“Jane dives deep into what drives an artist and the complex and sometimes unknowable aspects that come with bringing art to life on canvas. There are lessons for life, for making brave choices, for the value of art, and for trusting your heart in her beautiful words. I highly recommend her exquisite novel.”—Sarah C. B. Guthrie, MFA, artist, blogger, and host of the Joy Workshop

“I read Should Have Told You Sooner in two days! You know that thing where you choose reading over everything else you could or should be doing because you just want to get back to the story? Yup.”—Nancy Bernhard, author of The Double Standard Sporting House

“In Should Have Told You Sooner, Jane Ward once again proves her story-telling prowess with a compelling narrative about missed opportunities, the cruelty and kindness of chance, and the difficult but rewarding work of making complex life repairs. The novel shifts gracefully between points of view and timelines, underscoring how little (and, occasionally, how much) we understand about how our decisions shape our lives — and the lives of those we love. Much like the imagined paintings central to the story, this book is beautifully layered, deep in its themes and questions, and entirely worth the price of admission!”—Charlie Watts, author of Arrangements, winner of Carve Magazine’s 2015 Raymond Carver Contest and an April 2024 Selected Shorts choice; and Of Course, Obviously, Overwhelmingly, winner of the 2024 Adrift Short Story Contest