nocturnalgunner's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
5.0
I think this is my first 5/5 book and she deserves it. Kennedy Ryan weaves such heavy topics and incredibly sexy scenes together into the story seamlessly. The character development throughout the story is beautifully written. Ryan’s understanding of mental health is so evident in the way she describes dealing with depression and loss. Highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Death of parent
deluna's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Child death, Miscarriage, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Death of parent and Car accident
skyenj21_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Death of parent, Grief, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Dementia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Car accident
musicalbibliophile's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5
I cried.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Mental illness, Child death, Miscarriage, and Death
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I have heard nothing but amazing things about this book, so I had to pick it up and see what all of the hype is about.
"Before I Let Go" follows Yasmen and Josiah. They used to be the couple that everyone envied, and everyone believed that they were the ones who were going to last through anything life could throw at them. Yasmen and Josiah believed that too, until they were faced with the biggest challenge their marriage has ever faced and they could not make it work. Now a couple years later, Yasmen and Josiah amicably co-parent and run a very successful business together, but they both still have lingering feelings for the other. Can they finally tackle their grief and work together to repair their marriage, or are they just too incompatible?
This book is not a mere romance novel, and I think marketing it as such does it a disservice. This is a story about love, grief, mental illness, and finally having the tools to understand yourself. This story is raw, real, and absolutely devastating.
(Slight spoiler warning) Yasmen and Josiah lose their third baby when Yasmen is 36 weeks along, and it absolutely devastates both of them. Yasmen is so lost in her grief, that she does not feel strong enough to save herself AND her marriage, so when she does not think Josiah is on her team, she walks away. She could let this destroy her, but she does not, she learns to fight in her own time. She continuously shares how she gets out of bed every day because of her children, and that is what keeps her going, but through medication and therapy, she learns to live for herself, and I think this is so endlessly important to see depicted. She learns to articulate her grief and she gains the tools she needs to get herself out of her dark place. Yes, it would have been better if Yasmen and Josiah could have worked together, but they both grew so much being apart, and they are both so much better as individuals now, which makes their relationships all the stronger.
Josiah is also an amazing example of taking care of yourself. Though devastated by the divorce that he did not initiate, he never once bad mouths Yasmen, and he always has nothing but good things to say about her. He did not let the divorce break him, and when he sees that his son may need therapy, he puts his own opinions about it aside and starts to talk to someone himself, so his son sees therapy is a good thing. Josiah is far from perfect, and he is facing his own demons, but he always has so much respect for everyone in his life, and that is beautiful to see.
From the first page, I could see and feel Yasmen's and Josiah's chemistry. I knew their love story was real and I was always rooting for them. Additionally, their spicy scenes were superbly done.
I have long said that my favorite romance book is "All Your Perfects" by Collen Hoover, because of how it depicts a real relationship that is facing the most challenging adversity. I now hold "Before I Let Go" in a similar place as an all-time favorite. I 1000% will be reading from Kennedy Ryan again.
"Before I Let Go" follows Yasmen and Josiah. They used to be the couple that everyone envied, and everyone believed that they were the ones who were going to last through anything life could throw at them. Yasmen and Josiah believed that too, until they were faced with the biggest challenge their marriage has ever faced and they could not make it work. Now a couple years later, Yasmen and Josiah amicably co-parent and run a very successful business together, but they both still have lingering feelings for the other. Can they finally tackle their grief and work together to repair their marriage, or are they just too incompatible?
This book is not a mere romance novel, and I think marketing it as such does it a disservice. This is a story about love, grief, mental illness, and finally having the tools to understand yourself. This story is raw, real, and absolutely devastating.
(Slight spoiler warning) Yasmen and Josiah lose their third baby when Yasmen is 36 weeks along, and it absolutely devastates both of them. Yasmen is so lost in her grief, that she does not feel strong enough to save herself AND her marriage, so when she does not think Josiah is on her team, she walks away. She could let this destroy her, but she does not, she learns to fight in her own time. She continuously shares how she gets out of bed every day because of her children, and that is what keeps her going, but through medication and therapy, she learns to live for herself, and I think this is so endlessly important to see depicted. She learns to articulate her grief and she gains the tools she needs to get herself out of her dark place. Yes, it would have been better if Yasmen and Josiah could have worked together, but they both grew so much being apart, and they are both so much better as individuals now, which makes their relationships all the stronger.
Josiah is also an amazing example of taking care of yourself. Though devastated by the divorce that he did not initiate, he never once bad mouths Yasmen, and he always has nothing but good things to say about her. He did not let the divorce break him, and when he sees that his son may need therapy, he puts his own opinions about it aside and starts to talk to someone himself, so his son sees therapy is a good thing. Josiah is far from perfect, and he is facing his own demons, but he always has so much respect for everyone in his life, and that is beautiful to see.
From the first page, I could see and feel Yasmen's and Josiah's chemistry. I knew their love story was real and I was always rooting for them. Additionally, their spicy scenes were superbly done.
I have long said that my favorite romance book is "All Your Perfects" by Collen Hoover, because of how it depicts a real relationship that is facing the most challenging adversity. I now hold "Before I Let Go" in a similar place as an all-time favorite. I 1000% will be reading from Kennedy Ryan again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Mental illness, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Grief, and Child death
Moderate: Death of parent
rachelschloneger's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Minor: Death of parent
allthebooks36's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Mental illness
a_lyttle_book_blog's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What a beautiful story. This is my first Kennedy Ryan book, but I can guarantee it won't be my last.
This book touches on some very sensitive topics in such a gentle and respectful way. Child loss, depression, suicidal ideation, and parenting teenagers. The last one might seem silly, but I felt like it was a fair representation as opposed to an overly dramatic relationship.
I fell in love with Yasmine and Josiah very quickly. I felt so deeply for these characters and was very invested in their story and happiness.
Read this if you want to be deeply moved, love second chance romance, forced proximity, only one bed, and parents falling back in love.
This book touches on some very sensitive topics in such a gentle and respectful way. Child loss, depression, suicidal ideation, and parenting teenagers. The last one might seem silly, but I felt like it was a fair representation as opposed to an overly dramatic relationship.
I fell in love with Yasmine and Josiah very quickly. I felt so deeply for these characters and was very invested in their story and happiness.
Read this if you want to be deeply moved, love second chance romance, forced proximity, only one bed, and parents falling back in love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent
kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Child death, Cursing, Grief, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Death of parent
haynine9's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death of parent
Moderate: Mental illness