This was my first book by Kennedy Ryan and I can’t wait to read more from her. The writing is absolutely beautiful and there are SO many things I loved about this book! The close knit female friendships, foodie references, the spice, and I truly loved all of the characters. Kennedy touched on some pretty complex topics and situations. I appreciated the representation of Black love, Black families, and the importance of asking for help through therapy. Ryan portrayed a story that was real, raw, about second chances, love, forgiving yourself and accepting someone despite their flaws.

Kennedy Ryan does it again, not typically one for second chance romances, this book made me love them again. Well written, steamy but at the same time featuring something deep and meaningful. I can never read a Ryan book and not want more instantly. I am excited to see where this series also goes in the future!

Kennedy Ryan is fantastic. I loved this second chance romance and rooted for Si and Yasmin from the beginning. I love books where food and restaurants play a role in the story and here, it was a nice bonus.

I really appreciated the mental health rep and how counseling and therapy were discussed. I cried a few times but not in the spaces I thought I would which shows you how Ryan can pull emotions out at unexpected times. The family dynamics were an important part of the story and I enjoyed the kids’ storylines.

I loved the side characters and friendship groups and cannot wait to read more in the series. I’m waiting for Hendrix to fall in love.

Absolutely incredible. I’ve never read a romance quite like this one. A raw, honest portrayal of marriage and grief with a second chance at love. This book digs deep into your heart and won’t let go. This will stick with me for a long time

I can’t even articulate how much I loved this brilliance! I’ll circle back soon with a more articulate review. For now, I’ll just leave these thoughts that ran through my head as I read Before I Let Go:
Beautiful
Poignant
Raw
Flawless
Powerful

It’s no secret that Kennedy Ryan is a powerhouse. Her writing is some of the best prose I’ve ever read, yet this book transcends even my most favorite of her books. It’s so raw. These characters evoke a multitude of emotions. I cried my eyes out and loved every moment of it.

This book is the definition of romance with heart and soul. It’s an experience I won’t soon forget.

This book was absolutely stunning!! Before I Let Go follows Josiah and Yasmen two years after their divorce. We see them try to navigate this new relationship that they have not only as parents to their two children but also as co-owners of a restaurant, while also trying their best to move on from their marriage that broke down in such a painful way. Despite that though they both still have love for each other, the question is, is it to late?

This book is made for the lovers of second chance romance!! This is a book that will make you feel all the feelings, everything that Josiah and Yasmen go through felt so real and I was rooting for them so hard! I loved seeing the amazing team that they were and how undeniable their love and attraction to each other was! I also loved the focus on therapy and what an important tool it can be for everyone regardless of age. The discussions surrounding depression and grief were so real and I really appreciated seeing those conversations play out throughout the story even when they were tough! There is so much pain and grieving in this book but so so much joy and healing that cannot be overshadowed. I found myself laughing a ton (Hendrix I’m looking at you babes 😂) and squealing with joy whenever the romance was romancing 😂

I absolutely loved every character in this book from the kids, to Soledad and Hendrix who are the ultimate ride or die besties, to Yasmen and Josiah who are 100% soulmates. I didn’t wanna say goodbye to any of them and so I’m hoping we’ll see them again in the future 👀

Also shout out to Kennedy Ryan for creating the DILF to end all DILFs 😮‍💨 cause Josiah is too fine! I’m trying to go to a PTA meeting with him 🥵

Read if you like:
- second chance romance
- one bed trope
- open door romance
- grown folks romance

CW: Death of a loved one (off page), stillbirth, depression, suicidal ideation (no attempts)

I still have a lump in my throat from crying/trying not to. This book was so good.
So raw. So emotional. Literally cried throughout.
I absolutely adore Yasmin and Josiah and their kids.
Such a powerful read. Written so beautifully with so much heart.
Loved loved it.
Thanks to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an eARC.

Before I Let Go reads like a harmony. Josiah and Yasmen are two different parts, pleasing when together even though they’ve begun to live apart.

You will quickly get lost in this trying family dynamic that is barely floating with so many raw and recent hurts bearing down on each character.

I was floored by the fluidity of Ryan’s writing. She unfolded this family’s trauma so delicately. I couldn’t help but get emotional throughout as I heard about their experiences. She nails teens, how they cope with divorce in different ways as well as what I imagine are conflicting mindsets of divorced parents.

Lastly, I want to highlight the character’s use of therapy. Therapy becomes a cast member of this story and how important it can be for a woman, man, and child dealing with trauma. How necessary it can often be. Thankful to see this addressed.

A sexy, painful and touching novel!

Before I Let Go is officially, hands down, my top favorite novel by Kennedy Ryan.
It's "This Is Us" with an all Black cast. It goes into the depths of how Black people, especially Black men, don't believe that talking to a therapist/psychologist/psychiatrist can save them. It pours into how death can shatter lives beyond missing a loved one. It's sexy, seductive. It honors sister friendships - I want separate novels featuring Hendrix and Soledad ASAP!
It shows Black families in lush, diverse communities that support and celebrate Black-owned businesses.
It's a breakaway from what we are dealing with in the real world, despite the novel's topics being real.
I hated to get to the ending, but I had to let it go.

Everything Kennedy Ryan writes is golden!! I enjoyed every heartbreaking second of this. The romance had me swooning and I couldn’t get enough!!

So, How could I start.
I apologies firstly because my English may not be the best (but who had time for dictionary when you just read one of the most beautiful and healthy love story period)
It wasn't my first Kennedy Ryan's book, I read the hoops series, the king makers series + Queen move, Reel and the last one she released (the close up, I think).
But Before I let go have a special place in my heart. I think I read it at least 4 times before I wrote this review because I couldn't be separate to Yas and Si and their whole friends and family.
I crave for the bonus chapter Mrs Ryan always gift us.
The book also talk about serious topic that is so important to talk about in the black community, and not just only for the black people in the US but also here in France. Black people are so closed minded about Mental health issues and just don't want to acknowledge the sometimes you are not okay and that you may need help of professional and that didn't make you a crazy person.
This book was about healing after a deep grief, learn how to be happy again.
Seeing a black man and a young black man going through the process of taking care of their own mental health was just a pure pleasure. *This scene with Kassim at the Thanksgiving dinner was absolute gold.*
The love between Yas and Si was so beautiful and Seeing Yas being happy again was so emotional.
At first I had some trouble to like Deja, I couldn't understand her anger but at the end I just understand that she was just a little girl who loves her family so much and was hurt by all the stuff that happen.
I could write a whole book, and talk for hours about my impression of this beautiful book.
The only thing that I regret is that this book couldn't continue till the infinity ahahah.
Whatever, I wish my review (the fist I made ever) will give you a taste of the joy I got when I read BILG.
P.S : A book named the same as one of Beyonce's song cannot be wrong trust me lol.

Tw: stillbirth, miscarriage

Yasmen and Josiah were the couple you looked up to. The one you knew would last a lifetime. When unexpected situations brought Yasmen to her knees mentally however, the two couldn’t find a way to communicate and connect, and eventually divorced. they still parents their two children, and own a restaurant together, and over time they start to wonder if they gave up too soon.

This was such an amazing book of love, hardship, grief, family, connection, trauma, and healing. The way Ryan wrote these characters, you laughed with them, cried with them, and felt every emotion through the pages. I really loved the discussion surrounding therapy, it was so raw and vulnerable, but so valuable to the destigmatization of therapy. When one character (I won’t spoil who, says at Thanksgiving “I’m thankful for therapy” without even a blink, it just filled my heart with joy. I loved every second of moving through Josiah and Yasmen’s relationship, and the writing could not have been more fabulous. I am so glad Forever publishing put this book on my radar!

"I was meant for you and you were meant for me, and even when we got in our own way, even when we screwed up—because we both did, baby—even then my soul knew, my heart knew, it was wrong being away from you."

Before I Let Go is a beautiful, raw and a heart-wrenching second chance romance. I love the way her writing is so passionate and all-encompassing of relatable, real-life situations. The way she describes emotions -the good the bad and the ugly- is so powerful and you are left feeling so connected to each character. I loved reading about how Josiah and Yasmen navigated through their lives together, apart and then ultimately the journey of trying to put it all back together again (uh, hello sizzling chemistry and steam!). 5 stars just is not enough for this book. On sale November 15, I strongly recommend you put this at the top of your TBR.

Thank you to Forever Publishing for my early copy!

This is such a unique book, it really hooked my EMOTIONS from the very beginning. It’s not every day I read a book that makes me feel like characters are real people but I was really thrown into this world. Idk how I feel but there’s something hollow and happy in me. LOVED IT!! Don’t mine me adding things to this review as I continue to let everything sink in.

wow. Kennedy Ryan really knows how to capture emotions PERFECTLY. I cried, i laughed,i cheered and i died. This is her best book? Maybe i am riding off a high of just finishing it and my overwhelming emotions are blinding my judgement but Before I Let Go is one of the best books i have this year.

This body gave me my children,” I tell her, sliding down to lift her knees over my shoulders. “And it will always be beautiful to me.”

FUCKING WOW. Kennedy Ryan can write a fantastic second chance romance. I want to ask her how she does it. How does she write characters that always feels so real? How does she write stories I always feel apart of? How?!

This book follows Yasmen and Josiah, a divorced couple that still runs a business together. Throughout the story, we find out the reason for their separation and the events that led up to them. We also uncover their individual struggles, as well as their children.
( I really loved their healthy coparenting relationship. I think it’s important to show that coparenting CAN be like this. )

I will be giving a full review with spoilers on release day. I have too much to say.

Before I Let Go is second-chance romance done right, Yasmen and Josiah are far from perfect. A divorced couple, parents, and business partners, who are trying to find a way to pick up their lives and move on after tragedy and broken hearts. Through her protagonists, Ryan builds and portrays an genuine, realistic, and honest couple. She also accurately depicts the effects of loss and divorce on children and teens, which I found to be a really moving aspect of the story.

This book is a slow burner, with the author adding plenty of tension and angst to an already strained relationship. It's clear Yasmen and Josiah belong together, that their hearts are inclined to one another, and they take their time coming to realise this for the second time. It's an emotional story, filled with heart-ache, but beautifully crafted and written with care. I can't wait for others to experience the soulmate magic in this romance!

I loved this. The story of this divorced couple, both healing from trauma that originally pushed them apart, now realizing that they never stopped loving each other, was so gorgeous and so full of love. I enjoyed the frank discussions of trauma, therapy, and healing from some truly difficult life situations, how these types of things can push people away from those who love us the most, and how true healing means owning up to mistakes and asking for forgiveness. Despite the heavy subject matter in this book, there was such a brightness to it - the characters were real and vibrant, the story jumps off the page, and I fell in love with this town and these wonderful people. I am delighted to see that it's a planned series and I can't wait to see which character Ryan focuses on next.

There is so much I could say about this book. The writing is impeccable and I could feel each emotion of the 2 main characters. Being married myself, I have sometimes felt how these 2 described their own emotions throughout the story. Reading this was hard, there was no clear cut path to a happy ending and I appreciate that. I would recommend this book to everyone I know.

Emotions, emotions, emotions, that’s what Kennedy Ryan stories are full of and this book has them. Before I Let Go is an angsty second chance love story that keeps you turning the pages to read more. Yasmen & Josiah were definitely soulmates and I enjoyed reading the heartache expressed in their story because it felt so real to me. I look forward to reading more from Kennedy Ryan in the future.