Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - This Could Be Us

Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan

48 reviews

vjzacharias's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

5.0

I was slightly hesitant to read this book after having my heart ripped out and put back together by Before I Let Go. Adult relationships are scary and sometimes it’s hard to separate the book from what could happen in your own life.

Soledad is a strong, intelligent woman who is at home raising her three daughters. Her marriage is stale and she has suspicions that her husband isn’t being truthful with her. When their world blows up, Soledad rises to the challenge of keeping her family together.

Judah is THE man. He supports his ex-wife and co-parents their autistic twins flawlessly. He is an absolute dream. He is the quiet, smart guy who everyone underestimates.

Soledad’s ex is a bottom of the barrel human. We hate him and she deserves better. I love that she didn’t just fall into the arms of someone else. She builds up her life and takes care of herself first. Her friends and sisters are there to encourage her and help her when she’s confused.

I’m so excited to stick with this world.

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laurrelise's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

“I can’t decide if it’s a choice, getting swept away.” —Taylor Swift, Treacherous

THIS BOOK. I highlighted so many passages; the writing was so spectacular. I want to live in a world written by Kennedy Ryan. Every single character is so complex and well-rounded. I really liked the way the timeline was handled; it gave me such a full picture of the whole story.

“He’s the kind of man you can count on, but I’m done counting on men.” —Soledad Charles

Soledad’s journey to trusting herself after the ultimate betrayal and heartbreak was such an important and poignant story. This book is more emotional and heavy than a traditional romance, but I could have read 400 more pages detailing the ups and downs faced by Judah and Soledad.

I was so excited when I got to the end and saw there are recipes, because how delicious does strawberry-lemon prosecco sangria sound? I know this book isn’t even out yet, but I cannot wait for the next one. I love love love this series.

Thank you so much to Forever for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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telsreadingjournal's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective tense 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

4.25

Just from the author's note at the beginning I knew I was going to love this book. You can tell just from the note that Kennedy Ryan had put a lot of care and thought when writing this book.

I have to admit that it took me getting an ARC for this book to finally read one of her books. Despite seeing a lot of amazing reviews I never picked up any, and I am now kicking myself for that because both Before I Let Go and This Could Be Us were fantastic reads. They were both emotional and heartwarming. The number one thing that I loved from both books is that both of the FMC's were strong and independent despite the situations that life threw at them. I love the friendship that they have and the unconditional love and support that they have for each other. I can't wait for Hendrix's story.

Now on to more things I loves about This Could Be Us.

First I loved that there was autism rep, I don't have personal experience but I think it was done well. I loved that Judah and his ex-wife had a healthy co-parenting relationship. I loved that despite loving and caring for each other, they knew that separating was best, and that they were mindful as to how to go about it with.
Loved that Soledad was able to come one out stronger than ever, despite being blindsided by her ex (who by the way is the biggest jerk ever).
Loved the chemistry between Soledad and Judah. I loved that Judah respected and encourage Soledad to continue her journey of independence. You can tell that Judah saw Soledad as his equal.

One little thing that I wish more of was to see more of Judah and Soledad's relationship. I felt like it went from "we can't be together" to "I can't live without you" in a matter of a few pages. I would have love to see more of the in between. And I know that would have probably made the book longer, since there were so many topics discussed, but that's just a personal preference. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would highly recommend picking it up.

My personal spice rating: 3 out of 5

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kelly_e's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful 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? No

4.75

Title: This Could Be Us
Author: Kennedy Ryan
Series: Skyland #2
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.75
Pub Date: March 5, 2024

I received a complimentary eARC from Forever, a division of Grand Central Publishing, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad

T H R E E • W O R D S

Empowering • Complex • Steamy

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Soledad Barnes has her life all planned out. Because, of course, she does. She plans everything. She designs everything. She fixes everything. She's a domestic goddess who's never met a party she couldn't host or a charge she couldn't lead. The one with all the answers and the perfect vinaigrette for that summer salad. But none of her varied talents can save her when catastrophe strikes, and the life she built with the man who was supposed to be her forever, goes poof in a cloud of betrayal and disillusion.

But there is no time to pout or sulk, or even grieve the life she lost. She's too busy keeping a roof over her daughters' heads and food on the table. And in the process of saving them all, Soledad rediscovers herself. From the ashes of a life burned to the ground, something bold and new can rise.
But then an unlikely man enters the picture--the forbidden one, the one she shouldn't want but can't seem to resist. She's lost it all before and refuses to repeat her mistakes. Can she trust him? Can she trust herself?

After all she's lost . . .and found . . .can she be brave enough to make room for what could be?

💭 T H O U G H T S

Even before having read Before I Let Go, the second installment in the Skyland series was one of my most anticipated releases of 2024. After reading book one in January, I just couldn't wait to jump into This Could Be Us. I'd be remiss if I also didn't take a moment to acknowledge the absolutely stunning cover art. Just - wow!

I absolutely devoured this book! Exploring self-love and self-discovery, this second chance romance is so much more than that. It has characters who are flawed and well-crafted. Soledad is fiercely independent. Judah is caring and attentive. This combination was pure romance gold. I could feel their chemistry rising off the page. Their relationship is respectful and authentic. And oh boy - the steam is certainly steamy.

Beyond the romance, there's so much depth to this story. There's a fantastic depiction of sisterhood - both biological and found. Soledad is surrounded by strong, supportive women. It really showcases the importance of having those people you can count on through thick and thin. The author also sheds some much needed light on all of the hard work and commitment that goes into being a stay at home parent. Society in general can brush all that they do under the rug, but I know there are people who wouldn't last a day. There is also a healthy example of co-parenting between Judah and his ex-wife and how blended families can really work. These were all reminders that healthy relationships can exist.

The way in which Soledad comes to stand on her two feet again was empowering. There is definitely a touch of privilege, but it didn't overtake the narrative. Influencer storylines don't always work for me, but here it just made sense. The inclusion of some recipes at the end was fantastic because all the food vibes had be salivating with hunger.

Even the side characters are all so wonderful. The kids reactions to the situation with their father. Judah's supportive parents. The ex-wife and her new husband. Sol's sisters. The author also details her personal connection to the book, highlighting how parts of it are what she's been living for the past twenty years. She demonstrates care and thought in crafting two authentic representations of people with autism. She does a good job showing how each individual with autism is different.

This Could Be Us was a definite hit for me! It was such a refreshing romance with depth and maturity. It could easily be read as a standalone, yet for maximum enjoyment I highly recommend starting with Before I Let you first. Now just let me devour Kennedy Ryan's backlist, while I eagerly await Hendrix's story. And also secretly hoping this series may continue beyond her with the introduction of Soledad's sisters...

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Kennedy Ryan devotees
• readers who like mature MCs
• fans of romance with depth

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"All loves aren't created equal. Some spring from the earth and wrap around and twine through our souls like vines. Some are plants that start with tiny seeds in your heart and blossom over time, nurtured by years and commitment."

"You feel the loss of those you loved most acutely at the times when they made you feel so alive."

Content Warnings

a_stylish_bookworm's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Kennedy Ryan has the art of story telling down to an art. In the second installment of the Skyland Park series, we get Soledad's story. She is a mother of 3 daughters and her life is suddenly turned upside down and leaves her angry and scrambling to figure how to support her family. We also meet Judah who comes into life and he is a father of 2 boys that are autistic and I adored his dedication to his boys and giving them the best life. The story is complex and so much depth. The friendship that we're strong in the first book continues here. I loved Soledad's resilience and how she communicated with her children. You don't need to read the first book but I highly recommend you do.

Thank you @readforeverpub @netgalley for a copy of this book.

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jennireadsmaybe's review against another edition

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challenging 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

Kennedy Ryan, first and foremost, is THE powerhouse author of this generation!! There isn't a single book I've read from her that I haven't loved with my whole being. This Could Be Us is certainly no exception.

Soledad's story proves that coming of age happens all throughout our lives. It's a love letter to women falling in love with themselves. It's a becoming. Soledad is an example of just how powerful Kennedy Ryan's FMCs are. I love her so much.

JUDAH MF CROSS!!!! This man. This FREAKING man. He loved Soledad so deeply, so clearly, so wholeheartedly, so completely, so any way he could. From the start, he met Soledad where she was and wanted her to become who she wanted to be. I just don't think there is a fictional man that could possibly be as in love as he was.

Let it also be known that This Could Be Us has so many love stories. The love of a mother for her daughters, a sister for her sisters, a friend for her friends, a daughter for her mother, a woman for herself. There are so many versions of love that we weaved into this story. Every page is brimming with love.

The various representation throughout the novel was handled with such care. You can see just how dedicated Kennedy Ryan is to having accurate representation, even if representation can't be summed up by just one or two individuals.

Everyone should read this. Full stop.

Content Warnings

caseythereader's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

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

4.25

Thanks to Forever for the free copy of this book.

- THIS COULD BE US is another knockout from Kennedy Ryan. It’s her signature blend of drama, longing, and heat and I couldn’t put it down.
- I loved that Soledad was so focused on figuring out who she was separate from a man. Even when she had a perfect man waiting there for her, she still put herself first.
- I do think it could have been a little shorter (Ryan’s books are always tomes!) but there was so much going on in the story that I was willing to be there with them while they untangled everything.

Content Warnings

readwithria's review against another edition

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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? It's complicated

3.5

This Could Be Us is a beautifully written book about self love, self acceptance, and community.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the writing, and most of the characters, but the actual romance fell a little flat for me. This is much more a book about learning to love yourself than it is a book about loving someone else, and because of that there were aspects of the romance that didn’t work for me personally.

Judah felt almost too perfect, with his only flaw in the book being that he puts the people he loves before himself, and while in a perfect world he would be the ideal man, he felt fictional to me. I also felt that the instant connection between Soledad and Judah was a bit insta-love feeling, and I prefer for relationships to develop through the characters getting to know each other on the page.

It’s not a book for everyone, but I think that for the right person it will hit hard and be a soul book.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the eARC and the opportunity to leave an honest, voluntary review.

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hillysreads's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

5.0

Content Warnings

takarakei's review against another edition

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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? It's complicated

4.25

Going into this knowing nothing, but having read the first book in the series, I was quite surprised by the first part of the book being our MC Soledad dealing with a very dramatic ending to her marriage. The author makes you immediately dislike her husband and you're not at all sad with what happens to him. This is a big deal because it's a life-altering event for Soledad and their 3 kids, and she is left to pick up the pieces of their life. There is great emphasis on Soledad's relationships with both her best friends (cameo of Yasmen from book 1!) and her sisters who really hold her down. This was super relatable to read about the close bonds of women.

There aren’t enough sonnets for friendship. Not enough songs for the kind of love not born of blood or body but of time and care. They are the ones we choose to laugh and cry and live with. When lovers come and go, they are the ones who remain. We are each other’s constants.

Soledad spends most of the book then reforming her new life and working on deprogramming the BS her ex said to her. There were some beautiful quotes and I really enjoyed reading about the self-discovery journey Soledad goes on to find her true self. I already had 'all about love' by bell hooks on my TBR for this month and this book made me even more excited to read it! It's definitely Soledad's book, she has most of the pov chapters, but we do get some from the perspective of Judah...

& Judah is a dream of a partner, really the epitome of a supportive man who has no ego, and just wants the best for Soledad. This is a fairly slow burn (not the slowest I've ever read, but def slower than most romances I read) which I honestly appreciate! He's a divorced dad with two autistic sons (he is friends with his ex and they have split custody). The author notes that she has an autistic child and did lots of research on the many varied experience of people with autism, and their families. I think there's a lot of care given to this subject.

I think my only qualm with this book is while I understand why there's so much focus at the beginning on Soledad's ex - I wish there was slightly less, and that might have allowed for a bit snappier pace.

Thank you to netgalley and Forever books for this ARC!

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