Kennedy Ryan has written some of my favorite romances of all time. She has a natural gift for describing what soulmates should feel like, which is why her books tend to stand out above the rest.

There are so many things to love and admire from This Could Be Us: the very personal depiction of caring for children with autism, amicably co-parenting with an ex-partner, supportive parenting, knowing your worth and not settling for less, and excellent friendships. While it was an enjoyable read with great characters, it fell a little short in the romance department. Especially when compared to Kennedy's backlist.

I would categorize this as women's fiction since Soledad's journey of self-love was the book's main focus instead of her relationship with Judah. Their amazing chemistry couldn't quite make up for the fact that it was unbalanced as a romance.

Soledad's husband has been caught embezzling money from his employer and has been cheating on Soledad to boot. A double betrayal that forces Soledad to reflect on her decades-long relationship with a man she didn't really know. She is left with no job or income and is the sole caregiver to their three daughters.

The story picks back up nine months after this discovery as Soledad hustles to make it as an influencer while also committing to dating herself. Judah, the man responsible for discovering her husband's fraudulent activities, is interested in Soledad from the start but refrains from pursuing her as she lives her single-girl life.

Jonah is like the perfect book boyfriend. Seriously, this man is everything. Unfortunately, that means he has no character growth throughout the story. His job is to wait for Soledad to be ready for a relationship, which feels completely unbalanced in a romance. He was so set on meeting her needs, in whatever way she would allow, that I feel that Soledad neglected his emotional needs. A very one-sided relationship that left me wanting more. More scenes where they actually get to know each other instead of Jonah having to get to know her through social media along with everyone else in the world. More of the struggle of blending a family together. Just more from a relationship standpoint to make me really believe that this was about THEIR happily ever after and not just Soledad's.

It was still a beautiful story and I'm interested to see what happens with Hendrix.

Kennedy Ryan has done it again. I loved “Before I Let Go” and I noticed all the little hints and things that went on to look into for this book in Soledad’s story. I’m currently in my #selfpartnering journey learning how to love myself and this story went into great amount of detail to know that it’s ok to be alone. Not lonely. Take that time for yourself because it’s important to love yourself before you can love someone else. Soledad and Judah were amazing to read and their journey together and their family was so heart warming. Can’t wait for Hendrix’s book.

Another beautiful story by Author Kennedy Ryan!!! Not only are we met with a wonderfully strong FMC, but we are introduced to an amazing MMC. Kennedy also does a beautiful job with her autism rep within this book. I learned so much from twins Aaron and Adam. Kennedy touches on some tough things in this book, but she does so with such compassion, transparency and integrity. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next book!!!

This Could Be Us is a beautifully written story, which was no surprise as I loved the first book in this series – Before I Let Go. Kennedy Ryan writes the characters in her book with such nuance and handles the representation with such care. I loved how authentic the relationships are, not only between Soledad and Judah, but the relationships they have with their families and friends as well. I loved this book so much and can’t wait to see what is to come in the Skyland series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is an absolutely beautiful story that is perfectly written. It's a romance but it is so much more. The story is complicated and heartbreaking yet hopeful. It's about love and loss and betrayal, marriage, divorce, family, and self love.

The writing is emotional and gripping. I couldn't put it down and thought about it when I wasn't reading.

Soledad and Judah have attraction and chemistry from the moment they meet. It was a long journey for them to be together but worth the wait, and the delay was understandable.

Highly recommend. I will definitely look for more from this author.

The drama!!!!
The first half of this book was so wild and I literally could not put the book down.
I loved Soledad’s story! Her journey for self love and making it on her own to provide for her daughters. We love strong, powerful, resilient women!!!
& Judah 💘💘💘
Such a good book!!

-dual pov
-drama + crime!
-love after divorce
-healthy co parenting
-autism representation
-mature relationships!!

I have nothing but great things to say about this book. I loved everything about it. The drama, the resilience from Soledad and Judah, the maturity of their relationship and the healthy co-parenting between all of the adults, the kids!! I can't get enough of this friend group - Yasmen, Soledad, & Hendrix. They are the best girl group and I love their friendship. I cannot wait for Hendrix's book!

4.5 stars! Kennedy Ryan is an amazing writer, every time I read one of her books I’m just so amazed with the craft of her writing and storytelling. A ton of her books are amongst my favorite reads of all-time, and while this one isn’t making that list, it was still such a powerful story. This does read more women’s fiction about self growth and self love, while it does have a romance in it, it isn’t the main focus of Soledad’s journey and story.

When the story starts Soledad is married with 3 daughters, but we quickly see her life get turned upside down after the things her ex does. Through it all we see Sol’s strength and fierceness shine. She’s a powerful woman, mother, sister, friend, and I loved seeing her find herself. Judah is divorced and co-parenting his twin sons (who are both autistic) with his ex-wife. I loved seeing their blended family and how much support everyone had for one another. Judah comes into Sol’s life in a complicated way, and at a complicated time, and we see them navigate through that together over time. He wants her, but he wants her to have the time for herself she needs just as much as she does. Judah is a dream partner and just perfect for Sol. I do wish we had more time between them because they were so good together! But this story is definitely about Sol’s journey!

I received an ARC, all thoughts in this review are my own.

I really wanted to love this book after reading Before I Let Go. I was excited for Soledad's story. Unfortunately, the story just fell super flat and was almost too slow of a burn for my liking. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I felt so seen in this book; Kennedy did an amazing job of representing Puerto Rican culture (especially Afro-Boricua culture)

This book is about finding yourself, I'm glad Soledad chose herself

I wasn't sure if I could love a book as much as I loved last year's Before I Let Go, but Kennedy Ryan has done it again. Damn!

One of the reasons that I love Ryan's writing so much is the strong female characters she writes, and Soledad is no different. Her resiliency in the face of the unknown for both her and her kids after her husband's betrayal, her purposefulness and determination in learning to love herself after years of being shamed and belittled as a housewife and stay-at-home mother, and her journey of self-love was everything. The friendships, no, the found family, that Ryan creates are phenomenal. I read about these friendships--Soledad, Yasmen (from the first book), and Hendrix, and I wish that I had friends quite like them. Then there is Judah, strong, sweet, perceptive Judah. A man who observed what Sol needed instead of putting his own wants first. A single father with two autistic boys (the rep was amazing here) who co-parented with his ex-wife with love and respect. A true gentleman.

Most people don't know but after 25 years of marriage, I went through a super messy separation last year, so this book messed with my heart and emotions in so many ways. I wasn't sure if I could read it at times, but then there was always a message that made me continue. Some lessons that I felt like I needed to hear, and by the end of the book, I was so glad that I'd read it. It's a beautiful book that I'll be holding close to my heart for many reasons.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was amazing, I adored Before I Let Go and knew this would be no different. The way Kennedy Ryan writes strong, independent woman is unmatched! And the men - they just get better and better with each new story. Jonah was a dream and their chemistry was off the charts, but their journey was also full of sweet moments throughout. Already planning on rereading this once I have the physical copy!

After her husband detonates their life and marriage 41-year-old Soledad is blindsided, left to pick up the pieces and rebuild a life for herself and their 3 daughters. This Could Be Us is a story of healing, resilience, and love in many forms, including romance.

This Could Be Us is a satisfying story, Soledad is an admirable heroine to cheer for, but Kennedy Ryan adds a few pieces to this story that really add up to something great:

Complicated family dynamics. Not only is Soledad navigating crisis with an eye toward helping her daughters stay whole and heal, she herself comes from not uncomplicated origins. Soledad's love interest, Judah, has a beautiful, functional, blended family showing divorce doesn't always mean the end of love and care for one another.

Autism representation. Judah is a parent of twin teen boys with Autism. It appears Ryan, herself a parent of a child with Autism per her Author's Note, has provided accurate and nuanced representation of a family navigating Autism.

Domestic labor. Soledad did not work outside the home, her family was her work. So when her husband upends their lives he left his family with no income. Part of Soledad's journey of self-discovery is learning how to use her skills and expertise to earn an income to support her family. I thought this was well done and appreciated the focus on the typically overlooked value of domestic labor.

This Could Be Us is something of a slow burn if you're expecting a traditional romance, though once that spark ignites the wait is well worth it, but there's really much to appreciate with Soledad's journey.

Though this is the second book in the Skyland series, beginning with Before I Fall, both books can be enjoyed as stand alone novels with overlapping characters.

I thoroughly enjoyed "This Could Be Us" by Kennedy Ryan. It captivated me so much that I devoured it in a weekend. The relatable storyline and the way Ryan addresses personal issues, especially heartache, make her books a therapeutic outlet. Highly recommend for anyone seeking emotional resonance in their reads.

Once again, Miss Ryan did not fail to amaze me (or cry) with her writing. I loved Before I let Go, but THIS? This right here is a literal masterpiece. Wow. The growth of Soledad? From housewife to Miss Independent. The way that Judah was patient with her and told her he would WAIT? Come onnnn. Everything about this book was done so beautifully, and I cannot stress enough how much this book means to me, and how my heart holds such a special place for this.

Soledad Barnes reminds me so much of my mother; the person I look up to every single day, and never did I ever think I would ever resonate that deeply with a character as I did with Soledad. Soledad is the definition of “If I want it, I’m going to get it. By any means possible.” The way she was able to go through such a terrible divorce, and still manage to find herself, and find what she loves and what she’s passionate about, all the while taking care of her daughter, and finding real and true love? So much respect for her.

Now Judah Cross. This man… this man held so much respect for Soledad, had so much love for her, had so much patience, compassion, with her. He was so understanding with the fact that she wanted to work on herself and be independent. He made it his mission to be around her as much as he possibly could, all the while allowing her to focus on herself and on her daughter… until SHE was ready… even if she ended up deciding that she didn’t want to be in another relationship again… he understood and sympathized with her enough to give her that space, even if it meant staying friends for he time being.

This book was phenomenal, and I cannot wait to hold a physical copy of this book in my hands. Wow, just wow.

This book is a love story. Actually, this book is multiple love stories.

This Could Be Us is book 2 in the Skyland series and features Soledad as the main character. She is creative, kind, organized, passionate, and resourceful. When she is blindsided by catastrophe, sourced from the person who was supposed to be her life partner - her husband, Soledad is quickly thrown into a life she never expected. She is now the one responsible for keeping a roof over her and her girls’ heads and food on the table, so she has no time to grieve or wallow. As she builds a new life, she falls in love with herself and learns just how incredible she is. She finds solace and strength in the rich love of her female relationships. And she finds herself drawn to a man she should be avoiding.

The thing I enjoyed most in this book was the female friendships. They are so solid and deep. I teared up multiple times reading the different ways they love on each other. I know that love.

Soledad’s self love journey is also important. She learns to see herself in new ways, to trust herself, and to acknowledge all her parts.

Judah Cross. *add to cart*
This man is intentional and listens. He loves his boys and the people in his life. I love the way his brain works. I must also mention, the way Ryan writes about autism is real, loving, and knowledgeable. In the twins, we get a glimpse into different ways it presents.

There were moments that felt repetitive and I wish we could have seen a bit more relationship development between Soledad and Judah. Also, I am always wary of romantacizing things that need nuance, in this case parasocial relationships, but overall I really liked this book and do recommend it. I am really looking forward to Hendrix’s book!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

An incredibly beautiful story! In this novel, we see our dear FMC, Soledad, an amazing, nurturing mother of 3 girls, find strength, independence, and self healing as she is thrown headfirst into a new tough reality. We also see her love story with swoonworthy, divorced father of autistic twins, Judah, as they navigate their complicated lives together.

Kennedy Ryan writes such rich, sensual love stories between realistic MCs with real world lives and struggles. She was able to evoke such a wide range of strong emotions from me throughout the story. Although this novel is by no means a “romcom”, several lines had me laughing outloud.

As was also true in book 1, food and culture play an important role in this story and readers will be excited to find new recipes at the end of the story!

This series holds a dear place in my heart and I recommend this book to all romance readers. This is book 2 in a series but can definitely be read as a standalone.

4.5 stars! ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you NetGalley and Forever Publishing for an early review copy!

Kennedy Ryan can do no wrong, and this book is another masterpiece. I just cannot imagine another author making this story work! Everything about it is so real and heartbreaking and affirming and uplifting. This book is perfect.

Another stunning and powerful novel.

Watching Soledad go to one of her lowest places and then find the strength to drag herself back above the waves for her girls and herself, was painful yet beautiful. I loved seeing how the Skyland crew pull together and help lift her up.. it was so heartwarming.

Judah is a single dad of twin teenage boys, both of whom are on the Autism Spectrum, and he's a Forensic Accountant who may partially be responsible for the turn that Soledad's life takes at the beginning this book. It's not his fault but not everyone sees it that way.

I was an absolute goner for how patience, faithful, and swoony Judah was with Soledad.. He embodies so many great qualities and seeing his devotion to his kids, his co-parenting with his ex-wife and his protective side that comes out for Soledad, make him a Book Boyfriend for sure.

I was gripped by this story right from the jump and I barely put it down to eat yesterday. I can't wait to see what comes next for the Skyland Community.

Oh wow this was so good! Kennedy Ryan just does not miss with her books and this one was no exception.

I absolutely loved Soledad's journey rediscovering herself and building her self-worth back up after heartbreak and I just love her so much! she is resilient and selfless and so hard working, I will protect her at all costs! and Judah Cross is THE man, he's incredible, patient and so understanding (and hot, omg).

But my favorite thing about this book was the friendship between Soledad, Yasmen and Hendrix. they are all-in besties and there for each other at any turn. You can feel the friendship between these women and I think Kennedy Ryan put so much love and care into this friendship and it was so beautiful to see <3

I will say though, this was more of a fiction with romance because the romance sometimes took a backseat to Soledad and Judah's personal journeys, but with good reason! It was so important to see them be parents and their journeys were filled with heartwarming moments and self-discovery which was so nice to read about. Soledad and Judah are both single parents and I think Kennedy Ryan so beautifully displayed parenthood in these pages unlike another single parent romances out there. She did not shy away from tough conversations and made these characters feel so real to me. She is the queen of creating vivid characters with actual lives outside of their relationships.

Overall, this was so freaking good and I'm so excited for Hendrix's book to come out!!!

Thank you Grand Central/Forever Pub and NetGalley for this ARC, it comes out 3/5

This Could Be Us gets off to a surprising start that immediately captured my full attention. In the previous Skyland book, Before I Let Go, there were already hints that Soledad’s husband Edward wasn’t being fully open with her or good to her. Was he cheating on her? Did their relationship simply go south? But early on here, it’s evident that things are much worse, and Edward’s mistreatment of Soledad isn’t good. When the FBI shows up at their home to arrest Edward, the whole mess is suddenly clear to Soledad, and it’s become public throughout her community. Clearly she needs to divorce this man she apparently didn’t really know anymore. How can Soledad move on from this? How can she take on the role of a single parent to her three daughters?

A big part of This Could Be Us is about Soledad’s personal transformation. It’s not just going from a stay-at-home mom to a successful influencer able to keep her daughters in their extracurricular activities and private schools. More than that, it’s about Soledad learning to love herself and trust herself. She’s guided by bell hooks’s book, All About Love: New Visions, and by her late mother’s diary entries. Soledad gets comfortable dating herself and feeling whole on her own. I loved seeing this journey and how it helps her gain confidence in herself.

However, the romance with Judah Cross is still something worth rooting for, even if it needs to wait until Soledad is ready. Their relationship won’t be easy: Judah is the one who discovered Edward’s crimes, after all. Dating the man who put your ex in prison? Awkward! But it also underscores how different Judah is from Edward. Unlike the ex, Judah is honest, caring, kind, patient, generous… all the good qualities you could want in a partner. He always treats Soledad well, respects her choices, and supports her in everything she does. Such a welcome turnaround from that rat Edward!

Beyond Soledad’s personal journey and her slow burn romance with Judah, family and friendship both play vital roles in This Could Be Us. Soledad is a mother to three daughters, navigating the tricky situation with their father with grace. Judah co-parents his two teenage sons with his ex-wife, still a close friend to him. Their twin boys are autistic, which adds another wonderful layer to this novel. Their experiences with autism are handled with great care and sensitivity. On top of child relationships, the book also highlights relationships between adult siblings, between close friends, and with parents.

There are so many layers woven throughout This Could Be Us, making for a rich and complete look at a rapidly changing family unit. With some authors, juggling so many themes in one story would end up muddled, overwhelming, or just unfocused. But Kennedy Ryan has such an incredible handle on her characters and story that it all fits together perfectly. Instead of feeling like too much, this novel feels full in the best way. It’s an honest look at a mother, her daughters, her tentative romance, and the many people in their lives affected by all these changes. This novel is a masterclass in depicting a cast of characters as having full, complicated lives while making it cohesive and enjoyable for the readers.

This Could Be Us is a superb novel that balances love, family drama, and self-discovery. It’s a mixture of genres, principally romance and women’s fiction, highlighting slightly older characters (around the age of 40) than usually shown in romances. The Skyland series has been utterly perfect so far, and I can’t wait to see Hendrix’s love story in book #3, due out in 2025. In the meantime, I will be reading more from Kennedy Ryan! Her novels are transcendent.