I was immediately drawn into this story with drama unfolding at the very beginning. I felt so much for Soledad and really found myself invested in how her story would end. Unfortunately my attention slowly dwindled. While I appreciated Soledad's journey and decision to "self-partner," I really think the repetitiveness and the influencer business annoyed me more than it endeared. All that said, I loved the author's writing style so I will definitely be reading more by her.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

After devouring the first book I was so excited to be approved for this book through NetGalley. This was a slow burn that I just gobbled up. The main characters were well developed and I instantly fell for Judah Cross. This will not be the last book I read of this author that’s for sure!

Wow. Kennedy Ryan is a powerhouse storyteller.

This is the second in the Skyland series, this story focusing on Soledad. In an evocative 400+ pages, we are front seat on her journey to rebuild her life after tragedy.

This story starts off heavy, and as a person going through a difficult divorce, the betrayal Sol experiences is emotional and hard to stomach. When she talks about "mourning" the death of her illusions and world, I felt so seen. But similarly, it's just as powerful to watch the main character face an incredible challenge, and to overcome it through the story.

As someone who has her whole life planned, designed, and perfect, Sol's life is changed forever as betrayal and disillusion alters her idea of forever. Sol is a powerful and admirable character, rebuilding herself and her life from the ashes of her ex-husband's hurt. A true phoenix. The ultimate love story of Sol and Judah -- a forbidden love -- feels satisfactory, genuine, and earned, because she's gone on this significant self-love journey. (Plus, Judah is major SWOON.) It's empowering and healing as a reader. A truly emotional and impactful story.

I also respect how this story is able to meaningfully convey meaningful messages about friendships, loss, partnerships, parenting, and self-love. And it's a Masterclass -- capital M -- in presenting the daily life of those who love and care for those with autism. A truly powerful representative novel that Kennedy has put great care into.

I do believe this book was a *bit* too long. I think it could have been edited for a sharper, more concise narrative. Some scenes and descriptions felt overdone, and like unnecessary filler. I also found myself pulled out of the story by some genuinely cringey bits, especially during intimate scenes. Words like "slurp" and "spurt" really put me off. Ha.

Overall, a deep, powerful read that I'm glad to have picked up.

Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

The first 30% or so of this book I inhaled. Yay... a plot! After that though... I had to force myself to keep going. There just wasn't a whole lot of believable tension between Sol and Judah and the whole self-love social influencer gig Sol had going on was a little nauseating. (I do find real life influencers annoying so this might just be a me thing). I know a lot of people really loved this book but for me it was... meh...

After a devastating break-up, Soledad is left to pick up the pieces for herself and her young daughters. When an unlikely man comes into the picture, Soledad must decide if she can trust him, and herself, enough to let him in.
God, Kennedy Ryan is just so good. She has an uncanny knack for filling her novels with so much warmth and emotion. I adore the way she writes about food, how smart and strong and funny and well-rounded her characters are, and the way she can balance of romance and intense, real-world issues.
Everyone told me this was even better than BEFORE I LET GO, but I think I preferred the first book. Don't get me wrong, this one is amazing, but something about the first book really did it for me.

This Could Be Us is the second installment in the Skykand series by Kennedy Ryan. Here we learn more about Soledad as she discovers her life with her husband is all smoke and mirrors.

This was a cute story. I loved how Soledad discovers her inner strength and falls in love with herself. I loved how Autism was presented and addressed in this story. I especially loved the nontoxic coparenting relationship between Judah and his ex wife. It was all a breath of fresh air…especially in a black novel.

Gah!!! She’s the best! I love her writing. She builds the tension, the spice!!, the story and the characters. Just amazing.

Kennedy Ryan has done it again!! I loved this installment of the series. Soledad in particular is such a nuanced character and goes through so much in this book. I loved following her journey. Judah is the perfect match for Soledad and I loved following his character as well.

I also really enjoyed the side characters, especially Soledad’s friends and Judah and Soledad’s children.

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: no one is writing romance like Kennedy Ryan. Such a beautiful story.

Thank you tremendously to NetGalley and Forever/Grand Central publishing for this advance copy of This Could Be Us, the highly awaited next installment of the Skyland series in exchange for this honest review.

I should start off by saying I have a very personal connection to this book, as one of our main characters Judah is an autism parent. Being the parent to a sweet little boy of my own that's been diagnosed as Level 3 and uses an aac device to communicate, I connected so deeply with Judah's journey, and I've felt every single situation he describes, and I've felt all of his feelings. Within the first 5 chapters, I knew this would be a 5-star book for me, and likely one of the best books I've read this year. I even messaged the author on Instagram to tell me how wonderful I felt the representation was portrayed, and her author's note describing her own journey was exceptionally meaningful.

Now, back to the book! Soledad and Judah's chemistry was palpable, and I totally bought that these two people were attracted to each other from the beginning, and I loved how complex Kennedy Ryan's writing weaved the struggles of attempting romance with a blended family, especially when you add in teenagers with extra needs, as well as embezzling crazy ex-husbands. I literally found myself rushing to finish what I was doing to get back to reading this book, I just couldn't get enough.

When I was going back in my journal, I classified this as a romance, but it is so much more than your typical troupe-filled romance - it's deep, almost borders contemporary fiction with a hint of romance, but it's addicting nonetheless. Thank you again to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review - I would recommend this book to everyone.

Are infinite stars a possible rating? Because this book deserves all the praise and love. The opening of this book had be immediately drawn in and invested. I know Soledad's book was going to be special and affect me deeply. I loved her journey of self discovery, creating a future for herself and her girls and owning who she was. We got to see so much growth from her character and even see bits of her grief from the loss of her mom and how bits of that helped her in her current journey. I loved the parts of her reading bell hooks and the journal she found of her moms, the part where her mom writes a reflection on changes in life being compared to a butterfly " when you hurt the way we women sometimes have to, when you lose so much. when the world ends over and over again, we are no longer butterflies. Those wings are much too fragile to carry us on and through. I am a hornet. I can love. and I can sting". I felt a little piece of me heal much like I'm sure it did for Sol and the reflection Sol has on this in the epilogue had me bawling. Then there is Judah, I wasn't expecting to resonate so much with the MMC of this book but the fact that he get so real about what its like being a caregiver to your child with high needs hit be so hard. I have never highlighted and sent my husband so many book quotes in my life but they encapsulated every thought and emotion I have had about being in a similar situation. Especially this one "as parents- I guess it's true for most parents, but I've definitely noticed in parents of disabled people- sometimes we fall into the trap of thinking sacrificing everything is the greatest measure of our love. We devoted everything to our kids who need more than most. That has consumed me for years. I thought that kind of singular focus expressed the highest form of love for my boys. Your journey, your list has shown me how much I neglected anything just for me. Maybe there's value to them seeing their father happy". The relationship the two of the build is really beautiful, full of mutual respect, honesty, trust and growth. This book was so powerful in so many ways, it's more than just a romance and one I will come back to time and time again.

Kennedy Ryan does it again!!!! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Such a talented writer.. I finished this book over within 48 hours! ( Thats quick for me )
For me what makes Kennedy’s writing so beautiful and gripping is how she takes real life situations and problems and some very heavy topics and weaves them into a gripping story where you feel like you are a part of the characters lives and are rooting for them… PLUS there is spice! Like I say real life love, magic, tragedy, hardships plus a happy ending… Thats what you get!!! Highly recommend!!!

I’ll start by saying this is my first book by this author and maybe I should try another.

This just wasn’t for me.

The characters were fine I just could not get into it no matter how long I tried.

It’s very well written I just couldn’t finish it.

my most anticipated read of 2024 and it did not disappoint.

Before I let go was the book that got me back into reading in 2023 so I was pressed to read this on release day and now I’m upset that I have to wait until 2025 for Hendrick story . Kennedy Ryan did her big one with this book and deserves all her flowers.

PS Judah is the epitome of a man that we all deserve ❤️

Kennedy Ryan has quickly become one of my automatic read authors! This series has not disappointed! A relatable female lead and a novel that will have you feeling all the emotions. I look forward to the next book and will be reading other books by this author in the meantime! #ThisCouldBeUs #NetGalley

When I say I had to wrestle myself to put this book down, I am not exaggerating. I was reading until 2 am in the first sitting!

Soledad's journey took us on a TRIP!!

I won't include spoilers, but if you're looking for a page turner, THIS IS THE ONE!

I especially loved the care and realness involved with the neurodivergent characters.

So well done! And if thus series doesn't become a movie or Netflix series, I WILL REVOLT!!!

I enjoyed “This Could Be Us” - it’s really the perfect follow up to “Before I Let Go”, however, it can be read as a stand alone.

While the book does feature a really beautiful love story between two of the characters, the real love story is the journey that the protagonist, Soledad, has while finding herself. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance, strong friendship themes, and a self-love journey!

This story is one of transformation,sisterhood, friendship,family and love. Soledad’s world literally came crashing down and she had to piece it back together with duct tape and prayer.
Judah is a single dad that is a workaholic that has found a healthy coparenting relationship with his ex wife. These two have an awkward initial meeting. But they keep finding ways to seek each other out, him more so.

Soledad is picking up the pieces to her life, raising her daughters, and trying to provide income for her family. She’s reinventing herself by using the shreds of her old life. She learning about herself and healing. She leans on her friends and family and while discovering herself she discovers things about her mom that helps her on her own journey. Now let’s be honest here for a moment. Yes, Edward was a horrible person, but I don’t feel sorry for Soledad because you married a white man with a racist mother and the rest of your family didn’t like him. There was a reason why. I applaud Soledad for fighting her way back from the pits of hell where Edward left her stranded. I applaud Soledad for finally accepting her hearts desires. I applaud Soledad for not being paralyzed in her situation.

This was a very well written story. I feel the romance was secondary but that’s ok because Soledad’s journey needed to be told . It’s a a slow burn for sure. The characters are well developed and very much someone you know. I enjoyed this story.

Kennedy Ryan is so good at this. She writes this incredibly heart-wrenching stories, but they don't feel maudlin. This Could Be Us is no exception. Soledad Barnes, who we met in Before I Let Go, is a marvel. She's one of those people who's always put together. She loves focusing on her house and her kids. And then her world comes crashing down, and she's got to find a way to make enough money for her family and hold everyone together and also deal with a truly loathsome ex-husband. And in the midst of this chaos, she connects with someone who had a hand in her downfall. This isn't a book with a big misunderstanding. It's one where we see if Soledad can get what she needs and trust herself enough to make it work with Judah, an accountant and primary parent to two autistic teenagers.

All of this seems wrought, and there's a lot going on here, but Ryan never lets it get overwrought. She has a sense of humor that comes through. She shows instead of just tells. More in the Skyland series! I'm glad that more people seem to be talking about Kennedy Ryan, but she still should be much more famous than she is.

I got an ARC from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to the @kennedyryan1, @readforeverpub and @NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

If you’d like to have your heart wrenched out, read this book.

If you want the slow burniest of burns, read this book.

If you like ‘if he wanted to he would’ve’ energy, read this book.

Damn @kennedyryan1 this was fantastic. The self love. The autism representation 🧩 The whole thing was glorious.

I'll admit, I had a hard time gathering my thoughts on This Could Be Us initially. I had no idea how to articulate what I felt reading this book in words. I experienced all the feels, y'all. And I knew whatever I had to say would not do this book justice. I will try anyway.

A while back I read Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan and fell in love with it. I loved how Yas and Sy moved through their relationship woes as flawed, every day people. And while their love story kept me turning the page until I was finished, it was the friendship group of Yas, Hendrix, and Soledad that truly captured me. It was the love, devotion, and support within their circle that truly warmed my heart.

I say all that to say this-- Soledad seemed like such a sweet, humble woman in BILG. But her husband was trash. When I found out Sole would be getting her own book, I could not wait to pull back the veil on her and Edward. This Could Be Us pulled back the veil, alright. And not in ways I expected.

This Could Be Us unfolds as Soledad, a stay at home supermom and wife finds herself at a crossroads in her marriage. Due to her husband Edward's lies and deceit, life is turned upside down. Sol is left to pick up the pieces while keeping the home stable for her 3 daughters. In Sol's journey to a different kind of life, she finds the unconditional love of her friends, a newfound devotion for her family, the love of a new man, and a fulfilling love of self.

While I don't want to give too much of the book away, I do want to point out one of the things I loved the most about This Could Be Us:
I love that this book details Sol's self-love journey. While Sol is left to deal with a failing marriage and a broken home on her own while her "husband" is in jail, Sol embarks on a beautiful self-love journey. Though her journey is not always a smooth one, she finds tools that help her become her best self for herself and those around her. Equipped with All About Love by bell hooks (one of my favorite books!), a supportive group of friends, and a man that is head-over-heels for her, Sol finds joy in self-dating, becoming a content-creator, and taking her cooking skills to the next level. I love this so much for her.

This book has been one of my favorite reads of the year and I have not stopped recommending it to everyone who will listen. Kennedy Ryan has become one of my favorite authors and I am loving how the Skyland series is unfolding. She can do no wrong in my eyes at this point! This book was everything and more!

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC of This Could Be Us.