Kennedy Ryan is such a great storyteller. Her female MC are so relatable, and Soledad is no different. After all the crap her husband put her through (literally made me so angry) she proved to be an amazing mother and also learned how to love herself (or date herself and she said). She also learned that its ok to let someone love you, if it's the right person. The only reason this one didn’t get 5 stars was because I wanted a little more romance. I know she was working on herself, but I wish I got a little more of the relationship she had with Judah. Kennedy also wrote in characters with autism, which she has firsthand experience with her son, and it was also written so beautifully. (Triggers: infidelity)

Love love loveeeeeee anything Kennedy Ryan writes. Great to hear Soledads story and get to know her more.

OHHHH MY GOD. I loved this book. Like... SO MUCH. 5 stars!

First, I am eternally and always grateful to Forever for an eARC of this one via NetGalley. These are my honest thoughts!

I've been looking forward to Soledad's story since Before I Let Go last year. I devoured that book... and turns out, I devoured this one, too.

Kennedy writes from such raw experiences and creates this magic within her character's lives that just feel painful, relatable, and hopeful, all in the space of a few pages. She writes characters who are flawed and brave, who are going through some stuff, who have some beige and red and green flags (because don't we all?).

This book TOOK US ON A JOURNEY. Truly a weirdly forbidden romance that also had so many MEANT TO BE moments.

I loved that we didn't really love Edward from Before I Let Go. We knew Soledad put her heart and soul into her girls, and he wasn't it for her. He let her down in so many ways! And... as the description says, poof! The life she's built is dissolved in a matter of moments.

There are so many things to love about this book:
- The friendships Soledad has with her besties AND her sisters
- The relationship she fosters with her girls; I feel like, often today, mom's are trying to be their daughters' BFFs - Soledad wants to care for them and raise them right, but she also bravely draws a line in the sand and appropriately addresses misbehavior and privilege to participate in after school activities and hobbies
- FREAKING JUDAH - oh my god that MAN *fans face* - he's both honest and humble, direct with his words and actions, respectful, truly the man Soledad deserves... he's not freaking Book Boyfriend goals, he's BOOK HUSBAND GOALS
- Adam and Aaron - the two sons of Judah who have their own struggles and create barriers in Judah's life, but he loves them SO DEEPLY
- The love around food; Soledad becomes an influencer with a "viral vinaigrette" and decides how to make ends meet by selling some authentic cuisine and hosting farm-to-table dinners; so much love around food that it instills in us this understanding of her culture and the way she shows her love to those important people in her life
- The maturity of the romance, which I touched on a few points above. Soledad and Judah are ADULTS who both have some experiences that make them hesitate, either out of a fear of what could be or knowing that this is it, and the respect and growth and peace they bring to their relationship is truly beautiful

Is Hen getting her own book? I couldn't tell! But I'm so in love with this universe that I'll be there, ready to read it ASAP!

5 beautiful stars + THE AUDIO IS AMAZING. The dual POV narration is *chef's kiss* and drags out alllll the emotions from all the parties. It made the story so vivid, I could visualize the scenes as they played out. And Judah being brought to life is freaking *swoony* for everyone!

Nobody knows how to write a slow burn like Kennedy Ryan. She puts her main character's needs first and foremost before any romance but does it in a way that has you sat and ready for when the romance comes. I really enjoyed Soledad and Judah's story and the takedown of Edward. And the glimpses of Yasmen and Josiah which we all fell in love with in Before I Let Go. I cannot wait for Hendrix's story next year.

This book was an amazing love story that started off very rocky. What I loved most was the writing and exploring an older more established couple in life who find love after both having not-so-great starts the first time around.

"This Could Be Us" by Kennedy Ryan is a captivating romance novel that pulls at the heartstrings. Ryan's skillful storytelling and engaging characters make for an irresistible read. With its blend of passion, emotion, and depth, this book is sure to leave readers longing for more.

LOVE LOVE THIS! So beautiful. Judah will go down as one of my top book boyfriends. The family dynamic, the self love, the real conversations that the main characters had. The communication was great. The friendship with Yas, Sol and Hendrix will forever be one of my favorites. Love to see Josiah and Yas living their happy ever after. This book series gives all the emotions, the feels, the feet kicking and heartbreak at the same time

absolutely brilliant. Kennedy Ryan NEVER misses! this is a must read. I literally read this book in one sitting - I could NOT put it down! Soledad and Judah are beautiful and I love them!

This was my first time reading a book by Kennedy Ryan and it was incredible. I loved the character development, plot line, and perfect amount of spice. I immediately put Skyland Book 1 on hold at the library. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review!

I absolutely loved this book. I could not put it down! I have been (not so patiently) waiting for Soledad’s story, and it absolutely did not disappoint. It checked all the boxes. The delicious angst, the tension, the flirting!! the way Judah falls first, and SO FREAKING HARD for Soledad, the SPICE yall! It’s a slow burn, but it’s natural, and real, and doesn’t feel too drawn out.

I wanna be friends with these women. Maybe even want to be Hendrix? They are so tight knit, steadfast, loyal, confident, they build each other up. They’re strong, they’re independent, they’re real. Hendrix and Lola together cracked me up so much! (I also can’t wait for Hendrix’ story, but sad I have to wait til 2025 😭) I loved the parallel that Soledad could see with her own sisters and her daughters. this book encourages you to love yourself #selfdatingchallenge, encourages finding your independence, empowers female relationships, and positive parental relationships, and I absolutely loved every word of it.

If I could give more than 5 stars, I absolutely would!!

Absolutely stunning second installment in the Skyland series!

Kennedy Ryan really knows how to tug at your heartstrings and make you feel all of the things.

After reading Before I Let Go, I so badly wanted to know more about Soledad. I wanted to learn more about her background, her marriage. I was expecting a cheating trifling husband but the added criminals activity was wild! I literally gasped when the FBI showed up!!

Judah is perfect. The man has no flaws. I could not have picked a more perfect counterpart for Sol. I am obsessed.

I really went through all the emotions with this book and I can not wait for Hens book!

I loved everything about this book! Kennedy Ryan blessed us with an amazing story, relatable characters and a hero and heroine that tug at our heartstrings. I can't recommend this enough! Kudos, Queen Kennedy!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing this book, with my honest review below.

This Could be Us was an extremely touching read that left me even more in love with Kennedy Ryan’s writing and the Skyland series (this can be read as a standalone).

Soledad’s story is a shining example of a Phoenix rising from the ashes and turning lemons into lemonade. While this is the love story of Tremaine and Soledad, Soledad stands out as the shero after saving herself and her daughters from her husband’s mess. The love story is a healthy slow burn that has you hooked from their Christmas party meeting.

The writing was such an authentic reflection of love after loss and the blending of families. The dynamics of the friendship also add such a vibrancy to the story making you think of your own best girlfriends.

Get yourself a nice glass of wine and take yourself on a journey to love better than ever.

Kennedy Ryan releases another novel filled with heartbreak, rediscovery, and hope. Soledad Barnes has always been a planner, but when shocking news is revealed about her husband, no amount of planning could have prepared her for the aftermath of his actions. When Judah Cross enters back into Soledad's life there are a lot of varying opinions of whether or not he belongs there. As the two navigate their own family struggles, they also continue to explore what they want for themselves in romantic relationships. I thoroughly enjoyed the character development in this novel and I love how Kennedy Ryan writes about realistic life struggles. I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes down-to-earth characters who are working towards the pursuit of happiness.

This was even more beautiful than book 1. Soledad was the ultimate FMC, and was the epitome of a strong woman. I loved her journey and self-exploration.

I also really love the autism rep and how well the author blended ethnicities/cultures into her characters. This was a beautiful story and I will absolutely read anything Kennedy writes.

✨ Review ✨ This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan

Thanks to Forever and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

The second book in the Skyland series, this one focuses on Soledad, the friend of Yasmin from the first book. As Soledad's marriage falls apart (and how this happens is wild and I won't spoil any of it), she finds herself in need of finding stability and income. As she begins to rely on herself, she finds new levels of inner strength, and I really enjoyed that about the book.

As a mom of three, she also finds connection with Judah (divorced co-parent of two autistic boys), and even though her commitment to herself and Judah's role in the larger story slows the onset of their romance, the building tension was fantastic.

This story was a wild rollercoaster but one that slows down to dig into the emotions along the way. I loved both of these characters and their families. Her author's note explained her take on writing autistic characters, which felt genuine and translated well onto the pages of the book. Overall, this was another home run for Ryan!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5)
Genre: f/m contemporary romance
Setting: Atlanta
Reminds me of: the first book in this series :)
Pub Date: 05 Mar 2024

Read this if you like:
⭕️ emotional contemporary romances
⭕️ ...with a heavy emphasis on personal growth and development
⭕️ MCs with kids
⭕️ characters in their 40s

What an incredible book. Kennedy Ryan is truly a master of the romance genre, and this book just further cements her status as one of the best romance authors of all time. This book is absolutely breathtaking and incredible. It swept me off my feet and gave me so much perspective and hope for the world. I can't imagine it was easy following up the masterpiece that was Before I Let Go, but This Could Be Us is a book that stands on its own merit. It is such a captivating story, and I can't wait to read the next book set in this universe.

Kennedy Ryan makes the reader feel it ALL in this one, so much emotion. The story was moving and I loved the representation. I felt so deeply for Sol and fell in love with Judah. Highly recommend.

This was not my favorite, but it was still enjoyable. "This Could Be Us" is about Soledad trying to find herself after her ex-husband changes their lives forever and he stumbles upon an unlikely man (Judah).

I loved the family and friends aspects of this novel. Soledad had a whole army behind her supporting her after her whole turns upside down. And the way she treats and takes care of her daughters was so heartwarming to see. Same can be said about Judah, he takes care of his boys so well as well has his ex-wife, wanting her to have the best live she can. His sons have autism and if someone doesn't know what that is or how it affects someone, don't worry because this book explains it.. like a lot. It personally wasn't a problem with me, but there was a lot of info dumping. Same with social media, Soledad joins social media to help provide for her children and same with that, it is explained very well and as someone who likes the ins and outs of social media and how it can be a job, it was fun to see.

I did have issues with it however. Personally I didnt feel the relationship between the two characters. Soledad was supposed to be working on herself, but breaking it for Judah. I have no problem with her being with Judah, the problem I have is saying she's working on herself when she really isn't when she knows he wants a whole relationship and she doesnt know what she wants. After a while it feels like Soledad's story and not Soledad and Judah. Honestly the drama with Edward was more exciting than the relationship.

Thank you, Forever, NetGalley, and Kennedy Ryan for this early review copy! What a moving, emotional, healing journey to go on, alongside Soledad. Kennedy's writing is lyrical and lush and evocative. I can't wait for Hen's story next!!

Content notes: loss of a parent to cancer (in past but frequently discussed in present because a fellow mom friend of Soledad's is battling cancer), infidelity, emotional abuse.