It Should Have Been Us: A Small Town, Second Chance Sports Romance (Bluebonnet Creek Book 1)

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars | 2,526 ratings

Price: 5.99

Last update: 12-25-2024


About this item

My high school sweetheart, the boy who shattered my heart, is back in our small town, and there will be no avoiding him for the next two weeks…


Only there is nothing boyish about Miguel Fernandez. The NFL’s best rookie defensive end is even more wickedly handsome than he was four years ago—tall, with abs for days, all that unruly hair, and eyes so dark they swallow you whole.

And that’s exactly what he’s doing every time our paths cross.

I shouldn’t let it affect me. After all, there was a good reason why we broke up in the first place. But no matter how much I try to put some distance between us, it’s impossible to stay away when our childhood friends are getting married.

Not only is he attending the wedding. He is in the wedding—the best man to my maid of honor. There will be no escaping the boy who destroyed me completely with his betrayal or stopping the secrets I kept from coming out…

NOTE: It Should Have Been Us contains dark and mature themes appropriate for readers 18+. For the full list of trigger warnings please visit author's website.


From the Publisher

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E-book Couple Paperback Discreet Paperback Audiobook Next in the series! Go back to where it all started!
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Customer Reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars
2,526
4.2 out of 5 stars
2,526
4.0 out of 5 stars
5
4.2 out of 5 stars
2,526
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4.3 out of 5 stars
1,105
Price $5.99 $19.99 $19.99 $5.99 $5.99 $5.99
Other formats: Included in Kindle Unlimited. A beautiful couple cover with glossy finish. A gorgeous glossy cover with stunning black and white interior and included bonus epilogue! Coming soon to audio! Narrated by Callie Dalton & Tor Thom. What will happen when single dad finds out his son's new teacher is his one night stand and she's pregnant with his baby? Golden boy falls for a new girl, but she's not interested in finding love!

Small town, big secrets, and a love that refuses to stay in the past...

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About It Should Have Been Us:
  • small town romance
  • second chance romance
  • football romance
  • childhood best friends to lovers
  • it's always been you
  • forced proximity
  • emotional damage

Miguel Fernandez, the NFL's defensive star, is back in town, and so is the storm of emotions he left behind. Forced to work together to give their best friends the wedding of their dreams, two ex-lovers can't run away from the memories. Can he win back the heart he once shattered or has their love been doomed from the start?

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"Be prepared to have ALL the feels when you read Becky and Miguel's story!" - Melody, SC Book Addict

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"The best of the small town romance! This one will break your heart and mend it all over again." - Nina, Life of a Bookworm

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"I went on such an emotional rollercoaster with this book, and honestly, I loved every single minute of it!" - Lou, theeloureader


Top reviews from the United States

  • Noor
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good friends to lovers, second chance, small town romance
    Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2024
    This was a new to me author and I'm glad I gave it a try. It was well written with barely any errors and I enjoyed the plot and characters.
    The MMC is a broody, sexy football player who goes to play football after a big fight with his dad, who wasn't happy he was leaving his small town and ranch to play football.
    The FMC is a mentally and emotionally strong and independent woman who has taken up the responsibility of her family.
    The leads were childhood friends and high-school sweethearts but distance and other circumstances meant they couldn't last soon after Miguel left.
    Miguel returns for his best friends wedding and they can't help but run into each other again in their small town and the attraction was just as strong. But things are just as complicated as before and there are secrets that would change everything.
    The story started off as well-paced but during the last third of the book it felt like it started to drag just a little. And there parts that I felt were a repetitive but overall was a good read and I look forward to the next book of the series.
  • Kaylee Hayes
    4.0 out of 5 stars ify
    Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2024
    Reading this book, I got to a couple of parts within the story where Rebecca’s behavior was just frustrating. Like I understood the trauma, but at the same time it bothered me how her stubbornness was. But I will say the end was also easily predictable.
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Heart wrenching book some triggers
    Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2024
    Great read and well written now for the 2nd book in the series.

    There are some triggers to be aware of such as miscarriage and Alzheimer’s disease as well as injury in active duty.
  • The Worms
    3.0 out of 5 stars she broke his heart when she left, now he’s back but can he forgives her?
    Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2023
    After 3 years of leaving home Miguel Fernandez has finally returned to Bluebonnet Creek for the upcoming wedding of his highschool best friends. When he left three years ago to go to college to play football and make it pro, he never thought he had to come back. Especially because of the pain of his highschool sweetheart breaking up with him without a reason. When he finally sees Rebecca Williams he doesn’t realize how his anger for her could be overshadowed by the love he still has for her deep inside of him. But he will be in and out of Bluebonnet as soon as the wedding is over. But their meddling friends keep conning them into projects together to prepare for the wedding. But Rebecca is hiding a secret on why she left Miguel and never looked back. Can they get over the anger they have towards each other? And what about when their feelings start to come back to the surface especially when their time together has a new expiration date lingering soon. Is it too late to fix their broken hearts?

    ???? Small Town Romance
    ???? Pro Football Romance
    ???? Second Chance
    ???? Childhood Friends
    ???? Forced Proximity
    ???? Dual POV

    This was my first read by Anna B Doe! It was definitely longer than my normal reads but still beautifully written. The characters had lots depth and development from each of them and also the side characters. I personally thought it started out slow which cause me to take a little longer to read but around the 60% mark it really sped up! Overall a very good read!
  • Clara
    4.0 out of 5 stars Young, hearfelt love
    Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2023
    Why did it take me so long to read Anna B. Doe? I'm not sure, but after It Should Have Been Us, I know I have to catch up. She drew me in with this second chance, enemies to lovers, and small-town romance, and now I can't get enough of her characters. I need their stories (some are already available, others will come soon...)

    This book is angsty and goes back and forth between the present and the past. NFL player Miguel Fernandez returns to Bluebonnet Creek for his best friend's wedding. He hasn't set foot there since he left for college four years ago. The first night he is in town, he sees Rebecca, his former best friend/high school sweetheart and the one person who broke his heart.

    She hates him and tries everything to avoid him. But they are soulmates, and everyone knows it. When they finally give in, they agree to keep their relationship casual. After all, Miguel will leave after the wedding to resume his NFL career. Rebecca's life is anchored to the town, her business, and her family.

    As their story develops, more details about their relationship and what led to their breakup are revealed. It's easy to blame Rebecca for it. But the truth is that they were young, and she had a lot on her plate. And while they are older and wiser, they are still in their early 20s. Anna B. Doe captures perfectly what this entitles, to the point that it took me back in time, making me think about my first "serious" love.

    I'm excited about what is to come, and I can't wait to go back to Bluebonnet Creek.
  • Lexi
    5.0 out of 5 stars love it!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2024
    This book was possibly one of the best books I’ve read. The whole plot, and just the intensity of it goes so well together. If you love romance, or anything along the lines of romance, I truly think this book is for you! 10/10
  • Nikki
    5.0 out of 5 stars Anna always gives us her best!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2023
    It Should Have Been Us is book 1 in the Bluebonnet Creek Series and this couple is one that I’ve been impatiently waiting for since they were first introduced to us.

    We met Miguel and Rebecca in Kiss Me First. Emmett’s and Kate’s story and even though Miguel and Rebecca were not main characters they played a huge part. They have history together. So when Anna announced this book I was excited and couldn’t wait for it.

    One thing out of many that Anna B Doe excels at is she can deliver a great romance book but she doesn’t make it easy for her characters to get their HEA. She makes them and her readers work for it. When you’re reading a book by her you except the heartache. You know she’s going to have you emotional. But in the end it’s always worth it.

    This book was no different. Miguel and Rebecca are end game. But like I said they have to work for their HEA and it’s wasn’t easy.

    It Should Have Been Us is everything you want in a romance story. It’s written extremely beautifully. The characters are lovable and will leave you wanting more. I think I have said this before and if not I’ll say it now…..Anna writes her books the way you picture a movie would be. Her books always make me wish they were a movie.

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