Scan barcode
daniallreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Am I evolving into an emotional romance queen?
Because if all tear-jerking stories are this good, I am throwing out all my rom-coms. (Kidding, I'd NEVER)
Real talk, this book is pure perfection. I think I was sold on to Kennedy Ryan's book as soon as I discovered how the entire story was focused on mental health. I love books that help promote a healthy noggin space. This book is all about experiencing loss & grief but how depression can affect not only you but all the people around you. Life is hard. You see that through the character in "Before I Let Go" and having a hand to hold when working through tough moments is so important.The moment that made my heart swell was when Josiah finally understands that therapy can be a helping hand when navigating tons of emotions. It made me laugh when him and Yasmin were rekindling their romance and he would immediately call in an emergency session with his therapist . Haven't we all had moments like this? We stan a therapist who respects our emergency melt down wishes.
I really respect romances that aren't just a love story. "Before I Let Go" is everything. Understanding loss & grief. The positivity of therapy and being gentle with your mental. Navigating a separated family. Friendships with a strong bond. Being strong to express your emotions.
But don't get me wrong, she delivers when it comes to the romance. I am still fanning my face over her from finishing this book four days ago. That school auditorium scene. ermygawd.
I highly recommend the audiobook. I thought everything about it was perfect. Wesleigh Siobhan & Jakobi Diem nailed the narration. Their voice acting fit the characters well. The pacing was perfect at 1.0 speed. The entire performance felt natural. It's easy to listen to. I found myself always excited to go back to listening.
🧡 Second Chance
🧡 Multiple POV
🧡 Dealing with Grief
🧡 Mental Health Rep
🧡SPICEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
🧡 One Bed
Because if all tear-jerking stories are this good, I am throwing out all my rom-coms. (Kidding, I'd NEVER)
Real talk, this book is pure perfection. I think I was sold on to Kennedy Ryan's book as soon as I discovered how the entire story was focused on mental health. I love books that help promote a healthy noggin space. This book is all about experiencing loss & grief but how depression can affect not only you but all the people around you. Life is hard. You see that through the character in "Before I Let Go" and having a hand to hold when working through tough moments is so important.
I really respect romances that aren't just a love story. "Before I Let Go" is everything. Understanding loss & grief. The positivity of therapy and being gentle with your mental. Navigating a separated family. Friendships with a strong bond. Being strong to express your emotions.
But don't get me wrong, she delivers when it comes to the romance. I am still fanning my face over her from finishing this book four days ago. That school auditorium scene. ermygawd.
I highly recommend the audiobook. I thought everything about it was perfect. Wesleigh Siobhan & Jakobi Diem nailed the narration. Their voice acting fit the characters well. The pacing was perfect at 1.0 speed. The entire performance felt natural. It's easy to listen to. I found myself always excited to go back to listening.
🧡 Second Chance
🧡 Multiple POV
🧡 Dealing with Grief
🧡 Mental Health Rep
🧡SPICEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
🧡 One Bed
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Miscarriage and Grief
jennaniho's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
If the song My Boo by Usher feat. Alicia Keys could be a book, it would be this one. It reminded me a lot of how Latine people also experience love, heartbreak, societal expectations and, more specifically, grief. Which is what this book focuses on and excels at.
Yasmen and Josiah, confront emotional repression, grief, and resilience, as well as the positive effects of therapy and mindfulness. Kennedy Ryan humanizes these characters to the point of making you identify them in people in your life. In Yasmen I saw my mother, my friends, while in Josiah I saw my father, my husband, and my uncle.
Is a truly inspiring story and a must read!
Yasmen and Josiah, confront emotional repression, grief, and resilience, as well as the positive effects of therapy and mindfulness. Kennedy Ryan humanizes these characters to the point of making you identify them in people in your life. In Yasmen I saw my mother, my friends, while in Josiah I saw my father, my husband, and my uncle.
Is a truly inspiring story and a must read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Abandonment
noodlesny's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
thisdiwata_reads's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, and Sexual content
sandstonelibrary's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, and Miscarriage
dwinn5's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I feel like i just got pushed down a flight of stairs… but in a good way? lol
Seriously, I should’ve known what I was getting into here, but somehow I wasn’t prepared with how much emotion this book was going to punch me in the face with. I’m genuinely not sure if I can ever read this book again, not because it isn’t good, but because I’m not sure I can personally handle it twice. It was such a heartbreaking story about two imperfect people in some very tough situations, and even when I wanted to scream at the pages, I felt so much empathy for both of them. I may not be a Colleen Hoover fan in the slightest, but she was not wrong with her little cover blurb. This was, in fact, real, raw, and magnificent.
All that being said, I will DEFINITELY be front of the line to read Soledad’s book when it comes out because our girl deserves a great love story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Miscarriage
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
cayleyreads's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A really lovely second chance romance full of Black love. I loved both Yasmen and Josiah, I loved the exploration of their parenting and therapy and how they were able to find their way back to each other. Just lots of love across the board. Each book I’ve read of Kennedy Ryan’s has been a romance with suspense and deep emotional impacts and this one was no different.
I had a couple issues with the pacing and would’ve loved slowing down during the re-building of their relationship. But I still really enjoyed this one and would definitely recommend.
I had a couple issues with the pacing and would’ve loved slowing down during the re-building of their relationship. But I still really enjoyed this one and would definitely recommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage and Pregnancy
erklel's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
a lot i liked in this book - lots of delving into mental health from different angles, parenting and complex dynamics from divorce, a relationship with a sense of history, a community around them you can deeply feel.
it eventually just started to feel repetitive - i get it, you’re deeply attracted to each other! you’re still extremely attached! and i found myself skimming through the second half.
it eventually just started to feel repetitive - i get it, you’re deeply attracted to each other! you’re still extremely attached! and i found myself skimming through the second half.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
telsreadingjournal's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I really liked this one! Kicking myself for not picking it up sooner!
I love Kennedy Ryan's writing, I knew within the first couple pages that this book was going to take me on a rollercoaster filled with emotions. Yasmen and Josiah's story both broke me and put me back together. I would recommend going into this book blind.
I love Kennedy Ryan's writing, I knew within the first couple pages that this book was going to take me on a rollercoaster filled with emotions. Yasmen and Josiah's story both broke me and put me back together. I would recommend going into this book blind.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Miscarriage
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
delz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Two people, two years out from their divorce have to admit to themselves and to each other the toughest truth of all, but will they? Yasmin and Josiah are partners in a thriving restaurant and co-parenting Deja and Kassim. They are both still getting over the losses that caused the divorce and almost lost them Yasmin’s life and their business. Yasmin and Josiah both are making an effort to move on in their own way. This was a beautiful mature love story that really shows misperceptions of mental illness and therapy. It shines a light on the benefits of therapy for anyone with a need, breaking down old stereotypes. You get both characters voices so that you see them from both sides. Before I Let Go, made me giggle and definitely had me bawling my eyes out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage