Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan

43 reviews

shlymiller's review against another edition

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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


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bookfulthoughts's review

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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 🩵. 

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mrsmishler'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? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0


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auteaandtales's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny 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

4.5

I didn’t know this before going into it but, as soon as I found out this was going to feature a parent with autistic children written by someone who (I assume, from the note at the beginning of the book) is not autistic, I got very nervous. I’ve had so many bad, hurtful experiences before and I wasn’t sure what I was getting into. Thankfully, it went well! I thought it was handled with care, love, respect and kindness. I was especially nervous about the treatment of Aaron, a high support needs autistic, but he was written very well and treated with so much support and love by the people around him. I think it also helped that there were three autistic people in this group, all very different from one another, and with varying support needs. It helped broadcast the diversity of autistic people. I also loved seeing Black autistic people in books! 

There was a whole lot more to love about this book, too. Not Edward, though, my anger towards him only rose as the book went on. I loved this even more than the first book, as I loved that we got to see more of a connection between the two love interests. I especially loved that it was more about a romantic and emotional connection, and their communication between each other was great (there’s nothing that annoys me more in a romance novel than when we are reading about two grown adults who don’t tell each other anything!!)

The kids, too, I loved all five of them! Even though she was being a pain, I really felt for Inez, especially. It must be very challenging to have all of that going on, it wasn’t a surprise to me that she would act out as a result of that, but I loved the way Soledad didn’t love her any less and helped her through it, even though that must have been so difficult for Soledad too. Very wholesome and realistic, I thought. 

The friendship group I loved too! 

The thing I didn’t like was that, even though Soledad and Judah had known each other for a while, I feel like we didn’t really see that, it felt like it jumped a bit in the middle and I’d have liked to see them get to know each other more and connect. i did still feel their connection, though. They worked great together. 

I also thought there were some minor pacing issues, some things went too slowly for me and too things went too quickly and were wrapped up with too fast or not explored enough at all. 

Otherwise, I loved this. It was a really great book. 

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bookishkellyn's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring reflective
  • 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

4.5

Nobody has more audacity than a mediocre white man, and Soledad learns that the hard way after Edward’s multiple betrayals surface. She soon discovers that no matter how heavy you think your baggage is, the right people will be more than willing to help you carry the load. Her slow burn connection with Judah and their paralleled devotion to their respective kids (Lupe, Inez, Lottie; Aaron, Adam) were the highlights of the book. This became a love story not only about finding yourself and becoming your own knight in shining armor but representation of friendship as a community.

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carolibrary's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0


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kiantet's review against another edition

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inspiring lighthearted 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

3.75


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lovelymisanthrope's review

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emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

This was one of my most anticipated releases for this year, and I have been so excited to pick this one up.
"This Could Be Us" follows Soledad as she tries to redefine her life following the several infidelities committed by her husband. Soledad has always planned her life perfectly, but her carefully crafted world is threatened when she discovers that her selfish husband has embezzled his company out of millions of dollars. Left with only two options, she has to decide if she should crumble or take the reins back in her life and rebuild her world into something even better than before.
Soledad is such a strong protagonist and I loved reading from her perspective. She could have so easily crumbled, and I think most people would have entirely understood given the situation her husband put her in. But Soledad was determined to finally take her life back and she worked endlessly to provide for her three daughters. I also loved seeing her realize that she had been dimming her spark for her husband for years, and that she is just as worthy as her husband.
Soledad's husband was a piece of garbage and I hated every word that came out of his mouth. I wanted to dive into this book and ring his neck on behalf of Soledad. He got everything that was coming to him, and I was happy with the ultimate resolution arrived at for his character.
Judah, Soledad's new love interest and the man responsible for sending Soledad's ex-husband away, was the picturesque man. He has twin boys who are autistic, and he has never batted an eye at rearranging his life for them or his ex-wife. Although things did not work out for him and his ex, he has nothing but adoration for her as a mother and person. He acknowledges that they were not soulmates, but they can be good friends. I think this is such a healthy and mature approach to divorce, and it is a great example of human behavior that I hope to see represented more in the future.
Judah, even when they were not speaking, was always supporting Soledad as best as he could. He allowed her to come to him and he never pressured or guilted her into being anyone other than herself.
Soledad and Judah together were magic. They really balanced each other out, and their story felt so relatable and believable. Despite initial attraction, they did not cheat, and they did not pursue a relationship until Soledad's divorce was 100% finalized AND they both felt like it was the right thing for their kids as well.
This story was beautiful, and I already wish I could reread it without knowing the story. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a hard-hitting romance, and I cannot wait to pick up more from Kennedy Ryan. 

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thekrujue's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

beautiful story with strong themes of motherhood, sisterhood, womanhood, marriage. kennedy ryan never disappoints. soledad’s journey to finding herself again and self love is relatable in so many ways. 

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gabichatslit's review against another edition

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5.0

Kennedy Ryan has done it again. 

I’ve been waiting for Sol’s story since the moment I finished Yas’ book in October, and it did not disappoint. 

This book was joyful, heartwarming, heartbreaking, funny and affirming, all at once. As always, chock full of lessons and love, and I can’t wait to see what I pull from the book the second time I read it. 

Sol and Judah deserved their happy ending and it was so beautiful to watch them find each other and make their dream life for themselves. I already miss them. But I can’t wait for Hendrix story next year— it’s gonna take a special person to get Miss Thing to settle down but I know Kennedy will craft the perfect partner for her and give us another fictional man to fall in love with. 

More thoughts to come at some point but wow wow wow this was so good! 

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