Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan is an emotional journey through love and loss, befores and afters, good and bad, triumph and tragedy. It’s an intense, thoughtful story of what happens when love isn’t enough to keep you together.

Summary: Josiah and Yasmen Wade have an unshakable connection. They’re an “it” couple who seem to have IT all: Unyielding love. A wonderful family. A thriving business. But love and intention isn’t always enough. Now living separate lives, Josiah and Yasmen must find a way to co-exist as partners in business and in parenting. Moving on, however, becomes a complex and challenging gauntlet littered with regrets, repressed feelings, and lingering resentments. The healing they both crave must begin from within, requiring them to unpack personal truths and traumas never addressed, and that may prove the toughest obstacle of all to hurdle.

What’s to love. Before I Let Go is a beautiful exploration of what happens when the foundation that cements your life is profoundly cracked. Appropriately, it’s not a shiny story – not one bit. It’s an exploration of the intersection of grief, self-love/awareness, and partnership, and, as with any of Ryan’s novels, you can expect a beautifully crafted, gut-wrenching story decorated with exquisite language and intense messages. This novel is rich with feeling and frustration – the type that lingers long after you’ve read the last page.

Thank you to #partner Read Forever Publishing for our copy of Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan. This book publishes on November 15th.

Rating: 5 star
Genre: Romance

Thoughts: Wow! Just wow! This book is such a beautiful love story! I mean the cover alone is enough to pick up the book, but it’s so much more than that!

The author has a beautiful authentic voice. The love story is non-traditional, but very realistic. The main characters deal with some very heavy themes that I think many people will be able to relate too. I also think the trials and tribulations of marriage/long term relationships is beautifully explored in this story!

I predict this book will get a lot of buzz! I will be shocked if it’s not picked for Book of the Month or a larger book club pick!

Read this book if:
-You read romance novels this book is a must!❤️

I really don’t know what to say about this book other than it was absolutely beautiful. Kennedy Ryan is a master in her craft and Before I Let Go is the perfect example of why I continue to read and recommend her work. Yasmen and Josiah Wade met and fell in love in college, married, created a business, and started a family. When tragedy hits they seem to be on different paths to healing and lose each other ending their relationship. Though they are now divorced they continue to be business partners and co-parent their children. This is a beautiful story about the love of two people who may have lost what love they had for each other but are still bonded over the love of what they created together in their children and business. It’s a story about finding yourself, moving on, and possibly finding your way back to that one person you are meant to be with.

Ryan is such a powerful storyteller that you completely get lost in her books. Her characters are strong and human and make mistakes, but they always, always grow and they grow into such beautiful and moving characters you can’t help but root for them… and then tell everyone you meet for the foreseeable future to read this dang book!

I have yet to read a book of Ryan’s that I didn’t cry in and Before I Let go has not escaped my tears. I loved every minute of this book, yes, even the moments that had my heart beating faster and tears in my eyes feeling for these characters; Feeling their emotions come off the pages. I will forever recommend Kennedy Ryan to people and Before I Let Go is definitely one story that will stick with me long after I’ve closed the pages. They way Ryan weaves her tales and plays with your emotions is pure magic. She gives us stories that are real, raw, and unbelievable.

THANK YOU SO MUCH NETGALLEY AND FOREVER FOR THIS ARC.

Yasmen and Josiah have been divorced for two years after experiencing an extreme about of loss. They are soulmates but fell apart. This book is told in dual views of Yasmen and Josiah which really helped get a sense of how each of them felt about the divorce. This is a second chance love set in Atlanta and since they own a restaurant....tasty sounding food!

I felt so deeply for Yasmen and her road to motherhood and had me thinking deeply about myself and how I feel as a mom. It was a beautiful read and I really hope everyone can pick it up. I would suggest reading the cw as it's quite heavy.

thank you grand central & netgalley for the earc of this book.

i've always believed kennedy ryan was a beautiful author, and this book solidified that thought. she has this incredible ability of taking difficult topics/heavy ones and turning them into a work of art.

before i let go is a second chance romance featuring a female mc struggling with depression after the loss of her unborn child and an aunt in law and a male mc reeling from the divorce with the love of his life. there is so, so much depth to this novel that i don't think i can encompass into a review, but it is one of the most heart-pulling, healing, and beautifully written books i've read. ryan captures the healing process and the way mental health & loss influence your life in such an incredible, genuine way.

i loved every single character in this book. from yasmen to kassim, every character gave something to the plot that helped push the narrative. i loved the fact that it was dual pov, too–it felt very much needed and gave you exactly what you wanted. yasmen and josiah's dynamic aside, my favorite subplot/side relationship was definitely yasmen's and deja. something about reading about a daughter and her mother healing together was so, so beautiful and made me want to weep into my pillow.

the romance.... wow. its no shock kennedy ryan writes beautiful love stories, and this book is no exception. reading yasmen & josiah's story and how they rekindle their love and heal together is just so incredible and truly does pull at your heart strings.

all in all, another must read from kennedy ryan.

Before I Let Go is a beautiful story of grief, love and loss. Kennedy Ryan truly takes you on a journey from the darkest places a mind and family can go to the light that was shinning at the end of the tunnel. I fell in love with every character a long the way as they overcame obstacles and found joy again.

I love that the story takes place in Atlanta, GA, the city that raised me. Yasmen, Josiah, Soledad, and Hendrix all felt like people I’ve known. The representation in the book is so well done and I could see myself in so many of the characters.

Kennedy Ryan also does a beautiful job of describing the food. I was starving for some soul food by the time the book ended. This is a very emotional story but the pay off was so with it.

The story of Josiah and Yasmen definitely falls under the second chance romance, but it was a tad bit slow. It takes time to rebuild and open yourself again, so that’s makes sense.

This was so freaking beautiful I cried, laughed, and okay if I’m being honest I might have cried even more. When Kennedy Ryan posted she hopes that her readers are able to ‘feel heard, validated, and encouraged’ through these pages. That’s exactly how I felt after reading the Wade’s story. Heard. Validated. Encouraged. I know it might seem ridiculous but I literally feel like I grew two inches taller. Although I found myself stopping multiple times because it was hitting too close to home most times. I haven’t felt this connected with characters in such long time it was heartbreaking and comforting for my soul at the same time. The Wade family will ALWAYS have a special place in my heart!!!!

Before I Let Go is the definition of ‘time won’t heal all wounds’ but it’s what we do after what matters. When someone asks for second chance recommendation this will immediately be at the top of that list. Shoutout to NetGalley for this opportunity and especially to the Queen herself Kennedy Ryan. Thank you for creating this fucking masterpiece, reminding me it’s okay not to be okay, and that depression is as real gets but it fills your body with lies.

First off, this is Kennedy Ryan, if you have read her work before you know her books are not light but this one...this one is 'grown-folks' level plus heavy topics.

Trigger warning before going in: miscarriage, death,divorce, depression and suicidal thoughts. Please go in with care.

The emotions I had while reading this book where all over the place. I was sad, I was mad, I was happy..there were tears..happy tears...I felt everything.

Si and Yas were love at first sight...soulmates but life got in the way and they got a divorce. They still co-parented and had a business together.

This a second chance romance done perfectly. It takes you through their journey of healing. You get to see both go for therapy and work on themselves. Even when they agreed to come back to each other they still continued to work on themselves.

I love this book becase they just did not rekindle their love and suddenly that healed them, no they put in the time and effort to heal.

We also see how the kids were also affected and how they deal with all that is going on.
Did I want to bitch-slap Deja her daughter but...but ...Josiah put her straight

There are so many moments I would love to highlight in this book but I can not.

All I can say is this book is written with so much love Kennedy Ryan says this is actually her first book, she started it 15 years ago I am glad it is here and soon everyone will be able to see this.
The writing as always is so beautiful and poetic. You feel emersed into this world, you become part of it even if you have never experienced any of these monents.

To anyone going through depression..hang in there..have hope....this book is that...that even in your darkest moments you can come out in the end..

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ no star rating will be enough
🌶🌶🌶The spice level is good enough, you know K.R wount miss abit of that😉

Thank you net galley and @kennedyryan1 for the e-arc
I can't wait for the rest of the world to read this

I thought Always be my baby would fit this book🥰🥰

Kennedy Ryan doesnt disappoint. EVER. This was a lush story for sure. Mental Health and therapy addressed with quality in a second chance romance.

Wow!!!!!! I am absolutely speechless! Kennedy Ryan is honestly a goddess! I don't know what magical powers she has, that makes me so addicted to her writing, like I'm some kind of crack fiend( LOL🥴) I really am crying right now because this book was soooooo amazing. I'm not even surprised, Kennedy’s books ALWAYS hits. She honestly has such an amazing gift. Her writing can literally heal me from anything! I LOVEd this book so much and I feel like I have become anew! The writing was freaking spectacular. I just feel sooo much for this book, the characters, the writing .EVERYTHINGI!! Apart of me is in this book and I can NEVER be the same! I loved Yasmen and Josiah! I loved Hendricks, Solidad, Yasmen’s mama. I just can't get enough! The overall premise of the book, the plot was just a masterpiece! The love that Yasmen and Josiah has for each other makes me so weak and somewhat envious. Because although they went rough times--divorce and so much more, their love was always there. Their love is so grand, so immovable that it helps them recover from their past mistakes. This book has me so much in a choke hold. I even loved the acknowledgments and wept like a baby! I can not imagine a world without Kennedy Ryan’s books and I hope I never have to!
I would 1000% recommend this book! I would recommend soaking in each and every word! Letting this book consume you, surround you! This book is literally my journal. Anyone who is debating whether they should read it, just pick up this damn book and let it change your entire life, like it did mine!

I am voluntarily leaving a review after receiving an ARC from Netgallery.

This is a highly emotional book. Josiah and Yasmen have the type of love that we all dream of having. They meet while in college and built a life that fairy tales are made of until tragedies struck. Josiah and Yasmen handle their responses to the tradgey differently and it drove a wedge into their happiness. This wedge grows and Yasmen asks for a divorce.

It is now two years later, They are still business partners and coparents to their children as well as trying to be friends. Josiah is in a new relationship. Yasmen is trying to casually date. You can feel the lingering feelings between Josiah and Yasmen as they try to move on with their separate lives. A one night business trip, where they had to share a room, leads to some sparks and they end up sleeping together.

It took me several days to read this book because I found it to be highly emotional because of the tragedies that Yasmen and Josiah have. I could relate to both MC as well as the supporting characters. This another GREAT book by Ms. Ryan. I have been waiting on this book.

This book took me through all the emotions. But it's what I've come to expect from a Kennedy Ryan book. I loved everything about this story. The characters are richly drawn and layered. I was pulled into the story from the beginning and rooting for Yasmen and Josiah from the beginning. Well done.

Kennedy ryan did it again! Marriage in trouble/second chance already being my favorite tropes and then she made Josiah and Yasmen such great characters. Ugh i need to reread already.

This book was everything !! The author did a great job of portraying the characters emotions and really made them feel real and relatable. I loved the hidden gems of wisdom that were dropped throughout the story and the way the author dropped them in a poetic way. Once I started this book I couldn't put it down. I wanted to know how their story panned out and how they found themselves back together again. It felt realistic and not forced. I also loved how the author highlighted getting therapy in the black community. It's something that african americans have been taught to shy away from but she did a great job of subtly hinting how beneficial it is for all races. Truly Truly loved this read !

4.25 stars.

I cant believe this is my first Kennedy Ryan. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read this book and see what Sam he’s all about because I’m definitely reading more!

This book was really good and beautifully written. I was able to feel the intensity of certain scenes without losing interest in the scene—which is something I tend to experience. And boy was it intense. I chock it up to Kennedy Ryan’s ability to suck you in, break your heart, pick up the pieces, and put it together again with her poetic style of writing.

Yasmen and Josiah’s chemistry was amazing. Their ability to co-parent civilly was something I felt was refreshing. The discussions about mental health and therapy had me jumping for joy too! And I mean, come on, Yasmen and Josiah are insanely hot together😌Some of ✨THOSE✨ scenes had me reeling!!!

I’m missing that full 5 stars just due to how long the book is and how, in my opinion, chapters could have been condensed or taken out completely. Still, I don’t think those reasons hindered my reading experience.

Definitely check TWs before reading💕

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This beautiful story is about love, loss, grief, mental health, rebuilding and finding yourself. You feel the loss, the pain and the grief. You also feel the love, the passion, courage and strength. You meet Yasmen and Josiah and going on their journey through some of their toughest times and watch as they both grow in ways they didn't see. It was beautiful and raw and real. I absolutely adore this book.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this advanced reader's copy of "Before I Let Go"

Kennedy Ryan is one of my favorite writers and this book did not disappoint. Second chance romances are fast becoming one of my favorite genre's.

Yasmen and Josiah Wade are divorced co-parents of two children, living in Atlanta. They are also business partners. Although their lives intersect in so many places, they were unable to stay married, Life had dealt them too many setbacks and their marriage became a casualty.

Right when it seems that they might be finding a way to parent their children and work together without snapping at each other on every occasion, they find themselves wondering if the magic is still there. They then decide that there's only one way to find out...

I loved this book from beginning to end. Each character was so rich and the love that Yasmen and Josiah share is so rare and powerful that it jumped off each page. Their chemistry and admiration for each other was such a joy to experience. Atlanta is also a main character in this book and I loved the way that the city was incorporated into the storytelling.

The journey was heartbreaking at times but it was so worth it. I don't remember the last time I felt so transported into a story the way I was with this book. It will definitely go into my re-read pile.

Kennedy Ryan is one of my favorite authors and this story was no different. I really enjoyed this story and was so enthralled in the characters and their love story. This was such a beautiful story with beautiful writing. It was a deep story that hard dark topics but was handled beautifully.

Before I let Go by Kennedy Ryan is my read of the year. I will admit that I was anticipating this book more than any other release, but even I was surprised at the impact it had on me. Kennedy weaves love, loss, mental health, envy, resentment, forgiveness, and joy so seamlessly that at times she left me feeling multiple emotions at once.
As someone who struggles with my mental health, parts of Before I Let Go allowed me to feel seen in a way that even I did not know that I needed. Through Yasmine's words I felt my thoughts being played out on the written page. That is a very rare opportunity given to us readers in the most beautiful packaging imaginable.

One of the things that I love the most about Kennedy Ryan is that she writes diversely better than any author that I have read. But, I can always find bits of identifiability in her characters. She shows us that the language of love has no boundaries, barriers, or affiliations. Love is simply to be enjoyed for all of its faults and complexities.

I do not know if Kennedy Ryan knows this but; through her books I have become a better, more loving, and fulfilled person. Her gift is a rarity. I hope that she continues to grace out lives for many characters, books, and years to come.

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan is a book that gets so close to the heart that it borderline hurts, in the best possible way. You know writing that is so immersive that you feel like the characters are in your close circle of friends? The writing that puts voice to feelings you’ve experienced, in the most authentic way? This is that writing.

Y’all… this book. It’s for anyone who wants a romance that’s deep in personal growth and healing. It’s the ultimate display of putting your own oxygen mask on before assisting others. It gives voice to the depth of grief and how it can consume a person. It gives light to the pain that radiates out from loss. And it gives respect to the complexity that grown love brings.

If you want to sink into real feelings and let them wash over you, pick this book up. If you like a smattering of spicy scenes in your emotional reads, definitely pick this book up.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for a review – it’s a special book.

Thank you to Kennedy Ryan for writing this gem. I’m coming for your backlist!