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shannahtan's review
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer and Terminal illness
Minor: Physical abuse
louisekf's review
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Infidelity
Moderate: Death of parent, Cancer, and Body shaming
rachellbc's review against another edition
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Cancer, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Body shaming, Misogyny, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Terminal illness and Stalking
Prison, divorce, kids away from father.author2223's review against another edition
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Body shaming and Racism
Minor: Abandonment and Injury/Injury detail
shlymiller's review against another edition
challenging
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Terminal illness, Abandonment, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, Body shaming, Infidelity, and Death of parent
Minor: Forced institutionalization and Pregnancy
bookfulthoughts's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.75
✨Inspirational and full of love✨🩵
“When are we ever done working on ourselves? I believe wholeness is not a destination, but a lifetime process. Something that instead of waiting for, you could be living for.”
I loved Soledad and Judah’s story! This book had me through the wringer with emotions. I was all over the place at the beginning of the book I got whiplash! The plot with Edward and Soledad had me sitting on the edge of my seat! It grounded me to my spot and I was flying through pages. The complexity of all of the characters and their families ran DEEP in this book. I have so much appreciation for the way Ms. Kennedy can write well-rounded characters. Soledad’s journey of self-love was a beautiful thing to read about. The way she was expressing her wants and concerns and proactively making choices to move in the direction of growth was admirable. Her fealty to her family and determination to hustle and make things happen had me cheering on from the sidelines. This book wasn’t just about the typical romance between partners; it was about the love and affection one can have with themselves. The ever-lasting love you cherish with your tribe of friends.
Judah is a beautiful soul who cherished people whom he held dear, who loved hard and unconditionally, and who feels with every fiber of his being unwavering. The relationship shown with his sons was so breathtakingly beautiful. I’m so happy that Soledad got someone like Judah and vice versa. The only reason I took off points was for the plain fact that I wanted to see the aftermath of Edward leaving prison. The mess of it all was just so good in the beginning that I just wanted a juicy ending as well. I’m not going to lie I did feel slightly disappointed for this reason. I believe that would put this book on top. I loved it either way and I can’t WAIT for Hendrix's book 🩵.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Abandonment, Body shaming, Cancer, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Death, Stalking, Ableism, Domestic abuse, and Racism
cassiereadsbooks_'s review against another edition
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Gaslighting
mamaofperfectpayton's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Infidelity
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Cancer, and Body shaming
mbichaela's review against another edition
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? Yes
4.0
ENG
This was a delight to read. The first third of the book left me hooked up, which made me finish the book in one sitting. Unfortunately, then it got slower and more towards women's fiction.
(diversity: black characters, mmc's children and possibly mmc are on the autistic spectrum)
This was a delight to read. The first third of the book left me hooked up, which made me finish the book in one sitting. Unfortunately, then it got slower and more towards women's fiction.
(diversity: black characters, mmc's children and possibly mmc are on the autistic spectrum)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Body shaming, Gaslighting, and Infidelity
pattykcreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Body shaming, and Infidelity
Minor: Gaslighting, Ableism, Death of parent, Medical content, and Medical trauma