chyreads29's review against another edition
3.0
This was ok. I appreciated the representation of struggling with su*c*dal ideation. It is so common and there has been little to no space to discuss it in media. I also enjoyed Josiah and Kassim's journey with therapy. There's a scene where Josiah's therapist asks him why he married Yasmen and he responds with a crude joke. The therapist remarks that if that was really the only reason they got married, it's no surprise they got divorced. The whole nature of their relationship proved Josiah's joke was actually truth. There was zero depth to their relationship. We don't get detailed flashback scenes explaining why they fell in love. All of their conversations in the present rely on the dark moments leading up to their divorce. Their entire relationship centers on their children, restaurant business, and physical attraction to one another. Anyone on the outside could've predicted their divorce if that was all they shared. And even in their second chance, it's still all they share. I hope the TV adaption gives us more of a solid emotional foundation between the two...
courthney's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
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
nikkihrose's review against another edition
5.0
Holyyyyyyy…
I went into this book completely blind except for knowing that numerous people loved it and that Kennedy Ryan was an author I wanted to read. And let me tell you, it paid OFF.
This book was magnificent. It was heartbreaking in the real-ness of everything that was presented. It handled real-life scenarios with care but didn’t shy away from the hardships life can bring. While it was a romance, it was more a realistic fiction/women’s fiction with a romance element in my personal opinion. And trust me, I was LIVING for the romance parts – I needed them to repair the cracks in my heart that were formed by everything else going on. But the further into the book I got, the more I clung to each experience, how they fought through it, how they came out of it, and how they learned to talk about it.
Therapy plays a pivotal roll in this book and I am grateful to Kennedy Ryan for including such an important concept and necessity so more people can recognize the value it brings to being able to live one’s life to the fullest.
This was… just absolutely phenomenal. It had a bit of everything, and the audio was incredible as well!
TW: PTSD, postpartum, loss of child, divorce, depression
I went into this book completely blind except for knowing that numerous people loved it and that Kennedy Ryan was an author I wanted to read. And let me tell you, it paid OFF.
This book was magnificent. It was heartbreaking in the real-ness of everything that was presented. It handled real-life scenarios with care but didn’t shy away from the hardships life can bring. While it was a romance, it was more a realistic fiction/women’s fiction with a romance element in my personal opinion. And trust me, I was LIVING for the romance parts – I needed them to repair the cracks in my heart that were formed by everything else going on. But the further into the book I got, the more I clung to each experience, how they fought through it, how they came out of it, and how they learned to talk about it.
Therapy plays a pivotal roll in this book and I am grateful to Kennedy Ryan for including such an important concept and necessity so more people can recognize the value it brings to being able to live one’s life to the fullest.
This was… just absolutely phenomenal. It had a bit of everything, and the audio was incredible as well!
TW: PTSD, postpartum, loss of child, divorce, depression
alfiereadsss's review against another edition
5.0
This book was truly phenomenal. I’m a sucker for second chance romance, and honestly, this was done so well. First, I just wanted to say how much I love Yasmen. I relate to her in so many ways. Her personality, how she handles her emotions, everything. I am also grieving and reading how she copes/coped with her grief makes me feel okay. I hate using the word strong for black women, but her being so vulnerable, admitting to be fragile and weak—that’s how I see strength. Being raw and uncut about your feelings. Hurting out loud and not feeling bad about it. Yasmen’s growth was amazing to read. She’s a wonderful mother, as well. Even after everything she’s been through, her kids were never second.
The relationship she has with the characters, such as her best friends, Hendrix and Soledad, ugh I love it. That’s a sisterhood I love. They were always there to support her and they pushed for her happiness. Her friends allowed her to feel and go through everything without any judgment (as they should).
Going on to Josiah.
*sighs*
Let me tell you something. Okay, first, overall I love Josiah, but whew—he worked me a few times. I understand we all have our way of grieving, but how he tried to force Yasmen to grieve was not my cup of tea. However, he did take some accountability later on, so he’s good with me. Black men’s mental health is important and for so long he was against going to therapy, but when he finally tried, I was happy. And seeing his growth in his sessions was heartwarming. He kept opening up the more he went.
Josiah is a good man and father. I love how even after him and Yasmen divorced, he never let anyone talk crazy about her. Not only because she’s the mother of his kids, but because he’ll always love and care for her. He’s also wonderful with his kids. Josiah’s friendships were shown as much, but I didn’t mind because he’s not known for opening up, so it wasn’t much to show. How he interacts with the other characters in the story was still good.
The chemistry, dynamic, the TENSION between Yasmen and Josiah? Gosh, I was balling my fist in my mouth. Kennedy, girl you definitely did your thing with this one. I just love that type of love where everyone knows they’re supposed to be together. Yasmen and Josiah were meant to be and no one can tell me otherwise. Every interaction they had, no matter long or short, shows their unresolved feelings. They feel so right—no natural. Their love is beautiful.
The sex? Whew. My goodness. If Josiah was giving it to me like that? You know what, let me keep this PG lol. It was good. How it was written was well. Even the build up. Not too much. Not too little. Just enough. I love how this story was oversaturated with sex either, and even while they did, I felt the love.
I highly recommend you read this book. Grief, depression, love, death, sex, friendships, etc. was written perfectly. Everything was balanced well. This was my first book I read from Kennedy Ryan, and trust I have more of her books in my cart. Her next book is coming in 2024, and I cannot wait! My book challenge is 20 this year and another five star read is starting well.
The relationship she has with the characters, such as her best friends, Hendrix and Soledad, ugh I love it. That’s a sisterhood I love. They were always there to support her and they pushed for her happiness. Her friends allowed her to feel and go through everything without any judgment (as they should).
Going on to Josiah.
*sighs*
Let me tell you something. Okay, first, overall I love Josiah, but whew—he worked me a few times. I understand we all have our way of grieving, but how he tried to force Yasmen to grieve was not my cup of tea. However, he did take some accountability later on, so he’s good with me. Black men’s mental health is important and for so long he was against going to therapy, but when he finally tried, I was happy. And seeing his growth in his sessions was heartwarming. He kept opening up the more he went.
Josiah is a good man and father. I love how even after him and Yasmen divorced, he never let anyone talk crazy about her. Not only because she’s the mother of his kids, but because he’ll always love and care for her. He’s also wonderful with his kids. Josiah’s friendships were shown as much, but I didn’t mind because he’s not known for opening up, so it wasn’t much to show. How he interacts with the other characters in the story was still good.
The chemistry, dynamic, the TENSION between Yasmen and Josiah? Gosh, I was balling my fist in my mouth. Kennedy, girl you definitely did your thing with this one. I just love that type of love where everyone knows they’re supposed to be together. Yasmen and Josiah were meant to be and no one can tell me otherwise. Every interaction they had, no matter long or short, shows their unresolved feelings. They feel so right—no natural. Their love is beautiful.
The sex? Whew. My goodness. If Josiah was giving it to me like that? You know what, let me keep this PG lol. It was good. How it was written was well. Even the build up. Not too much. Not too little. Just enough. I love how this story was oversaturated with sex either, and even while they did, I felt the love.
I highly recommend you read this book. Grief, depression, love, death, sex, friendships, etc. was written perfectly. Everything was balanced well. This was my first book I read from Kennedy Ryan, and trust I have more of her books in my cart. Her next book is coming in 2024, and I cannot wait! My book challenge is 20 this year and another five star read is starting well.
goldencl0ud's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
xoxo_tip's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
kandisteiner's review against another edition
5.0
Once again, Kennedy Ryan has blown me away with her ability to marry angsty, swoon-worthy romance with raw, real life challenges. From the best friends you can't help but love and fall for to the family dynamic, every corner of this world Ryan has built is effortlessly lovely. I smiled, laughed, swooned and cried. I loved how the author so fearlessly tackled the subject of how we all handle grief differently, and how she illustrated that while relationships can fall apart, it's never too late for them to fall back together. This one will stay with me a while. Five stars and bravo, Kennedy Ryan!
gseguin's review against another edition
Just not in the mood for some of the heavy topics address in this book right now, but will get back to it later.
missloriareads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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