Scan barcode
kerosenelit's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? 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)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Infidelity
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, and Grief
gabichatslit's review against another edition
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!
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!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, and Sexual content
Minor: Grief, Death of parent, Death, and Emotional abuse
amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Moderate: Confinement, Cancer, and Death of parent
jelkebooks's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
I received a galley of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Kennedy Ryan really just likes breaking my heart with this series, doesn't she? Truly, this was yet again a really heavy read but also an incredible romance. The importance of family and parenthood within this book was also just so well done. Honestly, I don't think I've read many romances where the main characters were parents and the kids were this big of an aspect of the book. It felt very honest, and real, and I just really loved that aspect of the book.
Soledad was also just an incredible protagonist. Honestly, she was so strong, and such a badass. The way she totally reformed her life after being absolutely screwed over is an incredible force of strenght. I also love the love she has for her family, not just her kids but also her sisters and her found family. (Truly the friendgroup in the middle of this series is absolutely incredible. They are such a great group.) I also loved her journey of finding and loving herself again throughout the book.
I also quite liked the romance. The instant attraction between our two leads was just really well done, and just completely jumped off the page. There is a little sense of forbiddenness between them, but mostly it's just Soledad keeping her distance as she's finding herself. I truly loved how Juddah respected her boundaries, and really supported her in that journey even before anything ever happened between them. I also just really liked the emotional connection the two formed, and the respect they had for the other person's family. It was just so delightfully done.
My big complaint in this book comes from Judah though. I mean, he was a great love interest. Don't get me wrong on that. However, he wasn't a good character. I didn't feel like there was anything to him besides his love for his kids, and his attraction to Soledad. Besides the fact that he's an accoutant, and divorced I could not tell you very much more about this man. It is an absolute shame, especially in comparison to how much I could tell you about Soledad. In a book mostly about finding yourself, and not letting your love for others erase who you are, one of the two leads doesn't really have a distinct personality and it just seems completely against the morals of the book. It really did lessen my love for this book sadly enough. However, I do still highly recommend this, and I'm excited to read the next book in this series as well.
Kennedy Ryan really just likes breaking my heart with this series, doesn't she? Truly, this was yet again a really heavy read but also an incredible romance. The importance of family and parenthood within this book was also just so well done. Honestly, I don't think I've read many romances where the main characters were parents and the kids were this big of an aspect of the book. It felt very honest, and real, and I just really loved that aspect of the book.
Soledad was also just an incredible protagonist. Honestly, she was so strong, and such a badass. The way she totally reformed her life after being absolutely screwed over is an incredible force of strenght. I also love the love she has for her family, not just her kids but also her sisters and her found family. (Truly the friendgroup in the middle of this series is absolutely incredible. They are such a great group.) I also loved her journey of finding and loving herself again throughout the book.
I also quite liked the romance. The instant attraction between our two leads was just really well done, and just completely jumped off the page. There is a little sense of forbiddenness between them, but mostly it's just Soledad keeping her distance as she's finding herself. I truly loved how Juddah respected her boundaries, and really supported her in that journey even before anything ever happened between them. I also just really liked the emotional connection the two formed, and the respect they had for the other person's family. It was just so delightfully done.
My big complaint in this book comes from Judah though. I mean, he was a great love interest. Don't get me wrong on that. However, he wasn't a good character. I didn't feel like there was anything to him besides his love for his kids, and his attraction to Soledad. Besides the fact that he's an accoutant, and divorced I could not tell you very much more about this man. It is an absolute shame, especially in comparison to how much I could tell you about Soledad. In a book mostly about finding yourself, and not letting your love for others erase who you are, one of the two leads doesn't really have a distinct personality and it just seems completely against the morals of the book. It really did lessen my love for this book sadly enough. However, I do still highly recommend this, and I'm excited to read the next book in this series as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Grief
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Ableism
lololovesthings's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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
5 STARS!!!
Kennedy Ryan does it again!! "This Could Be Us" gives readers Soledad's story, the second book in the Skyland series, and boy oh boy is it a good one. Kennedy Ryan is virtually incapable of misses at this point. I found myself transfixed with Soledad and Judah's story. The pining. The passion. The longing. The lust. The caretaking. The steaminess. The scandal. The intrigue. Oh. My. God. I could NOT put this book down. I stayed up late and woke up early just to finish it because I needed to know how the story ended. Ryan weaves a delicate tapestry of self-discovery, family, friendship, angst, and love, and finds a way to balance the heaviness with some fun and lust. I love the way she writers her dialogue dripping with intensity. Her characters are as fantastic as ever. I adored Judah Cross. *SWOON* I loved Soledad's journey to finding herself after getting divorced from her ex-husband Edward (no spoilers, but one of the best book "villains" I have read in a long time....GOD I LOATHED HIM!). Soledad and Judah's stories are separate but ever-revolving around one another until they converge and...FIREWORKS. Their romance is sooooooo freaking good. I am going to be thinking about them for a long time. As with the first Skyland book, I absolutely loved the relationship between Soledad, Yasmen, and Hen... what an incredible display of female friendship and empowerment, women lifting each other in times of darkness. I also loved the relationship between Soledad and her sisters. This book is incredible, and I urge you to read it as soon as possible. Another tremendous notch in Kennedy Ryan's already stellar belt!
Thank you to NetGalley, Kennedy Ryan, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
Kennedy Ryan does it again!! "This Could Be Us" gives readers Soledad's story, the second book in the Skyland series, and boy oh boy is it a good one. Kennedy Ryan is virtually incapable of misses at this point. I found myself transfixed with Soledad and Judah's story. The pining. The passion. The longing. The lust. The caretaking. The steaminess. The scandal. The intrigue. Oh. My. God. I could NOT put this book down. I stayed up late and woke up early just to finish it because I needed to know how the story ended. Ryan weaves a delicate tapestry of self-discovery, family, friendship, angst, and love, and finds a way to balance the heaviness with some fun and lust. I love the way she writers her dialogue dripping with intensity. Her characters are as fantastic as ever. I adored Judah Cross. *SWOON* I loved Soledad's journey to finding herself after getting divorced from her ex-husband Edward (no spoilers, but one of the best book "villains" I have read in a long time....GOD I LOATHED HIM!). Soledad and Judah's stories are separate but ever-revolving around one another until they converge and...FIREWORKS. Their romance is sooooooo freaking good. I am going to be thinking about them for a long time. As with the first Skyland book, I absolutely loved the relationship between Soledad, Yasmen, and Hen... what an incredible display of female friendship and empowerment, women lifting each other in times of darkness. I also loved the relationship between Soledad and her sisters. This book is incredible, and I urge you to read it as soon as possible. Another tremendous notch in Kennedy Ryan's already stellar belt!
Thank you to NetGalley, Kennedy Ryan, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Sexual content
theoceanrose's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Cancer
Minor: Grief
kelly_e'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
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."
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
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity
Moderate: Misogyny, Body shaming, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Racism
Minor: Death, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Grief, Cancer, Cursing, and Pregnancy
imprisonment, embezzlementjennireadsmaybe's review against another edition
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.
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
Graphic: Grief, Ableism, Body shaming, Sexism, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Gaslighting
Minor: Physical abuse, Death of parent, Cancer, and Medical content
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
"Knowing how to be solitary is central to the art of loving. When we can be alone, we can be with others without using them as a means of escape." - bell hooks, All about Love: New Visions
Kennedy Ryan simply gets better and better with each book she writes. Soledad's coming-of-age story with a subplot of romance was absolute perfection. I savored every single word KR wrote, and I will be buying a physical copy ASAP so I can re-read, annotate, and highlight absolutely everything. This was one of my favorite reads this year, and I can say with absolute confidence that the KR hype is *real* and well-deserved.
I loved so much about this and to avoid writing an entire essay, I will try to succinctly sum it up in long-winded bullet points lmao:
"Knowing how to be solitary is central to the art of loving. When we can be alone, we can be with others without using them as a means of escape." - bell hooks, All about Love: New Visions
Kennedy Ryan simply gets better and better with each book she writes. Soledad's coming-of-age story with a subplot of romance was absolute perfection. I savored every single word KR wrote, and I will be buying a physical copy ASAP so I can re-read, annotate, and highlight absolutely everything. This was one of my favorite reads this year, and I can say with absolute confidence that the KR hype is *real* and well-deserved.
I loved so much about this and to avoid writing an entire essay, I will try to succinctly sum it up in long-winded bullet points lmao:
- the nods to TikTok / Instagram influencer culture - I think this book is for the BookTok/bookstagram honeys who have been hyping up KR forever lol
- the care and love that went into illustrating an authentic representation of two beautiful autistic young Black men! Judah's boys, Aaron and Adam, were so sweet, smart, and precious!
- Soledad's grief over losing her mom to cancer, and how All About Love by bell hooks operated as a way to work through that grief, as well as the grief of her old life and her marriage
- Soledad's struggle as a newly single parent, while carefully towing the line between turning her daughters (Lupe - the eldest, probably around 16 who looks most like her white dad; Inez - middle child, who has the hardest time with recognizing that her dad and only her dad is responsible for how he got in trouble with the law; and Lottie - who I believe is ~12 years old) fully against their father who stole a fuckton of money, and helping them maintain a relationship with him in their new reality of being divorced and while he is incarcerated
- The sisterhood among Soledad, Yasmen, and Hendrix: We saw a glimpse of it in Before I Let Go, and we get even more in this book. These women foster brave spaces for each other, they invite dialogue in, and they root for each other HARD! These types of friendships are invaluable.
- Hendrix gets her own bullet point because she is so fucking funny: "Girl, no one could blame you under those circumstances...Of course you went to him with legs wide open." I AM DONE WITH HER HAHAHAHAHAH
- Soledad's biological sisters make their mark too! I loved getting to know Lola (who is moving to TX to open a bookstore with her best friend turned possibly sapphic lover? Sign me up for that book!) and Nayeli
- "My friends, my sisters, my daughters. My great loves." - The way that different kinds of love was showcased in this novel and they all shined so brightly on their own and were all equally valid and valuable! Friendship, sisterhood, motherhood, daughter-hood (is this a word?), self-love, romantic partners! It all is so beautiful and an absolute privilege. I loved the homage and tribute to all kinds of love in this novel.
- Judah's curiosity around his own possible autism
- Judah and his ex Tremaine's healthy co-parenting relationship and genuine friendship: I need more representation like this. How refreshing to see!
- Judah's integrity and honor: he reminded me of Ned Stark (like NS dies because he's so dumb and cannot play the game for shit, my goddd) HAHAHA but better and smarter, because he would not lie or steal or do anything against his morals. I loved how strongly this man stood in his convictions!
- Judah's support for and dedication to waiting for Soledad to be ready for romance again
- kids, stop reading here! NIPPLE ORGASMS MY GAWWWWWWD!! KR knows how to get you hot & bothered! Steam was a 3 or 4/5 - it's a slow burn, but once it gets hot, it gets oh so steamy & delectable whewwwww!
Overall, Kennedy Ryan's writing and the characters she brings to life are an absolute gift. Her writing flows seamlessly, her characters' inner monologue is so tender and vulnerable, and the arcs simply have me in tears.
I am forever seated when she writes something new, and I will read her work until I leave earth.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Infidelity, Ableism, Sexism, Sexual content, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Minor: Physical abuse, Cancer, and Death of parent
annamay1021's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Kennedy Ryan does it again! I loved Sol's story even more than Yasmen's.
When Sol's husband gets in legal trouble, caught by his new coworker, Sol's life gets turned upside-down. With 3 girls to raise and her husband's income gone, Sol must figure it out all on her own. Using the support of her 2 sisters and 2 best friends (the female groups in this are the best!), she makes a path for herself. This becomes even more complicated when Judah, the accountant who uncovered her husband's wrongdoings, and her start to fall for each other.
I so appreciated how Kennedy incorporated many unique elements to her story- a beautifully coparented family with 2 Autistic teenagers. The complexity of her daughters having to cope with loving their father and understanding his mistakes. The legal drama undercurrent of this story was gripping! The spice is slowwww burn but so worth it! Can't wait to read Hendrix's story- to come in 2025!
Kennedy Ryan does it again! I loved Sol's story even more than Yasmen's.
When Sol's husband gets in legal trouble, caught by his new coworker, Sol's life gets turned upside-down. With 3 girls to raise and her husband's income gone, Sol must figure it out all on her own. Using the support of her 2 sisters and 2 best friends (the female groups in this are the best!), she makes a path for herself. This becomes even more complicated when Judah, the accountant who uncovered her husband's wrongdoings, and her start to fall for each other.
I so appreciated how Kennedy incorporated many unique elements to her story- a beautifully coparented family with 2 Autistic teenagers. The complexity of her daughters having to cope with loving their father and understanding his mistakes. The legal drama undercurrent of this story was gripping! The spice is slowwww burn but so worth it! Can't wait to read Hendrix's story- to come in 2025!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Body shaming, and Grief
Moderate: Cancer