Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan: Book Review

Before I Let Go is a beautifully-written story of a couple who divorce after a traumatic pair of events and their journey back to one another.

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From The Publisher:

Their love was supposed to last forever. But when life delivered blow after devastating blow, Yasmen and Josiah Wade found that love alone couldn’t solve or save everything.

It couldn’t save their marriage.

Yasmen wasn’t prepared for how her life fell apart, but she’s is finally starting to find joy again. She and Josiah have found a new rhythm, co-parenting their two kids and running a thriving business together. Yet like magnets, they’re always drawn back to each other, and now they’re beginning to wonder if they’re truly ready to let go of everything they once had.

Soon, one stolen kiss leads to another…and then more. It’s hot. It’s illicit. It’s all good—until old wounds reopen. Is it too late for them to find forever? Or could they even be better, the second time around?

My Thoughts:

Before I Let Go is one of my favourite reads of 2022. The central characters are so well-developed, and the writing so eloquent it was an absolute joy to read. The fact that this is the first book in the author’s Skyland series has me elated.

This is the love story of Yasmen and Josiah. The story is told from alternating points of view from each of them. Through the author’s words, the reader can feel the intensity of their relationship. A love that was supposed to be forever is forever changed after tragic events ended the marriage two years before.

That is not to say the two no longer feel love for one another. The attraction between these two is palpable. Although they may live in separate residences, they share a family and a business that binds them together.

The story is also one of loss and grief and how each of us processes these things differently. I felt the depths of despair in the words on the page – it is not surprising to me that the author has a history of depression. It is also a story of seeking professional help after a loss as we often fail to process our grief. I love that this story emphasizes the importance of doing so.

There is an infant death in this story so those of you who have difficulty reading about this may choose not to read this book. Otherwise, I highly recommend this book to those that enjoy Women’s Fiction and Romance.

What I Liked:

• The well-developed central characters
• The author’s eloquent writing
• The palpable love between Yasmen and Josiah

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for the DRC of this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

Similar Books I’ve Reviewed:

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

Under The Southern Sky by Kristy Woodson Harvey

The Best Is Yet To Come by Debbie Macomber