“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.

kennedy ryan has done it again! anytime I need a good angsty and emotional romance I always know what author to go with, and this one was no exception. loved it

Kennedy Ryan is the queen. Love her work. Love this cover. This book is gut wrenching and beautiful.

From the first page I felt the emotional turmoil that I was about to experience. The trigger warnings attempted but failed to prepare me for the level of grief and depression surrounding this story...because I am battling my own grief and depression, I could not complete this book. I tried reading the ebook and the audiobook, but the dept of the pain was too triggering for me to bare. Kennedy Ryan did an excellent job developing this portion of the journey in the story. I will try to finish the journey some day.

Sometimes it takes some of the biggest struggles, love, trust, and the will to fight to make the biggest leaps forward and to make the biggest changes towards a happy life. Yasmen and Josiah definitely met some of their biggest struggles in the story and life quickly fell apart. We get to have the honor of witnessing this couple and their little family learn how to heal and grow from of things that have led them to where they are in life. It was a pleasure to read the story. Kennedy Ryan definitely knows how to tell a tale about love, loss, and growth. It's a beautiful story to watch unfold.

This was such a raw portrayal of a marriage shattered by loss. The writing was beautiful and poetic. The emotions and actions of Yasmen and Josiah are so honored and vulnerable, you couldn’t help but feel so deeply connected to them. I appreciated the way this author took on such a difficult topic like the loss of a pregnancy with sensitivity and grace. The way these characters as a family unit were there for each other, and worked through their grief to heal and come back together made for such an emotional but uplifting read. I truly loved these characters so much and rooted for them until the end! I can’t wait to read Ryan’s next book now! Thank you to Netgalley and Forever for my gifted eARC!

One of my FAVS of 2023 that I cannot stop thinking about! Kennedy Ryan has this magical way of creating the most dynamic/delicious characters and helping me see the world from another perspective. She is an automatic read for me and I cannot wait for the rest of this series!

One of my favorite books of the year!! Beautifully written!! Kennedy Ryan always manages to pull out every single emotion possible out of me.

Highly recommend!!

After an unfathomable loss, Yasmen and Josiah have been divorced and co-parenting their children for 2 years. They never thought it would be this way, but sometimes life gets in the way. Soon, they’re finding their attraction and spark is very much alive. They start sneaking around, but they truly open up their hearts again, can they?

A really lovely second chance romance full of Black love. I loved both Yasmen and Josiah, I loved the exploration of their parenting and therapy and how they were able to find their way back to each other. Just lots of love across the board. Each book I’ve read of Kennedy Ryan’s has been a romance with suspense and deep emotional impacts and this one was no different. Would recommend.

ALL THE STARS! 🌠

Before I Let Go was utterly spellbinding and all-consuming! Kennedy Ryan tells the story of a divorced couple fighting for a second chance—love that was one of a kind, but sadly torn apart by loss and grief.

Together, Yasmen and Josiah must venture on a journey of healing and reconnect with one another. This story touches base on extremely difficult topics like miscarriage and depression but also the benefits of one seeking therapy, so please check the trigger warnings before beginning to read.

Throughout their journey, there is a lot of character growth. It was frustratingly beautiful, but when these two finally come back to each other, they come wholeheartedly. It's truly a full circle moment, one that only made them stronger.

Before I Let Go is emotional, raw, and just so real. Once again, I applaud Kennedy Ryan for being such an amazing and talented storyteller!

I loved this book it was heartbreakingly beautiful. It was a love story, but even more it was a story about growth and restoration. I loved the family in this book and what a supportive unit they were. I liked that the characters seemed so honest, bare, and relatable. This definitely will not be my last read by Kennedy Ryan.

I love love LOVED this book. It broke my heart and put it back together. Kennedy Ryan knows how to write love and grief in a way that is thought provoking. I was lucky enough to meet her, and I can see that she takes pride in writing empathetic characters that are able to grow beyond their difficult situations. She write black characters in a way that is deeply loving, kind and gentle.

Does love conquer all? In this beautiful story, Yasmen and Josiah are divorced, having once promised to love each other “until the wheels fall off.” Two family tragedies affected each of them in a very different way, and they fell apart. With Yasmen in a deep depression, she asked for the divorce, and Josiah had to learn to deal with that. The fact that they run a business together (a restaurant) and have two children keeps them in close contact. A couple of years later, it is clear that they have not gotten over each other. Yasmen is getting back on her feet and wants to see if they can rekindle what they had.

This is not a light read, but a powerful examination of a marriage. While Yasmen has faced her feelings, Josiah has repressed them. I loved how the author focused on psychology/therapy as a positive force. The story is told from both perspectives, with some chapters narrated by Yasmen and others by Josiah. There were some great side characters, including Yasmen’s two friends: Hendrix and Soledad, and young teen Deja.

Warning: graphic depiction of pregnancy and miscarriage/stillbirth; lots of curse words (for those who don’t like that sort of language in books); graphic open door “spice.”

I was surprised to find some recipes at the end of the book, as I’ve usually only seen those in culinary cozy mystery books They sound delicious!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book, although I was very late to it. With the next book in the series coming out shortly, I guess I had the incentive to finally read this one! I bounced between the ARC and the published audiobook, courtesy of my public library. The audiobook was beautifully narrated by Wesleigh Siobhan and Jakobi Diem. All opinions are my own.