A review by shadon
Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan

emotional hopeful 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

3.5

God, I was a fool to think anything with Yasmen could be tamed. 

I'm not the biggest romance reader, but this was pretty good. Guess I like second-chance romances more than I thought - the shared history, the lingering feelings, the longing for what was... dare I say peak fiction. Especially when executed as well as it was with Yasmen and Josiah. I loved their little family and business partnership and I was rooting for them to get back together as soon as they interacted. 

Otherwise, there's not much else to say. It was tender and sweet with humor and heart, and a compelling, steamy romance. The characters were complex and realistic, with a certain flair. I enjoyed the way grief and depression were handled, along with therapy and healing. Strangely, I will say that I did not get the Josiah hype because he was pretty basic.  Nothing he did made me swoon at all. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Yasmen was miles ahead of him as a character. 

I did think this could have been shorter, it went on too long for me.  I enjoyed the first half more than the back half because it felt like the conflict was being dragged on.  Realistic that they wouldn't just jump back into each other's arms? Yes. Did it still annoy me? Also yes. I do wish we could have seen more of them when they were first married.  I know that's not the main focus of this story but still. 

I will be reading the sequel and I will be looking forward to seeing them again.