This book is about loss and love, but mainly loss. Who we lose, what that loss takes from us, and how it transforms every part of our lives at the point when we are most vulnerable and incapable of seeing how much it fundamentally changes us. I’ve heard it described as a mix of women’s fiction and romance, but I think it’s heavily in the women’s fiction category.

I love Kennedy’s writing and reached for the book any time I had a spare moment, but the heart of the romance started much later than the beginning of the book. This book is heavy and a little long, but if you’re going into it knowing that it is a deep exploration of grief and depression, of clawing your way to the other side of it, or finding ways to sit with it, then this is the book for you!

5/5! Wow!

To call this book a 2nd chance romance feels incomplete. This was an exploration of grief and the journey to healing while also showcasing how 2 hearts/people meant for each other can find themselves back to each other but its going to take a lot of work.

What I appreciate most is the care and nuance and substance that is added here while still keeping many of the elements that make romance books special.

So beautifully written. I was a highlighting fool while reading this.

This book took you through a lot of emotions and brought to light so many issues people deal with everyday. It was not only entertaining but I feel like everyone could learn and take something from it. Kennedy Ryan has done it again with a wonderful book!!

CW: Depression rep and thought of suicide mentioned in past
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Review
I was absolutely hooked to this book the moment I started reading it.
Tropes:
🫶🏼Second Chance romance
🫶🏼Divorced couple with two kids
🫶🏼Great Chemistry
🫶🏼Only One Bed
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I really enjoyed this book. The author takes the time to show us how things are problematic between the now divorced couple and their slow progress into resolution. These two had no problem in the chemistry department and were always and still are very much attracted to each other.

However, there are things in their past that caused the divorce. It’s coming to terms with that, talking about it, and forgiving each other.
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I won’t spoil you with anything in this book. Overall,it’s a great story.
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My only issue (which is a me issue) is that I was always bored when I read the scenes with the female friendships. I didn’t feel like it added much to the story everyone the heroine and her friends met and spent time together. I was constantly skimming those scenes. Also, there was just too much inner monologue (it was necessary) for me as compared to dialogues. I was constantly skimming through the book. And if I am not compelled to read and absorb every word and if I’m not a 100% obsessed with the story, it’s not a 5 star.
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The Steam was good. Nothing extraordinary but it added more depth to their relationship.
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I recommend it. It was a great romance with lots of emotions, therapy and reconciliation. A great second chance romance.

This was a great story about love, depression, loss, growth, and second chances. It had my heart aching and my eyes tearing up, but it also put a smile on my face.. Yasmen and Josiah belong together, they have the type of love that people dream about, even while divorced. There are so many things that I loved about this book.I loved the small town feel of their neighborhood, the friendships, their relationships with their kids, and the restaurant setting. I loved that Kaseem and Deja were developed characters with realistic behaviors. Yasmen's friendships with Hendrix and Soledad are what we all want to have, some fun girlfriends that can talk about the hard stuff but also help you let loose. This book was heavier than I was expecting and the content warnings for this story could definitely be important to know about beforehand.

CW: loss of a loved one, loss of a child, depression, mention of suicide, divorce

5 wheel stars!

"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."

Do people remember the exact moment they fell in love? I do, I fall in love every single time with every Kennedy Ryan book that I read. Yas and Si are no exception, I loved and hurt for their story. It was beautiful, raw, real, soul-searching, and life changing. I don't know how I'll move on from this one, one of my favorite books of the year for sure. I encourage everyone to read this, but please check tw (mental health, depression, grief, loss). I also saw this is series, and I can't wait for what's next. I will forever keep asking for Yas and Si crumbs.

Yas and Josiah's book is so beautiful, and it starts with the beginning of their story. From the beginning I knew it was special. The book takes place years after the beginning as some things have changed--drastically. I was intrigued by Yas and Josiah's story from the beginning, and as the book progressed I was able to understand more about their story. Their story is not a straight line, there is bumps along the road. But it's clear to me that their love is everlasting as a wheel. Their story had me hurting and crying, but I also was so happy. My emotions were all over the place because this is such an emotional book. I was rooting for Yas and Si as a couple and as individuals. Ahh, the way they matured, the way their loved expanded, and the way they were able to understand their mistakes and the grief/loss. I loved Yas so much, and I whole heartedly agree, it's okay not to always be okay. The way Yas fought for herself, for her kids, and Si. It's never easy. Si, I loved him so much too. He came a long way from the beginning to the epilogue, seeing his journey was beautiful. Si's feeling were valid, Yas feelings were valid. We all process loss and grief differently, and I loved how Yas and Si in the process. Yas and Si are not perfect, they have flaws but they love with all their heart and it shows.

I actually loved all the side characters here. The girl squad (Sol and H!) is perfect. I was a little annoyed with Day, but I understand were she was coming from. & I can't wait to see what the series has in store with the next book. I need some Si and Yas crumbs please please.

once again, Kennedy has done it again. I will repeat, one of my favorite books. I always admired that Kennedy just keeps it real. I loved the awareness that Kennedy brings to mental health. Life is hard, so hard & I repeat again it's okay not to be okay. Here is to all the strong warriors fighting their battle with depression, grief and loss. It's not easy, but we'll get there. Wheels forever and till we meet again bc I can't wait for the next book.

Through the fire!

Josiah and Yasmen are a divorced couple, who when we are introduced to them, are successfully running a business together and co-parenting two children. But as we delve into their current dynamic, and get a closer look at how they ended up at this point…and where things stand moving forward, this is where it all starts to unravel.

When reading the synopsis for this story, I was drawn in by the possibility of a second chance at love for a once very happily married couple. And I was both anticipating and dreading the unveiling of what went wrong. But as the revelations that led to their present day status were uncovered, I realized that my emotions were heavily invested in this couple. To say they were tested in ways that for most would seem to be insurmountable is an understatement. And surprisingly, I didn’t choose a side, I was rooting for them both! The angst level is 10/10 and the heat factor is 100 degrees.

Combined with a supporting cast that adds to the narrative, this is a Kennedy Ryan story that you don’t want to miss. And if you’ve never read her work, it’s a great place to start! Definitely a 5 star read!

Trigger warnings: depression, complicated grief, still birth, passive suicidal ideation.

“Thank you NetGalley and Forever publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.”

Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Steam: 3/5
Plot: 5/5
Overall: 5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Kennedy Ryan for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Favorite non-spoilery quote: “I told her it wasn’t that I wanted to take my life,” she says. “But that I didn’t want to live it.”

This is my first ever book by Kennedy Ryan, and I’m pretty sure I picked her best book to start with. I’m torn between wanting to devour every book she’s ever written and never touching a single one of them because after this book, my expectations are quite literally in outer space. Before I Let Go is everything I want in a contemporary romance novel.

Let’s start with Yasmen, who was by far my favorite character. That’s not to say I didn’t absolutely love the rest of them, but she resonated with me so much. That quote I mentioned at the beginning is how I feel when my depression gets bad, but I hadn’t been able to explain it until I read that line. Yas’s experience with depression is very different than mine, but I felt it in my soul. Seeing her get back on her feet and able to live her life again was the highlight of this book for me.

I often find myself going into a romance novel with the expectation that the MMC’s entire personality will revolve around being hot and whipped. Josiah is definitely both of those things, but he’s also supportive, an incredible father, and he is willing to put in copious amounts of effort into fighting for what he wants. I didn’t relate to his character as much as I did Yas, but that’s because they coped with their grief in such different ways. I know that Josiah’s journey, heartbreaking as it is, will comfort many readers in the same way that Yasmen did for me.

The other characters in this novel stole my heart just as much as Si and Yas did. Their children, Deja and Kassim, are some of the best written kids I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. And this is coming from someone who doesn’t even want kids 😂. Yasmen’s best friends, Soledad and Hendrix, are freaking hilarious. The three women are so different yet they compliment each other perfectly. Soledad is an incredible mother, and Hendrix is the rich, childless badass I can only hope to become one day. Since BILG is book one of the Skyland series, I’m guessing (and hoping) that Hendrix and Sol will get their own books. 🤞

Before I Let Go is definitely joining the ranks of my favorite books, something I do not bestow lightly. If you’ve ever felt alone in your struggles with depression, I promise you are not. But if you want more reassurance, read this book. It wrapped my heart in a warm blanket of emotion I can still feel, even now.

TWs: depression, grief, suicidal thoughts, loss of a child, divorce

Let me tell you: this book is AMAZING. (Heed CWs but I’ll talk about them at the end)

It's a second-chance romance with grown folks: a passionate couple who fell apart due to tragedy and, as one of the MCs puts it, incompatible grieving.

Second-chances are hard to get right: If breakup was the choice previously, what changed? What IS changing? And does the thing still keeping them apart feel real or contrived? I want to understand the characters, and believe they are acting in ways that suit their backgrounds and past experiences.

Ryan absolutely delivers. Each step Yasmen and Josiah take towards reconciliation makes sense for them: we see the multiple catalysts for change and can watch the progression of them rebuilding their love and trust. And it's also very clear what is keeping each from falling into the other's arms.

I was a bit hesitant to read this because of the tragedy mentioned in the description. Crucially, the story opens as they have turned a corner in recovery, and things are looking brighter. So the MCs have the strength to deal with remembering, and almost all of the descriptions of the tragedies happen in the context of the MCs talking to each other. They start to forgive each other and themselves for mistakes and hurts. They are *healing*.

Now let's talk content warnings. I was a bit blindsided by a previous Ryan book, which warned about a theme that's not triggering to me personally. But that content went on and on, on-page, and in 'real time' as the character experienced it.

This book is *not like that.* Things are described enough to understand them, but that's all.

Details and content warnings: (view spoiler)

Let me reiterate: I truly felt that all of the above was handled gently and presented as part of a healing process.

Netgalley is how I got this ARC, all feelings are my own.

My first Kennedy Ryan read did not disappoint!

Before I Let Go is a powerful and raw story that centers around Yasmen and Josiah, a couple who fell in love fast and young, convinced their bond would carry them through life together, until the very end. Unfortunately, due to several unimaginable losses and the grief that followed, their marriage dissolved and navigating this new reality for their family has been anything but easy. As Josiah and Yasmen work to raise their two children and run their business together as seamlessly as possible, unexpected feelings and new connections complicate matters. With themes ranging from grief, parenting and friendship, the balance that Ryan delivered in Before I Let Go was so masterful.

When I was approved for and ARC of this book, I was so excited to finally jump on the Kennedy Ryan train. I've seen so much love for her work online and knew I was probably missing out on something great. In Before I Let Go, the element I was most struck by was the emphasis on therapy, both the value of it and the lack of shame one should feel if they seek out help to manage whatever it may be they struggle with. After so much pain, I felt so much hope as many of the characters shared a piece of themselves so they could learn and grow.

All at once, Josiah and Yasmen's romance was honest and lovely and moving. Though it is beautiful to think a commitment made with vows and rings will last forever, that is not always the reality of life given how people change over time and individuals experience events they rarely ever deserve, testing their faith and stability. After allowing time, distance and more to heal certain wounds and actions to repair others, the development of Yasmen and Josiah's new dynamic, as the people they have become after all they went through, was so inspiring.

Please do look up content warnings before reading. Though Before I Let Go was a wonderful read, it was a heavy one with mentions of depression, stillbirth, suicide and more.

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever and Kennedy Ryan for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks NetGallery for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I can't put into words how much this book made me feel and I hope a lot of people could read this once it's released because for me it meant a lot.

Both Yasmen and Josiah's journeys were so different but at the same time crucial in their divorce and I loved how the author handled them. Obviously the romance here was everything, I fell in love with them every chapter and the amount of angst had me sobbing the whole time. They were so realistic and relatable that I think I will never recover from their story.

I won't apologize for the person I'll become the day of the release!!!

This is a 5/5! I’ve read a lot of romance novels and this is my favorite! This was so good and beautiful! I loved Yasmen & Josiah’s relationship - the ups & downs they still loved each other deeply. It felt very real, honest and mature. Divorce couple, with two kids and a business sounds like chaos but Yasmen and Josiah’s were mature adults and handled their priorities first and their feelings towards each other last. I love how Kennedy Ryan showed the benefits of therapy. As black people we are against therapy because we think you have to be sad or crazy to have a therapist. But, we were shown the different dynamics between each character and their therapist. Everyone experience is very different! I am so happy to have receive this arc from @readforeverpub - I can’t wait to read another book from Kennedy Ryan.

Some authors carve out special spaces for readers where they can be awed by the prettiness of words, or some tell a story that sticks with you beyond the last word, and then there's Kennedy Ryan. Before I Let Go takes us on a journey of a couple overcome by so much loss that the only way they can survive is to separate. We travel with Yasmen and Josiah as they learn to come to grips with the echoes of unchecked grief and how the devastation of loss feels so final. I was in tears, rooting for love and hoping for its restorative power. I have been a fan of Kennedy Ryan and this book has reminded me why.

Before I Let Go is an adult romance by Kennedy Ryan. In this book, we follow Yasmen and Josiah, a divorced couple who co-own a restaurant and are trying to do-parent their two children. After a series of hardships drives a wedge between them, they are finally starting to get back to normal life. But sometimes when two people are magnets, it makes it impossible to stay apart. Can they keep going just staying friends or are they simply meant to be together?

I have never read a Kennedy Ryan book. She was an author that I always heard amazing things about to the point where I was scared to pick up one of her books because I was scared of being disappointed. When I saw this arc available to request on NetGalley, I decided to give it a try and boy, am I happy I did.

Of all the romance tropes that exist, I think my least favorite is second chance romance. I don’t like it. It almost never works. In order for a second chance romance to be believable, the author has to make you believe the couple loved each other, something happened that tore them apart, and somehow they end up working things out and getting back together. It’s a hard balance and usually relies on one or both characters being annoying. This book though. This second chance romance between to grown adults was different.

You can tell that even though they are divorced, Yasmen and Josiah still care about each other. The reason for the divorce makes sense. It is so refreshing to read a book about mature adults trying to get through life and not knowing what the right answer is all the time. This book doesn’t rely on miscommunication. When characters have an issue, they talk to each other about it. I will say there are more issues with not knowing how to communicate because of hard situations. But that is completely different than miscommunication.

This book is very therapy positive. Life is hard and there is nothing weak or bad about needing to get some therapy and I loved how this book discussed that. The way Josiah learned more about himself through therapy was refreshing.

The side characters were superb. Yasmen has an amazing group of friends that help each other and support one another. The kids felt like kids. They were behaving how kids those ages would behave in the situation they were in. I find often kids in books are used as a plot device and don’t feel organic but these kids didn’t feel like that.

I could go on and on about how much I enjoyed this book. While I love messy, toxic romance books, it is so refreshing to see mature people handle their problems. This is a book for “grown folk” as Kennedy Ryan pitched it. It said in the author’s note that this is the first book she wrote and she actually wrote it 15 years ago. It has been tweaked since then but the general story is the same. I am so grateful this book exists and k can’t wait to buy it when it comes out this fall.

Content warnings for death of a loved one, miscarriage, passive suicide ideation.

Yaz and Josiah Wade had it all. The house, the kids, the business. They were college sweethearts still madly in love. Until life dealt them one devastating event after another. Now divorced for 2 years and co parenting as well as being business partners things are warming back up between them. But after the heartbreaking divorce is a second chance at love even worth the risk?
This book made me cry so hard. The events they went through are very similar to things that happened to me. The dual POV between Yaz and Josiah gave tremendous insight into how there's more than one side to a story. It also shows how differently people can handle adversity and trauma. Mistakes were made and although they deeply regretted them the damage was irreversible. The story almost made me feel like I was crying and healing with them.The writing was realistic and although they loved each other there was still a deep resentment for the others actions. I felt every raw emotion of wanting to be with someone you resent. Second chance romances are only good if done well and this one was spectacular.
I think the only thing I can critique is I wanted more. I hope there's more to come of Josiah and Yazmen.

This book converted me into a second-chance romance fan!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC! This is a book that makes you believe in love and just how powerful it can be! Josiah and Yasmen are a divorced couple and they’ve been through a lot together. This is really the story of how they find their way back to each other. This journey is emotional and heartbreaking at times because of the things that they’ve been through. The way that I was rooting for this couple! I was so desperate for them to be together. I was on the edge of my seat with the anticipation building on every page! The dynamics of their situation gave the space for a lot of reminiscing and pining (all the stolen glances and angst!). I also loved how fun, spontaneous, sweet, and hot this book was because I fell in love with Josiah and Yasmen and their love and desire for each other is at the heart of it! I did cry a lot but I think this story is so satisfying because it encompasses all these different factors that go into a relationship. It’s not easy, there’s a lot of grief, pain, and loss but there’s also a lot of comfort and joy. And love does prevail and that is very impactful! I know this is a book that will stay with me for a long time!

If you are looking for a quick and easy romance, this isn't the book for you - in the best way possible. This is a deep, soul-searching, messy, sad, hopeful, second chance romance. Kennedy Ryan has written such a well-rounded novel. Yasmen and Josiah have suffered great tragedy, and then ended their marriage in the midst of it all. We catch up with them two years later, as they are attempting to run their business together and co-parent their children. I love that we get both points of view, and we really get to see both Yasmen and Josiah growing and changing as individuals. There is a great host of characters that add comraderie, friendship, family. Their children are written really beautifully as well, and I love how we get to explore the relationships between the kids and their parents, as well as within the family unit. Yasmen and Josiah's relationship and marriage, while the ending may seem inevitable, we get so much tension. The issues between them, their difficulties, and their arguments feel so raw and real, in a wonderful way. I felt swept up in this story and in the entire ambience of Skyland and Grits, their restaurant. I also loved the way Ryan wrote the book in such a way as that while both characters begin to date other people, neither of those characters are villainous - its actually quite the opposite. I found this refreshing, as often times the "other woman" can be written as a villain. Such a great book! That all being said, there are w lot of content warnings: loss of a child, loss of a loved one, divorce, depression, discussion of suicide. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest reivew.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Yasmen and Josiah have been together since college, now as adults they have two kids and own a restaurant together, but when tragedy strikes they grow apart and end their marriage.

I loved how realistic this second chance romance was. The emotional journey that the couple goes on to work out their tragic past and communicate showed true character growth. I thought Kennedy’s writing was very heartfelt and brought awareness to mental health!

Before I Let Go - Kennedy Ryan ❤️


Josiah and Yasmen’s fairytale marriage had come to an end and what was left behind was bitterness and resentment. How do you recover from losing the love of your life while they are still walking around breathing?

The devastating blows between this couple and how they coped brought me to tears…. The writing in this story made these characters on the page humanlike, where you saw their fears and felt their pain. I was enveloped in the talent that is Kennedy Ryan! A must read for the human soul. A must read for anyone who has experience devastating loss. A must read for anyone who believes in love.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Before I Let Go
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 11/15/22
Author: Kennedy Ryan
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Pages: 400
GR: 4.81

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Their love was supposed to last forever. But when life delivered blow after devastating blow, Yasmen and Josiah Wade found that love alone couldn’t solve or save everything. It couldn’t save their marriage. Yasmen wasn’t prepared for how her life fell apart, but she’s is finally starting to find joy again. She and Josiah have found a new rhythm, co-parenting their two kids and running a thriving business together. Soon, one stolen kiss leads to another…and then more. It's hot. It's illicit. It's all good—until old wounds reopen. Is it too late for them to find forever? Or could they even be better, the second time around?

My Thoughts: This story is compelling, raw, real, and very accurate for many households across America. Ryan has created this poignant story of love, loss, grief, anger, humor, and happiness that everyone needs to read! I just don’t think words could properly express the rollercoaster of emotions I felt while reading this story. The characters were so well developed, well fleshed out, flawed, emotional, relatable, and creatively on point. The author’s writing style was complex, beautiful, heart wrenching, intriguing, flowed effortlessly, thought provoking, brilliant, and kept me engaged throughout the story. This is the type of book that will stay with me long after I read it. There are not a lot of books that really dig into me emotionally, where I would love to read again for the first time, this is one of those books. This book would be a brilliant choice for a book club. Reviewers typically use a 5 star rating system, this book is more like 10 stars! This book does not release until November, but do not wait until then, preorder right now! I do believe this book will be a top seller, it is that powerful.