Anything by Kennedy Ryan I just know is gonna be a hit. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and think it's potentially her most personal book, and it shows. The writing is wonderful and in true KR fashion, she takes on some big topics but it never feels like she's trying to do too much. I am a sucker for a second chance romance so I loved the tension here and the rekindling of the relationship between Yasmen and Josiah. The discussions around grief and depression are thoughtful and I loved Josiah's journey with therapy! Kids in romance can also go either way but Kassim and Deja really added to the story and felt like real kids.

This one is setting up for a series and I sincerely hope the other books focus on Hendrix and Soledad-- the female friendship in this book shone almost as bright as the romance, which I loved.

While Kennedy Ryan typically takes on some heavy topics, this might be one of her heaviest so definitely take care before reading. TW: miscarriage, stillborn, death of a family member, depression

"I've learned that life isn't about taking what you deserve, it's about getting all you can while you can because it's short. Because it's fickle. Because it takes when we least expect it."

What You'll Find:
✔️Second Chance Romance
✔️Divorced Couple
✔️One Bed Situation
✔️Angst & Emotion
✔️Healing & Hope
✔️Dual POV

And the academy of romance books awards goes to... Before I Let Go.

Before I Let Go tells the achingly raw and beautiful second chance story of a divorced couple meant to be. Coparenting and running a business together after tragedy tore them apart. And their story is heavy. It is real. And it hurts. I was on an emotional rollercoaster of heartache and angst. But I did not want to get off. So I didn't. I read this entire book in one sitting. And I would do it all over again, it is that phenomenal.

This story is about love that lasts the tests of time. And they were surely tested. The pain is palpable. The angst is heart wrenching. But there are slivers of humor. Of strength. And hope. This story is not just a love story, it's an incredible story of perseverance and self love/care that is incredibly relatable and inspiring. Many will feel seen. I know I did.

But have no fear, it also does not lack the slow burning chemistry or steam that I've come to love from this author. "He doesn't have to fumble or search or guess. His body knows mine." There was so much depth to these characters. So many layers that I loved seeing the author peel back. Even when it hurt. Especially when it hurt.

There is no lack of strong friendship and family ties either, that only add to the reading experience, and leave you excited for more. I do not want to say too much about this story. I just think you should read it. Kennedy Ryan is truly a powerhouse in romance writing. This book deserves all the awards in world and a place on the big screen. Can't wait to see this book shine upon release!

6 "I remember the way" Stars!

*I received an ARC from Forever Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and given freely.

This book, while well written, fell flat for me. Yasmen annoyed me immensely and I didn’t root for anyone in this except for the recipes. All of the right elements were there but I couldn’t connect with them. Would definitely recommend as a second chance romance rec

I discovered Kennedy Ryan this year after reading her book Reel and I have been obsessed with her (and her work) ever since! I thought Reel was my fave but Before I Let Go has taken its spot!

This story is a beautiful story of true soulmates finding their way back to each other again after pain and loss thrusts them apart. Kennedy has a way of making you feel her characters emotions and it’s no different with this book. The pain and sadness that both Josiah and Yasmeen have, you feel yourself go through the motions with them. It can be draining but the love they have for each other is enough to help you through it.

Every supporting character plays an important part to the storyline, and some will have you laughing like you’re sitting beside your own friends.

This is the beautiful love story I have ever read and trust me, I have read a lot. Lol. Bravo Kennedy! Thank you so much to Netgalley and Forever Pub for the ARC!

I was so excited to be approved for BEFORE I LET GO - it not only was getting major buzz for new releases but I have heard great things about tKennedy Ryan's books.

Before I Let Go was such a beautiful book and honestly, it surpassed what I thought it was going to be. Do yourself a favor and read this romance novel even if they aren't your jam. The love between Yasmin and Josiah is absolutely life altering and breathtaking. A rollercoaster of emotions with heartbreak and hope will lead you down an interesting path. Layer that with the pain and grief the family endures and this book will you you contemplating it all - it is a rare emotional experience.

The relationships in this book are beautiful - between friends, family, siblings and lovers. Each one is unique and beautiful in their own way. This is not a fast read but one you will one to stick with.

Ryan intertwines mental health and therapy so eloquently into this book too - if you struggle this is a book for you.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this digital ARC

This story tore me apart then put me back together. This story hurt to read in the best possible way. We follow Yasmin and Josiah as they navigate co-parenting in the aftermath of divorce and two traumatic events. They have to work through how to move on for something that they never thought would end. The love Josiah and Yasmin share is one we all dream to find. To have someone that you can be with till the wheels fall off. I laughed, I cried, I was angry. Kennedy Ryan weaved this story together so beautifully. The emotions she brought out of me through the course of this book made me feel personally invested in these characters. For the first half of the book it was like knowing a train was about to crash but being unable to look away. I could not put it down till I knew exactly what was going to happen. This book takes the spot as top 5 for the year. Would love to see this be a movie.

Review Review to be posted on TikTok the week of release. Review posted on Goodreads.

Rating: 5/5
Warnings: Depression, Child Loss, Divorce, Grief
Steam: 3/5

Thank you Forever and NetGalley for access to this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Before I Let Go will be released on November 15th, 2022.

I really want to write a proper review because this will be one of my top books of 2022 but this is all I have:

My soul has left my body.
I am emotionally unwell in the best way.
Why is this book over?
I'm actually sobbing, I'm not okay.

Yeah, that's my review for the time being.

Kennedy Ryan always knows how to make a romance that takes you on an emotional journey. Before I Let You Go, is a the love story of Yesmen and Josiah who has been divorced for 2 years. This book has a lot of heavy topics that deals with mental illness and death of a child. The story is so well told about the how a divorce impacts not only the couple but their children as well. I love Yesmen's friends and look forward to reading their stories.

Thank you @readforeverpub for a copy of the book.

4.5 stars
All I have to say is wow... this novel by Kennedy Ryan is absolutely amazing. "Before I Let Go" is about a divorced couple trying to balance being co-parents and business partners since they own a restaurant together. Yasmen and Josiah have been lovers since college, and they have faced many personal losses in their life, resulting in their divorce. Over time, they begin to realize they still have feelings for each other. This book was everything I wanted and needed in a romance novel; it also capitalized on Black love and Black excellence, which is amazing to read about. This book was just incredible; there are no words that can describe my love for this book. There are a few triggers in this book, so be sure to do your own research. This book will be released on November 15, 2022, and I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy.

This author is an auto purchase for me every single time. Before I Let Go did not disappoint. This story navigates a divorced couple who still shares a restaurant business and fosters an enviable co-parenting relationship. You can tell from the onset that these people should still be together. The way this author unveils a story of loss and tragedy, you understand why a seemly perfect couple can disintegrate.

This second chance romance shows how divorce can affect relationships with your children. Yasmin and Josiah’s daughter is a tween, and you can tell she harbors resentment towards her mother. It’s unveiled later in the book why that is, but it was easy to guess since she’s a daddy’s girl.

I always love when characters have friends to talk to while navigating a budding or rekindle, in this case, of a romance. Yasmen has been in denial about her feelings for her ex-husband since she initiated the divorce. I love seeing that denial wash away and her accepting for herself that she still wants this man. “My mind and my heart ask if I’m sure. I hurt him. I know that, but does he have any idea how much he could hurt me? That if I give him my body, my heart can’t help but follow? I wish we’d talked sooner. Wish we’d gone to therapy. Wish I’d found the right therapist, the right meds, the right everything in time. It would have made a world of difference.”
Josiah’s inner monologue showed his struggles with trying to move on from his ex-wife. “I’ve fallen in love with a warrior woman who walked through fire, the one who came through stronger, reshaped by sorrow, reformed by grief, reborn by joy.”

Beautifully written, and it gives you all the feels. Mrs. Ryan did not disappoint!

I just reviewed Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan. #BeforeILetGo #NetGalley
www.netgalley,com

3.5 stars. Was good, writing great and overall enjoyed the plot. But thought it could have been shorter without as many side characters. Amd felt a little preachy with the therapy themes.

This is my favorite read of 2022. So glad to have been given the opportunity to read it early. It was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it certainly did not disappoint.

Before I Let Go is the first book in the Skyland series. This book features Yasmine and Josiah This contemporary romance novel explores divorce, co-parenting, small business life, mental health representation, struggle, and hope. The author addresses some heavy subjects in here: grief, death of a loved one, child death, mental illness to name a few. Overall, I loved this one and it deserves all the stars. This is the first Kennedy Ryan book I read and definitely won’t be my last. I’m typically not a fan of second chance romance trope, but this was so well written. The storyline tugged at my heart strings and I truly felt empathetic towards each main character. One of the other aspects I loved about the novel was Yasmine and her best friends. It was refreshing for the main character to have best friends that she met in the last couple of years after her divorce than with friends she’s known for years. Hendrix and Soledad were so supportive of Yasmine and I’m really hoping each of them have their own books! Highly recommend picking this one up if you’re a romance reader!

I know this author mainly through their college sport romances. I was not expecting a book as deep and mature as this one. The characters were well rounded and their development through the book was very relatable. This story is about a divorced couple fighting to stay friends and the longing of wanting to be more. I thoroughly enjoyed reading their journey and I felt that their marriage struggles could be common to readers. Thank you to NetGally and the publishers for an advanced copy for reading.

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan 🥰📖

This beautiful novel takes us through real life with divorced parents of two children and a whole lot of recent family trauma. My highlights while reading: true friendships, the food, Otis, the garage scene, THERAPY, pears, just Deja being Deja.

An easy 5 stars; must read! Releases November 15th🧡 thank you @netgalley and @readforeverpub for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I was honored to be approved for this one!!

Thank you so much to Kennedy Ryan and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I will be thinking about this book for so long. Second chance romances are not usually my thing- the tone can be so different from the excitement build up of the beginning of your standard romance you are usually dealing with hurt and pain at the beginning of a second chance romance so they are far and few between for me. I am so glad that I took a chance on this one.

2 years after a their divorce and the loss of their child Yasmen and Josiah are navigating raising children and running a business together. After a lengthy battle with depression Yas starts to feel like herself again and realizes that she still feels a strong attraction to her ex-husband. This book was such a beautiful depiction of grief and depression. Half of this book was fighting mental wellness issues the other half was them fighting for one another but it was so beautifully depicted I think it's going to ring true for so many people.

This is not critical to the plot but Ms. Ryan included some of the recipes from the book (food plays a huge role) in the back of the book and I will be making that lemon cake tomorrow!

What a beautiful story of love, redemption, second choices and embracing maturity. This was the first book I’ve read from this author and I am captivated by her writing and storytelling. This book was just beautiful from start to finish. I can’t wait to read more from this selfies! Kennedy is a star!

Kennedy Ryan's words in "Before I Let Go" are delivered as power punches landing their mark every time. I felt the characters every thought, every spoken word.

There's something so special about getting lost in a book world where every turned page comes full with emotions. A beautiful story that had me holding my breath.

This was a highly anticipated book and it was perfect just as I imagined it would be. I was consumed from page one. I couldn't part from the story. I didn't want to leave these characters and of course the end came too soon. I would gladly read 400 more pages. I loved the family dynamics which played a big role in this story.

This was quite a journey of love, so much love and understanding, grief, forgiveness and hope. If nothing else, Hope is something we hang on to.

Quote ☆ Before I let go of the past and grab hold of a future..., I have to be sure. I don’t know when or if I’ll get a second chance, but as long as it’s possible, I’ll hold on to hope.

A Must Read!!

What a great love story! Talented author, Kennedy Ryan, introduces us to Yasmeen (Yas) and Josiah (Si), and we follow this couple as they navigate the sometimes turbulent family waters. I love this couple, family and friends. You will find yourself cheering for Si and Yas as they go through and ultimately learn to deal with family trauma.
Their support comes from their friends who are there with them every step of the way.. More than family And friends who support them, Kudos goes to author, Kennedy Ryan who champions therapy as a way to heal. There’s a lot of healing that needs to be done between Yas and Si, as you will discover.
BEFORE I LET GO is a wonderful love story with just the right amount of steam..There are many heart-warming, and heart-breaking moments in this well-written story of a family going through., and it reassures us that there is always hope even when love may not be enough.. I highly recommend it. It’s a must read!

When I say there has NEVER been a book that put me in my feelings, I mean NEVER!!!

Kennedy Ryan has truly changed things. I don’t know if I’m upset or finally glad that a book can effect me the way this one did! I will try to make sense of my thoughts.

I was screaming at this book. I was whispering at this book. I was crying at this book. I was jumping for joy at this book. I could not get enough of it!

This book was just amazing from the beginning to the end! The dynamic between Yasmen and Josiah is one that I think most of us strive to have with our partners. Although they have been through something no parent would ever want to go through, they were still friends and worked together with their business.

I could relate to so much of this book. Yasmen went through a great depression and a book speaking on this really hit me. I relate to a character on a deep level was just something I never thought would happen. She went through her depression and went through the healing process. The healing process is a little of where I am right now. I could also relate to Josiah because I am one to never really show my feelings. I let it bottle up until it explodes. I have a hard time seeking the help I know I need.

The happiness in the end was just the straw that broke the camels back. The water works really came down. Then of course, she had to hit me with the authors notes. I could not stop the tears.

I am so honored to have been able to read Before I let go in advance. Kennedy Ryan is one of my favorite authors and an auto-buy author for me. This is her best book yet!!!!!