A review by lovelymisanthrope
This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan

emotional hopeful 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

This was one of my most anticipated releases for this year, and I have been so excited to pick this one up.
"This Could Be Us" follows Soledad as she tries to redefine her life following the several infidelities committed by her husband. Soledad has always planned her life perfectly, but her carefully crafted world is threatened when she discovers that her selfish husband has embezzled his company out of millions of dollars. Left with only two options, she has to decide if she should crumble or take the reins back in her life and rebuild her world into something even better than before.
Soledad is such a strong protagonist and I loved reading from her perspective. She could have so easily crumbled, and I think most people would have entirely understood given the situation her husband put her in. But Soledad was determined to finally take her life back and she worked endlessly to provide for her three daughters. I also loved seeing her realize that she had been dimming her spark for her husband for years, and that she is just as worthy as her husband.
Soledad's husband was a piece of garbage and I hated every word that came out of his mouth. I wanted to dive into this book and ring his neck on behalf of Soledad. He got everything that was coming to him, and I was happy with the ultimate resolution arrived at for his character.
Judah, Soledad's new love interest and the man responsible for sending Soledad's ex-husband away, was the picturesque man. He has twin boys who are autistic, and he has never batted an eye at rearranging his life for them or his ex-wife. Although things did not work out for him and his ex, he has nothing but adoration for her as a mother and person. He acknowledges that they were not soulmates, but they can be good friends. I think this is such a healthy and mature approach to divorce, and it is a great example of human behavior that I hope to see represented more in the future.
Judah, even when they were not speaking, was always supporting Soledad as best as he could. He allowed her to come to him and he never pressured or guilted her into being anyone other than herself.
Soledad and Judah together were magic. They really balanced each other out, and their story felt so relatable and believable. Despite initial attraction, they did not cheat, and they did not pursue a relationship until Soledad's divorce was 100% finalized AND they both felt like it was the right thing for their kids as well.
This story was beautiful, and I already wish I could reread it without knowing the story. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a hard-hitting romance, and I cannot wait to pick up more from Kennedy Ryan. 

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