This was my first read by Kennedy Ryan. In the words of Kevin Hart from his Uncle Richard Jr. when he said “peel this muffin cap back blue”, Kennedy did just that with this book! Ma’am I have had to collectively gather my thoughts and emotions in this book. I was that caught up! I felt I was in the story myself! Soledad’s support system is unmatched! Whew! Her friends and family rallied around her so tough and never switched up on her. Judah, whew what a man! I don’t have children yet, but to see how he was an awesome coparent and all around great individual, he is all right with me! I learned so much about autism, Kennedy thank you for this so much! Soledad and Judah, I loved this love story I was like yes!! I’m so happy for their ending. Now as far as Edward, he can collectively kiss all our behinds and his trifling Mama.
Then you left us with some with a few surprises! Thank you so much! I have enjoyed this read, this is beyond 5 stars! If I could give a million I would!

Getting to meet Kennedy Ryan was one of the highlights of 2023 for me, her books are INCREDIBLE and deserve to be among my favorites ever.

Thanks to Forever Publishing I got to read an early copy of Before I Let Go and I was immediately obsessed. Kennedy’s writing style is full of emotion that is so raw and real, as soon as I finished the first book I could not wait to read book 2.

& the absolute joy didn’t stop there, I am in awe of her each time I hear her speak, she is beautiful, eloquent and such an inspiration. While I am often excited for upcoming releases, THIS COULD BE US was a drop everything and devour it kind of book and I am still pinching myself to have had such early access to a copy.

Ryan’s words will leave you breathless, break your heart and inspire you to BE more all within a single page. I loved Soledad’s determination, how strong she was for her family and that even when she struggled she kept at it, making the best of what she had, her talents, her community, all while many people would have given up. Rarely am I so invested in a character’s well being like I was for hers throughout this book, and I didn’t want it to end, even if it meant she would get her HEA.

Judah was the perfect match for her. I adored the care he took of her feelings, his awareness of the situation with her ex, his own and their families was refreshing, messy and everything I hoped it would be. Life can be chaos, but this book left me feeling hopeful, inspired and wanting MORE.

I’ve preordered my copy already (I HAD to have the special Barnes & Noble edition) & highly recommend snagging this one yourself, it releases March 5, 2024 💕

ARC Review - This Could Be Us

After reading Before I Let Go earlier this year, I was so excited to be back in the Skyland world. The female characters in this series are so supportive and uplifting. Their bond, love, and friendship is inspiring! This Could Be Us focuses on Soledad and how she makes her own happiness and self-love a priority in the aftermath of life-changing family and relationship betrayals.

Kennedy Ryan has a writing style that is so effortless to read. This Could Be Us is so real and honest as it navigates the hardships and sacrifices that come with marriage, divorce, and love. I did think the wrap-up felt a little too rushed and perfect but overall, I really enjoyed this book. I'm already looking forward to Hendrix's story next!

the way i DEVOURED this book! wow wow wow. such a beautiful story about ones journey to self-love and finding yourself. I adore these two characters.

It always feels like a privilege to read a book by Kennedy Ryan, and I wonder how I even lived my life before reading her books! THIS COULD BE US is everything I can hope for out of a romance. It always blows my mind how brilliantly Ryan ties her stories with such emotional depth, intensity, complexity, realness, angst, and awareness of subjects that aren't represented and talked about enough. I know I always need to buckle up before reading one of Ryan's book because by the end of the book you feel like you just got off one crazy emotional rollercoaster ride but am changed for all the better.

The mother of three teenage daughters, Soledad has the rug pulled out from her and wind knocked out of her, and now everything is on her shoulders to keep her family afloat. THIS COULD BE US is a beautiful and empowering story of a woman learning to step into and own her power and trusting that she is fully capable of taking care of and supporting herself - and her kids, while at the same time allowing herself the happiness and love she both desires and deserves.

I love how Soledad and Judah are brought into each other lives, making their relationship that much more sticky, complicated and frankly, hot. Judah's respect, understanding, and admiration for Soledad was real and beautiful... thank goodness for him and his patience (and his glasses) while Soledad needed the time to embrace who she really is. And it also made me respect Judah even more knowing he would rather back away than settle for anything less than what he wanted. I will never get enough of him and his saint-ness. I'm so happy to have witnessed Soledad and Judah's story.

So much gratitude to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

You guys, this went up on Netgalley yesterday, and your girl ran to open an account just so I could read it, because I just could not wait! (Yes, I know, crazy I read so much, but didn’t use Netgalley until now! What can I say? I’m intimidated by apps ok 😂). I’ve finally conquered that fear!

Since I participated in the cover reveal back in October, I’ve been waiting to see when the arc would be available, and as soon as it was, I grabbed it and could not put it down! 🎉

This is another emotional masterpiece by @kennedyryan1, and I declare I will read every single book she ever writes, period, because the girl can write! Go read her stuff!!!!!

Soledad’s story was a powerful one that will resonate with so many: single moms, single dads, divorced coparents, people in diverse families, people within bicultural families, step parents, as well as parents navigating all the complexities and challenges of raising kids in the autism spectrum.

The representation and inclusion in this story was superb. So many amazing points were addressed, so many of the struggles handled with such care. The story was raw, real, and rich in so many ways. Soledad’s strength and courage through the worst times of her life were both inspiring, and admirable, and though her HEA wasn’t conventional, I feel it was the perfect one for her.

I am so super excited to read Hendrix’s story next, and can’t wait for my preorder of this physical copy to get in my hands!

Read if you like:
🥹 Emotional stories
👩‍❤️‍👨 Friends to Lovers
🏋️‍♀️ Strong MFC
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Diverse + bicultural families
🧩 Autism representation
👭 Strong female friendships

⚠️CW: Discussion of parent death due to cancer off the page, discussions relating to autism inclusing clinical classifications, divorce, embesselment crime, cheating.

Thank You @netgalley @readforeverpub and @kennedyryan1 for the opportunity to read this ahead of release day 3-5-24

There aren’t enough words to explain how amazing this book was!! I related to Soledad in far too many ways, finding yourself after heartbreak is such a journey, and Soldedad’s was so well written. I felt like I was back where she was, finding myself again. I cried, I laughed, I rooted her on. Not to mention the impecable romance, Judah is the definition of the perfect book boyfriend. To have so much wrapped in one book could have been difficult, but this was incredibly well done.

Finished this yesterday night and read it in one sitting. I am obsessed and captivated by Kennedy Ryan’s talent to keep writing better and better romances full of incredible characters and dreamy love stories. My love for Kennedy’s work just keeps growing with every book.

thanks so much for the ARC!

this book was soooo good. it wasn't as angsty as BILG but still so good. i was apprehensive about reading this bc i feel like the 2nd book of a series always falls short. happy to say this wasn't the case for This Could Be Us. i love the characters kennedy ryan has created in this book. judah is too good to be true.

soledad's growth was organic and i was rooting for her throughout. her career choice was a little cringe lol. i can't wait to see her appearance (along with her girls') in the next book. i just also love how kennedy's growth as a romance writer is evident over the course of her books.

can't wait for hendrix's book!

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan follows the story of Soledad, who is married to Edward, and a mother to three teenaged daughters as her life feels like it is falling apart when her husband is arrested for embezzlement. Soledad goes on a journey of finding herself, and rediscovering who she is as a mother, daughter, sister, and friend… but also discovers Josiah Cross, who is a single father to two autistic teenage twin boys and happens to be the man who uncovered her husband’s crimes.

This was one of the easiest five stars I have ever given, I LOVED this book. Every single character (except u Edward) was so easily to love and three dimensional. The dialogue was incredibly natural, and it made these characters feel so real.

Soledad is one of my favorite book characters of all time. Her resilience and love for her children, family, and friends is unmatched. She’s emotionally intelligent, and just so intelligent in general, and it was so easy to root for her, her success, and happiness from right in the beginning.

And Josiah??? You simply know this man was written by a woman, because he was so perfectly. He was smart, kind, patient, romantic, compassionate. The things this man was syaing had me BLUSHING and kicking my feet you guys.. he is top notch, and perfection.

And this book was special because I feel like it captured so many different kinds of love so well - between parent child relationships, romantic relationships, love between friends, like I felt all that pouring through the pages and it was incredibly well done.

You guys have to pick this one up, I was hooked from page 1 all the way through the end, which wasn’t that long because I loved it so much I read the entire thing very fast. GREAT read I would highly recommended.

I was so excited for the opportunity to Read Now This Could Be Us on Net Galley! I was anticipating this book and it did not disappoint. I really loved this book. It was so beautiful. It’s different from Before I Let Go in a lot of ways (as expected) but an equally great read. I went back and forth about if this was a 4 or 5 star review because I wasn’t hooked on this like BILG. I asked myself what could’ve been done better with this story and when I couldn’t answer that I knew it deserved 5 stars. The love in Soledad’s life is so special! Romantic love as well as the love from her friends, sisters, and children. Most importantly though this is really a journey about loving yourself. I’ll be reading again when my paperback copy arrives in March.

I inhaled this book. I started reading it at 6pm and did not stop until I finished it at almost 3am. We’re first introduced to Soledad in the first book in this series “Before I Let Go” and as the reader, you already know something is up with Soledad’s husband. What I didn’t expect was the twist! Not to spoil anything, but I was pleasantly surprised there was more to his sketchy ass than just being basic sketchy. I really felt for Soledad and I very much appreciated how her role was celebrated and that she found intrinsic value in being a mother and ALL of the various hats she wears while in that role 24/7. Just because she stayed at home and did ALL THE THINGS didn’t mean she wasn’t also a feminist. Now, let’s talk about Judah. He’s my favorite hands down. AND WAIT — The realistic autistic representation not only in his twin sons, but also in him! I work within this population and the varied presentations and realistic experiences really shined through. But back to Judah. He didn’t play games. He knew what he wanted and he respected Soledad enough to give her the time she needed to grow. To forgive and love herself. It was so beautiful. This is one of the best book father, ex-husband, and partner I have ever read. The only qualm I had with this book was a personal one. It totally made sense within the book and was realistic, but I don’t like reading about influencers and social media. But like I said, that’s a personal preference.

Kennedy Ryan you have done it once again. She has proven once again that she is not only writing romance but women’s fiction. This book is not solely focused on the romance but Soledad. It’s her rediscovering herself, learning how to trust herself after the betrayal of her husband, and it’s her working on trusting future relationships through trusting herself.

Of course there’s also the romance aspect, but in increments and in my opinion not the forefront of the story, but also a part of Soledad relearning herself in relationships.

Five stars. Kennedy Ryan does it again. I really needed this book. This book has touched my soul, and made me appreciate my journey of self love even more. Aaron and Adam have a very special place in my heart.

You know how with most fiction books, you read the book, but with some books, you inhabit the book? Kennedy Ryan is one of the rare authors who writes in such a way that you inhabit the book.

I actually tend to prefer more escapist romances with less angst, but Kennedy makes diving in to the drama worth it, even when this book grabs the heart in your chest in a vise grip and holds on until the last page.

Most slow burns feel at least a little contrived, with at least one of the MCs being annoying AF to create the slow burn—but in this novel, it felt 100% natural, and I didn’t even really realize it was a slow burn until after I finished the book.

The other thing I love about Kennedy’s writing, as this book exemplifies, is that she writes romance for real adults—there are no fake problems and the connections between her characters are real as it gets.

This novel is as much about self-compassion and the power of female relationships (between mothers and daughters, sisters, and friends) as it is about the romance between Soledad and Judah, without ever being preachy or cloying, and honestly that’s a feat in itself.

Oh, and as a probably-autistic mom of two autistic kids, I really appreciated Kennedy’s portrayal of multiple autistic characters with depth and dimension. If I could give more than 5 stars, I would!

It is safe to say that Kennedy Ryan does not miss! This story was beautifully written! The friendships and relationships in this book was EVERYTHING!! Soledad and Judah’s love story was so real and raw. It shows how truly hard it to open yourself back up to love after you’ve been hurt!

So excited to see what’s in store for Hendrix!

i never write book reviews but for this one right here? i have to.

there is just something about kennedy ryan’s pen that draws you into a world that could very much be someone’s reality. the line between fact and fiction is very thin when it comes to this could be us.

this tale of rediscovery is something i find very rare in romance novels today. soledad’s journey isn’t one size fits all but it’s very real and it shows that even the most “put together” out of the bunch can still be a work in progress.

this could be us is a very different type of love story than the ones i’m used to seeing. and all i’m going to say is the best things come when they are meant to come because judah…oh judah he one of them ones for sure.

I really enjoyed Sol’s story.
It was a true letter of strength and reinvention.
Loved the incorporation of Puerto Rican culture through out the whole story.
The parallels between Sol and her mom were quiet but impactful.
My only note, I’d like it for it to be clearly stated that Judah is autistic, it seems to be heavily implied but not explicitly stated.

Oh my goodness. I do not have the proper words for this book! Ahh! Soledad’s story means so much to me of her taking her power back, building a life for her and daughters after being betrayed by her ex husband. Her journey of loving herself fully is so relatable to where I am and I loved being able to read about a woman who takes us along her journey! 10/10 always recommend. Kennedy Ryan can simply do no wrong!

I absolutely adored this book. I love that it could stand alone if needed but how it tied into Yas and Si’s story too.
The way Edward was written as a villain was honestly amazing, couldn’t wait to see him get his even before the FBI showed up.
I also think an absolutely amazing job was done in the portrayal of Adam and Aaron.
Thank you so much for this arc. I can’t wait to read Hens story. This one had me giggling and kicking my feet at points but also felt so raw and real. It was done so well. And my lord the lemonsssss (can you tell I was on FF back in the day) 10/10 Ms Ryan.