This Could Be Us, the second installment of the Skyland series, follows Soledad Barnes as she navigates her journey to self-love and reclaiming her own identity after dealing with her husband’s infidelity and betrayal. This is another beautifully written gem by Kennedy Ryan, one that will grab your heart from the prologue and not let it go until well after the last page. This story will run you through a plethora of emotions from anger to hope to joy and everything in between.

Soledad is a character you will love and relate to in so many ways. She embodied strength, determination, and resilience. Her ability to adapt and provide full support to her daughters is admirable. I loved the friendship and love between Soledad, Yasmen, and Hendrix, along with Sol’s sisters. The way they supported Soledad during one of the most challenging moments of her life was so heartwarming and beautiful. They epitomized the essence of female empowerment.

I absolutely fell in love with Judah Cross. He displayed remarkable patience and kindness, and respected Soledad by allowing her to prioritize self-love before starting a new relationship with someone else. I admired how he managed to maintain a positive relationship with his ex-wife while co-parenting their two boys with autism.

Some parts were a bit repetitive for me, but overall, I really enjoyed this book! The autism representation was written with such thoughtfulness, care, and respect. I’m looking forward to Hendrix’s story!

Thank you to NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan
Rating: 5 stars
Steam: 3 chilis
Pub date: 3/5

This five-star, sizzling romance will set your heart on fire and leave you feeling empowered. Ryan masterfully weaves together themes of self-love, resilience, and the strength of familial bonds, creating a captivating story that is impossible to put down.
Soledad, a mother of three daughters, finds herself rebuilding her life after it falls apart. Determined to stand on her own two feet, she has no time for romance, yet she can't ignore the magnetic pull she feels towards Judah, a man she should absolutely not want, who challenges her in all the right ways.

From the very first page, I was completely engrossed in Soledad and Judah's journey. Ryan's portrayal of their complex relationship is both heartwarming and electric, filled with genuine emotion and undeniable chemistry. Soledad's resilience is truly inspiring, and her bond with her daughters is beautifully depicted.

What sets "This Could Be Us" apart is its authentic representation of autism and BIPOC characters, as well as its exploration of the importance of friendship and family support. The banter between Soledad and her friends is both witty and relatable, while Ryan's handling of sensitive topics is done with care and sensitivity.

As someone with a personal connection to autism, I deeply appreciated Ryan's heartfelt author's note and found solace in knowing that I'm not alone in my experiences. Overall, this is an incredible tale of perseverance and hope that will leave you craving more. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Forever Publishing for my complimentary copy. Grab your copy today!

Read if you like:
*autism rep
*BIPOC rep
*slow burn
*dual POV
*emotional reads
*open door spice

Before I Left Go was one of my top 10 favorite books read in 2022! I fell in love with Kennedy Ryan’s writing and was just mesmerized but the story….but then of course couldn’t wait until book 2!

Thank you to @KennedyRyan and @forever for this digital arc and the opportunity to read This Could be us! Kennedy has done it again!

First off, the themes of this book: Self Love and Learning how to stand up for yourself is exactly what all women need in a novel. We truly need more books about independent women living life on their own terms. I could not put this book down until the very last page!

I loved the autism representation as well. While I am not a parent, I see many children with ASD in my office and I adore them - and wow is the representation spot on.

Now let’s talk about Soledad and Judah our stunning MCs. Soledad story opens with such a difficult life change between her and her husband Edward. (No spoilers but wow what a surprise!)….She’s so caught off guard that she decides that she needs to focus on her and her girls - showing them that women can really do anything they put their mind too.

But when tragedy strikes the last thing we are looking for is a new love interest, but sometimes the soul finds what the heart needs. Judah is one of my favorite male romance characters I’ve read in so long. He’s caring, a great father and overall decent man.

The connect that forms is truly the most well written relationships I’ve read (and I read so much!). and the end…..was perfection!

Congrats Kennedy and Forever on another successful Skyland story…now I just can’t believe I have to wait until Henny’s story in 2025!

This Could Be Us is a wonderful, poignant story filled with so much emotion and it shows the perseverance and resiliency of one woman’s journey when her whole world is turned upside down and I was thrilled to be along for the ride. It is also beautifully written, pulls you in and deals with many sensitive subjects like autism in such a thoughtful way. You could feel the emotions flowing from Soledad as she goes from disbelief, to anger and finally strength as she makes the conscious decision to pull herself up, dust herself off and move on for the sake of her girls and herself after her husband turned their world upside down. I loved that she used the strength that she found from within herself to not only propel herself forward but she brought many others along for her journey and helped them in return. She also had her tribe at her back whether it was her sisters or her best friends and those relationships only come with years of trust, love and support from both sides and it was their turn to have Soledad’s back. But, for me, the best part is when Soledad actually rediscovers and find love within herself through the process she calls “self partnering” and with that she also finds a connection to a certain handsome man named Judah that allows her to find out what true, deep, passionate love looks like. They both come with baggage and kids but they find a way to make a beautiful future together.

Kennedy Ryan will always come at you with a hard hitting, emotional romance! This Skyland series reads a bit more of women’s fiction with a sub genre of romance, but includes a good slow burn and some steamy scenes toward the end! Soledad prioritizes working on herself and being the best mother she can be for her three girls. Judah’s side of the story focused a lot on his boys’ autism diagnosis which was refreshing to read about and I know that will hit hard for a lot of parent readers!

Both books in this series so far, Before I Let Go and This Could Be Us are 4⭐️ for me, they were missing just a little something to be absolutely perfect for me but were still great reads. Looking forward to Hendrix’s story coming next year!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good Kennedy Ryan book and this was SO GOOD. Going in my top 5 books of the year so far, and Kennedy Ryan just became an automatic buy for me.

This Could Be Us is the second in the Skyland Series, but can be read as a standalone.

This Could Be Us is the story of Soledad: stay a home mom to three daughters dealing with the aftermath of her husband being convicted for a white collar crime. Judah Cross is the father and co-parent of autistic twin sons and is also the forensic accountant who revealed the embezzlement of Soledad’s husband.

Chile......

Let me just say that the beauty of this book wasn't even the growing romance between Soledad and Judah. Even though omg you can feel the heat and the passion and the longing coming off the damn page. Its not the way it's written , even though there were times when i laughed out loud and times when I said YES. Passages I highlighted like this right here!

Its the romance that Soledad begins to have with herself that ultimately makes this book what it is. Its a beautiful thing when a woman begins to understand her worth and love herself.

FIVE STARS. Yes

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. All Opinions are my own.



I love a good Kennedy Ryan book and this one did not disappoint. She has just become a automatic buy author.

4.25⭐️

The first 25% of the book was mfing wildddddd. When I tell y’all I could not predict what was going to happen, I could not. All that I can say is that Soledad is better than me and Edward can ROT.

I absolutely LOVED this book. It’s definitely a 180 from Before I Let Go in terms of vibes, but not a bad thing! This Could Be Us follows Soledad, 1/3 of the awesome Skyland girl group, after her life gets flipped upside down. This book touches upon SO many important themes. There’s autism awareness, Puerto Rican representation, and learning self-love. It’s so much more than just a romance.

Let me start with the fact that I loved Judah and Soledad’s relationship. While we DON’T reward men for the bare minimum, I think Judah goes above and beyond for Soledad. The amount of respect and adoration he had towards her, as well as patience, when they weren’t even together was so incredible. Wishing he was real.

Now my fav relationship of this book, Soledad and herself. She is the QUEEN of protecting her peace. When her life literally shit the bed, she got up and put herself and her family together again. Some of my fav quotes from her include, “I want all my power back” and “No one is on the way to rescue you. No one is on the way to save you and your girls. At the end of the day, it’s up to you.” Her growth and life messages were just so beautiful to read. Her solo dates and acknowledging that doing things for yourself does NOT mean you’re selfish. Being a mother IS a job. Her recognizing her self-worth is something I need to take notes on.

While this story was so beautiful, something I couldn’t get past (which is honestly just a preference for me) is making Soledad an influencer. Don’t cancel me!! Reading some parts just felt cringe for me.

Regardless, Kennedy Ryan killleddd it with this book. Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Kennedy Ryan does not miss. THIS COULD BE US is a romance that makes room for what it looks like to heal and find self love when life does not go to plan. It centers self love, and I adore how Ryan builds another romance into this story without losing sight of that focus. Soledad is a fantastic protagonist, a woman who finds herself in need of embracing her power and supporting herself when her husband is arrested for stealing from his company. Judah is dreamy and respectful and supportive in all the best ways. As always the novel is filled with relationships with characters outside of the central romance. I love the Skyland trio of friends and how they show up for each other and each other’s children. If you enjoy romance that goes beyond tropes, pick up the Skyland books. Thank you to Netgalley for access to the eARC.

The thing I admire the most in the books I have read by Kennedy Ryan is the care she takes when writing about an experience outside of her own. In This Could Be Us, Kennedy is instead writing about autism, something she experiences with a loved one, and still took the care and time to do it well. For that reason, and that Kennedy is an excellent storyteller, I will always pick up her books.

I can't believe I'm saying this but I might love This Could Be Us even more than Before I Let Go. This story is so much about Soledad finding her strength and voice after being betrayed and broken. Soledad is a strong woman and it was inspiring to watch her resiliency. I loved witnessing Soledad give herself permission to love again, not just another man, but herself. Judah is definitely up there for top MMC written by Kennedy Ryan so far (I still love Maxim from The Kingmaker series with my entire heart) and the tension was SO GOOD. That garage scene was everything.

One of the things I love most about Kennedy Ryan's Skyland Series is that the female friendships are just as important, if not more so, than the romantic relationships. I loved seeing Yasmen and Hendrix show up for Soledad in her time of need. At the end of the day, it's your girlfriends that you can rely on the most to help you pick up the pieces. I can't wait to see where Hendrix's story goes.

"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."

Thanks to Netgalley and Forever Pub for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

It has been a little over a year since I read Before I Let Go and I still remember almost every aspect of that book vividly. When it came time to read This Could Be Us I never expected Kennedy Ryan to top what she did for Yasmin and Josiah's happily ever after.

Soledad's journey is fierce but luckily so is she. From the constant betrayal of her no-good husband to having to take care of her three children and having a career even at her lowest, she never gave up. She was constantly doing what was necessary to keep a roof over her kids’ heads and putting her needs last. Don't worry though, she gets hers and then some when she finds a man who loves her just as she has always deserved to be loved.

Judah was so much more than a good dad and I feel like I need to make note of that. While a good part of his character was out of the love, he had for his twins there was so much more to him than that. He was soft in those moments when Soledad needed softness but in other times when she needed just a bit more, he gave her that. He was attentive to so many of the big things but also of all those little things.

Keeping this review brief while avoiding spoilers is difficult when there are so many parts I want to wax poetic about...

What I will say is if you loved book one of the Skyland series, you will love book two. And if you like me, are needing a goof bit of faith to give you hope for a future full of possibilities than This Could Be Us is that book. Soledad and Judah might not be perfect, but their story is full of hope, faith, and possibilities after heartbreak.

When you go into a Kennedy Ryan book, you know that you will feel emotions, but you are OK with going through whatever a character has to go through because you know that the final ending will leave you satisfied. Here we have Solidad, whose seemingly perfect life explodes, and she finds herself having to pick herself together in order to, make sure her daughters have a good life. Right before her life fell apart soul had met Judah, who is a single divorced father, and there was an instant connection, but of course, at that time she was married, and they did not do anything.

I really enjoyed seeing how Solidad Found herself and managed to start creating an even better life for herself and her daughters through her own hard work. Judah is a wonderful father, who seems to have a great coparenting relationship with his ex, and I really thought that the portrayal of his children, who are autistic Was realistic.

I loved how Judah saw his strong soul is, and I really enjoyed the progression of their relationship. This is definitely a romance, but it’s also about a woman finding herself, and proving that she can be in control of her own happiness.

This book was so beautiful. I don’t know how she does it but Kennedy writes such beautiful female characters who have so much strength. I love that the characters in this series are more mature, I love the love they have for their kids and each other.

In the previous book your heart ached for Soledad as you just knew Edward was bad news. Comes in Judah and I have no words. Freaking Judah. Strong, kind, patient, attentive and sexy as hell. I was done for.

« But you can sit here for a minute and trust that I won’t take advantage of you. » I smile up at him and pat the space beside me. « And I promise not to take advantage of you. » « Oh, please do. » He chuckles and hops up beside me. « I’d like that a lot, actually. »

I’ll just be over here eagerly waiting for Hendrix to get her book now.

this book is so much more than a romance. at it core its a book about love but so so much more than romantic love. its about friendship, about family (both that you're born with and that you choose), about parenthood, and about learning to love yourself. its about patience and grace and independence and strength and vulnerability and perseverance. Soledad's story is so so so special. I want to exist in Skyland forever.

Kennedy Ryan is a master storyteller. This Could Be Us is an amazing story of rediscovery, self-love, sisterhood, family, and getting a second chance at love.

Soledad Barnes is a modern-day Martha Stewart. She’s never met a party she couldn't host or a charge she couldn't lead. Nevertheless, none of that helps when a catastrophe strikes, transforming her life in an instant, and leaving her feeling betrayed and disillusioned. There's no time to grieve what’s been lost. She’s trying to hang on to the only home her daughters have known and feed her family.

“When we have hard times, huge changes that seem to be the end of the world as we know it, it’s actually an incubator for metamorphosis. For a new beginning.”

Out of that struggle, Soledad emerges stronger, having rediscovered herself, and loving herself. She builds a life that she loves for herself and her children.

Standing beside Soledad are her friends Hendrix and Yasmen. These women aren't just best friends; they are her sisters. Yasmin and Hendrix are there for Soledad through thick and thin with unwavering support. Helping her whenever and however they can. We all need friendships like this one in our lives.

Soledad has another unlikely source of support, Judas Cross. He is understanding, patient, attentive, and compassionate. Judah is there for Soledad during some of her worst moments in this journey. He also recognizes that being able to trust and love someone isn't a priority for Soledad. Her family is. But Judah is willing to wait. How Judah deals with his twin autistic sons and co-parents with his ex-wife tells you everything you need to know about who Judah is as a man. And what a mighty good man he is!

“There’s a filament connecting us. It burns hot and bright and is impossible to ignore, but also impossible to pursue. We both know it.”

For obvious reasons, Soledad and Judah’s romance is a slow burn. I enjoyed the simmering attraction, anticipation, and connection as Soledad and Judah got to know each other and wait for what could be. Once the time was right, these two are 🔥🔥🔥.

I could go on and on about everything I loved about this book, but I'll stop here. This relatable and inspiring story is just phenomenal!!! Bravo, Kennedy!

Thank you NetGalley and Kennedy Ryan for the ARC.

“I want her to be whole. I just want to be whole with her.”

A bitter betrayal leaves Soledad Barnes stunned and picking up the pieces. But she doesn’t have time to wallow. Soledad has always put everyone else first and now it’s time for her to stand on her own. She has a family to provide and care for. This also leads to a journey of self discovery. Leaning into her passions. Taking care of her needs.

Judah couldn’t be more perfect. An amazing father. A supportive and kind friend and lover. I’m pretty sure I now have unattainable requirements because anything less than Judah Cross is a no thank you.

Raw. Real. Relatable. This Could Be Us is a beautiful story of perseverance, compassion and full of inspiration. I really enjoyed the tender moments between Judah and his sons. Soledad leading her girls. A true reflection of unwavering love and devotion. And of course the chemistry between Soledad and Judah.

“There are things you need to discover by yourself, about yourself that I don’t want to interfere with, but I’m finding it really hard to stay away.”

“I don’t want you to settle for anything less than what you want your life to look like right now, but I’m not willing to settle either.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥🔥

This Could Be Us will be a book I'll push into the hands of friends for quite awhile. I loved everything about this book and have come to love Kennedy Ryan's writing diving into her backlist over the last year, when I also read Before I Let Go.

This book follows alternating chapters from Judah and Soledad. After a personal tragedy hits Soledad's family, she's forced to quickly pivot and reevaluate her life and how she can make a living for her family. Judah had a hand in the downfall of Soledad's family, but she doesn't hold him accountable for what happened. He actually shows up to help her family along with her close friends Hendrix and Yasmen and their friendship slowly starts to develop into something more.

I love that in this story it shows you don't need a man to fulfill your true happiness. Don't get me wrong I love my husband, but I had to learn to love myself before we got together. That's also part of the theming of this book. Kennedy Ryan also touches on children with autism with the inclusion of Judah's sons. With her own background being a parent with an autistic child, I thought Kennedy handled that storyline with a lot of care.

Trust me and pick up This Could Be Us. I devoured it in a day and I think you'll do the same. Once you start you'll have a hard time putting it down.

I'm ready for Hendrix's story in 2025, but until then I'll dive into more books in Kennedy's backlist.

I binged this in one sitting (3 hours and 43 minutes)! I loved Soledad and Judah’s story. Especially loved Soledad finding her footing in life after getting through the biggest curveball.

Soledad got dealt with a terrible card when she finds out about a betrayal that quickly upends her life, and it was all carried out by Judah. Naturally, Soledad and her daughters want nothing to do with this man, but Judah is there every step of the way to try to help them out.

"I guess I wanted to let you know that when you are ready to spend time with someone else, I'd like to be someone."

While Before I Let Go is still my absolute favorite in this series, This Could Be Us is high up there. I loved Soledad's character so much. She has so giving, selfless and has so much empathy for those around her; she's truly a saint. And I just looooved how Judah was also selfless and patient and respectful with Soledad, something she hadn't really experienced.

"Focus on your girls. Focus on yourself, but when you do think about this relationship, don't compare it to anything else, to anyone else. Draw a picture in your mind of what a future could look like and really believe this could be us. And whenever you're ready, I'm right here."

Seeing these two forming a friendship amidst what was happening, and especially seeing Soledad grow into a boss bitch, was so empowering to read about. Soledad is the role-model mom anyone would want to have. And if Sol is the role-model mom, then Judah is the role-model father figure. He's the best father two his two twins that are in the Autism spectrum. The way he cares and loves his sons had me in love with him.

I love how this book had so much growth, healing, empowerment, strength, unconditional love from friends, support. This is a book I'll go back to time and time again for sure.

I have to share my absolute favorite quote that I now need in a print hanging on a wall in my house:

When we have hard times, huge changes that seem to be the end of the world as we know it, it's actually an incubator for metamorphosis. For a new beginning. 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.

– single dad
– single mom
– slow burn
– friends to lovers
– autism rep

What a novel! The author's insights from her own experiences and the research she has done really shine within the story. I became fully invested in the well-being of the main characters...my heart broke, my anger boiled over, my eyes welled with tears, I laughed, I blushed, my heart swelled...I felt such an array of emotions. The overall theme of female empowerment, sisterly love, family first, self-love, and purely human moments is why I ate up this book within 2 days. This may be a fictional work, but it read to me as a road map for those needing a little self-help and the power to love yourself. Yasmens' story was amazing, but until I read Hendrix's novel, Soledad's has become by far my favorite of the three. Btw, I'm just throwing it out there, but I would love a spin-off novel about Lola.

Such a beautiful and elegant story!
Emotional, powerful and thought provoking, this author never disappoints with her well crafted plots that take me on a soulful journey that brings forth all the feels.
This is more than a romance. It’s a sensitive, mature story where adults are faced with real life situations and how it’s carried out was absolutely breathtaking.

Brimming with passion and humor I loved these characters!

Oh Soledad. This is really her story, and her journey of self discovery and acceptance as the world around her is causing havoc.I personally enjoyed her Afro Latina Puerto Rican roots and how well her culture was represented.
I also applaud the author for incorporating children with autism as part of the story in such an accurate sensitive and graceful manner.
All of these elements added to the depth and complexity of the story making it unputdownable.

Although, Judah was exceptional character, and he really was a knight in shining armor.
I loved the way his character was developed and his relationship with Soledad was so lovely.
Well worth reading!

Soledad is my SHE-RO! She is a completely relatable MC. The way she discovers herself and steps into her power in the midst of finding a new "normal" for her family is awe inspiring. She is the fictional representation of many real life single mothers who must bob and weave for survival. Her community, both found and related, gave me the warmsies. I have never hated a character as much as I hated her husband, and if we are being honest, it all started in BILG. Where are the real life Judah's? The epilogue left we wanting more and it's debatable if it fits the build up and slow burn that occurred in the previous pages.

My imagination pictures the Skyland community and as the BIPOC Sweet Magnolias community with wayyyy more spice. This series will be on my forever bookshelf and I'm looking forward to Hendrix life!