious (dark humor), loving, and badass FMC. My heart was aching for her throughout this book and her cancer journey. Her POVS stuck with me so hard because of all her emotions and etc.

Grayson. Incredible. Green flags (minus his coping skills he was partaking in). I absolutely loved him. He was hurting so incredibly much after losing his dad but reading and seeing how his character grows was just absolutely beautiful. I admire his strengths and battles as well.

Tropes
📖 Fake Dating
📖 Sports Romance
📖 YA
📖 Substance Abuse
📖 Cancer
📖 Dark Humor
📖 Dual POV
📖 Slow Burn
& more !!

This book is out today, 11/07/24!! Go grab your copy. I definitely recommend this book highly, I forgive the main characters for breaking my heart a little bit because this was beautifully written. 🫶🏼

[Magali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grayson & Ryleigh!!!!! 😭🩵

My god I loved them so much and this was the easiest 5 stars I have read in a while. I am in awe.

♾️⭐️

The journey that these two go on together, and separately, was so moving and often heart wrenching. The way their friendship grows was the sweetest thing and it felt so natural. They were made for each other 🩵 and I was rooting for them the whole time. This is friends to lovers at its FINEST!! Just the best book ever!

When I tell you this made me cry… Guys, I SOBBED!!! For a moment there I wasn’t sure we were going to get a HEA - this book genuinely broke me, and then healed me again because rest assured we get that happy ending!!

The writing was so beautiful and really pulled at your heartstrings, the angst was next level but that’s my vibe so I loved, the witty banter and dark humour was real and so fun, and just the whole story had be by a chokehold. I’m not normally a YA reader (being in my 30s) but this was honestly phenomenal. An emotional rollercoaster that ticked all the boxes!!

I can guarantee this will be a top read of 2025 for me!!

If you like emotional reads full of heart and hope, I really recommend this one!! Check the trigger warnings as it contains sensitive topics 🫶🏼.

Tropes:
Sports Romance
Friends to Lovers
Fake Dating
Cancer Rep
Substance Abuse
Dark Humour


Thank you NetGalley and Gracie Graham for this ARC 🩵

[lu_betweenthecovers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was up until 3 a.m to finish it, but it was worth it. This book was a breathtaking and heartbreaking journey that resonated deeply with me. It was a story that felt incredibly real, with characters so authentic they leaped off the page. The raw emotions, the brutal honesty, and the poignant struggles made it impossible to put down.

Ryleigh's inner turmoil was a particularly difficult part of the book for me to read. Her battle with self-doubt and dark thoughts was agonizing, and there were times I wanted to reach through the pages and shake her, to scream at her to see the love and support surrounding her. The narrative beautifully captures the intensity of her pain.

Grayson's journey was equally compelling, as he grappled with his own demons and destructive tendencies. Watching him try to self-destruct his future was a gut-wrenching experience. His inability to cope with his emotions was a powerful reminder of how grief and loss can consume us if we let them.

This novel is a testament to the fact that while life can be filled with profound loss, grief, and heartbreak, it is also about finding the strength to fight, to endure, and ultimately, to win. It is a story that made me cry, laugh, and feel an all-consuming fear for the characters I had grown to love. It's a truly powerful and beautiful read.

[Chandler (chapterswithchan) · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for your next 5 star read .. this is it. Things I Wish I Said is one of the best books I have read this year and will definitely be a book I read again.

Ryleigh has stage 2 lung cancer, which has thrown her whole life off track. The rising soccer star no longer exists, and instead she is a shelf of herself. She gets word that she has received an athletic award, but her mom won't let her go by herself. So she does the only thing she can think of .. gets a fake boyfriend.

Graysons life was also ripped out from under him, and he is finding his way through drugs and alcohol. Both of these things seem to be interfering with his ability to play baseball the way he used to. His mom runs the Wishing Well, a place where adult cancer patients can make wishes. When an opportunity for a "fake boyfriend" comes up, Graysons mom asks him to take it on.

After Grayson meets Ryleigh...he's not sure he can say no.

This book had everything. It had grumpy/sunshine, slow burn, forced proximity, one bed, character growth and I absolutely loved it. Grayson and Ryleigh were both amazing characters individually... But then together ?? 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

The ending was also perfect. This book is about rediscovery, second chances and fighting for what you love. Add it to your TBR now !

[Coffeecupsandpaperbacks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book from Gracie Graham and it blew me away! I don't read a lot of YA books, mainly because I'm in my 30s and so don't feel like I relate to them as easily as other genres, but this wasn't an issue at all with this book.

Ryleigh Sinclair's life has revolved around soccer for as long as she can remember. She is a rising star in the soccer world and has her whole career ahead of her, until she is diagnosed with lung cancer and all of her dreams come crashing down around her. Grayson De Leon is struggling to deal with the devastating loss of his father. The two are thrown together when Ryleigh sends a wish to Wishing Well, a foundation that helps grant the wishes of cancer patients, and just so happens to have been founded by Grayson's parents.

This book was beautiful and gut-wrenching at the same time. The characters were relatable and my heart really broke for them. I also really enjoyed the character grow they both went through during the book.

I cannot recommend this book enough. Even if YA isn't usually your go-to genre, this book is absolutely worth a read! I'm really looking forward to reading more from the author.

[| Mish | · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story about finding love and hope in spite of a seemingly impossible obstacle. This is my first sports romance book and mad respect to the athletes out there for their determination & grit!

There are so many swoon-worthy scenes that I re-read a couple of times (yes! It's THAT good!) and emotional ones that stick to me. I appreciate how the author delves into the emotional, physical, psychological and financial burdens in a cancer-stricken individual/family.

I love the dynamics between Ryleigh and Grayson. How they found love, hope and support in each other during the difficult time of their lives. And let's not forget about the two strong, independent mommas who will do anything for their children!

Overall, the author made a wonderful job creating Sinclair's & Slugger's love story. It was heartwarming with just the right amount of spice and the storyline did not feel forced/lacking.

Finally, one of my favorite things about this book is the little reminders about life: choose to believe in your strengths, the power of a strong familial bond and loving yourself more. A definite 5-star read for 2025! 👌

[Juliana Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things I Wish I Said is an emotional and touching story about two people, Grayson and Ryleigh, who come together under difficult circumstances. Ryleigh is battling lung cancer, and Grayson's life has been turned upside down by the loss of his father. The two embark on a summer of fake dating, but as they spend time together, their connection grows deeper, and they begin to heal each other.

I loved the book! It was a fast read because I couldn’t stop turning the pages. The story had moments where I was nervous about the ending, especially with Ryleigh’s illness, though some parts were a bit predictable. Despite that, the journey was beautiful and heartfelt, with Grayson and Ryleigh helping each other in such a genuine way.

The fake dating trope was done really well, and the slow-burn romance kept me hooked even tho it frustrates me a bit. Both characters are incredibly lovable, and their personal growth was touching to watch. Overall, it’s a story full of heart and hope, even when facing tough situations.

[Nicole (all_bookedup) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars
1 Chili Pepper

Tropes:
Sports Romance
Fake Dating
Wounded MMC
FMC Has Cancer

Dual POV
Please Check Trigger Warnings

"You can be surrounded by people and still feel alone."

This is my first book by Gracie Graham, but it definitely won't be my last. It is so good. I was instantly hooked. Honestly, it was one of my favorite reads of this year.

Ryleigh was an amazing FMC. I loved that she still made jokes no matter what she was going through. It was part of her coping strategy but still made me laugh. I also liked her relationship with her mom.

"Eventually whether in life or death, everyone you love leaves."

I felt so bad for Grayson. He did not know how to grieve the loss of his father. Yes, I know there is no wrong or right way to grieve, but he turned to substances to help cope, which only made things worse.

I love how Ryleigh felt safe around Grayson and was able to open up. Their friendship was amazing and something that they both needed.

Thank you to Gracie Graham for this ARC.

[Tori | mycoffeeandkindle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok so I usually take notes as I am reading and tell y’all all the reasons you need to read a book but, the thing is, I was too busy reading this one to even stop to take a single note. I started it yesterday afternoon and finished it this morning. I couldn’t put it down. The story was so heartbreaking: Gatorade Player of the Year diagnosed with cancer and has to give up the sport that has defined her entire life (there’s so much more to that heartbreak but you’ll have to read to find out the rest). The characters were so well written. The angst and emotions were all so deeply felt. Ugh, I loved it all.

I really enjoyed the Boys of Riverside series and fell in love with Graham’s writing then and was excited to read this. She did not disappoint. If you’re thinking about read this book, do yourself a favor and get it. Read it. Cry about it. Love it. I’ll be riiiiiight here waiting to gush about it with you.

[Mindy Menotti bookishly_mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryleigh and Grayson have 100% taken a piece of my heart and I’m totally okay with that! I absolutely feel head over heels with these 2 MC’s and can’t even begin to express how much this story touched my heart and soul.

This was my first ever read by Gracie & I can’t wait to have the available time to read her backlist as well.

She wrote these two characters with such raw, heartfelt emotion & it really shows through the pages.

You will need a box of Kleenex for sure, but also you will find so much joy and happiness within the same pages as well.

Gracie did a beautiful job with her wordsmith, the storyline and the development of characters.

I highly recommend reading this book is you are a fan of sports romance (both MMC & FMC), fake dating, angsty moments, great banter and all the in between.

Thank you Gracie for reaching out and allowing me to have an advanced copy in return for my review.

[Jennifer Carey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grab your tissues now because you are going to need them! This book broke me in the best way! What an incredible, heartbreaking, and beautiful story!

For Ryleigh, soccer is life, and she was good at it. That is until it takes a drastic turn, and now she is in a battle against cancer. Her one wish... to go accept a high honor for all she accomplished in soccer. Grayson has been fighting his own battles, and his life is spiraling out of control. Ryleigh and Grayson meet, and that completely changes their lives forever.

I am struggling to put into words how much this book moved me. It was absolutely incredible. Ryleigh and Grayson healed each other. They fought for each other when one was ready to give up. The connection they had with each other was amazing. Their journey together was beautiful, and this story will be sticking with me for a long time.

Thank you, Gracie Graham, for this ARC!