Sorry, Not Sorry

by Frances Mensah Williams

Preorder this brilliantly witty, wise and romantic read from Frances Mensah Williams Fixing everyone’s love life - except her own.

Trainee relationship counsellor Delilah Braithwaite is better at breaking couples up than bringing them together. But after one break-up too many, she’s suspended and ordered to get to grips with her own baggage if she hopes to get her job back.

Desperate to prove she’s not the problem, Delilah accepts a challenge from her track down five exes and make amends for dumping them all with no good reason. But when she runs into Noah - the fiancé she left at the altar - her plans take a complicated turn.

While Delilah seeks redemption, her own therapy sessions begin to unearth hidden secrets and painful truths she’s long avoided. But only when she’s forced to confront the trauma of her past does she begin to understand that love means a whole lot more than just saying sorry.

Sorry, Not Sorry is a heartwarming, feel-good and hilarious journey of healing, second chances, and the courage it takes to face the honest truth about yourself.

Praise for Frances Mensah

'Readers are sure to enjoy this uplifting work.’ Publishers Weekly

‘I very much enjoyed this brilliantly written novel.’ Dorothy Koomson

‘A witty, true, and, sometimes, heartbreaking portrayal of married life.’ Ayesha Harruna Attah

‘A celebration of sisterhood. You won’t want to put the story down till it ends.’ Chibundu Onuzo

Genres: Romance

304 pages, Paperback

Published September 28, 2025

About the author

Born in Ghana, Frances spent her early childhood between the USA, Austria and Ghana before settling in the UK. After building her career in London working in Human Resources Management for international companies, she moved to Ghana where she worked for several years before setting up Interims for Development, an award-winning London-based consultancy to manage skills and human resources development projects across Africa. She is also the Managing Editor of ReConnect Africa.com, an online careers and business publication for the African diaspora and works as an Executive Coach.

Reviews

[Reading Rounds · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you do after you leave your fiancé at the altar and realize you’re maybe not so great at your new gig as a marriage counsellor? If you’re Delilah, the vibrant, opinionated, and slightly chaotic heroine of Sorry, Not Sorry, you decide that the solution is... apologizing to your last five exes.

Delilah’s post-engagement life is messy. She’s sharp-tongued, takes the women’s side in every client session (honestly, I get it), and can’t help projecting her own unresolved issues onto her work. After a particularly spicy rant, her supervisor puts her on forced leave and strongly suggests therapy. It's her picture-perfect sister, Salome, who finally pushes her to go, and what follows is a mix of introspection, awkward reunions, emotional growth, and the slow stitching together of a life.

Delilah broke up with every one of her exes via text. Then she blocked them. So when she starts tracking them down to make amends, the responses range from surprisingly sweet to (justifiably) salty. Her ex-fiancé, Noah, will only consider forgiving her if she helps his current girlfriend get in good with his mother (buddy, why would you agree to that??). But even this bizarre setup becomes a step toward Delilah becoming a more thoughtful, accountable, and emotionally aware person.

There’s a twist, an emotional gut-punch revealed in therapy, that reframes Delilah’s entire journey and left me wanting to reread the whole book. It also made me love her more.

💬 What I Loved

Delilah’s arc. She starts out flighty and kind of annoying, but her growth is earned and deeply satisfying.

The sisterhood. Salome is living the glossy suburban dream, but their relationship has depth and warmth. They grow alongside each other.

The focus on women. This is a story about women—Black women in particular—figuring themselves out, building better lives, and loving one another without needing to explain their identities to anyone. Their race informs their experiences but doesn’t define them.

The therapy. We love a character who commits to her own healing.

The reveal. It hit hard and added so much emotional weight.

💭 What I Wanted More Of

The romance. There's definitely a love interest (and some lovely moments + kisses!), but this leaned more “women’s fiction with romantic elements” than a traditional romance. I would’ve liked more time watching the relationship unfold, like how do they work together?

🧠 Final Thoughts

Funny, heartfelt, and sometimes painful, Sorry, Not Sorry is ultimately a story about what happens when you stop running from yourself. Perfect for fans of Queenie, The List, or One True Loves. This book asks: What do you owe to the people you’ve hurt... and what do you owe yourself?

⭐️ Rating

4 stars — I cried, I laughed, I said “buddy, no” out loud more than once, and I’d happily read more from Frances Mensah Williams.

[Cindy van Wyk · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. A big thank you to Boldwood Books and the author.

Delilah Braithwaite has dumped and ghosted every man she’s ever been with. Any time a relationship gets a little bit too intense for her liking, she ends it - without so much as an explanation or shred of closure.

Now, three years after her last and most serious breakup - when she left her fiancé the day before their wedding - career-hopper Delilah is training to be a relationship counsellor (the irony is strong here) and making a real mess of things.

On the verge of losing her job, her manager has given her an ultimatum: Go to therapy, or get to stepping.

Delilah is very resistant to the idea of speaking to someone - despite it being a requirement of the job - but she eventually starts seeing a therapist. Around the same time, her sister challenges her to make amends with the men she’s hurt. An Apology Tour of sorts. Her sister picks her five most recent exes, and all Delilah has to do is apologise to show that she’s serious about getting her job back.

Simple, right? Not quite.

While one of her apologies is received well, her other exes aren’t that quick to forgive, with her ex-fiancé Noah making a very big ask of Delilah to ‘earn’ his forgiveness.

Frances Mensah Williams’ ‘Sorry, Not Sorry’ has an interesting premise, but I found the writing clunky and the characters largely unlikable.

I’ve never seen a character burst into tears as often as Delilah does, and her childish, hyperbolic reactions to everything that happens made me struggle to stay connected to the story.

The big reveal about Delilah’s past goes a long way towards explaining why she reacts to things the way she does, but it feels like too little too late in the novel - an earlier reveal would have helped endear the character to the reader.

Also, the fact that Noah’s love-bombing isn’t addressed in a novel with such a big focus on therapy was disappointing. I wanted the author to highlight his flaws too, instead of only bombarding us with Delilah’s.

Overall, interesting enough, but I won’t rush to read more of Mensah Williams’ work.

[Andrea Griggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an ARC review. I want to thank **Frances Mensah Williams** and Boldwood Books for allowing me the chance to read this book ahead of release day!

Trainee relationship counselor Delilah Braithwaite has a hard time keeping her own previously relationship trauma from filtering into her couples sessions. When tasked by her sister to make amends with her exes, she finds its not so easy to be faced with your own decisions and choices that negatively impacted others.

I truly absolutely adored Noah. He was as sweet as can be even after being scorned by who he thought was his one true love. While I believe if Del processed her previous family trauma and opened up to Noah before they would have been together this whole time.

This book heavily leans on therapy with a side of romance. As a therapist myself, I found this book intriguing and a different take to the typical romantic comedies that are currently out. This was my first book by this author and dare I say it won’t be my last!

[YanaKeii · Rating 3 out of 5]

UMM where do I begin..

How are you trying to become a certified relationship with the absolute worse relationship baggage ever and dont believe in therapy or counseling for yourself. Delilah was every bit of delusional and all her relationships. She was selfish, arrogant and borderline a narcissist. She held no accoutability for her actions and was the definetion of a ghost. Her sister, Sal had more sense and then she ruined that relationship. Del was a hot mess. I liked the storyline and felt like it could have been so much more. The ending, I guess, explained her tulmutous life and how she dealed with closeness of others. Her overall outlook on seeking therapy was just mind boggling to want to help others with their relationships. I overall think its a good book just could have made more sense. Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the arc.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminded me of “Maybe You Should Talk to Someone,” except it’s a lot more chaotic, has a thrilling plot line towards the end (my heart is beating really fast— I’ve been thrilled, but shockingly rather than excitingly), and less informational about therapy (i.e., more plot and character-driven).

[Bookish Venturess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love

This was an amazing book. I love that she went through her past and was able to figure out her issues. I love the aspect of the therapist seeing a therapist. The love story was also really good. Overall a great story.

[Susan in Perthshire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sorry, not sorry - but this is not a rom com.

It’s a very well written, dark, psychological analysis of the damage that can be done to a young person and how it can affect their thinking, their emotional growth and their behaviour - unless there is an intervention through the facilitation of an exceptionally good therapist. I’m interested in all the psychological,stuff but I did feel that this went on in too. I h detail, for far too long without real, meaningful progress being made by Delilah. IRL - the progress she needed to make would have taken months - but we didn’t need to be at her side for entire duration.

I loved her sister and her husband - great characters.

The author creates a fabulous setting and a cast of characters who really capture one’s interest. However, I struggled with Delilah even when I was engrossed with her damaged life. Sadly, even whilst I appreciated what had damaged her, (the murder of her mother by her father), and how badly she’s dealt with her trauma, I could not empathise with her. She simply behaved so badly, every time. It was all about her and yet she lacked the insight to understand how damaging she was to herself, her family, her friends and her lovers.

I found the author’s voice incredibly moving but sadly, I didn’t enjoy this as I had expected to. And again, why this is described as a romcom defeats me. It isn’t.
It makes a fascinating read, but if you buy it because you think it’s going to be a traditional romcom - you’ll be very disappointed. But read it as a serious piece of women’s fiction and you’ll be riveted.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sorry, Not Sorry by Frances Mensah Williams
Published by Boldwood Books – Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.

Let me just say this: Sorry, Not Sorry is the kind of book that convinces you you’re signing up for a breezy rom-com, then halfway through, you realize you’ve been emotionally sucker-punched—in the best way possible. Frances Mensah Williams takes a snappy concept and fills it with sharp humor, genuine vulnerability, and a main character who is as frustrating as she is lovable.

Delilah Braithwaite is a trainee relationship counsellor—on paper, she’s supposed to fix other people’s love lives. In reality, she’s a walking contradiction: a professional in love theory who can’t stop self-sabotaging her own relationships. After a particularly ill-timed and tactless breakup advice session, she’s put on leave and forced to do what no emotionally avoidant woman wants to do: confront her own baggage. Her therapist orders introspection. Her sister dares her to take it one step further—find five of her exes and apologize.

Now, the setup screams sitcom. Think: “My Name Is Earl” meets “Eat Pray Love” with a solid dash of “This is going to end badly.” But Williams doesn’t play it safe with slapstick or surface-level redemption arcs. Instead, she hands Delilah a mirror, a journal, a growing sense of discomfort, and basically says: “Start writing your own growth story.”

Each ex Delilah tracks down is more than just a notch on her romantic belt—they’re check-ins with the past versions of herself. The hot mess years. The cold feet years. The “this isn’t trauma, I’m just busy” years. And just when you think she’s skated through the worst of it, in walks Noah—the ex-fiancé she ghosted on their wedding day. If awkward had a leaderboard, this moment would be top tier.

Delilah and Noah’s dynamic is loaded with tension—old love, sharp pain, and that quiet kind of chemistry that doesn’t die just because one of you disappeared in a white dress. Watching them navigate their messy, unresolved history was the most compelling part of the book. There’s a moment between them that I won’t spoil, but let’s just say: if you’ve ever had to face the person you hurt most and still secretly hoped they’d forgive you, this one will hit hard.

What truly makes this book shine is that it isn’t just about romantic redemption. It’s about personal accountability. Delilah’s journey through therapy isn’t just background noise—it’s central. Williams doesn’t treat mental health like a box to tick; she weaves it into the fabric of Delilah’s choices, regrets, and finally, her clarity. And it’s not just about apologizing to others—it’s about understanding why she kept hurting people in the first place. And then doing better.

There’s a line in the book that I scribbled down immediately: “Saying sorry doesn’t undo the pain—it just proves you’re finally ready to stop causing it.” That hit. Because that’s what this story is about. Not about being forgiven, but being honest—with others, and especially yourself.

Delilah is flawed, funny, emotionally guarded, and wildly relatable. She’s not the type of heroine who finds her happy ending in a makeover montage. She earns it through discomfort, honesty, and emotional work. And that’s what makes her unforgettable.

Williams also gives us a solid supporting cast. Delilah’s sister is the kind of brutally honest, deeply loyal sibling everyone needs. The exes aren’t caricatures—they each have distinct personalities and reactions that feel grounded in real emotion. And the therapy scenes? Painfully real and sometimes uncomfortably accurate. I found myself nodding a lot—and occasionally wincing at how close to home some of it felt.

By the end, Sorry, Not Sorry delivers the romantic payoff you hope for—but it earns it. It never cheats the reader with shortcuts. Every smile, every second chance, feels like it’s been through the fire and come out stronger.

This is not just a “feel-good” book. It’s a “feel-everything” book—with jokes. And tissues. And a message that lingers: love is messy, apologies are only the beginning, and healing takes more courage than heartbreak ever did.



#SorryNotSorry #NetGalley #FrancesMensahWilliams #BookReview #BoldwoodBooks #WomensFiction #RomanticComedy #TherapyReads #SecondChances #HealingJourney #EmotionalGrowth #ContemporaryRomance #MessyLove #RelatableReads #LoveAfterMistakes #OwnYourStory #FictionWithDepth

[Sherley's Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 5.0 ⭐
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥: 1.0 🌶️ (Just Kisses)
𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤: 5.0 ⭐

Delilah is bitter, resentful, and utterly jaded. She’s been in and out of relationships since the age of 17 and has left a trail of ghosted men with broken hearts in her wake. Commitment has never been her strong suit, and now, as a trainee relationship counselor, Delilah’s unresolved trauma and baggage has started to seep into her professional life.

After doing more harm than good with her clients, Delilah is told to take a break, work through her issues, and get some help. After all, even counselors need counseling sometimes. So, after being suspended from work and at the urging of her sister Salome, Delilah goes on an apology tour, determined to make amends with the exes that she left behind. She wants to finally take accountability, find closure, and get her job back.

All is going well on her apology tour, but when she finally comes face to face with the man she left at the altar 3 years ago, Delilah discovers her true Achilles’ heel. Will Noah, her former fiancé, accept her apology and give Delilah the closure she so desperately needs, or will their reunion spark something neither of them ever expected?

This was my first read by this author, and I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed 𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲. This story shows us that no matter how much we try to outrun our past, our childhood traumas, and our pain, we will never win. We have to stop and do the work if we want to finally get the healing. We find out that something very traumatic happened to Delilah as a young child, and that thing has really shaken her trust in people. No matter how much training she received at her job, she needed to work through her own issues in therapy in order to come out on the other side. Though she proved to be a somewhat frustrating character when it came to how much she resisted doing the work while in therapy, it showed just how human she was. I loved the therapy rep in this book, and seeing Delilah finally make it through her journey of healing was very rewarding.

As for the MMC Noah, he was such a sweetheart. Love is not something we can easily get over, and though they had been apart for years, he still loved Delilah. I loved how much he yearned to show her that love and helped her through her journey. I do wish, though, that considering their past, both Delilah and Noah had received some individual and couple’s counseling.

In addition to the two main characters, I appreciated the story of Salome and her husband. Though brief, this storyline highlights how different people deal with grief and it also shows that though two people can seem happily married and in love, they still need to put in the work and keep the lines of communication open.

𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤: I received a gifted copy of the e-book from @LoveBookTours, but I did end up listening to the audiobook through Hoopla. The narrator, Jane Ajia, did such a great job! As the sole narrator, she carried this story exceptionally well and made this an unputdownable read for me. I was able to finish the entire book in just one day. I really look forward to listening to more of her narrations.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I think the author did a great job, and I look forward to reading more of her work. This was a story of putting in the work to find one’s healing and giving love a second chance. I recommend, 𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲.

[amaareads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐✨

I thought I was picking up a light rom-com about a messy woman making awkward apologies to her exes. What I got instead was an emotional gut-punch wrapped in humor that had me questioning my own relationship patterns at 2 AM.

Sorry, Not Sorry follows Delilah Braithwaite, a trainee relationship counselor who's ironically terrible at her own love life. After a particularly disastrous couples session (think breaking up clients instead of helping them), she gets put on leave and ordered into therapy. Her sister then dares her to track down five exes and apologize for her past behavior.

What worked for me:

𔓘 Delilah as a protagonist - She's messy, self-sabotaging, and frustratingly relatable. Not your typical romance heroine who gets a makeover and suddenly figures everything out. Her growth feels earned, not handed to her.

𔓘 Noah, the ex-fiancé - Sweet Lord, this man deserved better after being ghosted on his wedding day, but somehow Williams makes you root for them both. His patience and character development made me swoon harder than any typical book boyfriend.

𔓘 The therapy angle was a game-changer, showing real emotional work and trauma instead of just being a background tool. It made the story feel more raw and authentic. Delilah's healing journey feels real, sometimes uncomfortably so. There were moments I had to put the book down because it hit too close to home.

𔓘 The sisterly bond of Delilah and her sister Salome, who provides the perfect balance of tough love and genuine support. The exes aren't just caricatures either; they feel like real people with valid reactions.

𔓘 The deeper message - This isn't about getting forgiveness from others; it's about understanding why you hurt people in the first place and choosing to do better.

What didn't quite work:

𔓘 Some therapy sessions dragged a bit, making progress feel slow and occasionally pulling me out of the story.

𔓘 Occasionally wished it moved faster through Delilah's emotional processing. The progress felt authentic but sometimes drawn out.

𔓘 Delilah’s slow self-improvement stretched out longer than I expected, which tested my patience as a reader.

Don't go into this expecting a breezy romantic comedy. This is therapy with a side of romance, not the other way around. It's about unlearning toxic patterns, confronting childhood trauma, and realizing that healing takes more courage than heartbreak ever did.

Ms. Williams has crafted something special here - a story that proves love isn't about finding someone to complete you, but about becoming whole enough to truly share your life with another person.

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the digital copy

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

📖 Title: Sorry, Not Sorry-a standalone

✍🏾 Author: Frances Mensah William-new to me author

📅Publication date: 9/28/25 | Read: 9/26/25

📃 Format: e-Book 296 pgs.

Genre:
*Adult/Women's Fic
*Contemporary Romance

Tropes:
*2nd chance romance
*revisit exes
*mental health
*secrets/past trauma

👆🏾POV: 3rd person single

⚠️TW: grief, death of parents, murder, suicide

🌎 Setting: England

Summary: After being suspended from her training program for multiple client complaints, Delilah agrees to go to therapy to deal with her own relationship issues. She's training to be a relationship counselor and things aren't going well. Her confidante- her sister Salome- lives next door to her ex-fiancé Noah's mother-Mrs. West. Salome challenges her to reconnect with her five exes she dated 6 months or longer and apologize for ghosting them. She hopes that will give her supervisor and therapist an incentive to reinstate her.


👩🏾 Heroine: Delilah "Del" Braithwaite-relationship counselor trainee

👨🏾 Hero: Noah West- Del's ex-fiancé 3 years ago. Delilah called the wedding off the day before they were to be married.

🎭 Other Characters:

*Salome-Del's sister
*Farhan-Sal's husband + their 2 kids Maya and Arin
*Polly-Del's supervisor
*Armenique-Del's co-worker
*Delilah's exes: Desmond, Kwame, Carl, Remi, and Noah
*Arne Bergen- Del's therapist
*Zazie-Noah's girlfriend, a model
*Mrs. West-Noah's mother, Sal's next-door neighbor


🤔 My Thoughts: This was an emotional read so beware the triggers. Delilah ran away for all her meaningful relationships and through therapy she realized her pattern of leaving when things got serious. She had shared trauma with her sister Salome, who was struggling as a stay-at-home mother who wants to return to work. I thought it was weird for Noah to ask Delilah to help with Zazie and his mother considering she didn't get along with her either. Also, she broke his heart, and I wouldn't want to be involved with an ex-fiancée in my new relationship. I thought Del and Noah got back together too soon, but ultimately Del had a breakthrough and was able to return to work.


Rating: 3.5/5 ✨
Spice level: 1/5 🌶️ off page

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Francis Mensah Williams for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

[Carlina Kinch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for allowing me the privilege of being able to read this book. I really appreciate it.

This book was an extremely quick, well paced read but it's not a laugh out loud romcom at all. Normally in situations like this I would say this was a journey of self discovery but even truly that's not it. This was a journey of forced upon self reflection with a dash of not romance but a dash of getting back with your ex. Now don't get me wrong it's that forced self reflection is really really needed for Del, watching the growth occur I honestly wish more people had situations like this occur where they realize just how much they can impact others and actually care to change when they see it. Del's back story is horrifying and I can completely see how she become how she did.

The romance isn't romance either, it was growth and self discovery that led to a very late ending of the book of coming back together with someone you love for both of them. This book isn't particularly funny either. By funny I mean have you rolling around laughing at moments. They're not here, because this is actually an incredibly serious book of someone working with their past trauma and growing along side it.

That's why I'm rating this so low. If the above was disclosed this would be a fantastic 5⭐ read and I would read it for the growth and psychological insight, but as a romcom no this isn't it at all and it really shouldn't be painted as such. The title too is is iffy because yes for most of this book that is Del's thought process to an outside viewer, but it's not the truth. Once she realizes the truth of all she has done she is sorry and she trys so very hard to learn and make everything right with everyone.

If you're looking for a fantastic book that makes you really think, and unintentionally makes you think of yourself through the conversations with Arne. Than you're going to love this.

Thank you very much again for allowing me the privilege of being to read this book. I really appreciate it, and I really loved the actual story that's hidden inside.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great read from a Ghanian-British author whose social media shows her as a lover of happy endings and plantains. Initially, Sorry Not Sorry was a little slow for me, but once I got into it the pace picked up. Delilah is a relationship therapist in training...and I don't think I'd want to go to seek her advice! She's forced to take some paid time off work to get her ish together and this is when it started to pick up for me.

Del has had a series of failed relationships where she's essentially ghosted her former lovers...and even left one right as they were to be married! Her sister challenges her to find her 5 exes and apologize to them for dumping them without reason. Hilarity ensues when she tracks down her ex-fiancé, Noah and he asks for her help to improve the relationship between his current girlfriend and his impossible-t0-please mother before he will consider forgiving Delilah.

Meanwhile, as a condition of returning to her job, Delilah attends therapy sessions and this is where the book went from a humorous rom-com to a much deeper one with Delilah confronting her past trauma that has impacted her relationships. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book as I found Delilah was relatable.

I won't spoil any of it except to say plantains DO appear in the book! The romance aspect was a little rushed, but I was fine with this as I think the book would have needlessly dragged on otherwise.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Nimisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Boldwood Books for providing me with an e-ARC of *Sorry Not Sorry*!

I picked this one up because I love second-chance romances, and I’m glad to say it delivered. The story does a great job of exploring Delilah’s struggles in both her professional and personal life. It feels authentic, neither exaggerated nor watered down—just the right balance of realism and relatability.

One of my favorite aspects was the portrayal of Delilah’s relationship with her sister and brother-in-law. The bond between the sisters felt genuine and heartwarming, and I appreciated how therapy was depicted as a real tool for growth rather than just a plot device. Watching Delilah open up and work on herself was refreshing and inspiring.

The romance between Delilah and Noah (her ex-fiancé) was another highlight. Their reconnection felt thoughtful, especially as they both confronted old patterns—whether it was Noah learning to set boundaries with his mother or both of them figuring out how to communicate better. Their journey toward rebuilding their relationship was really satisfying to read.

The only drawback for me was that some of the therapy sessions read a little stiff, almost as if lifted from a script, which pulled me out of the story at times. Still, that didn’t overshadow how much I enjoyed the rest of the book.

Overall, *Sorry Not Sorry* is a heartfelt, realistic second-chance romance that I’d definitely recommend to fans of the trope.

[Emma Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

🩷 Blurb -
Trainee relationship counsellor Delilah Braithwaite is better at breaking couples up than bringing them together. But after one break-up too many, she’s suspended and ordered to get to grips with her own baggage if she hopes to get her job back.
Desperate to prove she’s not the problem, Delilah accepts a challenge from her track down five exes and make amends for dumping them all with no good reason. But when she runs into Noah - the fiancé she left at the altar - her plans take a complicated turn.
While Delilah seeks redemption, her own therapy sessions begin to unearth hidden secrets and painful truths she’s long avoided. But only when she’s forced to confront the trauma of her past does she begin to understand that love means a whole lot more than just saying sorry.
Sorry, Not Sorry is a heartwarming, feel-good and hilarious journey of healing, second chances, and the courage it takes to face the honest truth about yourself.
🧡 Review -
I really enjoyed this heartwarming novel. It was such a cute and fun read but also very thought-provoking. I loved the author's writing style and the different mix of characters. I will definitely read more by the author. I highly recommend it.
💝 Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Betta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to the author and Boldwood Books for sliding this ARC in my inbox and giving me the chance to read it before its release date.

Delilah Braithwaite is a trainee relationship counsellor, we find her struggling to keep her previous relationships and experiences out during the counselling sessions so she's challenged by her supervisor to take a step back and focus on herself first.

We learn a lot about Delilah as the pages go on, but I have the feeling that if the big revelation of her childhood trauma would have been explored earlier in the book I, as a reader, could have connected with her and her struggles way better and empathised with her more.
Overall I appreciated a 'non traditional rom-com' where you just know how it's going to end by page 3, and I liked how complex and somehow messed up Delilah was, because all her flaws made her human. I also appreciated that the people around her (her family, colleagues and exes) were ready to challenge her and her behaviour, and they didn't just let everything slide because 'we love you as you are'.
But... she was still a hot mess and such a stubborn main character though, that it made it very hard for me to root for her and her success... Hence why, I have a bit of mixed feelings about this book.
Overall a nice and different read.

[mels · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank the publisher, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for my gifter ARC.

When I picked up this book, I thought it was going to be a light and breezy rom-com but quickly realized this was the journey of Delilah’s character development.

The novel follows Delilah, a couple’s counselor in training, who after a few complicated sessions with clients is sent into temporary leave to figure her life out. With that she goes on an apology tour with her exes to try and fix her own disastrous love life.

There were quite a few things that worked for me, the character development we see from Delilah, the wide range of reactions we get from the exes and how not everything is revealed in the first few chapters.

On the other hand, I felt like the development dragged on quite a bit as well as the therapy sessions making it harder to want to continue with the book as time went on. I was a bit confused with the counselling of your ex with their current partner and breaking the code part.

I felt like the book wanted to convey the message that you are not looking for your other half but that you have to be whole in yourself in order to be able to give for another person.

It was a extremely enjoyable read.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where to begin, this story starts with Delilah leaving her fiancé at the altar and ran away. So what should someone do who can't get their own life and marriage together. Become a couples counselor was the last thing I would imagine, but that is what she has decided to do. But just as in her own life, Delilah struggles to keep her own unresolved relationship trauma from seeping into her couples sessions. When her sister challenges her to make amends with her exes, Delilah quickly learns that facing the fallout of her own choices—and the people she’s hurt—is far more complicated than helping others fix their relationships. Loved Noah. He’s as kind and genuine as they come, even after being hurt by the person he believed was his forever. If Delilah had taken the time to process her family trauma and opened up to him sooner, I can’t help but think they might have found their way back to each other long ago. This is not your typical rom com, this is more about trying to repair what is broken through therapy. This is an interesting spin a your normal rom com. This story offers the introspective twist on a happily ever after. This was my first book by this author, and I will definitely be on the look out for her other books. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

[Ja’Laya Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! Sorry Not Sorry is a heartwarming, funny, and deeply moving story about love, forgiveness, and the messy process of healing. Delilah Braithwaite is such a refreshing main character — flawed, witty, and so real. Watching her journey from avoiding her problems to actually facing them head-on kept me turning the pages. Her dynamic with Noah added a perfect layer of tension and romance, while her therapy sessions gave the story so much emotional depth.

What I Learned:
This story reminded me that healing begins when we stop running from our pain and choose to face it. Apologies mean more when they come with growth and changed behavior. Second chances don’t just happen in romance — they can happen within ourselves too. Therapy isn’t weakness; it’s a sign of strength and courage. And most importantly, love isn’t about perfection — it’s about honesty, vulnerability, and showing up fully.

Overall, this was a heartfelt, empowering read that had me laughing, reflecting, and rooting for Delilah every step of the way. Frances Mensah Williams has crafted a beautiful story about second chances and the power of saying “sorry” — and meaning it. Highly recommend!

[Rayo Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for granting my request to read this e-ARC and provide my honest opinions.

Meet Delilah Braithwaite, a relationship counsellor who always chooses flight over fight—which explains why her sister convinces her to track down five exes and finally make amends for leaving without explanation.

This story shines a light on the importance of therapy and counselling. Taking therapy doesn’t mean you’re “broken” and need fixing—it’s about understanding your triggers and becoming more self-aware. It also explores how childhood trauma shapes the way we build relationships with others.

Don’t pick this up expecting a rom-com—it’s not that. Instead, go in with an open mind. Though fictional, it’s packed with lessons on unlearning toxic patterns and learning healthier ways to love yourself and others. And to anyone struggling, let this book remind you that getting help is not weakness. Sending you love 🫶🩷

Thank you once again for the e-ARC.

⚠️ Triggers: mental health struggles, death of parents, childhood trauma, unhealthy relationship dynamics.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delilah and her sister, Salome, had a traumatic childhood and have had to live with the aftermath all their life. Delilah finds that it has affected every serious relationship that she's had.

Delilah is ordered by her boss to undergo therapy after a forced leave of absence/suspension as a condition to consider reinstating her as a relationship counselor in training.

Delilah carries hidden trauma and pain and slow begins to open up to her therapist. During her suspension, her sister gives her a list of five exes to seek forgiveness from in an effort to show her boss she is working on herself. Her last ex, Noah, was the one she was truly in love with. Will she get a second chance with him or will her past keep them apart?

This book is about healing and second chances and that it takes a lot of work to get to a healthy and happy place. I did think that forgiveness from the exes came too quickly and could have been expanded upon. Overall, I did enjoy this book and look forward to reading future books from this author.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

[Gem ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relationships are complicated, everyday Delilah sees couples struggling to communicate in her job as a relationship counsellor but increasingly she's beginning to find it difficult to not impart her own judgement and advice. One outburst too many finds her suspended from work with the ultimatum to get therapy and tackle her own history of relationships. With her sister Salome's help she finds a solution, to track down past boyfriends and apologise. This plan brings a whole host of consequences as Delilah begins to unpick her past and eventually the carefully protected trauma of her past is forced to the surface and Delilah has to work through her own inner feelings to get back the career she loves as well as everything and everyone she cares for.
I loved Delilah, I could see there was a lot of conflict going on and that she was focused too much on fixing things for others instead of fixing herself. There's a great cast of characters and although the plot is a slow burn to get to where Delilah's secret is revealed, it is very worth the wait and is a beautiful heartwarming read.

[Ann-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delilah’s doing the last part of her training, the practical experience, to become a relationship counsellor, a job she really enjoys. Unfortunately, in certain situations she lets her personal feelings take over and has had several clients walk out of the counselling. Polly, her boss, orders Delilah to take a leave of absence and have therapy to resolve her own issues so she can become the counsellor Polly knows she can be.

Delilah’s relationship history is littered with her dumping her exes with no explanation, even Noah whom she split from the day before their wedding. Her sister Salome challenges her to get in touch with some of her previous boyfriends, including Noah, to explain why she left them and get their forgiveness.

A very powerful and emotional journey for Delilah with a great cast of characters, some of whom she helps to heal and some who help to heal her, especially when she finally admits to herself what her real problem is.

Thanks to Net Galley and Boldwood Books for an ARC for my honest review

[Firetruckmama · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.

“Sorry, Not Sorry” is by Frances Mensah Williams. I greatly enjoyed the writing in this book - it was engaging and easy to follow. This book follows trainee relationship therapist Delilah as she is suspended from her job and ordered to go to therapy herself (something I believe most therapists normally do). Delilah dislikes the idea of going to therapy herself, but realizing that it’s go or find (yet) another job, she goes. Delilah is a flawed character - which made her feel more real. I liked Salome, Delilah’s sister, and the relationship both women had with Salome’s husband, Farhan - that also felt very real. This wasn’t a typical romance book, where in the case of this book the romance takes a backseat to Delilah figuring out herself - and why she tends to suddenly drop men she’s dating (which makes an interest quandary for a relationship therapist, yes?). I thought the book was well done.

[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delilah is terrible at her job. As a relationship counsellor in training, she’s supposed to be helping bring couples closer - not breaking them up. When she’s put on leave, she must go to therapy herself and figure out her path forward. And through the process, she’s also encouraged to find her exes and work through what brought her to where she is today.

I went into opening the first page of this novel believing it was a romance - but it’s so much more than that. Delilah learning about herself through therapy, and how she needs to heal herself before finding someone to share her life with. I loved her relationship with her sister Salome. She was a beautiful support system for her. And Noah? Sigh - Noah was wonderful.

I did enjoy this a lot - it brought up so many questions and reflections of my own. I enjoyed the author’s writing, and would definitely read future works.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

[Trinna Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sorry Not Sorry is a deeply moving story that explores the complexities of pain, healing, and resilience. Through raw honesty and heartfelt storytelling, the author takes readers on a journey of confronting trauma, acknowledging the weight of the past, and discovering the strength to move forward. The narrative blends sorrowful moments with hopeful ones, illustrating how healing is not linear but possible.

My only issue with the book is that I expected a rom-com, but it is actually a serious and sometimes sad story. Other than that, it is beautifully written, poignant, and powerful. While it may be triggering for some readers at times, the narrative was also filled with hope and resilience. What I loved most was how it demonstrated that moving forward from difficult experiences is possible. Overall, a meaningful and memorable read.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

[Emily | bookswith.emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sorry, Not Sorry was such an entertaining book. I really enjoyed it and I found it to be a unique concept. I found the book leaned more towards women’s fiction with romance rather than a romance book. I like how the book focused on Black women, and the struggles the sisters faced as a family, which doesn’t define them.

The book follows the story of Delilah and her new career as a relationship therapist. She has a rocky start as she navigates her life as a therapist. During sessions with couples, she tends to take the women’s side which leads to her supervision putting her on leave and suggesting therapy. Her sister, Salome, gives her a task to contact her exes who she broke up with over the phone and blocked to gain emotional growth.

I found myself wanting to keep dipping into this book as I felt drawn to the characters and the story. I thought the characters were well developed and I could see the growth, especially in Delilah. She went through her ups and downs throughout the book and it felt realistic. The book was written well and the writing style was captivating. I definitely want to read more from this author.

[Bianca Duthie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has an interesting premise to it. A relationship counsellor who cannot keep a relationship and avoids her own therapy - sounds intriguing right!! Well, I definitely enjoyed seeing Delilah lean into the therapy and discover how to deal with her traumas, because a lot of the time I wanted to shake her and tell her to wise up!
I thought the relationship between Delilah and Salome was really wonderful, and when the past history was revealed I would have liked to have seen a scene of the sisters confronting it together.
I thought the idea of confronting your exes to explain your actions could have had a lot of heartbreak but also humour, that didn’t quite hit the spot for me.
Noah seemed like a bit of a tool at first, but it was great he was able to articulate what heartbreak had done to him rather than just sweeping it aside. It showed a real vulnerability in a male character which I love to see.
It's a super quick read that you can easily pass a few hours with.

[M Soh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Sorry, Not Sorry has plenty of funny moments as one would expect given the premise (Delilah was truly not the best couples counselor at the start) but also has a lot of exploration into mental health and those things in our past which influence our behavior in the present. I loved Delilah and her sister, Salome’s, relationship, as well as Salome and Farhan’s relationship as both a lighter counterpoint to Delilah’s own past loves and as a fascinating study of how two siblings might see trauma play out in how they deal with it. This book has some heavier events but they are done well, enhancing the reading experience. Ultimately I loved reading about it Delilah getting to a healthier place and that reflected well in her life.

[Treasure · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initial thoughts:
I thought, I was going to read a warm and fuzzy romance comedy but I was blown away by the deep and sensitive themes explored in this story. You would be surprised how loaded this story is.

Book overview:
Sorry, Not Sorry is a story of healing, second chances, and redemption.
We follow Trainee relationship counsellor Delilah Braithwaite, who is forced to rip the band aid of her own trauma and baggage to get her job back.
She goes on a quest to apologise and make things right with 5 of her ex’s. As she follow through on her older sister Sel’s challenge, she realises that she is still in love with her ex fiancé Noah,who she left at the alter 3 years prior.
Can she openly discuss and work through her childhood trauma , can she share her fears and struggles with Noah, who she wants a future with?

Read the story to find out