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amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Dementia
wblove's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Before I Let Go absolutely broke me and put me back together. I was prepared to not like this book because I don't normally like second chance romances. Kennedy Ryan said absolutely not, you WILL love this book, and I did.
Before I Let Go is a story about loss and grief and the way it can absolutely ruin relationships but also help heal them when fully acknowledged.
I didn't expect to have my own traumas and insecurities flayed open in the pages of a book by an author I'd never read, but here we are. The FMC was written beautifully as a fully developed character with flaws, but who also was able to recognize where she messed up and did the work to fix it. It also beautifully explores female friendships and why they're so necessary. The MMC for personal reasons made me upset BUT he was also wonderfully written. He was written in a way that many men often aren't, he was allowed to be soft, emotional, an amazing and hands on father who would, and did, do anything to show his kids he cares.
Kennedy Ryan BEAUTIFULLY wrote a story that showcased SO many things we don't often get to see all in one. There was healthy talk of grief, the reactions to it, divorce, child loss, therapy, female friendships where they are there for you and your children, second chances after divorce and so much more. This was my first book by her but it absolutely will not be the last.
Before I Let Go is a story about loss and grief and the way it can absolutely ruin relationships but also help heal them when fully acknowledged.
I didn't expect to have my own traumas and insecurities flayed open in the pages of a book by an author I'd never read, but here we are. The FMC was written beautifully as a fully developed character with flaws, but who also was able to recognize where she messed up and did the work to fix it. It also beautifully explores female friendships and why they're so necessary. The MMC for personal reasons made me upset BUT he was also wonderfully written. He was written in a way that many men often aren't, he was allowed to be soft, emotional, an amazing and hands on father who would, and did, do anything to show his kids he cares.
Kennedy Ryan BEAUTIFULLY wrote a story that showcased SO many things we don't often get to see all in one. There was healthy talk of grief, the reactions to it, divorce, child loss, therapy, female friendships where they are there for you and your children, second chances after divorce and so much more. This was my first book by her but it absolutely will not be the last.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Cursing
Minor: Death and Medical trauma
churrosmom's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
This is a heavy, heavy romance novel, bordering fiction rather than romance. Trigger warnings listed below. Yasmen and Josiah are divorced, coparenting, and running a business together. Their marriage fell apart after they lost Josiah's aunt and son (stillbirth after an accident) in short succession. Yasmen fell into a deep depression and Josiah wasn't supportive of her. The story takes place two years later, after Yasmen has healed and they keep being drawn towards each other.
The star of this book is the depth of its portrayal of the main character, Yasmen's depression and grief. This is probably the most realistic depiction of therapy that I have ever read in a novel. As someone who has been in therapy for almost 7 years and has had a number of therapists, I think that the main character's struggles with depression are so accurate in that it is hard for her to find a therapist who is a good fit, and it takes a combination of medication and long-term therapy with the right therapist to heal. So many books I've read have a magical therapist where the character goes to therapy twice and everything is resolved, and that is not the case here. It's also so realistic that unfortunately her family (husband and daughter) do not understand her depression and blame her for their family falling apart, and it takes themselves going to therapy to understand. I also like that we see the husband, Josiah, perspective on therapy and depression evolve (shoutout to the feelings wheel!!).
I do feel like the romance takes a back seat in this story, for better or for worse. After reading other reviews it does make me realize that we don't actually see much of the couple's love and growth together besides their sexual attraction. There is some minor drama with other characters Yasmen and Josiah date but they were set aside really easily.
Trigger warnings: Depression/mental health, suicidal ideation, death (of parents, parental figures), stillbirth, explicit sexual content.
**Disclaimer: Received an eARC from the publisher on Netgalley.
The star of this book is the depth of its portrayal of the main character, Yasmen's depression and grief. This is probably the most realistic depiction of therapy that I have ever read in a novel. As someone who has been in therapy for almost 7 years and has had a number of therapists, I think that the main character's struggles with depression are so accurate in that it is hard for her to find a therapist who is a good fit, and it takes a combination of medication and long-term therapy with the right therapist to heal. So many books I've read have a magical therapist where the character goes to therapy twice and everything is resolved, and that is not the case here. It's also so realistic that unfortunately her family (husband and daughter) do not understand her depression and blame her for their family falling apart, and it takes themselves going to therapy to understand. I also like that we see the husband, Josiah, perspective on therapy and depression evolve (shoutout to the feelings wheel!!).
I do feel like the romance takes a back seat in this story, for better or for worse. After reading other reviews it does make me realize that we don't actually see much of the couple's love and growth together besides their sexual attraction. There is some minor drama with other characters Yasmen and Josiah date but they were set aside really easily.
Trigger warnings: Depression/mental health, suicidal ideation, death (of parents, parental figures), stillbirth, explicit sexual content.
**Disclaimer: Received an eARC from the publisher on Netgalley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Ableism, Child death, Miscarriage, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Medical trauma
Minor: Car accident, Alcohol, and Cursing
abarnakwn_ourcolourfulpages's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was honest and visceral, while also being steamy as heck. Reading the author's note at the end, it really is evident how much work Kennedy Ryan put into this book, and it's nothing short of the product of a labour of love. Ryan does a remarkable job exploring difficult topics such as grief, depression, stillbirth, death of close family members, and the impacts of all of these things on a marriage (and subsequent divorce). It's an account of rebuilding one's life after clawing out of depression's iron jaw and figuring out what that means for them and their family. It's also a story of learning how to cope and be yourself after being irrevocably changed by traumatic events. About all, it's a story of love (familial, romantic, platonic) and healing. I was so deeply impacted by this story despite my lack of experience in some of the matters, and I can't imagine the profound impact this story will make on those who have experienced loss in the ways that the characters have. I was so moved, and so totally enthralled by Yasmen and Josiah's story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Alcohol, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual content, Miscarriage, Death of parent, and Child death
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Car accident
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