bookishmillennial's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
disclaimer if you’ve read other reviews by me and are noticing a pattern: You’re correct that I don’t really give starred reviews because I don’t like leaving them. Most often, I will only leave them if I vehemently despised a book.
I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not, regardless if I add stars or not.
Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial
Premise:
I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not, regardless if I add stars or not.
Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial
Premise:
- contemporary romance set in the Skyland neighborhood near Atlanta, Georgia
- dual first-person POV of main characters
- first in a series of standalone romances
- It’s been two years since Yasmen (Yas) and Josiah (Si) got divorced, but they are still co-parents to their two kids (13-year-old Deja and 10-year-old Kassim), and they only live a few streets away from each other
- Si begins to date their head chef, Vashti, prompting surprisingly uncomfortable feelings from Yas, and she investigates this pain
- They reckon with their past losses and traumas, and what led to their divorce, as well as present-day feelings of love and longing that they simply cannot let go of
- The book explores SO much: grief, anxiety, depression, fears of death, therapy, friendship, and rectifying mistakes
- steam: around 3/5 - garage scene was iconic
- cw: a stillbirth, loss of loved one (past/off-page), grief, depression, and passive suicidal ideation (no attempt).
Thoughts:
Every book I’ve read by Kennedy has been an absolute hit. I am not a genre or literary expert by any means, but I would say that this is literary fiction & it should be considered a romance/lit fic classic! Again, not an expert, but in my humble opinion, I think she masterfully weaves in &has characters explore such universal themes of grief, loss, love, parenthood, hope, mental health, &so much more.
Something that truly stood out to me in this book was the discussion of and attitudes towards talk therapy, especially when it came to Si and their 10-year-old son, Kassim. While mental health services may not be accessible to everyone, even in the instances when they are, there is a real stigma —especially for men— around actually engaging in therapy. I thought the way Si felt about therapy was relatable, because I’ve absolutely heard all of those sentiments before!
The fraught mother/daughter relationship between Yas & 13-year-old Deja was rough because I felt sympathy for both of their situations. Yas has to confront her worst fears —the fears her depression tries to manipulate her into believing— and it’s a heart wrenching journey.
I’d be remiss to skip over our fam favorite side characters, Hendrix and Soledad! Their dynamic with Yas was absolute perfection— I am jealous of this group of friends; they are hilarious, caring, &make space for each other to be brave! I have friends like this, but I’ve never had a group of friends like this within close physical proximity of me where we spend a lot of time together like this trio does. Besides that, Kennedy set up their future love stories well because I’m fully invested in being along for the ride of their HEAs!!!!
As far as the romance, I adored Si & Yas’ journeys back to each other. It felt real because they simply didn’t know how they would react to trauma until it happened, & they were the wrong people for each other at that time. I love stories where no one is the villain, & everyone is just human, trying their best, with their current capacity. This was a tender story full of longing & most importantly, a path back to hope.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Miscarriage and Suicidal thoughts
tors_tomes's review against another edition
emotional
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This story ripped me to shreds and put me back together over and over again and I absolutely loved every second of it.
Their grief was so raw and felt so real and their love for one another did too. I was rooting for them the entire time. I absolutely adored Yasmen and Josiah. And I love how she built up all the other characters even the ones that were predeceased.
Ryan has garnered an absolute fan with this novel.
Note the TWs if you’re going to read this but they were approached so well.
Their grief was so raw and felt so real and their love for one another did too. I was rooting for them the entire time. I absolutely adored Yasmen and Josiah. And I love how she built up all the other characters even the ones that were predeceased.
Ryan has garnered an absolute fan with this novel.
Note the TWs if you’re going to read this but they were approached so well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Miscarriage
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Child death, and Death
Minor: Sexual content
readingismyluvlanguage's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Medical trauma, Death, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Child death
xandriamonique's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
I don't know why I waited so long to read this book! This had me blushing, kicking my feet, giggling!
The characters are so well crafted and thought out. Each shining in their own way. Even the secondary characters felt substantial even if they weren't in a lot of chapters.
I'm also glad that there was a trigger warning in the front of the book with a note from the author. You can tell the she took her time and thoughtfully worked to present the challenges the characters face.
The characters are so well crafted and thought out. Each shining in their own way. Even the secondary characters felt substantial even if they weren't in a lot of chapters.
I'm also glad that there was a trigger warning in the front of the book with a note from the author. You can tell the she took her time and thoughtfully worked to present the challenges the characters face.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, and Child death
Minor: Death of parent and Death
sugarcainn's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Miscarriage
lcg527's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, Sexual content, and Miscarriage
greatexpectations77's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
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
3.25
This felt really long to me (It maybe could have even been two books?) - more of telling instead of showing. Like it takes me out of the character's head when the author is telling me every bit of what they're thinking and doesn't let me think for myself "wow, this must be really rewarding/tough/interesting/jarring for them." Some solid sexy scenes though, if you're in the mood.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, Infertility, Miscarriage, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy
Minor: Abandonment, Abortion, Alcohol, Blood, and Medical content
bookwxrmvictoria's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.75
This is such a touching, emotional, beautiful, raw and real romance that draws you in. However, please, CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS BEFORE READING. I put the authors note below.
Spoiler
Before I Let Go is a story of joy, healing, and recovery. Consequently it is also a story, at least in part, about loss. When we meet Yasmen and Josiah, they are emerging from the most difficult season of their lives and embarking on a time of joy. With that said, there is some reflection on past difficulties, including: a stillbirth, loss of loved one(past/off page), discussion of complicated grief, depression, and passive suicide ideation (no attempt). Please know these topics were approached with the utmost care and in consultation with those for whom this was a lived up experience and with several counselors/therapists. They were kind enough to beta read for me; so I hope I achieved my goal when writing, which is to edify and do no harm.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Sexual content
Moderate: Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Death, and Pregnancy
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Death of parent
deckleeditproof's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Miscarriage
thewairimu's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Child death, Death, and Mental illness
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, and Miscarriage
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Suicidal thoughts