Reviews with content warning for Cancer - This Could Be Us

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This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan

65 reviews

tjminus's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

As someone who loved Before I Let Go, the first book in this standalone series, I was really excited to read this book once I knew it was coming out. I still enjoyed this book and reading about Soledad's story. I do feel at times, it felt a little instalove-esque and almost leaned on this idea that if a man borderline stalks you it is romantic which is expected in romance novels, but I don't know if I loved it here.

This book also started this idea that Soledad was going to be on this self love journey, but I don't know it if was really fleshed out. I wish we got a longer timeline, like Soledad being single longer than just under a year and seen her ease her way back into dating rather than just jumping with Judah. Given her more time to really be on her own, but that is just me.

Overall, I still compelled to read because of Ryan's writing and her characterization work and I am excited to read Hendrix's story when it comes out!

Content Warnings

kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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

4.0

Content Warnings

shannahtan's review

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hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book heavily centers friendship like the first one, which I absolutely love.

Soledad leans on Yasmen and Hendrix when her husband 🚮, Edward, gets arrested for embezzlement. Hendrix even gives her $10,000 to help pay for Sol’s kids’ tuitions. She also is supported by her two sisters, Lola and Nayeli. They’re not in the same state and busy with their life things (moving to Austin to start a bookstore; 6 kids). Lola comes to visit and meets Hendrix, which is also a beautiful scene.

I only recently learned what a cinnamon roll hero is, and I’m pretty sure Judah Cross is that. The most supportive dad to Aaron and Adam who are autistic.

He falls first & is absolutely in love with Sol. He supports her “dating herself” goal.

Plenty of spicy scenes.

There were definitely cheesy parts. I didn’t drop a star because I think it’s fair to wax poetic when

you were married, your partner embezzled from their company without you knowing, they also cheated on you, had a baby with that person, and went to prison.

To find love and to trust someone after that is a big thing.

She also had to start her own business as a content creator to support her 3 children.

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louisekf's review

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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

This Could Be Us is a story of resilience. It follows Soledad through a massive betrayal by her husband, as she learns to support herself and her three daughters. She has a great support network, as she works through this life-changing situation: two fabulous long-time friends, Yasmen and Hendricks;, her two sisters; and even her daughters, who also need to come to terms with their father’s behavior.

Soledad’s husband had been acting oddly for a while, and eventually the truth came out, upending her life. She was happy being a stay-at-home mother, hosting parties, shuttling her three daughters to school and activities, etc. Now she has to figure out how to support herself and her daughters, how to keep their roof over their heads.

At the same time, she has to learn to love herself. Her husband’s betrayal has also upended how she thought about herself! She finds a book in her recently deceased mother’s things, called All About Love by bell hooks (a real book that was published in 1999). This turns out to be a resource that Soledad turns to over and over again on her journey to self-reliance.

The characters are great. They are strong women who come from a variety of backgrounds (Soledad, for example, has Puerto Rican and black heritage). Each daughter has her own personality and reaction to their new situation. Judah, who eventually becomes Soledad’s new love interest, has two sons on the autism spectrum and has a wonderful relationship with his ex-wife. I learned so much about autism by reading about Aaron and Adam. There was one particularly affecting scene at a store, when Aaron had a breakdown over a coveted item that was sold out.

I really loved the book, but the repetition about self-partnering and self-love became a bit tiresome. The whole influencer thing was interesting. Chapters are told from either Soledad’s point of view or Judah’s.

Be aware that there are several very explicit spicy scenes and frank conversation about s*x among the three women friends.

This is the second in a series that looks to be at least three books. It’s helpful but not necessary to read the first one before this: Before I Let Go, which follows Yasmen.

I was surprised and delighted to find some recipes at the end of the book but was a bit disappointed that it didn’t include Soledad’s “viral” vinaigrette.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

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mollywill's review against another edition

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emotional 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? No

3.0

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kwestlovee's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

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rachellbc's review against another edition

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funny inspiring lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The first half or so was really good but slow. I feel there isn’t enough relationship building to Judah & Soledad’s relationship. Judah seems to just be sexually obsessed with her and it’s weird he masturbates to thoughts of her after basically just meeting. Some parts where there could’ve been a meaningful convo between the two, his character seems to just dive into sex with her. I don’t know how many times I had to read him describe her curves, her curls, and her jasmine scent. I liked the inclusion of autism, stay at home dad, and influencer career. But I can’t help but feel their relationship was based off of just sex and the whole wishy washy FWB trope. I hated how he legit knew everything about her and she wasn’t ever creeped out, just made jokes about him stalking her *tehe so funny you show up around and know my schedule and watch all my content*!!! I don’t know- maybe just too much spice for me and not enough romance substance. ALSO something grossed me out was her not wearing underwear in HER DAUGHTERS SWEATPANTS before having sex!!! I’m a germaphobe so if I were that daughter and I somehow knew, you can keep those pants mama. Overall, not a terrible book but I just expected more and could’ve done with a whole lot less of the repetitive “I’m an independent girl boss” and spice themes.

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rdebner's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective 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? No

4.5

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domi_francois's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-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? It's complicated

4.75

Oh my…fellow bookish peeps…THIS BOOK…it literally just like, ripped my heart out, stomped on it, then picked up the delicate pieces and stitched it back together and then it only became stronger after all that. I loved Soledad and Judah’s journeys both separate and together. I loved their love story. Now, there are some elements where I was like okay, I don’t happen to agree with that, but overall, the story just pulled me in, kept me hooked from beginning to end. Kennedy Ryan’s treatment of certain heavy issues was tender and full of grace which I appreciated very much, even though the situation with Edward and Edward’s character were at certain points a little too overdone. No subtlety, little finesse, only because of the main plot, which was the love story but I do think that Edward could have been a bit more developed. Overall, This Could Be Us is bingeable and full of heart and soul.

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juliana_reads's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring 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

4.5

Amazing follow-up to “Before I Let Go.” Kennedy has such a gift for mature main characters and stories with real world stakes. Also- the drama in this one had me shocked in the best way! My only thing that made it 4.5 stars is that

I felt that Judah and Soledad’s relationship started off as “lust at first sight” which is fine, but never seemed to develop much beyond that. I needed more of them just spending time together and not having sex. (Although don’t get me wrong- the sex was excellent).

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