Yasmen and Josiah had that forever kind of love but when life delivered blow after devastating blow, their marriage couldn't survive. They find a steady rhythm co-parenting and running a business together. Somehow they always end up drawn back to each other and are now wondering if they're actually ready to let go of everything they once had. A stolen kiss leads to more and it's all good until old wounds reopen.

This book really makes you feel all the feelings. It felt so raw and real. Ryan does an amazing job helping us empathize with the characters and their situation. We see Yasmen on her healing journey from depression and I feel like so many people will be able to relate or find hope in that. I also loved her female friendships. Everyone needs a couple of solid friends who have your back. There is some heavy subject matter so make sure you look up the triggers if necessary.

4.5/5 rounded up to 5.

Thank you Forever and NetGalley for the ARC!

Before I Let Go is an achingly raw and emotional story about the trials and tribulations of life after loss. Where do I even begin?! I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to Kennedy Ryan. It is exactly as they say - she is a romance writing powerhouse. As a lover of the second chance romance trope, I was absolutely entranced from beginning to end. I experienced every intricate emotion while reading, even the ones I didn’t believe myself capable of. Needless to say, this is a story so compelling, I read it in one sitting and would without a doubt, do it again if given the chance. There is not a day that goes by where I don’t think about Yasmen and Josiah.

The plot was thorough and clearly well planned out. Every decision the characters made, or didn’t make, was done with intention. There were many plot points that I expected, but yet still found myself being taken aback by because of the gut-wrenching manner in which it is written.

The centric narrative of the story focused on de-stigmatizing the conversations and beliefs surrounding mental health. Like many others, I’ve struggled with the idea of therapy, believing that I am too “happy”, amongst many other reasons, to be in need of it. Instead of playing into these stereotypes, Ryan discusses therapy in a positive light, encouraging even the most “put together” individuals to seek the guidance they may need, going to show that there shouldn’t be a one size fits all approach when it comes to taking care of our emotional well being. In this story, there was no “perfect ending.” Just two individuals that grew stronger together than they were apart.

May I just say, it is so refreshing to read about adults acting like adults. Ryan doesn’t shy away from open communication and delivering hard truths that are difficult to swallow most, if not all of the time. Yet, there is not a universe that exists where I am not rooting for Yasmen and Josiah not only as a couple and family, but as individuals. The strength it took for the ex-lovers to co-parent and co-own a business all within the midst of struggling with the ghosts of their past is admirable, to say the least. As someone that is trying to navigate life while dealing with the unimaginable grief that coincides with loss, reading about characters that are trying to cope under similar circumstances makes my own pain seem more bearable. It’s an odd sense of comfort that I’m not sure many could understand. Their love is one that stands to last the test of time; true soulmates until the very end.

The angst and burning desire flaming between the two kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire journey. The chemistry between Yasmen and Josiah was electric and let me just say, *those* scenes did not disappoint. Most definitely worth the wait. Before I Let Go is the epitome of a proper slow burn.

With a dual POV structure (Yasmen and Josiah), the reader is able to experience every emotion in great depth, taking on alternating perspectives that challenge their outlooks on Yasmen and Josiah's relationship as it once was, is, and will be.

Even the supporting characters were layered and proved that family, blood or not, is the most powerful love of all. Our trio: Yasmen, Soledad, and Hendrix were serving some serious girl power.

I would also like to point out that this seems to be the first book in an ongoing series. Henceforth, it only seems right to manifest Soledad and Edward’s book next because there were too many unanswered questions for my curious mind to bear.

My words will never be enough to do this book justice, but let me just conclude by saying this was by far, one of my best reads of 2022. A shining 4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with this ARC via Netgalley.

Another book picked solely for the cover. Gorgeous.

Oh shit, is this a romance?

And, 400 pages?!?!??!

😭😭😭😭

I'm checking back 100 pages in...

.

Well, the good news is that I forgot to check back 100 pages in and am now almost half way through the book.

I found the first 1/4 of this book very engaging. It's extremely character driven, and I do tend to prefer a more plot driven book, but I did like all the characters.

A young couple suffers a tragic loss that ends their marriage. Through processing their grief and coparenting their children, they start to reconnect. Will they reunite as a couple or move on?

Towards the half way point, I started to find things extremely repetitive.

You are hot. No, you are hot. I want to have sex with you. Me, too.

And, so it goes.

I did appreciate the attention given to mental health and destigmatizing therapy, but I felt like much of that got overshadowed by the description of broad shoulders and vanilla scented skin.

This appears to be the first book in a series (Skyland). I certainly wish the author the utmost success in that endeavor. I think the buck stops here for me, though.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you Netgalley and Forever Pub for the ARC.

Available - 11.15.22

Kennedy Ryan has been an auto-buy author for me since I devoured the GRIP series, and BEFORE I LET GO is another winner! Ryan is a magician at weaving words together that sink into your skin, and her description of grief was some of the most visceral and haunting prose that I’ve read in a long time. I’m not ashamed to say that I unintentionally stayed up the entire night to finish this book because I was that invested in the story.

"Grief is a grind. It is the work of breathing and waking and rising and moving through a world that feels emptier. A gaping hole has been torn into your existence, and everyone around you just walks right past it like it’s not even there."

See what I mean?

What made me fall in love with Yasmen and Josiah as a couple, and root hard for their HEA, was ultimately their connection to each other. Ryan did an excellent job writing the characters in such a way that you felt their connection jump off the page from the start of the book, which grounded the rest of the story. These are two people who experienced immense losses together and had incompatible coping mechanisms, which ultimately led to the demise of their marriage. BEFORE I LET GO is a story about two people coming back together, yes, but it is also a story about the heartbreaking and gut-wrenching work it takes to come out of a dark season, the pervasive ways that depression and complex grief wreaks havoc in our lives, the importance of therapy (holler to “on-scene” therapy done right!), a guide to positive co-parenting, a love letter to Atlanta, and the strength of female friendships.

Ultimately, if you enjoy reading about grown folks actually acting like grown folks, emotional wringers, spicy scenes, and well-developed main and side characters, then this book is for you.

BEFORE I LET GO is the first book in the Skyland series, and I for one cannot wait to read the next one.

Plus…how gorgeous is that cover!

What a roller coaster of emotions. This book is raw, full of passion, grief, depression and forgiveness.

Every page was full of heart wrenching dialogues, I would give this 10 stars. My review will never make this book justice.

Absolutely exceptional!

I had the pleasure of reading an early copy of Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan. I'm still struggling to put into words how much I love the story! I finished almost two weeks ago and I still do not know how to express the evertythingness Before I Let Go is.

The characters were so real, flaws and all. It shines light on loss, forgiving ourselves and those around us, and discusses therapy in a positive light, encouraging people to seek it without shame - even those that don't believe it can work for them. It is every emotion in every depth that you could possibly want in a book. Kennedy fleshes out the most complex thoughts from different angles and perspectives.

This book changed how I view many aspects of my life. This book changed who I am as a person.

A second chance slow burn romance about a couple that has a decade of history and a family connecting them....and how grief and depression pulled them apart.

I am in awe of this book, Kennedy Ryan has outdone herself with portraying a couple that feels so real you feel like you know them while also creating a romance that feels so good you can only wish about it. This is a story about a couple that was destroyed by grief and 0 communication and how they heal individually and get sucked right back in to their love for each other.

There are pages and pages of beautiful and raw thoughts about being depressed and not dealing with your emotions and making the decision to improve yourself and realizing you need to accept the you that comes after a tragedy.

This story contains not only romantic struggles and personal struggles but also family struggles and dealing as responsible parents with your children's expectations and well-being and their resentment. It's a slow process to the happily ever after but it was amazing seeing how this family got back on their feet.

The sex was scorching hot while also being so intimate and changing as they accept their feelings for each other. This man was obsessed!!! He couldn't get enough and I loved it.

I can't wait to read more from this series because wheeeew, Ryan can definitely write.

Kennedy Ryan is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I requested this when it was free to everyone, a good friend let me know the trigger warning and since we just found out we’re pregnant I’m going to wait to read this for a bit due to the child loss aspect. Thank you for this copy and I have purchased a physical top!

I truly can’t praise this book enough! There were so many parallels to my own life in this book, that oftentimes I felt like I was reading my own story. I felt all of the emotions from both Josiah and Yasmine. We cried together, laughed together, grieved together and loved together; I’ve never had a book take me on such an emotional roller coaster as this one!

I will absolutely be purchasing the actual book when it’s released.

Anything by Kennedy Ryan I just know is gonna be a hit. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and think it's potentially her most personal book, and it shows. The writing is wonderful and in true KR fashion, she takes on some big topics but it never feels like she's trying to do too much. I am a sucker for a second chance romance so I loved the tension here and the rekindling of the relationship between Yasmen and Josiah. The discussions around grief and depression are thoughtful and I loved Josiah's journey with therapy! Kids in romance can also go either way but Kassim and Deja really added to the story and felt like real kids.

This one is setting up for a series and I sincerely hope the other books focus on Hendrix and Soledad-- the female friendship in this book shone almost as bright as the romance, which I loved.

While Kennedy Ryan typically takes on some heavy topics, this might be one of her heaviest so definitely take care before reading. TW: miscarriage, stillborn, death of a family member, depression

"I've learned that life isn't about taking what you deserve, it's about getting all you can while you can because it's short. Because it's fickle. Because it takes when we least expect it."

What You'll Find:
✔️Second Chance Romance
✔️Divorced Couple
✔️One Bed Situation
✔️Angst & Emotion
✔️Healing & Hope
✔️Dual POV

And the academy of romance books awards goes to... Before I Let Go.

Before I Let Go tells the achingly raw and beautiful second chance story of a divorced couple meant to be. Coparenting and running a business together after tragedy tore them apart. And their story is heavy. It is real. And it hurts. I was on an emotional rollercoaster of heartache and angst. But I did not want to get off. So I didn't. I read this entire book in one sitting. And I would do it all over again, it is that phenomenal.

This story is about love that lasts the tests of time. And they were surely tested. The pain is palpable. The angst is heart wrenching. But there are slivers of humor. Of strength. And hope. This story is not just a love story, it's an incredible story of perseverance and self love/care that is incredibly relatable and inspiring. Many will feel seen. I know I did.

But have no fear, it also does not lack the slow burning chemistry or steam that I've come to love from this author. "He doesn't have to fumble or search or guess. His body knows mine." There was so much depth to these characters. So many layers that I loved seeing the author peel back. Even when it hurt. Especially when it hurt.

There is no lack of strong friendship and family ties either, that only add to the reading experience, and leave you excited for more. I do not want to say too much about this story. I just think you should read it. Kennedy Ryan is truly a powerhouse in romance writing. This book deserves all the awards in world and a place on the big screen. Can't wait to see this book shine upon release!

6 "I remember the way" Stars!

*I received an ARC from Forever Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and given freely.

This book, while well written, fell flat for me. Yasmen annoyed me immensely and I didn’t root for anyone in this except for the recipes. All of the right elements were there but I couldn’t connect with them. Would definitely recommend as a second chance romance rec

I discovered Kennedy Ryan this year after reading her book Reel and I have been obsessed with her (and her work) ever since! I thought Reel was my fave but Before I Let Go has taken its spot!

This story is a beautiful story of true soulmates finding their way back to each other again after pain and loss thrusts them apart. Kennedy has a way of making you feel her characters emotions and it’s no different with this book. The pain and sadness that both Josiah and Yasmeen have, you feel yourself go through the motions with them. It can be draining but the love they have for each other is enough to help you through it.

Every supporting character plays an important part to the storyline, and some will have you laughing like you’re sitting beside your own friends.

This is the beautiful love story I have ever read and trust me, I have read a lot. Lol. Bravo Kennedy! Thank you so much to Netgalley and Forever Pub for the ARC!

I was so excited to be approved for BEFORE I LET GO - it not only was getting major buzz for new releases but I have heard great things about tKennedy Ryan's books.

Before I Let Go was such a beautiful book and honestly, it surpassed what I thought it was going to be. Do yourself a favor and read this romance novel even if they aren't your jam. The love between Yasmin and Josiah is absolutely life altering and breathtaking. A rollercoaster of emotions with heartbreak and hope will lead you down an interesting path. Layer that with the pain and grief the family endures and this book will you you contemplating it all - it is a rare emotional experience.

The relationships in this book are beautiful - between friends, family, siblings and lovers. Each one is unique and beautiful in their own way. This is not a fast read but one you will one to stick with.

Ryan intertwines mental health and therapy so eloquently into this book too - if you struggle this is a book for you.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this digital ARC

This story tore me apart then put me back together. This story hurt to read in the best possible way. We follow Yasmin and Josiah as they navigate co-parenting in the aftermath of divorce and two traumatic events. They have to work through how to move on for something that they never thought would end. The love Josiah and Yasmin share is one we all dream to find. To have someone that you can be with till the wheels fall off. I laughed, I cried, I was angry. Kennedy Ryan weaved this story together so beautifully. The emotions she brought out of me through the course of this book made me feel personally invested in these characters. For the first half of the book it was like knowing a train was about to crash but being unable to look away. I could not put it down till I knew exactly what was going to happen. This book takes the spot as top 5 for the year. Would love to see this be a movie.

Review Review to be posted on TikTok the week of release. Review posted on Goodreads.

Rating: 5/5
Warnings: Depression, Child Loss, Divorce, Grief
Steam: 3/5

Thank you Forever and NetGalley for access to this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Before I Let Go will be released on November 15th, 2022.

I really want to write a proper review because this will be one of my top books of 2022 but this is all I have:

My soul has left my body.
I am emotionally unwell in the best way.
Why is this book over?
I'm actually sobbing, I'm not okay.

Yeah, that's my review for the time being.

Kennedy Ryan always knows how to make a romance that takes you on an emotional journey. Before I Let You Go, is a the love story of Yesmen and Josiah who has been divorced for 2 years. This book has a lot of heavy topics that deals with mental illness and death of a child. The story is so well told about the how a divorce impacts not only the couple but their children as well. I love Yesmen's friends and look forward to reading their stories.

Thank you @readforeverpub for a copy of the book.

4.5 stars
All I have to say is wow... this novel by Kennedy Ryan is absolutely amazing. "Before I Let Go" is about a divorced couple trying to balance being co-parents and business partners since they own a restaurant together. Yasmen and Josiah have been lovers since college, and they have faced many personal losses in their life, resulting in their divorce. Over time, they begin to realize they still have feelings for each other. This book was everything I wanted and needed in a romance novel; it also capitalized on Black love and Black excellence, which is amazing to read about. This book was just incredible; there are no words that can describe my love for this book. There are a few triggers in this book, so be sure to do your own research. This book will be released on November 15, 2022, and I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy.

This author is an auto purchase for me every single time. Before I Let Go did not disappoint. This story navigates a divorced couple who still shares a restaurant business and fosters an enviable co-parenting relationship. You can tell from the onset that these people should still be together. The way this author unveils a story of loss and tragedy, you understand why a seemly perfect couple can disintegrate.

This second chance romance shows how divorce can affect relationships with your children. Yasmin and Josiah’s daughter is a tween, and you can tell she harbors resentment towards her mother. It’s unveiled later in the book why that is, but it was easy to guess since she’s a daddy’s girl.

I always love when characters have friends to talk to while navigating a budding or rekindle, in this case, of a romance. Yasmen has been in denial about her feelings for her ex-husband since she initiated the divorce. I love seeing that denial wash away and her accepting for herself that she still wants this man. “My mind and my heart ask if I’m sure. I hurt him. I know that, but does he have any idea how much he could hurt me? That if I give him my body, my heart can’t help but follow? I wish we’d talked sooner. Wish we’d gone to therapy. Wish I’d found the right therapist, the right meds, the right everything in time. It would have made a world of difference.”
Josiah’s inner monologue showed his struggles with trying to move on from his ex-wife. “I’ve fallen in love with a warrior woman who walked through fire, the one who came through stronger, reshaped by sorrow, reformed by grief, reborn by joy.”

Beautifully written, and it gives you all the feels. Mrs. Ryan did not disappoint!

I just reviewed Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan. #BeforeILetGo #NetGalley
www.netgalley,com

3.5 stars. Was good, writing great and overall enjoyed the plot. But thought it could have been shorter without as many side characters. Amd felt a little preachy with the therapy themes.