Before I Let Go

by Kennedy Ryan

Overview

“Real, raw, magnificent—Before I Let Go is the beautiful angst I love to read.” —Colleen Hoover, #1 New York Times bestselling author

A Good Morning America Book Buzz Pick!
Their love was supposed to last forever. But when life delivered blow after devastating blow, Yasmen and Josiah Wade found that love alone couldn’t solve or save everything.

It couldn’t save their marriage.

Yasmen wasn’t prepared for how her life fell apart, but she’s is finally starting to find joy again. She and Josiah have found a new rhythm, co-parenting their two kids and running a thriving business together. Yet like magnets, they’re always drawn back to each other, and now they’re beginning to wonder if they’re truly ready to let go of everything they once had.

Soon, one stolen kiss leads to another…and then more. It's hot. It's illicit. It's all good—until old wounds reopen. Is it too late for them to find forever? Or could they even be better, the second time around?

Award-winning and bestselling "powerhouse" author Kennedy Ryan is at her absolute best in this compelling, scorching novel about hope and healing, and what it truly means to love for a lifetime (USA Today).

Book of the Month Club selection
NPR Best Books of 2022
Entertainment Weekly Best Romances of 2022
Washington Post 10 Best Romances of the Year
Women's Health Best Books of the Year
Publishers Weekly Best Romance Books of 2022

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538706794
Publisher:	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date:	11/15/2022
Series:	Skyland Series , #1
Pages:	400
Sales rank:	3,406
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kennedy Ryan writes for women from all walks of life, empowering them and placing them firmly at the center of each story and in charge of their own destinies. Kennedy and her writings have been featured in NPR, Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, Glamour, Cosmo, Ebony, TIME, and many others. The audio edition of her novel Reel received the prestigious Audie® Award, and her Skyland series is currently in development for television at Peacock. The co-founder of LIFT 4 Autism, an annual charitable book auction, Kennedy has a passion for raising Autism awareness. Dubbed the Queen of Hugs by her readers, she is a wife to her "lifetime lover" and mother to an extraordinary son. 
 
Find out more, at:
KennedyRyanWrites.com
Facebook.com/KennedyRyanAuthor
X: @KennedyRWrites
Instagram: @KennedyRyan1
TikTok: @KennedyRyanAuthor

Editorial Reviews

★ 08/15/2022

Ryan (Reel) brings both tears and laughter in a powerhouse second-chance romance that shines a sensitive light on mental health issues. Following a stillbirth, Yasmen Wade spirals into a depression that drives a wedge between her and her preteen daughter, Deja, and ends her marriage to her first love, Josiah. Two years later, Josiah is still heartbroken over the divorce he never wanted, though he wrote his own fate by refusing Yasmen’s suggestion of couple’s therapy. It’s hard to move on when they live two minutes from each other, co-parent their two children, and remain partners in their soul fusion restaurant. When their son Kassim’s fifth grade teacher suggests that Kassim should see a therapist, Josiah surprises Yasmen by agreeing—and he even starts seeing one himself to support his son. As healing continues, the couple’s fire is reignited. Giving into passion would risk their fragile equilibrium, so they agree to get their lust out of their systems with one steamy night—but one night becomes many as each discovers new love, respect, and appreciation for the other. The struggles here are real and wrenching, and Ryan’s talent is such that, by the end, the characters feel like old, dear friends. This tender contemporary is a knockout. Agent: Kim Lionetti, Bookends Literary. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

Kennedy Ryan is frequently compared to bestselling author Colleen Hoover, and for good reason. She writes heart-wrenching romances that are sexy and modern.”—Men's Health

“Ryan masterfully builds complex female characters and she does it again here, crafting a lead who’s as invested in her own personal journey as she is her romantic one.” 
 —USA Today

From the Publisher

★ 09/01/2022

The first novel in Ryan's (Queen Move) new "Skyland" series depicts a fractured family's efforts to find joy in life after a year of heartbreaks. Yasmen and Josiah were the perpetually-in-love couple that everybody envied and were sure would go the distance. After back-to-back losses lead them to divorce, they must now figure out how to coexist with someone who they once thought would be their forever. Not communicating or interacting would be impossible, since they remain tethered by two children, a business, and a community that they love. They make mistakes trying to define their new normal when they realize that their romantic relationship may not be as over as they thought, and it's not only Josiah and Yasmen whose life trajectories and feelings are on the line. Ryan's frank discussion of mental health, including some characters' reluctance to seek out the assistance of mental health professionals, elevates the believability of this family's journey. A cast of hilarious, flawed, and largely supportive friends and family sets the stage for future books in the series. VERDICT This novel of rediscovered love is highly recommended for all fiction collections.—Nicole Williams

Library Journal

2022-08-31
A divorced couple finds love again.

Yasmen and Josiah Wade have been divorced for two years. They met in college, and after marrying, they opened a successful restaurant in Atlanta and started a family. Their seemingly rock-solid marriage went off course after two tragic losses: Josiah’s beloved aunt died, and their much-desired third child was stillborn. Yasmen suffered from brutal, agonizing depression, and, unable to cope with their grief and sadness, the two agreed to a divorce. Now, Yasmen and Josiah co-parent and manage their business, and both are trying to move on with their lives. The catalyst for change is when Josiah starts dating again. Yasmen is surprised to find feelings she thought were long dead rising up to the surface—attraction, possessiveness, and love. What if their divorce was a mistake? The novel is stuffed full of melodrama and angst as Yasmen and Josiah care for their kids, decide if they should expand the business, and explore their wholly unexpected reconnection. Notably, the book shows the benefits of therapy for both children and adults. Josiah resisted therapy after the loss of their baby but now agrees to see a therapist as a model for his son who has been struggling at school. Josiah’s willingness to finally talk about his feelings allows the couple to open up about the end of their marriage, paving the way for a new future together. Colleen Hoover fans looking for a dramatic emotional journey starring people in their 30s will find what they are looking for here.

A melodramatic family saga with a side of romance.

Kirkus Reviews

Ryan is a powerhouse of a writer.

USA Today

Every time Kennedy Ryan sits down to write a book, she is hunting big game from page one.

New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean

Kennedy writes these gripping, touching, romantic, transporting books every single time.

Author of How to Fail At Flirting Denise Williams

Kennedy Ryan is one of the finest romance writers of our age.

Entertainment Weekly

Every time I think Kennedy Ryan can’t possibly raise the bar any further, she proves me wrong in the most delightful way possible.

New York Times bestselling author of Neon Gods Katee Robert

Narrators Wesleigh Siobhan and Jakobi Diem take romance, heartbreak, and sex appeal to the next level. Yasmen (Siobhan) and Josiah (Diem) divorced after devastating experiences, but they can’t run away from the love that created their family and growing business. This dramatic story has emotional ups and downs that both narrators perform passionately in complementary performances. Siobhan’s vocal tone when she is conveying attraction aligns with Diem’s deep-voiced moments of flirtation. Both also convey vulnerabilities in their characters that draw empathy and compassion. And, of course, there are always the humorous best friends to provide a bit of over-the-top humor. This heartfelt romance and family adventure speaks to healing and growth. T.E.C. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

JANUARY 2023 - AudioFile

Narrators Wesleigh Siobhan and Jakobi Diem take romance, heartbreak, and sex appeal to the next level. Yasmen (Siobhan) and Josiah (Diem) divorced after devastating experiences, but they can’t run away from the love that created their family and growing business. This dramatic story has emotional ups and downs that both narrators perform passionately in complementary performances. Siobhan’s vocal tone when she is conveying attraction aligns with Diem’s deep-voiced moments of flirtation. Both also convey vulnerabilities in their characters that draw empathy and compassion. And, of course, there are always the humorous best friends to provide a bit of over-the-top humor. This heartfelt romance and family adventure speaks to healing and growth. T.E.C. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

JANUARY 2023 - AudioFile