Scan barcode
clarkf87's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
At the start of this book, we find Yasmen and Josiah have been divorced for two years and are still trying to figure out how to co-parent and move on from their failed marriage.
This story is about how unhealed, back-to-back traumas can ruin relationships, even a marriage as strong as Josiah and Yasmen’s, and the great lengths we must take to begin healing and understanding why we make the choices we do when we are at our lowest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: Abandonment and Grief
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
larndarn's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Miscarriage
booksalacarte'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? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Before I let go 5⭐️ 3🌶️
Second Chance Romance
Divorce
Found family
Therapy
Grief
Ptsd
This was such a beautifully heartbreaking, and at the same time, heartwarming book. The characters were so well flushed out and full. The writing was full of poetic inner monologues and glaringly real dialogue.
It felt like a love letter to therapy and the power that it has.
The character of grief is profound in this book. As someone who has lost in a similar way, not skirting around the grief but instead staring it in the face and explaining it in such a poetic way… it was so cathartic to read grief in such an open way.
I loved this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Alcohol, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Death, and Grief
jg34's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
THIS is. a. Love. story!!! It’s not pretty but it is also is beautiful. Does that make sense? Am I on a weird high after this book? I went on a JOURNEY.
This book deals with grief and loss in a heart breakingly real way. You can feel the pain through the pages (or headphones in my case). We catch this broken family two years after two tragic losses that tore them apart. They are rebuilding themselves and their relationships. They are opening up and putting in work in ways that were too painful before. And we get to watch it all!!
I love and feel for Yaz. After losing two family members back to back she is paralyzed by pain. Life keeps moving without her though and in her grief she makes the decision to end things with Josiah. A decision she bears the guilt for as she sees Josiah trying to move on and unable to trust Yaz anymore.
Josiah hides his pain. He keeps things running and needs Yaz and feels like a failure that he cannot fix her and bring the family back to how it was before. After Yaz gives up on them, his heart is broken and that loss is something he cannot cope with.
We watch them work through this with maturity and grace. It’s messy, kids are involved, friends and family opinions play a role, but can they come out on top????
Clearly this is not a lighthearted romance. Be ready for tears. But it’s worth it.
Final takeaway: everyone needs therapy!!!!
This book deals with grief and loss in a heart breakingly real way. You can feel the pain through the pages (or headphones in my case). We catch this broken family two years after two tragic losses that tore them apart. They are rebuilding themselves and their relationships. They are opening up and putting in work in ways that were too painful before. And we get to watch it all!!
I love and feel for Yaz. After losing two family members back to back she is paralyzed by pain. Life keeps moving without her though and in her grief she makes the decision to end things with Josiah. A decision she bears the guilt for as she sees Josiah trying to move on and unable to trust Yaz anymore.
Josiah hides his pain. He keeps things running and needs Yaz and feels like a failure that he cannot fix her and bring the family back to how it was before. After Yaz gives up on them, his heart is broken and that loss is something he cannot cope with.
We watch them work through this with maturity and grace. It’s messy, kids are involved, friends and family opinions play a role, but can they come out on top????
Clearly this is not a lighthearted romance. Be ready for tears. But it’s worth it.
Final takeaway: everyone needs therapy!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Child death, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Death of parent
jimins's review against another edition
emotional
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
read for a local library book club; honestly could have been shorter but i did enjoy what the author explored with this couple
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Miscarriage
demyajanayxo's review
emotional
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: Death of parent, Pregnancy, Grief, Miscarriage, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Dementia
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, Grief, Death of parent, and Mental illness
Moderate: Pregnancy, Addiction, Miscarriage, Chronic illness, and Emotional abuse
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, Miscarriage, Grief, Mental illness, and Death of parent
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, 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: Miscarriage, Death, and Sexual content