First time reading this author, and I will certainly be reading more from her. Her writing style was beautiful, and this story was heart WRENCHING. While I didn’t love the way they talked about marriage, it was very, very realistic. And the way she handled depression, loss, healing and therapy was profoundly real, and while heartbreaking, also very beautiful.

I want to thank Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for allowing me to read a digital ARC of Kennedy Ryan’s “Before I Let Go.” Although I received approval to read this novel before its November 15, 2022, release date, I only recently had the opportunity to delve into it. I apologize for the delay in reading the book and submitting a review.

I truly enjoyed reading about Josiah’s and Yasmen’s courtship, marriage, break-up, and co-parenting of their two children. The dissolution of their marriage was heartbreaking, and I admired that they still found a way to manage a business together, a testament to their resilience and maturity. I also appreciated that Yasme and Josiah still loved each other and were willing to do the hard work to resolve past issues and heartbreaks through therapy to build a stronger relationship. The novel had many positives - the friendship Yasmen had with her best friends Hendryx and Soledad; those two sisters were extraordinary, and they never tore Josiah down when he and Yasmen were separated or during their discussions. I also appreciated reading about a black man, heck, a black family, seeking therapy to deal with past traumas. However, while I enjoyed the novel, I found the sex scenes to be too explicit, drug out, and, at times, unrealistic.

Overall, I will recommend "Before I Let Go" to others because of its strong character development and its exploration of important themes such as love, forgiveness, and healing.

4 out of 5 stars

I really enjoyed it. Although it felt more like a women's fiction than romance. The writing is a highlight along with the emotions it brings out.

If there is one thing Kennedy Ryan is going to do, she is going to rip your heart out and piece it all back together between the words of the book she writes. This one is just beautiful, heartbreaking and she is incredible.

A deeply emotional and compelling story about love, loss, and second chances. The storyl follows Yasmen and Josiah Wade, a divorced couple who find themselves drawn back to each other despite their painful past. Ryan masterfully explores themes of grief, mental health, and healing, making the characters’ journeys both relatable and heart-wrenching. The writing is eloquent and the characters are well-developed, making it a captivating read from start to finish.

If you enjoy stories that delve into the complexities of relationships and personal growth, this book is definitely worth checking out!

This was a great book!! I was a little hesitant to read it because I thought it was going to be too sad for me to read because of the storyline about grief, but it was well-written, and I really enjoyed it!! The topics were introduced at a good pace and was very relatable to everyday lives. There were happy times and there were sad times but the overall message of love, honesty, and trust shines through and can help people navigate their feelings and emotions in a positive way.

Before I Let Go is a beautiful novel about second chances, healing, family, and love. This story is so heartbreaking but there's so many beautiful moments that make the journey worth it. Yasmin and Josiah have gone through so much. But they're truly meant to be and they find their way back to each other. This book deals with some difficult topics that I think Kennedy Ryan handled with so much care. I also loved the mental health representation in the novel. Kennedy Ryan is one of the best writers and this story is truly unforgettable.

Was hesitant about this story but it blew my mind! Loved it. I was sucked in and truly felt what the FMC was going thru with her husband and kids. It was messy and not my usual preference (separated/dating other people) but has a happy ending. Emotional rollercoaster but I think that’s why it really stand out to me from other books I’ve been reading.

Grief is hard but grief with children and a spouse takes it to a new level. Ryan has written an absolute masterpiece that people married or single can relate to. Doing the necessary work to continue life after losing people close to you is challenging. While the story is fictional the storyline given to us mirrors a real day to day of a family struggling through grief.

Packed with love and emotion!

A beautiful and heartwrenchingly told story on love, lost, family and redemption. I enjoyed reading Wade and Yasmen's journey..about their family, their losses and then everything coming together in the end! Loved it!

Kennedy Ryan's writing beautifully portrays a poignant and realistic love story. The book delicately explores the struggles within a marriage that seems unbreakable but slowly disintegrates into a divorce after the couple loses a child. Ryan provides a refreshingly honest and positive portrayal of depression and therapy. I appreciate how the book sheds light on the fact that love alone cannot always save a marriage. Highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a thoughtful, emotional, mature second-chance romance.

This book exceeded all expectations. I’ve never felt so seen in a book. The real depictions of depression really hit close for me and seeing how this second chance couple navigated grief and loss was healing. Thank you Kennedy for this amazing story!

“Before I Let Go” by Kennedy Ryan is a new favorite and I am still reeling from this captivating story of Yasmen and Josiah, a divorced couple who come together as a team for their family while simultaneously navigating their hearts and their undeniable pull towards each other. This epic journey through love and loss is a testament to Ryan’s incredible writing.

It’s not a romcom BUT the banter and the inner narrative will make you snicker or choke up laughing. With elements of child loss, depression, and the freakin’ need for therapy, Kennedy tackles serious issues with care. Her writing is highlight-worthy and the pages throughout might be too hot to handle for some but so so so worth it.

I’ve never had a loss like Yasmen and Josiah, but I can certainly resonate with loss, and so I very much appreciate the beauty in the writing here:

“Our traumas, the things that injure us in this life, even over time, are not always behind us. Sometimes they linger in the smell of a newborn baby. They surprise us in the taste of a home-cooked meal. They wait in the room at the end of the hall. They are with us. They are present. And there are some days when memories feel more real than those who remain, than the joys of this world.”

Based on reviews from other readers, I can tell that this book isn’t for me. It will be too triggering and sad for me, so I’m unable to read it. But, if you enjoy emotional romances, this could be the book for you! If I ever change my mind, I will come back and give a full review. Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this book!

Loved this complicated love story with many unexpected twists I didn't see coming. Ryan is a new to me author and looking forward to reading more.

I really enjoyed the slow burn of their love story. I did think it a bit predictable in the beginning but still enjoyed the story

This was my first Kennedy Ryan book and I ABSOLUTELY loved it. I am kicking myself for not reading it sooner. This is a beautiful story or love, loss, family and second chances. It was so refreshing to also read about characters my age. It made the story so much more relatable, even if not everything was spot on with my own life. I cried a couple times, which is always a win in my book. Yasmen and Josiah are just the best!! Can’t wait to read Soledad’s story next. (Triggers: loss of family member, stillborn birth, depression, divorce- all of these topics were handled with such care and delicacy)

This was my favorite romance read last year, ohhhh this book, it was every single thing.
Imagine getting divorced thinking all hope is loss and boom, you're back in your feelings with your ex.
Yasmen and Josiah Wade had me on the edge of my seat, their entire journey was a roller coaster ride that left my emotional tank on E... in a good way.

This story covered a relationship in its entirety, add mental health, children, friendship, a joint business, and a new girlfriend in the mix for an extra razzle dazzle and you have an amazing romance novel.

Why was I so hesitant to read this? Because I knew it would hurt. And woo doggie it did. Maybe not the smartest plan to read it 5 months postpartum when the heavy topics of grief, loss of child, and depression are main themes of the book. But wooo doggie. It was good.

I read the acknowledgements like I almost always do and Ryan said this was her first book she ever wrote even before any publishing. And wow. You can tell she cried and sweat and bled through this. She ripped herself apart to bring Yasmen and Josiah's story to life. It's so complex and raw and broken. There's absolutely no shame but true growth. True fear. True hurt. Even though I was hesitant, I am glad I read it. (Could have done without the post divorce dating but again. So raw and real) incredible.

Kennedy Ryan simply never misses. She does romance like no other and Before I Let Go is no different: This is a timeless romance filled with pinning, tension, longing, loss, grief, family, and forgiveness. This is a story you revisit over and over again and are still left filling full by the end of it. Cannot wait to see this play out on screen.