Before I Let Go reads like a harmony. Josiah and Yasmen are two different parts, pleasing when together even though they’ve begun to live apart.

You will quickly get lost in this trying family dynamic that is barely floating with so many raw and recent hurts bearing down on each character.

I was floored by the fluidity of Ryan’s writing. She unfolded this family’s trauma so delicately. I couldn’t help but get emotional throughout as I heard about their experiences. She nails teens, how they cope with divorce in different ways as well as what I imagine are conflicting mindsets of divorced parents.

Lastly, I want to highlight the character’s use of therapy. Therapy becomes a cast member of this story and how important it can be for a woman, man, and child dealing with trauma. How necessary it can often be. Thankful to see this addressed.

A sexy, painful and touching novel!

Before I Let Go is officially, hands down, my top favorite novel by Kennedy Ryan.
It's "This Is Us" with an all Black cast. It goes into the depths of how Black people, especially Black men, don't believe that talking to a therapist/psychologist/psychiatrist can save them. It pours into how death can shatter lives beyond missing a loved one. It's sexy, seductive. It honors sister friendships - I want separate novels featuring Hendrix and Soledad ASAP!
It shows Black families in lush, diverse communities that support and celebrate Black-owned businesses.
It's a breakaway from what we are dealing with in the real world, despite the novel's topics being real.
I hated to get to the ending, but I had to let it go.

Everything Kennedy Ryan writes is golden!! I enjoyed every heartbreaking second of this. The romance had me swooning and I couldn’t get enough!!

So, How could I start.
I apologies firstly because my English may not be the best (but who had time for dictionary when you just read one of the most beautiful and healthy love story period)
It wasn't my first Kennedy Ryan's book, I read the hoops series, the king makers series + Queen move, Reel and the last one she released (the close up, I think).
But Before I let go have a special place in my heart. I think I read it at least 4 times before I wrote this review because I couldn't be separate to Yas and Si and their whole friends and family.
I crave for the bonus chapter Mrs Ryan always gift us.
The book also talk about serious topic that is so important to talk about in the black community, and not just only for the black people in the US but also here in France. Black people are so closed minded about Mental health issues and just don't want to acknowledge the sometimes you are not okay and that you may need help of professional and that didn't make you a crazy person.
This book was about healing after a deep grief, learn how to be happy again.
Seeing a black man and a young black man going through the process of taking care of their own mental health was just a pure pleasure. *This scene with Kassim at the Thanksgiving dinner was absolute gold.*
The love between Yas and Si was so beautiful and Seeing Yas being happy again was so emotional.
At first I had some trouble to like Deja, I couldn't understand her anger but at the end I just understand that she was just a little girl who loves her family so much and was hurt by all the stuff that happen.
I could write a whole book, and talk for hours about my impression of this beautiful book.
The only thing that I regret is that this book couldn't continue till the infinity ahahah.
Whatever, I wish my review (the fist I made ever) will give you a taste of the joy I got when I read BILG.
P.S : A book named the same as one of Beyonce's song cannot be wrong trust me lol.

Tw: stillbirth, miscarriage

Yasmen and Josiah were the couple you looked up to. The one you knew would last a lifetime. When unexpected situations brought Yasmen to her knees mentally however, the two couldn’t find a way to communicate and connect, and eventually divorced. they still parents their two children, and own a restaurant together, and over time they start to wonder if they gave up too soon.

This was such an amazing book of love, hardship, grief, family, connection, trauma, and healing. The way Ryan wrote these characters, you laughed with them, cried with them, and felt every emotion through the pages. I really loved the discussion surrounding therapy, it was so raw and vulnerable, but so valuable to the destigmatization of therapy. When one character (I won’t spoil who, says at Thanksgiving “I’m thankful for therapy” without even a blink, it just filled my heart with joy. I loved every second of moving through Josiah and Yasmen’s relationship, and the writing could not have been more fabulous. I am so glad Forever publishing put this book on my radar!

"I was meant for you and you were meant for me, and even when we got in our own way, even when we screwed up—because we both did, baby—even then my soul knew, my heart knew, it was wrong being away from you."

Before I Let Go is a beautiful, raw and a heart-wrenching second chance romance. I love the way her writing is so passionate and all-encompassing of relatable, real-life situations. The way she describes emotions -the good the bad and the ugly- is so powerful and you are left feeling so connected to each character. I loved reading about how Josiah and Yasmen navigated through their lives together, apart and then ultimately the journey of trying to put it all back together again (uh, hello sizzling chemistry and steam!). 5 stars just is not enough for this book. On sale November 15, I strongly recommend you put this at the top of your TBR.

Thank you to Forever Publishing for my early copy!

This is such a unique book, it really hooked my EMOTIONS from the very beginning. It’s not every day I read a book that makes me feel like characters are real people but I was really thrown into this world. Idk how I feel but there’s something hollow and happy in me. LOVED IT!! Don’t mine me adding things to this review as I continue to let everything sink in.

wow. Kennedy Ryan really knows how to capture emotions PERFECTLY. I cried, i laughed,i cheered and i died. This is her best book? Maybe i am riding off a high of just finishing it and my overwhelming emotions are blinding my judgement but Before I Let Go is one of the best books i have this year.

This body gave me my children,” I tell her, sliding down to lift her knees over my shoulders. “And it will always be beautiful to me.”

FUCKING WOW. Kennedy Ryan can write a fantastic second chance romance. I want to ask her how she does it. How does she write characters that always feels so real? How does she write stories I always feel apart of? How?!

This book follows Yasmen and Josiah, a divorced couple that still runs a business together. Throughout the story, we find out the reason for their separation and the events that led up to them. We also uncover their individual struggles, as well as their children.
( I really loved their healthy coparenting relationship. I think it’s important to show that coparenting CAN be like this. )

I will be giving a full review with spoilers on release day. I have too much to say.

Before I Let Go is second-chance romance done right, Yasmen and Josiah are far from perfect. A divorced couple, parents, and business partners, who are trying to find a way to pick up their lives and move on after tragedy and broken hearts. Through her protagonists, Ryan builds and portrays an genuine, realistic, and honest couple. She also accurately depicts the effects of loss and divorce on children and teens, which I found to be a really moving aspect of the story.

This book is a slow burner, with the author adding plenty of tension and angst to an already strained relationship. It's clear Yasmen and Josiah belong together, that their hearts are inclined to one another, and they take their time coming to realise this for the second time. It's an emotional story, filled with heart-ache, but beautifully crafted and written with care. I can't wait for others to experience the soulmate magic in this romance!

I loved this. The story of this divorced couple, both healing from trauma that originally pushed them apart, now realizing that they never stopped loving each other, was so gorgeous and so full of love. I enjoyed the frank discussions of trauma, therapy, and healing from some truly difficult life situations, how these types of things can push people away from those who love us the most, and how true healing means owning up to mistakes and asking for forgiveness. Despite the heavy subject matter in this book, there was such a brightness to it - the characters were real and vibrant, the story jumps off the page, and I fell in love with this town and these wonderful people. I am delighted to see that it's a planned series and I can't wait to see which character Ryan focuses on next.

There is so much I could say about this book. The writing is impeccable and I could feel each emotion of the 2 main characters. Being married myself, I have sometimes felt how these 2 described their own emotions throughout the story. Reading this was hard, there was no clear cut path to a happy ending and I appreciate that. I would recommend this book to everyone I know.

Emotions, emotions, emotions, that’s what Kennedy Ryan stories are full of and this book has them. Before I Let Go is an angsty second chance love story that keeps you turning the pages to read more. Yasmen & Josiah were definitely soulmates and I enjoyed reading the heartache expressed in their story because it felt so real to me. I look forward to reading more from Kennedy Ryan in the future.

Easily, easily one of the best books I read this year. There is something so profound, something so poetic in which the way Kennedy Ryan writes. This is my first book by her, and it will not be my last. This book is about second chances, grief and finding how to love yourself but also how it has always been them. always. These two made me melt, truly. The angst in this was incredible and so was the development. You don't get to see this kind of love story often but it is truly something that people should write more of. This book does second chance so well, and in a way that is not often done. This about two people who were once married, and so deeply in love who now how to navigate being partners in life but knowing that nothing will replace each other. There are triggers of grief in this, of loss and this is truly a grown folk's romance. This is the second chance for grown folks and I truly appreciate this. One of the best love stories I read this year, I could've stayed with them for much longer and I hope we get glimpses of them in the future.

*Received a copy for review.*
I know when I pick up a Kennedy Ryan book, I am in for an emotional ride. The writing is always beautiful and the story is always powerful, but I have to be in the right place to read it.
The first time I started this book, I wasn’t ready. I knew I was not in the right space to give this book the focus it needs. I was not centered enough for the emotions. I also knew that I would love it when I was ready to receive it.
This is the ultimate 2nd chance romance. It is not a couple who fell in love young and then one ran away from the other for some reason. This couple is two people who are deeply in love, who experienced unimaginable loss that neither knew how to process. They fell apart in different ways and lost one another.
It is not an easy read. There were so many times that my eyes filled with tears or my throat closed up. These two people have such a deep connection and the way that it broke was so relatable and yet devastating.
There are so many things about this book that are amazing. It is a deep, painful story. A beautiful, raw look at how tragedy can rip at the bonds we build.
Finding your way through the darkness of loss often has casualties. Relationships, foundations, jobs, and joy can all be lost.
I have never read a second chance like this. It’s not just about the couple but the family and forgiveness.
It’s stunningly sharp and viscerally real.

This book was AMAZING! I usually don’t like romance but I really appreciated this book. It felt realistic (which I truly appreciate & love) and didn’t feel over the top at all.
I enjoyed the perspectives of both Yasmen and Josiah; and it gave a lot more to their story. The writing was superb and I definitely recommend it.

I think there was only one typo I believe (it should be there rather than they’re in chapter 5 (loc 959))

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan is a beautifully written second chance romance. Two years after their amicable divorce, Yasmen and Josiah are trying to move on.

Once a passionate couple, they struggled to connect after great loss and grief. Yasmen grappled with deep depression while Josiah repressed his grief. Their inability to communicate ultimately led to their divorce. Even as they try to move on, Yasmen and Josiah are constantly are drawn back together through their children, shared business and supportive community.

I loved this book, the story, Kennedy Ryan’s writing which put choke hold on my heart. I especially loved the passion between Yasmen and Josiah. Their physical attraction and chemistry is palpable and so obvious to everyone around them. They’re both really likeable and caring characters who have tremendous growth throughout the story. The cast of supporting characters, including the children, were all written with tremendous love and empathy.

Was this a steamy love story? Absolutely. But what really landed for me is that sometimes the journey to growth and wellness is one that is traveled alone, and there will be mistakes made along the way. Excellent representation for mental health, getting help for depression, and the positive impact of finding the right therapist.

Be on the look out for content warnings. A few include: grief, child loss, depression and suicidal ideation.

Five stars. I hope everyone who needs this book, finds it.

I don’t really know how to review a book that put me through so many emotions. BEFORE I LET GO was a raw look at what life is like after divorce and the journey that got them there.

Yasmen was a heroine I related too. Not just for being a mother but for herself doubt, her struggles with depression and her worries that she wasn’t the mother she thought she should be. My heart physically hurt for her because I know what depression can do. It tells you lies every day that you’re not good enough. That your family would be better off without you. And just getting out of bed is a feat in itself. I admired her though for pulling herself out of that dark well of sadness and making herself and her mental health a priority. She proved it’s ok to put yourself first and it’s ok to ask for help. Every day you work at it and little by little Yasmen started to feel like herself again. She didn’t do it alone though and I loved the support she had from her loyal, loving friends, her therapist and her family.

Now onto the romance. Being married myself I know how hard you have to work at a marriage sometimes. It’s not easy and what Yasmen and Josiah lost only added to the strain. They were two ships passing each other in the night, silently struggling alone. I understood both of their sides and it was heartbreaking to see. While I adored Yasmen, Joshiah I never quite warmed up to. I know he was in pain, but I feel like he didn’t try hard enough, and he put a lot of the blame on Yasmen. Then how he handled his new relationship just pissed me off. His behavior was selfish and sometimes cruel and call me petty, but I just couldn’t get over that. I did appreciate that he took the steps to better himself and finally saw where Yasmen was coming from. They did truly love each other and though their journey was hard, the end was worth the trials.

I read this book in one sitting. It consumed my thoughts and left my emotions in a tailspin and while I didn’t love everything, this book has my heart. Not just for the romance (beautiful if not flawed), but for giving a voice to those that struggle every day. This is a book to show it’s ok not to be ok and our journeys won’t be like everyone else’s but as long as we keep trying the light will eventually find us. Thank you, Ms. Kennedy, for writing BEFORE I LET GO. Yasmen will stay with me a long time and I hope to be as aspiring as her someday. 4.5 Stars!

TW: Loss of a child (stillbirth), Depression, Divorce.

*Thank you to Forever publishing, Kennedy Ryan and Netgalley for this e-Arc.

Yasmen and Josiah are going on two years divorced after suffering two losses that tore them apart. They’re coparents, business partners, and obviously not over each other. The thing is, the way Josiah characterizes the split and the way Yas does…that gap is miles long, and it never closed to my satisfaction.

One of the hallmarks of their relationship is the difference in the way they handle trauma, and unfortunately for them, there is plenty of it to go around. Throughout the book, it is clear that as a reader, you have every reason to root for them. Despite that, Josiah really frustrated me, and I struggled to reconcile his internal monologue about the months leading to their split with the image of him that Yas was clinging to. Their daughter…whew parenting is really beyond me. I loved the strong community they built around their family, particularly in Yas’ best friends (someone needs a divorce asap), and the regular interjections from therapists.

Tread lightly if depictions of death or pregnancy are concerns for you, otherwise, absolutely recommend for fans of second chance romances/marriages in crisis.

5/5 ☆

An incredibly emotional and beautiful story about two people learning how to navigate their grief and trying to find their way back to each other.

Before I Let Go is a second chance romance centered on divorced, Black couple, Yasmen & Josiah, who have gone through losses so unimaginable that it leads to the dissolution of their marriage. While trying their best to co-parent and run a successful business together, Yasmen and Josiah begin to butt heads when Yasmen finds out Josiah has started to move on. A new reality has settled in: maybe their marriage really is over. As Yasmen and Josiah work through their conflicted feelings for one another, they embark on a journey filled with healing and self-discoveries, trying their best to find a healthily way to coexist again.

Kennedy Ryan knows how to tug on your heartstrings and make you feel every single thing that these characters feel. Yasmen and Josiah's story is heartbreaking, unfair, and powerful. The journey that grief takes this couple on is wild and demonstrates that love isn't always the answer - you can love someone so much and still know that you can't be the one to fix them. I'm incredibly grateful that I was able to read their story - definitely a top 5 read of the year for me!

Thank you Forever and Kennedy for this ARC!

Tropes:
-One bed
-Second chance
-Forced proximity
-Mental health rep