5/5 stars! This is the second book in the Skyland series by Kennedy Ryan. Love this book. I couldn't believe that I finished this in one setting, but I refused to sleep until I got to see how things turned out with Soledad and Judah. This book also has lovely representation of neurodivergence.

Kennedy Ryan is one of my favorite authors. No one does emotional storytelling better than her. This isn't my favorite series by her, but I enjoyed this one (and love the covers!). I'll read anything she puts out.

I love a smutty book, but the main reason I consume romance is to see a relationship develop and evolve. The process of two people falling in love and finding space for each other in each other's lives, that's what I look for in romance. This delivered.

Sol and Judah have a very compelling relationship and I was hooked from the start. It's complex and beautiful. Sol goes through a lot, but having her find a person who can understand and give her what she needs was so nice to see.

A delightful read all around!

This was my first read of Kennedy's and what an absolute pleasure and delight it was! This was a gorgeous slow burn romance that had me swooning. Loved it!

This is the first book I've read by Kennedy Ryan and I loved it! Although there is a steamy, slow-burn romance between Soledad and Judah, the real story is that of Soledad herself, as she faced adversity as a result of her husband's actions and then rose above it, making a life for herself and her daughters with the help of friends, family and Judah himself. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be reading more from this author.

This Could Be Us is the second book in Kennedy Ryan’s Skyland series. It follows Soledad and Judah’s story. Soledad is a character you’re introduced to in the first book in this series as one of Yasmen’s friends.

Soledad’s life turns upside down pretty much straight away in the story and so we follow her on a journey of re-self-discovery. Judah is very much the villain in Soledad’s children’s eyes so it’s difficult for her to keep it a secret that he’s actually the hero in her eyes. They have a really deep connection and Judah is so respectful and patient.

Soledad and her friends and family are so vocally expressive I think I’d have liked to listen to the audiobook of this and I might buy the third book as an audiobook when it’s released.

You could read this without reading the first book in the series as they’re interconnected however there would be a little spoiler for how the story of Before I Let You Go finishes. I enjoyed both books in this series so far along with several other books from this author. She’s yet to disappoint for me!

The story represents neurodiversity through Judah and his family, and the author talks about her own experiences with it at the start of the book.

This was my first experience reading from this author and I was not disappointed! I connected with the characters almost immediately and also was routing for them individually and as a couple all the way through. I really appreciated that although the spice was good it didn’t rely on the spice to keep you reading. I also really appreciated that the confidence Soledad grew was not as a result of the relationship. In my opinion, this is a very positive example of a romance book that doesn’t encourage negative or harmful viewpoints and actively challenges the status quo while still being fun to read. This is not an easy thing to achieve and is so necessary! I look forward to reading more from this author!

Kennedy Ryan strikes again! I find Ryan to be the most compelling romance writer. She has a way of gripping you with her stories in a way that you just need to finish the story as soon as you can otherwise all you do is just think about it. This was no different.

I love a good single parent romance esp a single mom romance. It's no secret that single dad romances are inherently more popular in the genre (in my experience, at least), so I always love to see a single mom finding love. It is just so beautiful to witness. Add to it Ryan's compelling writing and it just made everything so much better.

I applaud Ryan's commitment to always giving a well rounded cast of characters in her stories. I have always found multiple side characters to adore in her books and this was no different!

The one issue I think I would point out is that the book seemed a little repetitive after a point. The same conversations kept happening again and again, which I found myself skimming through. If those had been edited out, the experience would have been much better!

✨ BOOK REVIEW ✨

This Could Be Us - Kennedy Ryan
🌟🌟🌟

LIKES
☀️ Soledad’s journey and development was the real star of this story. I really admired her strength and how she unapologetically learnt to put herself first.
☀️ It got off to a strong start and held my interest well.
☀️ So. Much. Drama!
☀️ How everything took place over a long span of time.
☀️ Amazing autism rep.
☀️ The friendship trio.
☀️ Both characters relationships with their kids and the different challenges they each faced. The kids very much had their own personalities which was so special.
☀️ The buddy read 🥺

DISLIKES
🌙 Aside from Josiah’s insta obsession with Soledad and the love he has for his kids, we never really learn much about him as a person.
🌙 The talk of Soledad’s ass knows no bounds. Literally every single character seemed to mention it and it became a bit of an eye roll.
🌙 The story lost momentum and went a bit stale. Even the convos between Soledad and her friends went round in the same circle of ‘he likes you’ / ‘I like him too but I’m working on me’ over and over.

This was my second book by Kennedy Ryan and let me you that she did not disapoint!!! Such a beautifully written book and I loved being back with these characters. I have zero complains about this book. This was pure perfect.
Now excuse me while I'm going to read absolutely everything Kennedy Ryan ever wrote.

Kennedy Ryan is a master of gripping dramas with equally important and swoony romances plots. This does not disappoint. Soledad’s life as she knows it comes crumbling down and she must face the fact that her husband is not who she thought he is. She meets Judah and both feel a connection that is impossible to ignore. So many things stand in their way though - both are single parents with complicated and intense situations and Judah is responsible for outing her husband as a fraud, he’s the last man she should be with.

I was GRIPPED by the family drama of this, of all the ways Soledad’s husband let her down and how she picked herself and her family back up. The romance on top of this was a beautiful bonus. The tension and longing between Soledad and Judah was deliciously excruciating. Can’t wait to read the last in this series 🥰

What to expect:

- single parents
- forbidden romance
- family drama
- slow burn
- spicy

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this e-arc.

I really enjoyed this, I loved seeing previous characters again and I loved that it explored many different aspects and not just the romance story lines.

I loved Soledad and how she started dating herself! I think it’s something everyone should do.

I loved Judah from the get go and could totally see those two together from their very first interaction! He was the perfect gentleman and gave her all the time she needed to process everything she needed to.

I really loved this book and feel it’s something that a lot of people would enjoy and benefit from reading and how she learns to thoroughly be in tune with who she is.

A solid 4.25 read for me!

I really enjoyed this book, it did take me longer to read as I was really busy with college and work but I loved it from the start to the end.
It’s so nice to read a romance book where the love interests actually communicate with each other and you can tell they had a connection the moment they met.

This book is something very important and valuable. I had a great time reading the story of Soledad and Judah. I didn't want the book to end.

I love Kennedy Ryan's books because she talks about very important things and weaves these themes into her stories flawlessly.

“This is could be us” is a story about self-discovery, healing, love, friendship, motherhood, family ties. The characters go through difficulties, they grow, heal and find support and support in the form of each other. This is a beautiful story full of heart.

One of the important themes in This Could Be Us is the topic of autism, where Kennedy Ryan shows different sides of this topic. At the very beginning of the book, she says that she shares her personal experience and the experience of autistic people and their parents. This is so valuable and important, it made me emotional.

Kennedy Ryan is a great woman who writes such wonderful stories. I am completely and completely in love with everything she writes. And I look forward to new books.

I love that this is not your everyday kind of romance book. The story is at times twisted, devastating, emotional and oh so completed. I also enjoyed that the mmc and mfc are parents which is not something I read too often about. I also loved that there was representation of autistic children but I don't feel comfortable judging if the representation was good since I am not part of the community and not educated enough to make a judgment, but it seemed respectful to me.
I also really enjoyed the moral conflict that Soledad had to face because of the situation she was put in. I loved the way she handled the situation, I loved the chemistry between the main characters and I absolutely HATE Soledad's ex-husband (can't remember his name and also not going to look it up bc I don't care for him).
Overall great book and I am actually buying a physical copy right now bc I loved it so much.

This is a wonderful story about self-exploration and self-love. Kennedy Ryan does a fantastic job at writing books that aren't just romance books, but books that go a little deeper. I was so excited to read this and didn't get disappointed.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t know this before going into it but, as soon as I found out this was going to feature a parent with autistic children written by someone who (I assume, from the note at the beginning of the book) is not autistic, I got very nervous. I’ve had so many bad, hurtful experiences before and I wasn’t sure what I was getting into. Thankfully, it went well! I thought it was handled with care, love, respect and kindness. I was especially nervous about the treatment of Aaron, a high support needs autistic, but he was written very well and treated with so much support and love by the people around him. I think it also helped that there were three autistic people in this group, all very different from one another, and with varying support needs. It helped broadcast the diversity of autistic people. I also loved seeing Black autistic people in books!

There was a whole lot more to love about this book, too. Not Edward, though, my anger towards him only rose as the book went on. I loved this even more than the first book, as I loved that we got to see more of a connection between the two love interests. I especially loved that it was more about a romantic and emotional connection, and their communication between each other was great (there’s nothing that annoys me more in a romance novel than when we are reading about two grown adults who don’t tell each other anything!!)

The kids, too, I loved all five of them! Even though she was being a pain, I really felt for Inez, especially. It must be very challenging to have all of that going on, it wasn’t a surprise to me that she would act out as a result of that, but I loved the way Soledad didn’t love her any less and helped her through it, even though that must have been so difficult for Soledad too. Very wholesome and realistic, I thought.

The friendship group I loved too!

The thing I didn’t like was that, even though Soledad and Judah had known each other for a while, I feel like we didn’t really see that, it felt like it jumped a bit in the middle and I’d have liked to see them get to know each other more and connect. i did still feel their connection, though. They worked great together.

I also thought there were some minor pacing issues, some things went too slowly for me and too things went too quickly and were wrapped up with too fast or not explored enough at all.

Otherwise, I loved this. It was a really great book.

This was such a beautiful beautiful read. I enjoyed it so much. From Soledad's growth to the explosive love between her and Judah, to her friendships with her besties and sisters and her relationship with her daughters, everything read perfectly and in the exact pace it needed to. Nothing was rushed.
I learnt a lot of things from this book and will not be forgetting soon. Everything I learnt is pivotal to my growth as a person and it almost felt like KR was talking to me through these characters!
I enjoyed reading soooooo much. I highly recommend. 5 stars!

With 4.6 stars, this book offers a heartwarming and uplifting tale for readers seeking a story of perseverance and personal growth. The book follows a single mother as she navigates betrayal, hardship, and the challenges of raising a child alone. After facing deep pain and disillusionment in love, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and healing. Slowly but surely, she learns to rebuild her sense of self-worth, find fulfillment in motherhood, and open her guarded heart to the possibility of a second chance at romance. This book will resonate with those who have endured difficult relationships and emerged wiser yet wary. The author crafts a protagonist who feels relatable and authentic in her hesitations, vulnerabilities, and quiet strength. With emotional depth and moments of both heartbreak and joy, this book illustrates the complexity of the human experience. While the protagonist faces formidable obstacles, the overarching message remains one of resilience, empowerment, and the remarkable inner resources we draw on to transform hardship into wisdom. For readers seeking an uplifting yet honest story of personal growth, this book delivers inspiration and catharsis. With lyrical writing and a compelling narrative arc, it offers a reading experience as moving as it is insightful.
With 4.6 stars, this book offers a heartwarming and uplifting tale for readers seeking a story of perseverance and personal growth. The book follows a single mother as she navigates betrayal, hardship, and the challenges of raising a child alone. After facing deep pain and disillusionment in love, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and healing. Slowly but surely, she learns to rebuild her sense of self-worth, find fulfillment in motherhood, and open her guarded heart to the possibility of a second chance at romance. This book will resonate with those who have endured difficult relationships and emerged wiser yet wary. The author crafts a protagonist who feels relatable and authentic in her hesitations, vulnerabilities, and quiet strength. With emotional depth and moments of both heartbreak and joy, this book illustrates the complexity of the human experience. While the protagonist faces formidable obstacles, the overarching message remains one of resilience, empowerment, and the remarkable inner resources we draw on to transform hardship into wisdom. For readers seeking an uplifting yet honest story of personal growth, this book delivers inspiration and catharsis. With lyrical writing and a compelling narrative arc, it offers a reading experience as moving as it is insightful.

One of my most anticipated books of the year and it did not disappoint. The way this author makes me feel with every page and every book they write is simply unmatched