This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan is the second book in the Skyland series and can be read as a standalone. This book follows Soledad and Judah. Judah is divorced and coparenting his twin autistic sons. Soledad is in a loveless and borderline abusive marriage. When her life is upended, Soledad finds herself on her own having to care for her three children without her husband. Will her journey of self discovery end in a love story?

I loved Before I Let Go. It is one of my all time favorite romances and I have been convinced that nothing else would compare but somehow, This Could Be Us surpassed it easily. Soledad is such a strong character. Being in her head as she struggles to make ends meet and keep her daughters’ lives as normal as possible is very relatable as a parent. I loved the journey she went on finding a fulfilling way to make money.

I also don’t think I’ve hated a character as much as I hated her husband. What an absolute piece of garbage. Anytime I thought he wouldn’t get worse, he surprised me and did. He honestly made me want to throw my kindle across the room. It is truly remarkable talent for an author to make me hate a character that much.

Judah was just perfection. Exactly the type of MMC I love in a romance. He was respectful and patient while Soledad was trying to find herself. His relationship with his ex wife was so sweet and the way he cared about his children was so heartwarming to see. The autism representation in this book was done so well and Kennedy Ryan’s note at the beginning of the book really explained how important it was for her to get that representation right.

I love reading romances about established adults. Both of these characters are 40 years old and they have already been through so much and it’s so evident in the way they approach their relationship and make their decisions.

I loved this book so much. I’m so happy to be back with these characters and I can’t wait to own a physical copy of this stunning book. I’m anxiously waiting Hendrix’s story because seeing her in these two books has made me really fall in love with her as a character.

Honestly Kennedy Ryan is an auto buy author for me from now on. Every single book she writes is just so good. They have older characters, real raw emotions and relationships, they make you think and feel. This story was great and I can’t wait to read Hendrix’s book next!! Also this cover is absolutely stunning, I can’t wait to buy a physical copy when it comes out!!

I didn’t think I could find room to love anymore of Kennedy’s characters and here comes Soledad. Soledad’s pain felt like my own, as did her journey back to herself. Out of all of Kennedy Ryan’s stories, this one hit home the most and for all those who are lost and constantly wake up asking yourself, “what next”, this story is for you.

4.5 ⭐️
WOW ! This was so good! From the first page I was intrigued and they storyline kept me hooked. This was a beautiful journey of finding the balance of self-love and trusting a second chance at being loved by someone other than yourself after being heartbroken. I love how the relationship developed with honesty and boundaries and how intentional Judah was! It was wordy at times and some scenes felt like unnecessary fillers but overall I really enjoyed this! 👏🏾👏🏾💕

Kennedy Ryan does not miss when writing her books. I read this book in one sitting. I was unable to put this arc down, the anxiety of wanting to know the next part is what kept me ready. Both of Kennedy Ryan's book have a very real and person tone to them which make them relatable to someone's life.
Loved this book.

This was my first Kennedy Ryan novel and I took a gamble on this being a standalone, I’m happy to say it was and I enjoyed it. Her writing is easy going and engaging, the characters were all super likable and relatable, before I knew it, half the book was gone.

I thought the starting plot was very intriguing, it had me invested right from the start. Although certain topics were on the emotional side, dealing with very realistic issues, the book was overall wholesome, lighthearted and spicy! I appreciate the diverse representation of characters and topics woven into the plot, Soledad’s self empowerment was very inspiring. The pacing faltered in the second half and was a tad too long, but the friendships and family drama kept me involved until the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever for the advanced copy to review.

3,5

I really wanted to love this book because it’s Kennedy Ryan!
The relationship with oneself is well developed in the book. Know that you can start again or on a new activity at any age when you are motivated.
But I’m struggling a little with the influencer trope and the fact that we know that the characters will end up together, but there is not as much tension as in some of his other books.

Kennedy Ryan NEVER disappoints. This Could Be Us is an wonderful follow-up to Before I Let Go. Ryan has such a special talent for writing stories that just pull you in and hold you tight all the way until the end. I was glued to the pages and so enthralled with Soledad's story. There's not much I can say here without spoiling the story but Ryan is so good at making you feel the emotions the characters are going through. Her research and care for people shines in her work. This book was so good, so beautiful and so necessary.

Soledad's journey of self-discovery was so beautiful to witness. If you read Before I Let Go, book one in this series, you were probably desperate for Sol's story based on the snippets we gathered about her life. I was rooting for Sol's marriage to fail (I'm not a hater, I promise LOL) but I was so shocked to see the way Edward treated Sol behind closed doors. He has an incredible villainous aura to him. I loved how Ryan depicted being in a relationship with a narcissist, and how that could thwart how your life plays out.

Witnessing Sol rise from the ashes of what her life felt like it was reduced to was incredibly inspiring. I'm going through a similar journey, so this book impacted me deeply! I loved how vulnerable she was with her daughters about all that was going on. I loved the relationship she shared with her sisters! The way she reflected on her mother's experience as a woman was so important! Sometimes we forget that our mothers are doing their best to figure life and love out too. I thought that was a beautiful message. All of those aspects contributed to Soledad's journey back to self (especially her reading all about love by bell hooks. I feel like it starts there for a lot of women!)

As for Judah?! I have JUST discovered my new favorite MMC archetype: the soft-spoken, controlled, gentle giant. He was team Soledad in any and every circumstance! Had me kicking my feet, blushing, smiling, and giggling. I thought opening the book with Judah's story made some incredible parallels at the end! He was so thoughtful and conclusive. He was truly a harbor type of man. So much of his magic lies within the pages, so I'll just leave y'all to experience it in real-time.

While I cannot speak on the validity of the autistic representation, the topics felt well-researched and handled with the utmost care. Every scene with Adam and Aaron, every scene discussing autism in general, was educational, heartwarming, and informative.

Needless to say, I highly recommend this if you're looking for a heartwarming single mom + single dad, life-after-divorce, blended family story.

DNF at 66%

The first quarter of the book was so fast paced as all the drama with the criminal husband unfolded.

After that it started to feel extremely repetitive at times and sadly, their romance is just not hitting it for me.

However, I adored her best friends, the daughters, and the sisters. Also the representation through both Soledad’s boricuan roots and Judah’s sons having autism (and how his coparenting works), etc. These grounded the story in a really lovely way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This Could Be Us follows a newly divorced Soledad and longtime divorced but newly enamored Judah as they navigate their growing relationship with their existing and complicated family dynamics. Soledad’s three girls are mourning the loss of the dad they thought they had, and what they perceived as a blissful childhood. Judah’s two boys are autistic and making strides balancing comfort with growth through their blended family.

Judah and Soledad’s connection is instant and fairly forbidden, but Judah isn’t going to let that stop the show. I’m quite obsessed with him. He’s large and in charge in that way that every damsel in distress needs, without any of the overbearing ego to ruin the effect.

Soledad is unexpectedly thrust into struggle to remake her life without upending her daughter’s stability, and I loved her willingness to take criticism and help as she did it. There are understandable bumps in the road but she puts her big girl pants on early and I respected that.

I’ll hold off on sharing quotes since text may be altered when the final version is released, but you can peek at some of my annotations for now…I had a ball reading this okay?! I’m the KR universe, I think Judah Cross sits at a prime #2 behind Cannon Holt, followed of course by Kenan Ross.

**I would like to thank NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and Kennedy Ryan for an ARC of this book! This is available as of 3/5/2024.**

I knew nothing about this author until I saw someone post that this book was available as "read now" for 24 hours only. I immediately requested it and promptly started Before I Let Go in preparation. That book was AMAZING and I was so excited to start this one immediately after.

"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, nurtures by years and commitment."

This book was a gentle hug and so encouraging for a journey into self-partnership.

This book is great if you’re looking for a non-RomCom romance.

Ryans characters are always so complex and easy to relate to. And once again, she reminds us that there are so many different kinds of love out there - romantic love, self love, love for your children, and she reminds us that it isn’t always easy.

If you like an emotional story with a strong FMC (and a good bit of romantic pining) this book is for you!

Excellent read! I highly recommend it. Ms Ryan gives us an engrossing story that will resonate with every reader.

Oh my goodness I loved this so much! I need a couple of days to fully process my thoughts, but Kennedy Ryan, I’ll buy anything you write!!!

I think this series is great for romance readers who aren’t wanting the romcoms with 20 year old ditzy main characters. This book is about real life people and it’s very relatable. Make sure you have tissues nearby when you read it!

Soledad is left picking up the pieces of her’s and her daughters’ lives after an unexpected and shocking betrayal. With no option but to keep moving forward, Soledad embarks on a journey of healing and relearning how to trust again—filled with introspection, self-partnering, and reclaiming her power.

This book is easily five stars. There is a full cast of complex characters and a slow-burn romance with palpable chemistry that leaps off the page. Soledad’s journey of rediscovery—aided by bell hook’s ALL ABOUT LOVE, friendship, and sisterhood—is inspiring and a stunning example of how you can show up for friends and family and how you can allow them to do the same for you in return.

In addition to the redemption story and romance, Ryan pens the experience of being a parent of and someone who loves a person with autism. This experience is handled with care, compassion, and kindness. It was a joy to get to know Judah’s twin boys and the bond they have with their loved ones.

Pick this book up if you love strong female characters, mutual pining, and thought-provoking romances! Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
📖: This Could Be Us
✍🏻: Kennedy Ryan

🧠 autism rep
👩 Afro-Latina mom
👨 Single-dad

Thank you, @netgalley and @kennedyryan1, for giving me an eARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

I appreciate Kennedy Ryan’s attack on how she discussed autism spectrum disorder. As a family member who has someone close to me who has ASD, this book is much appreciated. Thank you so much for discussing this important topic in your book.

I loved how Kennedy portrayed that ASD can look different for everyone. She showcased what Dr. Stephen Shore once said, “When you meet one person with Autism, you’ve met one person with Autism.” Not because one has the diagnosis of ASD, it means that everyone can experience the same thing. ASD can affect individuals differently. She showed the readers how meltdowns can form and what are the things that can help. I also can relate when restaurants kick you out because the child with you is “disturbing others.” It is frustrating, but at the same time, I wish that people would be more educated about ASD in general.

I loved Soledad’s strength to fight for what she knows is right for her three daughters. She will do whatever it takes to give her daughters the life they deserve. I also love her courage to shield her children from all the pain they are going through.

I also liked how self-love can bring you so many things in life. We need to learn how to love ourselves first before we can give other people the love they need/deserve. Learning to love ourselves can be challenging in times of crisis, especially when trauma is present. But taking your time and not rushing the process is the only way to do it.

I love everything about this book. I cannot wait for Hendrix’s story!

This Could Be Us

3.25 ⭐️

This book has so much packed into it; parents’ sacrifices, meaningful friendships, main character growth.

This Could Be Us starts out with a lot of drama as Soledad finds out her husband has embezzled $6M from his company. As a stay at home mom, Soledad becomes an influencer to support her daughters. The very person who revealed all this to her family might be the one she needs!

I really enjoyed the family dynamics both with Judah and his boys and Soledad and her girls. Some parts of this were a little too cheesy and felt like a strange mix with the seriousness of the rest of the book.

Thanks to @netgalley for this ARC!

Kennedy Ryan is a master of her craft. This is such an affirming, powerful story. It’s a romance but it’s so much more than that, it’s a story about love: self love, parental love, romantic love. The romance is secondary to Soledad’s beautiful journey of self discovery and I adored everything about this book!!

HUGE thanks to Forever Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. This one made me squeal when I got it and I was saving it for a rainy day when I could really savor it and boy did it deliver.