Soledad is living the perfect life with her 3 beautiful daughters and her husband. She lives a domestic lifestyle and loves being part of her family's every day lives. She literally takes care of everything.

Her husband, Edward, is working hard at work and there are plenty of late nights or sudden fires that need to be put out. Soledad supports her husband and lets him focus on work. She does her best to impress his colleagues and attends his company's events.

At the Christmas party, Soledad meets a man named Judas, who Edward cannot stand. Edward warns Soledad that Judas is out to get him and he is not to be trusted, but there is no denying the chemistry between Soledad and Judas.

One day, Edward is taken away due to stealing millions of dollars from the company. This is why Judas is out to get him. All of Edward and Soledad's accounts have been frozen and she is now unable to even get groceries to feed her daughters.

How will Soledad survive with the lack of money, no corporate work experience, and navigating life without Edward?

I really enjoyed reading this book and fell in love with Kennedy Ryan's Skyland #1 book, Before I Let Go. I loved how deep both books are, but I read Before I Let Go right before this one and it was the same format. I think it was just a lot of the same, but not the same, at once and I probably would have enjoyed it more if I read a book inbetween.

There was a book discourse in twitter a few days ago where the original poster asked if a book could be well written and also be considered bad. I didn't comment because the question really made me pause and think and I wasn't sure if a well-written book could be considered bad. First of all, what does bad mean? Readers would define it differently based on personal taste. However, this book really made me think of that whole conversation.

First of all, it's obviously a well written book, it's a Kennedy Ryan book and I don't think she's capable of producing a badly written book. However, I can't quite make myself believe that this is really a romance. Does it have romantic elements within the story? Sure! Do (at least) two people fall in love with each other? Yes. Is there a HEA or at the very least, a HFN with the promise of a HEA? Yep. So what's the problem, you may ask?

In order to fully explain why I don't think this is a full on romance, let's start with the back matter of the book which doesn't even include the hero's name. It's as if he's an afterthought, a secondary character and I fully think that for it to be a romance, all the main characters in the romantic relationship should be featured, at least in the description.

It's best to tackle this review by breaking this book up into thirds.

In the first third of the book, Soledad, our protagonist, is stuck in a problematic marriage that she knows isn't working but can't quite bring herself to rock the boat because her life is cushy and comfortable and sure her husband treats her like she's expendable and disrespects her and their sex life is nonexistent but she's a SAHM with her dream home and all too willing to ignore all the red flags in her marriage. So, for the first third of the book, she's married, albeit unhappily, to another man.

In the second third of the book, Soledad's life has basically imploded, her marriage is over, and she has found herself in the position of being her family's sole provider. This part of the story is more about her journey of healing, self-love, self-acceptance, and self-partnership - the book calls it as Soledad dating herself. She becomes an influencer, commodifying the way she lives her life, her cooking and cleaning and organizing skills to support her three daughters.

The actual romantic plot doesn't really even pick up until the final third of the book. While Judah, who has his own things to deal with, appears in all 3 parts of the book, and makes his attraction to Soledad clear by the 2nd part of the book, the book is best categorized as women's fiction, where Soledad is the star of the book, trying to rewrite her own story, find her own footing, even as she attempts to hold on to what little normalcy she has left while suddenly single-parenting her 3 daughters.

I can fully admit the book is well written - it's compulsively readable and I couldn't put it down. BUT, still maintain it is very much NOT a romance and calling it that will not meet readers' expectations. It is soapy and dramatic and full of edge of your seat twists but it's also basically about Soledad's journey and while she does fall in love with Judah and he with her, the real love story in the book is the one where Soledad falls in love with herself. That's the true love story in this book and the relationship she embarks on with Judah just feels like a side-story more than anything.

Content Notes: toxic marriage, infidelity, embezzlement, diagnosis of STI, prison, autism rep

Wow. Kennedy Ryan has done it again. This Could Be Us is a heart wrenching story of self love, redemption, friendship and happiness. The writing captured me from the beginning and kept me engaged throughout. Sensitive topics like the loss of a parent, navigating parenthood with children with autism and the betrayal of a spouse were all handled in relatable ways and with care for the audience while accurately portraying those plots.

I loved this book. This was an easy 5 stars for me.

Kennedy Ryan's book, "This Could Be Us", really struck a cord with me. I was already a fan after "Before I Let Go" but I must admit that "This Could Be Us" is my new favorite Kennedy Ryan Book. I instantly fell in love with Soledad's character as I saw myself in some of her character traits. Being an autism mom myself, I loved how gently it was addressed and shows how autism can come in all shapes and sizes. Great overall read!

Soledad’s marriage isn’t what it used to be. She finds out that her husband betrays her, and is left to pick up the pieces and care for her daughters alone. She enters into a self discovery era, and finds a new career to stay afloat. Judah is a single, divorced dad of twin boys. He has a soft spot for Sol, and is VERY patient in waiting for her to choose what she wants for herself.

I LOVED Judah. He was so soft, willing, and a good father. Both of his boys are on the spectrum, and it was heartwarming to see him make his sons feel the most comfortable. The chemistry between Soledad and Judah was off the charts. He supported her in any way he could, and it was beautiful when Sol realized she couldn’t deny herself of his love.

Omg Kennedy Ryan did it again !!! I love love love this book Judah and Soledad are everything literally! 🥰🥰Her husband was just eww 🤢🥴 This is a must read book ! 10 out of 10 for sure ! I just love this book so much!

This series feels so cozy and comforting to me. Lots I loved about this book but not quite 5 stars because I have a few complaints but that’s okay overall I enjoyed this one and I’m excited for Hendrix’s story!

Sure, one could say this is a romance novel, but it's really a powerful book about loving yourself, femininity, independence, and learning how to trust. Soledad's journey was so wonderful to experience, finding her path forward, a way to continue her life goal of being a stay at home mom while also supporting her family.

The grit and hustle that she exhibited with a smile on her face and gratitude for being able to achieve not only for herself but her family. It was inspiring.

I loved this book, I reduced it a start because Edward's ending was too good for him. Otherwise, flawless.

I received this book from Net Galley early in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

I know I can count on Kennedy Ryan to deliver a mature romance with emotional, true-to-real-life plots and endearing characters. I loved the first book in the Skyland series and this one was just as fantastic. I really related to Soledad, an underappreciated stay-at-home mom who rediscovers her worth after her POS husband betrays her in more ways than one. Her journey towards self-love and financial independence was inspiring. The friendships in this story are all so heartwarming - I want them to adopt me! I also enjoyed getting a peek into Soledad's mixed-race culture and how certain perceptions impact her and her family.

Judah’s cool confidence - he oozed sex appeal - and him being the forbidden lover was irresistible. He was so patient, understanding, reliable, a great father and supportive co-parent…*swoon* The autistic representation for his twins was well done and the author’s note explains the care and sensitivity in which she chose to approach this topic. Having a teenage son with special needs myself, I felt very seen during many scenes with Adam and Aaron.

I see that Hendrix’s story is coming out next spring and you can bet it’s going straight to my TBR. We rarely get stories from the perspective of someone childfree by choice so I am very excited for that one. Kennedy Ryan simply doesn’t miss.

This was absolutely stunning. I adored Before I Let Go, and thought that was top tier romance and fiction. However, Kennedy Ryan blew it out of the park even farther with this one. Soledad's story was gorgeous! A journey of self-love, rediscovering who you are, deep self-examination, and making the right choice for yourself, even if it is the most painful, most challenging continuous choice that you have to keep making. The inclusion of All About Love by bell hooks as part of Soledad's journey and book club was perfection.

The author's note about Kennedy's love for her autistic son was lovely and vulnerable, and her care for the twin autistic boys was evident in the writing.

Steam: 3/5 - whewwwwww, this is a slow burn but once it heats up, it has you sweating!

My god, I will continue to read anything KR blesses us peasants with!

Vibes: heroine-forward, single parents, finding yourself, and discovering a person who actually *sees* you

Soledad lives the affluent good life in Skyland--though she certainly relies emotionally more on her friends than her husband, Edward. The mother of three girls, she's a planner, a fixer, and the model wife. Which is why her life is so thrown into chaos when she discovers the depths of Edward's secrets--secrets exposed by his coworker, Judah Cross. At first, Soledad resents Judah for his part in the downfall of her perfect life... But as she rebuilds and rediscovers who she is independently, she finds herself growing closer to the man who's never seen her as a pretty object on a pedestal.

Both of Kennedy Ryan's Skyland books have been deeply emotional and focused on tough, realistic subjects (though they certainly aren't without humor and fun drama). This Could Be Us is definitely more heroine-forward than Before I Let Go, which I found to be more of a balanced heroine and hero's journey. That's not a critique--Soledad's a compelling, likable heroine I was instantly rooting for, and that never let up. And that's not to say that Judah isn't a hero; we see his POV, and Kennedy maps out a rich backstory for him.

I'd call this one a sort of blend between women's fiction and romance. You do get all the romance beats, and the story does center Soledad and Judah's love story. It's a slow burn with simmering tension from the moment they meet--and they do in fact meet and initially feel that tension before Soledad recognizes the depths of Edward's betrayal, and that tiny hint of dirtybadwrong is delicious. But I would say that the novel centers Soledad's individual journey just as much, and definitely more than it centers Judah's. If you're looking for a book that really makes you feel that sense of like... I don't know. Maybe A Waiting to Exhale vibe? With much more romance? This could be exactly what you want.

Quick Takes:

--Personally, I really like having someone truly hateable in a romance novel, and I kind of feel like a lot of recent releases have sort of let up on having a hardcore dickwad who just needs to go die in a fire. Well! Kennedyn certainly did let me down with Edward! The guy is a Grade A jackass, and I think the novel does a great job in the beginning of showing us how certain men can wear a woman down over the years without raising a hand against her. And in fact, because physical violence doesn't happen, emotional violence and neglect is excused because we as women have been societally conditioned to think "well, at least he doesn't hit me".

In general, I've thought a lot over the past few years about the grossness and the less-critiqued epidemic of men who just can't fucking stand being with women that shine. That's what you see here. Soledad is everything--beautiful, caring, talented. Not flawless; she's deliciously human. But she's far above her stupid husband, and rather than just being happy that he punched above his weight and won, and enjoying the woman he managed to catch, he's constantly trying to bring her down to his insecure level. Dude, that is so real, and so awful.

I kind of had a feeling pretty early on that I knew where Edward's damage was going, and you don't wait long to find out about it. But there was another thing on top of it that just made so angry for Soledad. Which speaks to the investment I had in the story, right?

--I do think.... and this is me being someone who loves a dirtybadwrong read... that while Kennedy set a strong pace by having Edward's misdeeds revealed early on, we could've used a bit more time and interactions between Soledad and Judah when she's still fully in her marriage. There's an immediate spark between them, and having some of that tension build while she's truly forbidden fruit would've been fun.

--In contrast to how shitty Edward is, Judah's ex-wife, Tremaine, is lovely. She's not a conventional ex-wife/single mom figure, and I so appreciated that on several levels.

And the thing in romance novels and the romance-reading community.... There's a real fear of depicting exes, especially female exes, in a positive light. Like, I know there are bloggers who will categorize Tremaine as an "other woman/OW" simply because she slept with Judah in the past. Never mind that she was in fact fully married to this man and had two kids with him, and has now fully moved on and supports him as a co-parent in moving on as well.

I just really loved seeing this positive but realistic depiction of co-parenting. It was also kind of a fun contrast to Yasmen and Josiah's co-parenting relationship in the previous book, as they were very clearly still in love, and Judah and Tremaine are very clearly nOT.

--A big part of Judah's side of the story is that his twin boys are both autistic. I am not an expert on the spectrum by any means, and I can't speak to the accuracy of that. Kennedy does discuss her research in a note, and it seems like she made a big effort (and she has an autistic son herself). Just wanted to call that out for curious readers or reader who hear about this but are uncertain about the perspective from which she's coming.

The Sex:

This is a sloooow burn. As in, no kissing until about the 70% mark. I'll admit, I did kind of want some action before then, but the sexual tension is great. It's just a different take than some of the other Kennedy books I've read.

After that point, you do get a few very good scenes. I really loved that one aspect of Soledad's relationship with sex was getting over some really shitty things Edward said about her body and made her feel, and the worshipful way in which Judah treated her was super great in that respect.

Also, always nice to see people who aren't like... 20-30... having hot sex in a romance novel!

While this was a slower-moving and more women's fiction-adjacent book that I expected, it's still an absorbing and deeply effective story. I really enjoyed reading about Judah and Soledad's love story, and it's definitely a great story for those who need something that meets them where they are in a journey of rebirth. Don't we all need that sometimes?

Thanks to Netgalley and Forever for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Soledad’s marital issues are alluded to in Before I let Go. In this book we are presented with heartbreak , betrayal , deception, crime and life as Soledad knew it falling apart. As we dig deeper into her story we see Soledad go from victim to survivor to conqueror. While this book is fiction , seeing her rise above the hurt and rebuild her life is inspiring. In the end Soledad wins! She is able to look within and use her talents and strengths to come out on top .

"I’ll never take solace in a fake fine again."⁣
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This Could Be Us is book 2 in the amazing Skyland series by Kennedy Ryan.⁣
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Summary⁣
From the ashes of a life burned to the ground, something bold and new can rise. But then an unlikely man enters the picture—the forbidden one, the one Soledad shouldn't want but can't seem to resist. She's lost it all before and refuses to repeat her mistakes.⁣
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The first half of This Could Be Us had some unexpected surprises, it kept me turning the pages! The second half settled in after the bigger reveals in the plot ended and that was where Ryan shines, the emotional development of her characters was on point just like Before I Let Go. ⁣
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I do think I preferred Before I Let Go a little bit more as this one got a little repetitive in the second half but still absolutely loved going on Soledad's journey.⁣
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If you haven't read any of Ryan's books yet, I highly recommend the Skyland series. Thank you so much @netgalley for this copy!⁣
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This Could Be Us hits stores on March 5, 2024!⁣
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Also, I was pumped to read the exciting news at the end of the book, can't wait for 2025 🙌🔥⁣
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*Quote is from uncorrected proof copy

Currently struggling to find the words for how much I loved this book!!!

Soledad has everything planned out — until catastrophe strikes and her whole life is pulled up by the roots. Now on a journey of self-love, she meets a man who may just sweep her off her feet - but is she ready?

There are so so so so so many things to love about this book. Some of my favorite things include: sensitive and beautiful handling of parenting autistic children, thoughts on friendship, commentary on boundaries and respect. I just loved this so much and feel so lucky I got to experience this book.

5/5 yummy and spicy stars!

+Afro-Latine Rep
+Austism Rep
+Single Dad Hero

I’ve said it before and I will likely say it again I will read anything Kennedy Ryan writes. She wants to bring phone books back cool - sign me up. I'm sure she'll find a way to make me cry and then piece me back together before I get to the final page.

I’ve been eagerly waiting for This Could Be Us since Kennedy announced it and it was totally worth the wait. The magic in her writing is her ability to weave relatable themes and lessons into a plot that captivates you. Do I have a husband who embezzled company funds and cheated on me? No. Am I a single mom working to provide for my children? No. However, the themes of self-love, trusting yourself to be alone but not lonely, and embracing platonic relationships, were 100% relatable.

Some authors sprinkle diversity into their books just to say they did. You will never have to worry about that with Kennedy Ryan. The care she takes in accurately representing the communities and experiences she includes in her work is always clear. In this book, it's evident in the way she captured Soledad's Puerto Rican heritage. Her care is evident in the inclusion of characters with autism. In her author’s note, she shares some of her own lived experience and lets readers know she interviewed several autistic people and parents to capture a range of experiences. She talks about the language she chose to use to describe the characters’ diagnoses but emphasizes the community is not a monolith. This is how you make people people feel seen and respected. It made the world within the pages feel lived in and every character feel like a friend. You may have just come to this book for a spicy story, but you will leave with new language and a new perspective.

Soledad is an amazing character and I was rooting for her (and Judah) the entire book. From her love of the Backstreet Boys (BSB4Eva, baby), the care of her community, and her embrace of her self-partnering journey. Bookish friends, we also have bell hooks energy to guide us through the book.

“Knowing how to be solitary is central to the art of loving. When we can be alone, we can be with others without using them as a means of escape.”- bell hooks

Are we all in our bell hooks era? I hope so.

Judah is perfectly written. Does he kind of stalk her on social media? Uh, yes a little bit, but in a cute, let me help your engagement numbers kind of way. Did he buy groceries for Soledad and her daughters? Mhmm, love to see it. Does he read the book she’s reading and annotate it? *swoons* You bet he does. Finally, does Jonah have an… appetite?🔥 fans self Soledad would say yes, he never misses a meal. However, his love for his boys and his interactions with his ex-wife Tremaine is the best part of his character.

I won’t talk much about Soledad’s ex - you need to read it. However, in my headcanon, he ate too much pufferfish and well…

As a bonus, we get to see some of our favorite characters from Before I Let Go - hey Yasmen and Josiah. I absolutely loved Hendrix in this book. I’m trying to bring her rich auntie energy into my own life. I cannot wait to read her book - coming spring 2025.

As always, there are some fantastic recipes at the back of the book. Don’t be surprised if you see me post the Peace Cobbler and Strawberry Lemon Prosecco Sangria.

I highly recommend this book! I'm so happy that I got an eARC from NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and I’ve already pre-ordered a copy. I can't wait until everyone else has a chance to read Soladad's journey on March 5, 2024. Thanks so much, Kennedy Ryan, for sharing your talents with us.

Kennedy Ryan is my one click author
Before I let go is in my top 10 of all time.

I was so excited for This Could Be Us.
Give me a strong woman. One who has gone to hell and back. Who was dragged and manipulated but is standing up tall and proud. Add a man who will fall over his feet to worship her. Who reads a book just because she is. Who will wait for her, until she can be healed not for him, but for herself
All of that is a recipe for a beautiful book.

Unfortunately, this book didn’t live up what I thought it would.
I would have a hard time calling this a romance. It was all about self healing & self dating. About a woman who would do anything for her children.
Dont get me wrong, I loved Soledad’s healing journey. But it became repetitive.
Also, I felt her “relationship” with Judah was actually kinda mean. She led him on. She was hot and cold and didn’t respect him as a solid man.
This is also the slowest burn I have ever read. They kiss around 70% and then aren’t officially in a relationship until close to, if not, the last chapter.

I feel so bad for saying all this because Kennedy Ryan is so incredible and brilliant. She is thoughtful in everything she writes, is educated and sensitive; which still showed In this book with Judah’s sons.
But in the end, this didn’t feel like a Kennedy Ryan book.

Love this book, a very beautiful journey of a woman getting her own power back in her life, and a man who loves and worships her as she does. Beautiful romance.

I have discovered another preorder-without-question author! My first read by Kennedy Ryan and I loved it. The way she approached character development, the spectrum of emotions and experiences, wow.

I loved reading about Soledad and Judah - if you're into spicy romance with complex characters that are based in reality, pick this up!

Thank you to Netgalley and to Forever for the ARC.

#ThisCouldBeUs #NetGalley

YESSSSSSS

An overwhelming and enthusiastic YES.

This did things for me. I knew Soledad's story was going to be good. And the beginning of the story where we meet Judah, I felt it in my bones that this was going to be a good time, and I was not disappointed.

The beginning was very juicy, it kept my rapt attention, even though it was 4 am. I would have read this in one sitting, had I not started it so late. The vibes of the book were perfect. It covers so many important topics that parents who have children with disabilites or have a unique family structure. It covers general grief and mourning of past parents as well an old life. The self love and healing included in this book was a balm to my soul.

This series will always win for me, and I will be waiting (impatiently) for Hendrix's story because it's going to be a hell of a ride.

. I have said it before and I’m sure I will say it again, Kennedy Ryan is one of the most gifted storytellers I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Her writing is lyrical and tender and emotional and always transports me to another place.

Though there is dual POV, this is Soledad’s story. We first met her in Before I Let Go, though you could definitely read this as a standalone. After a series of devastating betrayals from her husband, she has to find a way to stand on her own for the first time in her adult life. She has three daughters to support, a career to build, and needs to find herself outside of married life. She finds herself very attracted to Judah, a man who for a lot of reasons she shouldn’t be with.

Because the majority of the story is Soledad finding herself, this was definitely in the women’s fiction territory. There is a romance for sure but it’s not the primary focus. Soledad’s journey was a great one and I loved watching her figure her place out. The way she cared for her girls, her friendships, her sisters, it was lovely.

Judah was an excellent character, so steady and sure in liking of Soledad. He’s a man who knows what he wants and is willing to be patient and play the long game to win. He wasn’t afraid to admit his feelings, or engage in a little light internet stalking to learn more about her and honestly, it was so great. What’s better than a man who shows he cares and is interested?

He’s a father to neurodiverse twin sons and their story was so beautifully told. I think the rep was so important and it was so interesting to read about how autism presents itself differently in his boys.

The two had such great chemistry from the beginning, I would have loved to see more of them together. They had an immediate attraction, then they’re not together for most of the book, then together at the end. The pacing of the middle part felt a little slow to me, obviously growth does take time but I was ready for more to be happening. However, if you are a women’s fiction lover perhaps you will like this part!

Overall though this was such a great book from one of the best! It’s definitely going to stick with me for a long time.