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rachellbc's review
- 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
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.domi_francois's review
- 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
Graphic: Cursing, Grief, Sexual content, Death of parent, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Cancer
Mentions of divorce, co-parenting, and dealing with Autism100_pages_hr's review against another edition
4.5
I loved Sol too. Her tenacity was impressive. I found myself cheering for her and even though she had some understandably emotional reactions in the book she was one of the most level headed moms ever. I loved her sacrifices for her kids too. But I also respected the things that she did for herself to heal. Very impressive.
I really appreciated the timeline of the romance in this book. I loved that it wasn't rushed into. I loved that Judah and Sol found happiness without sacrificing their relationships with their kids.
I highly recommend this book but do appreciate the author's warning that there is past mention of death of a parent to cancer. I didn't lose my mom to cancer but it was a prolonged illness so I appreciated the warning.
I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.
Graphic: Infidelity, Abandonment, Cursing, Terminal illness, Cancer, Chronic illness, Grief, and Sexual content
Minor: Blood, Cancer, and Emotional abuse
shlymiller's review against another edition
- 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
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
- 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
“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 🩵.
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
spellbindingtomes's review
- 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
Graphic: Gaslighting, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Abandonment and Dementia
bookishkellyn's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Grief and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Confinement, and Infidelity
Minor: Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent
kiantet's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Infidelity, and Grief
Minor: Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, and Cancer
kerosenelit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
"When you hurt the way we women sometimes have to, when you lose so much, when the world ends over and over and over again, we are no longer butterflies. Those wings are much too fragile to carry us on and through. I'm a hornet. I can love. And I can sting."
What a beautiful story for Soledad. I loved her spirit in Before I Let Go and seriously could not wait for her to rid herself from that toxic husband. The way this book made me hate him even more. Oof. Good riddance.
I was glued to the messy drama in this one! The perseverance from Soledad after the utter turmoil her husband leaves her with was so admirable. This woman was STRONG. This definitely focuses on Soledad rediscovering herself as a now single, working mom—and I found some aspects a little slow in the middle—but the achy, delicate, forbidden(ish) romance she finds in Judah was such a treat.
Judah, a single parent himself to two autistic boys, couldn't have been more perfect for Soledad. I loved the way he allowed Soledad to set the pace of their blooming relationship, especially when it was so apparent how absolutely mad he was for her.
And once again, the friendship between Yasmen, Soledad, and Hendrix makes me so happy. I always look forward to their banter. Hendrix in particular makes me laugh like no other, and I can't wait to see how her future story will play out!
(heat level: a few open-door scenes, explicit details)
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Infidelity
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, and Grief
gabichatslit's review against another edition
5.0
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!
Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, and Sexual content
Minor: Grief, Death of parent, Death, and Emotional abuse