Should've Been You by Nicole McLaughlin is a good fit for readers who enjoy exploring themes of rediscovering feelings for a childhood friend and navigating complex relationships within a close-knit community.

After reading the blurb, I was interested in the premise that it alluded to. So of course I dived into this story expecting more of a background story on their childhoods and how it all came to be all muddled for Becca that she felt the need to not pursue her feelings towards Jase.

First, I didn't pay enough attention too learn that this was a novella and not a full-length novel. That's on me. Second, I didn't know it was part of a series. Again, that's on me. Although it didn't have an effect on my reading since I had no problem in that regard. I, however, had a problem distinguishing Becca and Jase's new-found connection. It seemed to me like these characters just came together out of the blue. The little history that made it to the page really didn't contribute to establishing a connection between the two, so in the end I didn't become invested in the Becca and Jase's romance. In the end, Becca and Jase's pairing felt rushed and convenient to me instead of real.

All in all, an okay read that could have been better if the romance and backstory had been expanded upon more.

Jase, Hannah, and Becca...a tangled triangle of wanting something someone else has and not truly knowing themselves on their own. There were sweet and steamy moments between Jase and Becca, but because things aren't as clear as I prefer them to be when physical and emotional attachments are involved, I couldn't get into the story. Wanting one thing while trying to keep another on the back burner isn't okay. One twin going after something the other twin wants when they know it's not for them isn't okay. It wasn't a bad story, just really not something I enjoyed when the actuality of the story didn't meet my expectations from the synopsis.

One thing I really appreciated about Should’ve Been You was that for 18 years the hero had a weird co-dependent friendship with the heroine’s twin sister; one that kept the hero and heroine at odds but as they spend time together and really begin to know one another the attraction they’ve felt for each other and the crush they had on one another for years bubbles to the surface. Complicated, sweet, with a bit of healing, laughter, and love, Should’ve Been You was an enjoyable read.

For years Jase Beckford has been a part of the Walters family, ever since Tim Walters saved him one Christmas Eve night from a severe beating at the hands of his father. He’d been friends with Tim’s girls, two years younger than him, but after that fateful night he was always more especially with Tim, his now late wife, and Hannah, one of the twins. He had Hannah were close; they were each other’s plus one at events, they hung out together, they helped each other, and they loved one another, but never in the physical sense and while Jase had pondered the why of that for a long time, it all came back that while he adored Hannah, for years he his eyes had been on Becca, Hannah’s twin sister, even though years ago Becca made it clear he wasn’t good enough for her, or so he thought.

I liked that these two had history, but their history of keeping their distance from one another was because of something they both believed the other had said and done. When they see each other again after many years of not spending any time together, the attraction between them burns brightly despite the fact Becca is seeing another man and expecting an engagement ring. Thrown when a life altering event happens to Hannah, both Becca and Jase find it hard to stay away from one another.

This was a complicated pairing and I respected the fact that there wasn’t an easy fix and it took some time for them to find their way to one another. This book was emotional on many levels as Becca and Hannah must work though some sisterly issues, they both must deal with their father’s new relationship, and the men in both of their lives leave them feeling confused and unsure about the future.

Should’ve Been You was entertaining and while I would have liked a bit more character development I still enjoyed this story.

I was surprised this was also a novella. I thought it was a full-length novel, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. However, it is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. The series is composed of novellas that focus on a different couple, so they don’t have to be read in order.

Twin sisters Hannah and Becca grew up with Jase, a very cute neighbor. Becca has crushed on him since almost the beginning. Hannah and Jase were best friends and Becca was almost always left out.

Growing up, Hannah and Becca’s parents kept an eye on Jase once it was known that his father was abusive. He became a part of their lives and household. Due to manipulations, Jase always thought Becca didn’t like him, and was crushing on her in silence, too.

This was definitely a second chance romance. The plotline was clear and their pasts were easily established although you could see the writing on the wall from way back then. That backstory was important to the characters’ development, feelings over the years, and the current situation.

Becca comes home for the holidays and discovers that Hannah is engaged. But not to the only person everyone thought would be the man for her. Not Jase. Not knowing how he fits into Hannah’s life anymore, Jase pulls hard on the reins and refuses to be Hannah’s first lifeline. With an almost empty life now, Jase has the opportunity to spend quality time with Becca, who discovers she’s not getting engaged as she thought would happen and also has time to spend. When the two pair up and reminisce, things become crystal clear to them both.

Jase Beckford lives on a farm with his mom. He's in the Army National Guard. Jase lives next door to Hannah and Becca and has most of his life. He actually, practically grew up at their house. Their dad rescued him one night from his abusive father. He'll never forget that night when he was in Becca's bed and she tended to him. He liked her so much thinking how sweet, kind and caring she was. However, he overheard a conversation and it led him to believe Becca was selfish and snooty. Every since that night him and Hannah have been best friends.

Becca has had a crush on Jase since she was a child. However, she knew her twin, Hannah, and Jase were an item. It was too painful to see, so when she was older she moved away. She comes back home and there's Jase in her house early one morning as she's cooking breakfast in clothes that don't quit cover her. What happens when her heart still is in love with one man, but she's practically engaged to another? Also, with a twist what happens when a set of twins is interested in the same man?

I enjoyed this sappy romance book! It certainly proved how life can throw you in a different direction when someone isn't truthful. I loved Jase and Becca and was cheering them on the whole story!!

This is one of those sweet novels that makes you believe that true love is just around the corner. The reality of the characters situation is so true, that few people acknowledge that their significant others have somehow strayed. However, blaming your partner, and pushing him/her away should is not a solution.

It is nice that that Rebecca and Brian are not married, what if they are?

It is are to have a second chance in love. This book gave us a simple way on how we should always care for the people around us.

Jase and Becca have know each other since they were children. They each had feelings for each other but neither knew that as Becca’s twin sister Hannah lied to Jase as she was jealous of Becca and made him believe Becca hated him and Hannah was Jace’s best friend and he believed her. Becca had crushed on Jase since she was ten and he was twelve. Everyone believed Hannah and Jase would someday take their relationship to romance but that never happened. Becca’s father had brought Jace - when he was fourteen-home one Christmas Eve as his father was an abusive alcoholic and beat him and his mother had never stopped her husband. So they seen Jase a lot at as they grew up but Jase was always with Hannah. Both Hannah and Becca teachers but Becca moved away . Becca was home for a few days for the holidays. Jace had went away to go in the service now he is home and started a cattle ranch and lives with his mother. Becca has now know Jase for eighteen years. Than Hannah gets engaged bit not to Jase but to her on again off again musician boyfriend. Jase no longer knows his place in Hannah’s life and starts hanging out with Becca in his spare time they both than find out they had been crushing in each other when they were younger. But Becca has a boyfriend Brian back home and she expected a proposal during the holidays. Jase and Becca end up together and Becca had cheated on Brian.
I really liked this story but there were also things I didn’t like. Becca and Jace had hot chemistry bit I didn’t like the cheating cal Brian and end it before being with Jace. This was a sweet romantic read except for the cheating that took some of the sweetness away. But I did really enjoy the building up of Jace and Becca’s relationship. I thought twins usually Had a special bond not the meanness and conniving Hannah displayed toward her twin with her lie. I was glad Jase and Becca found each other. I found it hard to like Hannah after what she did to Becca with her lies. I advise you to read the other books in this series for a smoother read. This was a novella and I think with everything that went on in the book it should have been longer, a full length novel maybe. Anyway I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I recommend it.

Third book from Man Enough series. Jase is a National guards man, just like the other two books.
Becca and Jase has been neighbors since their childhood. Jase is back at his childhood home to take care of his mother and raising cattle. He wanted to live a quiet life until Becca showed up..
Becca was back home taking care of her father and she wanted to spend some time before holiday arrives. Becca had biggest crush on Jase when they were growing up but she couldn’t get close to him because she was timid and shy and plus he was closer to her twin sister Hannah. She always known and assumed Hannah and Jase will be together soon or later.
When she saw Jase was back, flood of feelings were coming back. Becca was expecting an engagement from her current boyfriend and when she finds out he was not proposing to her, she decided to go see Jase.
Jase and Becca spends a lovely night but that creates more problems for both. Her boyfriend is back and wants her back and Hannah is back asking for Jase and when Becca sees Jase hugging Hannah, Becca decided to move forward.
Becca need to think for herself before she makes what she wants. She wanted to find herself before she pursues.
Very interesting dynamic between Hannah and Becca. Both wanted to Jase for different reasons. It was good second chance romance. at times it just created some angst. I would give 3 ⭐️ 1/2
I can’t wait to read the next one....

Thanks to Netgalley and Swerve publishing for ARC in exchange for honest review.

I loved Jase and Becca. I have to say that they may be my fave characters yet. I love second chance romance and this hit me right in the feels and made me feel all gooey!! This is just feel-good romance at its best!!

**Copy Provided by Netgalley and St Martins Press for an honest review**

I was just thinking that if you’d been my middle-school teacher, I would not have been able to focus… All men— no matter their age—can appreciate a beautiful woman. Even teachers are fair game for the spank bank.

This novella was a fun read and is mainly about friends finding themselves in a situation in which they finally feel able to say they had a crush on each other, but due to a petty sister, thought that the other did not really like them at all.

I really liked Becca, but i though that Jace was a bit of a wet blanket when it came to Hannah and it is only with her getting engaged does he finally, really, move on with his life without her as his 'significant' other.

The story flows well and can be read quite quickly and can certainly be read as a stand alone book as i have not read any of the previous books.

Sweet second chance love story between childhood friends. Jase Beckford grew up in an abusive home and was taken in by the Walters family. Twins Becca and Hannah are complete opposite but both have a soft spot for the boy living with them. When Jase comes back home he realizes he might have feelings for one of the twins, Becca. Becca has been holding back her feelings for Jase since the beginning but wanted to step aside for her sister. Will Hannah try to sabotage what could be a happily ever after for the boy she grew up and the sister she loves?

Although this is book three in the Man Enough series it is a stand alone. Good writing, sweet story.

Should've Been You by Nicole McLaughlin is the the third book in the Man Enough series, which consists of four books total. Even though I only read this one, I did not have any problem understanding what was going on and really enjoyed the story. This would be an especially fun book to read over Christmas because it mostly takes place during that time of year. I found the story of Becca and Jase to be sweet and one that I was thinking about even when I was not reading it.

This book isn't very long. However it doesn't need to be as its very hot and steamy! The story is easy to follow about two friends who realise they have been in love, with each other, since childhood.

Very good second chance (kind of) story, Jase and Becca were great together. It was wonderful to see them get together after all of the misconceptions were cleared up.

This is my third Nicole McLaughlin and sadly I didn't like it nearly as much as the other two. The writing felt more awkward and I could never connect with the characters. I will continue to look for her books, but I won't likely look for any backlist.

Jase spent years desiring someone who didn’t want him. Being near her made him want a future he couldn’t possibly never have. When he saw her again his heart stopped beating. Having her return his affections was a miracle he never expected. Great story and realizing sometimes the truth can open up the door to Love you’ve been denied for far too long.

Hannah Walters and Jase Beckford had been best friends ever since that Christmas Eve that Hannah’s father, Tim, carried a bruised and beaten Jase into the house, making Hannah’s twin Becca feel left out and overshadowed by the closeness Hannah and Jase shared. After retiring from the Army, Jase returned home to start a cattle business, on land that he rented from Tim, while living with his mother to save money.

Becca had long envied Hannah’s easy familiarity with Jase, believing them to be a couple, but when Hannah gets engaged, Jase and Becca realize they have always had feelings for one another. Hannah’s delight at her engagement is tinged with jealousy that Jase and Becca are beginning a relationship, while Becca’s former boyfriend shows up on Christmas Day in an attempt to win her back, upsetting Jase and confusing Becca.

Of course, Becca and Jase get together. You knew that from the beginning. This is one of those HEAs that’s a nice, easy read, with characters you can relate to, because we’ve all had a crush from afar (or close up) that we didn’t feel comfortable talking about with anyone, let alone the person we’re crushing on. Though this is the third in the Man Enough series, Should’ve Been You reads well as a stand-alone.

I normally hate novellas bec I think they're often rushed or trying to cram too much in a few chapters. But I didn't feel like anything was missing from the story in this one. Maybe it's because that I knew that the MC's already had a past, a connection, and so the set-up was more believable.

Jake and Becca were sweet, sexy, and great together. I liked the pace of the story. I enjoyed the dialogue. A nice, pleasant read.

Should’ve Been You is a sweet, fun and sexy romance between two people who would never have thought they would have a relationship.

Becca and Jase have known each other their whole lives but never really knew the other well enough despite Jase being so close to Becca’s sister Hannah. We find out the reason for this being that Hannah had jealously told them both lies in order to prevent the two from ever becoming too close. While you want to be mad at her, you almost can’t blame her for wanting to keep Jase close! He is everything you could want in a man – kind, thoughtful, sexy and more. He had a difficult past that has forever changed the way he views relationships and sometimes even himself.

When the two are re-united again without the pressure of Hannah possibly being in the picture, sparks fly and boy do they fly! You can see how perfect these two would be for each other if they would just get over their shyness and lack of trust. They also have Hannah looming over their relationship – she controls Jase and can sometimes possibly without meaning to manipulate his feelings.

This was a sweet, fun, romantic read that I enjoyed from start to finish. It was well written and the characters were developed nicely. It had a great story of putting yourself out there and trusting in yourself and someone else, regardless of what has happened in your past.