I loved this book most of all for Judah, Aaron and Adam. They were a mirror and the care Kennedy wrote them with was perfection. True authentic autistic representation and parenting autistic children is so rare and I eat it up. I also loved the healthy co parenting and relationship between Judah and Tremaine. It was so lovely. The themes of finding your true love later in life after failed marriages (whether dramatic like Soledads or amicable like Judahs) was also so real which is my favorite thing about Kennedy’s writing…it’s always so real. I don’t think I’ve ever highlighted more things in a book.

This Could Be Us was such a phenomenal read. I did not expect for Soledads story to be so messy, but my goodness did I love it.

Her now ex-husband Edward was so short sighted, deceitful and downright evil. Unfortunately, his dealings put Sol in a place where she has to rediscover herself while supporting her children. Her journey was no walk in the park, nevertheless she had a great support system in her friends, Judah (unlikely suspect), and sisters.

Judah had his own musings to deal with. Post divorce, he is still pouring himself into his career and children. Until he becomes absorbed with the sweet Soledad. His visions of what his life could look like soon begins to change. Although he should stay far away, he often finds himself in her orbit offering a helping hand.

A charming story about the different types of love and how it finds you when you least expect it.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts are my own!

Kennedy Ryan is amazing. WOW! I thought I loved Before I Let Go but This Could Be Us was a great story about self love. Beautifully written

Judah Cross is a beautifully written character.

This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan is the second book in the Skyland series and it follows Soledad’s journey.

•Autism rep
•Single parents
•Sisterhood
•Dual pov
•Self-love
•Slow burn
•Second chance at love
•IG influencer
•Eye glasses kink

Soledad is a stay at home mom/ wife. She loves taking care of her three girls and their home. When her husband, Edward, betrays her and upends their life, Sol does what she does best and keeps her family together - no matter. Her journey is one of resilience and self discovery.

“Soledad hermosa.”

Judah Cross!!! Swoon worthy MMC
He is recently divorced and he and his ex have twin boys with autism. Judah is patient, understanding and everything anyone would want in their partner. He’s confident, knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to say exactly how he feels.

“Your skin is summer night and your kiss is all I want.”

Kennedy does such an amazing job at weaving healing, self love, sisterhood and second chance at love effortlessly. Sol’s journey is beautiful. I cried, laugh and I blushed!! This is my favorite book in the series, so far. I can’t wait to read Hendrix’s book!

Oh So Swoony! This Could Be Us is very slow burn but you can definitely feel the heat!

Soledad thought she was living her best life until her world comes crashing down around her. She has to keep her head above water while providing for her three daughters.

“My dreams aren’t haunted by the past or all the cruel things he did to me. I dream about a bright future of my own making.”

Judah has his hands full with a new job and autistic teen sons. He isn’t looking for more, but can’t deny the immediate attraction when he first meets Soledad. He knows she is someone he needs to stay away from.

“All loves aren’t created equal. Some spring from the earth and wrap around and twine through our souls like vines. Some are plants that start with tiny seeds in your heart and blossom over time, nurtured by years and commitment.”

I adored this story! It is the second book in the Skyland series, but can be read as a stand-alone. A definite must read! I listened to about half of it on audiobook and the narration is wonderful!
-5 Stars!-

4.25 stars. I’ve been waiting for this story since I read the snippets in Before I Let Go. This book mainly follows Soledad in her self-discovery journey. After experiencing a devastating ending to her marriage, she now has to find a way to take care of her three daughters while also learning who she is outside of being a mother and wife. Let me start by saying Edward did not deserve her! Sol is such a strong character. Despite all that happened and others constantly throwing out their opinions, I love that she continued to follow what she felt would be best for her and her daughters. I also loved reading about the experiences she had with her mother and sisters growing up.

My favorite thing about this series has been the friendship between Yas, Sol, & Hendrix. The way they show up for one another is amazing and I will never get tired of seeing them all together.

I adored Judah!! He was such a gentle giant and supported Sol from the very beginning. Truthfully that man was DOWN BAD for her. I could see just how considerate and caring he was anytime he was around someone he loved, especially his sons. Every scene of them warmed my heart! You could tell KR put a lot of care and research into the autistic representation in this book. I will say I wish we got more about Judah and experienced more of the romance between him and Sol but I still enjoyed my time with this read.

Thank you to Kennedy Ryan and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

I recommend picking this book/series up if you haven’t already. I am excited about Hendrix’s book. I relate to a lot of what she’s going through so I already feel like that book will have me sobbing.

i really enjoyed this one!! i thought the plot was so unique starting with the embezzlement case and the instant connection between judah & soledad!!

judah has such a quiet but fierce love. he focuses on the little details and listens/understands what soledad says & needs. i love getting to see soledad be with a man who deserved her and respected her. i loved seeing everything he did for his children and how refreshing his love was for soledad. he had unwavering support for her.

i loved soledad’s strength to preserve and keep things a float after everything went down with edward. while i’ll admit i didn’t love the influencer aspect in this one, i feel like it did fit the storyline and made for some interesting filler scenes. soledads journey of self love was so beautiful and important. i think anyone who’s been with someone who didn’t treat them well will appreciate the journey soledad went through. loving yourself is the most important thing!

i loved the autism representation in this one. kennedy definitely didn’t justice. adam & aaron were both such beautiful characters and i felt like the representation was spot on coming from someone who’s worked closely with non-verbal individuals with ASD in the past. it was so refreshing to have characters like this who were so deeply cared for and understood by those around them.

another beautiful story from kennedy ryan!!

Kennedy Ryan does it again ! This book was so good and I really enjoyed this book more than the first book in this series. Following the female main character Soledad we watch her wither away after her husband act of crime and then she blooms into this new person. I loved the autism rep with the twin boys in the story. I am excited for everyone to experience this book!

Poignant to exhilarating 4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kennedy Ryan has done it again
This Could Be Us is another winner that will grab you by the heart and never let go. I absolutely loved Before I Let Go it was one of my favorite books so I was excited about diving into this book to see if I would love it too and I wasn't disappointed.
This story stirred so many emotions and feelings from poignant, anger, disgust to exhilarating, joy, hopefullness and love. It is a dual POV that follows Soledad and Judah.
The prologue starts with Judah Cross and his wife now ex-wifeTremaine discussing the care of their two boys Adam and Aaron who are autistic will live as they share custody. Their co-parenting, unwavering friendship and undeniable love for the boys was beautiful and continued throughout this story. We then jump 3 years later to Edward and Soledad Barnes who've been together for 18 years have a gorgeous home and
3 beautiful girls. From the outside everything looks perfect but looks can be deceiving. Soledad soon discovers information that will change the trajectory of her and her girls lives. Entwined in that change is Judah who played a significant role from the beginning.

The book has so many wonderful sayings, quotes and inspiration. Then add Judah and how close his whole family were. How he committed whole heartedly to everything and everyone. I loved Soledad and how through all the trials and tribulations she was determined to persevere. Too make a good life for her girls no matter what sacrifices she has to make. Her family and friends were the icing on the cake.

I am eagerly awaiting Hendrix's story.

I throughly enjoyed the story but would of liked to see how the kids (especially Inez) reacted to the news about their father that was revealed at the end of the book. I also think he got off way to easy.

I received an ARC through NetGalley and I'm voluntarily leaving my review.

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is my second book by the author. The writing and dialogue had a good pace. I liked the characters and learning about each them. I love how independent and strong Soledad is after all she went through with her ex. And how Judah is so loving and caring, not only to Soledad but also his boys, he’s such a good father.. It was did however find it drag in the middle and I would skip pages to move forward. I still can’t wait to read more by the author & would recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this work in advance. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

"You make me forget the world when you kiss me, and it’s reckless and out of control, and yet there is no safer place. No one I trust more. You’re a harbor, not just for me, but...for anyone you love and who needs you. You are the seed, and you are the vine, and I love you, Judah.”

- Divorced MCs
- Single mom x single dad
- Slow burn
- Dual POV

What you need to know:
1. This is how you write a diverse romance. Soledad is African-American/Puerto Rican, while Judah is African American. He has twin autistic sons and believes he might also be on the spectrum himself.
2. I went into this book blind, and 20% in, I was invested. I was curious to see where Kennedy took the plot and wasn't disappointed. While I found it a little bit slow in the middle as Sol "dated herself," I think the moment of self-reflection was needed after she left her husband. Sol's strength and tenacity were admirable, and I was cheering her on. "I poured a lot into him. It's time to pour into me."
3. I also think this was more women's fiction than romance, as the romance subplot was very much a slow burn. There were a couple of spicy moments toward the end, and Judah patiently waited for Sol to be ready for more. The man was so gone for her!
4. The book was filled with special family, found family and co-parenting moments. "My friends, my sisters, my daughters. My great loves." Female empowerment is overflowing in This Could Be Us and we love to see it 👏🏻.
5. Kennedy's writing is just beautiful.
6. I am extremely curious to see where she takes Hen's story next year.

Thank you to Forever Pub for the early copy via NetGalley.

I’m usually not one to go for romance stories, but after taking a chance on Before I Let Go and absolutely loving it, I couldn’t wait for more stories in this series and bigger spotlights on some of the other characters.

I really loved getting more insight into Soledad’s life in this one and seeing how she manages her household and caring for her daughters. Her relationship with her husband wasn’t my favorite in the first book, and his actions in the beginning of this one made his overall impression much worse, so while I hated to see her struggle, I did really admire watching her slowly but surely build a life back for her and her girls. It also helped that she had a great village of support around her in her sisters and her best friends, which was one of my favorite aspects of the first book.

As much as I loved the self-love journey Soledad went on, Judah was also a great component to this story. Aside from just being a great father to his boys (The autism rep was also done extremely well here!), he added a nice balance to Soledad’s life and I appreciated to the care and patience he took with her as all of this was suddenly thrust upon her and her girls.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it was everything I could have asked for and more! I’m definitely adding a finished copy to my shelf to go alongside the first in the series. Kennedy Ryan is now a new auto-buy author for me and I can’t wait for what’s next!

Thanks again to Netgalley and Forever for the advanced copy!

Loved the message in this book!

This book talks about Soledad and after major change in her life of how she picks up the pieces afterwards. I loved how she learned to love herself by taking herself on solo dates and things for just her.

Judah was originally labeled as the “bad” guy but he was a great man that wasn’t afraid to love on his boys who had autism. We also got a chance to see his relationship with his ex wife.

Judah and Soledad love story was magnetic and he was so patient as she learned to love herself after the tragedy she faced.

I wish we had more of Judah and Soledad love story but overall another great book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advance copy.

Just when you think Kennedy Ryan can't outdo herself she invades your psyche with her pen. This Could Be Us was Soledad's story of finding herself and leaning on her community. Experiencing the growing pains of independence alongside such an endearing main character was a treat. I was just as invested in her personal growth as in her budding relationship with Judah. Their relationship did not come without drama but the care they had for their loved ones emphasized that there was no one more deserving of a love story than those two. Judah was a love interest like no other who was kind, focused, and dedicated. He like Soledad had a personal strength that I will chase for the rest of my life.

Something is healing about Kennedy Ryan's writing. I finish each novel wanting to be a better person and challenge myself. TCBU was no different. So far the Skyland series emphasizes how to find contentment in existing relationships while creating boundaries for new romantic ones. While I thought I was reading a fictional story about SOledad this may be the closest I get to reading self-help. I can tell that Kennedy put time and intentionality into researching all about love, the culture of Soledad, and the experience of autistic children and their families. I am grateful for her vulnerability in using her own experience to speak to this as well. Kennedy Ryan's dedication to accurate representation adds to the fullness and relatability of her characters.

TCBU is an instant classic. I didn't think anything could measure up to BILG and it didn't. Soledad and Judah stood on their own, confident in their individuality and the message they had to share.

Amazing, amazing, amazing!!!

Kennedy Ryan can seriously write a damn book!!! This could be us was better than the first and I didn’t think it was possible.

I could not put this down. It was heartwarming, sad, happy, shocking, maddening….it was just a rollercoaster of emotions.

Highly recommend!

I've been waiting for this book since its release was hinted at last year and Kennedy Ryan did not let me down one bit. The opening alone was a whirlwind of chaos that left no one unscathed.

I loved Soledad for how she faced her uncertain future in the fallout with as much dignity and grace as she could muster. It wasn't pretty at times and there were a few times when it was downright ugly. But that woman is nothing if not a fighter and she would not be defeated.

And don't even get me started on Judah. Oh that man is what book boyfriend dreams are made of. Total swoon fest from the way he was with his boys to his unending patience. And while there was no denying the attraction between him and Soledad, the slow simmering burn was so worth the wait.

This book was empowering and uplifting. It was falling in love with yourself. Embracing your faults and flaws. Owning them and not letting them hold you back. And in the middle of it all was this love between her and Judah that would not be denied. There are truly not enough stars in the sky for This Could Be Us.

4.5 stars

"I believe wholeness it not a destination, but a lifetime process. Something that instead of waiting for, you could be living for."

The second installment in the Skyland series is truly a story of self love and rediscovery. As women we often find ourselves taking on many roles through life and sometimes we lose ourselves in the process. We give bits and pieces away to the things and people we love most. It's not intentional, it's incremental. In This Could Be Us we follow Soledad as she reclaims herself and explores all the new possibilities her future holds her after a life changing event.

"These men let us down and we pull ourselves back up, hopefully with the help of other women who love us in ways that heal."

This story is more than just a romance it is a testament to female friendships and love. I especially loved the parts where Soledad connected with her mother and saw her for the woman she was. When things change drastically in Soledad's life it is her friends that hold her up..

And as for Judah, well...let's just say he's the most mature man I have ever read. It was very refreshing to read a MMC who has already put in the work and is ready to be a wholly equal partner. He is emotionally healthy and continues to do what is needed to be the absolute best father to his wonderful boys.

Kennedy Ryan does a fantastic job writing deeply moving stories. This one in particularly is near and dear to her heart as it includes autistic characters. What I appreciate most about Ryan is the depth of care she takes with every subject and the resources and research she shares so we can learn more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC in exchange for a fair review

I loved everything about this book and liked it even better than the first in the series which is saying something since that was a five star as well. Even though I have always been single I related to Soledad and her wanting to learn to love herself on her own after the devastation of the betrayal. I loved Judah so much and the care he took with her. All of the secondary characters were amazing especially her friends. It definitely had some spice to it. This story just felt so emotional and the strength she came out of it with will stick with me.

*thank you to the Forever and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I was hooked into This Could Be Us from the very beginning! I really enjoyed Before I Let Go, but I think I liked this one even more.

Kennedy Ryan does such a great job covering heavy topics with grace and having great representation of therapy and disabilities. I have worked with kids with autism in a gymnastics setting and the overstimulation for Aaron and Adam in this book was represented so well.

I love how this book was not just a romance book - it really focused on Soledad’s self love journey and personal growth. Kennedy Ryan always has strong FMCs and Soledad is no different - she is a boss woman! Judah and Soledad were characters with so many layers and I loved seeing them really learn each other. Their relationship development was so realistic and the slow burn was SO worth it!

I wanted a little more on page interaction between Soledad and Judah - I think that would’ve pushed this to a five star read for me!

I will patiently be waiting for Hendrix’s book to come out next year 👀

This Could Be Us is a high imapct story that will affirm some part of every person who reads it. Kennedy Ryan weaves a tale, as only she can, with words that speak directly to the very soul of the reader. The romance is spectacular, absolutely deserving of every sigh and set of heart-eyes that exist. However, the facet of this book, which makes it a mandatory read, is Soledad 's journey.

This book is about living. It is about the moments that bring us to our knees and the way we refuse to stay down. It is about living when we are not sure that we can, but know that we must because others depend on our survival. It is about living when we doubt all which surrounds us, including ourselves. It is about living and having faith in that space when there is very little evidence that it will get better.

This Could Be Us shows us that hope is worth clinging to, no matter how small it may be. It is an affirmation that if we hang on and keep going long enough, we will find that space where we can become what we are destined to be.

Kennedy Ryan knows exactly the words to keep me up all night. I have zero regrets about the sleep I lost to reading this book. Kennedy perfectly blends high romance with heart-rending reality to inspire and affirm readers' beliefs in love and themselves.