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mrs_engineer's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage
ali1311's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
- 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 am usually more a fan of a romcom than anything, but this really exceeded my expectations for a dramatic romance. I don't know how you can write a book where every word seems exactly in its right place and intense topics are handled with such grace, but Kennedy Ryan nailed it. I devoured this book, and I loved all the characters. I think this may be the first romance book I've read where the characters have children and have such high stakes with their love--and it was so good. The chemistry and the passion was so well done. It was such an insightful book that really interrogated love in its many forms (self, friendship, parent, romance), and did all of it masterfully.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
blogan223's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
mamasuereads's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
This is a beautiful story of how a marriage fell apart after a traumatic event. It's also about friendship and renewal. Very well done.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, and Grief
ayodougie's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
This one was for sure a slow burn. Writing was great! I loved that she tells her story so well and it felt real. This was real and some touchy subjects were discussed. Grief and loss and how we all cope differently and sometimes these things disrupt our whole lives. Yasmen and Josiah and their second chance and how it is all unpacked. I could most definitely relate and that is what kept me afloat during this slow burn second chance romance. Sometimes you need way more than just love during the hard times but whew when they spoke on their love I felt it in my gut. This book was therapy in a nutshell shell and I loved its positive take on therapy in black families because this is constantly overlooked in the community. Even the tough take on parenthood because it is hard with these little humans and they can pull at your heart in the worse way, it is not always great no matter how good you are to them. The dynamic they had after divorce was great because most just explode and break families up because of hurt but Josiah kept going through his hurt I get his hesitation and respect on his behalf. Well done I am not much of a romance reader but I loved the authors writing style.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Grief, and Death of parent
gygyreadsgygysips's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child death
greta_o's review
emotional
funny
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Child death
bribreez's review
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
4.75
*Check Trigger Warnings before reading.
4.75⭐️/ 3🌶️
Kennedy Ryan has become one of those authors I get more and more excited reading her books. Between breaking my heart, being emotionally invested, and falling in love with both the characters and stories, there’s nothing Kennedy Ryan can’t do. This was another book of hers I had heard a lot of great things about, and I finally got the chance to pick up this gem. This story followed, Yasmen and Josiah Wade. Once happily married with their two kids, running a thriving business together, but now divorced. Through some unknown details hinted at in the beginning, this story opened up the highs and lows of Yasmen and Josiah’s relationship as they navigated co-parenting, and dealt with lingering feelings from their past.
For some reason, before reading this book, I got the feeling that I was going to be emotionally wrecked, and it ended up being true. This wasn’t a lighthearted story, this story was one that delved into Yasmen and Josiah’s lives as they juggled their business, being parents, and learning to be themselves as opposed to what they once were. I’m an anxious girlie, so even within the first few chapters, I quickly caught on to part of the reason of Yasmen and Josiah getting a divorce. Also, with the authors note before the start, I was able to know beforehand what the story was going to talk about so I wasn’t completely shocked when I was able to put the pieces together of what happened in Yasmen and Josiah’s marriage. I’m glad I read the note before, otherwise it would have been shocking to find out for myself. Goes to show trigger warnings are there for a reason and I would urge you to always check.
Anyways, I could see Yasmen and Josiah trying their best to manage all their responsibilities, but there was still that lingering pain that was in the background of everything. Not to mention, despite being divorced for two years, it was still something Yasmen, Josiah, and their two kids had to adjust to as their new “normal”. I felt bad when I saw Yasmen and Josiah had minor disagreements whether it was about their kids, their lives, or even remembering what led to their divorce. I can’t imagine the pain both Yasmen and Josiah went through, but even having moved on, some of that pain was still present.
Even being divorced, I was holding out hope for Josiah and Yasmen to somehow find their way back to each other, but apparently it wasn’t an easy way back. I get that Yasmen and Josiah were both single and able to date whoever they wanted, but seeing Josiah date someone after having been married to Yasmen was a sucker punch to my stomach. Yasmen wasn’t the only one feeling the mixed emotions at seeing her former husband with a new woman by his side.
I went into this book equal parts nervous, and intrigued. Josiah and Yasmen’s relationship was a mix up of seeing the highs and lows of co-parenting and still dealing with the residual grief that lingered. I really loved how Kennedy wrote this story from highlighting the significance of therapy especially with Josiah initially thinking therapy wasn’t “real”, to seeing Josiah taking the tools he learned in therapy to better himself and work through his grief, etc. Yasmen’s struggle with depression was raw, and eye opening especially taking into consideration how much she opened up about all that she felt during the lowest point of her life. Like most of Kennedy’s books, this was a beautifully written story with so much depth, lovable characters, and moments that made me sad and a bit emotional.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, Kennedy Ryan once again crafted such a riveting story that held my attention and made care about Yasmen and Josiah. Alongside the main characters, I also came to adore Hendrix and Soledad (Yasmen’s best friends). I’m really looking forward to future books especially with Soledad’s!! The kids in this book were endearing but also sassy (courtesy of Deja haha). Seeing the way that Yasmen and Josiah found their way back to each other wasn’t easy, but it was so satisfying seeing them once again find that connection that never went away. The love between Yasmen and Josiah was ever growing, beautiful, and meaningful. By the end, I was happy with the way Yasmen and Josiah’s story ended especially with that heartwarming moment in the epilogue. Highly recommend reading this book and any book Kennedy Ryan has written!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Death of parent, and Child death
ealemayehu's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
I'm not good at reviews.….but Yes!! Love it, sad, funny, romantic, happy, hopeful….just yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Child death, Mental illness, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Car accident
This book involves a still birth and deep conversations on depression and loosing parent at a young age.skaterhick25's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Over all an ok book. Ryan is a good writer but I felt this book mostly focused on Yaz & Josiah's physical attraction to one another rather than their emotional connection. It also took over half the book to get to the second chance! Move it along please!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Miscarriage