This Could Be Us

3.5 - You will not be disappointed by the plot and these characters. Soledad and Judah's relationship was full of chemistry, yearning, and very steamy scenes. I thought the portrayal and discussions about autism were handled very well. Of course, I love that Soledad is a fellow Puerto Rican; nothing regarding that raised any red flags of inaccuracy or making her simply a stereotype. So on that front, it has my stamp of approval.

However, because of Soledad's healing journey and influencer vibe, the book's tone ended up resembling a self-help book. The phrases used messaging felt, at times, trite. I did listen to this in audiobook form, so the voice acting could've influenced my perception of the writing's tone. At the end of the day, my experience with this book was filled with many high highs and some moments that made me roll my eyes.

Nonetheless, if any more books come out in this series, I will still borrow them from the library!

kennedy ryan’s writing never fails to move me, and this book is no exception. she has such a gift for weaving together life’s most difficult, emotional topics with moments of lightness and hope. her stories are always a testament to resilience, love, and growth, and this book encapsulates all of that beautifully.

what stood out to me most in this story was soledad’s journey. watching her grapple with tragedy and betrayal while rebuilding her life was both heart-wrenching and inspiring. her path toward self-acceptance and healing felt so authentic and raw. i especially loved seeing her relationship with her daughters evolve. the bond between them was heartfelt and complex, and it was incredibly rewarding to see how much they grew individually and as a family.

judah was such a standout character for me. his patience, understanding, and unwavering support made him the perfect counterpart to soledad. his relationship with his two autistic sons was one of the most touching elements of the book. kennedy ryan handled the exploration of parenting autistic children with so much care and nuance, and it added an extra layer of depth to the story. it’s rare to see this kind of representation in romance novels, and i truly appreciated the thoughtful way it was written.

soledad and judah’s romance was breathtaking in its complexity and tenderness. their relationship was built on a foundation of trust, respect, and deep understanding, which made it feel so real. judah never overstepped soledad’s boundaries, and their love unfolded in a way that honored the challenges both characters had faced. my only wish was for more of their romance earlier in the book. while i understood the importance of focusing on soledad’s personal journey and her process of “dating herself,” i found myself craving more moments of connection between her and judah earlier on. their love story is so compelling that i couldn’t help but want more of it.

overall, this book was an emotional and uplifting read that stayed with me long after i turned the final page. kennedy ryan continues to deliver stories that are as thought-provoking as they are heartfelt, and i can’t wait to dive into the next book in the series. this is a romance that will leave you feeling inspired, hopeful, and deeply moved.

thank you to grand central publishing, kennedy ryan, and netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Before I let Go Was my favorite romance published in 2022, it was also the first book I read by Kennedy Ryan. To say I was impressed with her it would be an understatement, she wrote everything I was missing in the genre: a story about about real life, family, healing, forgiveness and second chances. A story of adults that think about their life, the decisions they make, and the consequences that those decisions have for them and others.

In summary, I became a fan of Kennedy Ryan, and when I saw This Could be Us was being published, I couldn't pass on the opportunity to read it. Particularly, being Soledad's story, a character that I already admired from the first book.

What a wonderful story this was! It's again very raw, feels very real, and it's filled with important messages we tend to forget: how we can always start again, how we should value ourselves and be confident, and most importantly, how we need to learn and be comfortable alone, finding our own balance, prior to sharing a life with others.

I loved both characters, admired their strength and how they valued and prioritized their families. I'm also more than half in love with Judah!

I would like to thank Little, Brown Book Group UK, Piatkus and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

For Christmas... I want a Judah UNDER THE TREE and whoever I need to speak to to make that happen needs to reveal themselves IMMEDIATELY.

Okay but in all seriousness this was such a great read.

Putting aside the romance aspect for a minute to admire how Soledad as a character! Her strength and her resilience is something else. Coming close to losing almost everything, and managed to make something of her own... ugh I love her.

Back to the romance... JUDAH lord. Make all men like Judah! PLEASE

Judah a man of patience. WHEW!

I loved that Judah just wanted the best for Soledad, but wanted her overall. He was willing to wait out her dating herself, and her back and forth for what she truly wanted. He wanted to make she was sure in her decision before stepping in fully, and whenever she faltered he took a step back. UGH.

I am truly in love with this series and I can't wait for Hendrix being next!!! Rich auntie is going to find lovvveee.

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