This was my first book from Kennedy Ryan and it definitely won’t be my last. Josiah and Yasmen’s journey was filled with so much pain, heartache, healing, acceptance and growth. I felt their emotions as my own, and I got lost in their story. Beautifully written!!

5 stars This is the best book I have read this year!!!

I am absolutely in love with this book. Kennedy Ryan is an amazing author. This storyline is a fantastic second-chance romance that isn't two people coming back into each other's lives but finding their way back to each other after going through a whole bunch of stuff that tore them apart. Their story is beautiful, Josiah and Yasmen are made for each other. The care for mental health was expressed through this book. There were parts of this book that absolutely broke my heart. It definitely packs an emotional punch and just broke my heart. I hope that there are more stories from this world I would love to have Hendrick's story.


Content warnings. Death of a loved one (off page), depression, grief, passive suicidal ideation, stillbirth, pregnancy,

Thank you Netgalley and Forever/Grand Central for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

What can I say? This book was written so well that I felt parts of when I was going through my divorce again. A friend told me to stop reading it. But I couldn't put it down. It was so good! Kennedy wrote this book so well that I was feeling Yas' all through the book. For the first time I saw myself from a distance. Even to the relationship with her daughter. I love how Kennedy gave us both points of views and didn't shy away from the hard parts of divorce or just life. I am definitely recommending this book to my life coaching friends as we discuss different scenarios and relate it to our own lives or how we would help other women we coach. Because this book is the truth!

Thank you to NetGalley for the wonderful opportunity to receive an ARC for this amazing novel.

I swore up and down when Kennedy Ryan released what this book was going to be about, I said it would be the first one of hers I would have to pass on. I am not a fan of divorced couples in novels at all (firmly based off of my own life experiences!) but she has made me a believer. This story is beautifully raw and real. Yasmen and Josiah’s relationship is so complicated and so is their love but it’s clear to anyone that what they have is special.

The family that Yasmen and Josiah have built is really amazing to see. Deja reminded me of myself (the good and the bad parts!) so much as a teenager. I even saw a bit of my younger brother in Kassim. Healthy coparenting and what it takes to make it work isn’t something we often see, especially with Black parents so it’s nice to see the #TeamWard mindset that’s here.

One of the most important aspects throughout the novel though is grief and the depression that often follows. I won’t get too far into it to avoid spoilers, but the way Kennedy Ryan captures grief and depression is truly something to behold. As someone who has recently been on a grief journey and battling depression, I found myself feeling seen. And that made me pause and ask myself “are YOU okay?” I never thought I’d be able to articulate just how I felt in some of my darkest days, but Kennedy did it perfectly.

Skyland has easily become one of my favorite fictional settings (I promise it’s not just because I’m a bit biased when it comes to Atlanta!). Kennedy has perfectly captured the feel of what it’s like to live in Atlanta and I love the wonderful setting of Skyland.

Overall I loved this novel. Just when I think she can’t get better, Kennedy Ryan goes and amazes me. I can honestly say that I believe Kennedy Ryan has a “healing pen,” her stories may break you but you leave feeling a lot better than when you started.

This was a new author for me and it didn’t not disappoint! This had all the angst, healing, and second chances! I really loved that about it! It was so well written. The MC’s were soulmates which made it that much better! Yas and Jos had a lot to overcome to come back to their HEA and love. Life is messy, things happen but they worked through it! I really enjoy this book! My emotions were tugged reading this story! Just wonderful!

5. FREAKING. STARS.

Kennedy Ryan can do no wrong. What an incredible author! You haven't read characters until you've read a book by Kennedy Ryan. She *really* knows how to make people feel authentic, lived-in, and realistic, almost like you're standing in front of them watching their scenarios play out in the same room. My god, she's a descriptive genius. I hope she writes movie screenplays someday because Hollywood needs her golden touch! Every single character is fully fleshed out and entirely believable, from the precious, smart Kassim, to the defiant, guarded, snarky Deja, to the tough and stern but tender Josiah, to the loving, motherly, work-in-progress Yasmen.

"Before I Let Go" is a triumph. It covers a variety of topics, including loss, death, mental health, divorce, therapy, black love, raising kids while co-parenting, second chances, reconnecting, understanding, forgiveness, compassion, self-love, and acceptance. It's so powerful, so poignant, so healing! I loved this book from the very first chapter. It's also very tender and steamy, which I love.

"Before I Let Go" had me laughing, it had me sweaty with anticipation, it had me curled up in a bawl bawling, it had me yearning for a love like Yasmen and Josiah's! I CANNOT WAIT for the next book in this series. I need it yesterday. Kennedy Ryan, you're a writing superhero!

Thank you to NetGalley, Kennedy Ryan, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with an ARC copy of this book! All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for my review.

Yasmen and Josiah are divorced. Still business partners in their thriving restaurant and they share two children they adore. Two years later, a lot of heartache and water under the bridge, these two feel ready to move forward. Or so they think but their hearts may have other plans.

What could have torn them apart? They obviously loved each other and had a soul mate closeness so something earth shaking had to have happened. We soon learn that Yasmen had an accident in the restaurant which caused the loss of the baby she was carrying. Lying on the floor, helpless to do anything but feel the life draining out of her. Their child did not survive and neither does their marriage.

Josiah also lost his aunt, the woman who was for all intents and purposes, his mother. Yas drowns in her grief, in her guilt and gets further and further away from her husband. Josiah (Si), also grieving, unable to reach his wife, loses himself in the restaurant, working longer and longer hours. Josiah starts dating another woman, despite still having unresolved feelings about how things ended between him and Yas. This was my one bone to pick in this love story, because yes, it is very much a love story. The person he chose to date? It seemed lazy, not too smart and out of character in my humble opinion. Also, the other chick? Yas took it in stride. In that situation, I don’t know that I would have been so easy about it.

Second chance romances are my favorite. I love how the story just flows and feels so authentic. Yas’ journey through depression feels genuine. Therapy, which is still taboo for men and looked down upon in many cultures, is dealt with honestly here. Si is resistant but comes to a point of acceptance with why it is necessary for him.

Side note - can we talk about the besties please? Sassy, loving and protective of Yas like mine are with me. Can Hendrix get her own book? I’m just putting it out there.

Does it make sense if I say that Before I Let Go is gorgeous? I’m not just talking about the cover art. Though that is gorgeous too. It is just gorgeous, sad, funny, angsty and oh so sexy. The longing, the little touches, that deep sigh when THAT man who gives you butterflies is in the room. The “let’s just do it once” swoon worthiness of it all!

Babes go 1-Click this one and snuggle in to savor it.

Kennedy! Girl! You had me at hello.

I don't know where to even start with this book. Kennedy Ryan has been an all time favourite author of mine for years but this story may take first place as my favourite title by hers. There was so much to unpack in every chapter. It is the most heartfelt, emotional, raw love story that I've read in a long long long time.

Kennedy Ryan can WRITE. This book features messy characters who love each other imperfectly, and it was a refreshing change of pace to read a hard-earned happily ever after when I had been previously reading so much fluff. Before I Let Go is a beautiful meditation on grief and the ways it is felt and experienced throughout a family unit, and how two people who love each other can find their way back after years of hurt. Come for the steam, stay for the normalization of therapy- this book was wonderful.

Love Jaz and Si’s love story. Although the book felt at times like a Hallmark movie (in the best way) it also had depth and complexity that I loved. A man in therapy?? *swoon*

I always know that I'm in for a wild ride when it comes to a Kennedy Ryan book. Many thanks to the publisher, Forever, for an early, gifted copy of the book. Kennedy Ryan is a must read for me. All of her books do not shy away from hard topics and she handles the gracefully and with respect. I loved loved loved the focus on mental health in this book. Seeing how Josiah is so resistant to therapy reminded me of so many clients I saw back when I was a therapist and I loved the aha moment he had when it came to the therapy process.

This was not an easy read but it was realistic. I could feel the sorrow and despair and betrayal and anger that seeped through the pages. I also just feel like everything was handled in a way that made sense and this easily could be (and is) many real life situations. Is it too early to start petitioning for a movie?

Please take care with trigger warnings on this one. Pregnancy loss, divorce, depression, suicidal thoughts, and anxiety all make an appearance here. I look forward to reading more in this series going forward!

Such a beautifully told story! I was hesitant to go into this book, knowing it was about a divorced couple, as that hits close to home for me. Luckily, I had my friend Addie to hold my hand and read along on this incredible journey with me.

Watching the struggle that Yasmen and Josiah went through in their past, as well as trying to navigate how to live their current lives apart, was heartbreakingly beautiful. The loss is strongly felt for the reader, and I greatly appreciated the mental health and therapist rep.

I wish everyone could read this book, as it sheds light on the struggles of mental health, as well as the importance of communication and seeking help through therapy. If you need someone to hold your hand while reading this book, I'll gladly reread it with you!

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to give my honest opinion.

Before I Let Go was my First Kennedy Ryan Book but it won't be my last.

I loved the love that Josiah and Yasmen had and continue to have even when they weren't together. I loved seeing the kids and how they interacted with the parents and the community. I loved the community events and how it brought them all together. Hendrix was a riot and made me laugh more times than I will admit.

This book teaches about grief, starting over, depression and everything that a person can go through.

I Loved this book and can't stop talking about it.

Grief makes messes of us all. And we all handle it differently.

This book was amazing! I felt so many emotions and such strong emotions! I was jealous, angry, sad, passionate and satisfied.

Like I said above everyone grieves differently and sometimes when you think you are fine seeking help for the sake of your partnership is worth it. It's like waves in an ocean. Sometimes the waves are small and sometimes they are overwhelming and high.

I lost my Dad when I was 6 months pregnant and then kept getting weird readings during my pregnancy to the point they asked if I wanted to end it. If I had done that I would have been like Yasmen. I don't remember the end of that pregnancy just her birth and the smile she's given me everyday since. This book was so raw and emotional and made me feel all those feelings of hopelessness and grief. It brought back my memories of being so close to losing my first daughter who was a premie. As beautiful pregnancy can be it's traumatic and doesn't always happen for everyone or end the way you plan.

The acceptance of help with mental health from depression and grief is great to read about especially when the most of the family is talking to someone.

These two loved eachother but life pulled them apart. Through help they were able to find their way back to eachother and their family.

The scorching steam between them was also perfect.

Thank you readforeverpub and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

Emotional, poignant, heart-rending. If you want a read that will wrench your heart out of your chest and put it back together again, this may not be the book. Because it WILL wrench your heart out of your chest but the putting it back together again? Well, that depends totally on you. It took me a long time to recover from this beautiful and powerful read, Highly recommend!

How do you find your way back to the love of your life after grief tears you apart? Yasmen and Josiah have managed to co-parent and continue to run their restaurant after their divorce, but when they try and move on they find that letting go harder than they thought. Can they overcome their grief and loss to find their way back to their happily ever after.

Kennedy Ryan has a way with words. The emotions that she develops make me have all the feelings. This was a realistic look into heartbreak and healing. I was emotionally invested in this one and couldn't put it down.

It is romantic, sexy, heartwarming, heartbreaking, raw, and realistic. Easily one of the best romance books of the year hands down. This is required reading--I don't make the rules.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

Thank goodness. A romance for grown folks—and a poignant, steamy one at that! Before I Let Go is an emotional look at a marriage burned to the ground and two people determined to rise from the ashes to find happiness again.

Yasmen and Josiah have the enduring type of love that would make anyone jealous. Theirs is not a connection based solely on physical attraction; although, there is some seriously hot magnetism between them. They share a mutual respect, despite the pain they inflicted on one another. I respected both of them tremendously.

The fallout from divorce affects family members in different ways. The dynamics between Josiah, Yasmen, and their kids kept me invested—particularly Yasmen’s relationship with her surly teenaged daughter.

The book delves into serious topics such as loss, grief, mental illness, and forgiveness. While parts are gut-wrenching, everything isn’t gloom and doom. It is, after all, a slow burn, epic love story. I also enjoyed Yasmen’s two best friends and their constant support of each other. I hope Soledad gets her own book. I have a feeling there’s one heck of a story there.

The pacing is slow in places, but the story is so real that I sometimes forgot I was reading a work of fiction. Before I Let Go is an inspiring, moving, romantic read.

Included as a top pick in bimonthly November New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached)