A review by amandalywarren
Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan

challenging emotional hopeful 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

This is, in fact, the most beautiful romance I’ve ever read. But I feel like it’s so much more than a romance. Kennedy Ryan writes the most heart-wrenching and heart-warming stories, brimming with vulnerability and compassion. Empathy seeps through every page and bleeds into the stories of her characters. She is a master at conveying human emotion—she had me happy crying and sad crying the whole way through this one.

I want to point out that Ryan puts her author’s note at the beginning of the book, setting the stage for telling this raw and beautiful story. Don’t skip it. And don’t ever skip an author’s note from Kennedy Ryan. Those little peeks into her heart are a gift.

Yasmen and Josiah’s story is unlike any second chance romance I’ve ever read. It tackles the very real experiences of love and grief and life and death and the ways we change as we experience the realities of life. This story takes the real brokenness of the worst parts of being human and reminds us that we can heal and grow.

While I am not a parent, I found myself connecting to Yas as she navigated a difficult season of motherhood on top of everything else she was going through. And though she did find the strength to make it through, it was not alone. The friendships in this story challenged me to be a better friend and to love my people harder and with more honesty.

On top of all that, Yas and Josiah are the epitome of chemistry. I don’t know that I’ve ever rooted for a book couple so hard. I was both enchanted and moved by their love story. A beautiful reminder that while love cannot erase the hurt we experience, love can overcome.

I have only good feelings toward this book and I love Kennedy Ryan for putting this story out into the world. A forever favorite for sure.