Thank you to NetGalley & Forever Publishing for the eARC.
3.5/5⭐️ (rounded up to 4)


After reading & loving Kennedy Ryan’s novel, BEFORE I LET GO, last year, I couldn’t wait to dive into Soledad’s story. This book is heartbreaking, emotional, & inspiring all at the same time. I really enjoyed getting to know Soledad & found her journey to find self love so inspiring. I also loved the representation given to the neurodivergent community & I thought the author did a great job detailing their struggles.

Unfortunately, I found the middle of the book to be pretty slow & repetitive. I also felt like it was a little bit cliche & over the top at times. There was already a lot against Soledad & then things just kept happening & I didn’t totally think it was necessary to prove the plot point. I also didn’t feel the connection between Sol & Judah as much as I wanted to. Maybe it’s because I’m comparing it to how I felt reading BEFORE I LET GO, but for whatever reason this one just didn’t quite hit for me.

This ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to like this book much more than I did, but also didn't hate it. This book is squarely in the Women's fiction genre, but tried hard to squeeze a romance in there, which didn't really work for me. The man she falls for is NOT the man I would have fallen for, simply because of his role. Other reviewers will put this more eloquently than I could, but it started great, then fizzled, for me. I even skipped through the spice. I didn't feel swoony lovey heartfelt longing. This was definitely a novel of a woman's journey. Which is fine... but shoehorning in the romance so you can catch those readers is a sticking point for me lately. A women's fiction novel should be able to sell on its own. There was plenty of drama to go around.
I concur with reviewers that did not like the influencer angle, and that felt her sisters were too much YASS GIRL for me. Just... didn't connect. Judah could have been anyone- I felt nothing for him. And frankly it was inappropriate for him to approach her.

With all of my nits out of the way, Kennedy CAN write her tail off and this is not a terribly written book. Just didn't work for me.

I listened to the audio version of this book and have to say.. I think the female narrator fell into reading and not acting. I think Jakobi Diem's talent was wasted on this character.

This Could Be Us is the second book by Kennedy Ryan in the Skyland Series. I was completely blown away by Before I Let Go (book #1), so I was eagerly anticipating this book and needless to say, I was absolutely not disappointed.
The Skyland Series revolves around three best friends: Yas, Sol, and Hen. This book is Soledad's story. Although there is a love interest, this is really the story of Sol learning to love herself and the life she creates for herself and her three daughters after her husband burns everything to the ground.
Kennedy Ryan has an incomparable way of creating memorable characters that we can laugh, cry, be angry with, and love. The strength of her female characters in these two books is almost unparalleled. She expertly weaves the lives of these characters together and makes you wish that you were one of their neighbors in Skyland. Ryan is also not afraid to deftly explore difficult subjects -- and you know that they are always treated with incomparable care and never ending research and sensitivity readers.
If you haven't already entered the world of Skyland, I urge you to do so... and I will be ever so patiently waiting for Hen's book while I continue to savor Sol's book. 4.5 Stars!
Thank you to Kennedy Ryan, NetGalley, and Forever for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This Could Be Us is now available for purchase.

For purposes of full transparency, my true rating would be a 4.5, but since NG and GR don't offer the option of partial stars, I rounded up.

This book was so beautiful and inspiring! Soledad is a powerhouse, loving, capable, dynamic woman and it made me so happy to watch her rise from the ashes of her life with Edward and come back even better, stronger, and happier. And Judah was so caring and patient and generous and you could 100% believe they were meant to be together with everything they both had to go through before they could come together. I am a romance girlie and the romance thread in this book is fabulous, but for me the best part of the book was the strong female relationships. Soledad was amazing with her 3 daughters and navigated them through their life changing situation with love and grace. Her unshakeable bond with Hendrix and Yasmen, her two ride-or-die besties, was such a joy to witness. We should all be so lucky as to have a friend group like theirs, where you can support each other and celebrate each other and always have each other's backs. Soledad also has rich relationships with her two sisters who primarily support her long-distance, and she has a vibrant local and online community of women as well. After everything blows up with Edward, Soledad could have easily shut down and closed herself off but she goes the other way, and going on the journey alongside her is an inspirational ride.

This was my first Kennedy Ryan book, but I'm definitely going back to read her previous work and I am already so excited to read the next book in this series. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan
Skyland series #2. Contemporary romance. Can be read as a stand-alone. Diverse / own voices. Secondary characters with autism or on the spectrum.
Soledad Barnes has her life planned out. She’s a domestic goddess with the perfect vinaigrette for that summer salad. But nothing has prepared her for her husband getting caught swindling millions from his clients and ending up in jail. Soledad must reassess her life and protect her daughters above all else. She needs to find a way to pay the bills and keep food on the table.
Soledad discovers she is strong and resilient. She can provide for her girls and while she’ll never trust her ex again, she can move forward. Whether she can learn to trust another man with her life and family is still to be determined.

How would you rebuild your life after a betrayal? You can’t quit. You have people depending on you. Soledad is smart and I had to admire her confidence in finding and building a career after such a blinding event. Trusting someone with your heart? Baby steps for sure.
Judah is such a patient and kind man. He’s already 100% committed to his sons, and yet he’s ready and willing to take on more. Seems like he clearly has some similar issues with his sons, but has been able to have a high level career, and family. Love on top over everything else is amazing.
Heart wrenching but so self affirming in the end that this romance is absolutely exquisite. Soledad and Judah are made for each other.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

“𝘐 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯, 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬."

I am blown away yet again by Kennedy Ryan’s storytelling. The authors note alone had me in tears because she opened up about her life, and how that ties into this story is just 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹.

This Could Be Us is more than your typical romance. It’s a redemption arc. A beautiful journey of self love & self discovery after divorce. More than that, it’s Sol’s journey through motherhood, building a business, and leaning on the strength of one’s friends during the hard times.

JUDAH CROSS
As Salt-N-Pepa said, “𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘯."
Judah is a glaring 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 flag and deserves all the flowers for allowing Soledad the time to nourish her self love & healing journey. The instant chemistry held true and sizzled during its slow burn ascent. Sol & Judah together caused literal sparks to leap off of the pages! I swear it.

I also appreciate the incorporation of recipes of food woven into the story that can be found in the back of the book itself. That extra touch just turns a great book, into exceptional!

✨𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗨𝗣 𝗜𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘—
~ friends to lovers
~ mutual pining
~ single dad
~ slow burn
~ Schitt’s Creek
~ neurodivergent rep
~ a redemption arc
~ an mmc that secretly reads the fmc’s book club book and annotates with lots of post it notes

To say this book was highly anticipated would be an understatement! I was so excited to get my hands on this arc!!! Kennedy crafts such wonderful stories in the now. Her cultural references and nuance are what really keep engaged, apart only from her captivating romances. Her mmc Judah is patient, kind, thoughtful but also this take no shit business man that allows the beautiful Soledad to be the flower in bloom that she needs to be after a horrible divorce. I'm appreciative of the me time our FMC is giving herself, which is a cultural them for women of color. The true essence of who are you outside of all the titles: mother, sister, wife, and friend. Watching Soledad go on this journey of self definition was inspiring, but knowing her person was in her life but just respectfully allowing her space...what a dream!!!!!!!! Amazing writing, pacing, and character creation!!!!

While this one was more dramatic than Before I Let Go, the betrayal of Soledad's husband quickly faded to the background as she worked to stand on her own two feet after his betrayal. She rose to the challenge of being a single mom to three girls. I loved how she worked to create a world that she sees herself in first, before she imagines it with a man.

Judah Cross is a damn unicorn, that's for sure. He's a dad with twin sons on the spectrum. The autism representation was well done, and much needed. As a teacher I see a wide range in my classrooms, and frankly, the world needs to be more patient with those on the spectrum, all of which Kennedy Ryan teaches through her characters.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Kennedy Ryan can't possibly know the magic that is built into her pen! I was knocking on death's door from flu like illness and I still couldn't put this book down. Coughing, sniffling, aching... were those symptoms of my cold or from the emotional turmoil Kennedy put Soledad and I through? Guess we'll never really know who was to blame. But one thing that I do know though is there is a burning seat saved for Edward right next to Caleb from Long Shot. That man could be on fire right now and I'd tell Soledad that he's just preparing for eternity.

This could be us is unlike anything I've read from Kennedy before....granted most people will consider this women's fiction and I totally get it. However I'd like to think of this as an unconventional romance. We are so tied to what happily ever looks like and what a perfect relationship's pathway must be in romancelandia but we forget live is messy and happiness looks different for everyone. The more time I spend away from TCBU the more I respect the decisions that Kennedy made that felt very true to the characters. Especially given how much I scream about wanting older, more mature characters that don't have to end their story in babies. Because truth be told, this couple already has all of the kids they will ever desire.

The family dynamics and the healthy glimpses into what co-parenting looks like is a common thread in the Skyland Series. We saw it in Before I Let Go but it was elevated in This Could be Us by Judah and his ex-wife's dynamic. Their devotion to maintaining a healthy and stable lifestyle for their twins was beautiful to see. I am so grateful to learn from and uplift this story that showcases what life with a child/children with autism can be like. (the experience is not a monolith). Seeing the varying levels between the twins and the way their needs differ was so eye opening. Kennedy really poured her heart and quite possibly her experience into this. I also appreciated her fleshing out the varying impacts having an incarcerated parent impacts Soledad's children and how age and awareness plays a factor.

What a treasure this is!

Thank you Forever and NetGalley for an the ARC!

I really avoided finishing this book because my heart could just not handle it. Every time Sol got some bad news it was devastating. I loved the way that Kennedy wrote this novel, its a story about self-love and acceptance and there's so much to take away from Sol's story. I could see why people consider this more women's fiction than romance and I completely agree. The romance felt more like a subplot which fit perfectly with Sol's healing journey. I love the representation of mother hood and fatherhood in throughout the story. I loved how Soledad's culture shined through and she had her support system there with her as she processes everything.

5 stars. Check Content warnings.

Saledad’s story exceeded my very high expectations.
It is such a “real” story. No matter how perfect a mother or spouse we believe ourselves to be, life can throw curve balls you never imagined. Soledad has been betrayed and is suddenly raising her two daughters as a single mom. I love that she gathers her strength and not only moves forward, but turns her homemaker talents into a business.
Enter, sexy and mysterious Judah. Soledad knows she is not ready for a new romance and especially this forbidden man. She takes her time and boy is Judah hard to resist!
He is a single dad with two sons with autism. I loved how he and his ex wife put their sons first and co-parented. I learned a lot about the spectrum of autism.
There are some serious topics addressed. The story and characters are realistic and emphasize putting self care , friendship and family first.

Another beautiful story from Ryan, set in Skyland (a suburb of Atlanta), about a couple coming together with difficult backgrounds but finding solace in each other. They have pasts and children with great needs, especially her, but together manage to create an excellent bond over it and a great future.

Soledad struggles after a huge betrayal by her husband, and her children are still blaming her for what he’s done (which she clearly didn’t have a clue about and it’s just children lashing out in anger and not understanding). She’s barely keeping it together. Judah and his wife separated amicably and still have a good relationship and joint custody of their autistic twins. Judah and Soledad re-meet by chance during an investigation into some fishy business dealings and strike up a friendship - which is vocally opposed by her kids because of who he was to their father.

The slow burn of this one and Ryan’s usual incredible writing blend together for yet another excellent read. I still love book one a bit more but this book is very well done! It’s very intense and extremely angst-filled so just make sure you’re in the right headspace for a very emotional ride before you pick it up, but if you love her other books, you will love this one! 4.5-stars.

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and this is my honest feedback.

4 1/2 stars

Ah this book was such a wonderful read for me. I had so much love for Before I Let Go and couldn't wait to read This Could Be Us. Ms. Ryan has the ability to write characters with so much depth and detail to them that you truly feel as if you know them personally. Soledad and Judah were a little star-crossed to begin with but man does it develop into one heck of a romance. Also, I loved understanding each of them before they became a couple. They both had such original and challenging back stories.

There were so many topics touched on with this book that I had familiarity with that it really struck home. I'm an accountant, so I loved that Judah was a forensic accountant. I also have a close friend with twin sons who are now grown that are autistic. I've watched them grow into wonderful young men so reading about Judah's sons in this book really hit home. Soledad's husband and his shenanigans (and that's putting it lightly) were simply heartbreaking and infuriating at the same time. But I loved how she rose above it and showed her daughters what it meant to be a woman who stood on her two feet and didn't let him break her. She showed them what it meant to truly love oneself and it was special. This was truly a special book and beautifully written with so much heart.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

I was excited to return to the Skyland series and follow Soledad's story! Kennedy Ryan took me on quite a ride throughout this story. I absolutely love the group of found friends and was excited to see them return. I also enjoyed Soledad and her two sisters, their support of each other was so lovely to read. Soledad demonstrated how to love one's own self and rise from the life changing events. I can't wait to see what continues to be in store for Soledad and her Skyland friends. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Pub for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

This story. OMG! I loved this story! If you haven't yet read Kennedy Ryan, pick up a copy of This Could Be Us and let her carry you away on a wave of emotion before gently depositing you onto an island of hard-earned happiness. It's a ride worth taking.

There's so much to love about this book. I don't want to give away spoilers so I'll try to steer clear of specifics but here are some of the things that make it special.

Autism representation: This is a topic with which Ryan has personal experience and it shows in her writing. Her characters on the spectrum are realistic, layered, whole individuals, written with a caring, relatable hand.

Finding your voice again: Soledad's journey out of the ashes of her shattered life is a blueprint for all women. I loved how she gradually rediscovered her strengths, her persistence, her worth. I admired the example she set for her daughters, how hard she fought for them. And I cheered her on as she learned to once again love and trust herself. She's one of my favorite characters that I've met in a book this year.

The single dad we all deserve: It's the bad boys who get all the attention (don't get me wrong, I do love a bad boy as well as a redeemed rake) but Judah is the good guy we need, the one we all deserve. Best friends with his ex and her new husband, successful, loving co-parent of twin boys with Autism, worthy of trust, determined to do the right thing, respectful of Soledad's journey, supportive, and sensual in all the best ways. A lifetime love.

The bonds of friendship: Get you some girlfriends like Soledad's. These women are the ride-or-die women you want in your corner. I love how these friendships are portrayed in this book, how they have one another's backs, the lengths to which they will go to support, lift up, encourage, and love one another. I love the example they set for the younger generation of girls in their lives.

In short, this book is a shining star of emotion, friendship, mothers and daughters, starting over, self love, romantic love, and finding - and using - your voice. I loved it.

*ARC received from publisher via NetGalley
Fair and unbiased review

Thank you Forever for giving me the oportunity to read This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan. The story is entertaining, emotional, uplifting and beautiful. Soledad, Judah and every single character is well written. Slow burn story, but worth the wait.

I didn't think that Kennedy Ryan could beat Before I Let Go, and while she didn't, This Could Be Us was just as good! I loved reading about Soledad's journey!

Soledad is the kind of woman who has her life together. She is what they call a "domestic goddess". However, when she finds out her husband has been lying to her about many things, suddenly her life is falling apart. Thus Soledad is not only left to pick up the pieces and to take care of her 3 daughters, but find out who she truly is.

On top of all these changes Soledad finds herself developing feelings for a man that complicates everything. Their attraction is so strong though, she can't seem to resist. It's up to her to decide if she can trust herself again and see if she can trust him too.

Soledad's journey is not an easy one, but it is truly inspiring. As a stay at home mom who does everything around the house and takes care of her kids, she has to figure out how to still do all of those things AND get a full time job. It is now only her responsibility to completely provide for her family. Not only does she figure out ways to do this, but she also takes time to work on getting to know herself better.

I loved watching Soledad grow over the course of This Could Be Us. She is incredibly strong and has fantastic support from her sisters and her 2 best friends (Yasmine and Hendrix). Also, the slow burn between her and Judah was incredible. I was invested from page 1 until the very end.

I think it's now official that Kennedy Ryan is one of my all time favorite romance authors and I can't wait for the 3rd installment of the Skyland Series to come out!

Kennedy does it again in a profoundly compelling tale of self-love, rediscovery, rebirth, and renewal. Soledad’s and Judah's are two different dreams untied under the same moon. Ryan does a beautiful job of highlighting and blending their distinctly different journeys in parenthood, loss, divorce, heartache, and pain. It is a slow burn that keeps on igniting. The spice is just right, and all I can say is that we need more men like Judah. Best read of 2024 so far!

Big thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to discover the next tale in the Skyland series. I cannot wait for the next adventure ahead.

I would have been shocked if this was anything less than 5 stars for me... but it's always sooo satisfying to be proven right and to read your newest favorite book from your favorite author. Kennedy Ryan just has a way of mixing complex, emotional situations with realistic, lovable characters and the right amount of humor and spice to make for the perfect read. I think KR handles sensitive topics with care (a fair portion of this book includes characters on the autism spectrum) and makes her characters feel human, including their flaws and messy decisions in with their love stories. I LOVE that this included two characters who each have multiple children, and as always loved the inclusion of the friend group - I'll be placing my preorder now for Hendrix's book coming in 2025! Highly recommend to anyone who has enjoyed Kennedy Ryan or Colleen Hoover in the past and/or is looking for a new favorite emotional, steamy romance series.

Finally finished! Thanks to a 7w old and 4yo, it took me too long to read This Could Be Us. I knew when I saw it as a “read now” on NetGalley I couldn’t pass it up. I absolutely loved Yasmin and Josiah’s story in Before I Let Go so I knew this one would be awesome as well. It didn’t disappoint!

Soledad is facing the unthinkable when she figures out all of her husbands secrets. Let me just say she’s a bada$$! I love the way she remodeled her She Shed. Bye bye #33! IYKYK.😂
Before discovering he secrets, she joins her husband at his company Christmas party where she meets Judah. This is the man who her husband always talked bad about. Come to find out Judah is the person who brings her husband’s secrets to light.

Judah knew that what he found would bring hardship to Soledad and her daughters so for a year plus he helps her by buying her groceries and supporting her new online business. During this time, he was getting close but also keeping his distance as to not interfere with her figuring out life after divorce. I think of the saying “love is patient, love is kind.” That’s exactly how Judah approached Soledad. He wanted her from the first meeting but stayed away until she was ready. In the end, how both families comes together to be in each others lives makes for the best HEA. ❤️

Overall, this book was 5/5 overall and 3/5 for spice. I’m ready for Hendrix’s story!