Before I Let Go ruined me. I was a crying sobbing mess. This Could Be Us too gave me hope. It made me so happy to watch as a woman goes through so much, handles it all with such grace, and then dances upon the ashes of her previous life into a happier one. This was a beautiful, wonderful read and I cannot wait to read it again.

Quick Synopsis:
Soledad is the homemaker, the stay-at-home mom, the caregiver, and she loves her job. But all of that falls apart after a startling betrayal. Now, Soledad must make decisions she never thought she would have to, and figure out a way to support her and her three daughters. She needs time to build a career, to heal, to find herself again, and to strengthen the relationship with her daughters as they come to grips with the situation as well. There’s just one problem: her attraction to a man she very much should not be attracted to.

Judah is a book boyfriend. This man is so kind, thoughtful, caring, smart, and does these beautiful things for Soledad that made me sob. I loved how their relationship developed, how supportive he was, and how Soledad set her own boundaries throughout.

That’s what I loved about Ryan’s work though: it’s always rooted in womanhood. Ryan always tackles tough topics and she always does it with grace, and there is no exception here. I cried and laughed and rejoiced with Soledad throughout this novel. It was a beautiful story of loss an love and overcoming betrayal and heartbreak only to find something even better on teh other side.

This isn’t just a 5 star, this is a re-read status book. I’ll be re-reading it many times in the future, I just know it.

Beautiful story! Kennedy Ryan wrote Soledad story with so passion, love and care. Edward has a true enemy FOREVER! I loved the twins and how they navigated around coparenting and accepting their father new love. Never in this story did I feel that Soledad was weak in her marriage to Edward, and you can see the self confidence that comes to find in her love journey with Judah. There is not a word, passage or thought that was out of place! I am obsessed with this story and will be revisiting many times over.

this is the second book in the Skyland trilogy, and it is beautiful. Soledad’s journey of discovering who she really is and learning to love herself is something everyone can learn from. there is a line where she says, “I now realize you can risk loving completely when you completely love yourself.” I couldn’t agree more. she is a strong, independent woman who knows that there is no shame in loving to create a home for her family. being a mother is a full-time job, and it should not be taken for granted. when she meets Judah, it’s at a time where she is in no way ready to dive into a relationship. however, in time she gets to know him and sees that he is so much different from the man she used to love. Judah is a hard worker and great father to his boys. his children have autism and Judah makes sure that they are always taken care of. he would drop everything for them. he is so compassionate and has such a big heart, that there is no way that Soledad could have stayed away for long. go read this book and the first if you haven’t already! I can’t wait for Hendrix’s story!

This book was stunning! I devoured every word that was poured out of Soledad and Judah. This book was everything! It was such a heartwarming story. Seeing Judah with his boys, I admired him so much. Those scenes and interactions melted my heart. I loved the friendships that were portrayed through this book and each and every one of them truly wanted what was best for the other. I really admired Soledad's strength because she is a better woman than me. I would have went full on Waiting to Exhale on Edward. He kept delivering the punches of betrayal to her. Once she reached her breaking point, she was the comeback queen. I was so excited to see her succeed in all of her endeavors. Watching Judah and Soledad's friendship/relationship blossom was a slow burn but did it burn hot when they connected! By far this book has topped all the other books I've read by Kennedy Ryan, I am in love with this book! I highly, highly recommend.

Huge thank you to the publisher, via Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Getting to the hearts of things...Reacquainted oneself with the root of who we are, so many times once our leaves(lives) have become overgrown (careers/kids/love/marriage/friendship/etc)and cover the roots we have simply forgotten who we are deep within....This was a story of an illusion of love finally revealed for what it was. However it was also a story of building oneself up to love without losing who you are! Think this story will be a best seller because it's so relatable in todays time! The gems dropped were priceless!!! Its a must read once it's comes out for sure❤️

"This Could Be Us" by Kennedy Ryan is a novel that follows the life of Soledad Barnes, a woman who meticulously plans and designs every aspect of her life. Soledad is a domestic goddess, skilled at hosting parties and leading charges. However, her well-planned life crumbles when her relationship with the man she thought was her forever ends in betrayal and disillusionment.

Left to pick up the pieces and provide for her daughters, Soledad embarks on a journey of self-discovery. As she works to rebuild her life from the ashes, she encounters an unlikely man—one she shouldn't desire but can't resist. Faced with the challenges of trust and the fear of repeating past mistakes, Soledad grapples with whether she can open herself up to the possibility of a new love.

The novel explores themes of sacrifice, self-reliance, and the courage to embrace what could be. It promises a deeply moving and personal narrative that delves into the complexities of relationships and the pursuit of true happiness. Fans of Tia Williams and Colleen Hoover may find resonance in this story that navigates loss, rediscovery, and the bravery required to welcome new possibilities.

there were so many things I loved about this book: Judah’s family, Soledad’s journey to self love, and the parallels between Soledad & her mother.

BUT the social media plot line made this book feel very cringey to me. and at times I also felt like the romance was a little underbaked? it def felt more lustful than loving & I wanted more emotional depth from them!

overall, I enjoyed it but I was disappointed that it wasn’t as strong as Before I Let Go 😪

I dropped everything as soon as I got access to this book, and I didn’t regret it for a second. Soledad and Judah’s story was filled with so much growth, love, and beauty and Kennedy Ryan did an incredible job of taking the reader along with them.

Maybe I’m a tad biased because I think anything Kennedy Ryan touches is gold but Soledad is everything I could’ve asked for in a leading lady. From an amazing mother that would do anything to see her girls thrive to the greatest friend anyone could ask for. (Yes I cried a little).
Can’t wait to catch glimpses of her future in Hendrix’s story!

Kennedy Ryan is a master at her craft. I knew going in I would cry and feel all the emotions and Kennedy Ryan didn't hold back. Her characters have depth, power, and courage. And I literally couldn't put the book down. 5 Stars and all the book love.

Before I Let Go was my first Kennedy Ryan book, and it blew me away. This one is just as good, in very different ways, but with the same consistency in strong writing and characterization.

I had been very curious about Soledad's story after reading Before I Let Go, but I didn't really know what to expect from it. This book held so many surprises, and she went through so much. Every time I thought Edward couldn't possible get any worse, we reached a new low. All I wanted was for her to find the happiness she deserved.

I loved seeing Soledad find her footing after her divorce, and finding out she doesn't need Edward for anything, and maybe never has. But I also absolutely loved Judah, and I loved seeing them connect so quickly when they met and then take their time to slowly grow towards each other.

I wouldn't say this book is actually a slowburn, because they had an instant connection, and I felt like the feeling was there almost immediately, but because of the situation, it does take them a long time to get together. This was done so well, and if I had to give one criticism, it maybe even moved too fast for me towards the end. I would have loved for this to be an even longer book.

Finally, I'd like to talk about the autism rep. Autism is a large theme in this book, because Judah's twin sons are autistic, and he himself suspects he's autistic too. As an autistic person, I tend to avoid books that deal with autism by non-autistic authors, because more often than not, they are harmful in ways the authors don't even realize. But I was pleasantly surprised. There's so much nuance to the autism rep, because all three characters are autistic in different ways. And their autism was always talked about with a lot of love and acceptance. I very much appreciated the author's note about this at the beginning of the book, and I think the care she took came through very clearly.

#bookreview


Words can not express the love that courses through my veins and the passion that leaps from pages into my heart that’s creating a symphony of melodic musical notes used to serenade my love chakras.

If you told me a year ago that I would find a novel more meaningful, loving, and full of meaning besides Before I Let Go, I would have challenged your logic and cast you aside as a fool.

However, here I am dancing on what is an awakening, if you will, of senses, love languages, affection and mood because This Could Be Us laid itself in my heart and bloomed a thousand love letters to the Universe !!

Euphoric.. Enticing.. Evolving.. Efficacious ..Enduring.. Kennedy has metaphorically written poetry that created links between worlds giving praise to our ancestors that showcases the strength we endure when certain elements have a tendency to present itself in our lives, but our tenaciousness supersedes any thing that may be used to diminish the legacy of those ancestors of our bloodlines!

As a reader, I employ you to take the journey with these characters that not only mirror lives we live, but house themselves deeply within us like the rediscovered soulmates bound through time!

This novel is an experience your chakras would welcome.

Thank you so much @kennedyryan1 for allowing us to witness your heart, soul, passion,and love symbolically wrapped in This Could Be Us!

Shout out to @readforeverpub for allowing us this gem on #netgalley !!

Our hearts have been forever changed !!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cz6HsyALX3p/?igshid=NzBmMjdhZWRiYQ==

Loved every minute of the love story of Judah and Sol. And the autistic representation. I hated her ex husband and wish him nothing but the worst. I can’t wait to read Hendrix’s story in 2025

After reading Before I Let Go, I was excited to hear that a second book was coming out. I enjoyed how the relationship between Judah and Soledad grew from the dinner party to the end of the story with the usual nuances of being in a relationship. Because I read too many books, I could predict that "Cross" would end up with Soledad. Aaron and Adam's stories were enlightening as I didn't know how families navigate those situations. It was terrific how Kennedy Ryan showed us Soledad was enough as a person and, as always, the female Girl Power of Soledad, Yasmen and Hendrik, and the close relationship Sol shares with her sisters was an absolute Win in my book. I would have loved to see more of Inez coming to terms with her dad's character. I can't wait for Hen's story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 “You can risk loving completely when you completely love yourself.”

People can say a lot of things about Mrs. Kennedy Ryan, but one thing that they can’t say is that she can’t write a book! She put BOTH FEET in this thing!! The way she took the time to develop each character so well 👏🏾👏🏾!!

This was such an empowering read, & I don’t have children & I’ve never been married! The topics discussed, the research that was done, the overall lessons that are taken away 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾!!

I never viewed Soledad as a victim in the story, & in the end to me she came out better then ever! Judah, Judah, JUDAHHHH!!! To find a man to add to your life instead of taking away from 😩🙏🏾! He was just dreamy, I can’t think of another word to describe him!

I feel that everyone could take something away from this book..! However, every women should definitely read this book! It is a slow burn in the romance department, but so much takes place that keeps you on your toes that the slow burn is barely noticeable! This in a way is a second chance romance, & I don’t enjoy “second chance” romance books, but if Kennedy writes it, I’m eating it up EVERY TIME!!!!

Just read the book 😂🤣!

****Read as an E-ARC copy from NetGalley****

I was lucky enough to get an ARC from Netgalllery, and now I am voluntarily leaving a review of This Could Be Us.

Another powerful story from Kennedy Ryan. Soledad was rediscovering herself after her marriage ended, and her ex-husband ended up in jail. Judah was a forensic accountant who discovered Soledad's ex-husband misdeeds. Judah was divorced with twin sons who were autistic.

I loved that Judah was patient with Soledad, who felt like she lost much of her self-worth in her marriage. Hr gave her time to rediscover herself. I loved that Soledad and Judah respected Soledad's daughters' feelings as they formed their relationship.

I loved that Ms. Ryan crafted a story that autistic characters. Even though they were secondary characters, the care of explanation of each sons' needs and difference in developments was eye-opening. I, personally, do not know much about autism but I feel like I got a clearer understanding of autism.

My words can not do this book justice. It is well worth the read. There is not a bad thing I could say about this book.

Just know that when it written by Kennedy Ryan it would be a 5star read for me

This book was perfect the characters, the pacing... There was no draggy moment and I wanted MORE

I love Soledad so much, the way she handled her divorce, daughters and her journey to self love. Love her relationship with her sisters and best friends Yasmeen and Hendrix are the best friends everyone wishes for. How am I suppose to wait till 2025 for Hen book.😭😭😭
Judah 😘😘omg I love him so much, he's just so perfect be it with his sons, ex-wife or even with Soledad.
Love how he never deny his feelings for Soledad and shows her how he feels about her everytime. Literally the best man.

Kennedy you are a queen! This could be us slayed so many parts of my soul! I started reading romance as an escape and a way to discover me again. Through the years I started therapy and have found the value of me and taking time for myself! I still read romance as an escape sometimes but when I read Before I Let Go it spoke to my heart and this story spoke to my soul!

Sometimes I love reading stories where everything is new and fresh but with this book and Before I Let Go they are stories of the after. We done see that often and I loved experiencing the after and what it sometimes looks like! I love how powerful Soledad was but how at her core her kids were her everything! As women we often times forget ourselves so seeing Soledad discover herself again was truly inspiring!

Thank you for giving us a hero who was patient, understanding but honest! Judah was an amazing father but at his core was a man who loved fiercely and would do what it took to reach his goals!

I love these characters so much so thank you Kennedy for gifting us these beautiful stories!

I’m so happy to have gotten the arc of This Could Be Us because it was everything! I loved how with all that Soledad endured she found a way back up. The journey of self-love and self-care was beautiful. The inclusion of ASD for perfectly. This was definitely a great book by Ms. Kennedy Ryan!

I received an early copy of this book through Net Galley.

I’m pleased to say that this series is becoming one of my favs and Kennedy Ryan’s writing as well. The first book was perfect in navigating complex emotions surrounding divorce and second chance romance. This book is no different.

Firstly, the complexity of her characters, especially the women is something that I enjoy. Soledad is not a one dimensional character at all. We see her emotions and love come through page as she goes through a horrible period in her life. I also enjoy the fact that the love she displays and receives is not just through romance. It’s through her family, friends and even her fans on social media. She cares a lot and doesn’t shut herself down, even when she got taken advantage of. She rose through her pain and became strong but still remained soft at heart.

Second, Judah was where I felt this book fell somewhat short. Sometimes it felt like he was just there as either a father, lover or an accountant. Those were mostly what his plot contained. I just wish there a little more depth to him. Meaning his wants, needs and desires outside of Soledad and his kids.

The other trend I would also call out in this series are the kids being a mini villains (lol). In the last book it’s Deja blaming her mom for divorcing her dad and in this one it’s Inez blaming her mom’s boyfriend (and in turn her mom) for sending her dad to jail. I do think this book had less conflict than the first but it’s kind of sad to see the stereotypical daughters and moms not getting along because the daughter is a daddy’s girl. In this book Inez’s sisters kind of balanced it out however so it wasn’t overly dramatic.

Other than those two things, I really enjoyed the book. It definitely was made for readers to laugh, cry and feel the love between the characters. Overall, I enjoyed it and gave 4 stars because I could not put it down.