This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan - 5/5 stars
This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan is the second book in Kennedy Ryan's "Skyland" series. This is the follow up to her popular title, Before I Let Go. If you enjoyed that book, you will definitely enjoy this one. This Could Be Us follows Soledad (who we were introduced to in Before I Let Go) and her love story after being betrayed by her husband. Not only is this a romance but it's also a tale of self-love. I really appreciated how the author wrote a great follow up to the first book without writing the same story with just different characters. I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you so much to Forever and Hachette Book Group for the opportunity to read this book in advance of it's official release on March 5th of this year! Kennedy Ryan has seriously done it again. This book is pure magic. This is the sort of romance that I absolutely adore. Being able to witness Soledad and her strength was nothing short of wonderful. As a Puerto Rican woman, I loved the sprinkle of references to our culture, and that made this book even more enjoyable for me. The relationship between Soledad and Judah was DELICIOUS. Talk about a man OBSESSED. The way he put in the effort to learn so much about her and had such patience with her.... AMAZING. This book was engaging from the beginning and was quite literally never boring. I. Am. In. Love. This book is an absolute must.

Thank GOD this book didn't wreck me for months - Kennedy Ryan had some mercy. That isn't to say that it's not emotional, but there's far more of a focus on family drama. Soledad's family is torn apart when Edward goes to jail for embezzlement and leaves her to deal with the fallout. But honestly GOOD RIDDANCE because he was a scumbag and Soledad deserved better. This book is about the power of family and self-love and I really needed to read it at this point in my life. Is there romance? Sure - Judah is absolutely strapped and treats Soledad like the goddess she is. But it isn't really the *point* of this book.

I really enjoyed the care that Kennedy Ryan put into this book. Between the loving portrayals of Adam and Aaron's autism, Soledad's warm parenting style even in crisis, and Yasmen and Hendrix's undying support for them, it felt like this was everything a found family truly should be. I can't wait to see snippets of their happily ever after in Hen's book!

*Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Per the usual, Kennedy Ryan never misses.
This book was nothing I expected but everything I needed! I felt seen in many ways. I love the journey of Soledad and her ups and downs, her journey in self love and learning to trust herself unapologetically and selfishly - while attempting to put walls up with this new found romantic love that makes her feel like she's on a different planet. Judah IS a different planet.
Judahs journey as a dad to two twin boys who have autism was extremely heartwarming - it showed us how resilient and selfish Judah was, those moments were some of my favorites. And from his undying love to his maturity, self discipline and his care...my heart felt full. He is something special.

Kennedy Ryan knows how to write culture (Soledad is Puerto Rican and African American/Afro Latina ) and representation (Judah's sons have autism. And even touches on Judah possibly being spectrum but is undiagnosed) exactly how it is, rich and soulful, truthful and no matter how ugly it can get she somehow reminds us how beautiful it is in every aspect. She did exactly that with This Could Be Us.

I have been anxiously awaiting this second book and I was not disappointed! Chemistry? Connection? Maturity? Drama? Angst? This had it all. I love the journey Soledad goes on after her whole world is turned upside down, and I love that Judah gives her space to do that. I also appreciated how Soledad put herself and her children first and fought to support them in all aspects, not ever putting a relationship before them.

Too many times romances feel cheesy and unrealistic, and that’s not always a bad thing. But the Skyland series consistently feels realistic and grounded. I am a loud supporter of this series and can’t wait for the next one!

The book was amazing from start to finish . I’m going to reread it on the release date. I can’t get enough of these amazing characters. Definitely a 5 out of 5. Soledad has my whole heart I love the way the book promotes self love .

This book caught me from the beginning. I felt the longing of Soledad for love. You could feel the passion and longing on pages. Kennedy is so precise with her writing and makes you feel like you are watching a picture. I am a new reader of Kennedy, but she has won a fan.

After reading and loving Before I Let Go, the second I saw This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan available on Netgalley, I revived my account to download the ARC immediately.

The first quarter was full of high stakes and absolutely WILD. My jaw was on the floor as Soledad's situation unfolded. I love that there is a bit of a time jump after because one of my favorite parts of this story is seeing Soledad work on herself before establishing a relationship. While kids being involved in romance novels isn't something I normally love, Kennedy Ryan does it in a way that pulls at my heartstrings and makes me invested on everyone's account.

I can't wait to pick up a finished copy when this book releases on March 5th!

Kennedy Ryan does it again! With emotional depth, beautiful writing, and an incredible but complex love story, I couldn’t put this book down once I started it.

It wasamazing seeing Soledad find her way and begin to trust herself again after Edward left their family shattered and with basically nothing. I also really loved Judah, as he gave her the space she needed when she asked but gave her reassurance that he would be there when she was ready. With both of them being parents, it was so important that they really thought through a relationship.

I loved that Yasmen & Hendrix were involved in this book often, they’re such a fun friend group, and I’m excited for Hen’s book when it gets here! I also thought that Soledad earning money through being a social media influencer was so fun and timely.

Also, the machete scene was iconic.

Kennedy Ryan does it again!!!

Soledad’s journey breaks your heart then mends it so purely. I didn’t think it was possible to love a couple more than Yasmen and Josiah but here we are! Soledad and _____ are so heartwarming. I would highly recommend this book! I can’t wait to read Hendrix’s story next!

Final 4.5/5

I thought this was a great followup to "Before I let go."

I enjoyed seeing Soledad on a self-love journey and navigating when adjusting boundaries and allowing herself feel something and have something for herself. I also loved the fact that passionate love was also safe here. So often, love is framed as either safe but lacking passion or having passion but being toxic. I appreciated that Kennedy showed how you can have a love overflowing with passion but also respect and safety.

As for Judah, I loved the exploration of what its like to be parents of children with autism who may need a lot of extra support. I thought that him and Sol had great chemistry but also a great understanding of each other since they both were parents.

All in all, I thought this was an authentic romance exploring loving one's self and loving others and doing so on your own terms.

Starting over doesn't have to be from scratch.

Soledad has all the pieces in place to keep her and her daughters lives going after her lying, cheating, thief of an ex-husband imploded it. Her work as a mother, wife, and home maker becomes her brand on social media. Its not a fast climb to social media self-sufficiency, but Soledad's everyday hustles help bridge her from the fear of having to, to confidence that she can.

And. She. Can.

Can she though allow herself to step away from crisis mode and let in the love of Judah Cross? He may be fine as hell, divorced, husband of twin boys, but he’s also the corporate accountant that built the criminal case against her ex-husband. Its complicated, sure, but doesn't mean they're impossible.

Absolutely the chemistry between Soledad & Judah is burning sizzling swoony hot. But I was cheering for every moment Soledad fell more and more in love with herself. For every moment her resolve to persevere solidified.

"Watch me."

Y'all need to be watching/reading Soledad live her life on her terms. It's a beautiful thing to behold.

Thank you Netgalley & Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan is the second in her Skyland series. I didn’t read the first in the series, but I didn’t feel like I was missing any vital information while reading this book.

Soledad was a stay at home mom who was devoted to her three girls and her husband, even though he has been more distant recently. Her life is flipped upside down when her husband betrays her and she’s left to pick up all the pieces. Soledad built herself a new life in the face of all the struggles she dealt with becoming a single mom. On the other hand, Judah was a single dad of autistic twins (who may be autistic himself) who exposed Soledad’s husband. He couldn’t take his eyes off of Soledad when he first met her and couldn’t believe who she was. Since Soledad was in a better place, Judah wondered if he could get to know her better, if she was so inclined.

This was a very thoughtful read. Reading about Soledad’s struggles was difficult. You see her go from a stay at home mom living a very comfortable life and have that all come crashing down on her. I loved reading Soledad’s resilience in the face of despair. She was honestly so inspiring and definitely deserved her happy ending. This did seem more like Women’s fiction than romance since it was more focused on Soledad’s journey, but it still had a good romance.

The romance between Soledad and Judah was very cute and sweet! Theirs was a relationship that started off as wrong place wrong time and you get to see it bloom until it became right place right time. Their chemistry was so well written and I couldn’t wait for them to finally get together. They were both also amazing parents, which helped them understand each other even better.

If you like single mom/single dad, close knit families and friends, grump/sunshine, and resilient heroines, then this book is for you!

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Forever, and Kennedy Ryan for the ARC!

A beautiful story of finding one’s self and falling in love with you. Kennedy Ryan did it again. I was captivated by the characters from the beginning. Everything in this book was perfect. I am so happy I got the opportunity to read it early.

I picked up “This Could Be Us” right after reading “Before I Let Go”, so it had very big shoes to fill. While overall I enjoyed this story, I’m afraid this sequel does not quite live up to its predecessor.

“This Could Be Us” follows Soledad as a shocking revelation upends her life and forces her to figure out how to keep going for herself and her three daughters. I really enjoyed the beginning of this story and had high hopes of what was to come, but there were a few places that I think things fell short for me. First, I think a lot of Soledad’s struggles didn’t ring true throughout. She’s worried about money but going to a fancy dinner alone or serving the “good wine” at get-togethers. The concept is there, but it’s never really shown in any parts of her lived life.

I think the chemistry between Judah and Soledad is very shallow. From the beginning, their connection is physical and there isn’t enough love given to that relationship to make you think it’s anything other than that. It left me not very interested in their story.

I also think the story isn’t paced very well. The story is exciting in the beginning, drags a bit in the middle, and then is rushed in it’s conclusion. I was really surprised at how quickly things got wrapped up and am not sure how I feel about it, even a day after finishing this book.

So after reading that, you are probably asking yourself why I gave this 3 stars? There are some positive messages in this book that cannot be overlooked. The strength in finding yourself, even at your lowest moment, is a great theme throughout. Soledad lost a lot of herself in her marriage and she needs to figure out how to find her fire again. The beauty of female relationships, both friendships and sisters, is another theme that I absolutely adored. This romance story felt less like a romance and more like a love story amongst Soledad and the women who love her. For that reason, I am glad that I read this story. Is it everything that I wish it could be? No, but I still think there is enough good in this book to make it one I’d recommend.

This is my first Kennedy Ryan book and I found it to be more like relationship fiction than romance.

It is a captivating tale that weaves themes of self-love, healing, motherhood, coparenting, and forbidden love. Soledad undergoes a well-crafted transformation from a lonely, 'perfect' life as a stay-at-home mom to a woman who grows into her full self. Judah, a nuanced male lead, offers a poignant perspective on parenting children across the autism spectrum, shedding light on challenges faced by autism families. The contrasting dynamics of Soledad's and Judah's co-parenting added so much depth. I was impressed.

This book was absolutely amazing. The story grips you from the first page and you become a part of the story all the way to the end. I also could envision this beautiful story on the big screen. I have become a huge fan of Kennedy Ryan!

KR does it again!!! Our favorite author has the gift of giving romance with substance. We are back with the crew, Yasmen, Hendrix and Soledad. This story focuses on Soledad's situation. We get men we love to love and those we have to hate. Sisterhood and friendship, women empowerment all things are here. The writing gives us characters with depth, believable storylines and kept me engaged.
Thanks NetGalley!!

Absolutely anything Kennedy Ryan writes I will be immediately sat for because I know every single time she is going to deliver an emotional love story like no other. This could be us was no exception to that! Starting right off the bat the plot + story had me hooked, and the characters had me so invested!! You have Soledad who’s life is what feels like to be on the right track when all of a sudden her world falls apart and that track is gone, you see so much of her resiliency watching her come into her own and I admired her immensely! Then there’s Judah who is an adoring father and a man who loves hard and isn’t afraid to express how he feels and watching him be there for Soledad had me in my feels. As someone who works as an EA The autism representation in this was everything I needed it to be and it was so clear to me that Kennedy took such care and time making sure it was done right.
Anything by Kennedy I forever will recommend!!!

Soledad had to rebuild her life after her husband, Edward, put her through so many changes. Soledad did what was necessary to protect herself and her daughters after the betrayal that happened. Out of the pain and destruction her husband put her through, Soledad was able to find herself and find a way to survive the bad circumstances she found herself in. She was also able to build up what Edward tore down and destroyed and she allowed herself to find the strength within that she needed. Soledad and Judah had been attracted to each other at first glance since they met at the Christmas party for her husband’s job. Soledad discovered the love and passion missing in her life with Judah even though he was instrumental in blowing up her life. I loved the friendship between Soledad, Hendrix and Yasmen. We all could benefit having friends like them who have your back at every turn. This book had so many emotions and was a joy to read. Kennedy Ryan has done it again!!!