"Kennedy Ryan's 'This Could Be Us' offers a compelling narrative with well-developed characters navigating complex relationships. While the story captures attention with its emotional depth, pacing inconsistencies at times hinder the flow. Despite this, Ryan's skillful prose and poignant themes make it a worthwhile read."

Kennedy Ryan never misses. I loved this one more than I loved Before I Let Go, and I was OBSESSED with that book. Soledad's story was one that really tugged at my heart. Seeing her climb from her lowest to the top was one of my favorite parts about the book. Edward can go to hell, I truly despised him. The friendship in this book was beautiful. And Judah Cross....was simply amazing.

Very beautiful, insightful story, the romance aspect of the book is good however, I must say it takes a back burner to the romance the main character has with herself. It definitely gives you a lot to think about how many times we have taken a really good hard look at the love we have for ourselves, how much we depend on other people for our happiness, our well-being or our survival. it definitely makes you think about taking some of the steps in your life even if you’re already married. Spend a little more time alone, more time figuring out what makes you happy and more time going after even the smallest things that might improve how you feel about yourself in order to give others the best version of you. This book also gives the steps Sol took that we can take ourselves in order to feel free to trust someone in a relationship without fear that you will be destroyed if it doesn’t work out.

Kennedy had me hooked from the very first page! I'm not a huge romance fan but I will read anything that Kennedy writes. This was such a great story about finding yourself after ending a horrible relationship. Sol was a badass and I was rooting for her every step of the way. I really enjoyed reading about how she navigated the relationship with her daughters after their family unit was broken up. Additionally, it was refreshing to read about Judah's positive coparenting situation and the love they had for their boys who were on the spectrum. Overall, this was everything and I'm ready for book 3.

Kennedy Ryan has done it again!! A beautiful story about a woman who learns to fall in love with herself and find love in the process.
Ryan does a tremendous job of talking about serious social issues that helps us as the reader connect even more to the characters she's written. This was truly a beautiful work of art!

Kennedy Ryan has done it again! I loved Before I Let Go, but I think that This Could Be Us ranks even higher for me. From wanting to throw my kindle across the room when reading about Edward and his escapades, to giggling and swooning over how amazing of a man and person Judah was, I was hooked and had my attention held by this book from the very beginning. I highly recommend this book, and the Skyland series. The well-done and well-researched/understood representation when it comes to mental health, neurodiversity, trauma, healing, self-discovery, multicultural identities, etc. is such a refreshing addition that I also truly value as a mental health counselor/therapist. I cannot recommend these books enough; please just make sure to be mindful of any trigger/content warnings and ensure that you are prepared for the emotional intensity that many of Kennedy Ryan’s books so beautifully offer.

Thank you so much to Kennedy Ryan, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this beautiful book!

~Alissa R.

#ThisCouldBeUs #KennedyRyan #NetGalley

Every time I pick a Kenney book I'm afraid because I know with every cell on my body that I will CRY!!!

And I did, of course!

The writting is fenomenal, the characters are PERFECT and everything ing this book is pure magic. I lvoe everything about this book. Today and forever

Kennedy Ryan has a way of creating realistic characters and real situations. I love the diversity of her writing. Raw emotions mixed with powerful friendships and witty jokes. She puts just enough spice in without it taking away from the story line. I look forward to reading more of her stories.

Kennedy Ryan is QUEEN of the slow burn. But this book is so much more than that. Judah is all man and I may love him more than Josiah (don’t tell him I said that). This book is a phenomenal piece that takes you throw a rollercoaster ride of what healing truly looks like after devastation. I’m going to read it again!

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5—Anytime I read a romance where a woman puts her kids first, I know I'm absolutely going to love the heroine. There are way too many 'throw caution to the wind' characters who are emotionally reactive and don't look at the whole picture. I end up wanting to DNF these reads over and over!!!! In This Could Be Us, I saw myself making some of the same choices and trying to keep the same calm/level mindset for the kids who are completely innocent in all of this.

THOUGHTS:
- I love how special needs children/parenting styles are depicted in This Could Be Us. There's something so satisfying about seeing people tackle parenting with finesse and an overabundance of love, no matter what their children need. One can aspire to be these types of parents, and I love seeing them immortalized in print!
- I loved how our heroine, Soledad/'Sol', handles her journey after divorce and into the dating world. She focuses on rebuilding her life, and I absolutely love it!

**Thank you to Forever & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

This Could Be Us is an empowering read with strong and memorable characters. Soledad Barns doesn't need a knight in shining armor to save her. Once her ex goes to jail and her 20-plus-year marriage crumbles, she becomes the writer of her story.

Little by little, she discovers herself and her self-worth, slowly rebuilding what was broken, building her strengths, and keeping her three daughters afloat. She is a powerful and resilient heroine who also works hard on herself. When love knocks on her door, she doesn't give in easily. After all, she gave it all for a man who jeopardized her and her daughters' well-being.

Judah Cross is THE leading man: swoony, supportive, perceptive, and patient. He is understanding and willing to wait for Soledad until they can walk together. There is beauty in the way he loves and co-parents his sons. He isn't perfect, yet he is so well-rounded.

If you have been a Kennedy Ryan reader for a while, you might be familiar with the care and research she puts into her characters' stories. This Could Be Us is the first book in which she includes an autism representation. She masterfully and reverently captures and gives insight into aspects of the spectrum, including perception in the eyes of those who look from the outside.

While her stories always target a broad range of topics, This Could Be Us might be her most universal book. It has a message and a character/situation that everyone can connect with.

“When you hurt the way we women sometimes have to, when you lose so much, when the world ends over and over and over again, we are no longer butterflies. Those wings are much too fragile to carry us on and through. I’m a hornet. I can love. And I can sting.”

This book found me at just the right time. Soledad's story is so incredibly empowering and raw. As always, Kennedy Ryan has created an unforgettably real and beautiful love story that will stay with me forever. Judah loves her so tenderly and completely and it was so cathartic to see her find happiness after the deception and betrayal she suffered at the hands of her first husband.

I’m sorry. I dnf’d at 33%. Now I loved the first book and really do enjoy Kennedy Ryan’s writing. My decision to dnf has nothing to do with her writing. I just personally don’t like the couple. I like them separately as characters but personally not as a couple. I found it hard to get through because I wasn’t invested in their love story. I still recommend if you love Kennedy Ryan and if you like all types of couple dynamics. I just have to personally love the couple to want to read about what’s going on in their day to day. I really am excited to read Hendricks book when it comes out in the future! (I’m only guessing here but I hope she gets one). I love the friendship dynamic and their dialogue but I just couldn’t get behind the romance. But that’s totally ok, because I will still try out other books from Kennedy Ryan.

Short synopsis: Soledad Barnes finds herself divorcing her husband after his shady business practices, but falls quickly for the forbidden guy Judah.

My thoughts: I tried to keep the synopsis somewhat vague, because it’s fun to go in somewhat blind. But I’m loving this series! Loved Before I Let Go, so I knew I needed to get my hands on this one.

Soledad is such a strong FMC, she had some amazing growth because the hand that was dealt to her. Judah was loving and patient and so sweet with his boys.

I thought the struggling influencer job was fun, silly things can definitely make someone go viral.

I loved the Autism rep, she handled each situation with such care, and her acknowledgment about it has such great insight.

I felt like the middle did go somewhat slow. This is definitely a slow burn romance, so know that going in.

Read if you love:
- Great friend groups
- Lifestyle influencers
- Single parent
- Autism rep
- Slow burn romances

This Could Be Us
By Kennedy Ryan
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is another triump by Kennedy Ryan. I only made it halfway through this book before I was in tears and messaging her to say thank you for sharing this story.

Soledad and Judah have a long, nearly torturous journey towards their HEA, but the time and healing needed for all parties was necessary. I love that with the Skyland series, we are getting amazing romance stories about moms & dads in their forties. HELL YES. The beauty of blending lives and families and the reality of navigating life as a parent and a partner? More please.

This book is especially validating for people and parents in the neurodivergent community. Judah and his ex-wife have navigated their children's needs in ways that so many parents do each and every day. Ryan shares in her authors note and acknowledgements that her own life with her son (who is autistic) and husband contributed to this story in a deeply personal way. She also consulted others who are on the spectrum or parents of autistic individuals to inform these characters and it shines through in her care and interpretation. So often as a parent of neurodiverse individuals, the parenting I see around me makes me feel "othered." In this book, I just felt seen. Validated. Honored. I love the way Ryan sheds a light on the way a parent like Judah thinks and operates - it is insightful and informative for anyone who knows anyone who lives life on or near the neurodivergent spectrum - from ADHD to autism, those medically fragile, and those with invisible challenges.

I loved this book. I cannot wait for more from Skyland and Kennedy Ryan. Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the gifted copy!

I love Kennedy Ryan for getting comfortable in this era of writing women who have lived a bit of life and experienced the sweet and bitter. Soledad's journey of self-discovery and romance is entertaining, refreshing, and hilarious. I found myself very angry at her ex for all of this book and at times even angry with her, but I also understand her situation is one any of us can find ourselves in.

I am so appreciative to have received an advanced copy of this title!

Before reading I read the first story in the Skyland series from my local library and could not wait to read Soledad's story.

This story was so well written. As a stay at home mom of three I saw myself in Soledad with her role as a mother and homemaker. I loved seeing how she persevered through the garbage Edward put her through and fell head over heels for Judah when he came into the picture! His care for his sons and how the two of them navigated finding each other while raising their kids at the same time was inspiring.

I am very impressed at the autism representation in this book. While my family does not have official diagnoses we have some of the same challenges and the care for this representation is seen in the writing. I can't wait to read it again!

Soledad had a pretty good life. Sure, her husband never wanted to sleep with her, and was a bit controlling, but when the FBI shows up and takes him away in cuffs, she is shocked, as are her young girls. Now Soledad must figure out how to make ends meet on her own while her husband is on trial for his mistakes. When she starts to feel things for the man that put him behind bars, life starts to get incredibly tricky.

I don’t know why I waited so long to read this one! I adored Before I Let Go so I am not sure what I was thinking. I immediately fell in love with Soledad in this one, and just as quickly decided I hated her husband. Seriously from like chapter one I was not a fan! He proved my initial impressions correct. I so enjoyed following as Soledad started working to keep her and her daughter’s lives as normal as possible without their dad. I also loved that Soledad dated herself and worked on making sure she was the strongest, best, and happiest version of herself without a man. I really focused on that when my last relationship ended, and I am so much better for it so I loved seeing it represented in a book! Kennedy Ryan is seriously such a talented writer, and I cannot wait for the next in this series!

Kennedy Ryan made an accountant sexy, so I literally think she can do anything?

In all seriousness, This Could Be Us, the second installment in her interconnected (but can be read standalone!) Skyland series is another knockout. We have romance here - a really beautiful one - but maybe more importantly, we have a woman on a journey toward loving herself again after a particularly painful divorce. The road we travel with her as she figures out how to support her daughters on her own, while finding herself and her own happiness felt so real. I don’t feel like I see enough of that in romance books - the normalization of finding contentment in being alone but not lonely.

Something else that’s so important to note, and Kennedy calls it out in her authors note, is that this is her most personal story. Soledad’s love interest, Judah, is a father to two autistic sons and hearing Kennedy speak at an event about how much she modeled him after her own husband (with her husband beaming at her from the front row) and their experiences with an autistic son made reading this so much more emotional and resonant. Judah is a dream, honestly.

I have to say that while I enjoyed this, it definitely felt a bit lack luster in the romance department.

I loved Soledad’s journey, seeing her put herself back together after everything her scummy husband puts her through, seeing how she finds her strength and solidifies the trust and love for her self was inspiring and encouraging. So much of Soledad’s work on herself and ‘dating herself’ is so important to see and something more books should focus on. Because this was so crucial for Soledad and done so well, I CAN understand why the romance didn’t develop until later, however I do have to say….waiting until 70% in just felt too late.

I frankly found myself not even caring about the romance and when it finally happened, feeling like it didn’t feel worth the wait. While Judas is an interesting character and his backstory pulls from the author’s experience with children with autism, I felt like that defined his character. There wasn’t much besides that that felt compelling to me and ultimately I just didn’t feel like I could fall for him and root for his romance with Sol.

The author always deliver such thoughtful, grounded, real stories and while this isn’t different, this felt like it didn’t quite hit the balance of romance and character growth. It felt more fiction than romance, and the romance didn’t feel like it added depth to Sol’s story. I’m glad she got her HEA, but the real captivating parts were Sol on her own instead. So while that’s not bad, I think if you come into this with the expectations of a steamy love story, this will be a bit of a let down.

I enjoyed the representation, the strong female friendships and lead, I loved seeing Sol triumph over her struggles in a realistic way that felt hard won. But I didn’t love the romance, I felt the last 30% was too bogged down trying to bring the romance to the forefront, and the drama at the end felt a bit too melodramatic given how grounded the rest of the book felt.

Overall, a solid read, but a romance that left me a bit wanting.