Before I Let Go (Skyland, 1)

Before I Let Go is a standout debut in the Skyland series. The author excels at creating vivid, immersive scenes that make you feel like you’re experiencing the story firsthand. Every character’s emotion, every setting, and every plot twist is described with such clarity that the world of Skyland feels tangible and alive. Writing & Style: The narrative flows effortlessly, balancing tension, emotion, and character development. The author’s attention to detail makes the moments feel present and immediate, pulling the reader fully into the story. Engagement & Enjoyment: From start to finish, I found myself completely absorbed. The story strikes a great balance between action, emotion, and suspense, making it hard to put the book down. Overall: A beautifully written, immersive novel that sets up the Skyland series brilliantly. Perfect for readers who love to feel deeply connected to the story and characters. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a page-turner with emotional depth.

4.75 ⭐️ Please check trigger warnings! I loved this book. The characters, their story, the hurt, the loss, the outcome (emotions & actions) of grief, divorce, parenting through it all, and of course HEALING. There was so much raw&real emotion and character personality. I was laughing A LOT and shed some tears too. The side characters made me chuckle. This story was beautiful, the connection between Yasmen (FMC) and Josiah (MMC) was so real and written so well. I truly loved both characters growth and this book will be a reread for me! I will definitely read more of her books 🤍

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan is undeniably heartfelt, emotional, and beautifully written. Ryan certainly knows how to dig deep into relationships and healing. But for me, the pacing made it a slower read than I expected. The story is good, the characters are rich, and the emotions are real, but it took a long while to fully grasp my attention. If you enjoy deeply layered stories that take their time unfolding, you’ll connect with this one. For readers who prefer a faster pace, it may feel a bit too slow.

Oh my goodness—this book had me feeling everything. It’s a beautiful but emotionally heavy read that pulls you into every layer of the story. I found myself sympathizing, frustrated at times, and deeply invested in understanding all the dynamics at play. Watching her journey from depression to reclaiming her life, her family, and herself was powerful. A heartfelt story about healing, resilience, and the power of true friendships. A really good read that stays with you. 💜

Wow! I’m very emotional over this book. Took me a few days to finish it because I had to pause quite often. It deals with some heavy topics such as grief, and loss of a child, and also talks heavily about mental health. It’s also a second chance romance, and you know me, I love a second chance! Yasmen and Josiah are the definition of soulmates. That’s what made this book so devastating… They clearly loved, and were meant to be with each other. Tragedy either makes or breaks a relationship, and you often see couples grow closer in the process of losing a loved one, or in grief. That’s the opposite of what happened with Yasmen and Josiah. They both experienced loss, and didn’t know how to process it, and on top of that, they had children to raise and a business to uphold. They were divorced for two years, before finally being able to confront all that they’ve lost, including each other. Yasmen Wade is a remarkable character, and I know there are many Yasmen’s in the real world. The women who experience a loss so deep, that they often don’t know if they’ll come back from it. The women that chose to push forward, not for themselves, but for their children. Yasmen’s character was strong willed, an amazing mother, advocate for therapy, and a compassionate partner. I admire her so much for being able to get the help that she needed. “Even in that new loneliness, there was a kind of relief to have only one thing to save. Not my marriage, but just myself.” Josiah Wade is reserved and only shows his soft side to the people he’s comfortable with. He’s an outstanding father that would do anything for his children… Even go to therapy. I think that’s what made me really start loving Josiah. At first, I’m not going to lie, he rubbed me the wrong way. I wanted to scream at him and shake him. How could he not see what a horrible time his wife was going through? I had to remember that he was going through it, too. He also experienced loss. Josiah’s character development was truly top tier. I loved seeing him in those therapy sessions! “I know you need to be strong for the people you love. But I want to stand with you when it rains, when the wind comes. When it’s hard and the odds are stacked against us. We didn’t always do that before, but I believe if and when trials come, we will stand together.” Everyone could see how much Josiah and Yas were meant to be, but them. Their minds were clouded with what if’s and depression. They’re the definition of “If someone is meant to be, they’ll find a way back to you.” It wasn’t an easy road for these two. They had to work on themselves apart, to realize they wanted to work on it together. I think that’s one of the things that I love about them both, they stood on their own two feet and got the help that they needed, and didn’t rely on each other or make excuses. They healed within before finding their way back to each other! “I heard someone say once that when you try to fix people’s hurt, you’re controlling it instead of sitting with them and connecting. I didn’t have the words for it then, but I have the language for it now.” ‘And what is that language?’ “This is not me saying you were wrong and it was all your fault. It’s me understanding how completely incompatible we were in our grief.” ‘Incompatible?’ “In every way possible. I needed to stop. To process, and maybe I stayed in that space too long. I’m sure I did, but I felt like you didn’t stop at all. It felt like you were running from everything that I needed to work through. And we didn’t talk about any of it.” Kennedy Ryan… Pleaseeeee. The pure honesty in the writing was beautiful. Relatable and raw emotion from both characters. Phenomenal! Each chapter was filled with emotionally charged dialogue, yet, nothing seemed to be too much. These characters felt so real. Real life situations, real life stakes, real life heartbreak, real life love! The character development for both characters was phenomenal. Even with their children!!! Easiest 5 stars!

Before I Let Go is a masterclass in emotional storytelling. Kennedy Ryan delivers a love story that is raw, tender, and utterly unforgettable. This isn’t just a second-chance romance—it’s a soul-deep exploration of grief, healing, Black love, and the complicated, beautiful layers that make up a marriage. Yasmen and Josiah are two people who never stopped loving each other, even when life cracked them open. Their story is told with such vulnerability that it feels like you’re living every beat with them—their pain, their joy, their hesitation, their longing. The way Kennedy captures mental health, loss, co-parenting, and the messy reality of rekindling love is powerful and real. What I appreciated most is that this isn’t a fairytale. It’s a grown-up romance for people who’ve been through some things. It’s about rediscovering love not just with a partner, but within yourself. This book hurts in all the best ways, but it also heals. The writing is lyrical without ever losing its emotional punch, and the chemistry between Yasmen and Josiah? Whew. Off the charts. 🥵 If you’ve ever loved, lost, and wondered whether it’s possible to find your way back—Before I Let Go will speak to you in ways you didn’t know you needed.

This book took care of me. I don’t know if that makes sense. I don’t know how to explain it, so I won’t.

Well...It's been a few days since I finished this read and I am still trying to process it. Where to even begin...like always, GAME-CHANGER!!! It was stunning. The definition of second chances brings forth a whole new meaning to me now. Again, Kennedy didn't tie this up in a pretty bow; she was authentic to her characters and honest with the situation. It barred some pretty heavy topics like grief, depression, stillbirth, and the collapse of a marriage, but also held some lightness with laughter, happiness, and utter joy. It was just brilliant. I'm genuinely speechless; all I want is to wrap Yasmin and Josiah up in a great big hug and tell them, I'm so proud of you both. I swear, I feel healed and I wasn't even a character in this book, lol, like...how? I'm just in love. Hats off to Kennedy Ryan, she is the BEST in the business and, next to my mama, my favourite HUMAN of all time. The lady needs to be graced on every shelf of every home, in every syllabus at every university, and 'our' voice to not only normalize mental health BUT also to create CHANGE. She is hands down the brightest ray of sunshine, the BEST teacher I have ever had, and one in a million.

Another outstanding novel from Kennedy Ryan. Emotions and feelings are all over there. It is just beautiful how she described all the emotions, the characters. She really know how to go deep. Perfect second chance book. I could not drop the book until I finished.

I don’t usually write long reviews, but Before I Let Go deserves every word. This book broke me open in the softest, most healing way. It’s not your typical second-chance romance — it’s quieter, deeper, and achingly real. What I loved most? The characters don’t perform for you. They grow for themselves. No unnecessary drama, no over-explaining pain. Just two people learning how to carry love and grief in the same hands. The heroine felt like someone I’d admire in real life — calm, layered, strong in a gentle way 🧘‍♀️. She gave space to breathe, and that space made all the difference. Kennedy Ryan writes like she sees into your private sorrows. She doesn’t rush the healing — she respects it. That meant the world to me. I closed the book and just sat there... silent, grateful, and honestly a little changed 💔✨. If you’re in a season of healing or trying to understand what love means after life cracks you open — please read this. It’s not loud, but it’s powerful. Soul-deep.

Como pode essa mulher escrever tão bem e de um jeito tão envolvente? Eu nunca nem estive num relacionamento amoroso, mas fiquei tão engajada nesse casal e na reconstrução dessa relação. A Yasmen e o Josiah têm todo o meu amor. E as minhas lágrimas. Foi super difícil ler algumas partes, principalmente o ressentimento da Deja em relação à mãe porque sei que já causei esse tipo de dor pra minha própria mãe mais de uma vez, mas em compensação tivemos o Kassim que é um querido com coração enorme! Quero fazer parte do grupo de amizade da Yas, Soledad e a Hendrix. Quero muito ler os livros delas, mas já sei que o da Sol vai destruir meu coração.