Reviews

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan

marciereads29's review against another edition

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? No

4.75

khalida's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful sad 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

3.75

rororoyaboat'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? Yes

5.0

This book was amazing. It was emotional and it you fell in love with the characters. This book made me want to read more Kennedy Ryan books. The way she writes is fantastic.

breedaniellreads's review against another edition

5.0

this book made me clutch my pillow and cry, clutch my mouth and cackle, and clutch my pearls in anticipation of some of the most tender, erotic romance. this felt like a peak into someone's real life as they grapple with grief, depression and pushing themselves everyday to keep going (something i know about first hand). i'm so sad to put down my view into josiah & yasmen's life, but i enjoyed every single moment of it. i really enjoyed seeing yasmen & josiah both reflect, be radically honest with each other and themselves, and fight for what felt right in their heart & souls.

10/10.

my first kennedy ryan novel & will definitely NOT be my last.

consumed via audiobook: narrated by wesleigh siobahn & jakobi diem. (wesleigh breathed so much life and animation into this audiobook, she's on my list of favorite narrators).

gardenoft's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

herkindletravels's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad 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? Yes

ɪ ʀᴇꜰʀᴀɪɴ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴘʀᴏᴠɪᴅɪɴɢ ꜱᴛᴀʀ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡꜱ ꜰᴏʀ ᴀʟʟ ᴍʏ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡꜱ.

From the first page, I was completely immersed in Yasmeen & Josiah’s story and riding a rollercoaster of emotions alongside them as they navigate multiple aspects of their relationship. I was at the edge of my seat with each chapter. The author’s writing style is captivating, especially in depicting the complexities of grief, depression, and relationship struggles, while also highlighting the importance of family, friendships, community, and mental health awareness.

She is an artist in how well she weaved in the double standard surrounding mental health in relationships and working to destigmatize these crucial conversations. Can’t wait to dive into the next book in the Skyland series!

ɢᴇɴʀᴇ
• Contemporary Romance

ꜰᴀᴠᴏʀɪᴛᴇ Qᴜᴏᴛᴇ
“I heard someone say once that when you try to fix people’s hurt, you’re controlling it instead of sitting with them and connecting.”

🌶️ Just the right amount of spice that blends so well
with the story

mhugie2's review against another edition

4.0

I love Kennedy Ryan, she is an auto-buy and auto-read for me. Her books have changed romance in the best of ways. She always brings the steam and romance, but additionally she addresses hard hitting topics. Before I Let Go was no exception. I loved this book and think that everyone, even non-romance readers, should read it!

If you leave Before I Let Go without tearing up, or any Kennedy Ryan book for that matter, then you probably have a very similar personality to Si and may need to explore that. The author did such an amazing job at representing grief. She did it in a respectful manner, while still going DEEP. You love all the characters despite their flaws and where they are at in their journey.

If you are struggling with grief, loss, divorce or major depression this may not be the season of your life where you should read this book, but on the flip side I do think that all the therapy and self-work representation in this book could help you. I know that I grew by reading this. Like all Kennedy books and life in general this book has moments where it is really hard to read. Whether because you don’t particularly like the characters in that moment or you are faced with some harsh truths about yourself, but it will be worth it.

Thank you, Kennedy, for yet again writing something truly beautiful. You addressed grief and loss in a way that no one else can. I leave every one of your books having learned something about myself and just feeling all the things.

momoj8's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

2.75

88_iris_blis_88's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

shadon'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

3.5

God, I was a fool to think anything with Yasmen could be tamed. 

I'm not the biggest romance reader, but this was pretty good. Guess I like second-chance romances more than I thought - the shared history, the lingering feelings, the longing for what was... dare I say peak fiction. Especially when executed as well as it was with Yasmen and Josiah. I loved their little family and business partnership and I was rooting for them to get back together as soon as they interacted. 

Otherwise, there's not much else to say. It was tender and sweet with humor and heart, and a compelling, steamy romance. The characters were complex and realistic, with a certain flair. I enjoyed the way grief and depression were handled, along with therapy and healing. Strangely, I will say that I did not get the Josiah hype because he was pretty basic.  Nothing he did made me swoon at all. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Yasmen was miles ahead of him as a character. 

I did think this could have been shorter, it went on too long for me.  I enjoyed the first half more than the back half because it felt like the conflict was being dragged on.  Realistic that they wouldn't just jump back into each other's arms? Yes. Did it still annoy me? Also yes. I do wish we could have seen more of them when they were first married.  I know that's not the main focus of this story but still. 

I will be reading the sequel and I will be looking forward to seeing them again.