Member Reviews
What a refreshing romance read! I loved the characters and all of their complications. Their love story was so unique and told in such a way that you were rooting for them the whole way.
And the spice! At times it had me blushing. And I think I cried twice.
Such a great read - can't wait to read more from this author!
There are few authors in contemporary romance today whose books are as unputdownable as Kennedy Ryan's. We chose this for our February 2024 pick for A Bookish Affair and I truly can't wait to hear if everyone was as enchanted as I was. There's going to be a LOT to talk about!
Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.
I can’t believe I waited so long to read this book! Between the hype and the fact I heard the content was heavy and I’ve been leaning more toward lighthearted books lately, I was nervous to read this one. I’m so glad I finally picked it up though; I knew within the first few pages that I was going to love it.
What a beautiful, intense, emotional rollercoaster of a book. Before I Let Go pulled on every single one of my heartstrings. Yasmen and Josiah’s pain was so real, and I felt it deeply. They had so much between them - history, undying love, chemistry, hurt, resentment, anger, plus two children who kept them going and also kept them tied to each other, along with their shared business. I enjoyed watching them grow separately and together, and I also enjoyed their relationships with their children and their friends.
The grief and mental health rep in this book was incredible - some of the best I’ve ever read. I loved how these topics were addressed so openly and honestly, and that therapy and the healing process were such a big part of the story.
This was my first book by Kennedy Ryan and it certainly won't be my last.
This was torture.
And in the BEST way cause I love being in agony over a couple that should be together. The slow burn life is the life for me.
The pining- ugh the PINING!! And these characters?! They’re perfect and I loved getting to know them so deeply. Yasmen and Josiah have wiggled themselves into my heart.
I’m diving into book 2 asap!!
“Love happens in the fragile context of our mortality… love and life occur just beyond the reach of our control. There is only one letter of difference between love and lose, and somewhere along the way, for me they became synonymous.”
It’s taken me a couple days to write this because once again I am reeling from another Kennedy Ryan story that was just as just as meaningful and significant as it was warm and passionate.
Before I Let Go is a second-chance romance about a divorced couple, Yasmen and Josiah, who raise their children together while running a business, both of whom are healing through heart-breaking and life-changing loss.
This was just so substantive, traversing several difficult and valuable discussions, which was evident in the different ways each character grappled with the loss they’d experienced - be it death or the divorce at the centre of the story.
I was particularly touched by Yasmen’s meditations on her struggles with debilitating mental illness, which coincided with a harrowing loss and the resultant grief and her journey to healing, and this cultivated some of the most enriching conversations, many of which I resonated with deeply.
I also loved the positive and hopeful approach and insights to seeking therapy, even in cases where there was initial reluctance (I LOVE Josiah’s therapist).
The romance and passion between Yasmen and Josiah soared just as much as the emotional aspects, palpable in every one of their interactions, the ever-present stakes of possibly giving into it, and of course the good ole’ pay off (if you know you know😉). It felt just as warm and familiar as it did new and hopeful.
This is the kind of story that makes you feel - whether its sadness; or frustration (both by forces and fears which threaten to keep these obvious soulmates apart, and the stone-cold, snarky façade of the protagonists’ daughter as she grapples with her own hurt and resentment); or the ooey-gooey warmth of a hopeful and passionate romance done right.
Thank you to @ReadForeverPub for this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Yasmen’s life completely fell apart. She had some major losses in her life, including her marriage, and she was drowning in grief. Finally, she feels like she’s coming out of the darkness to live and enjoy life again. But it looks like her ex-husband has found joy as well, with a new woman. Josiah has never stopped being pulled to Yasmen, but it’s been 2 years since the divorce Yasmen asked for. He needs to move on, doesn’t he? So, he starts dating a wonderful woman. But it doesn’t feel the same, it doesn’t feel like… home. Can they find their way back to each other? Can Yasmen and Josiah heal the wounds to their relationship?
I generally make it a rule not to read marriage-in-crisis books. Due to my only person history and experience, they’re just not a good fit for me. As a result, it has taken me a very long time to pick up this book, despite Kennedy Ryan being one of my all-time favorite authors. But once I picked this one up, I was hooked. Kennedy Ryan writes magic, every single time. Their love (and lust) was palpable, the reasoning behind their divorce made complete sense. This wasn’t a case of one person not wanting it to work, not trying to make it work, it was a matter of it not being able to work at that time. As always, there is a painful, traumatic tale woven into the story so masterfully that I could feel the hurt on the pages in my heart. Ryan always handles these situations with such care and respect, it is one of the aspects of her writing that makes it so powerful. TW for still birth off and death of a guardian, both off page. I would recommend this to fans of any of Kennedy Ryan’s previous books, fans of second chance, Black romance, and love after loss.
Josiah and Yasmen romance had me in its clutches! I love a second chance romance, and this book topped off my love for these types of angsty reads! They're a divorced couple who coparent wonderfully, but are both missing physical and emotional connection in their personal lives.
In this book, the hero had to grow on me. I was Team Yasmen from the start. Before I Let Go is very much a slow burn, and it teeters on the edge of being women's fiction. However, as she always does, this author gets us there. This book has such high emotional investment. I found myself rooting so hard for these two to figure it out! The OW/OM drama was a good addition for me because it really brought up that angst factor.
From the first word, I knew this book would be a home run. Kennedy Ryan is a safe space for me. Her books hit on me on such an emotional level that I'm often left in a slump afterwards. No regrets 🤍
Yas and Si were everything and more. I truly appreciated reading a second chance romance for grown folks, as Kennedy described it. The level of maturity and emotional intelligence was refreshing.
We follow Yas and Si, who are currently divorced and trying to navigate their lives after a deep tragedy. They co-parent two children and both still work as partners at their restaurant. Kennedy took great care in showing us how each family member was processing their feelings and emotions. Their son and daughter both using different methods to cope, opening up important conversation pieces in this story. The struggle with mental health was written in the most raw and honest way.
My feels tank was about to blow near the end of this book. The side characters were absolutely sublime. I loved how Yas had a powerful circle of girlfriends. Strong women also trying to blaze their own life path. I cannot wait to read their stories (fingers crossed). Second chance romances are my absolute favorite. Such a god tier trope.
This is hands down one of my top reads of 2022. Special thanks to Kennedy Ryan and NetGalley for this ARC.
AMAZING. kennedy can do no wrong!!!! this story had everything! love, humor, mental health, communication, grief. it really took me for such a ride. i can’t wait for the next one!
kennedy ryan continues to outshine herself. this was beyond incredible. when reading her writing i get immersed into her worlds and leave reality.
I absolutely loved this book. Yasmen and Josiah's story was a beautiful and heart-gripping tale that made me feel all the feels. Kennedy masterfully handled sensitive topics in a way that felt authentic, even to someone not fully familiar with motherhood and fertility struggles. The book was so descriptive and every scene felt so real, it was easy to consume this in one sitting. I'm relieved this is a series because I definitely need more from Skyland and Kennedy!
What can I say? Honestly! What can I say? 😩 When I finished this book, I literally sighed out loud. I didn’t want this story to end! I immediately wanted to turn to the first page and reread the book!
There’s nothing I dislike about how this book was written, how the characters were presented 🤌🏾 or how certain important issues were dealt with, so what I will share is everything I love about this story:
•The dialogue is impeccable❗️It’s so real, I could picture myself having these conversations. They’re not forced and they don’t make you think ‘no one talks like this’.
•I felt ALL the characters’ emotions (Chapter 13 in particular was so raw and had me in all my feels!) Omg! I laughed, I cringed, I was angry, I felt sadness for and with some these characters and that’s what I want from a reading experience.
•Talk about PLOT❗️We get the steam 🌶 but we also get the depth. The author tackles very important issues such as divorce, loss, forgiveness and reconciliation, among others, and these issues were dealt with so smoothly.
•I absolutely love the representation of a healthy and happy black father and daughter relationship and mother and son relationship as well. I ADORED Josiah’s relationship with his daughter.
•I love love love the exploration of non-traditional family/spousal commitments like common-law unions and adoptions. I’m here for it all! Not everybody’s story will go down the same in history and this book reinforces that that’s Ok.
•This was romance!
Finally, let me just say, Kennedy Ryan has officially become an auto-buy author for me! 😩
I must thank NetGalley and the ReadForeverPub for sending me an eARC.
I’m convinced that no one is writing romance like Kennedy Ryan. I don’t have all the words to describe how fantastic Yasmen & Josiah’s second chance romance was. Can’t wait to read Soledad’s book!
**thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review**
Before I let Go is the type of love story that everyone who ever needed a reminder that they can and will find the type of ordinary yet extraordinary love that can only be envisioned from a gifted writer such as Kennedy Ryan. I expected nothing but the best from my favourite emotional terrorist.
From the start, as a long time fan of Kennedy, I knew this story would be incredibly emotional and within the first few pages, my heart remained in my throat and tears welled in my eyes. I'm not the biggest fan of second chance tropes but I still devoured this book within 24 hours after being approved for a digital arc.
I was deeply invested in the trials and tribulations of Yas and the mental struggle that Si had to overcome in navigating how to be present for the love of his life while she embarked on a journey to become her own greatest soulmate first. These are the love stories that simmer to a boil until you catch yourself googling up ways to build a machine that allows you to turn into your favourite characters, if only to experience that level of love. There is no words to express how profoundly this book changed me. By the time I finished this story, I alright brought a round ticket to New York City from Toronto in order to attend one of several book tour dates Kennedy was at. It was THAT good.
One of my very few 5 star reads of the year. I hardly rate things really high, mainly because I feel like nothing is perfect, except this book. Absolutely gut wrenching, heart stopping, emotionally damaging, beautiful perfection. I'm already not much of a crier, but this book brought me right to the brink of tears especially since I was reading and listening at the same time. The pain, sadness and grief and then a switch to love, passion and yearning. I could feel it all from the incredible voice actors. I literally could not put this down and I'm optimistic that the sequel will be just as great!
It’s nice to read contemporary romance that are set in the real world with realistic problems. Reading about a divorced couple still working together and raising kids together is refreshing.
It’s nice to see characters grow and change together, because that’s what happens in real marriage.
I really connected with the characters and their situation, we all go through tough times is our marriages.
As much as I love the billionaire romances, this was hit home for me.
I loved this book! Kennedy Ryan did it again! It was a beautiful combination of loss, family, and love.
This book explores heavy themes of loss, grief, family, and love. Yasmeen and Josiah will have you rooting for them and their family from beginning to end. When I picked up this book I thought that it would be a romance book but Kennedy managed to do so much more than that. She delved into black womanhood through Yasmeen and her group of friends in a beautiful and nuanced manner. I especially liked how she made both Josiah and Yasmeen imperfect characters, allowing us to see their individual journeys and the role that they played in their relationship.
Overall it was a wonderful read and I would definitely recommend to anyone who is looking for a deep, meaningful story of love and family!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book was just as good as everyone said it was going to be. I’m mad that I put it off for so long but it was worth the wait
This story was so beautifully sad but also inspiring. Watching two people fall apart from tragedy and them coming back to together made me bawl like a baby
It’s a story about loss, grief, love, pain, family. Everything in between.
Josiah and Yasmen were seemingly perfect together, but when they were tested by the unexpectedness of life they fell apart. I LOVED their story. It just felt so real. Love alone doesn’t fix everything. They loved each other completely but needed to fix themselves first to be able to work. And being able to read them come to terms with this was just so good
Both yasmen and Josiah are so strong in their own ways. I can’t even imagine the pain yasmen suffered through and I get teary just thinking about it. She was strong and reading her struggles really HURT. And Josiah did what he thought was necessary when their lives came apart, staying strong for his family even when that meant suppressing and avoiding feelings.
By the end, this couple and family found their happy ending, and the ride and journey was beautiful
This was the most beautiful and raw book ever written. I love her, and can't wait to read the next in the Skyland series.
Kennedy Ryan's "Before I Let Go" is a powerful tale of resilience, love, and the unyielding strength of the human spirit. The novel follows Yasmin and Josiah's journey back to each other as they navigate the aftermath of one of life's hardest moments.
Ryan's storytelling kept me hooked until the very last word. The author effortlessly captures the essence of each characters, making them relatable - adding a layer of authenticity to the novel. However, a desire for more character development to delve into deeper emotions is a sentiment worth noting. While Yasmin and Josiah's backstories remain true to the narrative, a more extensive exploration of their emotional landscapes could have further enriched the reader's connection to the characters. One of the novel's strengths lies in Ryan's ability to explore the complexities of second chances in love. Yasmin and Josiah's story serves as a testament to the idea that, in some cases, love can indeed conquer all - illustrating that the path to reconciliation is not always easy but can be incredibly rewarding.
"Before I Let Go" is my first foray into Kennedy Ryan's literary world, and it certainly won't be my last. While a desire for more extensive character development lingers, Ryan's ability to craft emotionally charged narratives and breathe life into her characters is commendable.
In conclusion, "Before I Let Go" is a triumph of love over adversity, a poignant exploration of second chances, and a testament to Kennedy Ryan's talent as a storyteller. If you're a fan of light, heartfelt romance with a touch of realism, this book is a must-read.