I don't know how to put into words how much I loved this book. From the minute I started reading it Yasmen and Josiah pulled me into their beautiful love story. Their past was revealed as you read more into the story and your heart immediately goes out to both of them. I love the dual POV so you can see both sides of the same coin in which we so often only see the side of the woman and how it affects her. This was such an amazing story and I cannot recommend it enough. I was so sad to finish and to have to say goodbye to the Wade's. This will be a book I reread many times.

Kennedy Ryan does not miss!!! This book was perfection and I cannot wait to read it again once it isn’t so fresh on my mind. Truly another must read by Ryan.

I wish I could say that I am surprised at the amount of love and appreciation this novel provided..but I cannot. Kennedy always has a knack for giving us readers the good stuff with the right amount of angst and the right amount of hotness and heartfelt moments. This story was so heartbreaking and so incredibly true to reality that I cried and cried good!

Yasmen and Josiah are the quintessential couple. They met, fell in love and it all started with cheap food and no electricity in college. The premise what just indefinable. It was just plain love and devotion. They knew right then that regardless of what they would eventually endure, that they would survive.

Then the unimaginable happens and both Josiah and Yasmen are left heartbroken for several reasons. They can't seem to find a way to fix whats broken and they are not the only ones confused. They have 2 children that are functioning in different ways. They are both left to make a decision that will leave them unfixed until an awaking happens. The awakening takes its time to help heal both of them and when they are finally able to confront the reality of the situation...They almost lose the opportunity to decide what the future has in store.

Kennedy! You seem to ALWAYS amaze me with your creative writing and your wholeself included due to your own struggles. I admire you and your husband more than you know because it takes a strong couple to endure and thrive. Thank you for giving us a beautiful story and dedicating to your hubby, son and all those that struggle with grief and acceptance. ❤️❤️❤️❤️💜💜💜💜

10 Stars if possible

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Kennedy Ryan is a genius! The writing sucked me in and made me hurt so much for this couple. They got their hard fought HEA.

Listen, this book was it. Absolute five out of five starts. Ten out of ten. Infinity out of infinity!

Have you ever read a book that caressed your heart and fed your soul? No? Read this!

First of all, I can’t wait to re-read the life out of this book. To reread it until the words lose their meanings and the pages disappear. That’s how much I love it; how much I love Yas and Si and their tragically beautiful story. I’m a sucker for second-chance romances and Kennedy’s writing, so I knew I was going to love this book when I picked it up. But what I found buried inside the pages exceeded my expectations. It blew my mind.

The way this book was written was so realistic and raw that I found it so easy to relate with every character (despite not having gone through the same things they’ve gone through.) From the grown folks to the kids, every single person in this book had their own unique and well-developed personality and it felt like I knew them all on a personal level. Which was why it was such an emotional and angsty read for me. Their pain, joy, and love were poignant and palpable you can’t help but be touched so deeply by them. This is why it’s my favorite read of the year and favorite novel ever.

The last few pages of the book and the Acknowledgement made me bawl my eyes out. This was a very honest and realistic book with so many topics raised and dealt with l perfectly. I’m truly in awe of the author and every single one of her art. ♥️

This book deals with lots of sensitive topics, so please look up the trigger warnings. (I think they are updated on NetGalley) Some of them are Depression, Loss of a child, Talks of suicide, and Death of a family member.

Thank you Forever, Kennedy Ryan, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Okay, so usually I don’t do too many second chance romances ONLY because I know they’ll eventually get back together. I feel like the surprise element isn’t there.

However, when I read the blurb for this book I needed to read it.

If only I had known that I’d end up crying a few times throughout this book all due to Josiah and Yasmen.

Yasmen and Josiah fell hard for one another and created their dream life. A booming restaurant, dream house, kids and even a successful marriage.

Unfortunately, a few tragedies take place and the two just couldn’t make it. Their marriage was no more and they almost lost their business.

Years have gone by and the two are learning to not only co-parent but run their restaurant together. Josiah has moved on and Yasmen still can’t seem to get past her ultimate heartbreak.

A business opportunity presents itself to Yasmen and Josiah so the two take a trip. This trip changes their lives and opens up old wounds.

I loved this book so much. Yasmen and Josiah (plus their kids, Deja & Kassim) go through so much but they’re meant to be. I appreciated the fact that therapy was important to the characters and even the parenting of the kids was so real. Yasmen and Josiah experience real issues as individuals and a couple. They gave up but eventually found their way back to one another.

TW: Child loss, death, depression and mention of the idea of suicide.

Thank you Forever & NetGalley for the eARC!

I’ve been reading Kennedy Ryan for many years and I am never not amazed by the new depth she achieves with each of her novels. Before I Let Go is the epitome of second chance romance done incredibly right. The trauma and drama that drove the couple apart is not contrived. It’s a real, hard look at a real couple who was dealt life’s most vicious blow and crumbled- and how they built inroads back to one another after being so broken. Mental health struggles and coping with unimaginable grief stare you right in the face and dare you to look away. All I could do was turn the page, captivated by each main character’s point of view. I love that the story wasn’t cookie cutter. Decisions the characters made were not arrived at conveniently. They fought for each internal victory and as a whole, it was nothing but triumphant, Read it.

Isn’t there a saying— Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Whew… she’s done it again y’all.
This is the first book I’ve read in a long time that I’ve read from cover to cover, well virtually until my physical copy arrives in November 😜 But, I mean dedication, acknowledgments & ALL. I was teary eyed just after reading the dedication. Mrs. Ryan deserves a standing ovation- a complete master at her craft, not that we haven’t witnessed her handiwork in the past but with Before I Let Go (BILG) she CONQUERED delving into and discussing such sensitive topics like depression, anxiety, divorce, strained relationships, loss and healing. All real life things majority of us do not discuss because of the stigmas that surround each particularly within communities of BIPOCs’. Let me tell you.. she covers it all with grace & delicacy.

BILG is a beautiful read that I highly recommend to you all. It’s full of tearjerkers, joy, laughter, heat in & out of the kitchen, and a bomb ass friend group that I wish I had. Yasmen, Josiah, Deja & Kassim come full circle and there’s of course a happy ending :) it exceeds 5+ stars 💕

You’ll never read anything like BILG because Kennedy Ryan has far exceeded paving her own lane & I’m here for the rest of this series & everything that’s to come after.

If anyone’s actually reading this I’m sure we have all experienced some tough times in this journey of life— things that have shaken us, changed us, broke us, built us, and taught us that we are stronger than we could’ve ever imagined. We shouldn’t be hard on ourselves and to quote Toni Morrison “You are your best thing.” Despite how things are sometimes shity we GROW through what we GO through & that’s something we should be proud of! That’s what BILG represents 💓

To THE Kennedy Ryan: Thank you for opening up to us, sharing your struggles, and your talents/gifts. I admire & love your writing process & each story you’ve given us- please never stop being who you are & creating your art. Sending love to you and anyone who may read this! Can’t wait for what’s to come!! ❤️❤️❤️

Before I let go shows the meaning of reflection. Yasem and Josiah are that couple. At times I felt like I was on a Rollercoaster. I was scared at some points and joyous in others. This book depicts how when you show yourself some love and care you can love others the way they need you to love them. Trust yourself, forgive your self, it okay. One of the best lines...."I started measuring how much I loved people in terms of how much it would hurt to lose them." I can't wait to get the opportunity to purchase a physical copy. Kennedy Ryan you have me in a book hangover.

This book touches you deeply and teaches you about inner struggle, pure love and forgiveness. Before I Let Go shows how a tragedy can affect everyone involved and those surrounding. How choices made for your own preservation can rip apart the strongest bonds. This book brings the tears but also the laughter and hope. As with every Ryan book she has found a subject that you didn’t know needed to be discussed and intertwined it with a beautiful story of love.
Kennedy Ryan keeps growing as a writer and as she grows she allows you to ride along. I will gladly continue to devour anything she puts out.

💛5 SPECTACULAR STARS💛

“This body gave me my children,”[...]“And it will always be beautiful to me.”

If there’s anything Kennedy can do it's talk about tough/important topics in one's life and she does it beautifully, writing a new perspective on a sensitive subject.

This book follows the amazing story of Yasmen and Josiah, a divorced couple, as they discover the new dynamic and life as two separated folks, but it also follows them as they grow, move forward, and flourish from their past.

The author talk about depression and grief in the most truthful way, raw, big feeling that lead to irrational and painful thoughts. She write about therapy, the importance of seeking help when it’s needed and that’s its okay to not be okay. From the cynicism to the progress, we see the characters bloom.

This was my most anticipated book for this test and not in any way did it disappoint, this is an unforgettable novel that will absolutely hook you and drag along for this unforgettable story!

“Do people remember the exact moment they fall in love?”

This is such a powerful and emotional book. A poignant look at depression and grief and the effects it can have on a person, a marriage, and a family. It is real and raw but an important story to tell. Please check the trigger warnings as some of the subject matter can be extremely sensitive to certain readers.

Yasmen and Josiah believe they have found the love of a lifetime. Two souls destined to be together always. They get married, start a business together, have children, buy a house in an affluent neighborhood, and send their kids to a renowned private school. But when tragedy strikes, their lives are turned upside down and the perfect marriage ends in divorce.

Yasmen and Josiah remain business partners and co-parent their children. As life moves on and new relationships are formed both Yasmin and Josiah start to question the direction their lives are taking.

This is a deep look at the complexities of marriage and how sometimes we need help to navigate our feelings, our losses, and our relationships. It’s about the frailty and the strength of love, trust and faith. This book moved me and made me feel genuine empathy for these characters.

“I’ve learned it’s not one moment, but a million of them.”

Many thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It’s no secret that I enjoy divorced couple getting their second chance. It’s my cat nip. Before I Let Go has this trope but this story is so much more. The topics are relevant and it’s evident that Kennedy Ryan knows what she’s talking about. I felt in the words and the journey Yasmen and Josiah go through. Ryan doesn’t shy away from showing all the sides to divorce, grief, depression and trauma. She lets the reader in and follow Yasmen and Josiah through thick and thin. The despair, the helplessness to growth and self discovery.

I connected with the characters in a deep way and again that’s a testament to the author. The story takes its time to let Yasmen and Josiah get back up from where it went so horribly wrong. It’s a slow progression but in this case it was necessary for me to believe in these people. In their growth and in their journey towards a second chance. It’s executed to sheer perfection. Not only Yasmen and Josiah but their kids and friends captured my heart.

The love story of Yasmen and Josiah was heartbreakingly beautiful. So much depth and layers to these two incredible people. The chemistry was combustible. The history between them only made it even more potent.
The journey of them getting back together didn’t just affect them but also their two children. Ryan portrays all facets of divorce flawlessly.
It’s a heavy and very emotional story. This second chance is worth a read. I felt seen and I’m positive many other readers will too.

5 Heartbreakingly Beautiful Stars


*Thank you Forever Publishing for providing me with an ARC*

4.5/5 stars

Before I Let Go is a contemporary romance book that will make you feel. It is the first book in a new series.

This book is Yasmen and Josiah's story. The book has dual 1st person POVs.

The book takes place in Atlanta. The story is one of grief and love and a family that has fallen apart. Yasmen and Josiah are divorced with two kids and they run a restaurant together.

This book has the most stunning cover! Kennedy Ryan writes about a divorced couple with such skill! I loved everything about this book!

The book focuses a lot on mental health and therapy. And this was everything! This book looks at grief, depression and jealousy. And I love that the author wrote about depression coming from a place of having gone through it herself.

Yasmen has great female friendships. This was the best!

This book was emotional and moving, which is my favorite type of book. This book made me feel. It is the first book in a new series (the other books will be about Yasmen's friends). I absolutely cannot wait to read her friends' books! I highly recommend this book!

Kennedy Ryan's books are like going on a long seafaring voyage and her HEA's are a lighthouse on a hill after a night of tossing and turning on thrashing seas. Just when you think the boat is about to go over and all hope is lost... The light shines through the darkness and someone shouts, "land ho!" And you know.. deep in your soul, everything is going to be alright. Yes, we have taken on water and some damage has been done, we also may now all have PTSD, but when your foot touches land... it's almost ecstasy.

I know that was a very dramatic depiction but that's the kind of ride I feel like I sign up for every time I step into one of her books. And each new release has only made the journey more intense. But that lighthouse is always there. Just waiting for us to see it and the captain to lead us safely past the rocks to dry land.

Second Chance Romance is one of my favorite kind of stories to read. My own parents re-married after being divorced for just 18 months. While their reasons for divorce were not the same as for Yas and Josiah, it has made me very compassionate towards this type of story because I KNOW it can happen, I've watched it.

And sure, you can say, "why divorce for so short of time? Seems like a waste.." To that I say... sometimes you need to see to your own oxygen mask before you can think about anyone else. Grief and pain can mess with your head and depression can shut down everything, sometimes even your will to live. Kennedy was able to show that in a clarity that I have not really read before. It cuts deep and it's tragic but it was necessary.

I also loved how there were no "villians" in this story. There may be a few characters that you want to hate, but that's not this kind of story. The circumstances and grief reactions are enough of a conflict and a struggle. No mud needs to be slung at anyone else. Sometimes that's the truth and it's even more agonizing when there is no one to blame.

I appreciated the use of talk therapy and counselling, as well as self reflection and growth. It made so much sense and makes the changes and second chance so believable, especially since there isn't a huge distance or many years that separate these two. They co-parent, they are business owners together, and they still live in the same neighborhood. So the work they do has to feel like it mattered but also... it is WORK, not just time, that helps them move forward.

Okay, this is enough rambling. I could gush for ages and ages. Put this book on all your lists, pre-order it and be prepared to curl up with some Kleenex and ice cream. Take your make-up off and put on some mood music. You are gonna need it.

But I promise, the lighthouse is there just waiting for you to see it in the darkness. The HEA is worth any pain the journey may cause.

P.S. oh wait, this is a romance, the spice is also Kennedy Ryan level beautiful and steamy. Figured I should mention that somewhere...

I like how it focused on a divorced couple reconnecting. I loved how it tackled most of the typical aspects that often get neglected in the face of a divorce, ie effect on kids and mental health. I loved how both parties realized where they messed up and were able to come together in a more healthy way. I loved how it highlighted having a stillborn child. The problem is fairly common but rarely commented on!!!!! All around great book!

So many emotions. Pain. Yearning. Betrayal. Love. Hate. It was real and raw and Kennedy Ryan dives into it all. Such an impactful story about forgiveness, love, and self-growth between the characters as they are together and apart. Even as a younger reader I was able to grasp the deep and intense topics and understand these characters because of Ryan’s incredible writing and taking you into their world so eloquently. The plot kept me hooked even though the romance wasn’t the sole focus of the book. Probably one of my favorite reads of the year. As always *chefs kiss*

I have never read this author before but after this book I will definitely read anything she puts out. The characters were lovely and just sprang to life in my head. I love it when that happens. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read.

Absolutely incredible!
I have loved everything that author Kennedy Ryan has written, but this book blew me out of the water.

It was consuming and so raw. I love how honest the author made romance, marriage, and family. I can't wait to share this book with my followers and read by Kennedy!

📚📚📚Before I let Go by Kennedy Ryan pub date 11/15/2022

Back with a review booksta! Thanks to #NetGallery & @ReadForeverPub for allowing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. I have done the thing again when I request one too many ARC’s and miraculously get approved for all of them lol.

Swipe for a synopsis. I was going to create a playlist for this book, but this book gives me Love, Marriage & Divorce vibes by Toni Braxton and Babyface. That album is such a grown and sexy vibe. Do yourself a favor and give it a listen if you haven’t before. Thank me later!

The booksta girlies have been hying this one up, so I was sooo excited to read it. So excited that I skipped right pass reading the trigger warnings so please don’t he like me and check those out first.

This book was EXCELLENT! Like OMG! I will definitely be re-reading this book. I was rooting for Yasmen and Josiah throughout the entire book. This book is a slow burn second chance romance, but once the fire burns BAYBEE it gets spiccyyyy. To the point of being downright filthy 😂😂😂 (not a complaint from me)

This book dove really deep into the concept of grief and the effect that it can have on self and marriage. Its one of those things that will certainly test the “or worst,” part of those wedding vows. It’s inevitable unfortunately. In this book we see how the spouses handled it completely differently and the effect it had on their union. The book also dove into the concept of mental health and therapy in the black community especially with black men. I loved this as well.

Honestly I could write multiple posts on how much I loved this book, but I will end it here. This book gets a 100/5 for me. OMG it was just that freaking good. This book had me way too invested and all in my feels. It was my first Kennedy Ryan book and will certainly not be my last.

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