Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Oof this book gutted me. A second chance, complicated, angsty, heartbreaking read that feels so brutally raw and honest that it takes an hour to stand up after you finish it. I love the way Kennedy Ryan writes, her characters are so unapologetically themselves in all of their messy realness, and sometimes that means that you want to reach into the pages and shake them, and sometimes that means you want to reach into the pages and give them a bear hug and every time I read one of her books I am left believing more fully (not matter how cheesy this sounds) in love and humility and forgiveness.

Check the content warnings on this one, but if you want to read something that makes your heart ache then this is definitely the book for you.

This review is difficult to write, because I don’t know if I understand what I actually think Before I Let Go.

I’ve been a big fan of Kennedy Ryan’s writing since I read the Hoops series. The poetry of her prose, the realness of her characters and all their flaws, and Ryan’s ability to “go there” in terms of tackling dark or thorny subject matter and finding the bits of light - all that remains true of Before I Let Go.

I was excited to read this book because I have never read a romance about a divorced couple getting their HEA, and I was looking forward to experiencing that. (Also, this cover is absolutely gorgeous!)

The traumas that both characters suffered in their past that led to the divorce is completely understandable. Watching them work through the pain and find their way back to each other should have been satisfying, and at times it was. I appreciated how Ryan talked about depression and what it does to your mind, and I appreciated the role that therapy played in the family’s life. Josiah’s first appointment with his therapist was my favorite part of the book.

All this said, this was a hard book for me to engage with and stick with to the end. If I hadn’t received this as an ARC, and therefore felt obligated to finish in order to write feedback for Netgalley, I don’t think I would have finished it.

The leisurely pacing, though on the one hand made the book feel like I was reading about real people going through real things, left me bored and restless at times, skimming to get through to the next moment. The stakes didn’t feel high enough, even though I know they should have felt incredibly high? I don’t know if editing down would have made the journey of the characters feel too quick and unrealistic, but perhaps having more jumps in time could have helped? I’m not sure.

I also had a hard time with some of the choices the characters made in terms of how and when they let their passion for each other take over, putting them in danger of being caught by their kids. These parts of the book I felt very judgmental of the characters, and I recognized that maybe I wasn’t being fair, or maybe I was being fair and they should have had more restraint? Was it realistic or unrealistic to be so overblown by want and lust and longing that you through caution to the wind completely? I don’t know! As a reader, instead of enjoying those scenes, I quickly skimmed ahead because I felt like I was watching a train wreck about to happen and I was too worried about them getting caught.

Part of me thinks this just wasn’t the story for me, but may completely enthrall another reader. As such, if the summary of the book interests you, I would encourage you to give it a read and see how you respond to the material. I appreciate Kennedy Ryan as always, swinging for the fences, even if this venture didn't quite work for me personally.

A contemporary second chance romance novel about Yasmen and Josiah's passion for one another.
One thing I really loved about this book was the author’s exploration of mental health, specifically in dealing with love and loss. She brought it to the for front and demonstrated the importance of acquiring professional help regardless of your age or gender. As well, she explored how a person’s depressed mental state could sway decisions and how some may not be what a person would choose in a healthy mental state.
The novel was well written and very much the romance novel it claims to be. However, as such it was lacking in character and plot development, which are two important elements for me when I read a book, and therefore the rating. If you are a lover of romance, this is for you. If not, it might be best to skip it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the opportunity.

WOW. One of my most anticipated reads this year and this did not disappoint. This may be my favourite Kennedy Ryan book ever. The mental health rep in this book was amazing and done SO well. I really loved to see it. I also loved the writing in this. There is nothing I love more in this world than seeing former couples who are meant to be come back together and reading about Josiah and Yasmen finding their way back to each was so wonderful. They are the definition of soulmates and I was so happy to see them getting the happy ending they deserve.

5 ⭐️
2.5- 3 🌶

This is a second chance romance novel with a divorced couple that have kids and a business together. I loved seeing the coparenting when they were not together, the discussion of grief and loss, the normalization of therapy and so much more.

This book will give all the feels and make you wanting more. I connected with the grief story so much due to personal loss I have faced and how Kennedy tied that into how it truly impacts marriage was so validating and I felt seen and heard.

The only word I have for this book is wow. Just wow. I loved it so much, it’s easily in my top 3 reads of 2022. I’m so dang grateful that I was approved for an ARC through NetGalley.

As Kennedy likes to say, this is a “grown-folks romance.” Throughout the story, we follow Yasmen and Josiah as they navigate through their post-divorce life. Only just two years after their separation, we see them balance all this loss, anxiety, jealousy, anger, and most importantly, love. I can’t get over how Kennedy managed to make me vividly FEEL the character’s emotions. Their longing, their apprehensions, and their growth.

The way anxiety, depression, and therapy is discussed in this book? Flawless. The relationships between best friends? 10/10 - we love to see women supporting women in this house. The maturity between our two love interests? Unmatched! I seriously already can’t wait for my reread.

Even if you’re not into second-chance romance, I STILL would recommend this book. I truly believe everyone could learn a very important lesson in doing so.

What a beautiful, raw, realistic second chance romantic journey of 2 people who were true soulmates until tragedy derailed their happily ever after. Though they put aside their marriage, their children and their business kept them tied together. With time and help, the wounds that broke their marriage begin to heal. Now that there are new sparks and desires floating in the air, is it too late, are the wounds too deep to forget, can the love they had rise up from the ashes to rekindle the love that was always there?

Yasmen and Josiah were a wonderful couple. They were that “it” couple that everyone thought was solid until they weren’t. Their story was slow and methodical. There was a lot of underlying hurt and agony as well as growth and awakening. Kennedy Ryan took this couple and exposed all their love, desire, pain and hope. I was able to feel all their emotions and I loved that it wasn’t easy at times but there was no unnecessary drama. We were able to see them parent their great kids and see that parenthood isn’t a cake walk. How family and food was important to them both and how having a great group of girlfriends can truly be lifesaving at times.

I will say that this author did a phenomenal job incorporating grief, mental heath depression and therapy within this story. It was realistic and relatable. It broke my heart at times but it was a journey and journeys are sometimes hard, cruel and heartbreaking. But with help, guidance and forgiveness, happily ever afters can and do happen.

Before I Let Go will most definitely be on my Best of 2022 list.

*advanced copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

“I’ve learned to tame grief, though, so it doesn’t run wild and ruin my life. It’s in these unguarded moments that the pain hisses and growls, a rabid beast with its face pressed to the bars. But I hold the whip and chair. I keep the lock and key.”

Before I Let Go is hands down one of my favorite romance books of all time now. I’m blown away. Flabbergasted. Gagged, if you will.

In this book, we follow Yasmen and Josiah, college sweethearts who now find themselves co-parenting and co-owning their dream restaurant after a divorce two years prior. Despite everything going well on the surface, the many things left unsaid and repressed regrets start to poke through the seams of their “comfortable” lives apart.

Here, we get a vulnerable and raw look at what life after loss looks like and how we can weaponize our pain when we don’t know any other way. This book is a such a beautiful story of being broken down and getting back up, second chances, and what it looks like when we really, really communicate. This book conducts conversations around grief and mental health so wonderfully, I think my cold little heart warmed up by 10 degrees. I loved seeing black people in therapy and seeing black therapists in a book. As someone who’s a budding therapist, I frequently get very frustrated at the way many books portray therapy. You can almost always tell when the author is basing the characters off of Dr. Phil and not what counseling really looks like. But Kennedy Ryan does an amazing job of showing the true work that goes into uplifting and guiding clients. I don’t want to say more but I will say look up trigger warning for this one. It’s lovely but I think it can be heavy with some difficult subjects. Overall, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read this amazing book.

This was my first Kennedy Ryan book but it certainly won’t be my last!

Whew I will suggest tissue because this book will pull on all your heart strings!

I’m not going to lie as a married woman it’s hard for me to read books like this, books about the after, books about marriages and what happens when forever isn’t always forever! They scare me so I’m cautious but the gorgeous cover grabbed my attention and the synopsis pulled me in!

This story was such a cathartic journey! It resonated with me on so many levels and I am beyond grateful that Kennedy takes on such challenging issues and presents them in ways you can’t help but love!

Josiah and Yasmen have my whole heart! What these two endured and healed from just WOW! Wow wow wow! As I sit and think on how to describe it all I’m left with wow! They have been through hell and back. Through the pain seeing especially Yasmen rise from the ashes stronger and more confident just had tears rolling down my face!

Be ready for it all, be ready for emotions to pour out of you but ready to fall in love with love!

This book has my soul smeared on the page, messy, raw, and a beautiful work in progress. To say I saw myself and my friends in these characters is an understatement. The losses, the depression, the long road through therapy back to yourself, the hard work of staying together is something we don’t often get to see in romance and I am here for it. For anyone who has sat in the bottom of the pit and wondered if you had the strength to pull yourself out this time, you’re not alone and seeing our struggle on the page is a gift. For those who’ve never experienced it, you probably know someone who has. I hope reading Yasmen’s journey gives you a glimpse behind the veil. This book has all the lush lyrical prose characteristic of Kennedy Ryan’s work, all the spice, and a group of supportive girlfriends whose stories I will anxiously anticipate. Another slam dunk!

Thank you Netgalley and Foreverpub for allowing me to be an early reader.

This book is A-FREAKING-MAZING!

Kennedy Ryan is a brilliant writer. She writes in a way that allows you to really 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 what her characters are going through, so much so that you hurt with them, laugh with them and cry with them. (Y’all, chapter 13…wow! I felt that!)

I love the way they parent their kids but especially Josiah’s role as a Black father who is active in his children’s lives. I also love the positive message this book brings towards therapy being a useful tool since it’s such a stigma in the Black community.

There are some books that are full of steam & lacking the depth but this book, ohmygoodness, it had the depth, top-notch character development & great steam. The story is rich, the love is passionate and magnetic- you can’t help but not to get butterflies while reading it! I am committed to checking out Kennedy Ryan’s backlist now because she can WRITE!! She is a definite auto buy author for me now.

This was one of the best books I’ve ever read. I knew I was gonna love it when I started crying in chapter 2 and didn’t stop till the next chapter hahaha. Yasmen and Josiah are everything!!!! 🥰🥰

This book was not what I expected at all, I love a book that will keep me on my toes in regards to where the story is going and that’s exactly what this book did. It was filled with so much emotion that I feel it’s impossible to not feel it. I would literally get up, in the middle of reading, and do a happy dance when certain things happened to the characters. The growth between of both the MCs and their children throughout this book was really honestly inspirational to see. She really does not hold back when talking about the realities of how low a person can get when they are depressed and the benefits of therapy and communication in a relationship.

We all knew I’d talk about it so let’s get into it… the spice was spicin’ 😂😂 the tension was everything I needed and more! JOSIAH?! Yeah that man is… 🥵😮‍💨🤤🫠 that’s all I have to say haha

One final thing to say, Yasmen’s friends?! Oh yeah I need me some friends like hers because they were funny, loving, caring, close and everything I’d want and need in my life. I hope they get their own books especially Soledad because she’s such a good woman with the kindest heart. This book was amazing!!! I got an Arc from NetGalley thank you NetGalley and thank you Kennedy Ryan for writing this book.

I swore this was my first ever KR book, but took a peek, and I listened to one other book on the Read me Romance podcast!! Her writing is amazing-flows perfectly even with flashbacks! Love books that flip from past to present, or vice versa, to build the story! We got glimpses of the past, and definitely felt the anguish and pain which led the couple, Yasmen & Josiah (and their kids) to the present. The second half of the book was my favorite! I SO needed a HEA!!! I hope some of my fav secondary characters will get books!!!

FAV QUOTES:
“I wondered if this—-finding someone you can laugh with when everything hurts—-was the stuff happily ever afters were made of.”

“Funny how the words he doesn’t say can sting more than the one he does.”

“Sometimes the people who are always keeping things together are the least prepared when they actually fall apart.”

“And I think I’m most grateful for time, which doesn’t always heal all wounds, but teaches us how to be happy again even with our scars.”

“…but I want to stop what-iffing my life.”

“There are some days when memories feel more real than those who remain, than the joys of this world.”

****thank you to Net Galley for a copy of the ebook for my honest review****

This is the best book I’ve read all year so far. Kennedy Ryan has such a way with descriptive language that, if I were a writing or literature professor, I would assign this book. BEFORE I LET GO is rich and full and so mature. The challenges seem real and the pleasures are *steamy*. I will be talking about and recommending this book for a very long time. Just incredible.

I loved this book! A divorced couple, continuing their restaurant business, raising their two kids, and still in love with each other after 2 years of separation!

My heart truly aches for Yasmen and Josiah. They made mistakes. They are far from perfect and they are just trying to move on. But that seems harder now than ever.

I feel like I know these people. Their traumas, their struggles, resentments, regrets, and pain. I have been through a divorce myself and this brought back a lot of feelings. Good and bad. They gave up their marriage and they didn’t fight enough to get back together. Before the story starts, Yasmen lost her baby and Josiah’s aunt who was like a mother to her. She became depressed and failed herself and her marriage.

Josiah still loves his wife, even though he starts dating another woman who works at their restraint Grits. Kennedy Ryan created this amazing couple and this genuine, realistic, poignant, angsty story with a great perspective of the anatomy of marriage, love, second chances, and growing up together.

This is so intense, heart-wrenching, beautiful, and deserving of 5 stars. Honestly, I might need time to process this. my emotions are all over the place and I can’t describe what i was going through while reading this powerful masterpiece.

I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy and I'm so glad I did. This is her best book yet. I . Loved. IT.
All the feels. It speaks to your soul. Loved it so much.

I'm so glad Kennedy Ryan has a long backlist because after reading this, I know I'll never get enough of her writing. There's something about it that's beautiful, lyrical, and that straight up punches you in the gut.

I felt so much for our main characters Yasmen and Josiah and everything their family has been through. The tension between them was so visceral and raw, I couldn't help but root for them from the very beginning. It was also very refreshing to read about characters with children, it's not something I see in a lot of the books I pick up. I loved seeing the relationship they had with their kids, both separately and together, as well as how their family complicated the very real feelings Yasmen and Josiah still had for each other as a divorced couple. Yasmen and Josiah's "platonic" dynamic in general was so interesting to read about, even as I kept turning the Kindle pages waiting for them to jump each other's bones lol.

Also, I LOVE how much therapy was in this book! There's so much I love about this book. I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy when it comes out, and I'm looking forward to reading more from Kennedy Ryan!

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan is the best romance novel, I have read all year. Second-chance love is quickly becoming a favorite trope of mine.

Before I Let Go follows Yasmeen and Josiah as they navigate life after divorce. It's not the life they imagined for themselves, but they are doing great co-parenting and running a business together. Dating has now reared its ugly head, and both Josiah and Yasmeen start to think about "what if." They explore the possibility of basically being friends with benefits, but is that what's best for the both of them? Or do they want something more? Follow along as Yasmeen digs herself out of a depressive episode following tragedy and lose, and Josiah as he learns to open up and explore his past tragedies.

What Did I like:
Everything! Yasmeen and Josiah felt so real to me. They could truly be a couple that I know in my real life. The discussions around therapy and depression were well written. There needs to much more literature about mental health, therapy, and seeking help in the black community. I feel like Ms. Ryan did amazing portraying that in this novel. When Mark first came to pick Yasmeen up at the house...I loved that scene. The descriptions and emotions were raw and so realistic. Chapter 32 was just perfection! I loved everything about it; so many gems of knowledge were dropped there. On page 329, when Josiah is exploring Yasmeen's body; in her moment of insecurity, he provided her affirmation that she was all he needed. "This body gave me my children, and it will always be beautiful to me." And finally, the symbolism of the wheel! And how Yasmeen and Josiah came "full circle."

What I Did not like:
There wasn't anything I didn't enjoy about this book. I didn't want it to end. I wanted to savor every moment in this book. To think I'll never be able to read this book for the first time ever.

I will recommend this book to everyone. Even if you don't enjoy romance, read it because it explores mental health. And not just mental health, but mental health in the black community. I promise, as a woman, you will find yourself in the characters in this book. And you know a Hendrix, Deja, Josiah, and Sol.

Definitely a 5-star read for me. I haven't read any other books by Kennedy Ryan, but this will not be my last.

Ryan has been a dynamic force in the romance genre, but it seems as though she has really garnered the well deserved attention with the sudden boom of TikTok.

Honestly, I’m not usually a fan of second-chance romances, but this was a stellar re-introduction into the trope. Yasmin and Josiah were so dynamic and the chemistry was perfect. Their love for their children stole the show for me.

An excellent Ryan novel, though these days I know to expect nothing less!

What does a reader expect from Kennedy Ryan? I’ll tell you. They expect REAL. Before I Let Go is just that. It deals with a divorced couple who still love each other but are trying to move on while co parenting their two children. Why they divorced is a huge part of their story. The how/why/when is heart breaking, but necessary for them to get to where they belong.

I love Kennedy Ryan’s writing. It’s poetic, sad, funny, interesting and keeps the reader glued to the book. I also learn from reading her books. I highly recommend this book as I do all of Kennedy Ryan’s books.