*4.25 stars*

Kennedy Ryan is an auto-buy for me so even though this book has my least favorite romance trope, I still jumped on it eagerly.

I was not disappointed. This book was written so beautifully and I felt every bit of angst. I could tell that the mental health bits were written from a place that understood it. I absolutely LOVED the therapy representation. I am so on team "get Black Men to therapy" and this had that.

Yamen and Josiah just made sense you know? Of course the chemistry was scorching, it's Kenndedy Ryan! LOL. but asides that, I just enjoyed their relationship arc. No-one was perfect and although Josiah annoyed me sometimes, I still fully understood where he was coming from.

The supporting cast to was stellar, and I can't wait to read the next books in the series.

4.25 stars because the book had wayy less plot than her usual books but this was still so good to read.

A HUGE thank you to NetGalley and the Forever Books for the ARC.

I was captivated by this story from the very beginning. Yasmen's depression really shines a light on how she tries to push through her mental health because she's conditioned to hold it all together for the kids, and to be the glue that holds the family together. It's an honest portrayal of how women fail to put themselves first during hard times. Yasmen and Josiah are the picture of a marriage in crisis, but not broken, and yet they couldn't seem to stay together.

This book is meticulously crafted with characters who are real and raw, right down to the kids. My heart broke for them all, even though my hope soared at times. Taking the stigma out of therapy was another thing this author did well. Too many authors use the trauma as the defining trait for their character. Kennedy Ryan uses the trauma to inform Yasmen's decisions, but it doesn't define her, doesn't drive her, but instead it brings out her inner strength, her fears, her hopes for what her future can and should look like. Yasmen digs deep to be the person she wants to be for herself, for her family, for her friends, for her business. Josiah's journey is equally beautiful to read as a man who loves his family deeply, but feels powerless at times.

I couldn't put it down. Clearly we're headed for a series, and I can't wait to dive back into Skyland.

**Thank you to Kennedy Ryan, Forever Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to receive an ARC of Before I Let Go in exchange for an honest review!** Please read the CW's for this book before you begin reading this book. This book deals with several sensitive topics and I would not want anyone to enter this book unaware. I am glad that I took the advice of several other reviewers and made sure that I read the CW's before I read this book. I definitely needed to be prepared for some of the subject matter. Our main character, Yasmen, deals with some deeply traumatizing situations in this book. She is such a powerhouse and it was so good to see the ways that she was learning to cope after such great losses. One of the things that I really enjoyed about this book was the fact that there had been a significant amount of time since her divorce from her husband. I think that it really added to how real this book felt. It made so much sense that she needed time to recover and learn how to be herself again. This book was seriously the most realistic that a book has ever felt for me. I could deeply see the struggles that the characters were facing and their reactions and feelings felt so understandable. Kennedy Ryan is a deeply talented author and I cried several times reading this book. This was my first book from Kennedy Ryan and I will be reading more of her novels.

Wow. Just wow. Kennedy Ryan pulls no punches in this emotional and moving novel. Some of the topics addressed may be triggering for readers, so please check content warnings.

Before I Let Go is a powerful journey of healing and forgiveness, as well as a heartfelt second chance romance. I was pulled into the story right away and I experienced so many different feelings while reading this one. I really appreciated the discussions about the importance of mental health, the fear/stigma of seeking therapy, processing loss, complicated grief, etc. The healing in the book isn't isolated to simply the romantic relationship or even Yasmen and Josiah as individuals. It also includes the relationship between parent and child and the pain and heartbreak that accompanies this kind of loss and change.

It’s a hard fought second chance romance between Yasmen and Josiah. Both of them needed to grow and forgive - themselves and each other. Second chance romances don't always work for me, but the reason for Josiah and Yasmen's separation made sense and I felt like everything that happened during that separation needed to happen for them to find their way back to each other. Special shout out to Soledad and Hendrix for their unwavering support and for being amazing friends to Yasmen. I'm hoping we get their stories too!

Note: The second chance romance is a pivotal part of the storyline (and there are some very sexy open door scenes), but I'm hesitant to categorize Before I Let Go as purely a romance since the romance is a result/by product of the healing and forgiveness that occurs. I think the strong emphasis on mental health and forgiveness put this slightly more into women's fiction for me.

CW: depression, suicidal ideation (no attempts), complicated grief, stillbirth, discussions of: pregnancy (high risk), vasectomy, tubal ligation, FMC has a strained relationship with her daughter, anxiety & panic attacks, death of loved ones (past), divorce, OW/OM notes - MMC has a sexual relationship with an OW while they are divorced and FMC goes on several dates with an OM (kissing only)

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

I loved this book from the very beginning! I was rooting for Si and Yas from the jump! It made me cry, laugh and cry some more. I loved seeing how the characters used therapy to help them. We need to normalize therapy!!
Thank you, Kennedy Ryan for sharing this story with us and thanks to your husband for asking about it!
And thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing/ Forever for sharing this fantastic digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts

I keep putting off writing a review of this book because I feel my words can do it no justice.
Kennedy Ryan is one of those authors that can hit you on all the levels. She gives us diversity while incorporating real topics that are so relevant to our world and she does it in a way that's raw, yet beautiful while also giving us the spice.

Yasmen and Josiah are a divorced couple that still have their lives intertwined by their children and their business. They have a deep love for one another and still have a connection, but what transpired in their past broke them and their trust in one another. What went wrong and how can they move past it?

Before I Let Go was a book that resonated with me and made me feel for the characters. This was a story of a second chance, but it was SO much more than that. This was a story of family, loss, attraction, depression and recognizing when you need help. Knowing when to say when yet also regretting your decisions. This book was the story of two people and how their decisions affected not only them as a couple, but everyone around them.

Kennedy Ryan took us on a journey with this couple and how their lives were altered by a tragic event and gave us a community of amazing characters that supported not only Yasmen and Josiah, but their children. She took a tough subject of divorce and made you see it from various sides and included mental health and therapy to give us a real understanding of growth for this family. It was tastefully done and made you think about all the relationships in this story and how they evolved over the course of the book.

Before I Let Go will pull at your heartstrings in so many ways. It gives you the pain and loss of suffering and the tension of still being in love. I laughed. I cried. I fanned myself. And I gave my heart over to Ms Ryan and the journey she took me on with utter trust. Just wow! And in the fact she could create a whole crew of characters that are all special in their own rights and we have a series that I know is going to be one to watch out for. This is what total immersion into a world is all about and I'm here for it. Dive in and enjoy the world of Skyland!

Wow wow wow! This was such a beautiful book omg! Kennedy Ryan's writing is such a privilege to read. Her ability to write these beautiful stories and characters that immerse you & feel like you're part of the story is amazing! I love second-chance romance, so I went into this knowing I was going to love it & Mrs. Ryan delivered & then some!! Yasmen and Josiah loved each other so deeply and had the kind of relationship that you'd think was unbreakable.. until it was. They suffered back-to-back losses between the trauma and grief it became too much leading to their divorce. Two years later they're juggling co-parenting as well as being business partners.
I loved Yasmen and Josiah so much. I loved the chemistry, angst, and development between them. They truly share a love that can't be found elsewhere. The kind of love that can't be reciprocated with someone else. The work they put in individually to really work through their grief and that leading them back to each and rekindling the love that never really burned out. They are the definition of soulmates. This story was so well written I did not want to put it down. I'll be thinking about this book for a while. So so good!!🧡
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Forever/Grand Central Publishing, & Kennedy Ryan for this ARC!

This book, y’all! I can officially confirm it is just as good as everyone says it is. It’s raw and real and goes to show how incredibly talented Kennedy Ryan is.

I actually started this book way back in September and after only one chapter I knew it was going to be an emotional rollercoaster. I’ve talked about this before but second chance romance isn’t my favorite trope and I wasn’t in the right headspace at the time so I put it aside for a few weeks. I finally came back and woah, baby! This was good.

I loved the mental health rep and how therapy positive this book was. I firmly believe everyone should have an unbiased person in their life to talk to and it’s always refreshing to see fictional characters working on themselves.

While there’s one detail I didn’t personally love, it was handled really well because this is a romance novel about ADULTS! I love grown up characters!!!

I love this book so much! This book is hands down one of my top fave reads of the year. Look up triggers before reading. What an emotional rollercoaster ride.

This is about Josiah and Yasmen’s love story. A divorced couple navigating new lives while co-parenting their kids. Told in past and present timelines we see glimpses of their time together.

Kennedy’s storytelling is so raw and heartbreakingly beautiful. It’s honest, emotional and sheds light on heavy topics such as mental health and depression that can be so hard to write, read and talk about. My heart hurt for these characters. The pain and heartbreak that they went through was so devastating. Josiah and Yasmen’s relationship was not so easy. The struggles they faced became a daily reminder of what they lost. Despite this their undeniable chemistry was still there. Kennedy writes sexual tension and angst so well. The longing that they had for each other I could feel through the pages. Josiah and Yasmen’s story felt so real. One moment I would be squealing then the next my heart would be hurting or I would start crying. Before I Let Go is one of those stories that need to be experienced. It’s a story about loss, love, self-discovery and forgiveness. It’s a story that’s going to stay with me forever. This beautiful masterpiece deserves all the stars and praise. Highly recommend!

I loved this story from beginning to the end. I love that Kennedy Ryan tackles tough issues that people deal with in their lives and she doesn’t sugarcoat it. Depression, mental health, stillbirth, mourning, and therapy are all touched on in this story (some not on page) so I would take heed to those triggers. Each topic is handled with grace and you find yourself relating to the characters.
This was such an amazing second chance romance story.
The spice level was just right, the sass of the young daughter was on point, and the struggles of trying to co-parent just draws you in.
I’m sure it would be great to see on the big screen!

Thank you netgalley for my advanced copy!

This book absolutely pulled me out of my reading slump. I haven't been able to finish a book for a couple months, just didn't have the headspace to get into reading. But once I picked this up, I couldn't put it down! The way Kennedy Ryan tells this story makes me want to keep flipping the page to see what would happen next. As before with any of Kennedy Ryan's books, I know I have to prepare myself for the guaranteed emotional roller coaster, the pain that I always experience with her characters, the tears, sometimes the frustration, before I can finally get to that glorious HEA. And this book is no exception!

Yasmen and Josiah have been divorced for a couple years, but they're still involved in each other's life through co-parenting their two kids and running their successful restaurant together. I'm not a huge fan of second chance romance, especially when the couple are divorced. It just gives me the sense of finality and no more hope for the romance. However, the reason for Yasmen and Josiah's divorce makes sense to me. And if I were Yasmen, I would probably have to do the same. That's just to say how well Kennedy crafted her characters so readers can understand their actions and sympathize with them.

The mental health aspect plays a huge role in this book, and reading the Acknowledgement section at the end of the book gives me a better perspective of how personal, real, and relatable Yasmen's story was to the author. It makes me understand more about the journey people go through to get back on their feet, their sacrifices, and their coping mechanisms. It highlights the roles of therapy, the support system from friends and family, and most importantly, the individual's strength to battle with the illness.

I only have a little quibble that has to do with Josiah in the first half of the book. But once Yasmen and Josiah couldn't resist their sexual tension anymore, things got heated up fast! And then I couldn't help but cheering for them every step of their way back to each other. If you haven't read Kennedy Ryan yet, what are you waiting for? I've read every books written by her, and she's become one of my auto-buy authors. Needless to say, I would highly recommend this book (please consult with other reviews for CWs).

A deep soul searching read. There are a lot of themes intertwined with each other, but the most prevalent are sorrow, love, therapy, and taking risks.
Yasmin, after a horrible tragedy was drowning in a sea of darkness. She was barely functioning and let go of something precious, her husband. Now, two years later, she’s having second thoughts, but is that fair? What if it’s too late.
Confession: after reading almost half the book I had to read,the ending because I wanted I was invested and I couldn’t wait how it would turn out.
It’s a worthwhile read. Sometimes we make decisions that feel right at the time, but then regret. This novel is soulful and deals with many sensitive topics in a mindful way.
I received two hard copies from Forever and the second cover with the gold leafing is exquisite.

I was hooked throughout every delectable page! Kennedy Ryan is yanking on our heartstrings something fierce with the first book in her Skyland series, a gut wrenching rendition of life at it’s worst and the reawakening after the darkness. There’s laughter and tears, love through the pain and so many feel good moments as we follow their journey back from the sadness they became. You are not going to want to miss this book … and be prepared to not be able to put it down. I really hope we see more of this fam and get to see her BFF’s get a story soon!

Yasmen and Josiah are both amazing characters. Life tore them apart, but they still have great love for each other and the life that they shared and they make great effort to put their children first always as they meander through the ins and outs of moving on without each other. I loved their love and respect for each other and though they each have different sides to their story, you can’t really find fault with either one.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves love and holds out hope that even in the darkest days, love will find a way.

When it comes to second chance romance, I am always a bit apprehensive because some of the really deep issues the broke up the couple in the first place never ends up getting addressed. That is NOT the case in Before I Let Go. Ryan goes in on all of the issues that Yasmen and Josiah faced, and doesn’t care about your feelings along the way.

I honestly can’t put into words how important this story is for the Black community specifically. Here we have an incredible Black romance. The love and passion between Yasmen and Josiah is off the freaking charts. But once they are faced with multiple tragic deaths in the family, what is left is crippling grief and depression coupled with a lack of communication and refusal to participate in family therapy.

Ryan does phenomenal job of not shying away from how grief affects people differently from both Yasmen and Josiah to their kids (Deja and Kassim). There were so many scenes that were difficult to read when it came to the resentment and betrayal that Deja felt from Yasmen specifically, and while I wanted scream at Deja, I completely understood her anger.

In true Ryan fashion, the sexy times in this book were giving me hot flashes. Yasmen and Josiah were putting in that work. That’s all I’m gonna say.

Overall, if you’re looking for a second chance romance that is going to have you going through all of the emotions plus has some really great steamy scenes, this is the one for you!

Thank you Forever Books for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

From the beginning I just KNEW this story was going to be great. Kennedy has such a unique way of writing that will have you feeling every emotion for these characters,
and their journey. To say this book was incredible doesn't even seem like enough, it was incredible and then it was more. The realness in the story had you feeling the love, the angst, the tension, and the chemistry between Josiah and Yasmen. It was heartbreaking and beautiful. I was feeling emotional and at the same time giddy! Kennedy did a great job of throwing banter and spice in there, too! By time I reached The End I was feeling so full, I loved this story! This was an EASY 5 stars for me.

Thank you so much to Netgalley & to Kennedy Ryan for the E-ARC!

BEFORE I LET GO ARC REVIEW

Ever read a book and before it’s even finished, you just KNOW? You know it’s a top read of the year. You know this is comfort book material. You know it’s just going to break you!

I grabbed Before I Let Go from @netgalley because it was a ready for download and I didn’t have to sign up for it. This was my first book by @kennedyryan and I know how much people love her writing, but damn, I did not expect that.

This book is about a divorced couple coparenting their pre-teens and running a successful restaurant together. Their relationship didn’t survive more than one tragedy but years later, there’s no doubt they are soulmates.

Something about this story!!!! It was just so real. SO REAL. It made me laugh and learn and broke my heart before it put it back together. I’m so glad I read this. It was a buddy read with @booktalkwithbritt and she left me in the dust but so totally understand, plus I was dealing with family stuff.

Ugh, seriously read this book. The steam was, ugh, so hot and emotional too. I can’t wait to read it again.

Thanks for sharing your words. @kennedyryan. And the recipes at the end! Ugh, OBSESSED!

Thanks @netgalley and @kennedyryan for this ARC!

There are not enough words to tell you how much I love Kennedy Ryan and her books, but I'll do my best to talk about this one.

Before I Let Go tells the story of Yasmen & Josiah, the good, the bad, and the heartbreaking. This second-chance romance has everything I could ever want. Complex relationships? Yes. Funny supporting characters? Yes. More than your fade-to-black scenes? Absolutely.

My favorite thing about Kennedy Ryan is that on top of writing Black & Brown people in her stories, she's writing about their successes, their failures, their struggles, their comebacks. Yasmen & Josiah are relatable - their story isn't exaggerated or far-fetched. I think a lot of people will resonate with their stories, romance or not. And can we just take a second to talk about Black families in therapy?! WE LOVE TO SEE IT!!

I genuinely cannot wait for the rest of this series to come out. Thanks a million to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing/ Forever for gifting me a digital copy of this book. Anxiously waiting for 11/15 so I can get my hands on a physical copy!

This felt raw and real and beautiful in all its glorious messiness.

Romantic love is the star of the show, with a heavy side of steam, but… the relationships between all of the characters, family and friends, and their real life struggles were all executed so perfectly imperfectly, that I honestly feel like it does this book a disservice to ignore the side stories. I could not stop reading because I needed to know that all of my friends were going to be okay. There is so much of life’s bittersweet beauty to unpack, and Kennedy Ryan writes it all so well that you feel like you are there in it with them… It probably helped that this was also set right outside of Atlanta.

I can’t believe this is my first of Ryan’s books! However, when I learned in her author’s note that this was actually her very first story, I’m glad this is where I started. I’m looking forward to reading her next book, and working my way through the audios of her backlist.

I don’t know where to start to describe this book and what it meant to me and how it made me feel. Sorry, but this review might seem a bit personal and all about me rather than all about the book.

First things first, and this could turn into a spoiler, there is something in the story of Yasmen and Josiah that resonates because we went through that too. It isn’t a spoiler to say, that this is a second chance romance, or that the couple are divorced. The reasons behind the cause of the rift that brought about the ending of a beautiful relationship need to be read not thrown out in a book review.

I used the word ‘we’ because the hand that we were dealt in our relationship, that’s me and the husband, it was both of us. We were united. We talked. We went through the hardest time and in going through it together, we became this impenetrable team. Life can throw whatever at us now but we know we have the strength to get through it.

My heart struggled with some parts of this book because of the way Yasmen and Josiah dealt with the events in their lives. I wanted to shake them and get them to talk. I blamed Yasmen; for me she was the guilty party. In my eyes, she was the instigator of the collapse of the marriage, until Kennedy Ryan showed me what was going on in Yasmen’s head. I didn’t appreciate what she was going through until it clicked that we were very lucky. My husband and I were always on the same wavelength.

It’s a book that makes you think about mental health and how hard you would fight. Kennedy Ryan pushed me out of my comfort zone. I love how she explored the emotions and the juxtaposition of two people who are perfect together but are rubbish at communicating their feelings.

By the end of this book I understood why Yasmen did what she did and why Josiah did what he did too. Kennedy Ryan has excellent skills.

Short Synopsis: After many things in life falling apart, Yasmen and Josiah are striving to co-parent and maintain a booming restaurant after their divorce.

My thoughts: This was raw, deep, and so emotional. So many real life things happened to tear this relationship apart.

This is my first Kennedy Ryan and after reading this I can’t wait to pick up her backlist titles. It was written so well that I felt like I was there living life with Yasmen and Josiah. And the fact that additional stories will be written has me all sorts of excited.

My favorite part of this was the acceptance of therapy in helping come to terms with some very difficult situations. Therapy has been taboo for so long it’s so nice to see it more normalized.

TW: Loss of a child, still born, grief, depression, divorce

Read if you love:
* Second chance romance
* Raw and emotional reads
* Mental health and therapy
* Owning a business
* Co-parenting
* Best friends

Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. Publication date is November 15, 2022 so watch for it!