Reviews with content warning for Miscarriage - Before I Let Go

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

cayleyreads's review

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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.

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erklel's review against another edition

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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.

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telsreadingjournal's review against another edition

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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.

Content Warnings

delz's review against another edition

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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.

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eloiseatthelibrary's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful 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

This book made me cry multiple times, but was a beautiful story - looking forward to the next one in the series!

Content Warnings

sage_potter's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I have to gush over this book, it’s one of my favorite reads so far this year and definitely a new favorite. The author handled the topics of grief, miscarriage, divorce, coparenting, and therapy so beautifully. The journey Josiah and Yasmen take individually with their mental health and how they encourage their children to as well was everything.

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