4.5/5 stars

this book was better than the first book in my opinion. first of all the book started off messy as hell which i loved, i had so much fun in the beginning. i just really enjoyed the plot. these books read more like women fiction but once i realized that i was able to really enjoy the book. i also thought the chemistry in this book was a bit better, it was a lot less sexual and more focused on soledad finding herself which i really appreciated.

I said this before - I said this to KR - “you’re a blessing to us”.


After reading Before I Let Go, the word “pain” stood out to me. Despite how the story began and unraveled in This Could Be Us, “soar” was the word for me.

And Soledad SOARED.

Imagine your life being ripped out from under you, where do you go from there? How do you gain back the hope you lost? How do you build back a life you thought you had but apparently never did? You do it by taking that first step of faith. Nothing is achievable without risk and Soledad took that necessary step and it unfolds beautifully…

One thing I always appreciate about KR’s writing is her ability to connect with her readers with real life experiences - the intentionality with choosing self over all, starting over when we thought we had it all, and the importance of sisterhood/ a loving community. My favorite highlight was the genuine sisterhood represented here. Soledad not only had her actual sisters, but she also had her friends turned sisters. She also had the memory of a mother that not only made sacrifices for her family, but chose herself as well. You really cannot help but admire the beautiful relationships Soledad had around her. It made me appreciate the small, but amazing group of women I have in my corner.

And to quote my review of Before I Let Go,

“A book that aches? A book that loves so hard? A book that cries? A book that grieves loves lost? A book that tries to move on? A book that falls but gets back up? A book that encourages? A book that forgives themselves? A book that heals & seeks healing? A book of hope?”

…. but also “A book that chooses themselves”.

p.s. this is what I mean by normal, beautiful love. just do yourself a favor and be on the lookout for this one…

———
thank you @netgalley @readforeverpub & @kennedyryan1 for the early ARC release.

“Before I Let Go” was one of favorite reads of last year so to say that I was excited to read Soledad’s story in “This Could Be Us,” is an understatement. It did not disappoint.

Kennedy Ryan does a beautiful job of showing the progression of Soledad’s development as an individual while also depicting the build-up to her romance with Judah. I would say that there’s a slow-build up to Soledad and Judah’s romance. Nevertheless, through Soledad, Ryan shows the importance of sisterhood and self-love — which were ever-present themes throughout the book. I think that this is an important aspect of what makes the book so good - the relationships that Soledad and Judah have with their friends, families and themselves makes their build-up together all the more so special.

I’m so excited to read Hendrix’s story next!

I grabbed this book on the recommendation of an author I enjoy and the description. I'm so glad I did. I've never read anything by Kennedy Ryan but I will definitely read more. I loved following Soledad's journey to build a life and find herself after her husband turns out to be a liar on many levels. Her relationship with herself and Judah was inspiring. I loved how the characters were so real and laughed, cried and smiled along with them. Definitely recommend.

Another captivating addition to the Skyland series, This Could Be Us continues to showcase Kennedy's storytelling prowess. After reading Before I Let Go, which was one of my favorite reads of 2022, I could not wait to dive into Soledad's story, and it did not disappoint. While part of the same series, I really urge readers not to draw comparisons. Instead, approach this as a unique story within the shared universe, offering distinct perspectives that leave a lasting impression.

This Could Be Us follows Soledad on a profound journey of self-discovery, navigating the complexities of motherhood and reclaiming her identity after years of prioritizing others over herself. A refreshing aspect of the book is its portrayal of stay-at-home moms as a choice rather than a circumstantial burden. Soledad embraces motherhood wholeheartedly, but as with any job, role, or endeavour, its great to have your efforts acknowledged and validated which I feel went unnoticed for a long time especially by her husband Edward *pukes* .

When something unexpected happens that changes her outlook on the man she married and what Soledad thought her life would be, Soledad jumps into action to shield her children from any huge tumultuous changes. Kennedy skillfully reintroduces us to Soledad through authentic character development. As Soledad grapples with the challenges of motherhood and forges her unique path to support her family, she also finds unexpected love.

Judah's character adds depth to the narrative, offering patience, support, and gentleness not only to Soledad but to everyone he loves. The novel also enlightens readers on autism,as Judah has twin boys with autism. I am so grateful Kennedy finally decided add this personal touch this book and as always, took the time to educate her readers and share her stories with so much care.

One thing I love about Kennedy’s books is how she writes about friendships. We already get sneak peeks of Soledad, Yazmeen, and Hendrix’s friendship in Before I Let Go and it was amazing to see more of that friendship unfold in This Could Be Us. The friendships depicted in the novel add a layer of richness to the narrative, showcasing the importance of connections in one's journey. The camaraderie and support between these women enrich the overall reading experience, making the story not only about individual growth but also showcase the beauty and power of friendship. As Kennedy phrases so beautifully in the novel “there aren’t enough sonnets for friendship. Not enough songs for the kind of love not born of blood or body but of time and care. They are the ones we choose to laugh and cry and live with. When lovers come and go, they are the ones who remain. We are each other’s constant.”

I also love that we got to see a little more of Hendrix in this story. That woman is a hoot, a holler, and a riot. Hendrix is a character that jumps off the page, digs her claws in you and refuses to be forgotten. Kennedy gave us enough information about Hendrix that has me waiting with my credit card ready to snatch up her book when it releases.

If you want a story that delves into self-discovery, resilience, platonic and non-platonic love, and parenthood, "This Could Be Us" is a must-read. Kennedy weaves a story that resonates on multiple levels, and one you won’t soon forget.

This is my second book by Kennedy Ryan and she is quickly becoming one of my favorites! While I enjoyed the storyline better in the first part of the book, I still really enjoyed the entire book. The second part starts to get steamier which isn't my cup of tea, but if you are into that then you will enjoy the second part as much as or more than the first.

This Could Be Us is so much more than a love story. It's one of a woman, Soledad, finding herself and seeking happiness on her own. Her life gets turned upside down when the man she married and had children with turned out to have a dark secret. She's left picking up the pieces. Along the way an unlikely romance starts to develop. I really love how Soledad was adamant on working on herself first and healing before entering into a relationship with the new guy. I can't say much more without giving away spoilers. You'll just have to read it for yourself!

Thanks to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Forever for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much for this advanced copy of this book I couldn’t get to this book fast enough I was absolutely in love with the story, and it was so beautifully written. I want to know more about all of the characters! After I read before, I let go, it really hit home and I was in tears, so I was anxious to get to this book. I literally screamed and it was not for nothing. I will get this book fives across-the-board.

I really enjoyed this book and found myself so completely invested in the journey of these characters. Soledad was such a powerhouse of a female main character. I thought her story was so well fleshed out and felt so real. The romance, friendships, and individual journeys were all extremely compelling and I look forward to the next installment in this series!

I thought it was a great Kennedy Ryan book as usual. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC and ability to read it before publication date. Love the Skyland Ladies: Yasmen, Soledad and Hendrix. Soledad from "Before I Let Go", I knew was going to have a great story in "This Could Be Us" based on her trifling husband, Edward. Kennedy's incorporation of autism with twin brothers Aaron and Adam and a brief glimpse into their world and from the parents and life of having an autistic child or children. Kennedy always knows how to bring in real life situations in all of her books. Judah Cross, loved loved loved everything about him.

Ms. Ryan did it again. I don’t know what I expected of this book. Soledad was not the story I was hoping for but it was the story I needed. The strength that she never knew she had was a beautiful tragedy she had to endure to find. I loved reading this book. Again the dependency on good friendships and the boundaries placed in families is so important to learn. I cant say enough how enjoyable this book was. Can’t wait to read Hendrix’s story next.

Legitimately in love with this story. Five stars, no lie. I better see it on literally every list next year.

🖤 I discovered that a spectacle kink is a thing and I support it
🖤 Those boys have my whole heart
🖤 Soledad getting her lick back (then some!) made me so happy
🖤 Judah is literally a warm hug

I have more words but also nursing a book hangover because it was so perfect.

While I loved Kennedy Ryan's "Before I Let Go" this book failed to give me the same "feels" and I ended up DNFing it. The first half was promising, but the connection between the FMC and MMC fell flat for me, and I quickly lost interest in the plot line.

Kennedy Ryan can do no wrong! Every single book by this author is guaranteed to tug at your heart strings and be completely unputdownable. THIS COULD BE US is no exception. Ryan has once again written a romance for the ages -- another new all-time favorite for me!

Lovely romance in this one, but I was a little down on all of the bad things that happened to Soledad before she could get there.

ARC from netgalley

This was beautiful. I love the story and the characters. My heart broke for Soledad and am so happy to see her find her healing and the love that she deserves. This is a story about resilience, healing, strength, self-love. I love Judah and how perceptive he is towards his children and Soledad. Their relationship felt charged and passionate, but also had that foundation of friendship. I wish we could’ve seen a bit more of just the friendship to add to that connection but I don’t think it was lost in the sexual tension. There were parts of the story that did seem to slow the momentum of the story. Overall I liked this one. Seeing Josiah and Yas together was so great too.
I appreciate the supportive autism representation, I think it was well done. I love Kennedy Ryan’s author's note at the beginning

Ya’ll I am not exaggerating when I say this!! RUN don’t walk to get this book!!

We all know what they say about a woman scorned but what about a woman empowered?

Soledad has spent 20 years being a doting wife and mother. What will she do when she answers the door to the FBI raiding her house and uncovers all the lies she has been told?

This book is about a woman who could have fallen to pieces but thanks to her grit and determination, as well as amazing women in her life, is empowered and puts herself back together!!

We all need a good heroine and a tribe that supports her and this book delivers just that!!!

I absolutely loved this book! The characters are believable and relatable. Kennedy’s writing style is so beautiful and the plot is easy to follow. I recommend.

this was one of my most anticipated reads, so I had very high hopes for this book and it has easily exceeded all my expectations.

Kennedy Ryan's writing style is raw and emotional and oh so beautiful at the same time. Her ability to immerse me completely in the fictional world she creates is unfaltering. Her writing just makes you feel things, and this book was no exception.

The Skyland series is easily my most favorite book series of all times, and I cannot wait for Hendrix’s book to come out!

once again, absolutely stunned and floored at how phenomenal this was. i read ryan’s other book, the predecessor to this “Before I Let Go,” which was one of my top reads of the year, and I can confidently say, though it still being January, that this will make it to my top 10 books of the 2024 year.

this had so much heart, so much love and growth and just the entire cycle of bettering yourself for the sake of your happiness. the emotional relationship between our leads was incredible. i often find that with a lot of romance novels these days, chemistry is built on sexual and physical relationships. intimacy that renders deeper than that is lost, but with this i saw clarity.

This book was so amazing on so many levels that I do not think I could adequately describe how intense and moving it was! It was my first Kennedy Ryan- I have the BOTM Before I Let Go but never read it and didn't know it was a series. Now I have a new autobuy author!

I have to praise Kennedy Ryan for her writing about so many topics that she handled with respect and care. A few of the struggles and challenges her characters confront include adultery, embezzlement, children with autism, single parenthood, building a career after being a stay at home parent for years, finding yourself after adultry and emotional abuse (but there are more things). There is so much depth to this story!

I think my favorite part was the selfcare that Soledad learned was vital. Ryan writes about self-partnering and finding your way without depending on a spouse or significant other. Soledad puts her children first, but realizes that her needs are also very important. I love this message!

Another thing I loved was the body positivity! These characters had curves and flaws which they embraced- amd honestly it made the steamy parts more realistic and relatable 😀

Thanks so much to @netgalley for the #gifted copy!