This could be us- 4.5⭐️ 3.25🌶️

Contemporary romance
Older MC’s
BIPOC
Self exploration
Slow burn
Divorce
Autism Rep
Single parent

I adore that this series has been a love letter to the MC’s first, and to each other second.

While this read more like a women’s fiction than a romance, I loved reading it. It was a story about learning to trust yourself and centered on a FMC who took what was handed to her and refused to let it keep her down. The resilience and self respect that shone through this story made me adore the cast of characters as they all rallied around the FMC and helped her kick ass and take names.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an ARC of this book. All opinions are me own.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever Publishing for an eARC of This Could Be US.

I love how serious Kennedy Ryan's stories are and the topics she always chooses to explore. This story was incredible until Soledad became an influencer and I had to read about a viral vinaigrette and ring lights and going live... pls don't do this in books moving forward! It is cringe to read.

There was also barely any romance in this book, just an FYI. It didn't bother me that much but at like 65% they weren't even really flirting yet so that was a bit slow for me. Overall, this is a great book in the Skyland series but Before I Let Go is still my favorite. I'm very excited to read Hendrix's story next she has been such a fun character.

This book for sure will be in my top reads of the year. Kennedy Ryan's books always leave me gut punched but in the best way possible. The way she's able to weave so much emotion and depth in her stories, while also giving us a romance book is so mind blowing to me.
Soledad's growth after being betrayed and hurt by someone who she thought she would spend the rest of her life with was so amazing to witness. I love the support she received from her friends and the sisterhood between them. I love when books include other relationships besides the main love interest in their stories. The autism representation in this book was perfect and added a whole another level to this story.
Ok but lets talk about the main point of the romance book: Judah's and Soledad's relationship...talk about Juicy!!! I loved it! The chemistry was insane! I was so happy for them that they were able to build that trust and foundation. I can not wait to read more by this author and I would recommend this book to everyone.

I absolutely loved the first book in the series and this one was no exception. the way Kennedy Ryan tells a story is simply magical. I was moved throughout this whole book and felt so many different emotions. The relationship between Sol and Judah was so dang beautiful. It was complicated and emotional and absolutely amazing. I highly recommend reading this series. It is one that you will never regret reading. Five stars of course!

Oh Kennedy. Thank you for writing this for women.

After her husband is arrested for embezzlement charges, Soledad must try and pick up the pieces of her life for herself and her kids. She learns to lean on her friends and that she can be her own biggest cheerleader. In the midst of her self love journey, she starts to befriend Judah, the accountant responsible for finding her husband's crimes, much to the dismay of her daughters. Soledad is determined to find a love for herself and possibly for someone else while overcoming her heartbreak.


This book is a love letter to women and loving yourself and knowing that you can be the best version of yourself, even if it feels like your world is falling to pieces. I loved how Soledad was so dedicated to herself through her journey of self love and worked to discover her passions (something many moms and wives can relate to)! Soledad's commitment to her children and to their relationship with their dad was also something that is incredibly admirable. I loved the autism representation with Judah's son and how Kennedy shows a healthy co-parenting situation between Judah and his ex-wife. This entire book was just one big green flag and it was so comforting to read!

My only qualm (and super minor) is that I wish there would have been a little more between Edward (the ex-husband) and the daughters. They were so big on defending him that it would have been nice to see the conversation between him and the daughters of what happened, instead of it all falling on Soledad (although I understand the writing; it usually falls on moms anyways).


This book will likely be an anthem for women wanting to reclaim themselves, as it should be!

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an eARC of this book! All opinions are my own!

Soledad knows that her marriage is in trouble when her husband, Edward, starts to distance himself. However, she is shocked when Edward is arrested for the embezzlement of millions of dollars from the company he works for. Judah, the accountant at Edward’s office, exposed his crime to the company board. When Soledad met Judah at Edward’s holiday work party just a few weeks before his arrest, she felt an unmistakable pull toward this mystery man. Now, she must pick up the pieces after Edward’s betrayal and find a way to support her three daughters and herself in the aftermath. Soledad goes on a self-love journey but continues to be unexpectedly drawn to Judah along the way. Can she heal from her broken past and find a way to love again?

This book was an emotional journey. After reading Before I Let Go last January (which quickly became my favorite book of all time), this was my absolute most anticipated read of 2024. Unfortunately, because of Before I Let Go, I think I had unrealistically high expectations for this one. While I did enjoy this book, it didn’t quite meet my (unrealistic and sky high) expectations. Kennedy Ryan is a profound author who has perfected writing romance novels with depth. Her characters and their struggles are so realistic and beautifully written so that the reader is completely immersed in their challenges. I went into this book expecting a sweeping romance between Soledad and Judah, but I think the bigger journey was between Soledad and herself. I absolutely loved Soledad as a character and to me, it almost felt like her relationship with Judah was an afterthought. I enjoyed this book a lot, but I think my predictions about how much I was going to obsess over it before I even read it (totally my own fault) let me down. Despite this, Kennedy Ryan continues to be one of my favorite authors of all time and I will read anything she writes.

4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan is the newest installment in the Skyland series. Book One Before I Let Go introduced me to the 2nd chance trope in romance and I have been looking for more of the same since. I really enjoyed this book, this series and hope it never ends. Great characterizations, friendships and complicated yet beautiful family dynamics. I'm a full on fan of this book and its author.

✨This Could Be Us Review✨

Author: Kennedy Ryan
Read Type: Kindle/Audio/Physical
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review:
When Soledad Barnes life she carefully planned out, gets flipped upside down by her husband, she has to figure out a way to protect and provide for herself and her three daughters. She surprises herself when she takes what she already knows, designer, party planner, a mouth-watering vinaigrette, and turns it into a social media career that people can't seem to get enough of, including an unlikely man, Judah Cross. In the process she rediscovers herself, and vows to put herself first, to date herself, and to not become reliant on another man. But with Judah, she needs to decide if she can trust him, or herself again.

This book is incredibly sexy, its passionate and bold. A beautiful, messy, book about finding and rediscovering yourself. I loved the self love aspect of this book, the mutual respect that Soledad and Judah have for each other. This is a slow burn romance, but oh is it worth the wait. You cant help but root for the two of them together and as individuals.

Filled with the same characters and humour we loved from, Before I Let Go, I loved being back with Yasmen and Hendrix and can't wait for Hendrix's story!

Read if you like:
Fierce MC
Dual POV
Second Chance Romance
Amazing female friendships
Diverse characters
Complex family dynamics
Healing after hurt
Autism representation
Self love and discovery

Thank you to @readforeverpub and @netgalley for my advanced copy

Is this book or the first on your TBR?

This book took me on a ride I wasn’t quite expecting! I knew something was up with Soledad’s husband but I would have never guessed embezzlement, cheating, nasty, liar and more! Jesus! Seeing her rebrand herself and hustle for her family was inspiring and commendable! I found myself cheering her on. As usual her friendship group is unmatched. Judah is my new book boyfriend! He pursued her heavy and I am here for it! Loved her HEA… she found love in herself and Judah on their terms! BEAUTIFUL

This another beautifully written book by Kennedy that had my emotions all over the place. I laughed, smiled, got teary eyed, and even cursed at Edward.

Soledad
A true definition of a wife, mother, sister, and friend. She was going through it, but was there for others as well. Sol had to pick up the pieces after her trash a** husband got greedy and screwed the entire family. She didn’t just sit there and feel sorry for herself, she did what she had to do to make sure her and her girls were good.

Judah
Can anybody please point me in the right direction so I can find me a Mr. Cross? I loved how he continued to take care of his responsibilities and put his boys first. Tremaine and him were phenomenal co-parents to their twin boys. Also, Mr. Cross was not just brains, but FINE (best on description) as well. He cared about those around him.

Yasmin & Hendrix
“A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.”- C.S. Lewis

These ladies showed the importance of friends when life is being handed to you. They were not just there for the good, but for the bad as well.

Sol & Judah
Just read the book 😜

Warm and wise, Kennedy Ryan’s This Could Be Us poses this question: what if you could be the love of your life?

Soledad Barnes is married to her college sweetheart with three beautiful daughters, happily living the “perfect” life as a stay-at-home mom, when her marriage abruptly falls apart. Betrayed and disillusioned, Soledad must rediscover her inner strength so that she can provide for her children and find her own happiness. Surely she’s too busy – and too freshly wounded – for a new love. Even if it is with the handsome, thoughtful, and trustworthy Judah Cross. Judah’s plate is full too, as a single dad of two sons with autism and a busy career as an accounting director. But he’s determined to be part of Soledad’s next chapter.

Romance readers, take note: while This Could Be Us does feature a beautiful romance, it’s really an individual journey of self-discovery ,self-worth, and self-love. I’d never read Kennedy Ryan’s work before, so I didn’t know to expect such an emotionally expansive read. The story explores grief, shame, betrayal, joy, rebirth, resilience, and much more. Soledad spends much of the novel “self-partnering,” trying to rebuild her relationship with herself. This was unexpected – but I loved it!

This worked really well for me, since my favourite romances usually feature solid relational connectedness with friends and family, too. Kennedy Ryan clearly excels here, highlighting Soledad’s amazing group of girlfriends, her sisters, her daughters – even her mother and grandmother. There are so many loving, supportive, and funny women in this novel! I would happily read a novella featuring Soledad and her friends Yasmen and Hendrix (whose book I’m now eagerly anticipating).

This Could Be Us is really Soledad’s story. Narratively, Judah does feel a little neglected by comparison. I didn’t mind it, but I did notice the absence of a more developed internal life when compared to Sol’s. Yes, Judah is wonderful – a great father, perceptive, attentive, respectful, and funny. But aside from a wonderful co-parenting dynamic with his ex-wife, Judah doesn’t seem to have many people in his life. This is an intentional part of his character and I understand the choice, but I would’ve liked to see him more connected to others.

Overall, This Could Be Us is wise, warm, and empowering. Highly recommended.

Wowww. This book had everything I want in a romance book: a tough FMC who doesn't let situations in life roll over her and instead finds her strength through the adversity, an MMC who is obsessed with the FMC in a healthy and not aggressive way, healthy family relationships, supportive friendships, and SPICE.

Not only were the relationships top tier, but the plot was super good. I liked how the plot, the FMC Sol's self love journey, and the romance were balanced. They built on one another and I didn't feel like one was underdeveloped in order to support another.

This is definitely my favorite book by Kennedy so far and I can't wait for the third story!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I LOVED the first book in this series so much and this book didn't disappoint. I am so happy I was able to read this and discuss it with my friends. Ryan has a way of creating these memorable characters with the most fascinating stories. I fell in love with this story and this is one that will stick with me.

Thank you, NetGalley and Kennedy Ryan for the chance to read this early copy of This Could Be Us.
I loved this book so much! I downloaded it when the author was offering it as a Read-Now on NetGalley.
Her other book in the Skyland Series, What if it's Us, was a slow-burn for me. But I found myself hooked from the first chapter with this follow-up. The drama that unfolds between Soledad and her husband added an element of mystery to the plot. And the chemistry between Soledad and Judah was palpable.
The author addressed autism and neurodivergence in a sensitive manner, and the story was addictive and so so good.

This is not your typical love story. At the center of this story is a woman’s journey of persevering through the unraveling of her world. There is a love story, but the love story at the center of the book is a relationship with oneself. There is also friendship and a love between a man and a woman.

Kennedy Ryan does it again! This is the kind of book that you think about between sittings. More than a romance, it’s a celebration of the important female relationships in our lives—mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, and ourselves—and how they carry us through. Every character in this book felt so real and well cared for by the author. I’m so excited to read Hendrix’s story and see where Kennedy Ryan takes us next!

Kennedy Ryan did it again. She managed to make me fall in love with her characters. I enjoyed seeing Sol & Judahs relationship. Kennedy put me through it. Especially having to read about Sol and what she goes through in this book. I liked how she has boundaries and Judah never overstepped them. He just understood her. I’ve experienced every emotion and more with this book. I loved how real it was. Having those parent moments. I never read anything like this before.

This book was a date yourself first and love yourself first and the other after because if you don't like yourself they will not do it for you and with a husband like Soledad's husband girls we would all be in jail because of him or homeless. Since Yasmeen and Josiah's book I wasn't feeling her husband this man even if he was fictional made my skin crawl, and what I thought about him was true.

I love Soledad and her girls' friendship group and how they support her, Her daughters even the daddy's girl. She self doubts herself because of her husband, this woman is confident but she forgets herself to take care of everyone.

a forbidden man appears and he is everything, Judah is a patient man because I would not have waited like Soledad, he has two boys and I love them, Their romance begins so lately in the book but still you might like it or not, I will not call it a love story but more a lobe yourself and find your lover after.

Thank you so much to Avon for the advance copy of this book!

I had put off reading this book because I just knew what kind of writing Kennedy does and I had to make sure I was ready for it. Knowing what I was put through in Before I Let Go, I was hesitant but we finally put the big girl pants on and read it!

"But there's nothing for him to save me from, because I've saved myself. He doesn't have to awaken me with a kiss. I'm wide awake, reborn, rebirthed through my own fire and pain and work and wisdom."

I feel like the quote above sums up the whole vibe of the book. I may even classify this as woman's fiction as oppose to a full fledge romance. Soledad was put through the WRINGER by her ex husband. Like I couldn't believe all the crap that her husband put her and their children through. This book is about the growth a woman re-finding herself and being a mom to her children. I love that even though she was clearly attracted to Judah but knew she was not ready to be in a relationship and held her guard until she was ready.

I love the female empowerment that came through between Soledad, her daughters, her sisters and her core girl friends. It is important to have those group of people to be in your corner and willing to move mountains for you. They were all so uplifting and figuring out how to get Soledad back on her feet.

Judah was put in such a weird position from the start but worked his way into Soledad's life little by little. He was such a dedicated father and his relationship with his ex wife was so special. I love seeing their relationship on page and even the dialogue with her husband came across so healthy. Their children are lucky to have them as much as they are lucky to have them as kids. He was so incredible patient with Sol and understood that she needed time and was worth the wait.

I was anticipating this to be more emotional but perhaps I could not relate to this one as much as I could relate to Yasmen and Josiah's story. I think those who are starting their lives over and want to feel empowered will be able to connect with Soledad.

Either way solid storytelling from Kennedy & I'm excited for the next book in the series!

Am I ready for my heart to break into a million pieces? Maybe, yes. Why do you ask? It’s because Kennedy Ryan wrote it. She is known to break reader hearts with her heartbreaking yet relatable romance stories. And I can’t stop reading her books because they're too good to stop.
This Could Be Us just brings tears to my heart. I felt Soledad's pain throughout her journey as she tried to navigate her new life. She thought she had a good marriage, but in reality, she was in denial. It wasn’t perfect. It was made of lies and betrayal that cut her deeply when she discovered the real truth. 
It always hurts when you get betrayed, but it doesn’t stop Soledad from moving forward. She may have some bumps in the road. She is just more determined to be her true self. She isn’t going to let anyone put her down or belittle her anymore. 
It doesn’t hurt that she becomes attractive to Judah. It may be forbidden and tricky since he was the one who discovered how grim Soledad ex was. But it doesn’t hurt to have someone to admire or maybe love you. Their friendship and relationship will be the most wholesome yet steamy thing ever. It’s such a heartwarming journey to see.