Josiah and Yasmen
College sweethearts and soulmates, life is perfect but as is with real life, life can also get in the way.

After tragedy strikes , Yasmeen falls into a dark depression and doesn't feel Josiah is supporting her mentally but Josiah is trying to hold the family together and save their restaurant as best as he can.

Some loves need time apart to find their way back to each other and this is a fresh modern tale on love conquers all.

Before I Let Go is a book that will consume your soul and stay with you for days.

Readers beware! This book is one emotional read. It is going to have you feeling those big feelings and have you reaching for the tissue box. Kennedy masterfully created a story packed with emotion, heart, and love. This book is an addictive read. It was so hard to put down, and I found when I wasn't reading, I was thinking about it. This isn't a light and fluffy contemporary romance; some challenging issues are talked about in this book. The characters in this book felt so real and raw. I felt this instant connection with them and loved being on their healing journey.

An intimate, honest look at what happens when the plans you've made for your life end up not coming true. Everyone in this book feels real and their lives feel truly lived-in; their heartbreak and growing pains hurt all the more when you don't see how they can possibly get through and come back to each other.

This is my third Kennedy Ryan book and she again does not disappoint. I loved as we walked through Yasmen’s journey of depression , infant loss, divorce and how she was able to put it all back together. I felt very seen in that. I really loved how slow burn it was for the two main characters to fall in love again. When it happened it made me laugh , giggle and want for my own love like that.

This book was deeply emotional, and Kennedy Ryan handled so many sensitive issues with obvious care. I really respect her ability to weave these messages about trauma and healing into romance.

I know that this is a well loved book, and I can see why. I did struggle to connect, and I can’t really put my finger on why. But I still deeply respect Kennedy Ryan as an author, and I hope she continues to write beautiful stories of Black joy.

Before I Let Go is a captivating read, one that held my attention and only took a few days to read, rather than a few weeks, months, or years in some cases. The love story of Yasmen and Josiah, the story of two hearts separated but still connected in the most visceral and yet gut-wrenching ways, and yet a beautiful story of redeeming love. After back-to-back tragic losses, life moved on and this is a story on how two people deal with thing differently, how personalities and challenges change, showcasing therapy positively shedding the negative stigma of both therapy and mental health, showing recovery both individually, as a couple, and as a family.

Yes, Deja was annoying. Yes, the dual POV was at sometimes confusing (I happened to love it, even with momentary confusion), and yes, some theme repeated (because doesn't that happen in real life, when tackling issues that just do not and will NEVER disappear?

This book was refreshing, shed a positive light on self-care, therapy, reconciliation, and friendships! I honestly cannot wait for the rest of the series to be released.

This was not an easy read, second chance romance, but rooted in intense loss and challenge. One of Kennedy Ryan's better books in my opinion.

First let me say, I am a huge fan of Kennedy Ryan. The first book I read by her was Long Shot and even though it was a very heavy book I throughly enjoyed it. I then moved on to the other books in the HOOP series and then Queen Move and Reel and I loved all those books.
When I heard about “Before I Let Go” I was so excited to read it and feel all the feels that I felt with other characters from Kennedy’s previous books.
Unfortunately, that did not happen sadly. As I write this I feel really bad because I really wanted to love it but honestly I didn’t.
It started out interesting but by chapter seven I was bored. I did not feel the love and connection between Yasmen and Josiah that Kennedy explained and showed throughout the book. I honestly felt that their relationship was more based on their great sexual chemistry. I would have loved to see the other side of their relationship like actually talking to each other. I also found that it was very slow at times and kind of lacking a plot.

Aside from the cons mentioned above, I still appreciated the discussion of mental health (depression), grief, trauma and the strong focus on therapy. I thought Kennedy did a wonderful job showcasing and writing about this issues. I loved that the writing was very realistic and emotional when it came to discussing the issues. I also enjoyed the friendship and sisterhood between Hendrix, Yasmen and Soledad. I am looking forward to reading Soledad’a story next.
I even enjoyed reading about the kids Kassim and Deja. Even though Ms Deja made me want to strangle her through the book at times because of her rude comments I understood why she was the way she was. I loved the idea of Kassim going to therapy, I just wished that they had included Deja too early on. I was happy to see at the end everyone was attending therapy.

Overall, Kennedy Ryan is an excellent author ( I will still be reading her book) and before reading this book, I had really high expectations, especially since it was popular all over social media. Instead I was disappointed. Even though it was very well written, there was just something missing for me. It was an okay story. I give it 3.5 stars.

**** l love the cover. It is beautiful. ****

This book was fantastic! I loved a second chance romance but it is not often I find one with a couple with older children. I was invested from the start and this one pulled on my heartstrings. This is a favourite of the year for me so far.

Before I let Go was an emotional rollercoaster through out the book. This book deals with a lot of family issues and was very relatable I can see this book being a trigger for some people. Josiah and Yasmin was in two different places in their lives and could not figure out how to work out what they were going through to save their marriage so they decided to go their separate ways. I guess Love is not enough sometimes.

Kennedy Ryan writes some emotional provoking books, every book I have read by her has been outstanding and look forward to reading the next in this series and more books by her.

I absolutely loved this book! I am a new fan of Kennedy Ryan. This is a second chance romance book between a couple that has been divorced. This is way more than just a romance book though, it deals with some heavy topics! I loved the jealousy and the tension between these two people as they navigate through finding themselves! Look up trigger warnings before reading.

this book was so beautiful and heart wrenching; I loved it and recommend for everyone to read. Kennedy Ryan does not disappoint with her beautiful and engaging writing.

As I catch up with my reviews after months of being ill and hospitalized, I finally get to review this second-chance romance. As my last read by the author was the outstanding Reel, I was super excited to get the opportunity to read this early. One thing for certain, and two things were sure; her pen continues to produce 5-star work. Being divorced and feeling hurt and grief does not impact how they parent their kids. That alone endeared me to these characters from the start. Once their story expands and comes to life in the pages, I knew I would be in for a journey through words describing this relationship. Kennedy Ryan can claim the title of a wordsmith as this novel brought out ALL the emotions as I sped through the chapters. I appreciated how this was an honest and raw exploration of what a relationship goes through when faced with adversity. As I finish this review, I eagerly anticipate the next story in the Skyland series to hit the market.

Thank you to Kennedy Ryan and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan is absolutely going to be in my top five books I read this year, I can just feel it. I just know. This book is painful and beautiful and a masterpiece. I had seen Tiktoks about Kennedy Ryan's books before reading this one, and so she was on my radar. I should have listened. Now I want to read her entire backlist. Before I Let Go is a second chance romance about Yasmen and Josiah Wade - a separated couple who own a restaurant together. The two are trying their best to coparent. Josiah has moved out, but still is in the neighborhood. Yasmen is still at the house with two of her children. She's also having a tough time with her daughter. We see that Yasmen has been through deep grief - losing Josiah's grandmother and having a stillbirth within a short amount of time. These are the things that her marriage cannot survive. Still, as we see, there's this undeniable chemistry between Yasmen and Josiah.

There is so much to love about this book. It has such a positive portrayal of behavioral healthcare. I love that going to therapy is portrayed in this book and that it is portrayed as a good thing. It also takes on the stigma of Black men going to therapy and challenges that. Well, Josiah was resistant at first but agrees, for the sake of his son. This book explores how to heal relationships - including that between Yasmen and her daughter. I loved Yasmen's friendships and hope her two best friends end up with their own books. Before I Let Go also has EXCELLENT romantic scenes. I could not have picked up a better book and am excited I have this whole big backlist to read from Kennedy Ryan.

Overall: 5/5
Spice level: 3/5
Tropes, second chance, divorced couple

CW: stillbirth, death of loved ones, depression and thoughts of death

Let me first say that Kennedy Ryan never disappears. She will being you an important plot and the right amount of spice for that plot.

That being said, raised was my first book with a divorced couple. Yaamen and Josiah still yearned for one another 2 Yeats after the divorce neither REALLY wanted. Sometimes life just happens unexpectedly.

Mountains of pain and trauma can affect our decision making. This was what happened with Yasmen after what she experienced.

Without giving too much away, I just want to say I loved these characters so much. Their connection, the stolen moments they shared before reuniting, their friends and remaining family, and the way they even co-parented.

I also appreciated how much this story brought forth the importance of mental health and seeking help, as well as how it can be difficult to take that first step to healing. Especially when there is still such a stigma around it.

The chemistry between Josiah and Yasmen is soul-deep. Ryan explores their early years when things were hot and heavy but their reu ioj is a slow burn. That burn isn't any less scorching though.

Lastly, make sure to check your triggers because the path to happiness in this story is filled with a lot of pain.

Before I Let Go is a beautiful story of finding your way back home.

This book hit all the marks for me. I loved how the author explored the themes of loss, mental health, family, marriage and parenting. The characters are so developed that you feel all the feelings that they are as you read. Your heart breaks with them and leaps for joy during the good times. Kennedy Ryan is a talented writer and I look forward to reading the next in the series!

WOW I really enjoyed this story about second chances. Divorce and trying to move on, loss of an unborn child and healing. This was a wonderful story that I would highly recommend. Definitely would love to read more from this author.
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Kennedy Ryan writes masterpieces! Before I Let Go was everything I needed and so much more!

This book took me on an unforgettable journey, I cried at some scenes, but in others I had a big smile in my face. Yasmen and Josiah are truly the definition of a “second chance” and man, the way I loved Josiah.

When all comes to shove, Yasmen and Josiah come to realize that all the need is each other.

Okay, this is Kennedy Ryan, whose books I have loved, but this one was very much not for me. This is a second chance romance, and those are really either a love or a hate for me, depending on what happens in the story. Initially the couple was married but because of events that have happened, they are now divorced but are still working together.

I am not one to give up on a book, I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve DNF’d a book, I’m stubborn and will power through just to finish. I wanted so badly to just DNF this book. I really couldn’t stand the ex-husband at all. Dude… Josiah, I wanted to just punch him in his junk or choke him or something equally physical. I realize that both Josiah and Yasmen had suffered a tragic loss, but he really did nothing at all to help his wife. He seemed to get so frustrated with her also, when she was still struggling with it all. I just could not connect with him at all and he just left a bad taste in my mouth, for various reasons throughout the book.

Yasmen I also had a hard time connecting with. The things she put up with in regards to Josiah, and the backtalk she took from her own daughter, nope, that just didn’t work for me. I understand their daughter has been through these traumas as well, but she was a 13 year old talking and acting like she’s 18 or something.

Perhaps if we had been given more of their background when they were still married, or even leading up to the marriage, I could have formed some type of connection. But there just wasn’t enough of the “before” to do that, so I found I didn’t care one way or the other if these two people found a way back to each other.

I just really struggled. Kennedy’s writing is always amazing and on point, but man this one just evoked all the wrong kinds of emotion from me, I am very sorry to say. But not every book is going to gel with every reader. It won’t stop me from reading whatever else Kennedy writes. She’s a superstar!

This is the first in a new series called Skyland, and you'll absolutely need a box of tissues as you read because this second-chance romance will have you weeping at a lot of different points throughout.

Yasmin and Josiah have been each other’s person from day one. They’ve always said they’ll ride for each other until the wheels fall off. When two devastating deaths happen close together, they start to fall apart and their marriage doesn’t survive. They get a divorce but are trying to make it work as co-parents and co-owners of their restaurant Grits. A couple of years after their divorce, they’re both attempting to date other people, and finally starting to heal after their terrible loss, but they keep getting drawn back to each other.

I don’t want to give too much away about the story, but this is such a deep and rich book about relationships, motherhood, family, grief and loss, mental health, love, and female friendships. I cried so much, and it was just phenomenal (the story, not the crying). So if it’s not on your TBR yet, you need to rectify that ASAP.